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Microsoft beats Wall Street expectations with $90B in revenue

Kaitlyn Huamani, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:20:50 +0000

Microsoft posted strong results for its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, beating expectations and showing strong growth in its cloud computing platform and a boost in paid AI users.

The Redmond, Washington, company earned $90 billion, or $4.81 per share, in the April-June quarter. That is up 18% from the same period a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had expected the company to earn $4.24 per share on revenue of $87.62 billion this quarter.

Microsoft Cloud revenue was $59.3 billion this quarter, up 27% year-over-year. That growth reflects the demand across Microsoft's cloud computing platform Azure, as well as its first-party AI applications and services. Azure and other cloud services revenue increased 43%.

For the full fiscal year, which closed out at the end of June, the company brought in $331.8 billion in revenue.

“This year, Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats, reflecting the confidence customers are placing in us to power their AI transformation,” CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement Wednesday.

The concurrent Azure and Copilot growth indicate that Microsoft is “winning on both fronts,” Michael J. Wolf, founder and CEO of Activate Consulting said in a statement. Microsoft is doing so by “supplying the cloud infrastructure for enterprise AI while monetizing the AI tools embedded in the products workers use every day.”

Investors had been looking for evidence that Azure and Copilot, Microsoft's flagship AI assistant, could eventually produce returns as concerns about high AI spending have steadily grown across the industry.

Chief financial officer Amy Hood told investors on a call that the company’s capital expenditures and investment expectations remain unchanged for the 2026 calendar year. An accounting change will bring that guidance closer to approximately $175 billion, Hood said, but in practice, the expectations remain “unchanged.” This move marks a break from competitors that have been steadily increasing their spending forecasts.

Hood said earlier this year that the company expects to invest $190 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, a figure that includes approximately $25 billion from the impact of higher component pricing. Microsoft's capital expenditures were $41 billion this quarter.

Bryan Hayes, an investment strategist at Zacks Investment Research, said in a statement that “for the first time in three quarters, the market appears willing to grant that the spending is buying something real.”

“We remain very confident in the long-term return on these investments, given these strong demand signals, the increasing product usage we’ve seen and the efficiencies that we’re driving across the platform,” said Danielle Criste, Microsoft's director of investor relations, in an interview.

Microsoft’s shares rose about 9% to $426.03 in after-hours trading.

Teen from El Salvador charged with murder in two separate Houston shootings

Bryce Newberry — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:17:53 +0000

Houston police have charged 18-year-old Jefferson Velasquez with murder in a Midtown shooting, and he was already in the Harris County Jail facing a separate murder charge from a house party in East Harris County.

Records show both deadly shootings happened under similar circumstances involving large gatherings, and according to records, Velasquez has a pattern of allegedly robbing people of their chains at large parties.

Velasquez is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning on the new murder charge.

The first killing: A teen shot at a crowded house party

The first shooting happened Aug. 30, 2025, at a party of about 200 people on Waldine Street in East Harris County, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Deputies say 17-year-old Angel Garcia was murdered after Velasquez and others approached him — investigators described it as a possibly targeted act. Many of the witnesses were underage and left before deputies could interview them, which stretched the investigation out over several months.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office arrested Velasquez in June for Garcia’s death.

The second killing: A fight spills outside a Midtown nightclub

While Velasquez was free, he is also accused of fatally shooting 27-year-old Noah Ramirez.

That shooting happened in late April outside the Diosa Nightclub in Midtown, where Houston police say a fight inside led to the shooting. Two other people were also hurt.

Ramirez’s father spoke with KPRC 2 News by phone. He said his son was not a troublemaker and had goals for his life, including going back to college, getting married, and having children.

“I just want justice for him,” Jesus Ramirez said. “I just don’t understand why they did what they did. It’s just painful and something I’ll never know or understand, I just want the person responsible to pay for what they did.”

What’s in Velasquez’s record

Velasquez is in jail with bonds totaling $800,000. In addition to the two murder charges, he is also facing unrelated aggravated robbery charges connected to the alleged chain robberies.

Records show Velasquez is from El Salvador and has an immigration hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

His defense attorney Keaton Forcht has not commented on the new murder case.

Law enforcement is asking anyone who has been robbed or assaulted by Velasquez to come forward or call Crime Stoppers.

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ICE releases witness in fatal Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting after federal judge’s order

Brittany Taylor, Sandy Torres — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:56:09 +0000

José Trinidad Rojas Pliego has been released from the Montgomery Processing Center at an undisclosed location, according to his family’s attorney.

Rojas Pliego was inside a van in Magnolia Park when ICE agents shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on July 7. A federal judge gave ICE 48 hours to release him on Tuesday.

Attorney Raed Gonzalez said Rojas Pliego has no criminal record and that this was his first interaction with federal agents.

RELATED: José Trinidad Rojas Pliego ordered released from ICE processing center

“His family is traumatized as well. They saw the videos of (Lorenzo Salgado Araujo) dying on the floor, and suddenly their father, their husband, breadwinner is detained,” Gonzalez said. “Certainly looking forward to this reunification.”

A federal judge ordered ICE to release Rojas Pliego and provide his attorney with at least three hours’ notice before doing so.

Rojas Pliego has applied for a U visa, and the judge noted that his immigration case could take years to resolve.

Concerns about future ICE detention remain

The possibility of being detained again remains a concern for Rojas Pliego and his legal team. Gonzalez pointed to what he described as a pattern that has affected even U.S. citizens.

“There have been cases of U.S. citizens being detained three times, and the government continues to arrest them,” Gonzalez said. “The judge asked the government ... to provide a hearing in the case they want to re-arrest him.”

Other witnesses still waiting

The two other men who were in the van with Salgado Araujo have not been granted release orders, although their attorneys have filed petitions on their behalf. Gonzalez said the disparity is not uncommon because release decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by individual judges.

Gonzalez also said bond hearings are no longer required, a change that directly affects people detained by ICE at the Montgomery County processing facility.

A news conference is expected to be held Thursday.

Police: Bullets that killed 2 bystanders at Seattle festival weren't from teen shooter's gun

Gene Johnson And Hallie Golden, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:10:05 +0000

Bullets recovered from two bystanders killed during a shootout at a Seattle festival last weekend do not appear to have come from the gun that a 15-year-old arrested at the scene was firing, police said in court documents filed Wednesday.

The King County prosecutor’s office filed charges of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement as well as unlawful possession of a handgun by someone under 18. In a statement supporting the charges, police said the teen was seen firing an untraceable ghost gun into a crowd, but preliminary testing of bullets recovered from two bystanders killed showed they did not match that weapon.

Shell casings found at the scene of Sunday’s shooting indicate four weapons were fired during the shootout.

Police say a 19-year-old suspect involved in the shooting was shot and killed at the scene. Police have been trying to identify at least one other person involved in the shooting. The statement did not indicate who might have fired the bullets that killed the bystanders.

Houston Shakespeare Festival is back at Miller Outdoor Theatre with a reimagined lead in “The Tempest”

Sabiha Mahmood — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:16:04 +0000

Whether you love a great Shakespeare play or are looking to spend the rest of the summer days with your family, the University of Houston School of Dance and Theater is returning to the Miller Outdoor Theatre stage with “The Comedy of Errors” and “The Tempest” at this year’s Houston Shakespeare Festival.

The Miller Outdoor Theatre is the perfect setting with its outdoor stage and open hills. Houstonians can sit under the vast sky and watch the festival’s performances just like in Shakespearean days.

Since 1975, UH School of Dance and Theater has entertained audiences with classic tales — and this year is a little different.

The beloved character Prospero has been reimagined as a powerful sorceress named Prospera. Veteran actor Laure Frye, with credits from Houston and New York City, takes on the new role with her fresh take.

Plus, if you arrive 30 minutes before the performance, you’ll experience the festival’s version of Bard Talk. So bring a blanket and enjoy the shows from tomorrow, July 30, through Aug. 8.

“The Tempest” performs July 30 and Aug. 1, 3, 5 and 7
“The Comedy of Errors” performs July 31 and Aug. 4, 6 and 8
Performance begins at 8:15 p.m.
Bard Talk begins at 7:45 p.m.
Hermann Park’s Miller Outdoor Theatre (6000 Hermann Park Drive)
Event is free
But if you prefer covered seating, grab your tickets here.

Sharon Ott, executive director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival and director of the University of Houston’s School of Theatre and Dance — along with actors Brandon Morgan and Frye stopped by “Houston Life” with a preview. Watch their conversation in the video above.

For more information about the festival, visit uh.edu/shakespeare.

Fauci repeatedly invokes the Fifth Amendment in a contentious Senate committee hearing

Lauran Neergaard And Ali Swenson, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:03:12 +0000

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer dozens of questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision, at least for now, shielded Fauci from answering questions that could expose him to accusations of lying under oath. Though he received a pardon in early 2025 from Democratic President Joe Biden, some Republicans pursuing a yearslong campaign for his arrest had suggested he could still face charges for any perjury committed during Wednesday’s hearing.

The scientist, who helped lead the nation’s COVID-19 response, was subpoenaed to testify under oath by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has long had an antagonistic relationship with Fauci.

In response to angry, sometimes mocking questions from Republican senators, Fauci declined to answer more than 100 times, injecting new drama into partisan divides that have festered for years about the origins and handling of the pandemic. Fauci himself has become a polarizing figure, even receiving death threats that prompted him to seek security.

In his opening statement, Fauci said Paul has an “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution.”

“The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars,'” Fauci said, adding that while it pained him to do so, he was following his attorney’s advice by taking the Fifth.

Paul, who has long argued that Fauci should be criminally investigated, based on his belief that the scientist was dishonest in previous testimony to Congress, announced that the committee will vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer questions.

He did not say whether he would push for a criminal contempt referral to federal prosecutors or another charge. He also raised questions about whether Fauci’s pardon affects his eligibility for Fifth Amendment protections.

Republicans accuse Fauci of lying while Democrats say he didn't deserve that

In the combative hearing, Paul and other Republicans accused Fauci of lying in earlier testimony about the coronavirus’ origins, something the longtime National Institutes of Health scientist has forcefully denied. Democrats called the hearing a politically motivated attempt at entrapping Fauci and praised the scientist for his work during the pandemic.

With Fauci declining to answer questions throughout, Paul dominated the approximately three-hour hearing, listing a litany of accusations and detailed questions.

“Today will be the capstone to Anthony Fauci's 40 years of abuse of power at NIH,” Paul said. “History will judge, but the facts as we now know them paint a sordid tale of dishonesty, misjudgment and ultimately the hubris, the likes of which the world has never seen.”

In a heated moment during the hearing, Paul ejected Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, from the room after he tried to speak without being recognized. In a statement, Schertler said the removal was “outrageous and demonstrates the completely biased and baseless nature of this proceeding.” In another statement, he called Paul’s accusations about Fauci “false and disgraceful.”

Democratic senators praised Fauci and said he didn’t deserve the treatment he was getting.

“This hearing is designed to entrap you,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire.

Paul released some of Fauci's diary

Leading up to the hearing, Paul released more than 1,000 pages of Fauci’s personal diary covering the pandemic years. Pointing to some notes about early efforts at understanding how the virus emerged, Paul said on social media that what Fauci “wrote privately and what he told the country are two different stories.”

Some of the diary entries — including Fauci’s uncertainty in the pandemic’s earliest days as scientists around the world raced to understand the new virus and how best to curb it before vaccines could be created — already were reflected in a 2024 memoir and in interviews at the time.

But they have nonetheless drawn attention from people who blame Fauci for mask mandates, school closures and other policies they believe infringed on their rights as hundreds of thousands of people were dying.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday wrote on social media that he stopped relying on Fauci over the course of the pandemic because he felt the scientist made bad decisions about masks, shutdowns, and other issues. He later told reporters he watched the entire hearing.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist before entering public office, said on social media that his department had found the diary entries on government property and had given them to the committee.

Dozens of disease experts defend Fauci in letter

Scientists also scrambled to Fauci’s defense ahead of the unusual hearing — the second time he has been back before Congress to discuss pandemic origins since leaving the government in 2022. While the COVID-19 pandemic introduced him to millions of Americans, he talked the nation through numerous outbreaks over decades, including HIV, Ebola and the 2001 anthrax attacks, while advising seven presidents.

In a public letter, more than 150 infectious-disease experts and other scientists wrote that “no credible evidence has been produced to support these absurd charges” and that they are urging elected officials to “stop these witch-hunts.”

Among topics discussed at Wednesday's hearing was whether NIH-funded research in China may have played a role in how the pandemic started.

Many scientists believe the virus most likely emerged in nature and jumped from animals to people, coming to light when it spread at a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. There’s no new scientific evidence supporting the theory that the virus might instead have leaked from a laboratory, a theory Paul champions. A GOP-led subcommittee that studied the question in 2024 found no evidence linking Fauci to wrongdoing.

Fauci has long said publicly that he was open to both theories but that there’s more evidence supporting COVID-19’s natural origins.

Republicans also have accused Fauci of lying about whether his agency funded what's known as gain-of-function research — the practice of enhancing a virus in a lab to study its potential real-world impact — at a lab in Wuhan.

The NIH, for years, gave grants to a New York nonprofit called EcoHealth Alliance, which used some of the funds to work with a Chinese lab studying coronaviruses commonly carried by bats. But the definition of gain-of-function covers both general research and especially risky experiments that enhance the ability of potential pandemic viruses to spread or cause severe disease in humans. Fauci has previously stressed he was using the risky experiment definition and “it would be molecularly impossible” for those bat virus experiments to have turned into the pandemic virus.

Trump, a Republican, paused some federally funded gain-of-function research last year, and on Tuesday his administration announced new rules to tighten oversight.

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Swenson reported from New York.

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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.

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Follow the AP's coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.

South Texas builders warn of voter backlash in November if aggressive ICE tactics continue

Texas Tribune, Berenice Garcia — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:09:48 +0000

Subscribe to The Y’all — a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state.

PHARR — Leaders within the construction industry in South Texas delivered a clear message to lawmakers: Stop the mass deportation of workers or risk losing in November.

During a gathering Wednesday hosted by the South Texas Builders Association and the American Business Immigration Coalition Action, industry leaders discussed possible solutions for immigrant workers. Lawmakers who don’t engage with their concerns or don’t support worker protections, the group warned, will lose their races in the November midterm elections.

The South Texas Builders Association had been for months raising the alarm on how immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had scared immigrant workers from showing up to work sites, causing a labor shortage and a delay in construction projects.

After the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a construction worker in Houston who was fatally shot by an ICE officer earlier this month, ICE’s targeting of immigrant laborers has once again come into focus, and now, the builders association is demanding worker protections, such as permits that would allow immigrants to work legally in the country.

“I want to send a clear warning to every political leader: If you don’t stop the worksite raids, the mass deportations, if you don’t pass the work permits for long-term, law-abiding immigrants, or citizens, or our Dreamers, you will lose,” said Massey Villarreal, CEO and president of Precision Task Group, a business solutions firm based in Houston.

Villarreal, a Republican, serves as co-chairman of the Comité de 100, a bipartisan group of Latino business leaders who advocate for immigration policies that enable border security alongside a pathway for legal status for workers.

He said that Latinos in Texas should take it personally when ICE targets people like Salgado Araujo because he said it’s an attack on the community.

“I won’t tolerate it, even in our own party,” he said.

Ronnie Cavazos, chairman of the South Texas Builders Association, said his own father was an immigrant and a hard worker. He imagined that Salgado Araujo, who was killed on his way to work, was similar and questioned why the community had supported a presidential administration that would shoot and kill a worker like him.

“Let’s be real, we voted for it,” Cavazos said. “So whose fault was it?”

He would take the blame, but he and the organization are paying attention now, he said, adding that the only way to change things is to vote.

“When I go to that ballot box in November, Lorenzo’s name is going to be in my mind,” Cavazos said.

The three congressional races in South Texas are among the most competitive in the state. Two of the incumbents — U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, Democrats from Laredo and McAllen, respectively — attended Wednesday’s gathering and reiterated their support for limiting ICE operations for the deportation of violent criminals and assured they supported work permits for immigrant laborers.

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a Republican from Edinburg, did not attend Wednesday’s meeting, though she has met with the builders association in the past. Following talks with the group, De La Cruz said she would favor a legal status for construction workers.

She has also worked behind the scenes to secure the release of people from ICE custody including high school mariachi students and a nun who was detained on her way to Mass last month.

“As I have repeatedly said, our immigration enforcement should target violent criminals,” De La Cruz said in a social post when the nun, Sister Leticia Ugboaja, was detained.

However, De La Cruz has faced criticism from immigrant activist groups for voting for President Donald Trump’s signature funding bill, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which allocated more funding for ICE’s immigration crackdown.

De La Cruz is in a closely watched congressional race against Tejano star Bobby Pulido who is hoping to flip the seat back to Democrats in November.

Pulido, whose delayed flight kept him away from Wednesday’s gathering, spoke to the group in a video message.

“I do believe that we want common-sense immigration reform that doesn’t hurt businesses and doesn’t separate families and have people living in fear,” Pulido said. “I’m with you all, and you all have a friend.”

Andy Garza, a sales consultant for a concrete company based in Mission, said he was disappointed the meeting became political after it was advertised as an open discussion that put politics aside.

Garza, who voted for Trump 2024, said if Democrats had secured the border to begin with, ICE raids wouldn’t be happening now.

Because of culture war issues, Garza said he would never vote for a Democrat again. However, he said immigrants are needed for construction and agriculture work.

“I do believe there should be changes,” he said. “Leave the people that are working, are construction workers, leave them alone. We need them.”

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Rescue efforts underway after man falls into manhole in Spring

Brittany Taylor — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:00:47 +0000

Rescue operations are currently underway after a man fell into a manhole in Spring on Wednesday afternoon, according to Harris County Constable Precinct 4.

Constable deputies responded to the incident in the 24600 block of Cypresswood Drive at James C. Leo Drive.

The man is currently trapped and the extent of his injuries are unknown.

Constable Deputies, Fire Department personnel, and EMS are at the scene working to safely rescue the man.

Drivers are being asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes while emergency responders conduct rescue operations.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Man convicted in terrorism trial over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie

Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:45:22 +0000

A man was convicted Wednesday of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel “The Satanic Verses.”

After just a couple of hours of deliberations, a jury found Hadi Matar guilty of all the charges against him, including engaging in an act of transnational terrorism.

Rushdie, who was about to speak on writers’ safety, was slashed 15 times on an amphitheater stage in 2022. He was gravely wounded and lost the sight in his right eye.

Prosecutors asserted that Matar was motivated by the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ’s 1989 call for Rushdie’s death because of “The Satanic Verses.”

“His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said in a statement after the verdict, adding that “justice has been done.” Iran’s government has denied involvement in the attack.

Matar’s defense: No evidence of his state of mind

Messages seeking comment on the verdict were sent to Matar's attorneys and Rushdie's assistant. During the trial, defense lawyer Nathaniel Barone said the government had no proof of what was in Matar’s head.

Matar himself declined to testify. Rushdie did, telling jurors: “I can’t say what his ambitions or his aim was, but the wounds were dispersed across my body.”

Matar, 28, is already serving a 25-year New York state prison sentence on an attempted murder conviction in the stabbing. His federal sentencing is set for Nov. 3, when he faces a potential life term.

Rushdie won Britain’s prestigious Booker Prize for his 1981 novel “Midnight’s Children,” about his native India. “The Satanic Verses,” a novel of magical realism about the lives and dreams of two actors who survive a plane explosion, followed in 1988.

It drew critical acclaim in the United Kingdom but engendered protests around the Muslim world over what some believers saw as blasphemous suggestions about Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, particularly in a dream sequence. Over the ensuing years, at least 45 people were killed in riots over the book, a Japanese translator was stabbed to death, and an Italian translator and Norwegian publisher were attacked.

Rushdie, who was born into a Muslim family, has said the dream sequence was just that. But he went into hiding for years, gradually emerging after Iran’s government distanced itself in 1998 from Khomeini’s fatwa, or religious edict.

“For two decades or more, I led a public life without a hint of trouble,” Rushdie testified at the trial in Buffalo, New York.

Yet the fatwa was never rescinded; indeed, Khomenei’s successor, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, indicated in 2017 that it remained in effect. An Iranian foundation has offered a more than $3 million bounty for killing Rushdie.

Prosecutors: Matar’s messages showed him zeroing in on Rushdie

Matar broached the fatwa with contacts in messaging apps in 2021 and 2022, according to exhibits shown in court. The messages showed Matar fuming that he felt Rushdie had attacked Islam and, by surviving, emboldened others to insult the faith. Matar alluded to a 2006 comment along those lines by the late Hezbollah militant group leader Hassan Nasrallah, the messages showed.

Born in the U.S., Matar also holds citizenship in Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based. Prosecutors said that photos in Matar’s New Jersey bedroom and on his computer indicated his support for Hezbollah, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization.

Matar “spent months planning and preparing to carry out what he hoped would be the execution of Salman Rushdie,” U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said in a statement Wednesday.

The messages showed Matar initially talked about wanting to “expose” Rushdie, then about taking his life. In a private note to himself, he wrote: “We need to kill him ASAP,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch said in an opening statement on July 22. The prosecutor said Matar framed the planned killing as part of what he considered a jihad, or holy war.

By spring 2022, the electronic chats showed, Matar wrote that he had discerned where Rushdie lived and was tracking his public appearances, eventually pointing out his scheduled August 2022 talk at the Chautauqua Institution, a western New York arts and intellectual center.

As Rushdie was being introduced, his attacker climbed on stage behind him, then stabbed him as the audience gasped. Spectators and another speaker, Henry Reese, scrambled to aid Rushdie. Law enforcement officers, assigned to the event, arrested the attacker — soon identified as Matar — after civilians restrained him.

Rushdie published a 2024 memoir about the attack, then returned to fiction with last year’s “The Eleventh Hour.” The author, who was knighted by Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II, received a Dayton Literary Peace Prize lifetime achievement award in November.

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Associated Press writer John Wawrow contributed from Buffalo, New York.

18-year-old charged in fatal shooting outside a midtown Houston nightclub back in April

Mike Akin, Ninfa Saavedra, Ricky Munoz — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:03:06 +0000

Jefferson Velasquez in now charged with murder in the shooting that happened April 27th near the Diosa nightclub on Milam Street.

27-year-old Noah Ramirez was killed in the shooting, and two others were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Houston police responded to reports of a shooting around 2 a.m. and found three people who had been shot.

EN ESPANOL: Un muerto y dos heridos tras tiroteo afuera de un club en el centro de Houston

According to witnesses, there was a fight between several men, and one of them pulled out a gun.

Investigators say there was a fight inside the club the led to the shooting.

Jefferson Velasquez in currently in the Harris County Jail and due in court Thursday morning.

Fever do not answer questions about pro-Cunningham rally ahead of 105-95 win against Storm

Andrew Destin, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:31:23 +0000

Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark were not made available to answer postgame questions about a rally before the Indiana Fever's 105-95 win over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night in support of Cunningham's recent comments about transgender athletes.

A crowd of a few dozen gathered outside Climate Pledge Arena to both support Cunningham and promote statewide initiatives IL26-638, which would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools, and IL26-001, which would expand the state's “Parents’ Bill of Rights.”

Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports in an ESPN article published last week. Cunningham was booed by Storm fans when she checked into Tuesday’s game, as well as when attempting her first free throws of the night.

Media members asked to speak to Cunningham and Clark postgame, but neither player was made available. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings addressed the media instead, alongside head coach Stephanie White.

When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham’s recent comments, a Fever public relations representative intervened with the following statement:

“Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers,” the statement said. “Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”

Storm head coach Sonia Raman answered a question about the pregame protest following her team’s seventh consecutive loss.

“Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building,” Raman said. “I think we’ve always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door.

“From what I understand, that was successful.”

Heather Weiner, a spokesperson for No Hate in Washington State, a coalition of doctors, nurses, anti-domestic violence groups and other community organizations opposing statewide Initiatives 638 and 001, found it to be a positive experience on the whole outside Climate Pledge Arena.

“Washington State is a very caring, inclusive place,” Weiner said. “We don’t always agree, but we do agree against hate, and we will come together about that.”

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Trump announces a $22.5B makeover of Dulles airport that will eliminate the 'people movers'

Darlene Superville, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:01:41 +0000

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a $22.5 billion renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport that will end the use of the widely disliked “people movers,” the mobile lounges that have been used for decades to shuttle travelers to and from the main terminal.

In place of the people movers, the airport will add a new U-shaped passenger train, a central walking tunnel, more moving walkways and new concourses. An above-ground parking garage closer to the main terminal with space for 32,000 vehicles is also in the offing, according to Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

The airport makeover would add to a long list of renovation projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave a lasting mark on the Washington region after his term ends in January 2029. Among other undertakings, he is building a new White House ballroom and wants to build a towering triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial.

But of all the construction projects Trump is pursuing, the renovations at Dulles could prove to be his most popular and benefit the greatest number of people. The airport, the area’s primary international airport, served roughly 29 million passengers over the past year, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

“This transformation is another step in our ongoing efforts to make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful again,” Trump said. “We’re doing something with Dulles that’s going to make it the top anywhere in the world.”

Trump says Dulles modernization is ‘sorely needed’

Trump, who used a laser pointer to explain the renovations displayed on renderings, said the “crazy distances” travelers must walk to get from place to place make Dulles “the worst airport.”

Congress would need to approve some aspects of the renovation plan, Trump said. Construction could start next spring, Duffy said. The plan does not call for expanding Dulles' runways or adding new ones.

Officials said the airlines and the airport authority that operates Dulles would pay for the project with municipal bonds, but they did not spell out how much of the cost might be passed on to travelers through higher fees or ticket prices when flying out of the airport.

John Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles, said his agency, United Airlines and other airlines operating there have agreed “to fund this thing.” Dulles is one of United's hubs.

“So this is not requiring federal dollars,” Potter said at the Oval Office event. “This is going to be airport-generated dollars, airline contributions, which is phenomenal."

Dulles, located in northern Virginia, is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from downtown Washington. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington, Virginia, which is closer to downtown, making it popular with members of Congress and local residents.

The president, a former real estate developer, said in December that Dulles was “incorrectly designed.” He nonetheless praised Eero Saarinen, the Finnish-American architect and designer of the airport's main terminal. Trump and Duffy said the president reviewed presentations from about 30 architects before Trump settled on the redesign he announced Wednesday.

Some costs might eventually be shared by taxpayers and travelers

Even if the project is largely paid for by the airlines, industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said taxpayers might be asked to cover upgrades to the runways and safety measures as well as new customs and security facilities. The president of Atmosphere Research Group said he also wouldn't be surprised to see a passenger facility fee added eventually.

“I’m not taking the statement that they are not going to use taxpayer money at face value,” Harteveldt said.

The reason United and other airlines are willing to invest in Dulles, he said, is that they believe it will help them expand by adding more flights and passengers, boosting their revenue. But this could also contribute to higher ticket prices.

“United is going to try to charge as much for its tickets as it can. Other airlines will do the same,” Harteveldt said. “I think part of the statement that no tax money will be used could be something to placate the public right now.”

Dulles has relied on people movers since it opened in 1962

Designed by Chrysler Corp., the people movers shuttle passengers between the terminal and aircraft. The airport operates a fleet of 19 mobile lounges, each capable of carrying up to 102 passengers, according to its website.

When Dulles debuted, the airport touted the system as a major convenience. Passengers, it said, “had to walk only 200 feet once they entered the terminal until they were seated in a mobile lounge for the short trip directly to their aircraft,” a service it described as unique to Dulles.

But they have become one of passengers' least favorite aspects of transiting through Dulles, with travelers — and Trump — complaining that the system is outdated, balky and slow. At times, planes have to wait for a people mover to cross and vice versa, which slows operations at the airport.

One of the lounges crashed in November, sending 18 people to the hospital.

Dulles began a multibillion-dollar construction program in 2000 to begin to address future passenger demand. Major projects included two new parking garages, a fourth runway, a new concourse, a new Air Traffic Control tower, pedestrian walkways, and an airport train system, according to the airport authority’s website.

The airport authority says significant modernization work is already underway at Dulles. Later this year, the first segment of the new Concourse E will open with 14 additional United gates that will help the airline expand its international network, provide direct access to the airport’s AeroTrain system and debut new and enhanced concessions options and passenger lounges.

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Associated Press writers Rio Yamat in Las Vegas and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.

Blanche nomination at risk of delay as senator seeks assurances on Trump settlement

Alanna Durkin Richer And Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:35:40 +0000

A planned vote to move forward with Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general appeared in doubt Wednesday as a key Republican senator demanded more assurances from the Justice Department about the settlement of President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn, a crucial swing vote, told reporters he was not willing to support Blanche's nomination until the Justice Department adequately addressed in writing his concerns about the settlement that afforded Trump and members of his family protection from tax audits.

The dispute threatened to upend plans for the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote Thursday on whether to advance Blanche's nomination to the full Senate. Another Republican on the committee, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, has backed Cornyn's position, and just one Republican holdout could sink Blanche's prospects.

After hours of negotiations, Cornyn said Wednesday evening that there had been no progress toward satisfying his demands.

“They’re stonewalling,” Cornyn, who lost the Texas Republican primary in May, said of the Justice Department.

At the center of the fight is the settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that included a deal to drop tax claims against the president and a now-scrapped plan to create a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate people who believe they were wronged by the Justice Department. The Justice Department said in June that it was no longer moving forward with the “Anti-Weaponization Fund" amid bipartisan outrage but officials have said the audit immunity agreement remains in place.

Blanche didn’t answer shouted questions from reporters as he left Capitol Hill, where he had been meeting with senators Wednesday. A person familiar with the matter said the Justice Department had provided Cornyn’s office with a written proposal seeking to address his concerns around the audit immunity agreement and the fund. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk about sensitive discussions surrounding Blanche’s confirmation.

Trump on Wednesday downplayed any concerns about Blanche's path to confirmation, calling his attorney general pick and former personal attorney “outstanding."

“Maybe John Cornyn’s upset with me because I didn’t endorse him,” Trump told reporters in response to questions about the senator's demands.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the state's Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, easily defeating Cornyn. Trump had endorsed Paxton.

Some lawmakers have questioned whether the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” could be resurrected absent a commitment in writing from the Trump administration that it is dead, especially since Trump has expressed continued support for the idea. Blanche had previously resisted requests for a formal written retraction, though he told senators at his confirmation hearing earlier this month that the administration would be willing to help craft legislation to bar the creation of the fund.

Cornyn has also demanded clarification from the Justice Department on the scope of the tax immunity deal. He has pressed the administration to modify that piece of the settlement to make clear that it covers only existing audits and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.

“We're been trying to help them get to a conclusion here and they won't let us. It's befuddling to me,” Cornyn said.

The settlement resulting from Trump's lawsuit over his leaked tax returns has drawn intense scrutiny both in Congress and in court. The judge handling the case said in a scathing ruling earlier this month that Trump had effectively engaged in self-dealing through the lawsuit and that she was troubled Blanche had signed the settlement, given his prior representation of Trump.

Blanche has said he disagrees “with the judge’s insinuations" about him.

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Associated Press reporters Seung Min Kim and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

Witness to Houston ICE shooting released from immigration detention

Texas Tribune, Ayden Runnels — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:46:49 +0000

One of the witnesses to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo has been released from federal immigration custody after a federal judge ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to discharge him.

Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego left the Montgomery ICE Processing Center in Conroe, north of Houston, on Wednesday — within the 48 hour window the judge’s Monday order gave DHS to set him free. He had been held in the facility since the July 7 shooting.

Roja Pliego, a Mexican citizen, was one of three men who were passengers in Salgado Araujo’s van when Immigrations and Custom Enforcement officers began following the group and ultimately shot the longtime Houston resident. Rojas Pliego has lived in the United States since 1998, has several children and stepchildren who are U.S. citizens and has no criminal record, according to the order.

Because the officers who stopped the men had no body cameras or dashcams, Rojas Pliego and the other men are the only known witnesses to the shooting. He and another passenger have countered federal officials’ recollection of events, asserting that agents rammed Salgado Araujo’s van with their vehicles prior to shooting him. Federal officials have maintained Salgado Araujo attempted to ram an agent’s vehicle before he was shot.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison’s order for Rojas Pliego’s release comes less than a week after he issued a separate order blocking Rojas Pliego’s deportation, and he noted in Monday’s order that Rojas Pliego’s request is “one of hundreds of similar petitions” amid the Trump administration’s application of immigration detention protocol.

Ellison’s order states that the government is not permitted to detain noncitizens without “individualized justification” only because they did not enter the country lawfully. It also stipulates that DHS must seek a pre-detention hearing before it seeks to re-detain Rojas Pliego.

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the order.

The agency and the Trump administration have provided little detail about the circumstances leading up to Salgado Araujo’s death beyond their initial statement. More than a dozen attorneys and law enforcement officers who The Texas Tribune asked to review available footage of ICE agents’ pursuit of Salgado Araujo said it raised red flags and possibly violated the law.

The relative speed of the federal judge’s decision, coming a week after the petition was filed, is the latest in a series of unusual circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting that experts have said raise further questions about whether it was justified.

In addition to the lack of footage of the shooting, federal officials sought and subsequently unsealed a search warrant that claimed there may have been methamphetamine in Salgado Araujo’s van. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said on Friday that the substance was tested and found not to be an illicit substance.

Teare’s office has also said that federal investigators have withheld evidence — including the name of the agent who shot Salgado Araujo — preventing local authorities from conducting their own investigation.

Raed Gonzalez, one of Rojas Pliego’s attorneys, said that Rojas Pliego himself was not yet aware of the release order. He also said the judge’s ruling for an immediate release was indicative of the strength of Rojas Pliego’s petition.

“He could have ordered a bond hearing to be taken in immigration court,” Gonzalez said. “That’s what … sometimes some of the judges have done. Thankfully, this one knew what he was doing.”

Gonzalez said it was still too early to tell whether similar orders would be issued for the other two witnesses, Daniel Tirado Pantoja and Salgado Araujo’s brother, Victor Hugo Salgado Araujo. The two have submitted similar petitions to be released from immigration detention.

Lomi Kriel contributed to this story.

Iran launches renewed missile attacks as US and Saudis strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:09:01 +0000

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the Middle East on Wednesday as the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Tehran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.

Elsewhere, drone strikes ignited fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port of Damietta, according to Ambrey, a British maritime security firm. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the strikes on a U.S.-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported.

The flare-up on multiple fronts after several days of relative calm raised the risk of a return to all-out war. It also underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy and is unpopular among Americans. The fighting was also likely to add to concerns that the U.S. is further drawing down already diminished stockpiles of sophisticated munitions needed to defend its bases and allies.

Egypt, a close U.S. ally and regional mediator, is one of the only countries in the Middle East to have been spared direct military action during the war. A strike by Iran or its allies, if confirmed, would mark a significant widening of the conflict.

Asked during an Oval Office event if Iran was responsible for the strikes on the natural gas vessels, Trump responded: “It's a little more of the same.”

“It’s going to be straightening out,” he added. “In the meantime, we’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming. They’re asking us not to do it.”

Saudi Arabia had accused the Iraqi militias of firing drones against its oil facilities over the past two days. An umbrella group of Iraqi militias initially denied the allegations, while another Iran-backed group — the Houthi rebels in Yemen — said they had attacked Saudi energy facilities as part of a separate but related conflict.

Before the latest eruption, mediators had expressed optimism about bringing the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table. An interim agreement collapsed in recent weeks over renewed fighting in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies that Iranian attacks have again effectively closed.

A regional official said mediators are “still trying with both sides” to restore calm and get the ceasefire back on track. He gave no details on whether progress was being made and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door diplomacy.

Regional countries will continue to push to de-escalate the situation, said an Arab official, adding that prospects for successful mediation were slim as both sides continue to launch attacks on the other and have shown no inclination to stop. “We're in a very bad place right now,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe an internal assessment of the situation.

The renewed hostilities sent oil prices spiking. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 7.3% to $88.093 a barrel.

Jordan intercepts missiles and US strikes militias in Iraq

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it fired ballistic missiles at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key U.S. military hub for the region, in a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency.

Jordan’s military said five Iranian missiles had been intercepted and destroyed. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The U.S. military later announced that American and Saudi fighter aircraft had struck multiple logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq in response to the alleged drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Defense Ministry warned that it “does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression.”

The Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of primarily Shiite Iranian-backed armed groups that is officially under the command of the Iraqi military, said at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded in the overnight strikes. Six Iranian advisers were also killed, according to two Iraqi militia officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. Iran's deputy governor for political, security and social affairs in Markazi province told Iranian state media that four advisers were killed.

The coalition joined the fight against the Islamic State group after it seized large sections of Iraq in 2014. The Iraqi government later designated the coalition as an “independent military formation” within the armed forces, but the militias have significant autonomy and some have attacked U.S. facilities.

Iraq’s government decried the U.S.-Saudi attacks, though a Fox News reporter said in an on-air segment that Trump told him they were done in coordination with the Iraqi government.

The office of Iraqi President Nizar Amidi called the airstrikes “a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.”

Iraq’s National Security Council said the strikes had been carried out “while the Iraqi government was in contact with relevant parties to investigate and address all the concerns raised by the Saudi and American sides.” It said “a number of innocent people” had been killed and wounded.

A visit to Saudi Arabia by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that had been scheduled for Thursday was postponed indefinitely, said two Iraqi government officials on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

Attacks on Saudi oil facilities could worsen global energy crisis

Saudi Arabia is also locked in a renewed conflict with the Houthis. The rebels have declared a blockade of Saudi shipping that could choke off another crucial Middle East trade route, the Bab el-Mandeb strait from the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden.

On Monday, the Houthis said they had launched drones targeting oil facilities used to transport oil across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, a key bypass for Saudi exports blocked by Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

The rebels said their attack was in response to a Saudi drone they said had breached Yemen’s airspace.

Planet Labs satellite imagery from Monday analyzed by AP showed damage to Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq oil-processing facility. The massive facility is capable of processing approximately 7 million barrels of crude oil per day.

Separately, a regional official said an oil refinery in Jazan, on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, had temporarily shut down due to “relatively significant” damage from a Houthi attack on Saturday. The official, who was not authorized to brief journalists and spoke on condition of anonymity, said it would take several days to be repaired. The refinery produces 400,000 barrels per day.

Iran rejects Oman proposal for managing Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz has been a major flashpoint in the conflict. Iran's deputy foreign minister said his country had rejected a proposal from Oman, which lies on the other side of the strait, to jointly manage ship traffic.

In an interview with Iran’s state-run television, Kazem Gharibabadi said Oman's proposal included dividing the strait into two routes.

Iran offered a counterproposal with a temporary plan for the transit of vessels through its territorial waters, he said, adding that Tehran's policy is for the strait “never to return to its prewar situation,” when ships moved freely.

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Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo; Abby Sewell in Beirut; David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany; Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece; Matthew Lee, Konstantin Toropin and Aamer Madhani in Washington, and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Macklin Celebrini gets 5-year, $94M extension from the Sharks in the NHL's richest deal ever

Josh Dubow, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:12:30 +0000

San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension Wednesday that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL.

Celebrini had one year remaining on his three-year, $2.925 million entry-level contract before signing the deal that keeps him locked up with the Sharks through the 2031-32 season.

The $18.8 million average annual value of the deal that Celebrini reached with general manager Mike Grier and owner Hasso Plattner is the richest in NHL history, topping the $18 million a year Leo Carlsson got when Anaheim matched a five-year offer sheet from Philadelphia.

“We wanted to make sure Mack felt valued here and he was compensated fairly,” Grier said. “In our eyes, he’s the best young player in the league. So we felt like we wanted to pay him an amount that was commiserate with that. He was willing to take a little bit less to leave us some flexibility, so we can keep building out the roster as we go along.”

Celebrini could have signed a deal worth up to about $20.8 million a year, and Grier said Plattner was willing to pay that much if necessary. But Celebrini made clear early in the negotiations that he was willing to take a little less to make sure the Sharks had the flexibility to build a championship roster around him.

“That meant a lot to me,” Grier said. "He showed his faith and his commitment to the organization, and him wanting to be here and be successful here. It was pretty important and pretty cool for me to hear that from such a young player having that maturity.”

Celebrini, who turned 20 in June, has established himself as one of the game's top young stars since being picked first overall by San Jose in 2024. His 178 points are the fifth most for a teenager and his 70 career goals are seventh best for a player before turning 20.

Celebrini had 45 goals and 70 assists last season, with his 115 points breaking Joe Thornton’s franchise record of 114 set in 2006-07 and trailing Wayne Gretzky (137 in 1979-80) and Sidney Crosby (120 in 2006-07) for the most in a season for a player before turning 20.

“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in a statement. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”

He had the 10th most points ever for a player who missed the playoffs, recording a point on 46.2% of San Jose goals for the second-best rate in the league behind Connor McDavid (48/9%) and the best ever for a teenager.

He also was the leading goal scorer in the Olympics, with five goals to help Canada win the silver medal.

Grier said he had no hesitation giving a young player like Celebrini so much money, saying he followed advice he got from his late father, Bobby, and brother, Chris, who were both longtime executives in the NFL.

“If you’re going to do a long-term extension with someone and pay them a lot of money, you’ve got to bet on the person first and foremost,” Grier said. “In this case, I think you couldn’t bet on a better kid than Mack. If it does anything, it’ll motivate him just to be even better than he already is. But I don’t think it will change him at all.”

Despite Celebrini's exploits, the Sharks still missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season. They improved by 34 points for the 10th best single-season jump in the last 30 years but landed four points out of the playoffs.

Celebrini is part of a strong young core in San Jose alongside fellow promising players like Michael Misa, Will Smith, Igor Chernyshov and Sam Dickinson. The Sharks added even more young talent this offseason with three first-round picks headlined by Swedish left winger Ivar Stenberg at No. 2 overall. They also added North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff at No. 9 and WHL Vancouver play-making defenseman Ryan Lin at No. 21.

Grier also brought in veteran reinforcements at the start of the offseason, trading for defenseman Darnell Nurse and signing defenseman Jacob Trouba and forward Mason Marchment.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

In the CLASSROOM with Kroger: How they’re helping parents and kids start the school year happy, healthy, and prepared

Javana Vela — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:26:15 +0000

As families check off school supply lists and stock up on backpacks, Kroger says preparing kids for a successful school year goes far beyond what goes in their backpack.

Finding the correct school supply list can sometimes be one of the biggest back-to-school challenges.

A simpler way to shop for school supplies

Shayna Barrett, head of communications and public affairs for Kroger, says the company’s Back-to-School List tool is designed to make shopping easier for families.

Parents can scan a QR code in stores or visit Kroger online, enter their ZIP code, select their child’s school and choose the appropriate teacher to access the correct supply list. Items can then be added to an in-store shopping list or an online cart for pickup or delivery. Families with multiple children can also create separate lists for each student.

As the new school year approaches, Kroger Health says combining healthy habits with the right school supplies can help students feel prepared, confident and ready to learn from day one.

According to Danny Harper with Kroger Health and Wellness, a child’s overall well-being includes preventive care, healthy eating habits, quality sleep, regular physical activity and emotional wellness. Having the right school supplies also helps students feel prepared and confident when they walk into the classroom.

Here are a few ways families can help children start the school year on the right foot.

Fuel kids with healthy meals and snacks

Nutritious foods help support growing bodies, improve concentration and provide steady energy throughout the school day.

Harper recommends simple options such as bananas, Greek yogurt, lean proteins, apple slices with almond butter, trail mix and cubed cheese. Families looking for meal inspiration can also find recipes through Kroger’s Fresh Lane blog and use the OptUP app to compare the nutritional value of grocery items.

Make sleep a priority

A consistent bedtime routine can make a big difference once school starts.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends elementary school-aged children get between nine and 12 hours of sleep each night. Adequate rest helps improve focus, learning and overall health.

Encourage movement every day

Physical activity does more than keep kids active. It can also help reduce stress, improve mood and support long-term health.

Harper encourages families to build movement into their daily routines and limit recreational screen time whenever possible. Spending time outdoors is another easy way to help children stay active.

Practice healthy habits

Good hygiene remains one of the simplest ways to help prevent illness during the school year.

Parents should remind children to wash their hands with soap for about 20 seconds, roughly the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Keeping lunchboxes clean and making sure kids stay hydrated throughout the day are also important habits that support overall wellness.

Stay current on physicals and vaccinations

Annual physicals give health care providers an opportunity to monitor a child’s growth, track developmental milestones and identify potential concerns before they become more serious. They also help ensure students are ready to participate in sports and other school activities.

Kroger Health also encourages families to stay up to date on recommended vaccines, including Tdap, MMR and meningococcal vaccines, which help protect children and reduce the spread of illness in schools. Many Kroger pharmacies offer vaccinations without an appointment.

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Jailer fired after inmate escapes from HCA Kingwood hospital; Liberty County fugitive still at large

Corley Peel — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:23:28 +0000

A Liberty County correctional officer has been fired following an escape by an inmate who fled a Kingwood hospital during a medical visit — and authorities say the fugitive remains at large.

Yorlan Rafael Reyes, 31, escaped from the custody of a Liberty County Sheriff’s Office correctional officer during the early morning hours of July 18, 2026, while receiving medical treatment at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood. He was last seen wearing an orange Liberty County Jail-issued jumpsuit and orange jail-issued shoes.

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office says Reyes is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs approximately 190 pounds and should not be approached by the public.

RELATED: Liberty County deputies search for inmate who escaped after hospital trip in Kingwood

Reyes was originally transported to the Liberty County Jail from Madison County, Texas on July 17, 2026, on an outstanding Liberty County felony warrant. He suffered a medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood. At approximately 5:30 a.m., he escaped from custody and fled the hospital on foot.

At the time of his escape, Reyes was being held on a state jail felony charge of unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material under Texas Penal Code § 21.16.

Following the escape, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office conducted two separate reviews of the incident.

The Criminal Investigations Division reviewed the circumstances for possible criminal wrongdoing. The correctional officer cooperated throughout the process and no criminal wrongdoing was found.

However, a separate administrative review by jail administration found violations involving inmate transportation and supervision — specifically that the inmate was able to get outside the officer’s supervision and flee the hospital on foot. As a result, the officer was terminated.

“Although no criminal wrongdoing was identified, that review found violations involving inmate transportation and supervision, and the officer was terminated,” the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The on-scene investigation at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood has been completed and normal hospital operations have resumed. No active law enforcement activity remains at the hospital related to this incident.

The search for Reyes remains active. The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office is working in coordination with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers. Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage from the hospital and continue to pursue all available leads.

Anyone who sees Reyes or has information about his whereabouts is urged not to approach him and to call 911 immediately. Tips can also be submitted to:

Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch: (936) 336-4500
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch: (936) 760-5800
Multi-County Crime Stoppers tip hotline: (800) 392-7867
Online at multicountycrimestoppers.org

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of felony suspects.

Investigators in James Comey seashells case omitted key facts, defense lawyers allege

Eric Tucker, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:33:06 +0000

Federal officials involved in the prosecution of James Comey misled judges, submitted documents containing false statements and withheld key facts during the course of the investigation, according to new defense filings that seek the dismissal of a case charging the former FBI director with threatening President Donald Trump on social media.

Lawyers for Comey made the allegations of misconduct in motions filed late Tuesday that also call the case a vindictive and selective prosecution, demand access to transcripts of grand jury proceedings to expose what they say are “irregularities” in how the indictment was secured, and describe “unlawful” surveillance of Comey by the Secret Service.

Taken together, the new motions, along with an earlier one this week that called Comey's social media post protected speech rather than a threat, represent a multipronged defense effort to dismantle a case that defense lawyers say exemplifies a Trump administration retribution campaign targeting one of the president's vocal critics.

“Ample objective evidence — much of which comes directly from government officials’ own public statements and admissions — establishes that the President’s animus toward Mr. Comey led to this vindictive and selective prosecution,” Comey’s lawyers wrote in one of the filings.

The case centers on a picture of seashells on the beach

Comey was charged in April with threatening Trump through a photo he posted on Instagram a year earlier depicting seashells he said he found on the beach in North Carolina in the numerical arrangement of “86 47.”

The Justice Department has said the photo constituted a threat against Trump, the 47th president. Comey deleted the post shortly after he put it up, saying he did not know that anyone interpreted the numbers as a call to violence. His lawyers have said that the slogan has long meant to “get rid of” or “eject” and has been featured on thousands of items sold online and regularly displayed at protests.

Defense lawyers say investigators who tried to prove that Comey intended a physical threat, or knew that the number “86” suggested violence, repeatedly came up empty but withheld that from federal magistrates as they applied for warrants to search the digital accounts associated with Comey and his wife.

For instance, the FBI searched an internal database of information about open and closed investigations for any indication of an association between Comey and the term “86” but found inconclusive results. An FBI agent also requested a review of the FBI file for the case against reputed mobster John Gambino, which Comey worked on as a young prosecutor, but found no references to the term “86.” Investigators also interviewed a key government cooperator in the case, Salvatore Gravano, who said he did not recall ever discussing the term “86” with Comey or hearing it in connection with the trial.

Defense lawyers say the search warrant affidavits were marred by “false statements,” including what they say were incorrect insinuations that one of Comey's attorneys had sought to hide evidence or that his wife had misled investigators.

“Evidence obtained during discovery supports at least a substantial preliminary showing that the affidavits submitted in support of two of the search warrants contained intentionally false statements and material omissions, and that those defects vitiate any conceivable showing of probable cause,” Comey's lawyers wrote.

Defense lawyers say the case is rooted in Trump's personal animus

In addition, defense lawyers say the warrant applications distort statements made to investigators by a person who knew Comey but has now been estranged from him for years.

The person, whose name is not disclosed in court documents, is described in an affidavit as saying that they immediately perceived Comey's post to have a violent meaning. But investigators omitted that the person said their initial impression was that “86” referred to being “out of something on the menu” and only later concluded that it could be understood as a call to violence.

The person said that view was influenced by having listened to an episode of Rudy Giuliani's online show in which the Trump loyalist claimed that Comey had worked on mob cases as a prosecutor in which mafia members used “86” to mean “kill.” But the FBI's own investigation determined Giuliani's claims to be untrue, defense lawyers said.

The case against Comey over the seashells was the second in recent months targeting the ex-FBI director, a long-running Trump foe whom the president has, over the years, said deserves to be prosecuted.

An earlier case in Virginia accusing Comey of lying to Congress was dismissed in November after a judge concluded that the prosecutor who charged him and another Trump adversary, New York Attorney General Letitia James, had been illegally appointed.

Comey's lawyers describe the prosecutions as rooted in Trump's own personal animus. The Secret Service closely coordinated with the Justice Department and with Trump himself about Comey's interview, according to Comey's lawyers, who also say the president was sent frequent updates on Air Force One and had asked to be briefed.

As Comey returned to Washington with his wife to be interviewed by law enforcement about his post, Secret Service agents were directed to conduct “unlawful” electronic surveillance, “including as they stopped to visit the grave of their deceased son," his lawyers said. The surveillance had been requested by a senior Justice Department official.

Comey was the FBI director when Trump took office in 2017, having been appointed by then-President Barack Obama and previously serving as a senior Justice Department official in President George W. Bush’s administration. Trump fired Comey in May 2017 as the FBI was investigating potential ties between Russia and Trump’s presidential campaign. The men have been openly at odds ever since.

The Justice Department will have an opportunity to respond to the defense filings. It has not elaborated on any evidence of intent the government has. But acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier this year that prosecutors in every case prove intent with “witnesses, with documents, with the defendant himself to the extent it’s appropriate.”

“And that’s how we’ll prove intent in this case,” Blanche said in April, shortly after he was elevated to lead the department after Pam Bondi’s ouster.

'She killed the kids!' 911 call from Lindsay Clancy's husband brings tears to the courtroom

Michael Casey And Leah Willingham, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:01:45 +0000

Lindsay Clancy sobbed in court Wednesday as jurors listened to the anguished 911 call her then-husband made after returning from an errand to find she’d strangled their three children in their Massachusetts home.

On the roughly 7-minute recording, Patrick Clancy can be heard speaking with his wife upon finding her badly injured and bleeding in their yard, after she jumped from the home’s second-story window.

“Look at me,” he says. “Say my name.”

He then tells the dispatcher he's going to check on the children. Moments later, he howls and cries after finding them in the basement. The confused dispatcher repeatedly asks what happened.

“She killed the kids!" he yells.

Three years after their deaths, the murder trial has centered on Lindsay Clancy’s mental state at the time. Her lawyers will seek to prove she had postpregnancy psychosis, a rare mental illness linked to the stress, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes that follow childbirth.

Prosecutors say Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, acted intentionally and is criminally responsible for the deaths of 3-year-old Dawson, 5-year-old Cora, and 8-month-old Callan in January 2023.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: 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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Her lawyer said in opening arguments Monday that she had bipolar disorder, and that antidepressants prescribed after the birth of her third child worsened her condition. On the day of the killings, Lindsay Clancy said she heard a voice telling her, “This is your last chance. Kill the children so you can kill yourself,” according to her lawyer.

If convicted of murder, she faces life in prison without parole. If found not guilty due to a lack of criminal responsibility, she would be committed to a state mental health facility.

Patrick Clancy has said in interviews that he forgives his ex-wife, whom he viewed as ill rather than evil. The trial marks the first time he has seen Lindsay Casey since the killings.

A husband's emotional testimony and a chilling 911 call

Patrick Clancy testified Wednesday that his last image of Dawson was of the boy sitting on the couch, eating chicken nuggets and green beans. Lindsay Clancy had asked her husband to make a quick trip for takeout food and medication at a pharmacy for Cora. Prosecutors say this was an excuse to get him out of the house.

Jurors were shown surveillance video from the pharmacy of Patrick Clancy on the phone with his wife, asking a question about the medicine.

“She was pretty quiet. It sounded like she was busy,” he testified Wednesday. “I remember hanging up thinking she was probably in the middle of giving baths or something like that.”

Returning home, it was unusually silent. He called out to his family.

When no one answered, he searched the children’s rooms and the bathroom, again thinking they might be in the tub, before finding blood throughout the main bedroom and a window open.

Injured but conscious, Lindsay Clancy told him she’d tried to kill herself and that the kids were in the basement, without saying they were dead. He didn’t realize he was still on the phone with 911 as he ran downstairs to find each had been strangled with exercise bands.

Lindsay Clancy's parents, seated in the front of the court, also cried as the call was played. Patrick had already left the room after finishing his testimony.

Jurors were shown the clothes each child had been wearing, with a prosecutor pulling the items from clear plastic evidence bags: pajamas and a pink robe for Cora; a nightshirt and dinosaur underwear for Dawson; a red onesie decorated with snowflakes for Callan.

The trial will hinge on Lindsay Clancy’s mental state

Patrick Clancy testified Monday about his wife's deteriorating mental health in the months before the killings, including her telling him about intrusive thoughts of harming the children and of suicide.

Lindsay Clancy had sought care from experts in postpartum mood disorders, was put on multiple psychiatric medications, and when nothing worked, checked in to a psychiatric hospital. She killed the children 19 days after she was discharged.

No one ever told Patrick Clancy his wife shouldn't be alone with the children, he testified Wednesday. “I didn’t know what psychosis was until after this happened.”

Clancy and her ex-husband accuse her medical providers of failing to properly diagnose, treat and monitor her, according to lawsuits filed earlier this year.

On cross-examination, Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, aimed to demonstrate she took her medications and closely tracked her declining mental health. He introduced daily, handwritten notes she took of her medicines and her mood, including repeatedly writing “horrible thoughts.” She also had a book and fact sheet on postpartum anxiety and a chart where she tracked her mood.

Reddington also got Patrick Clancy to acknowledge that many of her medical appointments starting in the summer of 2022 were with nurse practitioners and on Zoom calls lasting only 20 minutes. They also went through multiple medications she was prescribed, including Seroquel -- an antipsychotic medication for which doctors increased her dosage in December.

“The idea was that it would help with sleep, but she didn’t get better. She got worse,” Patrick Clancy said.

New report highlights Houston pedestrian safety concerns as advocates push for safer street design

Andy Cerota — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:18:32 +0000

For anyone who drives, walks, bikes, or simply crosses the street, a new report highlights a growing safety concern across the Houston region.

The latest Dangerous by Design study shows Houston’s pedestrian fatality rate continues to worsen, despite years of safety campaigns and efforts aimed at protecting people who use the region’s streets.

Safety advocates say the biggest opportunity for change may not come after a crash happens — but before it ever occurs.

Advocates: Safer roads start with better design

For years, conversations about pedestrian safety have often focused on what happens after someone is hit. But groups like LINK Houston say the most effective solutions begin with the way roads are designed from the start.

Robin Holzer with LINK Houston says updating design standards can have the biggest impact because safety improvements can become part of every future project.

“Where we get the most bang for the buck is when we change design standards so that every project where a private developer or a city or a county is improving a street or putting in something new, that we make it safer from the outset.”

The City of Houston has already updated its roadway design standards, and Harris County is working toward a similar approach.

The goal is to create streets that better protect everyone who uses them — including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.

Potential safety improvements include:

Better lighting
More visible crosswalks
Pedestrian refuge islands
Protected bike facilities
Road designs that encourage slower vehicle speeds

Houston region ranks among more dangerous metro areas for pedestrians

The latest Dangerous by Design report ranks the Houston metropolitan area as one of the more dangerous large metro areas in the country for people walking. The region ranked 34th among the most dangerous large metros, moving up from 38th in the previous report.

Between 2020 and 2024, 986 people were killed while walking in the Houston area, according to the data cited by safety advocates.

Those numbers represent more than statistics — they represent family members, friends, neighbors, and people simply trying to get where they need to go.

Advocates say the problem is not only about how people cross streets. It is also about how many roads were historically designed to move vehicles quickly, sometimes without enough consideration for people walking, biking, or using public transportation.

The cost of unsafe streets

Using Texas Department of Transportation crash data, LINK Houston found more than 13,000 pedestrian crashes in Houston over the last decade, with an estimated cost of more than $3 billion.

Advocates say the impact extends beyond fatalities, affecting families, emergency services, transportation access, and the overall quality of life across the region.

Changing Houston’s streets will take time

Houston covers hundreds of square miles, and advocates acknowledge that changing the way streets are built will not happen overnight.

They say progress will require long-term investment, updated standards, and a shift in how communities think about roadway safety.

The goal, they say, is not to blame drivers or pedestrians.

It is to build streets that are more forgiving when mistakes happen — and safer for everyone who uses them.

The latest Dangerous by Design study from Smart Growth America is available here.

You can also access the downloadable report page here.

The report examines pedestrian deaths across the United States and includes metro-area rankings, data tables, and recommendations for safer street design.

Starbucks reports strong quarterly sales across customer income levels and times of day

Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:07:09 +0000

Starbucks shares soared Wednesday after the coffee giant reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit and raised its financial outlook for the year.

The Seattle company said global same-store sales in its fiscal third quarter rose 7.9%, which was well above the 5.7% increase Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet. Same-store sales also were up 7.9% in the U.S. during the April-June period, the company said.

Starbucks said it now expects global same-store sales to grow 6% for its full fiscal year, which ends Sept. 28. The company previously forecast same-store sales to grow 5% for the year. The company also expects full-year earnings per share of $2.55 to $2.65, up from $2.25 to $2.45 previously.

Starbucks shares were up more than 5% in after-hours trading Wednesday.

Starbucks said its business grew across customer income levels and in the morning as well as the afternoon. Customers spent more per visit, partly due to growth in delivery orders but also due to innovative drinks, the company said.

S’mores Cold Brew, which features marshmallow syrup, marshmallow cream cold foam and a graham cracker topping, was particularly popular with Generation Z customers and is one of the company’s strongest limited-time summer offerings in years, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said.

Niccol said Starbucks' fruity Refreshers also continued to see strong demand despite growing competition. McDonald's added fruity drinks to its U.S. menu in May, for example.

Niccol said Starbucks' redesign of stores to give them a cozier, coffeehouse feel helped in improving sales.

“People just feel better about, you know, even doing their mobile order pickup when they go to a coffeehouse versus a place that maybe wasn’t up to our Starbucks standards,” Niccol said Wednesday during a conference call with investors.

Starbucks has revamped more than 1,000 stores across North America so far and plans to complete another 500 before the end of its fiscal year.

Revenue fell 1% to $9.3 billion for the quarter, which also beat analysts’ forecast of $9.2 billion. Part of the drop in revenue was due to Starbucks' sale of a stake in its China business, a transaction that was completed in April.

Starbucks said its results also got a boost from a tariff refund it applied for and received during its fiscal third quarter. The refund largely offset tariffs that Starbucks paid in the first three quarters of its fiscal year, the company said.

Starbucks said its net income rose 87% to $1 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, the company earned 85 cents per share, which surpassed analysts' forecast of 66 cents.

Seattle Storm apologize for an exchange between a co-owner and 2 fans

Andrew Destin, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:07:25 +0000

The Seattle Storm apologized Wednesday for an exchange that took place between one of its co-owners and two fans during the team's 105-95 loss to the Indiana Fever.

The Storm didn't elaborate on the nature of the incident and didn't say which Storm co-owner was involved.

“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game. We apologize that this happened,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in the statement released Wednesday. “Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect."

The incident occurred Tuesday night during an evening that began with a demonstration outside Climate Pledge Arena. The team didn't say if the exchange was related to the protest.

Ahead of the game, a crowd of a few dozen gathered to both support Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and to promote a statewide ballot initiative, IL26-638, that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools.

Some members of the group carried signs in support of Cunningham or wore T-shirts depicting the XX and XY chromosomes. Some of them were also inside the arena during the game.

Cunningham was not made available to answer postgame questions.

Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings addressed the media instead, alongside head coach Stephanie White.

When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham’s recent comments, a Fever public relations representative intervened with the following statement:

Storm head coach Sonia Raman also briefly addressed a question about the pregame protest following her team’s seventh consecutive loss.

“From what I understand, that was successful.”

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Woman’s body found partially burned along Gulf Freeway, near Houston bayou

Brittany Taylor, Christian Hudspeth — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:49:39 +0000

An investigation is underway after a woman’s body was found partially burned in a grassy area at 8139 Gulf Freeway near Sims Bayou.

Police said the call came in around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

A crew mowing grass in the area found the woman’s body.

A preliminary investigation by HPD homicide investigators, the Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined the body had been partially burned.

Police said the body appears to be a Black woman with a star tattoo on her hand.

An autopsy will determine the manner and cause of death.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Investigation revealed 'devastating' reports of sexual misconduct at school supported by Epstein

Ed White, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:30:17 +0000

Two people who attended a prestigious Michigan fine arts school reported conduct of a sexual nature by Jeffrey Epstein, a major donor, according to an investigation that also uncovered dozens of allegations spanning decades against nearly 50 other people.

Interlochen Center for the Arts operates a summer camp and performing arts school that draws students from around the world. It hired a law firm in 2024 to investigate reports of sexual abuse by faculty and staff. Subsequently, it expanded the work to include information about Epstein, the 66-year-old financier who killed himself in jail in 2019.

Interlochen removed Epstein's name from a lodge after he was convicted of sex offenses in Florida in 2008. The building, renamed the Green Lake Lodge, was recently demolished after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages about him that had been compiled over the years.

Sanghavi Law Office says it collected 70 accounts from alumni alleging “physical conduct of a sexual nature” by 47 faculty and staff members affiliated with Interlochen from the 1950s through the 2010s, most before 2000.

“The information gathered during this investigation is, simply, devastating,” the 97-page report says, noting that alumni reported grooming, flirting, sexual touching and sex.

Interlochen said it has provided names of people accused of misconduct to Grand Traverse County authorities in northern Michigan to determine what steps, if any, might be taken. None are currently employed there, and more than a third are dead.

“We are deeply sorry for the harm experienced by members of our community and extend our apologies to those impacted by abuse at Interlochen,” president Trey Davey and board chair Barrett Rollins said in a letter to the community posted online.

“While the vast majority of the incidents described in the investigation took place many decades ago, and reports of abuse at Interlochen have significantly decreased over the past 25 years, the passage of time does not diminish the experiences of our alumni,” they said. “Sexual abuse committed by an adult in a position of power or trust against a student is wrong, then and now.”

Interlochen today “is fundamentally different from the institution described in this report,” Davey and Rollins wrote, with comprehensive safety policies and a changed culture.

Epstein, who played the bassoon, was an Interlochen camper in 1967. He donated more than $400,000 to the school between 1990 and 2003.

Two women told investigators that Epstein engaged in conduct of a sexual nature with them, one of them at the Interlochen lodge that bore his name.

He brushed against her body “over her clothes, in a manner in which he indicated was accidental,” according to the report.

Epstein also paid for her to visit him in New York while she was a student. She said “every time he was ‘handsy’ with her, she would freeze until he would stop,” the report states.

The other woman said she gave Epstein a massage at his home, according to the report, and he may have asked her to remove her top. She never had any further contact with Epstein or his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Outside of the school investigation, at least two Interlochen alumnae made allegations of grooming and abuse against Epstein and Maxwell, according to federal records and media reports. Their identities were not made public.

One testified against Maxwell in 2021 when she was convicted of sex trafficking. It’s unclear whether those women spoke to the law firm hired for the Interlochen investigation.

Elon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over its first-in-the-nation law banning 'nudification' technology

Marc Levy And Barbara Ortutay, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:19:50 +0000

Elon Musk's company xAI has sued Minnesota over the state's first-in-the-nation law that bans “nudification” technology on websites and apps, potentially providing a test for how far states can go in constitutionally regulating the use of artificial intelligence.

Musk's company sued Monday in federal court, days before the law is set to take effect Saturday and make Minnesota the first state to try to outlaw the increasingly proliferating technology that lets people use AI to to create fake nude images of real people. The law was signed in May.

In the 38-page lawsuit, xAI — whose AI model chatbot and image generator Grok is available on the social media platform known as X, formerly Twitter, and elsewhere — said it does not contest the state's interest in banning the distribution of AI-generated nude images of real people without their consent. But it said Minnesota's law “extends far beyond that goal,” banning many constitutionally protected images and video and subjecting the company to a penalty of $500,000 per violation.

The lawsuit argues there is no “safe harbor” provision for companies that make good-faith efforts to prevent such images from being created by users, and that it covers images that were consented to by the depicted person, or even created by that person.

It also says the law’s definition of “intimate part” is overly broad, covering body parts that are routinely displayed in public.

In a statement, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office had not been served with the lawsuit yet or seen it.

“But I know that using AI to generate nude images of people against their will is appalling. There are plenty of worthy debates to have about AI policy. This is not one of them. AI nudification robs the target of their dignity and can cause immense harm on an emotional, personal, and professional level,” Ellison said.

State laws over election deepfakes have had mixed results in courts. California's law was blocked over First Amendment speech protections. Minnesota's law has thus far survived a 2025 court challenge by Musk's company.

The law is distinct from state and federal laws that outlaw deepfakes, AI-generated sexually explicit images of people without their consent. Those laws typically penalize the people who use the tools to make these images, not the makers of the tools themselves. The federal Take it Down Act, passed last year, also requires websites and apps to implement a process to remove those images.

Texas last year took on nudification in a slightly different way. It made a website or app owner liable to civil damages from a person depicted in a nudified image — and potentially criminal penalties — if the website or app owner knew the person hadn't given consent to its creation or fails to take it down promptly when told about it.

In the lawsuit, xAI said the terms of service for using Grok prohibit using it for “any illegal, harmful, or abusive activities" that violate someone's privacy, including altering their image to nudify them or depict them in a sexually explicit image. It said it enforces those rules against violators through account suspensions or terminations, and by reporting suspected child sexual abuse content.

XAI also said earlier this year that it has “zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.”

After a global backlash over sexualized images of women and children, Grok said in January it will geoblock content if it violates laws in a particular place, preventing people from editing photos of real people in revealing clothing in places where that is illegal. Grok’s “spicy mode” had allowed users to create explicit content, leading to a backlash from governments worldwide.

“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis, underwear and other revealing attire,” xAI said in a January statement.

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Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter.

Southern Europe burns as 3 firefighters die and France battles blaze 4 times the size of Paris

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:49:08 +0000

An uncontained wildfire four times the size of Paris threatened to surge again in southwest France on Wednesday — as three firefighters died in Greece and crews across southern Europe confronted a punishing mix of heat, drought and strong winds.

The deaths on Crete brought a fatal new dimension to a wildfire emergency stretching from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean. At the peak of the evacuations, a third of a million people were driven from homes and vacation sites in France and Spain.

In France’s Gironde region, the country’s biggest blaze had not spread during a calm night, authorities said. But as temperatures approached 40 C (104 F) Wednesday afternoon and winds strengthened, the reprieve threatened to be short-lived.

The landscape was so combustible that investigators believe routine brush-clearing work near a high-voltage line may have sparked the inferno, even though the work appeared to comply with regulations.

At the command center in Lège, firefighters bent over maps spread across a car hood, tracking three danger zones: northern Cap-Ferret; the wooded corridor around Marcheprime, Cestas and Saint-Jean-d’Illac; and a military site near Martignas, where a major outbreak forced a large deployment.

Both firefighters and residents mobilize against the blaze

More than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft remained mobilized, backed by crews from across France and European partners.

“We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions,” Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said.

Beyond the command center, civilians were trying to hold the line themselves. At Souge, volunteers flooded the edges of dirt tracks while a local digger driver plowed through still-burning soil, trying to keep flames from crossing back when the expected west wind arrived. In Lacanau, residents pumped water from a lake into tanks headed for hot spots and firefighters’ cisterns.

“If one day the fire starts in our neck of the woods, I know very well that all the people here would do the same for us,” said Flavien Dubuch, 33, who drove from Saint-Émilion with his father to help.

Hottest day this week

The advance of major fires in the Landes and Var regions has been halted. That left Gironde as France’s biggest remaining wildfire battle, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.

The Gironde fire forced 220,000 people to flee at the peak of the crisis. Tens of thousands have since been allowed home, but authorities warned that the danger had not passed.

Extreme heat strips moisture from vegetation and drives down humidity, turning grasses, brush and forest litter into faster-burning fuel.

Investigators believe contractors working near a high-voltage line for power-grid operator Enedis ignited the blaze while using a brush-cutting machine, Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul said.

Météo-France said Wednesday would be the hottest and driest day of the week, with elevated wildfire danger across every region of France. Drought now covers mainland France and Corsica, with soils nearing the record dryness reached in August 2022.

Smoke from the Gironde and Landes fires also pushed particulate pollution higher across both departments, regional air-quality monitors said.

More evacuations ordered in France

Gironde authorities ordered 4,000 more people out of tourist sites along the Atlantic coast on Tuesday, widening what may be France’s largest peacetime evacuation.

“The situation remains complicated. That’s clear. We’re not out of the woods,” said Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas, who also authorized 60,000 evacuees to return to three Bordeaux suburbs untouched by fire.

The opposing movements — thousands ordered out of coastal resorts as others returned with mobile phones on and emergency bags packed — captured how precarious the situation remains.

The disruption was spreading beyond the burn zone into Bordeaux’s peak tourism season.

Edouard le Grix de la Salle, who runs Château du Grand Verdus with his brother, said official appeals to avoid the region threatened its wine-tourism trade. “How did they not think about protecting that sector?” he told The Associated Press.

At one point the Gironde blaze created a black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within, that generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original front. The pyrocumulonimbus was the first recorded in France.

Fire in Greece turns deadly for firefighters

Two firefighters died Wednesday while battling a wildfire in the Rethymno region of Crete, Greece’s fire department said. They were among about 125 firefighters confronting flames fanned by strong winds, with four helicopters and four water-dropping planes deployed.

The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear. The department said they died “in the line of duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the natural environment.”

A third firefighter also died Wednesday outside the fire perimeter, after tackling a separate blaze in Greece’s southern Peloponnese region.

Tens of thousands begin returning home in Spain

At the height of the crisis, roughly 330,000 people were driven from homes and vacation sites across France and Spain.

Tens of thousands of people began returning home in central Spain after firefighters made progress around Madrid and Ávila. Evacuation orders were lifted for about 20,000 people in the Madrid region, while stay-at-home restrictions ended for another 14,000.

But 10,000 people remain under evacuation orders in Castellón, where a fire was still out of control as Spain braced for its fourth heat wave of the summer.

More than 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) have burned across France this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, warming at more than twice the global average, according to the European Union’s Copernicus climate service. Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, with extreme heat and widespread dryness contributing to the spread and intensification of fires in France and Spain, Copernicus said.

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Adamson reported from Paris. Elena Becatoros in Athens, Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Alex Turnbull in Souge, France, and John Leicester and Masha Macpherson in Paris contributed.

Texas City man sentenced 90 years in prison, convicted of sexually abusing several young children

Mike Akin — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:32:48 +0000

On Tuesday, Galveston County jurors found Jesus Jose Pena Sr. guilty of continuous sex abuse of young children.

Jurors heard testimony from four victims who are now adults. They described abuse that spanned roughly 15 years and began when one of the victims was just 4 years old.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning its verdict.

During the punishment phase, Pena testified and admitted to being a “monster,” but described the abuse as normal.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Quinten McConico urged jurors to impose a sentence that would ensure Pena never reenters the community, saying, “These girls do not need to look forward to the day the defendant gets out.”

The jury sentenced Pena to 90 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Prosecutors say the offense is not eligible for parole under Texas law.

After the sentencing, McConico said, “These women deserve to close this chapter and begin healing, and the verdict returned by this jury is the beginning of that.”

Meta shares drop as Q2 profit declines due to legal expenses and severance costs

Barbara Ortutay, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:31:21 +0000

Meta Platforms said Wednesday its second-quarter profit declined even as revenue beat Wall Street's expectations, as legal expenses and severance costs for recent layoffs weighed on its results.

The Facebook and Instagram parent company earned $15.85 billion, or $6.18 per share, in the April-June period. That's down 14% from $18.34 billion, or $7.14 per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue grew 28% to $60.8 billion from $47.52 billion.

Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of $7.19 per share on revenue of $60.22 billion, according to a poll by FactSet.

“AI is accelerating our core business today, powering our next generation of products, and opening the door to entirely new enterprise opportunities,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a statement. “The results are already showing, and I’m optimistic about the potential ahead.”

Meta said the number of daily active users on its “family of apps” — Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp and Threads — grew 3% from a year earlier to $3.6 billion. Zuckerberg said Instagram reached the 2 billion daily users milestone during the quarter, while Threads has 500 million monthly active users.

The Menlo Park, California-based company had 75,472 employees as of June 30, a decrease of 1% year-over-year. This still includes the roughly 8,000 workers the company said it would lay off. Meta said its third-quarter earnings report will have the updated figure.

“Earnings come just as Meta pushes out an ad campaign and media blitz that aim to clarify Meta’s stance and goals regarding AI. It’s not surprising that Zuckerberg wants to come out with a more cohesive message around the company’s AI ambitions, especially as Meta tries to carve out its own lane,” said Emarketer analyst Minda Smiley. Zuckerberg wrote a glowing op-ed about AI's future in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, arguing that AI may soon deliver "personal superintelligence to everyone.”

But Smiley said the "optimistic, positive tone he’s striking stands in stark contrast to the negative sentiment that’s building toward social media companies over claims that they’ve harmed and addicted kids. This juxtaposition could make it more difficult for Meta to build credibility in an area where it’s already a laggard.”

For the current quarter, Meta is forecasting revenue in the range of $61 billion to $64 billion, the midpoint of which is lower than the $63.14 billion that analysts are expecting.

Meta also raised the lower end of its expense outlook to incorporate the $2.4 billion in legal expenses. It now expects total 2026 expenses to be in the range of $165 billion to $169 billion.

Expenses for the second quarter were $42.03 billion, an increase of 55% year-over-year. Meta said this includes $2.40 billion of charges related to legal proceedings and $1.18 billion of severance expenses in connection with the layoffs announced in May.

The company's free cash flow — money left over after paying operating costs and capital expenditures — dropped 91% to $784 million from $8.55 billion a year earlier.

Meta's shares fell $24.76, or 4.2%, to $560.85 in after-hours trading after the results came out.

Dangerous heat grips Houston with triple-digit heat dome locked in

Justin Stapleton — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:26:59 +0000

Even without a formal heat advisory or warning in effect, the heat remains dangerous across Southeast Texas. Afternoon temperatures will climb near or above 100 degrees, and the humidity will make it feel even hotter, so take frequent breaks, stay hydrated and avoid spending too much time outside during the peak heating hours.

Tonight’s Forecast:

Another warm and muggy night is ahead with mostly clear skies and temperatures only falling to around 80 degrees in Houston. Winds will stay light, and there is little to no chance of rain overnight.

Thursday’s Forecast:

Thursday will be sunny and brutally hot, with Houston expected to reach around 100 degrees. Several communities west and south of the city could also hit the century mark, while coastal areas remain slightly cooler. Make sure to limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the afternoon and stay hydrated.

Thursday's Highs

High pressure dome is responsible for the extreme heat:

A very stout ridge of high pressure is strengthening across the Central Plains and will be the dominant weather pattern for us for the next five days.

Heat dome is sizzling Houston this week

These systems are very stubborn and hard to move so expect very hot days with very humid mornings generally in the low 80s. Storm chances will be very hard to find for most of the next 5 days.

Daytime Highs

The peak of the heat arrives Thursday through Saturday, with highs around 100 to 101 degrees and very little rain relief. Sunday finally brings a slight change, with temperatures falling into the mid-90s and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Weekend Forecast

This upcoming weekend the high pressure begins to move west, allowing for a weak front to approach the Gulf Coast. This will be the next best chance to see any measurable rainfall in southeast Texas.

Saturday front

The tropics will stay quiet:

We’ll get long break from our next storm. There is nothing brewing in the tropics for the next seven to ten days in the Atlantic basin.

Tropical Outlook

10 Day Forecast:

The intense heat continues through Saturday, with highs near 100 Thursday and Friday before climbing to around 101 Saturday. A few isolated storms may pop up this weekend, with a 20% chance Saturday and a slightly better 30% chance Sunday. Temperatures ease into the upper 90s next week, but there is no major break from the summer heat, and overnight lows remain near 80 degrees.

10 Day Forecast

Wisconsin judge says voters who have returned absentee ballot for state primary cannot get a new one

Scott Bauer, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:30:28 +0000

Wisconsin voters who have already returned their absentee ballots for the state's primary are not allowed to void those and request a new one, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The ruling deals a blow to Democrats, who filed a lawsuit seeking to give voters a do-over because of a chaotic party primary in the governor’s race.

More than 117,000 absentee ballots had been returned by Wednesday. Democrats were concerned that many of those might have been cast for Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who had been seen as a Democratic frontrunner before she dropped out on July 17 amid a campaign finance scandal. A day later, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had bowed out on July 8, reentered the race.

Rodriguez’s name remains on the ballot, along with former state economic development director Missy Hughes, who dropped out in June.

The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 4-2 on July 9 to distribute guidance to clerks saying absentee voters cannot change their ballot after it has been returned. The rarely used process is known as ballot spoiling.

Democrats objected and supported the lawsuit filed by three voters, arguing that state law allows voters who have submitted absentee ballots to change their mind before those ballots are counted on Election Day.

“Voters across Wisconsin will be disenfranchised” if not allowed to do that, attorney Eduardo Castro argued in court on Tuesday.

But Dane County Circuit Judge David Conway disagreed, ruling on Wednesday that “the unambiguous language of the statute does not allow a voter to spoil an absentee ballot after it is returned.” He said the guidance issued by the elections commission to the roughly 2,000 clerks who run elections at the local level was consistent with the law.

The judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order sought by Democrats. They had wanted the judge to order the state elections commission to rescind its guidance.

“The judge got it right,” said Don Millis, the Republican chair of the elections commission. “The law is clear. Once a voter returns an absentee ballot to the clerk, the voter cannot decide to change his or her vote. The law does not permit do-overs.”

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker said the ruling was wrong, but didn't say if the party would appeal.

The Republican National Committee opposed the effort to allow for revoting.

Ballot spoiling was the subject of a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Republican group. In that case, a Waukesha County judge agreed that the elections commission must rescind its guidance that allowed voters to cast a second ballot. But the state appeals court earlier this year vacated that ruling on technical grounds and did not rule on the merits.

The winner of the Democratic primary will advance to November’s general election, most likely against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has only token opposition in his party’s primary. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is not seeking a third term.

Democrats hope to keep the governor’s office and flip both chambers of the Legislature to gain full control of state government for the first time since 2010.

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This story corrects the spelling in a second reference to 'Rodriguez.’

Tarik Skubal gets standing ovations in possible Tigers farewell, then team blows 7-0 lead

Dave Hogg, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:33:54 +0000

Trade deadline target Tarik Skubal and Detroit fans gave each other a warm farewell Wednesday, just in case this was the two-time Cy Young Award winner's final appearance in a Tigers jersey.

What happened after Skubal left made it all the more likely this was indeed goodbye.

Skubal was cheered at every opportunity by a crowd of 34,406 while taking a shutout into the seventh inning against Baltimore, but then the Orioles rallied from a 7-0 deficit to beat Detroit 10-9 in 12 innings. The loss leaves the Tigers 51-58 and well outside playoff position in the final year they have Skubal under contract.

The vibes were great early. Skubal got first standing ovation came when he struck out leadoff hitter Taylor Ward on a 3-2 changeup to record his 1,000th career strikeout.

“For some reason, strikeout marks hit differently for me,” he said. “Reaching 200 strikeouts for the first time was a huge milestone for me, and as I was getting close to 1,000, it just felt really cool.”

He reached the mark in 857 innings, breaking Max Scherzer's franchise-best mark of 944 2/3 innings.

He got another ovation when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch removed him after Leody Tavares' RBI single with two out in the seventh.

“It is always special when our fans get to their feet and give you a pretty good ovation,” he said. “Hopefully, they feel like I've given everything to the team and the city, because I truly have.”

The Tigers led 7-1 when Skubal came out and appeared to be well on their way to a win over a team they could be battling for a wild-card spot in September. Instead, the Orioles turned one seventh-inning run into five, tied the game with two in the eighth, then got three more in extra innings.

“Obviously, this was a tough one,” Skubal said. “We were up 7-0 and end up losing. ... I don't even know what the final score was, but this one hurts.”

The Tigers seem increasingly likely to deal their ace ahead of next Monday’s trade deadline. Skubal is eligible for free agency after the World Series. He has a $32 million salary, a record total in arbitration, after the team offered $19 million, and is expected to sign a massive contract in the offseason.

“I'm just trying to live in the moment,” he said. “There are a lot of things going on around me that I can't control.”

Hinch feels the same way.

“I just can't think in hypotheticals — I just can't,” he said when asked about the possibility of Skubal leaving. “I'll have a ton to say when and if and where and whenever, but it's just a waste of my time talking hypotheticals.”

The 29-year-old lefty said earlier this month that it was his preference is to finish the season with the Tigers to compete for a World Series championship, which has eluded the franchise since 1984.

“Going into spring training and the whole offseason, I’ve never been more motivated to try and win a World Series for this city, the team that drafted me and helped develop me,” he said on July 23.

Skubal had experimental surgery on May 6 to remove a loose body from his pitching elbow and returned to pitch on June 13.

“The way the surgery went is exactly how it was supposed to go,” he said in July. “I don’t know if remarkable is the word I would use.”

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

Lindsey Graham returns home one last time for his funeral in South Carolina

Meg Kinnard And Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:12:33 +0000

Sen. Lindsey Graham returned for the last time Wednesday to South Carolina, where powerful friends remembered him as someone who never stopped working for the state he loved.

After Graham was eulogized Tuesday in the nation's capital as an indefatigable dealmaker by the president, vice president and others, mourners in Columbia recalled him as the son of pool hall owners who “was born with a plastic fork in his mouth,” as former Rep. Trey Gowdy put it.

The Republican seemed to know every mayor and small-town police chief and the location of every Chick-fil-A in South Carolina, and made sure GOP candidates had money to run in legislative and local elections across the state.

“Lindsey Graham understood the hopes and dreams and needs of his state and delivered every time,” said Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who ended his remarks by telling Graham he loved him.

Friends recall his humor, work ethic and love of people

Graham died suddenly on July 11 at his home in Washington, likely of an aortic tear, according to preliminary findings. He had just returned from a whirlwind trip to a NATO summit in Turkey, where he celebrated his 71st birthday, and a visit to Ukraine as he negotiated punishing sanctions against Russia. Senators voted late Tuesday to advance the package as a final gesture for their colleague.

Wednesday's funeral was at First Baptist, the giant downtown church where his predecessor Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond was eulogized 23 years ago.

One of Graham's many friends in Congress, Gowdy said the senator rose to power through humor, genuine caring for all people and a relentless work ethic. He joked the governor should change the name of the state capital of Columbia to honor Graham, even though his friend wouldn't want it.

“It wasn't the trapping of office he cared about. It was the work,” Gowdy said.

Graham also remembered for peacemaking and unpopular votes

Gowdy spoke for nearly 30 minutes. He remembered a man who knew who he was, cast unpopular votes because they were the right thing to do, loved kids even though he was never married or a father — one joking bit of advice Graham gave youngsters was to “never do for yourself what someone else will do for you” — and was the least pretentious person in politics.

“He was the worst at carrying a grudge,” Gowdy related, drawing laughter from the crowd. “I had to keep a list of who we were mad at because he could not remember who had done what.”

People who thought Graham was a warmonger were wrong, Gowdy said. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that “Lindsey liked war.”

“Blessed be the peacemakers. He was on a trip that turned out to be his last trip trying to broker peace in a war where hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives,” Gowdy said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the only remaining member of the South Carolina delegation in power when Graham arrived in Washington in 1995, read Psalm 23.

In a memory that reflected Graham's ability to see across party lines, McMaster recalled how Graham, newly elected to the Senate, grasped the hand of longtime Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings and raised it up to a largely Republican crowd. Applause for Hollings had been “polite,” he said, but “began to swell” as Graham was announced.

“So there we were, if you get this picture, our two U.S. senators, hands held high, waving to the crowd, when the thunderous applause washed off both of them,” McMaster said. “I believe that not many men would have done what Lindsey did.”

Funeral process included a horse-drawn caisson and military jets

On Tuesday, Graham’s flag-draped casket was at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican spent more than 30 years talking and laughing and badgering his colleagues into action. Trump then joined foreign leaders at a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral, a testament to Graham’s stature on the global stage, calling him “a giant of the United States Senate, a true American original who left us much too soon.”

Wednesday's ceremonies began at the Statehouse, where Graham started his political career in 1993. A horse-drawn caisson carrying his casket paused in front of a dozen law enforcement officers for a flyover by four military jets, and then proceeded to the church, where his family followed military pallbearers inside. A 130-member choir sang hymns.

Hundreds of movers in South Carolina politics gathered, including both nominees for governor — Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson and Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson — along with longtime Republican politicians like former House Speaker and Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins and former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown.

Graham's burial Wednesday near his home in Pickens County was planned as a private ceremony.

Graham's sister now faces a special primary

Several speakers praised the senator's younger sister Darline Graham, who dabbed her eyes as she sat with her family in a front pew.

“What a powerful, graceful person to show up here under such immense pressure,” Sen. Tim Scott said in his eulogy.

Graham's death, after winning the Republican nomination for a fifth term, has created opportunities for political change. McMaster named Darline Graham to hold his seat until January. She then surprised many by deciding to run for the full six-year term herself.

Darline Graham now has eight competitors in a special primary on Aug. 11 to decide the Republican nominee, including former Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, all three of whom attended Wednesday’s service. Three other candidates who paid the filing fee were kicked off the ballot because they didn’t meet new party requirements. A runoff, if needed, is Aug. 25.

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

Fed leaves interest rate unchanged but with 3 dissents as Warsh praises 'good family fight'

Paul Wiseman, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:29:10 +0000

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday, although three officials dissented in favor of higher rates as the central bank wrestles with how to deal with persistently high inflation.

The Fed’s rate-setting committee reached its decision after two days of deliberations, marking the fifth straight meeting at which the benchmark rate was kept at around 3.6%.

Some economists and Wall Street analysts had predicted the Fed would hike its rate by a quarter point. But while the decision to stand pat could be seen as good news for consumers, they might not feel much relief with the average credit card rate still near 20% and mortgage rates the highest since last August.

Inflation has been stuck above the central bank’s 2% target for more than five years. The Iran war has generated uncertainty over the economic outlook and has driven energy prices higher, intensifying inflationary pressure and creating a quandary for Fed policymakers. In addition, the vast amounts of money being spent by technology companies on artificial intelligence are both driving manufacturing and have resulted in increased prices for items such as computer chips and electricity. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods are also adding to inflation pressures.

The three regional Fed bank presidents who dissented — Beth Hammack of the Cleveland Fed; Neel Kashkari from Minneapolis; and Lorie Logan from Dallas — had previously called for or signaled that they would be open to raising rates to combat high prices.

“The dissents send a clear message: The Fed is not yet convinced the inflation battle has been won,’’ said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.

At a press conference following the rate decision, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated the Fed's commitment to combating inflation. At the same time, Warsh said, “We have no magic wand. This isn’t something we’re going to be able to carry out in days or weeks.”

Warsh said he welcomed vigorous debate at the committee meeting. “I asked for a good family fight and I got one,'' he told reporters at a press conference.

Warsh has sought to make the central bank more tight-lipped about what it's doing. When Fed officials make their views public, he reasons, they are less likely to adjust to new information. Even without much guidance from the Fed, he said approvingly that financial markets had made their own judgments about interest rates, pushing up yields in the past few weeks. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, for instance, has risen from around 4.50% in mid-June to 4.64% just ahead of the Fed's rate decision.

The market is “learning to play the ball and not the referee,” Warsh said.

But some economists were frustrated by the Fed chair's ambiguous answers to questions. Thomas Ryan and Stephen Brown of Capital Economics, for instance, complained in a commentary that Warsh's “vague'' responses ”make forecasting the Fed’s next move even trickier than it already was.''

Coming into Wednesday, traders on Wall Street saw a 33% chance the Fed would issue a rate hike, although most expected policymakers to hold off, reluctant to risk disrupting financial markets. But most expect a rate hike in September, according to data from CME Group.

Trump, who had persistently pressured the Fed to cut rates, voiced support for Warsh. “He’s fantastic. He’s a brilliant guy. Smart. I know he’d love to see lower interest rates, but he’s got a board and it’s a political board and they want to keep rates up,” Trump told reporters.

Fed officials likely want to see more economic data before changing the benchmark rate. On Thursday, the Commerce Department delivers the first look at April-June economic growth and it will also publish the Fed’s preferred inflation measure – the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index – for June.

Adding uncertainty to the Fed’s decision-making process is the rising violence in Iran. The price of oil briefly blasted past $100 a barrel last week on intensifying fighting.

After the U.S. and Israel attacks on Feb. 28, Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas pass. That caused the greatest disruption in oil supplies in history and sent energy prices surging. They’ve since bobbed up and down depending on the ever-changing state of the conflict and negotiations to de-escalate it, but the average cost for a barrel is $10 to $15 more today than it was at this point last year.

Inflation has exceeded the Fed’s 2% target since early 2021 when the U.S. economy overheated as it roared back from COVID-19 lockdowns. Inflation peaked at just over 9% in mid-2022 and began to drop in the face of 11 rate hikes by the Fed in 2022 and 2023. But progress has more or less stalled.

So-called core inflation – which excludes volatile food and energy prices – cooled in June, partly because apartment rents aren’t rising as fast as they had been. And a temporary drop in gasoline prices last month also helped contain overall inflation.

But several Fed policymakers have been arguing that the Fed will have to raise rates to return inflation to the 2% target.

“Sternly staring at inflation until it melts before our withering gaze is not an option,’’ Christopher Waller, an influential member of the Fed’s governing board, said in a speech this month. Still, Waller voted to leave rates alone this week.

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AP Writers Josh Boak and Damian Troise contributed to this story.

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Earlier versions of this story erroneously reported the name of an economist at BNP Paribas as Joseph Egelhof. His first name is James.

The fastest growing Ebola outbreak is worsening hunger in eastern Congo, a UN agency chief warns

Constant Same Bagalwa And Prosper Heri Ngorora, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:57:26 +0000

The fastest growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded is leaving thousands more people hungry in eastern Congo, a region engulfed in conflicts and a fight over precious minerals, the head of the U.N. food agency warned on Wednesday.

The World Food Program's acting executive director, Carl Skau, told The Associated Press during a visit to the hard-hit Ituri province that the outbreak is a “crisis on top of a crisis” that has compounded a catastrophic situation with over 5 million Congolese already experiencing emergency-level food insecurity.

The long-running conflict in eastern Congo has driven nearly 10 million people into crisis or emergency levels of hunger, with Ituri — the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak — among the most affected with 1.9 million in need of food, according to the WFP.

“My number one message is that this situation requires much, much more attention,” Skau later told a video news conference with U.N. correspondents. “This is the fastest growing Ebola crisis ever.”

Ebola's impact is spiraling

Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, it took just over two months for 1,000 people to die of Ebola in eastern Congo, compared to the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa that had been considered the worst in history and when it took about eight months to reach that number.

The dramatic surge shows the urgent need to scale up food, protective equipment, trained staff and funding, Skau said, stressing that the lack of money has forced WFP to cut the number of people it is assisting in Congo from 3 million last year to 1 million this year.

U.N. senior Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis, who was with Skau on the visit to Ituri, said the $2.1 billion humanitarian appeal for Congo is only 45% funded.

The separate Ebola response appeal is being revised upward because it only covered two provinces and now there are four, he said.

The outbreak has been particularly difficult to fight because the Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments, unlike most of Congo’s past outbreaks. Harneis said a vaccine trial is underway, but getting a vaccine to Congo is months away.

The United Nations is working with the government and community workers to build trust so that people with symptoms will seek treatment quickly, Harneis said. If they do, he added, “they have a very good chance of surviving Ebola.”

Ebola drives up malnutrition in affected communities

Across some 48 health zones affected with Ebola, WFP said more than 2.7 million people face acute food insecurity, including 628,000 in emergency conditions.

“Now with the Ebola crisis, this is getting worse. Markets are impacted, supply routes are impacted and so people are struggling even more to have enough to eat,” Skau told the AP, and malnutrition is rising.

Since it erupted, the ongoing Ebola outbreak has recorded 3,360 confirmed cases, including 1,487 deaths. Harneis said that in the last 24 hours, 50 people died of Ebola.

Measures introduced to slow the spread — including border closures and restriction of movements and large gatherings — have disrupted life and businesses, driving up food and fuel prices, the WFP has said. The agency said it has so far delivered more than 160,000 hot meals to patients, contacts and front line workers in 17 treatment and isolation centers.

In Mongbwalu, a mining town about 69 kilometers (43 miles) from Bunia, Ituri's provincial capital, residents said Ebola and the measures introduced to fight it have made it difficult for some families to feed their children.

Kahambu Deborah, a 40-year-old mother of six, said she had been struggling to access her farmland due to rebel violence, and that the restrictions linked to Ebola had made things more challenging.

“Sometimes, because of the insecurity, we can’t even go to our fields, and our children are suffering as a result,” she said.

Health workers seek to limit the movement of people

Dr. Richard Lokudu, director-general of the Mongbwalu General Hospital, said health workers are seeing more malnutrition cases in the region, compared to before the outbreak, “even at the Ebola treatment center.”

In Mongbwalu, the U.N. agency’s food support program has helped to “limit the movement of people seeking the means to survive,” said Tourne Kasereka, a monitoring assistant with the WFP.

A critical aspect of that response is getting food to those in need of it, according to Skau.

“The World Food Program needs resources (and) donors to step up so that we can do more, to alleviate the pressures on the people here in Ituri,” he said.

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Lederer reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writer Wilson McMakin in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.

Trump and DOJ ask Supreme Court to toss $83 million defamation verdict in E. Jean Carroll case

Lindsay Whitehurst And Larry Neumeister, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:49:03 +0000

President Donald Trump and the Justice Department are asking the Supreme Court to toss an $83 million defamation verdict won by writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault, saying he can't be sued for comments he made while he was president.

It's the second time Trump has asked the justices to nix damages awarded by a jury to Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and former TV talk show host. The Supreme Court refused in June to hear his appeal of another verdict, for $5 million, that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.

The latest case centers on comments Trump made during his first term as president. The Justice Department wants to invoke the Westfall Act, which shields government employees from being sued for doing their jobs.

“Absent this Court’s intervention, the sitting President is facing nearly a hundred million dollars of personal liability for conduct that was well within the scope of his federal office,” federal attorneys wrote. “That alone deserves this Court’s attention.”

The documents were reviewed Wednesday by The Associated Press and expected to be formally docketed with the court shortly.

Trump's lawyers, meanwhile, argued that an appeals court “engaged in procedural contortions” to avoid addressing Trump's claims that presidential immunity protects him from the $83 million award because he made the statements in question in 2019 while he was president.

The lawyers argued that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled in a manner that “cries out for this Court's review in this unprecedented case" and called the damages “grossly excessive.”

“This is the first case in our nation's history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a president for his conduct in office,” the lawyers wrote.

Carroll's lawyers have declined to comment on the latest Trump filing.

Trump has long argued he cannot be sued over comments he made about Carroll during his first term where he disavowed knowing her and attacked her motivations for going public with her story in a recent memoir. He's also asking the Supreme Court justices to reconsider their rejection of his appeal in the $5 million verdict.

The appeal comes about two years after the Supreme Court granted Trump broad immunity from criminal prosecution as a former president.

Carroll testified twice before New York juries that Trump sexually assaulted her in spring 1996 in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury retailer across the street from Trump Tower. She first went public with the claims in a 2019 memoir.

She sued Trump for defamation after he accused her of making up the allegation to help book sales, adding that he’d never met her and “she’s not my type.” He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

A Manhattan jury awarded her $83 million in damages in January 2024. Lower courts have so far rejected Trump’s appeals to overturn the verdict, though the New York-based appeals court split over the decision and agreed to delay that payout until the Supreme Court weighs in.

In 2023, another jury said Carroll was entitled to $5 million after concluding that Trump had subjected her to sexual abuse in the department store encounter and for defamation for remarks he had made after his first term ended. That judgment has been paid.

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.

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Neumeister reported from New York.

Italy’s highest court strengthens citizenship claims by descendants of Italian emigrants

Giada Zampano, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:05:10 +0000

Italy’s highest court has ruled that children born with Italian citizenship do not automatically lose it when a parent later becomes a citizen of another country, a decision expected to bolster citizenship-by-descent claims by descendants of Italian emigrants worldwide.

The ruling resolves a long-running legal dispute known as the “Minor Issue,” which has affected thousands of ancestry-based citizenship cases involving families who left Italy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, experts say.

The ruling — dated Sunday but published Wednesday — was made by the Court of Cassation's highest-level panel for resolving conflicting legal interpretations.

At the center of the dispute was whether children automatically lost Italian citizenship when an Italian parent later acquired a foreign nationality while the children were still minors.

Under a restrictive interpretation adopted in a series of court decisions beginning in 2023, many applications by later generations were rejected because authorities considered the line of citizenship transmission to have been interrupted.

What the court decided

In its new ruling, the court said that under Italy’s historical citizenship laws, children who were already Italian citizens by birth under the principle of “iure sanguinis,” or citizenship by bloodline, did not automatically lose their Italian citizenship when a parent became a citizen of another country.

The court clarified that children born in countries that automatically grant citizenship at birth — including the United States — retained their Italian citizenship even if their parents later naturalized there. Because they remained Italian citizens, they could pass that citizenship on to subsequent generations.

The ruling represents a reversal of recent practice

Lawyer Marco Mellone, who represented applicants in the case, explained that the ruling reversed a restrictive interpretation that had blocked citizenship claims in recent years, many by U.S. citizens.

“The Supreme Court of Cassation has completely changed its position and gone back, confirming that all these Italian-American families — and, more generally, families in all countries where this situation existed — regain the right to Italian citizenship by descent,” Mellone told The Associated Press.

What the decision means for people of Italian ancestry

The decision could have broad implications for descendants of Italian emigrants, particularly in North and South America, where large Italian diaspora communities have ancestral ties to Italy. Mellone estimated that several hundred thousand families may have been affected by the restrictive interpretation adopted in recent years.

Legal experts say the judgment is likely to strengthen the position of applicants whose claims were rejected solely because of the Minor Issue and provide authoritative guidance to judges handling pending cases. The ruling could also influence how Italian administrative authorities and consulates assess future citizenship applications.

Whether the Interior Ministry and Italian consulates formally adjust their practices to reflect the court’s interpretation remains unclear. However, decisions issued by the panel — known as the “Sezioni Unite” or United Sections — carry particular weight because they are intended to resolve conflicting interpretations of the law.

Mellone noted that “there's no one above” the panel, which has only very rarely reversed decisions.

The ruling comes as Italy faces growing demand for citizenship by descent and legal disputes over the scope of ancestry-based citizenship rights.

Separately, a law championed by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that restricts citizenship transmission through more distant generations has been referred to the European Union’s Court of Justice, with proceedings expected next year.

Oil prices jump, while the Dow drops more than 1,100 as sinking AI stocks drag Wall Street lower

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:43:05 +0000

Oil prices got back to jumping on Wednesday, while sinking technology stocks dragged Wall Street lower amid uncertainty about what the Federal Reserve will do to get high inflation under control.

The S&P 500 fell 1.5% after swinging sharply between gains and losses in the last hour of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,153 points, or 2.2%, and the Nasdaq composite slumped 1.7% to fall 9.8% below its record set last month.

The action was more decisive in the oil market, where the price of Brent crude leaped 7.3% to settle at $88.09 per barrel after fighting resumed in the war with Iran and raised worries about the global flow of oil.

Brent oil’s price had swung as low as $72 early this month and as high as $102 last week on uncertainty about whether the United States and Iran could reach a deal to allow oil tankers to move freely again from the Middle East to customers worldwide.

The swings have raised worries that inflation will reaccelerate, and traders came into the day betting on a roughly 34% probability that the Fed would raise its main interest rate in the afternoon, according to data from CME Group.

Higher rates can keep a lid on inflation, but they can also slow the economy and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.

Fed officials instead voted to keep the federal funds rate steady, though three members of the policymaking committee did want to raise rates. The Fed’s chairman, Kevin Warsh, implied the bond market may already be doing some of the work to restrain inflation, and he pointed to how yields have climbed since the central bank’s last meeting six weeks ago.

He reiterated his commitment to get inflation back to 2% following years of faster-than-hoped increases in prices, but he also stuck to his plan of giving financial markets fewer clues about what the Fed may do with interest rates in the near future.

With less guidance from the Fed, financial markets may be set for more volatile trading amid the uncertainty.

“Did the Fed take an explicit change in its policy rate today?” Warsh asked rhetorically in a press conference following the Fed’s decision. “No, but I think that’s the beginning of the story.”

Treasury yields swiveled up and down following the Fed’s decision and Warsh’s insistence on not guiding the market.

The yield on the two-year Treasury, which closely tracks expectations for Fed action, fell to 4.24% from 4.26% late Tuesday.

But the 10-year Treasury yield, which moves more with expectations for inflation and economic growth in upcoming years, went in the opposite direction. It jumped to 4.68% from 4.61% late Tuesday.

That’s up from 3.97% before the war with Iran sent oil prices much higher, and the increase has already sent long-term U.S. mortgage rates to their highest level in nearly a year.

Higher rates particularly hurt stocks seen as the most expensive, and scrutiny has already been rising on makers of computer chips and other winners of the frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology.

The recent surges for sellers of computer processors and memory are backed by real revenue and profits, but the exceptional growth won’t be sustainable if AI does not produce as much profit and productivity as hoped.

The skepticism has hit South Korea’s stock market in particular because it’s dominated by two tech giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Seoul’s Kospi index tumbled 6% Wednesday, a day after it plunged 10.8%, and trimmed its gain for the year so far to 34.4%.

SK Hynix’s stock in Seoul dropped 9.6%. It reported record amounts of revenue and profit for a quarter thanks to strong demand because of AI. But its 257% growth in revenue still wasn’t enough to meet analysts’ expectations.

On Wall Street, Nvidia was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500 after the chip company fell 3.6%.

KLA Corp., whose products and services help make semiconductors, lost 10.8% even though it reported stronger-than-forecast profit and revenue for the latest quarter. Expectations were high after its stock surged nearly 150% in this year’s first six months.

On Tuesday, gains for stocks outside of AI helped offset weakness for tech companies. Analysts have been saying such a rotation in the market from AI to less-loved areas could be healthy, but the majority of U.S. stocks fell with tech on Wednesday.

Hims & Hers Health tumbled 14.7%, for example, after the Federal Trade Commission, Utah and California alleged it shared consumers’ sensitive health information about medical conditions with third-party advertising platforms despite claiming its services maintain consumers’ privacy. Hims & Hers said their lawsuit is contorting “the law to try to manufacture claims,” which it called baseless.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 112.63 points to 7,316.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,153.18 to 51,594.14, and the Nasdaq composite sank 433.97 to 24,442.94.

In stock markets elsewhere around the world, indexes were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 2%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.5% for two of the bigger moves.

___

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

Buried radioactive capsule discovered near Midland in West Texas

Christian Terry — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:40:39 +0000

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) says a radioactive capsule was discovered and recovered in Midland County over the weekend.

The agency says the discovery was made last Friday when a DPS Corporal assigned to the Radiological/Nuclear Threat Detection (Rad/Nuc) Unit was conducting routine patrol duties and received an alarm from his vehicle-mounted radiation detection system.

Funeral director accused of stealing dead man’s $2M estate released on bond

Using additional radiation detection equipment, the Corporal conducted a systematic survey of the area and determined that a Cs-137 radioactive source was emitting radiation from beneath the ground.

After confirming the presence of the source, the Corporal requested help from other local, state, and federal agencies to safely recover the object.

On Saturday, multiple agencies conducted radiological assessment and came up with a plan to recover the object.

“Continuous radiological monitoring was conducted throughout the operation, and designated hot and cold zones were established to ensure the safety of all personnel. Radiation exposure levels were closely monitored, and personnel rotations were conducted in accordance with established safety protocols,” DPS said.

Spring Branch ISD to open Guthrie Center career hub, with real-world training for teens

Eventually, the source of the radiation was found six to eight inches below the surface.

The recovered item was identified as a 100-millicurie sealed radioactive source manufactured in April 1967.

“After the source was documented and radiation readings were verified, it was safely recovered without incident. The operation concluded with no injuries, no personnel contamination and no threat to the public,” DPS said.

It is unclear how the capsule ended up buried in the area, but the capsules are used in industrial gauging systems in the oil and gas industry.

Funeral director accused of stealing dead man's $2M estate released on bond

Bryce Newberry — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:35:57 +0000

Unique Green, the Houston-area funeral director arrested on five felonies last week, has been released from jail after posting an $800,000 bond.

PREVIOUS: Judge sets $800K bond for Houston funeral home director accused of trying to steal $2M estate

Green, who also is referred to as Michael in court records, is accused of stealing a dead man’s more than $2 million estate while posing as his spouse and working as an unlicensed funeral director at A Community Funeral Home.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Green was released from jail just before 5 a.m. on Tuesday. The bonding company would not provide information about who paid any of the money that led to Green’s release.

Houston Police and the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office had been investigating Green for months after executing a search warrant at the funeral home mid-service late last year.

The family of Lawrence Gammon contacted investigators after they said they hired Green for funeral arrangements, provided his personal information over email, but ended up not getting any funeral services and realized they may have been scammed, according to records.

Green filed documents in probate court, including what attorneys have argued was a fake last will and testament, claiming that Gammon left his entire estate to Green. An attorney representing Green in that case told KPRC 2 News last week that Green maintains having rights to the estate, but wouldn’t clarify the relationship between the two.

Gammon’s family has said they did not know Green or any connection between the two prior to his death, according to records.

In addition to allegedly trying to steal his estate, Green is also accused of submitting fraudulent documents to the Texas Funeral Service Commission to obtain a license to be a funeral director and embalmer, including claiming to have fake military service, before running A Community Funeral Home without a license.

Green has an arraignment hearing scheduled for Friday.

With Tua Tagovailoa sidelined with a minor injury, Falcons add Cooper Rush for training camp reps

Maura Carey, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:18:29 +0000

The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback competition will have to wait another day after coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Tua Tagovailoa sustained a minor injury, and he'll be back “sooner rather than later.”

Stefanski described the injury as a “flare-up” and said he doesn’t anticipate a long absence from the former Dolphins quarterback. He said Tagovailoa will be present at training camp but not yet participating.

The first-year Falcons coach kept the details of Tagovailoa’s injury secret, saying one of the perks of training camp is not having to divulge every detail.

ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Wednesday that Tagovailoa is dealing with a tight back.

The Falcons swapped one veteran quarterback for another as a result, releasing veteran Trevor Siemian and adding Cooper Rush. Heading into his ninth year in the league, Rush has appeared in 42 career games and has thrown for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Rush was out throwing alongside Michael Penix Jr. and undrafted rookie Jack Strand at the Falcons' first day of training camp on Wednesday morning.

Rush and Strand are expected to split snaps during 11-on-11s. Penix, who started nine games for Atlanta in 2026 before a season-ending ACL tear, will compete in individual and 7-on-7 drills.

Stefanski is encouraged by Penix's recovery, though he doesn't have a precise timetable for the quarterback's return to 11-on-11 drills.

“I don't know the exact date on when that would happen," Stefanski said. "All along, as you guys can imagine, we have put total trust into Mike, the medical team and the doctor who performed his surgery. So I'm very, very comfortable with where we are and the plan that we have.”

Penix had a slightly more definitive timeline, revealing that four weeks was the most recent benchmark he was given. While recovering from his third ACL tear, the third-year quarterback said he's eager to get back, but he's not taking the process lightly.

“Just trusting the process,” Penix said. “It's more seeing how my body is feeling with these practices. I was told like another four weeks, possibly, going into that next stage. At the same time, it could be earlier."

The Falcons had another nonparticipant in All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, who was present but did not take part in drills. Robinson appeared healthy and is widely speculated to be holding in for a contract extension after the Falcons exercised his fifth-year option.

The team did not comment on Robinson’s lack of participation.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The Latest: Senate plans vote to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer COVID-19 questions

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:28:34 +0000

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky subpoenaed Fauci to appear before a Senate committee. It’s part of Paul’s yearslong accusations that the now-retired infectious disease expert had lied about the pandemic, something Fauci has called “preposterous.” Paul closed the hearing by saying lawmakers will vote next week on whether to hold the now-retired infectious-disease expert in contempt for refusing to testify.

Democrats on the committee generally defended Fauci for refusing to engage, but Republicans hold an 8-7 majority on the panel. President Donald Trump told reporters, “I watched the whole thing today,” when asked about Fauci’s testimony.

Iran, meanwhile, launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the Middle East early Wednesday as the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Tehran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters. The flare-up on multiple fronts shattered a brief pause in fighting that followed nearly two weeks of daily bombing by the U.S. military.

Here's the latest:

Trump shrugs off Fed’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged

Trump showed no regrets over his handpicked Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, neglected to cut benchmark interest rates as the president has called for since returning to the White House.

Fed officials voted 9-3 to keep the federal funds rate steady, with the dissenters calling for a rate hike because inflation has stayed above the Fed’s 2% target.

“Kevin’s got a board. He’s fantastic. He’s a brilliant guy. Smart. I know he’d love to see lower interest rates, but he’s got a board and it’s a political board and they want to keep rates up,” Trump told reporters.

The president said the country is fighting through higher rates, saying he has achieved $19.2 trillion in investments in one year. That figure is bloated and inaccurate as it would constitute the bulk of U.S. gross domestic product and cannot be observed within broader economic data.

Trump says he watched all of Fauci testimony

The U.S. president apparently took keen interest in the former COVID official’s appearance before a Senate committee earlier Wednesday.

“I watched the whole thing today,” Trump told reporters when asked about his testimony.

He used the question to tout his first-term efforts on COVID-19, including Operation Warp Speed, which was the administration’s initiative on developing and distributing a COVID vaccine.

Trump added: “COVID was a disaster, but Fauci did not help.”

Fed holds benchmark rate steady, as some officials express worries about inflation

Federal Reserve officials voted 9-3 to keep their benchmark rates unchanged, but the dissenters favored rate hikes as inflation continues to run above the central bank’s 2% target.

The federal funds rate — which determines the interest charged on overnight loans among banks — will stay in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%.

The bank statement said the economy is “expanding at a solid pace,” but stressed that there is “uncertainty” because of the Iran war and its impact on oil prices.

The three Fed officials who sought to raise the benchmark rates by 0.25% were Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Fed Dallas President Lorie Logan. A rate hike would imply that inflation risks are mounting and could drive up the cost of mortgages, auto loans and government borrowing.

Trump has long attacked the Fed for not slashing its rates, but he has refrained from criticizing his pick as Fed chair, Kevin Warsh, for not delivering on his preferred policy.

Most GOP governors get on board with Trump’s election rules

All but three Republican governors in the U.S. signed a letter Wednesday supporting Trump’s push for requiring proof of citizenship for anyone registering to vote.

The governors said in a letter to Trump, who has made the measure a priority, that the SAVE America Act is “critical for restoring Americans’ trust in our electoral process.”

It’s not clear how much sway the Republican governors will have. GOP Majority Leader John Thune has said that Republicans lack the votes to pass the bill or get around a filibuster.

The GOP governors who didn’t sign are the leaders of New Hampshire, Ohio and Vermont.

Voting experts have warned that the requirement could disenfranchise 20 million voters who don’t have birth certificates or other documents available.

Paul-Fauci Senate hearing concludes after 3 hours

The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee ended a three-hour session with Dr. Anthony Fauci that offered two vastly different versions of his role leading the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For his part, Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment even as the Republican majority protested and demanded answers to their questions.

Chairman Rand Paul led questioning about coronavirus origins, trying to cast doubt on Fauci’s earlier contentions that it didn’t come from a Chinese lab. Other Republicans framed Fauci as a seeker of fame and fortune who has diminished public trust in science and government.

Some GOP members also doubled down on misinformation about COVID vaccines and public health precautions.

Democrats, meanwhile, cast Fauci as a victim of conspiratorial obsessions meant to take down an 85-year-old who spent more than a half-century as a physician and immunologist.

Paul says committee will vote next week on holding Fauci in contempt

The chairman said senators will vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer questions.

Paul argued that Biden’s presidential pardon means Fauci no longer has a Fifth Amendment privilege, though he added that it’s a “legal question that the courts may have to decide.”

The senator did not say whether he would push for a criminal contempt referral to federal prosecutors, a civil contempt charge referral to a federal court or the rarest form of congressional contempt, an internal Senate charge in which the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms can detain a witness.

Several Republicans hammered Fauci for not engaging, while Democrats generally defended him.

One Republican, Oklahoma’s Mark Lankford, told Fauci multiple times that “you have the right” to invoke the Fifth.

Republicans hold an 8-7 majority on the panel.

Iran resumes missile attacks as US and Saudis strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the Middle East early Wednesday as the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Tehran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters.

Six Iranian advisers were killed in the U.S.-Saudi strike, two Iraqi militia officials told The Associated Press. It was not immediately clear if the advisers were included in the fighters who were killed. The militia officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment publicly.

The flare-up on multiple fronts, after several days of relative calm, raised the risk of a return to all-out war. It also underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy and is unpopular among Americans. The fighting was also likely to add to concerns that the U.S. is further drawing down already diminished stockpiles of sophisticated munitions needed to defend its bases and allies.

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— Samy Magdy and Elena Becatoros

Trump and DOJ ask Supreme Court to toss $83 million defamation verdict in E. Jean Carroll case

Trump and the Justice Department are asking the Supreme Court to toss the verdict won by writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault, saying he can’t be sued for comments he made while he was president.

It’s the second time Trump has asked the justices to nix damages awarded by a jury to Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and former TV talk show host. The Supreme Court refused in June to hear his appeal of another verdict, for $5 million, that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.

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Sen. Josh Hawley hammers Fauci for pleading the Fifth

“Well, nothing says honesty like taking the 5th, huh, doc?” the Republican Missouri senator said, launching immediately into a searing critique of Fauci declining to answer questions.

Hawley proceeded with a mocking exchange.

“What day of the week is it today?”

“What color tie are you wearing?”

“What color is the carpet in front of you?”

Each time, Fauci answered, “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.”

Hawley then proceeded to a lengthy list of questions that accused Fauci of misconduct in his government role.

Fauci’s answer was the same.

So was Hawley’s: “Yeah, well, silence is admission.”

In fact, individuals who invoke constitutional protections not to answer questions under oath are not admitting guilt of any crime.

Some disease experts criticize the accusations against Fauci

In a public letter, more than 150 infectious-disease experts and other scientists wrote that “no credible evidence has been produced to support these absurd charges” and that they are “urging our elected representatives in Congress stop these witch-hunts.”

Conservative influencer Laura Ingraham spread COVID misinformation. She’s in the audience at hearing

The Fox News host used her show and social media platform to repeatedly spread misinformation during the pandemic.

In the pandemic’s early stages, Ingraham downplayed the spread of COVID-19. She went on to mock mask mandates, social distancing guidelines, people who wore masks and those who got vaccinations.

She also endorsed unproven remedies — including hydroxychloroquine — that the FDA had warned against.

Recently on her show, Ingraham has discussed Fauci’s diary entries that Sen. Paul released. She called Fauci a “little man with a big ego” and had Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on her show to blast Fauci’s “mismanagement” of the pandemic.

Paul has a Fauci representative removed from the hearing room

A representative who was among those who accompanied Fauci tried to speak without being recognized, angering Paul and leading to the man’s removal.

“He is not recognized by the committee or the chair. If he speaks again, he will be removed from the room,” Paul said. “This testimony is from Anthony Fauci. This is not a game with his lawyers.”

Paul said Fauci’s representatives and advisers “are all allowed to talk to him. ... But the attorneys are not recognized” to address lawmakers.

When the man persisted, Paul summoned Capitol Police.

“Please remove him from the room,” Paul said.

Sen. Gary Peters, the ranking Democrat, said he wanted to hear what Fauci’s counsel had to say. The Republican chair quipped back that Fauci “will still have the advice of the other half a dozen attorneys that he brought along today.”

Fauci has a presidential pardon. Why plead the Fifth?

Before President Joe Biden left office, he gave Fauci a preemptive “full and unconditional” pardon, dating back to 2014. So, why would Fauci need to invoke the Fifth now?

The decision may center on several Republicans’ comments that Fauci could still be criminally prosecuted for perjury if he lies under oath.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist before entering office, was among the Trump allies suggesting that possibility this week.

Fauci said in his opening statement that he believed Paul wanted him to testify so he could say something that might justify his arrest.

Paul gets to dominate the hearing with Fauci pleading the Fifth

The Kentucky senator is an ophthalmologist who’s conversant, if not fluent, in the language of scientific and medical research.

And with Fauci pleading the Fifth, Paul is free to go through his account of the record, asking detailed questions he knows the witness will not answer.

He’s asked about NIH funding of Chinese research.

Fauci responded: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment.”

The senator delved into details about virus mutations and the dangers of such research.

Fauci stuck to his script: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment.”

And throughout their exchange, Paul weaved in his analysis of Fauci’s actions to frame the one-sided conversation his way.

Invoking the Fifth offers protection for witnesses

The Fifth Amendment is a constitutional protection against self-incrimination during questioning by law enforcement authorities and Congress.

By invoking it, witnesses are not acknowledging any criminal liability at all, and many people who profess their absolute innocence choose to exercise their right to remain silent. Witnesses who do so are able to avoid testimony they think could be damning or that they fear could be used against them by zealous interrogators or prosecutors determined to use their own words against them.

In the case of Fauci, for instance, some Republicans have talked openly about their desire to see the doctor prosecuted, and in opting to invoke his rights, Fauci cited his concern that Republican Sen. Rand Paul would try to elicit testimony that “could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, quote, behind bars, unquote.”

Crux of Fauci hearing is over pandemic origins and NIH-funded research in China

Many scientists believe the virus most likely emerged in nature and jumped from animals to people, coming to light when it spread at a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

There’s no new scientific information supporting that the virus might instead have leaked from a laboratory, a theory Paul champions. A GOP-led subcommittee that studied the question in 2024 did not find any evidence linking Fauci to wrongdoing.

Fauci has long said publicly that he was open to both theories but that there’s more evidence supporting COVID-19’s natural origins, the way other deadly viruses, including coronavirus cousins SARS and MERS, jumped into people.

Trump tells Fox News he’ll retaliate hard against Iran for overnight attacks

Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, who’s based in the Middle East, said in an on-air segment that he spoke with Trump on Wednesday and the president told him the United States will hit back hard in response to the attacks in Jordan from Iran.

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the region early Wednesday.

Senate committee’s top Democrat says Fauci hearing is a GOP stunt

Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the panel, says Paul’s hearing is a partisan exercise and that the chairman has denied the minority access to some of the evidentiary record he’s cited.

Paul called that “categorically false.”

Peters tried to pivot to the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal work force and the departure of career scientists from the government’s public health programs.

The senator said Trump’s policies have slowed the response to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak and added that “cuts to global health programs and international partnerships have greatly reduced our ability to contain dangerous diseases.”

That’s more important than “relitigating the past,” Peters said.

“We should be asking how to strengthen our bio defense efforts to deter our adversaries and prevent biological attacks against our country,” while assessing “how our government can better coordinate and communicate during public health emergencies,” Peters said.

Fauci isn’t answering questions after invoking the Fifth

In his remarks at the top of the hearing, Fauci accused Sen. Paul of having an “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution.”

“The only conclusion that I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, quote, behind bars, unquote.”

He said he would refrain from answering questions upon advice from his attorneys.

Fauci pleading the Fifth, according to prepared remarks

A draft of the 85-year-old’s opening statement shows he won’t be getting into the details Sen. Paul wants to discuss.

Anyone under oath has the right to cite the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment that ensures no person can be compelled to give self-incriminating testimony.

Fauci’s decision diminishes the potential for fireworks between Fauci and the chairman. But it also could give Paul a relatively uninterrupted platform to frame his arguments on the pandemic, its origins and the federal response.

Sen. Paul opens hearing accusing Fauci of covering up COVID-19 origin

The senator is trying to build the case that Fauci and other officials helped produce the COVID-19 pandemic by approving funding of research on virus mutations and then covered up their complicity.

Fauci’s lawyers and his supporters vehemently deny those accusations.

Paul said Fauci should admit that “funding this research in China” was “a mistake” and that he made false statements during the pandemic — including to Congress — that the virus was not conceived in a laboratory.

“Your primary concern was hiding the fact that you had approved funding for this dangerous research,” Paul said.

The senator called Fauci’s “categorical public denials indefensible” and said he has “destroyed trust.”

COVID-19 Senate hearing starts with Rand Paul and Dr. Anthony Fauci

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has opened its hearing with Fauci.

The physician and immunologist who helped lead the U.S government response to the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to face aggressive questioning from Republican members, especially Chairman Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Paul has for years questioned the origins of the COVID virus and federal health officials’ accounts.

The senator already has released reams of Fauci’s diary entries during the pandemic and said that what scientist “wrote privately and what he told the country are two different stories.”

Investigators in Comey seashells case omitted key facts and distorted others, defense lawyers allege

Federal officials involved in the prosecution of James Comey misled judges, submitted false statements and withheld key facts during the course of the investigation, according to new defense filings that seek the dismissal of a case charging the former FBI director with threatening Trump on social media.

Lawyers for Comey made the allegations of misconduct in motions filed late Tuesday that also call the case a vindictive and selective prosecution, request access to transcripts of grand jury proceedings to expose what they say are “irregularities” in how the indictment was secured, and describe “unlawful” surveillance of Comey by the Secret Service.

Taken together, the new motions, along with an earlier one this week that called Comey’s social media post protected speech and not a threat, represent a multiprong defense effort to dismantle a case defense lawyers say exemplifies a Trump administration retribution campaign targeting one of the president’s most vocal critics.

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Trump’s attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service

Roughly six weeks before the first midterm ballots are mailed out, the U.S. Postal Service is emerging as a pivotal player in an election season that will determine control of Congress.

Trump is seeking greater control over mail balloting through an executive order while a change to how the agency processes mail is leading to criticism that it’s failing to deliver ballots on time.

Democratic officials have raised concerns over the past week about how quickly the Postal Service will process ballots after tens of thousands of them in California and hundreds in Wisconsin arrived at local election offices too late to be counted in elections earlier this year. The top election offices in Kansas and Michigan are urging voters who want to cast their ballots early to avoid the mail and instead drop them off in person.

The Postal Service replied to those concerns Tuesday by saying it remains “committed to fulfilling our role in the electoral process.”

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Anthony Fauci again faces questions from Senate Republicans about pandemic origins

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. scientist who helped lead the nation’s COVID-19 pandemic response, is set to face off — again — with a Republican senator probing the origins of the coronavirus.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky subpoenaed Fauci to appear before a Senate committee Wednesday. It’s part of Paul’s yearslong accusations that the now-retired infectious disease expert had lied about the pandemic, something Fauci has called “preposterous.”

Leading up to the hearing, Paul released more than a thousand pages of Fauci’s personal diary covering the pandemic years. Pointing to some notes about early efforts at understanding how the virus emerged, Paul wrote on the social media platform X that what Fauci “wrote privately and what he told the country are two different stories.”

But they’re likely to further inflame a partisan divide that, years after the pandemic, still makes Fauci a target of vitriol from people who blame him for mask mandates and other policies they believe infringed on their rights as hundreds of thousands of people were dying.

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Happy National Lipstick Day! Here’s the lowdown on choosing a matte, glossy, or satin pigment 💄

Javana Vela — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:11:48 +0000

Lipstick may be one of the quickest ways to transform a look, but choosing the right formula can feel overwhelming. With countless shades and finishes lining beauty aisles, knowing where to start can be just as challenging as finding the perfect color.

The good news? There are no hard rules when it comes to lipstick. The best choice comes down to personal comfort, your style, and the occasion.

Before reaching for any lipstick, makeup artist Darcie Teasley says healthy lips should always come first.

No matter how beautiful the color, lipstick won’t look its best if lips are dry or flaky.

Start by gently exfoliating to remove dead skin. A soft toothbrush or disposable mascara wand works well for buffing away rough patches before makeup application.
Next comes hydration. Apply a true lip balm while you’re doing the rest of your makeup so your lips have time to absorb the moisture before lipstick goes on.

Teasley also points out that not every product marketed for lips serves the same purpose. While products like ChapStick, Carmex, EOS, and Burt’s Bees are household names, they aren’t the same as moisturizing lip balms. Instead, she recommends reaching for products such as Vaseline, Aquaphor, Rosebud Salve, Kiehl’s Lip Balm, or other formulas designed to deeply hydrate lips.

Once your lips are prepped, it’s time to choose the finish that best fits your day.

satin finish

This is the most versatile option. It delivers rich color with a creamy, moisturizing feel that’s especially flattering for dry or textured lips. It’s comfortable enough for everyday wear and remains one of the most popular lipstick finishes available.

Matte finish

If you’re looking for maximum staying power, a matte lipstick is a classic choice. Matte formulas offer bold color payoff with no shine, making them ideal for weddings, parties, long workdays, or any event where you want your lipstick to last. While they can be more drying, they create a polished, sophisticated look that makes a statement.

Glossy finish

Gloss delivers a completely different effect. Its reflective finish helps lips appear fuller, smoother, and more youthful while providing lightweight hydration. Whether worn alone or layered over lipstick, gloss creates an effortless look that’s perfect for casual days or adding extra dimension to your favorite shade.

Still not sure which finish to choose? Think about how your lips feel and where you’re going.

If your lips tend to stay dry, satin or gloss may be your best bet. If you’re heading to a special event and want long-lasting color, matte is a great option. Satin sits comfortably in the middle, offering hydration with noticeable pigment.

Your lips, but better

Lip liner can also make a dramatic difference. For a natural “my lips but better” look, choose a liner that’s one or two shades deeper than your natural lip color. To create the illusion of fuller lips, use a liner slightly deeper than your lipstick, concentrating the darker shade around the Cupid’s bow and the center of the bottom lip. And for a timeless, classic lip, simply match your liner to your lipstick to create a clean edge while preventing feathering and bleeding.

One final pro tip: Always blend your lip liner by gently pressing your lips together before applying lipstick. It softens harsh lines, evens out pigment, and creates a smooth base that helps lipstick wear more evenly throughout the day.

Happy National Lipstick day, muah! 👄💄

Feds ask judge to suspend order releasing witness in Houston’s deadly ICE shooting

Jaewon Jung — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:11:00 +0000

The federal government is asking a judge to suspend an order that released a witness to the deadly ICE shooting in Houston earlier this month, a move that could open the door for immigration authorities to seek to take him back into custody.

José Trinidad Rojas Pliego was released from ICE custody on Wednesday after U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ruled Monday that his continued detention without an individualized bond determination violated his constitutional right to due process.

RELATED: ICE releases witness in fatal Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting after federal judge’s order

The July 27 order required immigration officials to release Rojas Pliego within 48 hours. It also prohibited the government from re-detaining him during his ongoing removal proceedings unless he first receives notice and a hearing before an immigration judge.

At that hearing, the order states, the government would have to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Rojas Pliego is a flight risk or danger to the community.

Rojas Pliego has since been released, according to his attorneys.

However, in a motion filed Wednesday, federal attorneys asked the judge to stay his entire order while the government appeals the ruling.

The filing does not explicitly state that ICE intends to take Rojas Pliego back into custody. But if the judge grants the request in full, it could suspend both the order requiring his release and the protections preventing ICE from re-detaining him without a prior hearing.

Until the judge rules on the government’s request, the July 27 order remains in effect.

Rojas Pliego was one of the passengers inside a vehicle stopped by ICE officers on July 7. During the encounter, officers opened fire, killing the driver, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

RELATED: José Trinidad Rojas Pliego ordered released from ICE processing center

ICE officials previously said the driver attempted to evade officers and “weaponized” the vehicle. Voluntary statements submitted by Rojas Pliego and another passenger offer a conflicting account of what happened.

Rojas Pliego was taken into ICE custody after the shooting and placed in removal proceedings. According to the court order, he entered the United States without inspection in 1998 and has lived in the country continuously for nearly three decades.

The judge noted that Rojas Pliego has no criminal history, has a common-law marriage to a U.S. citizen and is the father and stepfather of multiple U.S. citizen children and stepchildren.

Rojas Pliego has also applied for a U visa, which is available to certain crime victims who assist law enforcement. His application was certified by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

In granting his habeas corpus petition, Judge Ellison acknowledged that federal law subjects Rojas Pliego to mandatory immigration detention. However, the judge ruled that applying the law to him without any individualized justification violated the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

The government argues that Judge Ellison’s decision conflicts with a recent published stay issued by the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a group of similar immigration-detention cases known as Rodriguez v. Ortega.

In those cases, the Fifth Circuit agreed to reconsider the dispute as a full court and temporarily stayed orders granting habeas relief to three detained immigrants.

Federal attorneys contend that the Fifth Circuit’s action is binding on the Houston court because Rojas Pliego’s case also challenges detention under the same federal statute without a bond hearing.

Federal attorneys are asking the judge to suspend his July 27 order for the duration of the appeal. If the request is denied, the government could seek a stay directly from the Fifth Circuit.

Rojas Pliego’s removal case remains pending. His release from detention does not end those proceedings or grant him lawful immigration status.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said:

“ICE complies with all lawful court orders.

“DHS-OIG is leading an investigation into the agent-involved shooting. FBI Houston is leading an investigation into the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer. We refer you to them for additional questions.”

Spring Branch ISD to open Guthrie Center career hub, with real-world training for teens

Ava Popovits — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:27:30 +0000

The Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) is preparing to open its new Guthrie Center, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility that prepares students for the workforce.

View this post on Instagram

The new facility, which is scheduled to open for the 2026–27 school year, was approved by voters as part of SBISD’s 2022 bond program. The bond dedicated $290.3 million to CTE improvements districtwide, including the construction of the new Guthrie Center.

“Our vision is T-2-4, so we want every student when they graduate our school system to be prepared with either a technical, a two-year, or a four-year degree, or go into the military,” SBISD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine said. “We don’t want to ever limit that ability by what we do or don’t provide.”

Harris County Clerk to hold Saturday birth certificate event to help families get ready for school

SBISD introduces CTE courses in middle school, exposing students to different career paths. Freshmen and sophomores continue taking CTE courses at their home campuses, before moving to the Guthrie Center as juniors and seniors for more advanced instruction.

One of the unique aspects of the Guthrie Center is that students have the chance to serve the public through their automotive, cosmetology and culinary arts programs.

The community can enter through the “enterprise entrance” and get their oil changed, a new set of nails or enjoy lunch at the cafe.

“There’s a whole side of this where not only are our kids learning in the classroom with their teachers, but they’re practicing the service that they’re then delivering in a real-world setting so that they get accustomed to that,” Blaine said.

LIST: Back-to-school freebies — backpack and supply giveaways around Houston

Speaking of teachers - students will be learning from real architects, welders, chefs, and more.

“That really lends credibility to the program,” Principal Joe Kolenda said. “Students walk in and it’s not just teachers that learned something out of a book. It’s teachers that did it.”

For more information on the Guthrie Center and its programs, click here.

Tony Danza is coming to Houston this week, here is where to see him

Lauren Kelly — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:44:48 +0000

For more than four decades, Tony Danza has entertained audiences as a tv star, Broadway performer, singer, dancer and all-around entertainer. Now, the beloved actor is bringing his signature charm to Houston with an evening that blends music, laughter and personal stories.

Tony Danza’s Standards & Stories takes the stage at Doc’s Houston this Thursday, July 30th, giving fans a chance to experience the Hollywood icon in a whole new way.

Rather than a traditional concert, Standards & Stories is an intimate evening where Danza performs beloved classics from the Great American Songbook while sharing memorable stories from his remarkable life and career. Along the way, audiences can also expect plenty of humor, tap dancing, a little ukulele playing, and the effortless charisma that has made Danza a fan favorite for generations.

And not only does Danza sing, but he also tap-dances, plays the ukulele, and tells stories in a way that only he can. Get tickets and more info --> HERE.

Most people know Tony Danza from his unforgettable television roles as Tony Banta on Taxi and Tony Micelli on Who’s the Boss?—two of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. Over the years, he’s also appeared in films including Angels in the Outfield, She’s Out of Control, Hollywood Knights, and Don Jon.

Watch as Lauren Kelly catches up with Tony about his upcoming event, and some of the unforgettable moments from his incredible career.

Anaheim: The Urban Basecamp You Didn’t Know You Needed In Southern California

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:34:09 +0000

Have you heard of the urban basecamp? It’s a growing travel trend — mid-size cities positioning themselves as one-stop destinations for culture, food, sports, nightlife and nature.

Travel expert Gabe Saglie joins Houston Life from Anaheim to show how this Orange County city is doubling down on the concept with walkable neighborhoods, rooftop bars and curated experiences that let visitors stack multiple vacations into one trip.

Eat, drink and rooftop: culinary as a calling card

Culinary experiences are a major driver of the urban basecamp idea. From bustling food halls and craft breweries to chic rooftop bars, Anaheim is serving up options for families and grown-ups alike. The Anaheim Packing District has become a magnet for food lovers, while a new generation of rooftop spots is drawing visitors for sunset cocktails and skyline views. Local breweries and small-batch producers add another layer to the city’s taste profile.

Connected and convenient: transit that matters

One of the biggest selling points of an urban basecamp is connectivity. Anaheim’s transit hubs make it easy to arrive and then explore without a car. The ARTIC station provides regional rail and shuttle access to local attractions, shortening travel time and letting visitors spend their stay doing, not commuting.

Sports, culture and year-round events

Vacationing around sports and live entertainment is another part of the movement. Anaheim hosts professional sports, concerts and cultural venues that book events across seasons, giving travelers plenty of reasons to return. Whether you’re planning a family trip, a couples’ getaway or a friends’ weekend, Anaheim’s mix of venues and calendar-packed events helps stretch one visit into many memories.

Plan your visit online — visitanaheim.org.

FIFA's Infantino sets deadline for $20M offer to members in World Cup investor plan

Graham Dunbar, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:59:51 +0000

FIFA President Gianni Infantino set a Sept. 19 deadline on Wednesday for the 211 member federations to accept one-off $20 million offers as part of a project to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

The $20 billion FIFA subsidiary was blasted by international soccer organizations. European soccer body UEFA aims to call its 55 member federations to an emergency online meeting, likely on Thursday. The organization said “there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme.”

The effort is being bankrolled by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

The effort marks Infantino's latest effort to align with those in the orbit of Trump: by creating the FIFA peace prize, letting Trump intervene in a process that led to United States forward Folarin Balogun playing at the World Cup, and now trying to lock in Joshua Kushner's investment firm to a 12-year ownership deal with the Switzerland-based not-for-profit soccer body.

Infantino set out the “singular and unique funding opportunity” in a letter detailing why he wants to create the $20 billion FIFA subsidiary — 20% owned by private investors — that would run the soccer body’s competitions and events like World Cups and Club World Cups.

“It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members,” Infantino wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press.

The effort elevates the status of Joshua Kushner, who has long been connected financially to his brother Jared.

When Joshua Kushner founded a venture capital firm rather than follow into the family’s real estate business, his elder brother was an early investor and a board member.

The brothers are reportedly close, and their father, Charles Kushner, received a pardon from Trump and now serves as the U.S. Ambassador to France.

But the younger Kushner has a history of six-figure donations to Democrats and his wife, the model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss, attended last month’s opening of the Obama presidential library and told Bloomberg earlier this year she’s never met Donald Trump.

The proposal revealed Tuesday and backed by Joshua Kushner's investment firm Thrive Capital was met with immediate fury from Infantino’s former colleagues at UEFA, which said the World Cup “is not FIFA’s to sell.”

One option open to European soccer is threaten a boycott of FIFA competitions — a tactic used in 2021 when UEFA-led opposition helped stop Infantino's plan to play the World Cup every two years instead of four.

On Wednesday, UEFA and its president Aleksander Čeferin hosted a video conference between its five member federations with the biggest soccer leagues: England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

“President Čeferin expressed his stance against this (FIFA) project,” Giovanni Malagò, the new president of Italian soccer said during the presentation of new Italy coach Roberto Mancini. “The situation is really total conflict."

Infantino's ambitions

FIFA’s private equity plan is the latest ambitious project proposed during Infantino’s 11-year presidency in which he has increasingly seemed to be an executive leader acting without consulting with soccer’s major stakeholders.

Previous plans include creating a FIFA Peace Prize — awarded to Trump in December at the World Cup draw — and trying to push through a secretive $25 billion private equity plan in 2018 to create new and bigger men's competitions. That was resisted by UEFA.

Concerns about the latest and previously secret plan were aired Wednesday by the continental soccer bodies for Asia and the North American region known as CONCACAF.

“We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process,” CONCACAF said in a statement.

The Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation said it was “disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain before the AFC family had been afforded the opportunity to examine and discuss it.”

Continental bodies that organize their own international club and national-team competitions plus qualifying games — such as the Champions League, European Championship and Copa America — likely will see threats to those events from FIFA wanting to increase revenue and value for investors by playing World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women more often, along with adding more teams.

The influential, 850-member European Football Clubs group — which has a joint venture with UEFA to manage the Champions League — said it “learned about this proposal in the same way as most global football stakeholders — without warning and through the media.”

Inviting in private investors could also, sports governance academic Antoine Duval suggested Wednesday “incentivize FIFA to further commodify the World Cup (think more hydration breaks and dynamic pricing ) in a drive to increase its revenue.”

What's on offer to FIFA member federations

If the FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary is approved by a majority of the 211 members, they also each are promised $20 million in funding from the four-year commercial cycle tied to the men’s 2030 World Cup.

That would lead, Infantinto wrote, to “a pool of diverse international investors” joining Joshua Kushner's Thrive as the anchor investor: “This process will be led by J.P. Morgan.”

If Infantino’s plan is rejected, those members will get their previously promised $10 million over the next four years, his letter stated.

The cash difference on offer Wednesday to FIFA members appears to be $86 million over 12 years compared to about $36 million in existing promised funding for rejecting the private equity deal.

The rushed deadline to claim an initial $20 million “says everything you need to know about this plan,” UEFA said. “FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends.”

Dozens of member federations typically rely on FIFA for funding, have national teams with little realistic chance of qualifying for World Cups, and whose best players rarely, if ever, join clubs playing at the highest level of international competitions.

FIFA's one-member, one-vote democratic system means the most powerful soccer nations on the field easily can be outvoted by those who rarely play top-level games.

Resistance in Britain

FIFA’s plan met quick opposition from British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose government is preparing to support hosting the 2035 Women’s World Cup in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. FIFA is set to confirm that lone bid for 2035 at an online meeting in November.

“Football does not belong to investors,” Burnham, a longtime soccer fan, said in a video message on Instagram. “Once you have sold a piece of (the World Cup), you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”

Resistance by British lawmakers — including threats of legislation by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021 — previously helped stop the divisive European Super League project that was an existential threat to UEFA's Champions League, and which Infantino had discreetly supported. J.P. Morgan bankers also worked with top European clubs on that project, which collapsed within 48 hours.

Infantino's future

Infantino has seemed to be cruising toward being reelected unopposed as FIFA president for a fourth and final term through 2031.

Promising more FIFA funds to member federations was a decisive part of his initial election-day speech in February 2016, and at his unopposed reelections in 2019 and 2023.

Some observers have long suspected Infantino wants a longer-term role running the sport. A CEO or commissioner role at a FIFA subsidiary FFE would fit that bill.

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AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Rome contributed to this report

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

'Once' Oscar winner and Irish musician Glen Hansard dies in motorcycle crash

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:34:19 +0000

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who won an Academy Award for the 2007 film “Once,” died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin early Wednesday, his management said. He was 56.

ATC Management told broadcaster RTE Hansard's family was “deeply shocked and heartbroken.”

News of his death brought tributes from fellow musicians including Bruce Springsteen, who said on Instagram he was “heartbroken” at the loss of “a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man.”

Irish police said a man in his 50s died in single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, on the western outskirts of the Irish capital, before 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. The man, who they did not name, was treated at the scene but pronounced dead a short time later.

Hansard combined acting and a musical career. He played a member of a Dublin soul band in the hit 1991 movie “The Commitments” and won an Oscar in 2008 for the song “Falling Slowly,” which he co-wrote for the indie musical “Once" with co-star Markéta Irglová.

“Once,” a love story about two struggling musicians, was later adapted for Broadway, again with songs by Hansard and Irglová. It won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including best musical.

Hansard was long-serving front man for rock band The Frames, half of rock duo The Swell Season with Irglová and released solo albums including “Didn’t He Ramble,” which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.

Ireland's President Catherine Connolly said he was one of Ireland’s great singer-songwriters.

“Glen was one of the vital driving influences of the Irish music world, bringing people together in the sharing of live music," Connolly said. "He will be sorely missed by all who knew him or experienced his work.”

Actor-comedian Chris O’Dowd said Hansard’s “energizing melodies and soulful, searching voice made the tough times more manageable, the stagnant times more beautiful, and the joyful times even more memorable.”

Hansard started out as a busker on the streets of Dublin. He became famous for leading the Christmas Eve busk outside Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, where members of the public gathered to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of a homelessness charity.

Former Irish president Michael D. Higgins said Hansard was a “wonderful musician and performer” who also "placed great emphasis throughout his life to the importance of tackling the problems of society."

At the funeral of The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan in 2023, Hansard performed a rousing version of The Pogues' song “Fairytale Of New York” with Irish singer Lisa O’Neill that had the congregation dancing in the aisles of the church.

Hansard is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their 3-year-old son, Christy.

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A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Hansard was awarded an Oscar in 2007. He received the award in 2008.

Chiefs assistant Eric Bieniemy remains with family after wife's shooting as full team begins camp

Dave Skretta, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:24:29 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs held their first full-squad workout of training camp Wednesday without offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who remained with his family following the shooting of his wife — allegedly by their son — at their Virginia home last weekend.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said after the workout that Mia Bieniemy had been released from the intensive care unit, where she was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds. But there was no timetable for when Eric Bieniemy would be back with the team.

“She's making progress,” Reid said, “so we're happy about that.”

Elijah Zion Bieniemy, the 27-year-old son of the couple, was arrested in connection with the late-Sunday shooting. He was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, and was being held without bond Wednesday at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

Elijah Bieniemy has a court date to hear motions scheduled for Thursday. His preliminary hearing date is Aug. 31.

Eric Bieniemy returned earlier this year to the Chiefs, where he experienced his greatest success as an assistant. He was instrumental in Kansas City reaching three Super Bowls and winning two of them before departing for the Washington Commanders in 2023, where he had wanted to build upon his resume in the hopes of landing a head coaching job.

Bieniemy was part of Ron Rivera's staff that was let go following that season, though. He spent one season as offensive coordinator at UCLA before spending last season coaching the running backs with the Chicago Bears.

However long he misses training camp is noteworthy, given Bieniemy is trying to get up to speed with any changes to Reid's playbook over the past few years. But the Chiefs are uniquely suited to press on without him during an important part of training camp.

Not only do they have continuity on their coaching staff but have veteran leaders on the offensive side of the ball.

Pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier, who has been with the Chiefs for the past decade and is widely considered a rising star in the profession, has assumed many of Bieniemy's responsibilities. Others have fallen upon veteran offensive line coach Andy Heck, who has held that job ever since Reid's initial Kansas City coaching staff was put together following the 2012 season.

There's also the fact that Reid has a heavy hand in running the Chiefs offense. He receives plenty of input from his coordinators, but it is ultimately Reid who calls the plays on gameday, and who has the ear of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

As for the two-time MVP, who is coming off reconstructive surgery on his left knee, Mahomes knows the Kansas City offense as well as anybody besides his head coach. And when you add in veterans such as tight end Travis Kelce, offensive linemen Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, and wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, there is plenty of experience out on the field.

“We’ll be able to keep it moving here,” Reid said.

Meanwhile, Mahomes looked sharp in his first 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work of camp Wednesday, even though the Chiefs won't have pads on for several more days. At one point, he zipped a pass between two defenders to Kelce for a nice gain in the red zone.

“I feel stronger than I've ever felt as far as strength and lifting and stuff like that,” Mahomes said, "so now it's just about getting that quarterback stuff down, the stuff moving in the pocket quick — making those quick movements — reacting and doing stuff like that.

“I feel like I wasn't playing my best football at the end of last year before I got hurt,” he added. “I've got to find ways to get better, kind of navigating the pocket, run the offense better, getting the ball out of my hands and letting guys make plays. So I think this injury has kind of helped me focus on those little things as I kind of get back to who I am.”

Notes: DE Ethan Downs had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee and was placed on injured reserve. ... Rice (knee) and CB L'Jarius Snead (knee) participated in about half the practice before spending the rest of the time with the training staff. “That was the plan,” Reid said. ... First-round CB Mansoor Delane (shoulder) participated in most of practice in a yellow no-contact jersey.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

'Pleading the Fifth' invokes a constitutional amendment that has a long history in US society

Deepti Hajela, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:14:32 +0000

It was important enough to the framers of the U.S. Constitution to be included in the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights — that no person “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.”

As part of the Fifth Amendment, the right against self-incrimination is well known to the general public thanks to years of legal and police procedural shows on television as well as instances of high-profile use in real life. The amendment also includes a right to due process and protects against being prosecuted twice for the same offense.

It has seeped into the culture, too. “Pleading the Fifth” has become an idiom in the United States, used jokingly in casual conversation as a way to get out of answering a possibly uncomfortable question.

It's not a uniquely American principle

The general principle is not a uniquely American one. Its roots include English common law dating back to the 17th century.

At the time the Constitution was being written, it was enshrined along with other amendments to put limits on the newly created federal government. The Fifth Amendment and a handful of others were focused on criminal justice issues, with other amendments including things like the right to a lawyer and a speedy jury trial, and a prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

One of the core tenets of the U.S. criminal justice system is that people are innocent until proven guilty, and that it's up to the prosecuting power to prove guilt. Without a right to avoid self-incrimination, people could be put in the position of having to prove their own innocence rather than being shown as guilty.

It can be used in a number of circumstances

Over the course of U.S. history, the Fifth Amendment has expanded beyond federal criminal cases to the state court level, and to civil cases as well. There's a difference, though.

In criminal cases, if someone on trial invokes the amendment and refuses to testify, the jurors must be told that they can't assume that silence equals guilt. In civil cases, drawing a negative inference from a refusal to testify can be allowed.

Of course, even in criminal cases, if jurors are told it doesn't mean a defendant is guilty, they could still believe that not testifying correlates to having done what they are accused of. Witnesses can also plead the Fifth, but they can answer other questions — as opposed to defendants, for whom it's all or nothing in regards to testifying.

The Fifth Amendment's use has also shown up in hearings before Congress, when those who have been subpoenaed to testify under oath reference it out of concerns that something they say could then be used in some kind of criminal proceeding.

High-profile figures have invoked it

In a hearing before a Republican-led Senate committee about how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci turned to the Fifth in declining to answer questions. It drew scorn from Republicans, while Democrats supported him.

In 2022, when he was out of the White House after his first term as president, Donald Trump used the Fifth repeatedly in a deposition for a civil case against the Trump Organization in New York.

In the 1950s, when Sen. Joe McCarthy held anticommunist hearings, some witnesses used the amendment when being questioned. Even though they had the right, McCarthy condemned them for it, and they faced consequences that included public censure and blacklisting.

Jared Leto denies sexual assault allegations described in BBC documentary

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:08:51 +0000

Four women have accused Jared Leto of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers, to which the actor and musician responded Wednesday that he has “never sexually assaulted anyone.”

“I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false,” Leto, 54, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

The BBC documentary “Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret,” released Wednesday, details allegations including those from four women who accused the actor of sexual misconduct and assault between 2002 and 2016, when they were teenagers and Leto was an adult. One said she was 17 when she was sexually assaulted, while another accused Leto of statutory rape as she was also 17. One woman said she was 19 when Leto threatened her with sexual assault and another said she was 16 when Leto made sexually explicit phone calls and propositioned her.

The BBC says it corroborated the women's accounts, which could not be independently verified by the AP. The documentary does not identify the women by their full names. The BBC said Leto did not respond to its attempts to seek comment for its documentary. The AP sent an emailed request for comment to the BBC on Wednesday seeking a response to Leto's denial.

Leto was also accused of misconduct by nine women who spoke to Air Mail for a story published last year. A representative for Leto denied those allegations at the time.

Leto, an Oscar winner for his supporting role in “Dallas Buyers Club,” is also the frontman of the band Thirty Seconds to Mars. He recently starred as Skeletor in “Masters of the Universe.”

Ukraine says it hits 2 major Russian oil refineries hours after Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump

Hanna Arhirova And Barry Hatton, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:10:51 +0000

Ukrainian forces hit two of Russia’s biggest oil refineries overnight in its latest long-range strikes, officials said Wednesday, as Kyiv deepened its economic, military and diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

Ukraine’s almost daily long-range drone and missile strikes using domestically developed weapons have battered Russian oil facilities for months. The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin more than four years after Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor.

The overnight attacks started fires at a Lukoil refinery in Russia’s Perm region, more than 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine, and a refinery in Ryazan, about 400 kilometers (180 miles) from the border, Ukraine’s Security Service and General Staff said in separate statements.

The refineries have a combined annual production capacity of around 220 million barrels of oil, according to Ukraine, and make a vital contribution to Russia's military effort and its government revenue.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify the claims. Ryazan Gov. Pavel Malkov said only that six people were taken to a hospital after a drone attack. He said drone debris caused fires at unidentified “industrial sites.”

Russian online retailer Wildberries, a major supplier likened to Amazon that Ukraine has targeted in recent days, said it evacuated employees from a facility in Ryazan but provided no further details.

Russia has sophisticated air defenses but its vast territory is hard to comprehensively cover.

The attacks came hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump to push for more vital American help for Ukraine’s fight against its much bigger enemy.

“Russia must feel that every day of this war will only come at a higher cost for it. We need to weaken the aggressor and keep up the pressure to bring an end to this war closer,” Zelenskyy said on social media.

Ukraine’s recent high-profile successes against Russia have impressed Washington and helped restore U.S. goodwill after Trump’s reluctance at the start of his second term to keep supporting Kyiv. That stance had raised the specter of Ukraine and Europe having to stand up to Russian aggression alone.

Zelenskyy says he had a good meeting with Trump

Zelenskyy said he had a “good meeting” with the American president, and Trump described the meeting as a “Great Honor.” The talks took place behind closed doors.

“Many things were discussed. The meeting went very well!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Zelenskyy said he also had a meeting in Washington with representatives of both parties in the U.S. Senate, with more than 60 senators in attendance, as Ukraine pushes for more sanctions on Russia. He also met with representatives of Lockheed Martin, days after he welcomed a delegation from Raytheon to Kyiv.

The U.S. weapons manufacturers are a crucial source of sophisticated weaponry, such as Patriot air defense systems, that Ukraine hopes to make itself. Trump said earlier this month he would grant Ukraine licenses to manufacture the Patriots it needs to counter Russia’s ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine is discussing joint production and technology exchange with both Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

Ukraine is ready to share its cutting-edge — and battle-tested — drone technology. Its swift technical innovation has paid dividends as it helps pin down Russia’s bigger army on the front line and denies it supplies by hitting rear areas.

That has impressed countries around the world. Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, said during a visit to Ukraine earlier this week: “From reconnaissance and logistics to precision strikes, Ukraine has shown the world how unmanned systems can give smaller forces a decisive edge.”

US envoys to visit Kyiv but no date set

Prospects for a settlement to stop the fighting appear dim, despite a yearlong diplomatic push by the Trump administration.

But U.S. officials also agreed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s main envoys, would make a trip to Kyiv sometime in the future, according to a person familiar with the talks who was granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.

Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, the new commander-in-chief of Ukraine's military, said in a social media post on Wednesday that he had held his first phone conversation with Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of U.S. European Command.

“I outlined my vision of Ukraine’s victory and the capabilities required to achieve it,” said Drapatyi, who was appointed last week as part of a government reshuffle.

“At this stage of the war, we must strengthen operations across multiple domains, prevent enemy infiltration into our defensive lines, and expand both long-range and medium-range precision strikes against the enemy,” he added.

Ukraine says it hits over 200 Russian vessels in 3 weeks

Ukrainian units also have struck 201 Russian vessels over the past three weeks in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, which border both countries, a senior military official said.

The tally doesn’t include vessels hit by Ukraine’s Security Service and other military groups, a Ukrainian military commander who could be identified only by his call sign Magyar, in keeping with the rules of the Ukrainian military, said late Tuesday.

Ukrainian forces also struck a naval base used by Russia’s Black Sea, according to the General Staff.

It reported other strikes on a radar station in Russia’s Bryansk region on the border and on a drone launch site and a road bridge in the occupied part of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported Wednesday that its air defenses shot down 295 Ukrainian drones overnight above a number of Russian regions and occupied Crimea.

Russian glide bombs struck the northeastern city of Kharkiv and 17 other places in the region of the same name over the previous 24 hours, wounding 11 people, the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, said.

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Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.

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

FIFA hits Argentina with World Cup charges for scuffle and 'Malvinas' banner

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:27:28 +0000

FIFA lodged disciplinary charges against two Argentina players Wednesday for striking Spain opponents moments after the World Cup final and charged Argentina's soccer federation for players showing a political banner about the Falkland Islands after beating England in the semifinals.

A list of disciplinary cases opened by FIFA against Argentina also include “discriminatory chants and gestures” by fans, alleged assault by an assistant coach after the final and “throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches” at the World Cup.

Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes faces three charges of assault in the post-game clashes after Spain’s 1-0 win on July 19, defender Nahuel Molina faces two charges and coach Roberto Ayala one.

Molina and Thiago Almada also are charged with unsporting behavior, with the same charge leveled against Spain player Gavi.

Argentina’s players carried a banner with the slogan “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine” — after beating England 2-1 in the semifinals.

Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas. They were invaded in 1982 under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain.

British government officials urged FIFA to investigate, and the soccer body said Wednesday the formal charge was “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.”

FIFA said all the people charged “have now been provided with the opportunity to present their position, following which a decision will be issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in due course.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

Texas health issues alert after 4 Montgomery County residents infected with measles

Brittany Taylor — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:18:35 +0000

Texas health officials are warning residents and health care providers to stay alert after four cases of measles were confirmed in an unvaccinated Montgomery County family.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a health alert after the family members were infected by a person with measles who traveled to Texas from another state.

Because measles is one of the most contagious viruses, state health officials said additional cases could occur, particularly among people who are not vaccinated.

“Because measles is so contagious, additional cases could occur among unvaccinated people in the area,” DSHS said in the alert.

Health officials are urging Texans to make sure they are protected by getting vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

According to DSHS, two doses of the MMR vaccine are more than 97% effective at preventing measles. The vaccine is available through health care providers, and free or low-cost options are offered for eligible families through the Texas Vaccines for Children program. Pharmacists can administer the vaccine without a prescription to people 14 and older and with a prescription for children 13 and younger.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and often begin with:

High fever
Cough
Runny nose
Red, watery eyes

A few days later, a red rash usually develops on the face before spreading to the neck, trunk and the rest of the body.

People with measles are contagious from about four days before the rash appears until four days after it develops. Anyone who suspects they have measles should stay home during that time to avoid spreading the virus.

What should you do if you’ve been exposed?

Health officials recommend calling your health care provider before going to a doctor’s office or clinic if you believe you’ve been exposed to measles. Calling ahead allows providers to arrange testing while reducing the risk of exposing other patients.

Measles spreads through coughing, sneezing or simply being near an infected person. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

While many people recover, measles can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in some cases, death.

DSHS said people with measles should seek emergency medical care if they develop difficulty breathing, severe dehydration, confusion, weakness, decreased alertness or other sudden changes in behavior. For young children, warning signs include a blue color around the mouth, crying without producing tears, severe loss of appetite or unusually low energy.

K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys

Maria Sherman, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:27:23 +0000

K-pop powerhouse BTS said they will not submit their music for consideration at the forthcoming 2027 Grammy Awards.

All seven BTS members — RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and Jin — shared the same note Wednesday.

“We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” the coordinated message read. “We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us.”

Wednesday’s announcement came just over a month after the Recording Academy announced five new Grammy categories, which include best Asian pop music performance, meant to celebrate releases across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and beyond.

Some fans viewed the new category as a racialized barrier for Asian performers.

A representative for BTS offered no additional comment.

BTS has never won a Grammy, though they've been nominated for five: three times in the best pop duo/group performance category as well as album of the year (for their contributions to Coldplay's “Music of the Spheres”) and best music video for “Yet to Come.”

In fact, no K-pop act had ever won a Grammy before this year, when “Golden” from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” took home the trophy for best song for visual media. It capped a highly visible night for K-pop at the Grammys — an institution where the genre has long been undercelebrated despite its massive international following.

In March, BTS returned after a nearly four-year musical hiatus. “ARIRANG,” the 14-track, critically acclaimed fifth studio album from the septet, served as both a reintroduction to the band after its members completed South Korea's mandatory military service and as a keen reminder of their place atop popular culture conversation.

Representatives for the Recording Academy did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment.

Harris County leads Texas in cyclist deaths during peak riding season, new analysis finds

Ninfa Saavedra, Cathy Hernandez — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:11:47 +0000

Harris County has the highest number of cyclist deaths in Texas during the busiest months for riding, according to a new analysis of federal crash data.

The report found Texas averages 48 cyclist fatalities during peak riding season each year, roughly one death every four days.

Traveler’s Cart closes as family of beloved owner files wrongful death lawsuit

Between 2020 and 2024, Harris County recorded the highest average in the state, with 11 cyclist deaths each year during those peak riding months.

Safety advocates say many of those crashes are preventable and are calling for safer infrastructure and more attentive drivers.

BikeHouston Executive Director Joe Cutrufo said the biggest obstacle preventing more people from riding bicycles in Houston is safety.

“The single biggest barrier to getting on a bike is the fear of drivers,” Cutrufo said. “Cars are bigger than they’ve ever been, drivers are more distracted than they have ever been, and our streets are accommodating more and more traffic, but not accommodating people outside of cars.”

Cutrufo said cyclists are especially vulnerable because they lack the protection that motorists have.

Teen charged with capital murder after 17-year-old girl and her brother killed in north Harris County shooting

“We have a real safety problem. Bicyclists are made out of flesh and bone, unlike people in cars who are surrounded by a steel cage, so even a minor crash involving a cyclist could be a fatal crash,” he said.

BikeHouston says more people are choosing to bike for transportation and recreation, but many are forced to ride alongside fast-moving traffic because protected bike lanes do not connect across the city.

The organization points to distracted driving, speeding and increasingly larger vehicles as key factors contributing to serious and fatal crashes.

Advocates say expanding connected, protected bike lanes would not only improve safety for current cyclists but also encourage more people to choose biking as a transportation option.

“There’s an enormous interest in riding bikes more. People want to have options, but if the streets don’t safely accommodate them, people aren’t going to ride,” Cutrufo said.

BikeHouston is urging drivers to:

Slow down, especially on roads shared with cyclists.
Put away cell phones and avoid distracted driving.
Give cyclists plenty of space when passing.

How artists transformed a former hospital in Los Angeles to examine human emotions

Anna Furman, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:05:39 +0000

Just beyond an ambulance and wheelchair ramp wait Dr. Moodswing and Dr. Feelgood, dressed in starched white lab coats and ready to check you in with a neon orange patient wristband.

At this hospital though, it's not your vitals that will be examined, but your feelings.

The “Hospital of Emotions” is an immersive art experience that explores different facets of being human inside the long-shuttered St. Vincent Medical Center near downtown Los Angeles.

The former hospital was founded in 1856 by the Daughters of Charity religious order to treat poor people before it went bankrupt in 2020 and was bought by private investors. The site will be redeveloped into a homeless shelter and mental health and drug treatment facility, with the first phase opening later this year.

But until the end of September, the hospital rooms are filled with 80 installations by 70 artists. Each artist received around $14,000 to transform four floors of clinical space into explorations of feelings around everything from medical and family trauma to grief over climate change and immigration detention centers.

Sterile hospital spaces are turned into colorful art installations

The project was created in the spirit of Meow Wolf and other for-profit amusement centers that approach art as entertainment.

As in Pixar's “Inside Out,” color-coded creatures sprinkled throughout the show personify a range of emotions from joy and hope to anger and sadness. A fuzzy orange monster winks from behind a nurse’s station, while dueling green giants symbolizing jealousy face off in an otherwise normal exam room, their faces decorated with absurd, clownlike expressions.

IV bags are full of rainbow-colored liquids, overhead exam lights are festooned with a canopy of artificial flowers, and crutches are draped with campy, cartoonish wigs.

Enter the “Resilience Department” and you’ll find a prismatic, glass butterfly that refracts light, accompanied by an unsettling interactive audio piece about an artist’s experience having an epileptic seizure. The sound of grunts and labored breathing in headphones contrasts with screams, recorded and replayed in the room to create a surreal, out-of-body effect.

In the neighboring room, a thousand sunny-side up eggs are splayed all over the bed, walls and floor, which the artist, Melan Allen, said represent the eggs she was forced to eat during her childhood despite hating them. The room especially resonated with Sharon Maxwell, who drove from San Diego to see the show.

“I have lots of egg stories,” she said. “I’m in recovery from an eating disorder, so I’ve been in treatment, I’ve been in hospitals. It’s all very sterile.”

While going to the hospital can be an isolating experience, Maxwell said visiting an art show in one made her feel a renewed sense of connection. There aren't nurses, surgeons or patients here, and everyone is on equal footing as viewers.

“Being the person in the bed, being treated for mental health stuff, you’re kind of like a spectacle,” she said.

A sensitive look at anxiety, fear and trauma

In the “Fear Department,” a virtual character based off a real person gives a vulnerable speech about post-traumatic stress from serving in a combat zone and then reads a suicide note that combines multiple veterans' experiences using AI. The installation is titled “The Ward That Never Closed.”

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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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Down the hall, another room is covered floor to ceiling in black-and-white portraits drawn with frenetic lines by an artist who spent 15 months at a U.S. immigration detention center.

“I left Russia in 2022 because of my political views and because I am gay. What I thought would be a search for safety became a prolonged encounter with fear,” Grisha Stepanian said.

His installation examines “how fear settles into the body, how it stays, even when there is no immediate danger. How safety, when it appears, feels temporary, almost unreal.”

The most successful rooms play with the visual language of a medical space without prescribing what to feel.

In another room in the “Fear Department,” artist Dongpu Ling created an eerie installation of transparent figurines — molded from packing tape — to bring a vision of her grandfather's to life. He died years ago in Shanghai, where he described seeing ghosts around his hospital bed just before dying.

Torqued into myriad positions, the blank-faced figures occupy gurneys and disappear into institutional-gray ceiling vents. The work was also informed by Ling's experience as a child spending 10 days in the hospital with a fever.

“I almost died. I couldn't eat,” she said. “I threw up blood three times a night.”

The process of creating the installation was intense, Ling said. When she tried to go to her studio room and accidentally went to the basement, where bodies are typically stored before going to funeral homes, she said she found something chilling: “It was freezing cold and dead silent.”

Recognizing a paradox of emotions

Ondrea Boggs, an ultrasound tech, said the installations reminded her of people’s tenacity and resilience even in the face of death — something she witnessed working in an intensive care unit and emergency room.

“I’m confronted with people struggling every day and getting through and being strong,” she said.

Boggs is moved when she sees a patient or their family able to stay hopeful during a difficult time.

“It’s encouraging for me to remember that that’s possible,” she said. “Even amongst moments of sadness you can still experience joy, it’s not like an isolated experience where you have to get through the sadness to experience joy, right? Both can be shared at the same time and both can be honored.”

For other visitors, the installations also reflected that paradox of emotions.

“There’s solace in someone else seeing our emotion — whether it’s joy and celebration or sorrow and pain. There’s something about the human experience where we need to be seen,” Maxwell said. “This art exhibit really shows that in a profound way. I think it put humanity on display in a really powerful way.”

The Latest: Fire crews in southwest France battle massive blaze as they face extreme temperatures

The Associated Press, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:38:29 +0000

Firefighters in southwest France are fighting against a mega-fire four times the size of Paris.

Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday. The heat wave and forecast winds could hamper progress against the blaze that has forced 220,000 people from their homes, authorities for the Gironde region around Bordeaux said.

In neighboring Spain, people are bracing for the fourth heat wave of the summer, with several blazes still burning out of control.

Across France and Spain, roughly 330,000 people have been driven from homes and vacation sites by huge wildfires.

Here's the latest:

Evacuees in Spain worry about wildfire’s economic impact as they return home to destruction

A wildfire now under control near Spain’s capital, Madrid, was one of the worst the area has ever seen, taking a hit to small businesses in villages and towns in the region.

Evacuees have now been allowed to return to their homes and businesses — some of whom are taking in the destruction left by the blaze.

The Monasterio Camping site — which offered tent sites, static caravans and bungalows for visitors — was severely affected by the wildfires.

“Economically, it’s a disaster, especially during this time, as it’s the peak season,” said manager Esteban Carrasco.

In the village of Pelayos de la Presa, the mayor is worried about the impact the fire will have on tourism. The village near the San Juan reservoir offers a green escape about an hour outside the capital.

Mayor Antonio Sin said he hoped authorities would “make a serious plan, based on a careful study of what we need to do, so that first, we restore it to its former state or make it even more beautiful, and second, to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

‘Apocalypse’ on land, and for businesses

The head of the local chamber of commerce in the Bordeaux region says callers who dialed in to telephone helplines have at times cried over the loss of their homes or appealed for support after losing their businesses.

“It’s a physical apocalypse when you see all these sites where there’s nothing left aside from burnt homes and forests, and then there’s the economic apocalypse,” said Patrick Seguin, his voice choking with emotion in a phone interview.

He particularly lamented the ordeal faced by residents of Le Porge, a village where 183 homes were lost: “It was like a village in Ukraine that has been bombed. There’s nothing left.”

Two firefighters die in wildfire on southern Greek island of Crete

Two firefighters have died in a wildfire that broke out Wednesday on the southern Greek island of Crete, the fire department said.

The two were among more than 150 firefighters battling a wildfire in the region of Rethymno in Crete that broke out Wednesday afternoon.

“They fell heroically in the line of duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the natural environment,” the department said in a written statement.

The flames were being fanned by strong winds in the area, which was hampering firefighting efforts. Four helicopters and four water-dropping planes were also deployed, the fire department said.

Evacuation orders were issued for several areas near the fire.

The circumstances of the two deaths were not immediately clear.

Local media said initial reports indicated that the two were trapped in their vehicle after becoming disoriented by the smoke.

Greece’s coast guard said two coast guard patrol boats and private vessels were on standby should an evacuation by sea become necessary in the Rethymno fire.

Spanish authorities say Madrid region and Ávila wildfires under control, and lift more evacuation orders

By Wednesday afternoon, firefighters had stabilized forest fires burning in the Madrid region and province of Ávila, Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said.

Authorities lifted all evacuation orders in Ávila and in additional villages affected in the Madrid region.

Together, the two fires burned about 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) — an area slightly larger than Chicago.

Despite the positive development, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged caution as much of the country was baking under a fourth heatwave that began Wednesday.

Firefighters continued to battle a large wildfire in Castellón in eastern Spain.

Hottest day this week in France

Extreme heat strips moisture from vegetation and drives down humidity, turning grasses, brush and forest litter into faster-burning fuel.

Smoke from the Gironde and Landes fires also pushed particulate pollution higher across both departments, regional air-quality monitors said.

Gironde authorities ordered 4,000 more people out of tourist sites along the Atlantic coast on Tuesday, widening what may be France’s largest peacetime evacuation.

The opposing movements — thousands ordered out of coastal resorts as others returned with mobile phones on and emergency bags packed — captured how precarious the situation remains.

Turkish wildfire triggers evacuation

Turkish authorities have evacuated around 200 residents and a state hospital as a preventive measure, as the wildfire in southwest Turkey continues to rage.

Ahmet Aras, the mayor of Mugla province, says strong winds are hampering efforts to bring the fire under control. Earlier, the blaze forced the closure of a highway in the region.

Firefighters were also tackling wildfires in other parts of the country, including in the neighboring province of Antalya where a number of holiday homes were evacuated as a protective step, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Belgium sends planes, soldiers and firefighters to France to battle blaze

Belgium is deploying military staff and hardware to fight fires in France, the country’s defense minister said on Wednesday.

“Our military personnel have the expertise and resources necessary to support the fight against forest fires and thus help protect human lives, homes, and precious natural areas,” said Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, who posted videos online of 2 Panther firetrucks being loaded onto an A400M military cargo plane for transport to France.

As the pair of firetrucks take to the sky, a convoy of 9 water trucks with 10,000-liter tanks will drive to support France’s efforts to battle blazes. A total of 29 military personnel will be deployed to France for at least two weeks of round-the-clock rotational duty.

“When a friendly country faces a crisis of this magnitude, we don’t respond with words, but with actions,” Francken said.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said on social media that “in these difficult times, our French neighbors can count on our solidarity.”

UK authorities declare drought in about half of England

Britain’s Environment Agency said on Wednesday that about half of England is now experiencing a drought as the country entered its fourth heat wave of the year.

Parts of central, eastern, and southern England are facing drought conditions, which came on quickly due to a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures.

“Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildfire risk is increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use,’’ the agency said in a statement.

This is England’s second drought in a row and the third in the past five years as Britain’s climate changes, the agency said.

England has now entered its fourth heat wave of the year. That, combined with July rainfall that has been 1% of normal in southern England, means that water storage is being depleted and there is “no substantial rain on the way,” the agency said.

Wildfire on Greek island sparks evacuations

In Greece, firefighters were tackling several wildfires around the country, with the most serious being one that broke out Tuesday on the Aegean island of Paros.

Authorities urged people to evacuate from around 10 areas on the island – five on Tuesday and another five during the night, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Reinforcements of firefighting teams specialising in forest fires were sent from Athens, and two water-dropping planes and five helicopters were helping nearly 90 firefighters battling the flames on the ground, the fire department said.

Bordeaux winemaker says mega-fire will be bad for business

The Grand Verdus wine chateau near Bordeaux isn’t in the path of the monster fire, but it is bracing for the economic impact.

Edouard le Grix de la Salle, who runs the family business with his brother, is alarmed that France’s interior minister and other government authorities have urged people to avoid the Bordeaux region because of the blaze west of the historic city. August is a peak period for tourism in southwest France.

“It’s incredible that they’ve said such a thing, especially when wine tourism is becoming more and more important,” Grix de la Salle said in an Associated Press interview. “How did they not think about protecting that sector? And the cultural sector too—there’s so much to visit in Bordeaux. There are so many museums, there are châteaux. It’s unbelievable.”

Wildfire shuts down highway in Turkey

A wildfire in southwest Turkey has forced authorities to temporarily shut down a highway from the popular tourist hub of Fethiye to the city of Antalya.

The blaze began in an agricultural area in Mugla province on Wednesday before spreading into a nearby forest area, driven by strong winds.

Five airplanes, 11 helicopters, 40 fire trucks and hundreds of personnel were dispatched to extinguish the fire, the Mugla governor’s office said.

The statement called on motorists to use alternative routes and not to block emergency lanes.

Thousands of evacuees in Spain set to return home as Castellón blaze challenges firefighters

Tens of thousands of evacuees in central Spain were expected to return home starting Wednesday after firefighters made progress with blazes burning in the Madrid region and Ávila.

Authorities began lifting evacuation orders on several towns in the Madrid region late Tuesday, allowing some 20,000 people to return to their homes, along with 14,000 people who had been under shelter-at-home orders, according to Francisco Martín, the Madrid region’s central government representative.

Some villages in Ávila, which was battling the biggest fire in the history of Spain, were also expected to be allowed to go back to their homes. Authorities were expected to provide more details Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, 10,000 people were still under evacuation orders due to a wildfire in Castellón in eastern Spain that authorities said was still not under control.

Spain braces for another heatwave as it battles fires

Spain’s weather agency AEMET is warning that the risk of wildfires remains very high or extreme across much of the country.

Back-to-back heatwaves have suffocated Spain this summer, with temperatures repeatedly exceeding 40 Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fresh heatwave was expected to mainly affect the northeast and parts of central Spain, while temperatures were pushing 40 Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several inland areas in the normally hot, southern Andalusia region.

As heat wave stretches across Europe, UK health officials warn of risks

Temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in eastern England on Wednesday, pushing parts of the country into its fourth heat wave of the year, according to the UK Met Office.

The U.K. Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat-health advisory for London and southeast England, warning of increased risk to older people and the very young that may strain health and social care providers.

Temperatures are expected to drop on Thursday, with forecast highs around 27 degrees C (81 degrees Fahrenheit), the Met Office said.

This spring was the warmest ever recorded in England, and temperatures remained well above normal in June and July, the Met Office said earlier this month. The average mean temperature in England was 2.4 degrees (4.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above average between June 1 and July 15, the agency said.

French firefighters’ battle plan is “we strike quickly and strike hard”

So says Matthieu Jomain, a commander in the massive effort to contain the mega-blaze in southwest France that’s burned through an area four times the size of Paris.

Speaking Wednesday, Jomain said the blaze burning since last week isn’t growing any more but still isn’t beaten. A heat wave that will further dry out already arid forests and scrubland is heightening the risk of flames flaring again. Fire crews are bracing for forecast temperatures above 40 C (104 F).

“More than 2,200 firefighters are still deployed,” he said. “Almost all of France’s firefighters are there. Our European counterparts have come to lend us a hand on the ground and in the air. We have a fleet of over twenty aircraft.”

“The strategy remains the same. We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions.”

How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires

Wildfire smoke can settle over cities for days — like the recent blanket over parts of the U.S. from burning fires in Canada, which has created hazardous air for millions of people across multiple states.

Health officials advise people to stay indoors — and to take steps to keep the air in your home clean:

1. If you have central air conditioning, it should clean the air in your home. Make sure filters are replaced on schedule and are of the highest level of filtration your system can handle.

2. If you buy a portable air filter, look for a HEPA air filter or one that says it traps small particles of pollution. Ensure it does not generate ozone, another harmful air pollutant.

3. Whether it’s a towel, some tape, or something else — plug areas where air could enter from outside.

4. Exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to shortness of breath, chest tightness, headaches, and a burning sensation in the nose and eyes. If you’re wheezing, can’t catch your breath or are in distress, get to the emergency room immediately.

Survivors face an uncertain future

For the hundreds of thousands of evacuees, the question is the same: What will they find when they’re finally allowed to go home, or to what’s left of it?

With no word on when she’ll be able to return home, Elvira Menéndez will spend her third night on Sunday at the makeshift shelter set up in a sports complex in Villaviciosa de Odón, a 40-minute drive from the home she was forced to leave as the blaze neared.

On Friday afternoon, two major fires near Madrid merged into a single blaze. It later combined with another that was already burning in Ávila, north of the capital. This forced the government to declare a national fire emergency for the first time. Since then, the flames have also spread to Toledo, a province southwest. In all, the flames have scorched 77,000 hectares in the central part of the country alone.

Menéndez’s anguish was shared by Rocío Domínguez, who fled her house with only the clothes on her back. “All the clothes, all the memories, everything, everything, everything,” were left behind, she told The Associated Press.

French wildfire created a monster cloud, unleashing lightning that ignited more fires

France’s wildfire grew so powerful that its smoke column became a thunderstorm, generating lightning that struck the ground and ignited new fires beyond the original blaze, French officials said.

Put another way, that means the inferno was no longer simply being propelled by the weather. It was making its own. The thundercloud also produced violent, erratic winds capable of driving the flames in new directions.

The phenomenon, called a pyrocumulonimbus, or pyroCb, is rare in Europe and more commonly documented in North America and Australia, where it occurs only over some of the most extreme fires. France’s national firefighters federation said it had never before recorded one in the country.

At about 6:20 p.m. Friday, two days after the fire began, the departmental fire and rescue service said it had generated a pyrocumulonimbus. The cloud weakened overnight as humidity rose, then formed several times again.

Repeatedly, heat and smoke have surged upward into a vast black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within.

A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France’s wildfire rages on

Europe is experiencing one of its biggest evacuations since World War II. Among the more than 220,000 people told to flee are Morgane Bonichot, her 9-year-old daughter and their pets.

Her daughter was in the blaze’s epicenter when it ignited last week, staying with an uncle in the midst of the pine forests, scrub and farmland being consumed by an inferno so virulent that it has morphed at times into a self-feeding firestorm, spitting lightning bolts that have sparked yet more flames.

Among the fire’s first evacuees, the daughter came home Friday. But with the flames spreading closer to her mother’s house west of Bordeaux, the daughter began preparing to flee again.

All told, regional authorities have emptied two dozen towns and villages, some ravaged by fire. Others between the blaze and Bordeaux, including Saint-Jean-d’Illac, were evacuated as a precaution by government officials who say their priority is making sure that no lives are lost.

Wildfires are more extreme in Europe and North America, but global burning is oddly decreasing

As wildfires in Europe and North America grow more extreme, key worldwide burning statistics are at a record low largely because Africa and Asia are controlling fire more.

Experts say these seemingly opposite trends are happening at the same time because of what humanity is doing to the planet.

Spain’s wildfire is that country’s largest on record at more than 193 square miles (500 square kilometers), while wildfires in Europe have burned just a bit under 2025’s all-time high. In Canada and the United States this summer, land burned by wildfires is at least 25% higher than the 10-year average and more than double what it was decades ago, according to national wildfire centers.

A heat wave threatens to reignite France’s mega-fire near Bordeaux

Fire crews battled a mega-fire four times the size of Paris in southwest France while facing tinderbox temperatures forecast to climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.

The heat wave and forecast winds could hamper progress against the blaze that has forced 220,000 people from their homes, authorities for the Gironde region around Bordeaux said.

In a Wednesday morning update on the huge firefighting effort, Gironde authorities said the situation overnight had been “calm” and that the blaze hadn’t spread — although it’s still not contained a week after it started.

The onset of heat-wave temperatures and winds heightened the risk of flames flaring again.

On Tuesday, Gironde authorities ordered 4,000 more people evacuated from tourist sites along the Atlantic coast, widening what may be France’s largest peacetime evacuation.

Fringe Israeli settler group is sneaking into Syria to try to claim land for a Jewish outpost

Natalie Melzer, Abby Sewell And Julia Frankel, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:16:12 +0000

The Israeli military was about to launch a nighttime strike on a group of men in southern Syria when the soldiers noticed the long curls dangling from the temples of their targets. The troops held their fire.

These were not Syrian militants attempting to breach Israel's border, but religious Jews who had slipped into Syria and were on their way back.

The episode, first reported last week by Israel's public broadcaster and confirmed to The Associated Press by the Israeli military, has helped raise the profile of a fringe group of Israeli settlers that has staged numerous incursions into Syria, where they hope to establish Jewish settlements.

Israel's military has occupied the area in southern Syria for more than a year, but forays by civilian settler groups into the region have only recently became a regular occurrence.

The groups, with members numbering in the dozens, have attempted to cross from Israel to Syria every few days in recent weeks. The military is tasked with reining them in and, while most Israelis regard them as fringe, the wider settlement movement in Israel has strong backers in the country's far-right government.

The most prominent of the groups behind the incursions in Syria is known as “Pioneers of Bashan.”

Pioneers of Bashan are named after a biblical region

Formed early last year, the Pioneers of Bashan are a group of right-wing Israeli activists aiming to establish Jewish settlements inside Syria. They are named after the biblical region of Bashan, which includes part of modern-day Syria and neighboring Jordan.

They have their sights set on an area of southwestern Syria that includes the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida.

Part of this area, including the summit of Mount Hermon, is a “buffer zone” Israel declared in December 2024, soon after the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an insurgent offensive.

The region was known in Scripture for its fertile land and came to be associated with strength and divine providence. In the Bible, the Israelites under Moses conquered the Bashan from the mythical King Og and it was then handed to some of the Israelite tribes.

Members of the group claim a historical right to these lands and argue that their presence there will help Israel defend the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed — a move not recognized by most of the international community.

Some claim that Israeli settlement of the areas would protect members of the Druze religious minority after violence erupted last year between Druze groups and Sunni Bedouin tribes and Syrian government security forces. Hundreds of civilians — mostly Druze — were killed in sectarian revenge attacks.

Amos Azaria, a Pioneers of Bashan leader, said the group aims to establish a “humanitarian corridor” from Israel to the Druze enclave of Sweida by depopulating adjacent Sunni-majority areas.

“The entire Daraa district ... must be cleared of the enemies seeking our destruction and instead be filled with Jewish settlement,” said Azaria, a computer science professor at Ariel University in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Aim to establish a Jewish outpost inside Syria

The group seeks first to establish a Jewish outpost in southern Syria next to the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Outposts, which settlers often call “young settlements,” describe rustic footholds in territory they desire.

Settlers normally establish outposts in the hope that one day Israel's government will legalize them. That's how many Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank — which rights groups say are major drivers of settler violence and displacement of Palestinians — got their start.

So far their incursions into Syria have been brief. The military has removed the activists before they have been able to build anything.

Videos on the group's X account from July 5 show a group of religious teens seated on the ground with their arms linked together, as soldiers try to pry them apart.

A second video shows soldiers shoving several of the activists and zip tying their hands behind their backs.

A video posted by the group in April shows several dozen activists waving Israeli flags and chanting on the roof of a house said to be on the outskirts of the Syrian village of Hader, in Quneitra, as Israeli soldiers look on.

Israeli military says the group compromises its operations

Israel's military says it takes a firm hand with the border-crossers. It has repeatedly condemned the group for diverting troops' attention from military operations and compromising their security. It says it detains civilians caught crossing the border and hands them over to police, saying it “expects law enforcement authorities to bring those involved to justice.”

Israel’s Channel 12 reported last week that no indictments have been filed so far.

The border-crossers say they have cozy relationships with members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Several government ministers have expressed support for their cause, and the group’s social media platforms document meetings it has held with at least two cabinet ministers, Amihai Eliyahu and Shlomo Karhi.

“We have support from friends in the government and many members of the Knesset,” Azaria said.

Syria and Lebanon are more concerned about military occupation

Syrian officials have not commented publicly on the attempts by Israeli settler groups to enter Syria.

The Syrian government has condemned Israel’s occupation of southern Syria and frequently calls for Israeli forces to withdraw and for the international community to intervene. Israeli troops have carried out incursions and raids in areas of Syria outside the buffer zone, sometimes clashing with local residents, who have increasingly attempted to block roads to keep them out.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, a similar movement has staged occasional marches along the Gaza border calling to reestablish settlements in the Gaza Strip. Israel removed its 21 settlements as part of its 2005 withdrawal from Gaza.

In Lebanon, a fringe Israeli settler group — “Uri Tzafon,” or “Awaken, O North” — has staged incursions into the southern part of the country. Like Syrian officials, the Lebanese government has paid little attention to the group, focusing on calling for withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon.

Still, some have warned against entirely discounting the settler groups.

Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri wrote on X of the attempts by the Uri Tzafon group to enter the country, “It is true that they are a small and fringe group and they withdrew under orders from the Israeli army.”

But he pointed out that the movement to settle the West Bank began with an embattled band of right-wing religious activists, known as Gush Emunim, “which in its early days was a small group that faced some obstacles and difficulties.”

——

Sewell reported from Beirut. Frankel reported from Jerusalem. AP videojournalist Alon Bernstein contributed to this report from the Golan Heights.

‘The only time it gets cool is when it rains’: Houston renter supports proposed right to AC ordinance

Jaewon Jung — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:09:25 +0000

A proposed Houston ordinance would require landlords to provide working air conditioning in rental homes, eliminating a loophole that currently allows property owners to provide window screens instead of refrigerated air.

Council member Alejandra Salinas presented the proposed “Right to Air Conditioning” ordinance Tuesday before Houston City Council’s Proposition A Committee.

Salinas described working air conditioning as a basic health and safety necessity for Houston renters. But some council members questioned whether the requirement could increase utility bills for residents already struggling to make ends meet.

For Third Ward resident Cheryl Henderson, staying cool already comes at a cost.

“The only time it get cool is when it rains,” Henderson said while giving KPRC 2 a tour of her upstairs apartment.

Henderson, who is disabled and has other health problems, relies on four portable fans, two ceiling fans and two portable air-conditioning units. She said she keeps them running even when she is away from home.

“Everything keeps going,” Henderson said.

One window unit provided by the property’s maintenance staff is surrounded by tape. Henderson said another larger unit stopped working after its compressor failed.

She also keeps blackout curtains closed and avoids turning on unnecessary lights or using her oven because they make the apartment hotter.

“I really don’t like cooking because it make it hotter in here,” Henderson said. “I normally try to air fry or I try to fix something that’s quick.”

Despite those efforts, Henderson said her bedroom sometimes does not become comfortable until 10 or 11 p.m. or even midnight.

“Then I could finally go to sleep and relax,” she said. “But it’s hard. It really is.”

Houston opens cooling centers as dangerous heat wave grips Southeast Texas

Henderson said she sometimes wakes up sweating and takes a shower to cool her body before trying to fall asleep again.

Her electric bills also reflect the constant use. Henderson said her most recent bills were approximately $171 and $188, although her actual monthly electricity use can reach $200 to $300 under her billing arrangement.

What would the proposed ordinance change?

Houston’s current minimum utility standards generally require rental-property owners to provide and maintain refrigerated air equipment. However, the city’s code contains an exemption for properties that provide window screens.

Salinas said her office could not determine why that exception was created when Houston adopted its air-conditioning requirements in 2011.

“We looked at the public record,” Salinas told the committee. “We could find no explanation for why the screen and window exception was created.”

The proposed ordinance is intended to eliminate that exemption and require landlords to provide and maintain working refrigerated-air equipment in every habitable space, including rooms lawfully used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking.

Landlords would not be required to retrofit older buildings with central air. They could comply through central AC, window units, portable units or other refrigerated-air equipment.

Under the proposal, the equipment would have to be capable of maintaining an indoor temperature 20 degrees lower than the temperature outside or no higher than 80 degrees.

That formula means the ordinance would guarantee that every rental home remains at or below 80 degrees during extreme heat.

Property owners would have 90 days after the ordinance’s passage and approval to comply.

Council members question potential utility costs

Council member Twila Carter and several other council members expressed concern that requiring air-conditioning equipment could create higher electricity costs for low-income tenants.

Carter cited Baker Ripley’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, saying approximately 100,000 people applied in 2025 and 95% were turned away. She questioned how residents living paycheck to paycheck would afford additional electricity use.

“My concern is the very people that you’re trying to assist, you’re going to push right out the door,” Carter said.

Salinas responded that tenants would retain the choice of whether to turn on the equipment. But under the ordinance, landlords would no longer be able to deny them that choice by failing to provide it.

Salinas estimated operating a wall unit would cost approximately $36 per month, while acknowledging that even that amount could be significant for some families. She also said affordable properties already exist in Houston where landlords provide window units and include utilities in rents of approximately $700 per month.

“The fact that some landlords have chosen not to do so to spread their profit is not something I think the city of Houston needs to ensure and protect,” Salinas said.

She said she plans to use council district discretionary funds to purchase AC units for residents and pointed to other local assistance programs.

“All this ordinance does is ensure that all Houstonians are lifted to that basic health and safety level,” Salinas said, adding that tenant advocates, the Houston Apartment Association and the Houston Food Bank support the proposal.

Henderson rejected the argument that the ordinance’s passage would be responsible for rising electric bills.

“It’s going up every day regardless,” she said.

For Henderson, the debate is about more than comfort. She said extreme heat aggravates her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can make her feel as though she is suffocating.

“The heat closes my lungs up,” she said. “It’s hard. It’s hard for a lot of people.”

The ordinance remains a proposal and has not yet received final approval from the full Houston City Council.

LIST: Back-to-school freebies — backpack and supply giveaways around Houston

Christian Hudspeth — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:09:52 +0000

Back-to-school costs can add up fast. Here are several Houston-area events offering free backpacks, school supplies and family resources.

Note: Availability is typically first-come, first-served and may be limited while supplies last. Some events require kids to be present to receive items.

19th Annual Back to School Drive, Health Fair & Business Expo

When: Saturday, July 25 | 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: PlazAmericas Mall 2nd Floor, 201 Sharpstown Center, Houston
What to know: This is a free, family event giving out 5,000 backpacks and school supplies; free immunizations and medical screenings; health and wellness resources; business expo exhibitors; and family activities.

Operation Backpack (Attorney Brian White) — 3,000 filled backpacks + free entertainment

When: Saturday, July 25 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Where: Launch Family Entertainment, 13331 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077
What to know: Organizers say the event will distribute 3,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies. Families will also get free admission to Launch during the event, with access to attractions (including trampolines and other activities).
Details: Backpacks are available while supplies last; children must be present to receive a backpack.

Vida City Church Back 2 School Bash

When: Saturday, July 25 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Vida City Church Houston, 1300 W Mount Houston Road, Houston
What to know: Organizers are offering free backpacks and school supplies in addition to community resources.

Verizon retailer Round Room “School Rocks” Backpack Giveaway (Houston-area locations)

When: Sunday, July 26 | Starts at 1 p.m. (lines expected before start)
Where (Houston area):
- 3420 7th Street, Bay City
- 1140 North FM 3083 West Road, Suite 300, Conroe
- 27117 Fulshear Bend Dr., Ste 200, Fulshear
- 3351 Clear Lake City Blvd., Ste 600, Houston
What to know: Round Room, a Verizon authorized retailer, says it is giving away $3 million worth of free backpacks nationwide during its annual “School Rocks” event.

Pasadena to Fill the Bus for Local Students

When: Monday, July 27 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Pasadena Convention Center, 7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena
What to know: The City of Pasadena is collecting donated school supplies for students. Community members will then deliver the supplies throughout the day. Volunteers will receive and organize the donations.

Back to School Community Giveaway (Attorney Kristopher A. Alvarez) - school supplies giveaways + free food

When: Wednesday, July 29 | 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Where: 6841 Avenue I, Houston
What to know: Organizers said the event will offer free backpacks with school supplies. There will also be food and drinks, games, activities, free haircuts and live entertainment. More than 200 children are registered for the event, organizers say.

Houston Rockets annual Back-to-School Bash powered by Reliant

When: Friday, July 31 | 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Where: Sunnyside Community Center, 3502 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston
What to know: The Houston Rockets and Reliant, in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, are hosting their annual back-to-school event, offering free backpacks and school supplies. Organizers say each backpack will also include vouchers for Chick-fil-A and Pizza Hut locations. Hall of Famer and Comets legend Cynthia Cooper, Rockets legend Rafer Alston, and more prominent figures will be making appearances. Organizers say there will also be free health screenings and family activities.

The Mayor’s Back 2 School & Health Fair presented by Shell

When: Saturday, Aug. 1 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston
What to know: The Houston Mayor’s Office will be holding its 16th annual back-to-school fair with backpack and school supply giveaways in addition to free health/dental screenings and routine immunizations. Make sure to register your student beforehand.

HISD “Ready, Set, School!” Back-to-School Resource Fair & School Supply Giveaway

When: Saturday, Aug. 1 | 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Where: Delmar Fieldhouse, 2020 Mangum Road, Houston, TX 77092
What to know: Houston ISD says families can receive free backpacks and school supplies, plus free routine health screenings.
Extras: District teams including enrollment, transportation and nutrition will be available to help families get ready for the school year.

Fellowship of Love Church Operation Backpack Drop

When: Saturday, Aug. 1 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Missing Bend Boys & Girls Club, 8709 Addicks Clodine Road, Houston
What to know: Love Works is holding their annual school supplies giveaway and health fair. Organizers say the first 300 school-aged children will receive free sneakers. There will also be family activities at the event.

Boykins Youth Foundations 12th annual Back-2-School Drive & Free Haircuts

When: Wednesday, Aug. 5 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Evan E. Worthing High School, 9215 Scott Street, Houston
What to know: Boykins Youth Foundations and community partners are holding their annual back-to-school event offering free school supplies, backpacks and uniforms. Organizers say there will also be free haircuts and hairstyles on offer, in addition to free physicals and eye exams.

Judge Bob Wolfe Back to School Supply Giveaway

When: Saturday, Aug. 8 | 10 a.m.
Where: 16715 Clay Road, Houston
What to know: Precinct 5, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Bob Wolfe is holding a back-to-school supply giveaway until supplies last. Organizers say there will be free food and drinks, too. Children must be present in order to receive supplies, according to the judge.

Community Back-to-School Bash for Families (Attorney Cherika Edwards)

When: Saturday, Aug. 15 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: 3310 West Fuqua Drive, Houston
What to know: The Law Office of Cherika Edwards is holding its annual back-to-school event, offering free school supplies (while supplies last), free food, free family activities, and community resources.

Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law — $200 gift card giveaway (Texas residents)

This is a statewide drawing (not an in-person Houston backpack event), but it may still help some families.

What: The firm says it will award 15 Texas residents a $200 gift card through a random drawing.
Deadline: Runs through 10 a.m. CT on Aug. 19 (per the announcement).

Have a giveaway to add?

Send details (date, time, address, what’s being given away, and any registration requirements) to Desk@kprc.com and we can update this list.

Trump's attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service

John Hanna, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:30:57 +0000

Roughly six weeks before the first midterm ballots are mailed out, the U.S. Postal Service is emerging as a pivotal player in an election season that will determine control of Congress.

President Donald Trump is seeking greater control over mail balloting through an executive order while a change to how the agency processes mail is leading to criticism that it's failing to deliver ballots on time.

The Postal Service replied to those concerns by saying it remains “committed to fulfilling our role in the electoral process.”

“We provide a secure, efficient, and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections,” it said in a statement Tuesday.

Trump's order puts more focus on mail ballots

The Postal Service faced similar questions about mail delivery in 2024, but the scrutiny this year is heightened because of an executive order Trump issued in March that seeks to create a national voter list to guide the Postal Service in deciding who gets a mail ballot.

The order has sparked multiple lawsuits and federal court orders, leading to a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court in which the administration is asking the justices to allow it to impose its restrictions on mail balloting.

Trump has lied for years about voter fraud to try to explain away his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, and mail balloting is a favorite target, even though he has used the method himself. During a recent stop in Michigan, he falsely characterized mail balloting as “inherently corrupt” and added, “Hopefully there will be no mail-in ballots."

A 2025 report from the research group Brookings identified about four cases of fraud for every 10 million mail ballots cast.

Despite Trump's attacks, the method remains popular with voters of both major parties. In 2024, nearly 30% of U.S. voters cast their ballots by mail, according to federal data. In Michigan, where competitive U.S. House and Senate races could help determine the balance of power in Congress, the state said it has sent out more than 2 million absentee ballots for the state's Aug. 4 primary.

“We want to keep vote by mail. We want to protect it. We want to expand it,” said Jonathan Smith, president of the 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union, which launched a campaign in April promoting it and is opposed to turning the Postal Service into an election administrator. “Why? Because it works.”

Legal battles intensify over Trump's order

The Postal Service proposed a rule in June in line with Trump's executive order that would create a national list of eligible voters, based on databases kept by other federal agencies. Only those on the list would be eligible to receive mail ballots.

Democratic officials in nearly two dozen states filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts. A federal judge there blocked Trump's order last month, and an appeals court upheld that ruling, prompting Trump's appeal to the Supreme Court. But the appeals court for the District of Columbia refused Tuesday to block the order in a separate case, calling a legal challenge premature.

Democratic senators and governors have written to the Postal Service urging it to abandon efforts to implement Trump's order.

“Donald Trump has shown he’ll stop at nothing to meddle in our upcoming elections," Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin said in a statement to The Associated Press. "At best, this new push will exacerbate already severe delays for mail-in voters and at worst, it will stop eligible Americans from casting their ballots.”

In a letter to Democratic senators earlier this month, the heads of the Postal Service said they were abiding by the court rulings that had halted the executive order. But Smith, of the postal workers union, told the AP on Tuesday that USPS information technology staffers who are union members are working on a planned portal for the list of eligible voters “behind the scenes.”

The Postal Service declined to respond to Smith's statements and said it could not comment about whether it's moving forward with work related to Trump's order because of the litigation.

The postal workers' union opposes the plan for a portal, a national list of eligible voters and using that list to determine who can receive a mail ballot. Smith said it shouldn't be postal workers' responsibility “to decide who can vote and who can’t vote.”

A plan to consolidate mail processing centers upsets officials

The Postal Service has been under financial stress for years and has been consolidating mail processing into fewer regional centers. Mail travels an average of 139 miles (224 kilometers) to reach one and sometimes 500 miles (805 kilometers), according to a recent Brookings report.

In January, a group of mostly Democratic senators said it was concerned about a decision to end twice-daily mail dispatches from local post offices to regional processing centers. The result is that mail arriving after the only daily dispatch would go out the next day.

California officials said the change was a factor in the state rejecting more than 148,000 ballots from its June primary, with 63% of them arriving too late despite a seven-day grace period. Officials worried that some ballots were postmarked at processing facilities the day after they were dropped off at a post office, possibly invalidating them. Wisconsin officials also said hundreds of ballots from an election in April arrived late.

The Postal Service said postmarks generally are being applied with automated equipment at processing centers, “in the same manner and to the same extent as before.” It said someone who wants to make sure their ballot envelope gets a timely postmark can get a free one applied by a postal worker.

A report on the 2024 election by the USPS Office of Inspector General said the Postal Service handled more than 59 million pieces of ballot mail from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15 that year and that 97.3% arrived on time.

Some state election officials advise voters to avoid the mail

The Michigan secretary of state’s office is advising voters to hand-deliver ballots to their local clerk’s office or a drop box.

“We’ve seen these issues over a number of election cycles now — they’re always concerning, and that’s why we’ve put out that guidance,” said Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie.

The Postal Service said its Michigan centers are not seeing processing delays.

In Kansas, concerns about late ballot deliveries in the state's 2024 primary election prompted a quip on the social platform X from Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican: “The Pony Express is more efficient at this point.” Asked his view now, spokesperson Whitney Tempel said Schwab still believes “keeping your ballot out of the hands of the federal government is best.”

Jamie Shew, a Democrat elected to oversee elections in Douglas County, home to the main University of Kansas campus, said his office is trying to change voters' perceptions.

“I think voters are used to, you can drop it off on Friday and we’re going to receive it by Election Day," Shew said Tuesday. “That’s just not the reality.”

California's state budget includes $10 million for social media campaigns and other efforts to discourage last-minute ballot mailings.

And the Postal Service said it hasn't changed its own longstanding advice for voters: They should get their ballots in the mail at least a week before their state's deadline for receiving them.

___

Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles, Michael Casey in Boston, and Jacqueline GaNun in Lansing, Mich., contributed to this report.

Wildfires are more extreme in Europe and North America, but global burning is oddly decreasing

Seth Borenstein, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:01:30 +0000

It seems as if the world is afire this summer. But even as wildfires in Europe and North America grow more extreme, key worldwide burning statistics are at a record low largely because Africa and Asia are controlling fire more.

Experts say these seemingly opposite trends are happening at the same time because of what humanity is doing to the planet.

“It does seem like a paradox because we’re talking increases in fires, yet the global numbers have been going down and down. But they’re both true,” said fire scientist Mike Flannigan of Thompson Rivers University in Canada.

Spain's wildfire is that country's largest on record at more than 193 square miles (500 square kilometers) while wildfires in Europe have burned just a bit under 2025's all-time high. In Canada and the United States this summer, land burned by wildfires is at least 25% higher than the 10-year average and more than double what it was decades ago, according to national wildfire centers. Entire chunks of the continent were choked by smoke, causing unhealthy air quality.

Fires are worsening in terms of size, intensity, speed and frequency, especially in the U.S., Canada and Europe, said University of Colorado fire scientist Jennifer Balch.

“Extreme wildfires are on the rise globally in different parts of the world. And that’s the piece that you know has us shaking in our boots,'' Balch said.

Fires decrease in Africa, Asia

And yet the world went into July this year with record low global emissions from burning fires, a key measure of their prevalence, the European climate center Copernicus reported. That is because fires in Africa and Asia are way down due to changing agricultural practices, fire management and where people are moving to, said Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at Copernicus. Copernicus calculated that this year's carbon emissions from burning are the lowest since satellites first measured nearly 25 years ago — about half what they were in the early 2000s.

“Africa dominates the global fire activity,” said UCLA water and fire scientist Park Williams. “So if there’s a trend in Africa, then that’s going to be the trend in the global fire activity. In sub-Saharan Africa, fire activity over the last 25 years has gone down pretty dramatically.”

On average, more than three-quarters of the global emissions from the burning of plant material comes from Africa and Asia, Copernicus statistics show. Less than one-eighth comes from North America and Europe.

Traditionally, huge grassland fires on the African savanna burned each year, compared to more intermittent forest fires in other regions, influencing worldwide fire totals, said John Abatzaglou, a fire scientist at the University of California Merced. But with more land being used for housing and farming, humans are limiting savanna fires, while also creating barriers to prevent fires from spreading, he said.

In Asia and the Amazon fires are often used to clear land for agriculture, experts said. So, Williams said, “it really is all driven by human demographic change.”

Human fingerprints on North American and European fire trends

In North America and Europe there are also “human fingerprints” on the more extreme fires dominating the news, but that is from climate change Abatzaglou said. Climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas is making it hotter and drier — ideal fire weather — five different experts told The Associated Press.

Hotter temperatures mean humans “have our foot on the gas pedal” for bigger fires, “but we also have lost the brakes on fire” because warmer and drier nights don't give forests — or firefighters — time to recover during darkness like they used to, Balch said.

When it gets hotter, the atmosphere sucks more moisture out of the ground, making it drier and easier to burn, Flannigan said. Climate change also increases the length of the burning season across North America and especially in northern forests where there used to be only a few days when the weather was conducive to wildfires, but now there are a lot more, he said.

And when climate change makes fire more extreme in places with larger populations, it tends to have a greater impact by burning more valuable property, Flannigan said.

Abatzaglou said that North America has long done a good job of fire suppression. But with climate change making fires more intense and frequent, “we're losing our ability to do that,” he said.

El Nino will add to fires

Fire activity is likely to get worse in the coming months because of the developing super strong El Nino. The weather pattern usually triggers more dangerous fires in the tropics, less so in the United States because of more rain, experts said. South American governments are already getting prepared.

“The most predictable outcome of El Nino is going to be more tropical fire, specifically tropical forests,” Williams said.

Williams said El Nino could increase fires in the Amazon region, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

While El Nino means more rain and fewer forest fires in the U.S. West, it can also mean more grass growth in deserts that adds fuel for eventual grass fires, Abatzaglou said. Examples of devastating grass fires include Los Angeles in 2025 and Hawaii in 2023.

Regardless of El Nino, scientists said areas in North America and Europe will have to improve planning and adaptation for worsening wildfires, including prescribed burns to thin excess trees and grasses.

“It’s not a question of whether our landscapes are going to burn, it’s the question of when they’re going to burn,” Balch said.

___

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.

Lions coach Dan Campbell addresses Terrion Arnold's situation with the team on the eve of camp

Larry Lage, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:46:37 +0000

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday he addressed the franchise's “unfortunate” decision to release Terrion Arnold with the team on the eve of training camp as the former cornerback is facing felony charges.

“You never want to let go of a player, especially somebody that you’ve been around for a while here and you drafted," Campbell said. “It’s unfortunate, but we made the move we thought was best for us.”

The Lions cut ties with Arnold last month, shortly after a Florida judge set Arnold's bail at $1 million on eight felony charges stemming from allegations he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men.

A month after the 2025 season ended for the Lions, prosecutors in Florida say Arnold arranged for the men to be pistol-whipped after he wrongly suspected them of stealing $100,000 in cash and luxury goods from him.

In March, Campbell said the team believed Arnold was not involved in the alleged crime based on the information they had at that time.

“I feel like we’re going to be good here,” Campbell told reporters at the NFL's annual league meeting. “I’m going to trust what the kid said.”

Harvey Steinberg, an attorney for the 23-year-old Arnold, argued in court that prosecutors were “not even close” to showing that Arnold knew or directed what his associates would do.

Lions cornerback D.J. Reed said he is still supportive of his former teammate.

“He's a great human being, one of the better men, better teammates that I’ve met in the league,” said Reed, who is entering his ninth NFL season. “It’s an unfortunate situation, but he’s a great dude. A great human being. His energy is always positive. I reached out to him. He’s doing good.”

Detroit drafted Arnold with the No. 24 pick in 2024, when the NFL draft was held in the Motor City and the former Alabama star sported a big smile and a light salmon silk suit. He had two years left on his four-year rookie contract with the Lions.

Arnold had an uneven rookie season, making 15 starts without an interception. He picked off one pass last season while he was limited to eight games because of a concussion and shoulder injury.

Before the Lions released Arnold, the judge did not require him to wear an ankle monitor because it would have prevented him from taking the field for games and training.

The Lions, coming off a season that fell short of expectations, appeared to be preparing to potentially play without Arnold during offseason workouts because he was not on the field with the No. 1 defense.

Campbell insisted he is confident in the caliber of players the team has at cornerback.

Reed and Rock Ya-Sin are projected as starters while Roger McCreary will compete for playing time. The team is also hopeful Ennis Rakestraw can contribute after missing last season because of shoulder surgery and being limited to eight games as a rookie with hamstring and ankle injuries.

“We feel pretty good in that room with the competition between veterans and young guys,” Campbell said.

___

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

Laptop prices could soar as AI demand fuels chip shortage ahead of back-to-school shopping

Ninfa Saavedra, Bill Spencer — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:00:51 +0000

Parents shopping for back-to-school technology may be in for some sticker shock this year as the cost of laptops, tablets and other electronics continues to rise.

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Industry experts say the growing demand for artificial intelligence technology is putting pressure on the global supply of computer chips — a shortage that could drive up prices for everyday electronics.

According to PCMag, the median price of a laptop has climbed to about $1,600, nearly double the traditional average price of around $800.

The increase is being linked to the rapid expansion of AI data centers, which require massive amounts of advanced microchips to power AI systems. As AI companies purchase more chips, fewer resources are available for manufacturers producing consumer electronics.

Houston’s hottest stretch of the year peaks late week with temps pushing to 100

The impact could go beyond laptops and tablets. Experts warn the chip shortage could also affect the price and availability of other technology-dependent products, including vehicles, medical devices, internet equipment and kitchen appliances.

Apple has already announced price increases for some MacBook and iPad models, with certain devices expected to cost between $100 and $300 more.

With many families preparing to buy new devices for the upcoming school year, experts recommend shopping early, comparing prices and considering refurbished or older models as alternatives to help offset rising costs.

Houston ICE office deports pair of fugitives wanted for homicide in Mexico

Katherine Levens — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:44:53 +0000

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported two men wanted for homicide in Mexico on July 21, 2026, following separate immigration enforcement actions out of the agency’s Houston Field Office.

Agustin Morales-Renteria and Juan Becerra Ruiz, both 24 years old, were transported from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, where Mexican authorities took custody of both men. Morales-Renteria is wanted in Mexico for aggravated homicide, while Becerra Ruiz faces a warrant for intentional homicide out of Querétaro, Mexico.

ICE officers from Houston escort Juan Becerra Ruiz, a 24-year-old criminal illegal alien and foreign fugitive from Mexico, July 21, across the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, before transferring custody to Mexican authorities.

ERO Houston Acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez addressed the deportations directly.

“Under my watch, Southeast Texas will never become a safe haven for dangerous criminal illegal alien foreign fugitives like these two, regardless of the misinformation and lies being spread over the past couple of weeks by open borders and anti-immigration enforcement groups trying to demonize our officers and undermine our mission,” Martinez said.

Houston’s hottest stretch of the year peaks late week with temps pushing to 100

“In conjunction with our partners, our officers continue to drown out the noise and give everything they have to enforce our nation’s immigration laws without prejudice, while prioritizing enforcement actions that enhance public safety, national security, and border security,” he continued. “As a result of their efforts, these two fugitives will now face justice for their alleged crimes, providing closure to the friends and families of their alleged victims.”

Morales-Renteria first entered the U.S. illegally on or about Sept. 21, 2021, and was expelled the same day under COVID-19 health protocols then in place under Title 42. A regional attorney general’s office in Mexico issued a warrant for his arrest for aggravated homicide on Oct. 19, 2021. He illegally reentered the U.S. on or about Oct. 15, 2021, according to ICE.

On Dec. 4, 2024, ICE encountered Morales-Renteria at a sheriff’s office in Jackson County, Missouri, following his arrest for tampering with a motor vehicle and felony possession of a controlled substance. No action was taken at the time, according to ICE, due to immigration enforcement priorities then in place under the Biden administration.

On Nov. 4, 2025, Morales-Renteria was convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. Following his sentence, he was transferred into ICE custody May 21, 2026. An immigration judge ordered his removal on July 2, and ICE carried out that order on July 21.

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Becerra Ruiz entered the U.S. illegally on an unknown date and at an unknown location. A warrant was issued for his arrest in Querétaro, Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2022, for intentional homicide. In May 2026, U.S. Border Patrol received notice of the warrant and of Becerra Ruiz’s location in the Houston area.

On June 4, Border Patrol agents detained him during a traffic stop in Spring, Texas, and transferred custody to ICE. An immigration judge ordered his removal to Mexico on June 30, and ICE completed the order on July 21.

Texas Rep. Penny Morales Shaw discusses school funding, AI and resources for student families

Ninfa Saavedra — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:43:13 +0000

Texas State Representative Penny Morales Shaw addressed questions about education funding, artificial intelligence, and resources available to families during a recent community briefing focused on youth issues.

During the briefing, Morales Shaw responded to questions about the state’s new Education Savings Account program, the impact of AI on children and resources available to immigrant families pursuing higher education.

One topic discussed was Texas’ new Education Savings Account program, known as the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), created through Senate Bill 2 and signed into law in 2025.

The program is set to launch for the 2026-27 school year and provides eligible families with approximately $10,000 per student to use for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, transportation and school meals. Students with disabilities may qualify for additional funding, while homeschool students receive a smaller amount.

The program is funded by the state, not directly by religious organizations. However, because many private schools in Texas are religiously affiliated, a significant portion of public funds is expected to go toward religious schools.

Morales Shaw also addressed concerns about artificial intelligence and lawmakers’ responses to the technology’s rapid growth.

Texas recently passed the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act, also known as TRAIGA or House Bill 149, which took effect in January 2026. The law establishes requirements around transparency, disclosure, and preventing discrimination for certain AI systems involving areas such as biometrics, content generation, and decision-making.

The legislation also created a state AI Advisory Council to study potential risks and recommend future policies.

Morales Shaw said AI is evolving faster than current regulations and expects additional discussions and legislation during the upcoming 90th legislative session, including possible policies focused on AI use in schools and access for minors.

She also highlighted efforts by some educators to introduce “unplugged AI” lessons, where students learn how the technology works before using AI tools in their daily lives.

The representative also highlighted resources available for families navigating higher education.

Morales Shaw pointed to House Bill 1361, which requires public colleges and universities to designate liaison officers for student parents. These liaisons help connect students with resources involving health coverage, housing, food assistance and childcare.

For immigrant families, she highlighted the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), which helps eligible Texas residents who are not eligible for federal financial aid apply for state financial assistance and in-state tuition opportunities.

Students may qualify if they meet requirements including:

Being ineligible for federal financial aid
Graduating from a Texas high school or earning a GED in Texas
Living in Texas for at least three years before graduation or receiving a GED
Residing in Texas for the 12 months before enrollment
Planning to attend an eligible Texas college or university

Morales Shaw also recommended resources from organizations that provide education guidance for immigrant families, including bilingual materials covering financial aid, student rights and navigating the K-12 and college systems.

The representative encouraged families and community members with ideas or concerns about education policy, including AI and student access, to reach out to her office.

The briefing was held July 10, 2026.

Lamar Little League Baseball is back in Southwest Regional

Nick Mantas — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:33:36 +0000

For the third straight year, the Lamar Little League baseball team won the state championship at the 12U level. Next week, they’ll play in the Southwest Regional in Waco with a chance to make it back to the Little League World Series in Williamsport for the second straight year.

The team is full of personality and characters, which the coaching staff manages by letting them be themselves. But when it’s time to focus on the game ahead, this team quickly changes its tune and gets the job done.

Wisconsin Democrats casting early ballots are divided over whether democratic socialist can win

Scott Bauer And Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:16:59 +0000

Wisconsin voter Ian Anderson couldn't have been happier to cast his ballot Tuesday for democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the swing state's primary for governor.

“She's exactly the burst of energy we need,” Anderson said after voting early in the liberal stronghold of Madison.

But 80 miles down the road in Milwaukee, Democratic voter Steve Wiesner said if Hong wins the Aug. 11 primary he will vote Republican for the first time in his life.

“I would never support her or any DSA candidate at this point,” Wiesner said, using the acronym for Democratic Socialists of America. He voted for long-shot candidate Joel Brennan.

Their views demonstrate the dilemma for Democrats in Wisconsin as they hope to win the governor's race against a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump in a year that should favor Democrats.

But a chaotic primary, and the rise of Hong, has amplified angst among voters and party insiders that Democrats may be squandering their chances to retain control of the governor’s office and flip both chambers of the Legislature to earn full control of Wisconsin state government for the first time since 2010.

Democratic socialist Hong divides early Wisconsin voters

The insurgent Hong has garnered strong support among the most liberal wing of the party. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who narrowly lost a 2022 U.S. Senate race, is hoping that voters in his hometown of Milwaukee help him overcome Hong, whose base is in Madison. Those two cities hold the largest number of Democratic voters in Wisconsin.

Also in the race is Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is running with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers. Crowley had dropped out of the race on July 8, but got back in on July 17, the day after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out amid a campaign finance scandal.

Anderson, who was among voters who cast in-person early ballots on the first day Tuesday, said he was “very frustrated” by Evers' late endorsement in the race.

“It's the latest example of the Democratic Party meddling,” said Anderson, who works for the state Department of Natural Resources.

Nicole Santos, 45, said Hong was the only primary candidate with the “fortitude” to stand up to Trump.

“To get back on track we need to go a little further left,” she said.

Some Democratic voters make choice based on electability

Crowley voters on Tuesday said they backed him because they believed he had a better shot at beating Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. Tiffany, who is running with the backing of Trump in a state Trump won in 2016 and 2024, faces only nominal opposition in the primary.

It would be “tough” for Hong to beat Tiffany, said retired attorney John Hawley, 68, of Madison.

“I’d like to think I’m wrong, but north of Madison and Milwaukee I don’t think she’ll come across that well,” he said in reference to more rural parts of the state.

Erica and Mario Johnson, a married couple who are both Black and from Milwaukee, both voted for Crowley, because they see him as best positioned to beat Tiffany. Crowley and Barnes are each seeking to become the state’s first Black governor. Hong is seeking to become Wisconsin's first female governor and first Asian American governor.

Crowley has the “most executive experience,” said Mario Johnson, 63, who retired from a career in the federal government.

He worries that Hong won’t be able to defeat Tiffany, but if Hong wins the primary, “I’ll bite the bullet and vote for her.”

As of Tuesday, nearly 108,000 ballots had already been returned by mail ahead of the Aug. 11 election.

Democratic c

andidates play nice in only debate before election

The Democratic candidates tried to differentiate themselves Tuesday night in the only debate before the primary, but abstained from going after Hong.

Hong, who has run as an insurgent candidate, tried to cast herself as the one who could bring together Republicans, Democrats, independents and democratic socialists.

“This is a movement moment,” Hong said.

Hong also tried to distance herself from the national democratic socialist movement. Hong said she did not support the entire national DSA platform and backed off her earlier support for defunding the police.

“The governor cannot defund police and I’m not here to govern by slogan," she said.

Crowley, who has the governor's endorsement, and Barnes, who served as Evers' lieutenant governor in his first term, also tried to portray themselves as outsiders.

“I’m not here to protect the establishment,” Crowley said.

And while Barnes said no other candidate had united Democrats like he did in his 2022 Senate race, “I have zero interest in being the establishment candidate.”

___

Mayes-Osterman is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. She reported for this story from Milwaukee.

Russia accuses Telegram CEO Pavel Durov of aiding terrorism in its latest digital crackdown

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:40:24 +0000

Russian authorities said Wednesday they had charged Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism, the latest step by the Kremlin to bring the internet and digital communications under its control.

The charges against the Russian-born Durov, who lives abroad, came as authorities have sought to restrict the use of Telegram as part of a widespread crackdown on online freedom that followed Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, said in a statement it had accused Telegram’s administration of failing to remove “numerous channels, chats and bots” allegedly used by "Ukrainian intelligence agencies, terrorist and extremist organizations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass murder, and cyber fraud" in Russia, which resulted in “numerous human casualties.”

The FSB accused Ukrainian security services of using a popular dating chatbot on Telegram to lure and recruit Russians for “sabotage and terrorist activities,” and said 46 users of the chatbot, from 12 to 22 years old, have been detained in Russia over the past year for assaulting law enforcement officers, arson and other acts.

It also said it was adding the name of the 41-year-old billionaire to international wanted lists.

Durov had said earlier this year that Russian authorities opened a criminal investigation against him, and he accused them of fabricating pretexts to restrict access to Telegram as part of an attempt to “suppress the right to privacy and free speech.”

If convicted, he could face up to life in prison in Russia.

Telegram, which boasts of more than 1 billion users worldwide, did not respond to a request for comment. Its official website links to an account on X that on Wednesday posted am image of Durov raising a middle finger to the camera.

Telegram's website says that the company is based in Dubai and that Durov, who holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, lives there, too.

Russia has sought to censor the internet

Under President Vladimir Putin, Russian authorities have engaged in multipronged efforts to rein in the internet, adopting restrictive laws and banning websites and platforms that don’t comply and focused on improving technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and X, have been banned in Russia; YouTube has been throttled; popular messaging apps, such as Signal and Viber, have been blocked, and the most popular ones — WhatsApp and Telegram — have been restricted.

Russia’s popular Facebook-like social media platform Vkontakte, founded by Durov long before he launched Telegram, had come under the control of Kremlin-friendly companies. Russia tried to block Telegram between 2018-20 but failed.

While it’s still possible to circumvent some of the restrictions by using virtual private network services, many of them are routinely blocked, too.

At the same time, Russia actively promotes what it calls a “national” messaging app known as MAX, which critics say could be used for surveillance. The platform is touted as a one-stop shop for messaging, getting online government services, making payments and other activities. It openly says it will share user data with authorities upon request, and experts also say it doesn’t use end-to-end encryption.

The Telegram restrictions have elicited widespread discontent in Russia, and this year activists in multiple regions tried to organize protests against it, but authorities quashed nearly all their attempts.

Military bloggers also have denounced the crackdown, arguing the app is an indispensable communications tool for Russian troops in Ukraine and for activists running crowdfunding campaigns to help Moscow’s forces.

The government initially promised not to restrict Telegram on the battlefield, but a different message later came from the Kremlin. At a meeting with Putin for International Women’s Day, a servicewoman called Telegram “an adversarial communications tool” and agreed with him when he said that “the use of communications systems that are not ours, not under our control, poses a danger to personnel” in battle.

Despite the restrictions, multiple Russian officials still use Telegram and regularly update their "channels" — its term for blogs — on the platform. The Kremlin's Telegram page had more than 284,000 followers as of Wednesday.

Durov was arrested in France in 2024

In 2024, Durov was arrested in Paris amid allegations that his platform was being used for illicit activity, including drug trafficking and the distribution of images of child sexual abuse. French authorities handed him preliminary charges for allegedly allowing criminal activity on the platform. In March 2025, Durov said he had returned to Dubai after spending “several months” in France.

The Kremlin at the time criticized the French authorities for their move against Durov as selective. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time that “yes, indeed, terrorists use Telegram. But terrorists also use cars. Why aren't they arresting the CEO of Renault or Citroen?”

Peskov didn't respond to a request for comment on what made Russian authorities change their position.

The Paris prosecutor's office told The Associated Press that Durov remains under formal investigation, facing an array of potential charges for alleged criminal activities linked to Telegram. French investigators have questioned him repeatedly, most recently this month, the office said in written comments Wednesday.

Russia is accused of using Telegram as a recruitment tool

Russia itself has faced accusations of using Telegram coordinate and recruit people to carry out acts of arson and sabotage in Ukraine and across Europe. In the U.K., a British man was recruited, likely by Russian military intelligence, on the platform to organize a plot in 2024 to set fire to a warehouse in London containing satellite equipment for Ukraine. He was also asked to kidnap a pro-Ukrainian exiled Russian billionaire living in London.

Dutch teenagers were arrested in the Netherlands in September after being contacted by Russian hackers on Telegram who wanted them to map Wi-Fi networks in The Hague. The city is the location of many sensitive organizations, including the International Criminal Court -- which has issued an arrest warrant for Putin -- as well as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Europol which helps European countries fight international crime.

Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in acts of sabotage in Europe.

——

Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London and John Leicester in Paris contributed.

___

This story has been corrected to show the potential penalty is life in prison, not 15 years.

Harris County Clerk to hold Saturday birth certificate event to help families get ready for school

Christian Hudspeth — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:18:59 +0000

With the first day of school around the corner, the Harris County Clerk’s Office is opening its doors on a weekend to help parents and guardians check a key item off their back-to-school list: securing a certified birth certificate for student registration.

The office will host its sixth annual Back-to-School Birth Certificate Event on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service will be available at all 10 Harris County Clerk annex locations, giving working families a Saturday option to obtain documents that are often required by schools.

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Certified birth certificates will be available for $23 per copy. The Harris County Clerk’s Office says the event is intended for people who were born in Texas and who are eligible to request a certified copy—typically the person named on the record, an immediate family member, or a legal representative. Those requesting a certificate should bring a valid photo ID, such as a Texas driver’s license, a state or federal identification card, a military ID, or a U.S. passport, along with any supporting documentation if needed.

Annex locations open for the event include:

Baytown Annex — 701 W. Baker Rd., Baytown, TX 77521
Chimney Rock Annex — 6000 Chimney Rock Rd., Houston, TX 77081
Clay Road Annex — 16715 Clay Rd., Houston, TX 77084
Clear Lake Annex — 16603 Buccaneer Ln., Houston, TX 77062
Cypresswood Annex — 6831 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, TX 77379
Humble Annex — 7900 Will Clayton Pkwy., Humble, TX 77338
North Shepherd Annex — 7300 N. Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77091
Pasadena Annex — 101 S. Richey St., Pasadena, TX 77506
South Belt Annex — 10851 Scarsdale Blvd., Houston, TX 77089
Wallisville Annex — 14350 Wallisville Road, Suite 111, Houston, TX 77049

People looking for additional details can visit cclerk.hctx.net.

Rescuers search for survivors after a 7.1 quake kills 18 in southwestern Japan

Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:17:52 +0000

Soldiers and emergency workers combed through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivors Wednesday after a powerful earthquake that killed at least 18 people, including a foreigner, in southwestern Japan.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit a day earlier in the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu also left at least 62 people injured, six of them seriously, the prefectural government said. The tally has been steadily growing, fanning fears it may continue to rise.

Some of the most serious damage was at the Aeon Mall shopping center in the town of Kashima, which was bustling with thousands of people when the quake happened. The company said some 3,000 customers were evacuated to a parking lot before a gas explosion happened in another part of the mall, where some people were still working.

Fumika Ono was shopping at a mall with her older sister when the ground shook so fiercely she lost her balance and ducked. Children began screaming and goods scattered on the floor.

The 19-year-old was among the crowd of shoppers who managed to escape safely.

The sweltering weather heightened worries about the survivors as rescuers braved the heat. It remained unclear how many people might still be missing.

The mall’s second floor collapsed, trapping people. Witnesses said the explosion shook the area as much as the quake.

Three people remained missing, while four deaths were confirmed at the mall site, according to Aeon President Akio Yoshida.

“We take it seriously that an explosion happened and precious lives were lost,” Yoshida told a news conference in Kumamoto, where he bowed deeply along with two other executives.

Japanese media footage of the mall showed that part of the ceiling had caved in, and metal pieces and other debris were scattered about as helmeted and masked rescue workers searched the area.

Kiyoshi Matsunaga, 74, who lives in the mall's neighborhood and was at a supermarket just a few blocks away, said Tuesday's quake reminded him of a deadly quake 10 years ago that hit Kumamoto and killed 50 people.

He stopped in his tracks when the shaking began while he was pushing his cart toward a cash register. Things scattered from the shelves. He could not move, he recalled.

“I was frightened," he said.

Japan is one of the most quake-prone nations in the world.

In the Nuyamazu district, a pair of temple gates at a 16th-century Buddhist temple collapsed. They had just been repaired five years ago.

Yuki Kiyozumi, deputy chief priest at the temple, recalled how she had to crawl on the floor because the shaking was so violent. She had just returned home from a meeting and was about to feed her cat.

“I don’t even know if or how we can rebuild them again,” she said, while cleaning up damaged ornaments and furniture.

In nearby Yatsushiro, a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory killed five people while seven others were rescued from the debris, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government disaster team.

Four people were still believed to be trapped there, it said.

In the first reported death of a foreign national, a Vietnamese technical intern was killed after a crane fell on him at a factory where he worked, according to the Vietnamese government. He had arrived in Japan in January. Seven other Vietnamese technical interns at the factory evacuated safely

Separately, a Vietnamese woman married to one of the workers was injured when a wall collapsed and was being treated at a hospital.

Nearly 34,900 homes were still without electricity and some 15,000 homes without running water, Kumamoto officials said. More than 8,800 people left their homes to stay in over 400 shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning.

Aerial police footage showed some homes in residential areas were completely flattened, including a few that crumbled into a nearby river.

Japan's Self Defense Forces joined rescue workers in the search and rescue operations. Hundreds of professionals were helping with the effort, including firefighters from Taiwan.

“There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can.”

Takaichi said the government was preparing to deliver food and other necessities to hard-hit areas. She also offered her condolences to the victims and sympathy to their relatives, while urging those affected by the quake to take care of themselves under the hot weather.

Bullet train services remained suspended. Although operations at Aso Kumamoto Airport resumed Wednesday, some airlines canceled flights as a precautionary measure.

___

Associated Press writers Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo and Aniruddha Ghosal in Hanoi, Vietnam contributed to this report.

US bans foreign-made humanoid robots, targeting China over national security

Chan Ho-Him, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:50:19 +0000

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is banning imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks, in a move that targets China. Beijing quickly accused the U.S. of protectionism.

The measures are likely to test relations with Beijing ahead of a planned U.S. visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China dominates the global market for humanoid robots with an estimated market share of roughly 85%.

The FCC’s ban also includes new imports of quadruped robots, often referred to as four-legged robot dogs. The agency said imports of advanced robots pose cybersecurity and other national security risks. Offshore production of such equipment also leaves U.S. supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.

The ban on power inverters, which are used to convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity and are used in renewable energy systems, data centers and household appliances, could have sweeping ramifications.

This is the latest in US restrictions on Chinese imports

FCC chairperson Brendan Carr said Tuesday that the move was to “secure America’s critical supply chains.” He said the bans apply to “new versions” of such imports.

The FCC’s bans follow a slew of U.S. restrictions on imports of Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of U.S. advanced technology to China.

The U.S. is also weighing controls on use of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models at a time when Chinese AI is rapidly gaining ground.

“It’s a steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints heading into (the) Trump-Xi summit planned for September,” said Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think tank focused on Chinese technology policies.

China has been rapidly expanding the use of robots, with policies supporting its technology sector. Morgan Stanley analysts forecast its market for humanoids could reach $15 billion by 2030.

“Chinese manufacturers have been scaling production and reducing costs faster than most overseas competitors,” said analyst Kangyuxiao Li at Morningstar.

“Restricting their access to the U.S. removes an important future market and protects U.S. developers from potential price competition,” he said. “However, it will not materially slow China’s overall humanoid development, given the size of its domestic manufacturing base and opportunities in other export markets.”

Of the around 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025, Unitree and AGIBOT, two of China’s largest advanced robotics companies, each shipped more than 5,000. Their U.S. counterparts, like Tesla and Figure AI, each shipped a few hundred or less, according to the technology research and advisory group Omdia.

On the restrictions on power inverters, Cheng Wang, another Morningstar analyst, said the pressure on U.S. markets should be limited. The ban appears to not impact the continued use of existing devices nor the selling by Chinese companies of models that were previously approved by the United States.

China says protectionism will only hurt the US

China's Foreign Ministry hit back at the U.S. move, accusing Washington of overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies.

China will take “all measures necessary” to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, it said.

“Protectionism does not make the U.S. more competitive, and it will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers,” Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a regular press conference Wednesday in Beijing.

The new bans could also potentially interfere with collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology companies, said Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at Omdia.

Nvidia, for example, in June revealed a humanoid robot reference design which uses the humanoid chassis of China's Unitree.

The Pentagon recently included Unitree and several other major Chinese technology companies on its list of firms that it said have ties to or aid the Chinese military. Beijing has rejected that claim.

3 women injured after dozens of shots fired outside southeast Houston convenience store

Ninfa Saavedra — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:46:17 +0000

Three women are recovering after a barrage of gunfire erupted outside a convenience store in southeast Houston Tuesday night, according to the Houston Police Department.

The shooting happened around 10:40 p.m. outside a convenience store in the 9100 block of Scott Street.

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Investigators believe someone fired approximately 30 rounds from a grassy area across the street from the business, striking three women before fleeing the scene.

According to HPD, two women in their mid-30s were standing in the parking lot when they were each shot once in the arm. A third woman, in her mid-40s, was inside a vehicle leaving the area when bullets pierced her car, striking her in the hand.

The third victim drove away from the scene before stopping in the 1200 block of Vera Lou Street, where officers located her.

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All three women were taken to hospitals and are expected to recover.

Police said officers were already nearby when the shooting began and arrived within moments after hearing the rapid gunfire.

“Our officers were right down the road from here, and they actually heard the shooting. So they got here pretty quick,” HPD Lt. Willkens said. “From what they’re saying, they heard possibly 30 rounds. And it was rapid fire, so possibly an automatic weapon. Possibly a rifle.”

Investigators said it has not been confirmed whether an automatic weapon or rifle was used.

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One bullet also hit the convenience store, passing through the building and hitting a cooler inside. No customers or employees inside the store were injured.

Police believe the suspects may have fled on foot before possibly getting into a vehicle. An HPD helicopter searched the surrounding area but did not locate anyone.

As of Wednesday morning, investigators had not identified any suspects or determined a motive for the shooting.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Houston Police Department or Crime Stoppers of Houston.

A new media ecosystem is taking root on the left, reshaping Democratic politics

Ali Swenson, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:01:48 +0000

Farah Berent, a physician assistant in Holland, Michigan, used to learn about politics from channels like ABC, CBS and CNN. But that changed as she decided that coverage of the war in Gaza was irreparably biased.

"I couldn’t stand all the lies on the stations,″ said Berent, arguing that there wasn't enough attention being paid to Palestinian suffering. "I started going to Instagram to get my news.”

Berent is among many progressive-minded Americans who have sworn off legacy media institutions. They're turning to a widening mix of independent podcasts, social media accounts and digital news sites, part of an increasingly influential ecosystem that has boosted this year's wave of anti-establishment, left-leaning candidates who may not have gotten as much attention otherwise.

Liberals remain more likely than conservatives to trust mainstream outlets, but the splintering echoes how conservatives skeptical of their party created a collection of insurgent news sites years ago. The shift has elevated individual commentators with opinions on the news, some of whom have proven influential in driving people’s votes.

Ryan Grim, a co-founder of Drop Site News and a veteran of online political debates, said progressive politicians have sought out his platform to reach voters. In a change from previous election cycles, "they have ways to get covered even if the mainstream just basically ignores them,” he said.

One of those candidates is Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for U.S. Senate in Michigan and faces the more moderate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in the Aug 4. primary.

“I think in a lot of ways, where traditional media has been gatekeepers, we’re watching that gatekeeping function fall away,” El-Sayed said.

Anti-establishment media has exploded lately

These changes have been on display this year in places like New York City, where a slate of progressive congressional candidates endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated establishment-backed candidates.

Sara Hyler, a policy analyst in East Harlem, originally planned to support incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in last month's Democratic primary. But then Hyler started learning about progressive outsider Darializa Avila Chevalier through YouTube videos and podcasts, including from the liberal media company MeidasTouch.

“My actual beliefs are to the left of Democrats. I don't want a moderate,” said Hyler, who ultimately voted for Avila Chevalier in hopes she could help nudge Congress toward progressive policies.

The rise of independent media has been part of a digital transformation that transcends politics, as chronically online Americans are turning toward news from social media and content creators. But it's not just the popularity of smartphones driving that change.

“There’s a complete lack of trust in any and all institutions now,” said Mike Nellis, a Democratic consultant who hosts a podcast, writes a Substack and posts political analysis on social media. “That has led people to turn to individuals, and so now you’re picking your flavor of person to listen to.”

Among conservatives, faith in mainstream media and in the more moderate wing of the Republican Party faltered years ago, with the rise of the Tea Party movement paving the way for an alternative right-wing media ecosystem, including sites like the Daily Caller, Breitbart and The Blaze. Trump also tapped into a loose constellation of podcasts, including "The Joe Rogan Experience," for his successful comeback campaign.

Reece Peck, a media culture professor at the College of Staten Island, said the left-wing version of that has happened slowly, beginning with the momentum of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ first presidential run in 2016. At the time, left-wing, anti-establishment YouTube accounts and podcasts like “The Young Turks” and “Chapo Trap House” were gaining attention but didn't reach the majority of Democratic voters.

Now Democrats have realized their faith in institutions didn't prevent Trump's return.

“The ground has been made fertile for an anti-establishment media politics, where it just wasn’t quite there with the voter base in those previous cycles,” Peck said. Even older, moderate liberals, he said, have started to ″throw their hands in the air and look for alternatives.”

YouTube accounts like ”Secular Talk" and “Breaking Points,” streamers like Hasan Piker and new digital journalism organizations like More Perfect Union and The Lever are among those that have seen their audiences multiply.

Grim said Drop Site has amassed 800,000 free and 60,000 paid subscribers since launching two years ago — more than he'd anticipated.

Saul Levin, a Michigan progressive organizer who recently started his own podcast about artificial intelligence data centers, said Trump’s attacks on the existing media landscape are part of the reason for that growth.

“The investigations and raids on numerous different journalists, the appointment of specifically aligned billionaires to lead various major news agencies, is very troubling,” he said. “Creators and new media outlets are stepping in and trying to fill gaps.”

Alternative media is prominent in the Michigan primary

The Michigan primary will be the latest test of the evolving media ecosystem, which El-Sayed, a longtime podcaster himself, has tried to harness. Various progressive outlets, creators and organizers have aggressively promoted his campaign.

El-Sayed said the rise of independent media has let voters compare news across different channels and notice biases, but he doesn't turn down opportunities on legacy media, either.

“I go on Fox News, I go on podcasts, I Twitch stream, we have a YouTube channel,” he said.

Stevens, who received endorsements from outgoing incumbent Sen. Gary Peters, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, has a more traditional approach. She's also backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and its affiliated groups, which have spent close to $30 million on the race.

Stevens' campaign declined to comment for this story.

Reporting from progressive outlets has influenced how the race has unfolded. For example, Stevens parted ways with a campaign consultant when Drop Site revealed that she had also worked for tech company Palantir, which is controversial in liberal circles because of its government contracts involving immigration enforcement.

Democratic officials said Trump's return to the White House has also revived interest in the party's official channels. The Democratic National Committee's relatively new digital media offering, a rapid-response clipping and messaging account with the handle @FactPostNews, has amassed more than 2 billion impressions on Threads, X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky in 2026 alone.

“I remember thinking to myself, there’s a chance that this flops and doesn’t get any traction,” said DNC Deputy Chief Mobilization Officer Paulina Mangubat. “It's been really, really successful.”

At times, the mix of new voices on the left has erupted in public tensions.

Grim recently faced criticism for boosting failed Democratic candidate Graham Platner in Maine, and he was accused of trying to undermine the credibility of the sexual assault allegation that torpedoed Platner's campaign. Grim said while he recognized people were angry, his reporting on the allegation was meant to share additional context.

“If we’re going to litigate allegations in the court of public opinion, we can’t pick and choose what details we want to share with the public out of a fear of how they’ll be received,” he said.

More recently, when Drop Site interviewed progressive U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California, one of its journalists pressed Khanna on whether Hamas was justified to attack Israeli soldiers on Oct. 7, 2023. Khanna refused to agree.

But Grim said those are the kinds of tough questions independent media are there to ask — and that American voters increasingly want to see their representatives in Congress answer.

“People want to see you being accountable to questions, and if they don't agree with you, sometimes that's fine,” he said. “I think the smarter politicians are starting to recognize that.”

___

This story has been updated to correct Farah Berent's job to physician assistant, not teacher.

___

Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Grand Rapids, Mich., contributed to this report.

KPRC 2 releases statement on matter involving a staff member

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:55:17 +0000

We want to disclose a matter this morning involving a staff member at KPRC.

The Station is aware of reports alleging that news anchor Daniella Guzman received complimentary tickets to a concert and FIFA World Cup match from the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation.

We take matters regarding potential conflicts of interest very seriously. Ms. Guzman has been suspended pending the result of a company investigation.

You have our assurances that this issue will be investigated thoroughly and fairly.

'Super Troopers' at 25: A quarter-century of mustaches and maple syrup — and a new film

Jake Coyle, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:16:55 +0000

A quarter of a century is a long time for mustache rides and syrup binges, but “Super Troopers” has gotten a lot of mileage out of the simple joys of friends goofing around.

The comedy troupe Broken Lizard, a group of college buddies who began performing together at Colgate University, broke through with 2001's “Super Troopers.” Made for less than $3 million, the movie cast Jay Chandrasekhar (who directed), Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske as a group of juvenile Vermont state troopers. A then-Emmy-less Brian Cox played their cantankerous chief.

The movie became an unlikely cult hit, making many times over what it made in theaters ($23 million) on VHS and DVD. Roger Ebert begrudgingly called it “the kind of movie that makes you want to like it.”

Not all movies look like they were fun to make, but “Super Troopers” did. For Broken Lizard, the difference between the movie and the blooper reel is almost nonexistent. It's like they're living out the dream of every group of funny college pals.

“We talk about that being almost like the special sauce in the movies. You can’t fake 30 years of friendship. Even the best actors can’t do it,” Soter says before his fellow members make him question that declaration.

“OK, maybe Al Pacino could fake it.”

Broken Lizard has kept at it, making half a dozen other movies. In the intervening years, big-screen comedy has grown all but dead, so it hasn't always been easy. They resorted to crowdfunding to help finance 2018's “Super Troopers 2.”

But with “Super Troopers 3,” which Searchlight Pictures will release Aug. 7, they're back again in aviator sunglasses, broad-brimmed hats and, of course, mustaches. Alongside big-budget blockbusters like “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey,” “Super Troopers 3” will try to hold onto its narrow stretch of highway.

“It’s kind of a show-business miracle to be able to make eight or nine movies with your friends from college,” says Chandrasekhar. “We certainly never thought it could get this far.”

A comedy franchise built on speeding tickets

“Super Troopers” wasn't the first movie Broken Lizard made. In 1996, they released “Puddle Cruiser,” a comedy shot entirely on Colgate's campus. It didn't get distribution, so their only real hope for “Super Troopers” was that it play somewhere, anywhere. Around then, the quintet was performing in New York and touring college campuses. Road trips inspired the movie.

“We were getting pulled over a lot. You talk a lot of smack when you see the cops,” Lemme says. “But the second they pull up to the car, you’re immediately in butt-kissing mode. We always wondered what the cops were thinking, if they knew how much power they had over us and how much they could screw with us.”

One of the movie's most famous scenes featured two patrolmen (Lemme and Soter) pulling over a then-little-known Jim Gaffigan. During the course of giving him a ticket, they play a game where one has to say “meow” 10 times in place of “now.” Over the years, they've heard countless stories of everyone from police officers to pilots doing the same.

“My friend is a pilot for United Airlines and he said the aviation radio communication system is just drowning in meows,” Chandrasekhar says.

“Super Troopers,” the group has come to realize, has filtered into culture as much through traffic stops as streaming services. Sometimes, it's been to their benefit.

“I once got pulled over doing 120 miles per hour. The cop looked in the window. He said, ‘Mister, do you have any idea how fast you … Super Troopers?!’” recalls Lemme, laughing. “At the end, he brought over his ticket book and asked me for a photo and an autograph. His hands were trembling. I signed the ticket book, and made sure I didn’t sign on the dotted line. We took selfies by the side of the road.”

Maple syrup and mustaches

The guys of Broken Lizard are all now in their late 50s, but little of their dynamic has changed. In character, they playfully rag on each other — especially Heffernan's loud-mouthed Rodney Farva — but with an affection immediately recognizable to a certain kind of acerbic friend group.

That was true, too, over a recent interview by Zoom. Broken Lizard was in the middle of a cross-country promotional tour. (One stop included interrupting a Limp Bizkit concert, to register a noise complaint.)

“We have families and our own lives and stuff, and when we come together it’s like summer camp,” Heffernan says.

Twenty-five years of “Super Troopers” has meant a lot of months in mustaches. They usually shave them right away but have to grow them back for marketing the release. “The studio,” says Heffernan, “thinks the mustaches are the stars of the movie.”

Living with “Super Troopers” has other, stranger legacies. The first film memorably included a maple syrup chugging race. That, they all agree, they're too old for now.

“We’ve only done it once since,” says Chandrasekhar, shaking his head. “It’s not a good idea. It’s not a healthy choice.”

“We’ll go and do things like interviews or talk shows,” Lemme adds. “You walk in the room and every now and then you see a few bottles of maple syrup and your heart starts to sink.”

Turning a cult hit into a trilogy

In “Super Troopers 3,” times have also changed. The station gets their first electric police car, a development that figures surprisingly centrally to the plot. Capt. John O’Hagen (Cox) is struggling with retirement. Cox is returning to “Super Troopers” — one of his most randomly delightful screen credits — after his acclaimed run on HBO's “Succession.”

“He brings gravitas, and what’s great about that is it makes us more absurd and silly because we’ve got a real actor in the room,” says Soter. “We feel like idiots because we can barely hit our marks, and he’s super professional. It makes us end up being like goofy kids.”

But the main storyline is, for Chandrasekhar's Arcot “Thorny” Ramathorn, a diabolical development: His sister, Sarita (Hannah Simone), falls in love with Farva. As the two begin to plan a wedding, Thorny does whatever he can to sabotage the relationship.

“There’s love all over this movie,” says Lemme. “This is the most loving movie we’ve ever made.”

But it remains endlessly surprising to the Broken Lizard gang that “Super Troopers” has had the kind of life it has.

“George Lucas didn’t conceive of making a trilogy when he made ‘Star Wars,’ but it did very well, as did ‘Super Troopers,’” Lemme says. “So here we are making a trilogy.”

“We’re trying to bring back good old-fashioned R-rated American theatrical comedy. That’s sort of the mission here,” Chandrasekhar says.

Broken Lizard has sometimes mocked Hollywood's sequel baiting. At the end of 2006's “Beerfest,” they teased a fake follow-up, “Potfest,” that fans have continually asked about. Similarly, “Super Troopers 3" ends with a tag for a fourth movie.

“We're kind of kidding, but maybe we're not?” Lemme says.

“‘NYPD Blue’ made 250 episodes of their show, so we can do at least four or five of these little cop shows,” says Chandrasekhar, smiling.

“Yeah, and the ‘One Piece’ manga, they’ve done a thousand episodes,” Lemme says. “We’re going to do a thousand ‘Super Troopers’ movies.”

2 Newsletter: Another hot day with temperatures reaching 100 degrees

Ninfa Saavedra — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:42:41 +0000

Hello, Houston.☀️

We have a lot happening this morning, so keep scrolling below and let’s get into it.

As always, follow us for the latest on Click2Houston.com and watch us live on KPRC 2+.

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Weather ⛅

TODAY: 96° TONIGHT: 87°

KPRC Meteorologist Daji Aswad says:

“Wednesday brings another mostly sunny and very hot afternoon, with Houston reaching around 100 degrees. There is no Heat Advisory currently posted for Wednesday, but heat index values will still climb well above 100, so the heat remains dangerous despite the lack of an advisory.”

➡️ More weather headlines? Check them out here

Get your forecast details here.

Houston’s Top Headlines 📰

3 women injured after dozens of shots fired outside southeast Houston convenience store

Three women are recovering after a barrage of gunfire erupted outside a convenience store in southeast Houston Tuesday night, according to the Houston Police Department.

The shooting happened around 10:40 p.m. outside a convenience store in the 9100 block of Scott Street.

Heavy fire engulfs Houston home early Wednesday morning

Houston firefighters responded to a house fire in the 15000 block of Buxley early Wednesday morning, July 29, 2026, at approximately 1:17 a.m.

Crews arrived to find heavy fire conditions and were able to remove one man from the home before transitioning to a defensive firefighting operation. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Houston rapper Cartel Bo accused of holding mother of his children captive at home in Cypress

Houston rapper Warren Brown, also known as Cartel Bo, is facing an aggravated kidnapping charge after a woman, who is the mother of his children, told Harris County Precinct 4 Constable investigators she was held captive for at least four days inside a home in Cypress.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said deputies responded over the weekend to the 15000 block of Darby Retreat Lane after receiving a request for a welfare check.

Remains identified as missing Houston-area teen Kristen Galvan 6 years after disappearance

More than six years after a Houston-area teenager disappeared after becoming a victim of human trafficking, authorities have identified her remains, bringing long-awaited answers to a case that had remained unsolved.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday that advanced DNA testing identified the remains as Kristen Galvan, who was 15 years old when she disappeared from Montgomery County in January 2020.

Back 2 School - Moms 💌

Summer Survival: What parents should be doing now before back-to-school

We’re almost two months into summer, and the countdown to back-to-school is getting closer. In this week’s Moms Blog with Houston Moms, we’re checking in on summer regression, what it is, how it can impact kids, and what parents can do now to help their children transition smoothly back into a school routine.

Plus, our Surviving Summer tip covers simple ways to make the most of the season, from planning a fun “Yes Day” with your kids to setting healthy boundaries around digital devices and screen time.

Things 2 Know 💡

Houston drivers feeling the pinch as gas prices rise again; see how much more you’re paying

LIST: Back-to-school freebies — backpack and supply giveaways around Houston

How to keep children with autism safe around water this summer

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Energy agencies want more authority over Texas data centers

Texas Tribune, By Natalie Weber, Houston Public Media — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Texas’ power grid operators are calling for state lawmakers to expand their authority to regulate data centers, following a recent directive to rein in these facilities from Gov. Greg Abbott.

In a letter to the agencies last month, Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to take action to ensure that data centers lower residents’ energy bills when the facilities connect to the grid and require data centers to pay for the costs of their electric infrastructure.

The governor also directed the commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the state’s electricity grid, to review their authority and “identify actions that can be taken under those authorities to safeguard Texans, their property, and resources.”

PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson responded to the governor’s letter this month, outlining the steps the two agencies had already taken to prepare for an influx of data centers to the state. Most of the policies began before the governor’s directive and were undertaken in response to a state law passed in the 2025 legislative session.

Gleeson said the PUCT and ERCOT have adopted new requirements for data centers looking to join the grid. He said they’ve also taken steps to ensure existing power plants continue to provide energy to everyday Texans, even when those facilities will power a new data center.

According to Gleeson’s letter, the agencies have also assessed how transmission costs are distributed among consumers and improved their process for forecasting how much energy will be needed to power the grid.

The PUCT and ERCOT are taking steps to ensure that data centers and other large energy consumers pay for the cost of building the new infrastructure they need to connect to the grid. Gleeson said the agencies are also developing a new program that will encourage data centers to cut back on their energy consumption ahead of “an anticipated electric energy emergency.”

“Texas should welcome responsible economic development, but it must do so in a manner that prioritizes affordability, reliability, and the interests of the residents who depend on the grid,” Gleeson wrote in his letter to the governor.

Gleeson also outlined potential state legislation he said would help the two agencies to regulate data centers. In particular, he said state regulators should be able to communicate directly with data centers to ask them to cut back on energy usage in an emergency. Currently, ERCOT must communicate with the data center’s utility company instead.

Texas lawmakers should also require data centers and other large energy consumers to register with the state, Gleeson said. And he said data centers should be required to comply with an already existing law that “prohibits agreements that would give certain foreign-linked companies direct or remote access to, or control over, Texas critical infrastructure.” That law, known as the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, only applies to power plants and transmission companies.

University of Texas energy researcher Joshua Rhodes said data centers are likely to be a central focus of the next legislative session.

“Data centers are not polling very favorably in public opinion,” he said. “And so it’ll be an indication that there will be some bills trying to inject some discipline into this market.”

Rhodes said there’s been a lot of discussion about how to prevent data centers from passing on the costs of new infrastructure to consumers, but state regulators are still fleshing out the specifics of concrete policies.

“Really, the thing that feels kind of new and feels like it’s not fully resolved yet is the concept of how these large consumers of electricity are going to pay for infrastructure that they need, such that it doesn’t fall on other folks,” he said.

“A deal with the devil”: Religion motivates data center opponents in Texas

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Matt Long stood before the Granbury City Council at an April zoning meeting to oppose the influx of proposed data centers in Hood County, likening them to a spiritual abomination.

“I’d consider us a Christian city inside a Christian county,” said Long, a member of the county’s development commission who lives near Granbury. “As Christians, do we think that trading 2,100 acres of natural beauty for godless technological complexes is moving us closer to the creation, or further away?”

“Do we think that entering into negotiations with Google, Meta and Amazon are closer to making a covenant with God, or making a deal with the devil?” he asked the council.

Christians, Long concluded to applause, must stand up to data centers.

Controversy surrounding data center construction has roiled Texas in recent months, fostering a bipartisan coalition of opposition, particularly among rural and suburban residents. With at least 248 planned data center projects and 335 in operation, Texas is poised to become a leader in data center development.

Opposition has also coalesced around religious appeals from a theologically diverse group of residents, leaders and politicians who see data center development as an affront to their most sacred values.

Much of the opposition focuses on environmental impact and the large amounts of water and power needed by massive facilities that operate AI applications.

Clayton Tucker, a Democrat running for Texas agriculture commissioner, is a leader in the anti-data center movement. A Catholic, he wonders if data centers are akin to the apple in the Garden of Eden.

“If we take a bite of that apple of knowledge, is that what’s going to kick us out of this blue marble of Eden … that we call Earth?” Tucker said.

Agriculture Commissioner candidate Clayton Tucker speaks at a rally against data center development across the state on the Capitol grounds in Austin on July 27, 2026.

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Agriculture commissioner candidate Clayton Tucker speaks at a rally against data center development in Texas on the Capitol grounds in Austin on July 27, 2026. Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune

Religion isn’t solely the domain of the opposition. Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, a Republican, said he supports data center construction because “throughout history, Christians have embraced innovations that improve lives, from the printing press to modern medicine.”

“We should approach data centers the same way: embracing their benefits while ensuring they’re built responsibly,” Christian said in a statement.

For Long, biblical passages such as Daniel Chapter 2 and Revelation Chapter 13 reveal that there are spiritual implications to replacing God’s creation “with things created by man.”

The books of Daniel and Revelation, known as apocalyptic literature, have been interpreted in some theological circles as warnings about the misuse of technology — such as artificial intelligence — in ways that threaten God’s intended order and vastly increase the government’s ability to conduct surveillance.

“They’re going to be able to track where we go, they’re going to track our money. … You’re going to have to essentially stay in line socially,” said Long, who believes this generation will be judged by its response to data centers.

“I just don’t want to read that everybody complied, everybody gave in, everybody quit. I want to hear about this small contingent of people that stood on their principles, that saw it coming from a mile away, and said, ‘We’re not budging,’” he said.

Joseph Locke, a professor of Texas and American religious history at the University of North Texas, said he was not surprised that Texans were making religious arguments against data centers.

“Texans have often drawn on religion when they want to enact social or political change,” he said in a statement, adding that “the rhetoric of spiritual warfare is pretty common, especially among today’s Christian nationalists and their conservative allies.”

Long has hosted well-attended prayer meetings in his home and taken his fight online, where he is not alone. Religious arguments are a periodic feature of comments on several dozen Facebook groups dedicated to opposing data center development.

Last month, Clarendon resident Maria Miller asked members of the Texans United Against Data Centers Facebook group to pray against data centers.

Miller said she sees parallels between the rapid development of data centers and the story of the end times told in the Book of Revelation at the end of the New Testament. “It’s kind of a no-brainer,” she said in an interview.

“People of faith feel a moral duty”

Not all religiously grounded opposition sees data centers as apocalyptic or part of a larger cosmic battle between good and evil.

“People of faith feel a moral duty to make sure that people have the things they need to live lives of dignity and thriving, and so water and energy are really important for that,” said Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards of the interfaith policy advocacy group Texas Impact.

“We’re called to be stewards of creation, which means caring for the world as God does. And I think what we see in the creation story is that the world was created to be a place of fruitfulness and plenty,” Edwards said.

Locke said many Texans have drawn on their faith “to attack inequalities, provide for the needy and, yes, advocate for environmental protections.”

In addition, conservative Christians have been “generally supportive of Texas’ conservative economic and environmental policies,” Locke said.

“The oil industry, for instance, has long been wed to conservative Christianity,” he said. “Billy Graham was backed by Texas oilmen, and George W. Bush, who helped bring Texas’ religious politics to Washington, D.C., was rooted in the oil industry.”

Texas churches also spoke out against inequality during the Gilded Age — a late 19th-century period of rapid industrial growth that produced extreme wealth inequality, Locke said. Evangelical leaders “helped to organize the Populist revolt of the 1880s and 1890s” and others “urged Texans to see the sins of our economic system,” he said.

“Texas’ conservative Christian nationalism may win the most headlines, but Texas religion contains multitudes,” Locke said.

Tucker, the Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, is a fifth-generation Texan who ties his campaign to Texas’ populist movement and focuses on issues that receive the most petition signatures on his website.

A petition on data center development has been a top performer, and as long as it remains popular, “that’s gonna be our top issue,” Tucker said while driving between anti-data center meetings, many of them held in churches.

“Had you told me a year ago that running for agriculture commissioner, I’d be talking mostly about data centers, I would have looked at you funny,” he said, adding that the facilities’ high-volume water use caught his eye.

“If we run out of water, nothing else really matters,” he said.

Matt Long shakes hands with attendees while holding a sign that says “This is insane” at a Hood County Commissioners Court meeting in Granbury on February 23, 2026.

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Matt Long shakes hands with attendees while holding a sign that says “This is insane” at a Hood County Commissioners Court meeting in Granbury on Feb. 23, 2026. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

Long, who identifies as a conservative-leaning libertarian, said Tucker, although a Democrat, is “the only politician that is saying anything negative about data centers.” Older Republicans, he added, “don’t understand, like, the good versus evil fight that I believe we’re in.”

Polls show in many cases opposition to data centers transcends political partisanship. According to a June poll by the Texas Politics Project, 71% of registered Texas Democrats and 44% of registered Texas Republicans oppose data centers, with only 14% of Republicans strongly in support. National polls indicate even greater bipartisan alignment: a May Gallup survey found that 63% of Republicans and 75% of Democrats oppose data centers.

Long said he’s also found himself in a surprising alliance over data centers with some “liberal white women.”

“After the meeting … we’re hugging, and we’re all on the same page, trying to fight this,” he said.

“Humanity over injury and profit”

Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, a Democrat running for the U.S. House in Virginia, called opposition to data centers a “unifying factor” that crosses political lines. Virginia is home to the world’s largest data center market, with about 685 operating or planned, and Texas advocates have looked to the state as a cautionary tale.

“I guarantee you Jesus would be outside right now flipping tables,” Beggs said in a recent public testimony against data centers.

People “deserve a place that is safe to raise their children, and we know the harm that data centers are doing,” Beggs said in an interview. “That’s not something you can tolerate as a mother, as a citizen, and as a Christian.”

Long, who has nine children, said in testimony earlier this year that data centers create “a sacrificial zone” that negatively harms children. It is ironic, he said, that Hood County adopted a “sanctuary for the unborn” ordinance while not being a sanctuary for the born.

The Hood County Commissioners bow their heads in prayer at the beginning of a Hood County Commissioners Court meeting in Granbury on Feb. 24, 2026. The meeting included a vote on a moratorium that would pause construction of eight proposed data centers.

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Hood County commissioners bow their heads in prayer at the beginning of a Hood County Commissioners Court meeting in Granbury on Feb. 24, 2026. The meeting included a vote on a moratorium that would pause construction of eight proposed data centers. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

Some Jewish leaders have also based their opposition on religious grounds.

“At the core of most religious traditions is a recognition of the sanctity of life and humanity over injury and profit,” Rabbi Jennie Rosenn of the Jewish climate advocacy group Dayenu said in a statement.

Rosenn said data centers are an affront to Judaism’s most foundational teachings of “life, not death (bacharta bahayim), protect creation (shomrei adamah), pursue justice (tirdof tzedek), not waste (bal tashchit), protect the most vulnerable (shomer ger yatom v’almanah), and ensure that life can continue l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation).”

“If this sounds like Judaism’s greatest hits, it’s because it is,” Rosenn continued. “That is how fundamentally the explosive growth of data centers across our nation threatens the values we — and many other people of faith — hold most dear.”

Jane Bannor, treasurer of Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community, a progressive advocacy group, said Unitarian Universalists around the nation are calling for moratoriums on data center construction based on a “respect for the interdependent web of life of which we are all a part.”

“We want to see businesses benefit not just corporate shareholders, but also the surrounding population,” Bannor said.

Tucker hopes religious-based opposition can affect the data center debate in Texas.

Faith appeals carry extra weight, he said, “when you can kind of tie [data centers] to those stories that are foundational to Christianity, that are foundational to a lot of our worldviews.”

Flowers are silhouetted against lights from the Stargate data center in Abilene on May 2, 2026.

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Flowers are silhouetted against lights from the Stargate data center in Abilene on May 2, 2026. Jon Shapley for The Texas Tribune

This story is published through a collaboration between The Texas Tribune and Religion News Service.

Disclosure: Amazon, Facebook, Google, Meta and University of North Texas 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 Texas Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

“Where are all the volunteers?” Kerr County faces worse flood damage with fewer resources

Texas Tribune, Emily Foxhall — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Kerr County residents are cleaning out homes and businesses this month after the second devastating flood in as many years — but this time, some nonprofits and community leaders say they’re facing more destruction with less financial assistance and volunteer help than last year.

As of Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency hadn’t approved federal aid for individuals or local governments — including Kerr County, which, according to the Kerrville Daily Times, was already facing a potential $8 million budget shortfall.

The state by Monday had received 1,501 damage survey submissions, including 47 destroyed structures and 310 that suffered major damage, according to Shorey Harmon, Kerr County’s new emergency management coordinator. In addition to the flood damage, the area expects to suffer economic losses as tourists cancel trips during the busy summer season.

“This is a new flood,” said Jeff Byard, chief program officer for the veteran-led Team Rubicon, which brought volunteers to muck out homes. “This isn’t last year’s flood. People need help, and organizations need the support of partners and individuals.”

County leaders and locals say the public response hasn’t come close to last year’s flood, which grabbed global media attention after 119 died in Kerr County, including 27 girls swept away by the Guadalupe River at Camp Mystic. Robert Earl Keen, Miranda Lambert and other stars hosted benefit concerts, and resources poured in.

This year, one person died in Kerr County in flooding that affected a much broader region. But the media attention and the fundraising so far hasn’t compared, even though business owners and families have faced buildings filled with mud and debris that needed to be mucked out quickly and rebuilt — in some cases for a second time.

Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt during Commissioners Court on July 27 Kerrville. The meeting moved to the Kerrville Municipal Court building due to severe flood damage in the Kerr County Courthouse.

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Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt during a July 27 commissioners court meeting in Kerrville. The meeting was moved to the Kerrville Municipal Court building because of flood damage to the Kerr County Courthouse. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

“Where are all the volunteers this year, compared to last?” Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt asked as he reviewed post-flood issues at the county commissioners meeting Monday, held in a former municipal court building after the flood swamped the county courthouse basement.

The city of Kerrville estimated it sustained $30 million in infrastructure damage to its water treatment plant, sewage lift stations and roads and bridges, Mayor Joe Herring said. Meanwhile, the county saw roads and bridges damaged and had to relocate staff from the county courthouse, County Judge Rob Kelly said.

School sports teams, locals who suffered through last year’s floods and some volunteer organizations have been serving meals and cleaning out homes. But other philanthropic groups report that donors haven’t given as much as last year.

In 2025, Nathan Rich, a 24-year-old mechanic in Center Point, lived behind his light-duty diesel and vehicle repair business when the July 4 flood hit so quickly that he and his wife only had time to grab their shoes, go-bag and guns. They’d reopened the shop with help from volunteers who showed up the next day and were buying a new house when this year’s flood struck.

The flood ruined Rich’s power tools, office and other machinery again — plus the home appliances he said the Zac Brown Band purchased for them after last year’s flood. Customers’ vehicles were totaled. Mud filled the shop.

Rich and an employee started cleaning out metal drawers filled with hand tools. They felt beaten down, he said.

Then three volunteers arrived on Saturday to help, and their mood immediately lifted. They got enough done to reopen Monday.

Nathan Rich inside of his shop on July 27, 2026 in Center Point, Texas. Rich’s business flooded on July 4, 2025 and on July 16, 2026.

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Nathan Rich in his vehicle repair shop in Center Point. The business flooded on July 4, 2025 and again on July 16, 2026. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Trib

“That made a huge difference,” Rich said. “ It’s not even necessarily about the money. It’s about just showing that there’s people that care.”

Some 250 small businesses asked for help within three days of the flood from LiftFund, which provided up to $10,000 in grants to help small businesses rebuild, including Rich’s, President and CEO Amy Hereford said. They had to close the applications because they had more than they could fund.

“They are hardworking, and they are humble human beings,” Hereford said. “And they are tired, exhausted.”

“They are helping each other — that’s always a given that we see over there,” she added. “They will go to the ends of the earth for each other, but they really need help right now.”

“We haven’t received any kind of help”

Liz Ayala, a 42-year-old clinical research coordinator in Austin, rushed to Monterey Street in Kerrville on July 16 to find a block of people who didn’t know what to do after their homes flooded. Intense, heavy rain hit near the city that morning and creeks draining into the Guadalupe River overflowed, including Town Creek, which pushed several feet of water into Ayala’s family home and forced her family to evacuate.

Ayala’s grandmother raised Ayala’s mom in the house, and still lived there when Ayala was growing up. Ayala would walk over as a girl, ring a metal bell to signal her arrival and eat her grandma’s famous tortillas with butter. After her grandma died two years ago, her parents and brother moved into the house, joining one of her aunts.

Liz Ayala inside of her childhood home in Kerrville, which was damaged by the July 16 flood, on July 27.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 37" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-37/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" flood,="" for="" height="520" her="" home,="" in="" inside="" july="" kerrville,="" loading="lazy" of="" on="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-37.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"liz="" was="" which="" width="100%"/>

Liz Ayala stands in her grandmother’s home in Kerrville, which had to be gutted after the July 16 flood. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

A sign that reads “Grandma Vela’s house” over the entrance of Liz Ayala’s childhood home.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 31" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-31/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" entrance="" flood="" for="" height="520" home="" house\u201d="" in="" july="" kerrville,="" liz="" loading="lazy" on="" over="" reads="" sign="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-31.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" that="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"a="" vela\u2019s="" was="" which="" width="780"/>

A sign reads “Grandma Vela’s house” over the entrance of the home where Liz Ayala’s grandmother lived before her death two years ago. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

The flood-damaged interior of Liz Ayala’s childhood home.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 33" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-33/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" flood,="" for="" height="520" home,="" in="" interior="" july="" kerrville,="" liz="" loading="lazy" of="" on="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-33.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"the="" was="" which="" width="780"/>

The flood-damaged interior of the house, where Liz Ayala’s parents, brother and aunt now live. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

Her grandma was the kind of person who looked out for her community; she used to leave tacos for the mailman. Now Ayala found herself trying to support her neighbors, many of them seniors, by telling them which damage forms to complete online and sharing flyers about charity resources.

Meanwhile, she and her family bought tools and ripped out soggy sheetrock and flooring with the help of friends and relatives. With the house completely gutted, they looked for places to stay until it could be made livable again.

They hauled debris, paying for each load. Her mom developed a cough, likely from the moldy, rotten air around the house.

On July 22, Ayala addressed the Kerrville City Council, seeking help for her family and her neighborhood: “We haven’t received any kind of help, just us as neighbors just doing it ourselves and friends that have trucks or anything just coming to help us.”

The next day, a volunteer group from Samaritan’s Purse provided needed relief, finishing the gutting and cleaning and allowing the family to rest. Ayala said they’re still not sure if they’ll get any financial help to rebuild.

“I don’t know what comes next,” she said.

Mayor Herring visited Ayala’s family home, as she’d asked at the council meeting.

“There’s a lot more help needed, she’s right,” Herring said. “Where do they live while they’re waiting for their homes to be restored? What’s the next step?”

The only FEMA help so far was for emergency measures, which could include search and rescue and shelters. It’s unclear whether the agency will do more, and officials were encouraging residents to report their damage to the state to help build their case.

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas wrote to President Donald Trump last week asking him to approve more support, saying the still-recovering communities carried “an extraordinary burden.”

Kerr County Commissioner Tom Jones quoted Psalms 34: “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’”

“That’s kind of where we’re at right now, right?,” Jones said. “We are kind of crushed in spirit, but this is the most resilient place I’ve ever been a part of.”

Kevin Grona next to the water line inside his Kerrville business on July 27.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 54" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-54/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" for="" grona="" height="520" his="" in="" inside="" july="" kerrville,="" line="" loading="lazy" next="" on="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-54.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" texas.","created_timestamp":"1785187681","copyright":"","focal_length":"35","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0125","title":"","orientation":"1","alt":""}"="" the="" to="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"kevin="" water="" width="100%"/>

Kevin Grona stand next to the debris line showing the level floodwater reached in his Kerrville business. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

Debris outside of Audio Video Solutions.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="Debris outside of Audio Video Solutions in Kerrville, Texas on July 27, 2026." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/debris-outside-of-audio-video-solutions-in-kerrville-texas-on-july-27-2026/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" for="" height="520" in="" july="" kerrville,="" loading="lazy" of="" on="" outside="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" solutions="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-48.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"debris="" video="" width="780"/>

Debris outside of Audio Video Solutions, Grona’s Kerrville business. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

A slanted water line inside of Audio Video Solutions. When the creek rose on July 16, 2026, the building was lifted on an angle by the water leaving a slanted water mark on the walls.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 49" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-49/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" for="" height="520" in="" inside="" july="" kerrville,="" leaving="" lifted="" line="" loading="lazy" mark="" of="" on="" rose="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" slanted="" solutions="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-49.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"a="" video="" walls.","created_timestamp":"1785186892","copyright":"","focal_length":"35","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"1","alt":""}"="" was="" water="" when="" width="780"/>

A slanted water line inside Audio Video Solutions shows how Town Creek lifted part of the building during flooding on July 16, 2026. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

At Audio Video Solutions in Kerrville, Town Creek pushed through with such force that it lifted the building up — leaving a slanted flood line — and swamped a slew of other nearby businesses, including the iconic hardware store Gibson’s and a Mexican restaurant down the road.

Kevin Grona, the 57-year-old Audio Video Solutions owner, said he lost TVs, projectors and other equipment and expects he’s going to have to knock the whole building down — a significant financial hit. He saved what he could, like ceiling lights and the electrical panel.

Now he’s trying to run the business from home and sending shipments to someone else’s building.

“I can’t just stop,” Grona said. “So if I can go out and make some money every day, I’m going to try to make it.”

Stretched resources

In some ways, Kerr County was already ahead in its ability to respond to another flood. It already had a long-term group helping to think through how to help the community recover economically, ecologically and spiritually. Earlier this year, they opened a space in Kerrville to concentrate resources for people to get help after last year’s flood.

But they were still very much in the process of rebuilding from the 2025 flood when the 2026 flood hit, said Todd Bock, executive director of the Kerr Economic Development Corporation.

“What we have seen so far in preliminary data has given us enough concern to know that we don’t have enough resources where we are today,” Bock said.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country launched a relief fund the day of the flooding in Kerr County this year, like it did last year. It had distributed $82 million of the more than $150 million it raised after the 2025 flood, as of June.

The foundation hasn’t yet provided an update on its fundraising after this latest disaster or whether some of that funding can be repurposed, but said in a statement Monday that it expected to focus on providing emergency financial assistance for homes and small businesses and offer more information soon.

“This situation naturally increases anxiety, stress, and existential fear about what comes next, and that is a tough burden for anyone to carry,” CEO Austin Dickson said when this year’s flood hit Kerr County, drenching carpets in his own home. “On the other hand, we have been through this as a community before.”

When the storm hit, Mercy Chefs was getting ready to move out of a leased kitchen after providing hot meals there for a year — longer than is typical. But they extended their lease a bit and were back to providing emergency meals again.

“We will go into our cash reserves when we have to,” said CEO and Founder Gary LeBlanc. “Our support is based on the need in the community, not visibility or media coverage or donor support.”

Samaritan’s Purse and its volunteers had helped clean up homes, getting through 16 work orders in the Kerrville area as of Saturday with 161 requests to go; in at least one case they were helping someone they’d helped the year before.

Last year, Good360, which raises money and gives away donated products such as cleaning supplies, clothes and construction materials, gave $4.3 million worth of goods to the Hill Country from some 30 companies that included Mattress Firm, Ikea and JC Penney.

As of last week, Good360 had received no corporate support to respond to this round of Texas flooding, said Morgan Loomis, vice president of disaster response and recovery — which she attributed in part to donor fatigue and a lack of national media attention.

“Nobody’s really seeing the donations come in like they did previously, both in cash and in product,” Loomis said. “The resources are not coming in, but there is the level of expectation from the community based off of the support that was provided last time.”

Justin Rumbo outside of his home in Hunt, stands next to items damaged by the July 16, 2026 flooding. His home was also flooded a little over a year before, on July 4, 2025.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 13" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-13/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" flood="" flooded="" for="" height="520" his="" home,="" hunt,="" in="" items="" july="" loading="lazy" next="" of="" on="" outside="" rumbo="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-13.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" stands="" texas="" the="" to="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"justin="" which="" width="100%"/>

Justin Rumbo outside his home in Hunt, next to items damaged by the July 16, 2026 flooding. His home was also flooded a year before on July 4, 2025. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

Justin Rumbo shows a video of his home after it was rebuilt following the July 4, 2025 flood. The home flooded again on July 16, 2026.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 10" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-10/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" flood.="" flooded="" following="" for="" height="520" his="" home="" it="" july="" loading="lazy" of="" on="" rebuilt="" rumbo="" shows="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-10.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"justin="" video="" was="" width="780"/>

Justin Rumbo shows a video of his kitchen after it was rebuilt following the July 4, 2025 flood. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

Rumbo’s kitchen after the July 16 flood.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 09" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-09/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" flooded="" for="" height="520" home,="" hunt,="" in="" interior="" july="" justin="" loading="lazy" of="" on="" rumbo\u2019s="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-09.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"the="" which="" width="780"/>

Rumbo’s kitchen after the July 16 flood. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

In the unincorporated neighborhood of Bumble Bee Hills 46-year-old Justin Rumbo and his wife had rebuilt their home after the 2025 flood exactly as they wanted, with donated help. He even got to put a hot tub on the porch. This year, it flooded again with several feet of water.

His sister scrawled “HELP” on a damaged mattress in the front yard a day or two after the flood; his daughter started a GoFundMe.

Along with a friend and a few volunteers, Rumbo gutted the home for a second time. A few local sports teams stopped by to help move furniture and possessions out.

“They know that we can’t do it alone,” he said.

The word “help” spray painted onto a mattress outside of Justin Rumbo’s home.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="20260726 Kerr Flood Aftermath BB 08" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/20260726-kerr-flood-aftermath-bb-08/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" flooded="" for="" height="520" home,="" hunt,="" in="" july="" justin="" loading="lazy" mattress="" of="" on="" onto="" outside="" painted="" rumbo\u2019s="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" spray="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260726-Kerr-Flood-Aftermath-BB-08.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" trib","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"the="" which="" width="100%" word=""/>

The word “help” spray painted on a water-stained mattress outside of Justin Rumbo’s home. Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune

Heavy fire engulfs Houston home early Wednesday morning

Katherine Levens — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:44:43 +0000

Houston firefighters responded to a house fire in the 15000 block of Buxley early Wednesday morning, July 29, 2026, at approximately 1:17 a.m.

Remains identified as missing Houston-area teen Kristen Galvan 6 years after disappearance

The Houston Fire Department is handling the investigation, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

This Lebanese couple is among those returning to shattered homes under US-brokered deal with Israel

Bassem Mroue, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:01:11 +0000

Mahasen Faqih and her husband returned this week to their village in southern Lebanon, digging through the debris of their home in search of their belongings, as part of the U.S.-brokered “pilot zones” agreement in which Israel agreed to withdraw in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

The couple fled north shortly after the start of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, in early March. Now, their home in Zawtar al-Gharbieh — one of three zones where Israel agreed to turn over control to the Lebanese army — is among homes so damaged that they're unlivable. But Faqih said they've vowed to stay, settling inside the large grocery shop that they own in the village as they wait to have their home demolished and rebuilt.

“Zawtar is our small homeland, and we are very happy,” Faqih, 58, said. “We will sleep here to tell the Israelis that we will stay in our land and will not leave it, no matter what happens.”

A week after the Lebanese army took control, only about 15 families have returned, according to Mayor Abed Ezzeldine, who says nearly half the village’s 500 homes have been destroyed and many others damaged.

Hezbollah is strongly opposed to the initial deal reached between Israel and Lebanon — which remain technically in a state of war since Israel’s establishment in 1948 — and to the direct talks between the nations, ongoing for nearly three months.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began March 2, when the Lebanese militant group fired rockets into Israel two days after Israel and the U.S. launched their war on Iran. Israel has since invaded Lebanon and occupied dozens of villages in the south along its border.

Under the deal, Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from some occupied areas of southern Lebanon. But the location of the initial pilot zones generated some controversy in Lebanon. Israeli troops weren't present in most of the areas, raising questions about how a withdrawal could happen. In Zawtar al-Gharbieh, it's unclear whether troops were on the ground. But they were in adjacent areas, and the village was under heavy fire, preventing civilian residents and the Lebanese army from entering until last week.

The Israeli military has destroyed 24 centuries-old villages and 15,000 to 20,000 houses in Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told a TV station Tuesday. He said Israeli troops control 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) of southern Lebanon and “are preventing raids on the communities.”

Residents return to damaged or destroyed homes in Zawtar al-Gharbieh

On Tuesday, as Faqih sifted through debris, she was able to recover only nine plates from the kitchen. That room and the main sitting room were knocked out, with the ceiling partially collapsed. On the home's other side, an Israeli strike left a hole in the main bedroom's ceiling.

“We are gathering what remains of what we have collected over 45 years,” Faqih said, noting that she'd already sold $20,000 in jewelry to repair the home from damage in the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war — something she can no longer afford. She hopes the government will help them rebuild.

Mayor Ezzeldine said Zawtar al-Gharbieh is "disaster-stricken.”

“You can see some homes standing, but they are not suitable for living and cannot be renovated,” he said. The municipality is doing its best to bring water by tanker trucks to residents who return, he said, and he hopes about 100 families will be in the village by week's end.

Lebanese army bulldozers were clearing debris from the village's streets. In the main square, trucks with mounted machine guns were parked near a partially destroyed blue-domed mosque. About 100 meters (109 yards) away, an armored personnel carrier blocked a road leading to the adjacent village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, which is fully occupied by Israeli troops.

During The Associated Press team's visit Tuesday to Zawtar al-Gharbieh, three strong explosions occurred in occupied areas, and brown smoke billowed.

More Lebanon-Israel talks are scheduled next month

In his comments Tuesday to Channel 14, an ultranationalist station in Israel, Defense Minister Katz said that in the 24 villages destroyed in Lebanon, “there were Shiites who acted as enemies on behalf of Hezbollah and threatened our borders, our residents, and constantly carried out provocations.”

“Not house by house, not incrimination — all these villages, their destruction has been completed,” he said.

His comments and the return of some residents to the pilot zone come as technical teams from Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to hold another round of talks in Rome over three days starting Aug. 4.

In Beirut, a Lebanese foreign ministry official said the talks will focus on finding other pilot zones to be handed over by Israel's military to the Lebanese side. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

But in Zawtar al-Gharbieh, mayor Ezzeldine said he wouldn't call the pilot zone successful so far. Israeli troops are still stationed nearby, with drones continuously flying over the village, he said, adding that only the Lebanese army's presence is reassuring residents.

Faqih said that her family does not feel secure and that if Israel expands the pilot zones by a village every couple of months, it will take years “for it to withdraw and for the south to be liberated.”

“We don’t have safety, not even 1%,” she said. “I am not happy with the situation at all.”

______

Associated Press writer Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, contributed to this report.

A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France’s wildfire rages on

Eva Van Dam And John Leicester, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:29:02 +0000

The mobile phone alert message marked “URGENT” came with a beeeeeeep in the dead of night.

“Evacuate now,” it said.

Suddenly awake, Morgane Bonichot scrambled. She grabbed her 9-year-old daughter, their rabbit and their dog but didn't think to pack underwear.

The 40-year-old childcare worker found herself swept up in one of the biggest evacuations Europe has seen since World War II, forced with more than 220,000 other people to flee a monster wildfire in southwest France that has consumed an area four times the size of Paris and is defying a massive effort, involving a dozen countries, to bring it under control.

In hindsight, Bonichot thinks maybe she should have seen it coming.

Her daughter was in the blaze's epicenter when it ignited last week, staying with an uncle in the midst of the pine forests, scrub and farmland being consumed by an inferno so virulent that it has morphed at times into a self-feeding firestorm, spitting lightning bolts that have sparked yet more flames.

Among the fire's first evacuees, the daughter came home Friday. But with the flames spreading closer to her mother's house west of Bordeaux, the daughter began preparing to flee again.

“She packed a suitcase with a lot of things, telling me, 'Mum, you need to pack your suitcase because we’re going to have to be evacuated,'” Bonichot said.

Just hours later, at 2:47 a.m., she got the evacuation order for their town, Saint-Jean-d’Illac, on her phone.

“Forest fire underway,” it said.

After a pause in evacuations Monday, when the fire's spread stopped, they resumed Tuesday as flames flared again. An additional 4,000 people were moved from camping sites and holiday homes on the blaze's northern edge, increasing the number of people forced to flee: more than 220,000 in the Gironde region alone. In Spain, historic wildfires have also forced tens of thousands of evacuations, bringing the number displaced in southwest Europe to roughly a third of a million.

“We left just like that,” Bonichot said. “My car had broken down, so neighbors had to drive me, along with my little girl and the animals. But one of the neighbors had a cat, and with the smell of the rabbit it became very complicated. So she had to drop me off.”

After a few days staying with Bonichot's mother, they moved again, this time to a huge exhibition center in Bordeaux that city authorities have converted into a temporary shelter. It has camp beds, food, medical and veterinary services, clothes and volunteers doing what they can to make people comfortable.

The rabbit stays in a cage between the mother and daughter’s beds and the dog curls up in a large bowl. After a couple of days in the makeshift conditions, “I’m starting to become really exhausted,” Bonichot said.

But she doesn't want to go home until she's sure they won't be evacuated again.

“I just can’t put my animals through another journey. The only trip they should have to make now is the one back home. Otherwise, for the rabbit, the stress could be fatal.”

“And my dog was dehydrated,” she said. “Here, there’s air conditioning and everything, so for the moment he’s doing a little better.”

Gironde authorities have said evacuees won’t be allowed back until the fire is contained, although on Tuesday they gave the go-ahead for returns to three suburbs of Bordeaux that haven’t had fires. It's unknown when others might be allowed home. Fire trucks are still racing from one flare-up to the next, as aircraft drop water and retardant. Smoke clouds could be seen from kilometers away Tuesday.

Even when this inferno is beaten, the next one may not be far behind. Successive heat waves this year have turned European forests tinder-dry. They have also served as sobering reminders that human-caused climate change makes such extreme events increasingly likely.

“What really drives me crazy is that it makes me very worried about the future, because year after year it’s getting worse,” Bonichot said.

“It’s going to be a catastrophe.”

___

Leicester reported from Paris.

Tropical Storm Fausto to splash past Hawaii as Hurricane Genevieve sends swells to Mexico

Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:09:00 +0000

Rough surf was possible for Hawaii and Mexico on Tuesday thanks to two tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean that forecasters said were sending strong waves to some coastal areas.

Tropical Storm Fausto was expected to pass just north of the Hawaiian islands starting Tuesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Fausto had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was expected to weaken from tropical storm strength early Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Fausto was about 310 miles (500 kilometers) east-northeast of Honolulu and moving west-northwest near 12 mph (19 kph). Forecasters said strong currents from the tropical storm could create dangerous conditions on some Hawaii beaches.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Genevieve strengthened to a Category 4, the hurricane center said. Maximum sustained winds were 130 mph (215 kph) for the major hurricane, which was about 590 miles (950 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Swells from Genevieve were reaching Baja California and coastal southwestern Mexico. Forecasters warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

On the forecast track, Genevieve was expected to fluctuate in intensity for about a day before consistently weakening.

Blue Jays' Bieber struggles through 'worst' outing, walks 6 in two-thirds of an inning vs. Nats

Patrick Stevens, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:14:17 +0000

Toronto pitcher Shane Bieber’s start against the Washington Nationals was anything but a walk in the park.

The former Cy Young Award winner issued walks to six of the nine batters he faced — including three with the bases loaded — before departing after two-thirds of an inning Tuesday night in the Blue Jays' 8-6 loss. In his previous 149 pitching appearances, the 31-year-old right-hander's high for walks was five.

According to Stathead/Baseball Reference, Bieber is the 11th pitcher in major league history to walk at least six while recording two outs or less, and the first to do so since Florida’s Ryan Dempster on Oct. 5, 2001, at Atlanta.

Bieber said he had difficulty gripping the ball and struggled with his command as a result. Bieber didn't walk anyone in his previous start Thursday, when he allowed one run in seven innings against Tampa Bay.

“You have to find a way to get through it, right, and I wasn't able to do that tonight,” Bieber said. “Ultimately, I follow up what was maybe my best start as a Blue Jay with what was definitely my worst.”

Bieber is the first Cy Young winner to have such an outing, although Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Christy Mathewson did, too. Bieber won the AL Cy Young in 2020.

Bieber threw 42 pitches, with only 15 strikes. He is the second player this season to throw that many pitches with so few strikes. Kansas City’s Eric Cerantola threw 14 strikes in a 42-pitch relief outing against Tampa Bay on June 30.

“I have no excuses,” Bieber said. “I have to find a way to get out of that first inning. Dry my hands off and change shirts and eat up innings after that. That's what I was trying to do and unfortunately I wasn't able to. I don't think I've ever had anything like that happen.”

Washington’s James Wood led off the first with a walk, and Luis García Jr. followed with a grounder to second. Dylan Crews then earned a free pass, and CJ Abrams followed with a well-placed infield single.

The typically free-swinging Keibert Ruiz followed with a four-pitch walk that scored the first run, and Daylen Lile drew another walk that pushed in another run. Nasim Nuñez hit a sacrifice fly before Jorbit Vivas loaded the bases again with the inning's fifth walk, prompting a mound visit from Toronto pitching coach Pete Walker.

Jacob Young then took six pitches --- three balls and then two called strikes followed by a slider well outside the zone --- to force in a fourth run. That prompted manager John Schneider to head to the mound and end Bieber’s outing.

It was Bieber's seventh start of the season after missing almost three months with elbow inflammation. He was limited to a combined nine regular-season starts over the previous two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024.

“Kind of just the last thing we thought was going to happen with him right there,” Schneider said. “When you get up to that pitch count in the first, with him, with his history and everything, just didn't want to push it.”

Reliever Brendon Little got Wood to ground out to end the inning.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

France orders 4,000 more evacuated as fires displace a third of a million across southwest Europe

Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:22:12 +0000

French authorities ordered 4,000 more people evacuated from tourist sites along its Atlantic coast on Tuesday, widening what may be France’s largest peacetime evacuation as returning heat threatened firefighters’ fragile hold on a vast wildfire west of Bordeaux.

Fresh flames erupted later Tuesday near Grand Crohot, a popular Atlantic beach on the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula, local authorities said. A fleet of 23 planes and helicopters — up from 18 — dropped water and fire retardant as crews fought to keep the renewed flames from spreading.

“The situation remains complicated. That’s clear. We’re not out of the woods,” Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said.

She said that about 60,000 residents who were evacuated as a precaution from Le Haillan and parts of Mérignac and Eysines outside Bordeaux’s ring road could return on Tuesday. No fires had broken out in the three areas, but residents were told to keep their mobile phones on and emergency bags packed.

The opposing movements — thousands ordered out of coastal resorts while those returning told to be on the alert — underscored how precarious the fire’s hold remained.

Across France and Spain, roughly 330,000 people have been driven from homes and vacation sites by huge wildfires. Spain braced for its fourth heat wave of the summer, with several blazes still burning out of control, including the largest in its recorded history.

Even so, Spanish authorities began lifting evacuation and stay-at-home orders for thousands of people after firefighters made progress overnight.

The Gironde fire has burned an area four times the size of Paris and forced 220,000 people to evacuate. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has said it is “very likely” the largest civilian evacuation operation carried out in the country outside war.

Evacuations don't deter some vacationers

The precautionary evacuation order covered campsites, holiday villages, tourist residences and leisure parks around the resort of Lacanau, Gironde regional authorities said.

“We are at a point of fragility,” Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for France’s national firefighters federation, told the BFMTV broadcast network Tuesday. “We will continue attacking this fire despite the forecast rise in temperatures.”

Even as nearby homes burned and authorities urged tourists to stay away, one family told Le Parisien newspaper it had gone ahead with its trip rather than forfeit a 4,000-euro ($4,558) holiday, while another group debated abandoning a vacation that had cost 650 euros ($741) each.

A fire making its own weather

At its most violent, the Gironde blaze created a gargantuan black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within. It generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original front. The phenomenon, known as a pyrocumulonimbus cloud, was the first recorded in France.

France’s national weather service placed Gironde under a yellow heat warning beginning at midday Tuesday, forecasting inland temperatures of 33 to 35 C (91 to 95 F).

More than 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) have burned across France this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, heating at more than twice the global average, according to the European Union’s Copernicus climate service. Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, with extreme heat and widespread dryness contributing to the spread and intensification of fires in France and Spain, Copernicus said.

Crews defend homes and cut firebreaks

In Le Porge alone, west of Bordeaux, the municipal government said about 150 homes were destroyed.

Officials warned that smoldering vegetation, rising temperatures and falling humidity could produce fresh outbreaks along the fire's vast perimeter.

Military engineers and forest-fire prevention crews resumed cutting firebreaks early Tuesday. Authorities said crews had completed 103 kilometers (64 miles) of firebreaks.

At least 110 firefighters have been injured, the prefecture said.

Thousands return as second fire stops advancing

In Landes, about 15,000 evacuees — roughly half of those displaced here — were allowed home after a separate wildfire stopped advancing.

“The fire is fixed, which is good news in the Landes,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday evening. Regional authorities said that meant its advance had stopped and no new outbreaks had been reported.

Those allowed back included residents of Sanguinet, Parentis-en-Born, Biscarrosse’s aviation village and a large campground. Several other neighborhoods remained inaccessible.

Authorities warned that the Landes fire was not extinguished. Residual hot spots, wind and drought could cause flare-ups, and surveillance and damping-down operations were expected to continue for days or weeks.

Thousands begin returning in Spain

Spanish firefighters made progress Tuesday, and authorities began lifting evacuation orders for at least 20,000 of the 79,000 people forced to flee over the weekend.

Francisco Martín, the central government’s representative in the Madrid region, said orders would be lifted in 10 towns, allowing about 20,000 evacuees to return home and ending stay-at-home orders for another 14,000 people.

Residents of some villages in Ávila were also being allowed home, though authorities did not specify how many. Another 6,000 people could return after a smaller fire near Toledo was brought under control, while several thousand more went home in Castellón.

Hundreds of firefighters backed by military emergency brigades and water-dropping aircraft continued battling several major wildfires.

Smoke from the fires reached Madrid in recent days. Emergency services said residents in central and eastern districts could smell smoke and ash.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Tuesday that nonstop work through the night left him “reasonably positive,” though officials warned that crews had only a brief window before extreme heat returned.

Spain’s national weather service said the country was bracing for its fourth heat wave of the summer, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 C (104 F) in some areas.

The government declared a national emergency over the fires.

At least 13 people have died in wildfires in Spain this year, making 2026 one of the country’s deadliest fire seasons in decades.

“I’ve been living in San Martín de Valdeiglesias for 20 years and I never thought I would see this,” said Estella Costales, an evacuated resident staying at a temporary shelter in Brunete, near Madrid. “It’s unfortunate, but I never thought I would see such destruction.”

Surroundings of Madrid remain at risk

The greatest concern was two large fires that had at times come close to merging into a single blaze in wooded hills about an hour’s drive west of Madrid.

A fire in hilly, rural terrain in Ávila, west of Madrid, has become Spain’s largest on record, scorching more than 500 square kilometers (193 square miles), the government said.

Local weather services in Ávila also shared images Tuesday of what they described as a pyrocumulonimbus cloud over the blaze. Spain has seen these fire-generated thunderstorms form at least twice during wildfires in recent years.

“Look at how the valley is burned. Look at the houses, the people,” said David Gonzalez, a 48-year-old gardener who used his van to deliver supplies to firefighters in Ávila.

“We are feeling a lot of anger and helplessness. It’s something inhuman,” he said.

Fires have burned 1,530 square kilometers (590 square miles) this year in Spain, Ecology Minister Sara Aagesen said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a national pact to fight wildfires, saying climate change is making them worse.

___

Adamson reported from Paris. Associated Press journalists Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain, and Iain Sullivan in Brunete, Spain, also contributed to this report.

Thieves caught on camera stealing backflow preventers from Kingwood businesses, cost thousands in repairs

Corley Peel — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:10:51 +0000

Thieves are accused of repeatedly targeting Kingwood businesses, stealing backflow preventers and leaving property owners with flooded parking lots, broken pipes and repair bills in the thousands.

Surveillance cameras caught the latest theft at a strip center filled with healthcare businesses on Kingwood Executive Drive overnight. Surveillance footage shows a woman and a man in a hoodie approaching the property. The man uses a hammer to break through a protective cage and destroy the equipment before taking off with the backflow preventer, leaving water gushing across the parking lot.

Property manager Lyn Rathgeber says the water ran uncontrolled for seven hours before it could be shut off.

“There are five businesses in that strip center and they all basically had to either close or just not use facilities,” Rathgeber said.

This is the third time someone has stolen the backflow preventer from this property. The first theft occurred in 2024. The second happened just two months ago in May. The property has also been targeted for copper theft.

The damage from the latest incident goes beyond the missing device.

“I’ve also got a crazy water bill to go chase because the way he took it, he broke the pipes coming out of the ground. It’s a two-inch water pipe,” Rathgeber said.

She says her repair bill is estimated at $4,000 to $5,000.

The problem is not isolated to one property. Roughly three miles away, the owner of Swamp Donkeys says thieves stole their backflow preventer last week. Video shows water shooting from a busted pipe at that location as well.

So why are these devices being targeted? Backflow preventers contain brass which metal recyclers say is currently selling for about $2 to $3.50 per pound in Houston. While thieves may pocket only a few dozen dollars in scrap value, property owners are left paying bills in the thousands.

For those unfamiliar with the devices, a backflow preventer is a critical piece of plumbing equipment that keeps contaminated water from mixing with clean drinking water. Removing or damaging one can disrupt water service to an entire building.

Rathgeber says the repeated thefts are exhausting.

“It’s frustrating because we’re paying for it. I have police report, but there’s no follow-through or follow-up because it’s not a million dollars, it’s a small claim. But when you add them all up, the fact that we’ve done it five or six times, now it’s a very large claim,” she said.

Rathgeber says she has asked Houston Police to increase patrols in the area at night and officers are on board. Anyone who recognizes the suspects seen in the surveillance footage is urged to call Houston Police.

Zelenskyy has a 'good meeting' with Trump at the White House as he seeks more cooperation with US

Seung Min Kim, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:01:14 +0000

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday ahead of Sen. Lindsey Graham's funeral, with the two leaders discussing ways for Ukraine to produce its own powerful weapons and “other ideas that could help” in its ongoing war against Russia.

The sit-down in the Oval Office, which was closed to the media, followed a consequential meeting at the NATO summit earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump announced that the U.S. will give Ukraine a license to make Patriot defense systems — a long-running request from Kyiv to counter Russian missile attacks.

Taken together, those meetings underscore how much the U.S. president, once a major skeptic of continued assistance to Kyiv, has warmed to Zelenskyy as Ukraine continues to withstand the Russian barrage more than four years after Moscow's invasion in 2022. The Ukrainian leader, whose relationship with Trump in his second term was marked by a raucous White House visit in which he was denigrated for being ungracious, has worked to court the Republican administration while relying on both likely and unlikely allies in Trump's orbit to exert their influence with the president.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has consumed much of the Trump administration's focus this year, has also become gradually entwined with Ukraine, with Ukraine firing on at least one Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend while Zelenskyy asserts that Russia has been offering satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf to Iran.

In a post on social media after the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the “good meeting” and the Republican administration's efforts to aid Kyiv in the long-running war. Officials also agreed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's main envoys, would make a trip to Kyiv sometime in the future, according to a person familiar with the talks who was granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.

“The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” said Zelenskyy, who also noted that he offered condolences to Trump for the death of Graham, a close ally. “We also spoke about diplomacy — it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”

Trump on Tuesday night weighed in on his meeting with Zelenskyy, calling it a “Great Honor” to meet with him. “Many things were discussed. The meeting went very well!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Zelenskyy wants to bolster Ukraine's defense production

Later during his whirlwind, one-day visit to Washington, Zelenskyy posted that he met with officials from Lockheed Martin for further cooperation in both defense production and exchanging of technologies, saying, “Ukraine has a lot to share with those who help us protect lives.”

Later, in a meeting with senators at the Capitol, Zelensky again made his case for why Ukraine needs Patriot interceptors, as well as a sweeping sanctions bill to impact morale and increase pressure on Russia, according to two people with direct knowledge of the private discussion. They were granted anonymity to disclose details of a closed-door meeting.

While Ukraine remains grateful to Trump for agreeing to issue a license to manufacture the Patriots, Zelenskyy emphasized to senators that that is a longer-term solution. This year, Zelenskyy said, Ukraine will need the U.S. to provide missiles that Kyiv would pay for with European funds, said one of the people with knowledge of the meeting.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who like Zelenskyy was in Washington for Graham's funeral, also spoke to senators, saying Ukraine retains strong support from NATO and the European Union in terms of providing and paying for weaponry, as well as imposing sanctions on Russia.

Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute, said expanding production capacity for Patriot interceptors is not only vital for Ukraine, but also for the U.S. and its Gulf allies, particularly as supply runs low during the war in Iran.

“Ukraine has shown that its defense industry is capable, innovative and creative,” Coffey said. “I have no doubt that when they’re granted the license, they will be able to produce these missiles which will hopefully mean there will be more available for the U.S.”

Trump welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian leader traveled to Washington to honor Graham, whose final act as a public official was visiting Kyiv and securing an agreement on a package of sanctions that seek to punish countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports.

In a Fox News interview Tuesday, Trump recalled Graham's hawkishness and said the South Carolina senator's support for Ukraine never wavered. Trump said Graham had suggested it was time to make a deal with Iran but had no similar suggestion for the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Ukraine, he's very militant about,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends." "I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you."

The Trump administration's embrace of Zelenskyy also comes as Laura Loomer, a far-right activist with the U.S. president’s ear had a recent, widely publicized change of heart on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukraine highlights ties between Iran and Russia

Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy also warned that Russia has been aiding Iran as the war persists by capturing satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iran. The Ukrainian president also asserted that there was a “clear correlation” between Russia’s images and subsequent Iranian strikes.

Iran is a key ally of Russia in its war against Ukraine and has helped Moscow build up its drone expertise.

But on Monday, Trump downplayed any impact of potential Russian assistance for Iran.

“I don’t think they’ve been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to Michigan. “And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.”

On the Caspian Sea attack, the foreign ministers of Iran and Ukraine spoke about the matter, according to statements posted on social media Tuesday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the conversation “frank” and said Ukraine’s focus is “solely at defending our country from Russian aggression" and not on targeting civilians.

Iran has said at least one sailor was killed in the attack. For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is also not seeking escalation but “made clear any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable."

Pro-Ukraine backers pushing to advance sanctions bill

Zelenskyy had a busy itinerary during his latest visit to Washington. During his meeting at the Capitol, which was held just before a key vote on the Russia sanctions bill and after Graham's funeral, the Ukrainian leader argued that they have a window to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, according to one of the people with direct knowledge of the meeting.

In a bipartisan 86-12 vote, the Senate took the first steps toward passage of legislation to penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations.

The bill has dozens of backers from both major political parties and is seen as the main policy tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly this month from a tear in his aorta. It imposes tariffs on goods from the world’s top five purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas, including China and India.

The legislation also includes sanctions against Putin; senior Russian political and military leaders; and Russian financial institutions and energy projects.

Houston rental car owner dragged by SUV; Case raises questions about repeat offenders

Re'Chelle Turner — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:00:48 +0000

A Houston-area rental car business owner says what started as a routine vehicle rental quickly turned into one of the most terrifying moments of his life.

The owner, who asked KPRC 2 not to identify him or his business out of fear of retaliation, says he was dragged across a parking lot after a man allegedly used a fake Texas driver’s license to rent one of his vehicles.

The violent encounter was captured on surveillance video.

Now, the case is drawing attention not only because of the dramatic footage, but also because of the defendant’s criminal history and renewed questions about repeat offenders in Harris County.

According to Houston police, the incident happened on July 17 at the Mustang Inn on Tidwell Road.

Surveillance video obtained by KPRC 2 shows the moment the rental car owner tracked down the vehicle and confronted the man police identified as Nicholas Yoder.

Investigators say Yoder got behind the wheel and drove away while the owner was standing near the driver’s side door.

The owner says he became trapped by the moving SUV and was dragged across the parking lot before letting go.

“I’m pretty shaken up about it because I did get dragged by a car,” the owner told KPRC 2’s Re’Chelle Turner.

The encounter didn’t end there.

Police say the SUV crashed into the front of the Mustang Inn, shattering the entrance and injuring a hotel clerk before the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

The owner also showed KPRC 2 damage to the front of the Dodge Durango, saying the ordeal remains one of the scariest experiences he’s ever faced.

The business owner says the rental appeared legitimate at first.

He says the customer presented what appeared to be a valid Texas driver’s license and completed the rental agreement.

“We rented the car out to him then further background checks found out that the guy on the driver’s license was in jail,” he said.

The owner later shared car surveillance video with KPRC 2 showing Yoder sitting inside the rental vehicle at the hotel before the confrontation.

Police say the driver’s license used during the rental transaction was fraudulent.

Arrest made days later

According to Houston police, Yoder was arrested on July 23.

Court records show he is now facing multiple felony charges connected to the investigation, including:

Fraud/Use or Possession of Identifying Information
Evading Arrest/Detention with a Previous Conviction
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Criminal Mischief

A review of Harris County District Clerk records shows Yoder has faced more than 20 felony cases since 2015.

Those court records include felony cases involving:

Aggravated assault
Evading arrest
Weapons offenses
Identity fraud
Drug possession
Unauthorized use of a vehicle

The court records reflect a mix of pending cases, dismissed cases and other dispositions.

Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers of Houston says Yoder has multiple felony convictions and had recently been released from prison before this latest arrest.

“Multiple felony convictions. He had two counts of felon in possession of a weapon, a gun. He had evading arrest. He was sent to prison for five years in 2023. He was released on parole in 2025. He doesn’t discharge parole until 2027,” Kahan said.

Kahan says once Yoder was arrested, parole officials issued what’s commonly known as a blue warrant.

“The parole warrant, which is known as a blue warrant, is the most powerful warrant in the state because it’s a no bond warrant,” Kahan said.

The case also highlights concerns surrounding identity fraud.

According to the City of Houston, police received 2,695 identity theft reports in 2024, down from 3,484 reports in 2023, a 22.6% decrease.

While reports have declined, Kahan says identity fraud continues to impact businesses and consumers alike.

“The businesses are the ones who suffer, but the businesses are not the only ones who suffer. It’s the public, because businesses have to increase their prices, consumers have to pay more, all because we keep letting offenders like Yoder back out to do what they do best, and that’s commit crimes,” Kahan said.

The rental car owner says he hopes sharing his story encourages other business owners to strengthen their screening processes before handing over vehicle keys.

“Definitely doing a better job at doing background checks and applying better systems to keep everybody safe,” he said.

Because of concerns for their safety, the owner and his family asked KPRC 2 not to identify them or their business by name.

They say their goal is not only to warn others about rental fraud and identity theft, but also to spark a broader conversation about repeat offenders and public safety in the Houston area.

Keiko Fujimori is inaugurated as Peru's president following a narrow election victory

Franklin Briceño, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:29:04 +0000

Conservative leader Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president on Tuesday after winning the June presidential runoff by a margin of fewer than 50,000 votes, a victory that confirmed a regional shift in South America toward the conservative wing.

With the ceremony, Fujimori, a four-time presidential candidate and leader of Peru's largest political party, takes office as the country's ninth president in a decade. The 51-year-old is hoping to stabilize Peru's turbulent politics, reduce crime and boost economic growth.

Over the past decade, only three of Peru’s presidents have been elected by popular vote. The rest have come into office after their predecessors resigned or were removed by congress amid protests or corruption scandals.

Fujimori’s Popular Force party and its main ally, Popular Renovation, will hold half the Senate seats once the new legislature is installed, making it harder for opposing legislators to attempt to remove her as president.

An incoming president with a political past and promises for the future

Fujimori centered her campaign around promises to improve security in a nation where extortion rackets have become a significant problem. She has also promised to develop infrastructure by making it easier for government agencies to form partnerships with private investors.

She is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who led the country in the 1990s and stabilized its economy while defeating terror groups, but was later imprisoned for human rights abuses committed under his rule by the Peruvian military as his government took an authoritarian turn. He was pardoned in December 2023 and died in September the following year.

During her campaign, Keiko Fujimori pledged to fight crime with an “iron fist,” implementing some policies adopted by Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele, and also build a megaprison modeled after the notorious Cecot penitentiary in El Salvador.

To guarantee judges their safety, she has said she will implement reforms to enable them to hide their identities as they oversee criminal trials.

She also said on Tuesday she would reorganize social services to fight malnutrition in rural communities and announced a 15% increase in the nation's minimum wage.

Fujimori said that the nation's military will “temporarily” lead security operations in crime afflicted areas. And she also said she will focus on preparing the South American nation for the latest onset of El Niño, a weather pattern that warms ocean temperatures and often leads to flooding along Peru's coast.

“My goal is not only to administer the state,” Fujimori said. “My main objective is to narrow the enormous social deficit that affects millions of Peruvians.”

Opposition leaders remember those killed in protests

Opposition leaders have asked Fujimori’s incoming government to reverse a series of laws approved by Peru’s last legislature, which critics say weaken efforts to fight organized crime.

The laws eliminate preventive arrests and stop prosecutors from processing political parties involved in corruption under the same statutes as criminal groups. The laws also make it harder for police to confiscate the goods of criminal groups.

Opposition leaders are also asking the incoming government to create a commission to investigate the deaths of 50 civilians during anti-government protests in late 2022 and early 2023 following the removal of former President Pedro Castillo.

During Fujimori’s swearing-in ceremony, some opposition lawmakers protested outside the parliament in Lima, Peru's capital, holding photos of people killed during the protests. Relatives of the dead have said they do not recognize Fujimori as president and that they are protesting her inauguration.

Fujimori will lead a deeply polarized country

Fujimori was widely backed by voters in Peru’s capital and along the Pacific coast, but voters in the highlands, where there is a larger Indigenous population, overwhelmingly supported left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez, an ally of Castillo.

Sanchez challenged the election results, arguing there were irregularities in how votes were counted at Peruvian consulates abroad, but electoral authorities dismissed his complaints.

Despite the political friction, Peru continues to be one of the most stable economies in Latin America. Its central bank has long kept the benchmark interest rate below 5%, and the government is known for a conservative approach toward public spending.

But critics point out a growing gap in living standards between coastal areas and communities in the Andean highlands.

Fujimori's June election victory, along with those of Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia and José Antonio Kast in Chile, underscored South America's shift toward the conservative wing, a stark contrast from the panorama of a few decades ago when left-wing leaders such as Hugo Chávez in Venezuela or the current Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emerged.

Conservatives have won seven major presidential elections in Latin America in the past few years, most of them since the January 2025 inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, in a winning streak propelled by concerns over crime, immigration and slow economic growth.

India's capital part of aggressive electric vehicle targets in bid to curb air pollution

Sibi Arasu And Piyush Nagpal, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:04:45 +0000

In an affluent neighborhood in Delhi, electric vehicle charging stations near a popular shopping area were busy with drivers powering up their scooters, trucks and cars.

India's capital city is in dire need of more charging facilities, EV drivers say, to implement an ambitious plan to phase out gas vehicles in one of the world’s most polluted cities.

“Charging facilities are not up to the mark yet,” said Shyam Singh, a marketing executive who owns a two-wheel electric scooter, adding that it is hard for long-distance drivers to switch to EVs because the current battery range is not enough.

Delhi uses a bold approach to mainstream EVs

Delhi adopted a new policy on July 1 that aims to make the vast majority of newly registered vehicles electric by 2027. While existing gas-powered vehicles won't be banned, their numbers are expected to dwindle in the coming years.

Energy experts say the plan is one of the country’s most ambitious electric-vehicle policies and a significant step toward improving the city's air quality and reducing pollution.

The policy provides EV buyers with subsidies and waivers on registration fees and some road taxes, incentives to scrap gas vehicles, and it offers plans to expand the charging infrastructure. It also targets two- and three-wheelers that make up nearly 70% of vehicles in the city: Starting in 2027, any newly registered three-wheeled vehicles and small trucks must be electric, with two-wheelers the following year.

Currently, only about 5% of the 8.7 million vehicles registered in Delhi are electric. But EV registrations have been increasing, with over 100,000 in the past year, most of them two- and three-wheelers. Registrations for new gas-powered cars and bigger trucks will still be allowed for the time being.

The plan, which is expected to cost the local government 150 billion rupees ($1.5 billion), will offer cash amounts of up to 50,000 rupees ($522) for residents who purchase EVs and up to 100,000 rupees ($1,044) for those who scrap their old gasoline-powered vehicles.

“Delhi’s EV policy is one of the most ambitious policies that I have seen in India,” said Jaideep Saraswat, who leads work on clean power and electric mobility at the Vasudha Foundation. The deadlines, he added, send a signal to automakers and consumers that change is “inevitable.”

While states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu have offered incentives for electric vehicle owners and manufacturers, cut taxes and pumped money into setting up charging stations, Delhi is the first to phase out gas-powered vehicles.

Going electric can reduce pollution

Severe air pollution in Delhi frequently forces school closures, construction bans and emergency public health measures, especially during the winter months. Vehicles cause about a quarter of air pollution in the National Capital Region surrounding Delhi, and two- and three-wheelers are responsible for nearly half of vehicular pollution in the city.

Ruchita Shah, an energy analyst for the global energy think tank Ember, said the city has long been a clean energy pioneer, including its earlier shift toward compressed natural gas vehicles to cut pollution. She said electric vehicles accounted for about 12.7% of Delhi’s new vehicle sales in the 2026 financial year, compared with 8.3% nationally.

The new policy’s most forward-looking feature, she said, is linking subsidies to tight deadlines after which some internal combustion engine vehicles can no longer be newly registered.

Sunil Dahiya, founder of environmental research organization Envirocatalyst, said cleaner vehicles could significantly reduce public exposure to roadside emissions. Still, he cautioned that the benefits will take time to fully materialize because existing gasoline, diesel, and CNG vehicles will continue to operate for years.

Charging infrastructure is a key hurdle

Some owners of gasoline-powered two-wheelers say this isn't the right time to go electric.

Siddhant Jha, a 22-year-old software engineer and northern Delhi resident, is worried about the longevity of EVs compared with his traditional two-wheeler, and the annual street flooding damaging a vehicle’s electrical components.

“I'd like to wait for a few years for better models and the 150,000 rupees ($1,566) I'll spend (on an EV) will make more sense then.”

Jha is also concerned about EV charging accessibility.

Shah, the energy analyst, said the policy’s success hinges on Delhi building sufficient charging infrastructure and sourcing more supplied power from renewable resources rather than fossil fuel plants. Most vehicle charging now happens at night, when solar power is unavailable, forcing the dependence on thermal power plants to meet demand.

Delhi must also upgrade its electricity grid — especially fast chargers needed by buses, cargo vehicles and cars — to meet the surge in demand and avoid grid failures, said Dahiya, the environmentalist.

Dahiya recommended installing battery storage at charging stations and adopting time-of-day pricing to incentivize charging when renewable power is more abundant.

Delhi's next challenges will be coordinating with surrounding states to decarbonize the electricity grid and public transport electrification, said Saraswat of the Vasudha Foundation.

“As a resident of Delhi, I’m sure each and every one will be extremely thrilled to have this policy. To see that winter where there is no smog, no pollution.”

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Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India, and can be followed on X at @sibi123. Reach him at sarasu@ap.org.

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US thwarts an Iranian missile attack and launches strikes with Saudi Arabia against militias in Iraq

Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:52:48 +0000

The U.S. military said Tuesday that it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabia's forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days, shattering a brief pause in fighting.

All Iranian missiles launched against American forces in the Middle East were intercepted, U.S. Central Command said, adding that they “remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.” In announcing the strikes in Iraq, the U.S. warned that further attacks on American troops or Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure risked additional action.

The United States and Iran had experienced a period of calm, during which neither announced attacks for days following weeks of escalation over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway and narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s traded oil normally flows.

There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the U.S. military statement or the strikes.

The fighting flared at the end of a month packed with multiple pressure points on President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, four U.S. troops died during the fighting, while the Pentagon asked an increasingly skeptical Congress for money to cover the conflict’s ballooning costs.

High gasoline prices tied to the choked-off Strait of Hormuz are contributing to fears that Republicans are vulnerable in November’s midterm elections. The U.S. House narrowly passed a resolution to halt military action in Iran last week, sending another warning to Trump that reflects the war’s unpopularity with many Americans.

Trump has repeatedly retreated from threats to knock out bridges, power plants and other infrastructure but he told Fox News Channel earlier Tuesday that Iran knows he’ll “finish the job” if its leaders don’t make a deal to end the war.

Saudi Arabia and US strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq

Iran launched its ballistic missile attack before American and Saudi forces carried out strikes in Iraq, according to a U.S. official, who stressed that the two attacks were not connected. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military operations.

“U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,” U.S. Central Command said, using an acronym for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

It said the Revolutionary Guard “and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response.”

The Saudi Defense Ministry acknowledged the strikes in a post on social media, warning that “the Kingdom emphasizes that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces.”

Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that it shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second day, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-styled blockade of the kingdom.

The kingdom's Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that had tried to target petroleum facilities in the nation's eastern region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security agencies to investigate after the Saudis alleged a similar attack on Monday. The Iraqi military said the country is committed to “preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a route or launching point for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries.”

The Iraqi militias have denied any role in the drone attacks. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups, called the Saudi claims “fabrications" and implied that Monday's attacks were carried out by the Houthis, who had themselves claimed to have attacked Saudi oil facilities.

A Saudi oil tanker is targeted

The Houthis claimed to have fired missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal, forcing it to turn back. Last week, they announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, putting another key Middle Eastern waterway — through the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea — at risk.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said a tanker reported hearing explosions while traveling in the southern Red Sea. It did not name the tanker but said the crew and vessel were safe.

The rebels fired on at least one Saudi tanker in the Red Sea last week.

Iran and the U.S. had paused their fighting over the weekend, though tensions remained high even as officials said mediators achieved progress in getting the two sides back to negotiations.

Iran said earlier Tuesday that U.S. strikes during an earlier period of escalation destroyed an airport and a marine control tower, and caused damage to 12 bridges and two tunnels, among other infrastructure.

Iran had effectively closed the strait when the war began by firing at freighters and tankers off its coast or threatening them. Following the signing of an interim ceasefire deal in June, a battle for control over the strait erupted.

Iran demanded that ships use a route near its coastline and said it can potentially charge fees. Ships were increasingly navigating a southern route along the coast of Oman under a U.S. overwatch operation when Iran attacked some vessels.

Trump sits down with Netanyahu in Washington

The new strikes came on the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Trump at the White House for the first time since the two launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28. Israel has been notably absent from the recent fighting with the Islamic Republic.

Netanyahu said it was an “excellent” meeting, and Trump called it “very good,” noting that “many important subjects were discussed.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. ability to intercept Iran’s incoming strikes has become an increasingly salient issue as lawmakers, members of the military and experts raise concerns over the nation’s diminishing stockpiles of missile interceptors.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, pushed back on those concerns, saying the military “has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president’s choosing.”

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Associated Press writers Darlene Superville in Washington and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Lindsey Graham eulogized as an 'American original' with global reach

Lisa Mascaro, Meg Kinnard And Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:06:20 +0000

Sen. Lindsey Graham, the son of pool hall owners who rose to become one of his generation's more influential U.S. politicians at home and abroad, was eulogized Tuesday as “a true American original” during memorial services in Washington.

Graham's flag-draped casket arrived for a tribute at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican served for more than 30 years as an indefatigable dealmaker who talked and laughed and badgered his colleagues into action. Later, President Donald Trump joined foreign leaders for a funeral at Washington National Cathedral, a testament to Graham's stature on the global stage.

Trump called Graham “a giant of the United States Senate, a true American original who left us much too soon.”

In mostly prepared remarks, Trump described his onetime presidential rival turned ally as “the first person to make you laugh and one of the last people that you've really ever wanted to fight.”

Trump told the story of how he had publicly disclosed Graham's cellphone number on the campaign trail, reciting the number in the cathedral, but said the senator had the last laugh because "Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years.”

Among those gathered were Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leaders of two countries fighting separate wars, a nod to Graham's role as a foremost believer in the power of the U.S. and its military to intervene in the world's problems. Fox News' Sean Hannity said in his remarks that Graham would have been moved.

Trump Cabinet officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and current and former senators and lawmakers joined in the pews, as did Graham’s sister, now- Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed by the state’s governor to fill the remainder of her brother’s term.

It was the start of two days of services, with burial Wednesday in Graham's home state of South Carolina. Joint Base Charleston will be renamed in his honor, an Air Force official said. Graham died suddenly on July 11 of a likely aortic tear, according to preliminary findings. He had just returned from a whirlwind trip to a NATO summit in Turkey, where he celebrated his birthday, and a visit to Ukraine. He was 71.

Graham had spent his final days negotiating punishing Russia sanctions intended to help Ukraine, and senators worked quickly voting to advance the package late Tuesday evening, a final gesture for their colleague.

A place of honor for a ‘swashbuckling’ senator

During the morning service in the Capitol Rotunda, Vice President JD Vance described Graham as a “swashbuckling” man — "who swashbuckled into the Senate” with his suit jacket open — and was impossible not to like.

“Lindsey was a towering figure,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, choking back tears during his remarks.

First elected to Congress in the 1994 Republican revolt that swept the GOP to power, Graham was part of a new era of conservatives in the House — and among the first Republicans from his Southern state since Reconstruction.

He quickly rose to prominence as a manager in Democrat Bill Clinton's presidential impeachment, and he was elected to the Senate in 2002. There, he formed an alliance with Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, in what would become the “three amigos,” globe-trotting the world focused on national security issues.

Vance recalled how he argued with Graham over the senator's staunch support for aid to Ukraine, but praised his legacy, saying Kavanaugh “would not be on the Supreme Court” were it not for Graham’s “fierce advocacy.”

For decades, Graham had been at the center of the action — a member of virtually every bipartisan gang in Congress — with a relentless ability to adapt to political realities, particularly when it came to Trump.

One by one, many of Graham’s colleagues said their goodbyes in the Rotunda. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala, placed both hands on his casket and then put her hand on her heart. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., saluted from her wheelchair. Former Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., bowed and delivered a brief kiss and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., gave a fist bump.

The ‘Trump whisperer’ had one last mission: Russia sanctions

Perhaps nowhere was Graham's political dexterity on display more as when he navigated his on-again, off-again relationship with Trump.

Graham had denounced Trump as “unfit for office” during the 2016 presidential campaign, but over time he had become what colleagues called the “Trump whisperer,” someone even world leaders relied on to understand the president.

Days before his death, Graham had won Trump's support for the long-fought bipartisan proposal to impose sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, in what would be one of the strongest U.S. efforts to hamper Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to prolong the conflict.

Senators said they wanted to move on the sanctions package as a tribute to Graham. After the funeral Zelenskyy, who had met with Trump earlier at the White House, arrived at the Capitol to talk with lawmakers ahead of voting. He then watched the roll call from the visitors' gallery inside the Senate chamber.

Graham's champions and potential successors

At the Washington cathedral, a roster of socially conservative and anti-abortion leaders gave readings, including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Marjorie Jones Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and the Reverend William Franklin Graham III.

When Hannity said how important Darline Graham and her family had been to the senator, she put her hand over her heart in response.

Lindsey Graham never married, but the Air Force veteran helped support his younger sister after both of his parents died while he was at college and then starting law school. He became the guardian for Darline, who was then 13.

Darline Graham is now running in a potentially crowded primary field for the fall election. The filing period for the special primary election closes Tuesday, with voting set for Aug. 11.

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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Collin Binkley and Michelle L. Price contributed to this story.

Senate takes first steps on Russian sanctions as Zelenskyy watches from Senate gallery

Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking And Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:11:55 +0000

The Senate took the first steps toward passage of a sweeping Russian sanctions bill on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Capitol, moving forward on the legislation to penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations.

The bipartisan 86-12 procedural vote came hours after a funeral for Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the bill’s chief negotiator. Zelenskyy, who was in Washington to attend the service for Graham, met with senators beforehand and told them Ukraine is making gains in its war with Russia, but still needs more help from the U.S.

Zelenskyy then went to the Senate gallery to watch the vote, waving in support at the senators down below.

At the meeting, Zelenskyy told senators that the sanctions legislation "is important as a moral signal to a country that is weary and tired, though holding its own and then some against Russia," Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana said as he left the meeting.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, “We discussed many issues, first and foremost, anti-ballistic defense.”

“It was an honor to be present as the votes were counted," he said, adding, "This is the first step toward implementing Lindsey’s plans, and certainly a step toward peace.”

Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., announced a deal with the White House on the sanctions legislation on July 10, a day before his sudden death, likely from an aortic tear. Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met with Zelenskyy.

Blumenthal said Graham told him that the deal they had struck was a “big effing deal” in the last conversation they had just before he died.

“It’s a significant part of his legacy,” Blumenthal said.

He said the bill has momentum partly because Ukraine is turning the tide in the war, because the bill was carefully negotiated and “there's feeling about Senator Graham.”

Zelenskyy's presence also helps, Blumenthal said, and “watching his face when he was in the gallery as we were voting was truly a moment of joy.”

Zelenskyy visits the Capitol

In Zelenskyy's latest visit to the Capitol, his message was “positive," Young said, and he talked about how the Ukrainians are making good progress against Russia in different areas of the war.

The bill is a “keystone in that overall effort” to handicap the Russian economy and drive Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, Young said.

Zelenskyy told them that “they are winning the war now," said Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va.

“In the first year it was survival. The next three years was getting your feet under you. But now they are winning,” Justice said.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said Zelenskyy told the senators that “Putin would think a little bit more about trying to negotiate a settlement if the sanctions were in place and actually creating more irritation.”

The bill will “send Putin a bipartisan message in a language he understands,” said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat. “This is our best opportunity to support Ukraine. We are defending not just their country but the rest of Europe from an increasingly aggressive Russia.”

Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump earlier in the day, and the two discussed ways that the U.S. could help in its war with Russia.

A long-sought deal on Russian sanctions

Graham, Blumenthal and other supporters of Ukraine had been working for more than a year to negotiate legislation that would win approval from both the White House and a majority of senators.

The bill allows the president to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas — with China and India at the top of that list. It provides exceptions for countries that import less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and are taking steps to reduce those imports.

The legislation also includes sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, Russian financial institutions and Russian energy projects. It would expand U.S. sanctions to target older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

The negotiated bill also includes waiver authority for the president, allowing the White House to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that the waiver is in the national interest.

Negotiators also added an extension of certain sanctions on Iran after Trump asked the Senate to add Iran to the bill.

Some Democrats are skeptical about tariff authority

While the president's authority was narrowed in the final negotiations, the latest version still met with some skepticism from Democrats who did not want to give Trump additional powers to impose tariffs.

“It is extremely dangerous to give Trump massive new tariff powers, particularly after we’ve seen the disastrous impacts of his corrupt, chaotic, and inflationary tariff spree," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a statement with Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.

Wyden said he plans to offer an amendment to change some of the tariff provisions in the bill as the Senate debates the measure this week.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, said before the meeting he was still undecided on his final vote because of the tariff issue. He said he would listen to Zelenskyy's appeal and then make “a game-time decision.”

Busiest US death chamber: Florida executes 2 men in a day, including an octogenarian

David Fischer, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:01:17 +0000

Florida on Tuesday became the first state in nearly a decade to carry out two executions in a single day, the last an 80-year-old man who was the second-oldest inmate known to receive a lethal injection in modern U.S. history.

Hours earlier, the state executed a former police officer convicted of killing a young girl.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has made Florida's death chamber the nation’s busiest at the end of his final term, saying too many families have waited too long to see justice. The lethal injections several hours apart were the first nearly back-to-back executions since Arkansas put two men to death three hours apart in 2017.

DeSantis, who has the authority under Florida law to set execution dates, decided earlier this month to carry out both executions on the same day.

Nationwide, the use of the death penalty had been declining for two decades, but that number has ticked up behind the increased pace in Florida.

Man, 80, apologizes for killing his ex-girlfriend's parents

Dominick Anthony Occhicone, the octogenarian, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after a three-drug injection. His execution came nearly five hours after the former police officer, James Aren Duckett, 68, received a lethal dose in the same death chamber.

The chamber's curtain went up promptly at Occhicone's 6 p.m. scheduled execution hour. He lay strapped to a gurney with an IV in his arm, a spiritual adviser near his feet.

Asked if he had any final words, Occhicone said he thanked all of his Christian brothers for visiting him over the years. He also apologized to the family of the victims and to his own family for what he had put them through.

“Sorry for all the hurt I caused,” he said.

“I know it don’t mean much, but I’m sorry,” Occhicone added. “I never meant to do what I did."

The injection began at 6:02 p.m. followed by several minutes of deep breathing. When the breathing slowed, a warden shook him and yelled his name without response.

Occhicone, who was convicted of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend’s parents in June 1986, is the oldest known prisoner executed in Florida since it began modern record-keeping a century ago.

Nationwide, an older inmate, 83-year-old Walter Moody Jr., received a lethal injection in Alabama in 2018 for a wave of mail bombs in 1989 that killed a federal judge and wounded a Black civil rights attorney.

Afterward, the children of victims Raymond and Martha Artzner released a statement saying their family had come to “the end of a long and painful journey.”

“The years since June 10, 1986, have been filled with sleepless nights, empty chairs at family gatherings, and those one-on-one conversations that were lost,” it read in part. “Today does not erase that pain and it does not undo the harm, but it does close a door and end a chapter in our lives that has just lingered on far too long.”

A former police officer was executed in the afternoon

Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Duckett became the 11th Florida inmate executed this year. He was convicted of raping and drowning 11-year-old Teresa McAbee while he was working as a police officer in central Florida in 1987.

Duckett declined to make a final statement and showed no response several minutes into the execution when the prison warden shook him and shouted his name. He was pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m.

Afterward, the girl's relatives spoke of decades of suffering.

“I waited nearly 40 years to have him dead,” Dorthy Tula, the victim's mother, said before breaking down.

“This man took advantage of his badge,” said Tracy Mcfall-Buskirk, the girl's cousin.

Record execution numbers for governor’s final two years

Nationwide, a total of 19 executions including Tuesday's have been carried out this year. Florida leads with 12 executions to date in 2026 — more than all other states combined.

DeSantis, who leaves office in January, oversaw a record 19 executions last year, more in a single year than any other Florida governor since the U.S. reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.

Another execution in Florida is set for August.

Many on Florida's death row have been there decades

DeSantis hasn’t said why he scheduled two executions hours apart. And he's rarely commented on the pace of executions, previously noting some on death row had committed crimes as far back as the 1980s.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. I felt I owed it to them to make sure this ran very smoothly," the governor said last year.

Florida Department of Corrections records show multiple executions on a single day were more common in the past, the last being in 1964.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied last appeals from both men Tuesday.

All Florida executions are by injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

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Associated Press reporter John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.

Amateur cricket match goes viral after cheating allegation

Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:34:20 +0000

An amateur cricket match in England has become a viral sensation after allegations of cheating were shared on social media.

A video, which claims to show a fielder clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat connecting with the ball before a player is called out, has been viewed millions of times on X.

The person who posted the video described it as “about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket.”

The video of a match involving North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League team Saltburn, has been greeted with outrage online and generated headlines around the world.

TV presenter Piers Morgan weighed in, describing the player involved as the “biggest cheat in cricket history” and wondered how many batsmen’s days “has he ruined?”

Cricket has had its share of scandals, ranging from the so-called “Sandpapergate” ball-tampering episode in 2018 that led to suspensions for three Australian international players, to spot fixing scandals that have led to lengthy bans.

But at the amateur levels of the game, such as this so-called village cricket competition in England, umpires have no access to video replays to make decisions and there's a level of trust required from players when claiming catches.

A cricket umpire could be fooled into calling a player out if they believed they heard the sound of the ball clipping the edge of a bat before being caught.

The league said in a statement on X that it had received a formal complaint regarding a game on Saturday, but did not reveal which teams were involved.

“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made,” it said.

There was no immediate response when The Associated Press contacted the league and Saltburn for comment.

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

Netanyahu praises first meeting with Trump since launching the Iran war

Erin Cunningham And Michelle L. Price, Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:08:57 +0000

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had an “excellent” meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, their first sit-down since launching a joint war against Iran and it offered Netanyahu a chance to smooth out strains in their relationship.

The closed-door meeting lasted nearly an hour and a half and was “positive and productive," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Trump, in a social media posting several hours after the talks, called it a “very good meeting” where “many important subjects were discussed” but offered no further details.

The face-to-face talks come as both leaders face growing pressures at home. Netanyahu is up for reelection and is embattled in part because of his deteriorating relationship with Trump. Trump is under pressure to end an unpopular war that has wreaked economic havoc and driven prices higher ahead of midterm elections this November.

Later on Tuesday, Iran shattered a brief period of calm in the war by launching multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East, the U.S. military said, adding that all of the Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted.

An Israeli official briefed on the White House meeting said Netanyahu made it clear to Trump and his Cabinet that if Iran were to attack Israel, they would respond, but that beyond that, they would trust the judgment of the president regarding next steps. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private meeting.

Despite signs of tension between the two before the meeting, Netanyahu was effusive afterward in a post on Instagram, noting that the meeting included Trump's “entire senior team.”

Vice President JD Vance, who has had critical words for Israel and in June warned Israeli officials that Trump was their only friend among world leaders, was among those in the meeting.

“When I say excellent, I don’t mean it in a superficial way,” Netanyahu said in Hebrew. “A conversation with full partnership, with mutual support, with an understanding of the common goal of ensuring that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, and other goals as well.”

Netanyahu later joined Vance and Trump at a funeral for Sen. Lindsey Graham, where the Israeli leader was seen speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Trump earlier in the day.

Trump expresses some frustration with Netanyahu before sitdown

Trump revealed some tension with Netanyahu ahead of their meeting, complaining about reports that the Israeli leader planned to discuss intelligence on Iranian activities at Pickaxe Mountain, a potential nuclear site that the U.S. president has threatened repeatedly to bomb.

“I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe,” Trump told “Fox & Friends.” He insisted that whatever Iran is doing is “not a big problem” and that “Bibi’s telling me that because he wants me to stay involved.”

“Why do you have to announce to the world?” Trump added, flashing his frustrations with his ally.

The Israeli official said that Netanyahu reiterated to Trump during the meeting that Israel will always share its intelligence with the U.S. but that it also understands that Washington has its own timeline and considerations to factor in, including other allied countries in the region that would be affected if Washington were to escalate militarily.

Trump has had a hot-and-cold history with Netanyahu over the years, but upon his return to the White House last year, their alliance seemed stronger than ever. When they started the war together in February, it was with a united front, touting their respective militaries as acting in lockstep to take out Iran’s leadership and pave the way for a government more friendly to the West.

But as Iran fought back — sending drones and missiles slamming into U.S. bases and high-rises in cities in the Gulf, and choking off the Strait of Hormuz — Trump came under immense pressure both at home and by allies in the region to end the conflict.

Netanyahu has been deferential to Trump on next steps with Iran

Since then, Netanyahu, who wanted to continue the fighting in Iran and against its ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, has been sidelined as Trump sought a deal with Tehran. Disagreements with Trump and Vance have burst into the open over the war in Iran and more.

“The Americans are making it clear to the Israelis they are the ones who are running the war,” Israeli journalist and political analyst Amit Segal wrote Monday in the daily newspaper Israel Hayom. “It is clear to everyone that Israel has been put in the back seat.”

Of Trump, Netanyahu said Sunday that “many ways, it’s his decision” on how to move forward. “If he can do so without returning to intense military fighting, that’s fine. Why not?”

“But one way or the other, they have to end their nuclear program,” Netanyahu told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” about Iran.

The Israeli official said the two leaders also discussed the framework agreement that the U.S. and Israel signed with Lebanon over the Israel-Hezbollah war and the expansion of the Abraham Accords, which have Arab and Muslim-majority nations normalize ties with Israel.

Steps to allow other forces in Gaza and in Lebanon

Netanyahu also needed to persuade Trump that he won’t play spoiler to U.S. diplomatic and reconstruction efforts in Gaza and Lebanon, where the president has previously complained that “too many people are being killed” by Israeli strikes.

In Lebanon, where the Israeli military occupies much of the south, Israel agreed to allow the Lebanese army to deploy to some villages as part of a “pilot program” testing its ability to secure areas where Hezbollah once operated. The U.S. State Department says the next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place next week in Rome with a focus on expanding the program.

On Gaza, Israel’s security cabinet green-lit on Sunday a measure that would, in theory, grant entry to the first members of an international stabilization force outlined last year in a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Few countries have pledged troops, however, and Israel would approve their entry into Gaza on a case-by-case basis. The troops — including from Morocco and Uganda — would only be allowed to operate in a small, desolate area in Rafah in the south, where the plan is to vet and house some displaced Palestinians.

The Israeli military continues to carry out strikes it says target militants but that have also killed civilians.

Israel has lost a significant amount of bipartisan support in the United States, particularly over Gaza. An AP-NORC poll published this month found a dramatic erosion of support among American adults for Israel.

Near the White House, a small group of protesters chanted, “Netanyahu, you’re a tyrant” and “Bibi, you’re not welcome here,” referencing the prime minister’s nickname.

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Cunningham reported from Jerusalem and Amiri reported from New York. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Darlene Superville and Seung Min Kim in Washington, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report. Cunningham reported from Jerusalem.