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Inside Golden Roastery: A popular Middle Eastern shop serving traditional desserts and coffee
How to make a popular Arab dessert Kunafa
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Wreckage found of Pan Am plane crash that helped lead to today's safety briefings on every flight

Josh Funk, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:50:22 +0000

The wreckage from a Pan Am plane crash in the ocean 74 years ago that helped lead to requirements for the passenger safety briefings on every flight today has been found off the coast of Puerto Rico.

The talks flight attendants deliver about how to inflate a life vest or find the exits on a plane that are routine today were developed after 52 people perished aboard Pan Am's Clipper Endeavor because they didn't get off the plane before it sank. Explorers used an autonomous sonar drone to find the fuselage and tail of the DC-4 last month under 2,000 feet of water.

The 12 passengers and five crew members who survived the crash on Good Friday in 1952 told investigators that everyone survived the plane's hard landing on the water, but then panic set in and many passengers were reluctant to venture out into the waves as they struggled to find life vests and the crew had a hard time pulling the rafts out. The plane sank within minutes.

“This one became a catalyst, and it helped drive safety steps forward of better flotation equipment and the preflight briefings,” said aviation safety expert John Cox. “So this is one steppingstone along the path to what we today enjoy as aviation safety. It was a rallying cry at the time.”

And now the discovery of this wreck could offer new hope for families who lost loved ones in other ocean crashes like Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared 12 years ago with 269 people aboard.

Years of research helped locate the wreckage

This crash first caught the attention of Russ Matthews in 2019 when he saw a blurb about a luggage tag from the flight washing ashore in Florida. He said the historical significance of the Clipper Endeavor prompted him to dig deeper.

That led to years of digging through the Pan Am Airlines and Coast Guard archives looking for clues about the location of the plane's watery grave. Reports from the Civil Aeronautics Board, which was the predecessor to the Federal Aviation Administration, also helped.

But the key to finding the wreckage was found in records in Puerto Rico from a hearing that was held on the crash, and a map estimating the location of the crash that was done by Air Force pilots who witnessed the crash because they just happened to be in the area on a training flight.

Bad weather disrupted a previous attempt to locate the wreck in 2024 with a towed sonar array that was also documented by the Discovery Channel's “Expedition Unknown” show. But Matthews said he and the volunteers who work with his Air/Sea Heritage Foundation dreamed of making a second attempt to find it before next year's 75th anniversary of the crash with one of these newer advanced drones that were originally developed for military uses like finding undersea mines.

Undersea drone played a key role in the search

Tony Romeo, who is CEO of the undersea exploration firm Deep Sea Vision, had been talking with Matthews for a while about the possibility of helping try to find this plane if one of his ships was ever in the area, and then in April one just happened to be passing right by Puerto Rico between two other jobs while carrying an advanced underwater drone with the right sensors to be able to find it.

“There we were, and everything kind of came together at the moment: good weather, the right team, and the right equipment and ship. So we took a shot at it,” Romeo said.

Deep Sea Vision previously led an unsuccessful six-month search to find Amelia Earhart's plane, but Romeo had a special interest in this case because his father was a mechanic and pilot for Pan Am airlines. In fact, the drone they used in the search already had a Pan Am sticker on the side.

Capturing the moment of discovery

All the research Matthews' group had done, combined with weather data from the time of the crash, was synthesized to create a map of the most likely location and a search area of 10 square nautical miles. The drone actually found the wreckage on its first pass over that area, although the explorers didn't know that until it returned to the surface with its images.

The Discovery Channel’s Josh Gates and his crew were again along for this latest search to capture the moment the plane showed up on images from the drone after they were downloaded. The search will be featured in a special episode of the show this fall, but a few highlights released Tuesday show the moment everyone in the control room realized what they had found. Shouts of “Oh God!” and “That's a plane!” erupted when the image loaded on screen.

“To have a front-row seat to an expedition like this as it’s unfolding is tremendous, and so I feel really lucky that we were able to be a part of it,” Gates said.

Tropical Storm Conditions Spreading Westward Along Coastal Portions Of The Florida Panhandle

National Hurricane Center — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:53:51 +0000


Location	105 miles WSW of Panama City Florida
Wind	60 mph
Heading	NW at 6 mph
Pressure	29.39
Coordinates	87.2W, 29.4N

Discussion

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 87.2 West. Bertha is moving toward the northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h). A turn toward the west-northwest and west is expected tonight, with a continued westward motion forecast Wednesday through Friday. On the forecast track, Bertha will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast during the next couple of days or so.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected tonight, and gradual weakening is forecast Wednesday through Friday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center. A National Ocean Service station in Panama City Beach, Florida, reported sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) and a gust of 57 mph (92 km/h) during the past few hours.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 995 mb (29.39 inches).

Tropics Satellite at 5:34 Tuesday Afternoon, July 21st

Watches and Warnings

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning has been extended westward to Morgan City, Louisiana.

The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning for Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

The Tropical Storm Watch has been extended westward to Cameron, Louisiana.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for, * Bay/Gulf County Line in Florida to Morgan City, Louisiana * Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for, * West of Morgan City, Louisiana, to Cameron, Louisiana * Lake Maurepas

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case in the next 24 to 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

Tropics Models at 5:33 Tuesday Afternoon, July 21st

Land Hazards

Key messages for Tropical Storm Bertha can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2 and WMO header WTNT42 KNHC.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions will continue spreading across portions of the northern Gulf Coast within the warning area tonight through Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in Louisiana by Wednesday night.

STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the immediate coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide,

Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA to MS/AL Border, 2-4 ft Cameron, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River, LA, 1-3 ft MS/AL Border to Aucilla River, FL, 1-3 ft Lake Pontchartrain, 1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?peakSurge.

RAINFALL: Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals around 6 inches through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida into southern Louisiana. This rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Bertha, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ero.

SURF: Swells generated by Bertha will continue spreading westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ripCurrents

Man tossed by Yellowstone bison says hitting the ground was the worst part

Mead Gruver, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:04:33 +0000

Bison that appear to be grazing peacefully are able to accelerate into a terrifying pace, making them among the most dangerous animals in Yellowstone, where one of the giant bovines recently charged at and tossed a grandfather.

Carl McDaniel, 65, suffered multiple bone fractures in the July 10 attack at the national park but lived to tell the tale, as seen in a video he recorded a few days later from his bed at Bozeman Health Deaconess Medical Center in southern Montana.

“He wasn’t showing aggression or anything like that until it picked a target. That target happened to be me,” McDaniel said in the video posted on Instagram on Saturday.

McDaniel was on a after-dinner stroll with his grandson when the attack happened at Bridge Bay Campground, not far from Yellowstone Lake.

“They move faster than you could ever imagine. He just kept coming,” he said. The bison did not connect with McDaniel’s grandson, who was not hurt.

Bison can run up to 35 mph (56 kph), faster than the men’s world record in the 100-meter dash. They stand up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall, weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms), and are North America’s biggest land animal.

Yellowstone records on average a couple of bison attacks every year. At least two people were attacked in the park in 2025.

Bozeman Health emergency department Dr. Eric Lowe said in the video that McDaniel suffered fractures in multiple places. McDaniel said the hardest part wasn’t the creature’s horns.

“I didn’t get bruises from him launching me in air,” he said. “It was the landing that became the problem.”

Kaylee Hottle, deaf 'Godzilla' actor, killed in car crash at 18

Rebecca Boone, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:22:43 +0000

Kaylee Hottle, a deaf actor best known for her starring role in two “Godzilla” films, died in a car crash in Maryland early Tuesday morning, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said. She was 18.

Hottle was one of two passengers in the car when it went off the road and hit a culvert in Ijamsville before 3 a.m. The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the other passenger declined medical treatment, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Excessive speed is believed to be a factor in the crash, which is under investigation, the sheriff's office said.

Hottle was a native signer of American Sign Language, and her family members are also deaf. Her parents, Joshua and Ketsi Hottle, shared emotional video statements about her death on social media sites.

“Kaylee’s mom and four siblings are crushed,” her father said in ASL in a post from an airport. “They are together at home, grieving. I am on my way to Maryland to bring Kaylee’s body back home.”

Hottle’s heart stopped before she arrived at a hospital, transported by air from the scene of the accident, her father said. “Very grateful for the 18 years we had together — and wish we had more,” he said.

Joshua Hottle also reached out to the driver, described by the sheriff's office as a 19-year-old Frederick man.

“I have forgiven you,” her father said. “Don’t let this incident ruin the rest of your life.”

“I still feel Kaylee is with us,” her mother said in ASL in a post.

In “Godzilla vs. Kong” and the sequel, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” Hottle played an orphaned girl named Jia who sees beyond Kong's threatening appearance and forms a special bond with the monster, communicating with him using sign language.

“I’m so devastated to hear this. You will be deeply missed Kaylee,” her “Godzilla” co-star Millie Bobby Brown posted on Instagram.

Co-star Alexander Skarsgård, who learned ASL to communicate with Hottle, told the pop culture website Junkee in 2021 that he and others were impressed by the young ingenue's professionalism and her ability to quickly incorporate the director's notes into her acting.

In a 2024 interview with The Associated Press, Hottle said through an interpreter that she hadn't watched monster movies before she was cast in “Godzilla,” so her father helped her understand the genre.

“I look up to a lot of people, but the one person I look up to, the few people I look up to mostly, are my parents and my sisters,” Hottle said.

Hottle said that when she was working on the first film, she was a bit concerned about whether she would be able to return to her “normal life," afterward.

“People do recognize me at school, yes, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be,” Hottle said.

Hottle previously appeared in a 2021 television episode of “Magnum P.I.” She was listed as appearing in the upcoming film “What Doesn’t Kill Us.”

“I’m so heartbroken. My heart goes out to her family during this unimaginable time,” Alaqua Cox, her co-star in that film and fellow deaf actor, wrote on Instagram.

Other prominent deaf actors also shared messages of grief online.

“I am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity,” Oscar winner Marlee Matlin wrote on Instagram.

Fellow Oscar winner Troy Kotsur, who starred in the film “Coda,” wrote that Hottle's death made him think of his own daughter, and reminded him not to take time for granted.

“I have no words to express on what happened this morning,” Kotsur wrote, offering his “deepest condolences” to the Hottle family.

Officials with Texas School for the Deaf in Austin also announced Hottle's death on Facebook, writing that counseling and support services would be available to her classmates and friends.

“Please keep Kaylee's loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together,” the school wrote. ___ Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Lage reported from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Latest: Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5B so far

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:21:05 +0000

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate on Tuesday to make a case for President Donald Trump’s $87.6 billion supplemental funding request, mostly intended to replenish the Pentagon after the U.S. war against Iran.

Hegseth said the war has cost $37.5 billion, so far. He provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, where his opening remarks were interrupted by protestors several times.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran are back to bombing every day in a bid to control the Strait of Hormuz. And neither is backing down, showing the limitations of Trump’s reliance on escalating airstrikes to bend Tehran to his will.

While the Trump administration says it is open to diplomacy, Iran so far has refused to loosen its grip over the crucial oil shipping corridor in the Persian Gulf. It is raising questions about the strategy for the conflict's next phase. The intensifying attacks have collapsed an interim ceasefire deal, killed more American troops and sent U.S. gasoline prices back up, posing more problems for Republicans hoping to get reelected.

The Latest:

More than 500 troops injured in war with Iran, AP source says

The number of wounded personnel in the Iran war has grown to well over 500 troops, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

The total is higher than the Pentagon’s official tally on the Defense Casualty Analysis System, which currently shows 482 wounded in the war.

The U.S. official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the system has a significant lag in reporting injuries. The official said that was a function of its design and not intentional.

Pentagon officials have insisted that the website shows their commitment to transparency about the number of dead and injured in the war.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted Monday that nearly 100 U.S. service members have sustained “some degree of injury” since the U.S. restarted strikes on July 7 and that 96% of them have returned to duty.

The system said on July 6 that 413 troops had been wounded.

— Konstantin Toropin

Hegseth engages in tense exchange with Michigan Sen. Gary Peters over Pentagon funding

Hegseth aggressively pushed back against questions from the Democratic senator, who pressed the secretary about the administration’s plan to win the war.

“Secretary Hegseth, despite your failure to win this war, you are back now before Congress asking for almost $70 billion in additional funding,” Peters said. “You are asking the American people for a blank check.”

Hegseth replied, “I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless and it is irresponsible.”

Peters reiterated that he saw Hegseth as a failure.

“You don’t have a strategy, you don’t have a long-term plan to actually win this war,” Peters said. “The men and women are going to be able to do it, but they don’t have leadership. When will you show leadership?”

Hegseth pushed back: “Why don’t you show leadership and stand up to your fellow Democrats who won’t fund the troops?”

Peters replied, “It’s not a question of money, it’s a question of leadership.”

Democrats challenge Hegseth on earlier claims the Iran war was won

Senate Democrats are pushing back on Hegseth’s request for more money when he and Trump claimed months ago that Iran’s military was destroyed and the U.S. military’s objectives met.

“You’re asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President Trump said he already won,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told Hegseth. “You’re asking for $1.5 trillion — unlimited money for bombs, but insufficient money for the American people, for their health care, their food, their housing, and our farmers.”

Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia zeroed in on similar statements about the ongoing conflict.

“Mr. Secretary, you stated four months ago that Iran’s military had been rendered ‘combat ineffective’ for years to come,” Ossoff said.

Hegseth countered that his statements didn’t mean that Iran didn’t have any more capabilities.

Trump to campaign in Michigan days before battleground state’s primary election

Trump is expected to hold a rally outside Detroit on July 27 as early voting gets underway in Michigan’s primary election, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to discuss the event publicly.

Early in-person voting begins July 25 for the Aug. 4 primary. Michigan voters are choosing party nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat and governor.

Republican Mike Rogers is unopposed in the Senate primary, while the GOP gubernatorial contest has intensified between Trump-backed U.S. Rep. John James and business owner Perry Johnson.

Trump is expected to rally in Oakland County, an affluent Detroit suburb that for decades was one of Michigan’s premier political bellwether counties. Democrats have carried the county by widening margins in recent elections, even as Trump won Michigan in 2016 and again in 2024.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

— Joey Cappelletti

Caine acknowledges limits of air strikes to win war

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged the limits of airpower after being pressed on the reliance of airstrikes alone against Iran.

“As you look across the totality of history, airpower’s got limits, and we always have to be mindful of those,” Caine said. “I think where America’s area of exclusivity is, is when we bring the totality of the diplomatic, informational, economic and pair that with the military. And there’s a lot of that work going on.”

Caine declined to say whether ground combat could be next after being pressed by Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who noted the likely costs of having boots on the ground.

The general later said: “Iran will continue to be a challenge moving forward.”

Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5B so far

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion, so far, as he is facing questions and protests at a Senate hearing ahead of a $95 billion GOP budget package to fund the military, along with aid to farmers and voting law changes that are top White House priorities.

Hegseth provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Several times, protesters interrupted Hegseth’s opening remarks, which come days after the Pentagon announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17, and that more than 100 have been injured since early July.

Hegseth said the supplemental war funding is an “urgent, necessary” injection of funds, and with Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget a generational investment in the military.

“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls,” Hegseth testified.

▶ Read more

Hegseth warns that troop training and pay is in doubt if military doesn’t get more money

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned senators that troop training would have to be curtailed if the Pentagon doesn’t get the $67 billion in supplemental funds its requesting from Congress. He also raised concerns about troop pay and weapons that defend against enemy drones and missiles.

Hegseth said $46 billion is needed for munitions and expanding production lines, while $21 billion would be for military pay, fuel and replacing equipment.

“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to also simply pay our service members,” Hegseth said.

Democratic lawmakers countered that the Pentagon is yet to spend tens of billions of dollars of money it received last year. But Hegseth doubled down on the need for the supplemental funds.

Trump says direct US-Lebanon flights could resume for first time in more than 40 years

Trump said Tuesday he’ll allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon more than 40 years after the US suspended the route.

Direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan’s administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

“I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land,” Trump said in a social media post after meeting earlier on Tuesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

During a White House meeting on Tuesday with the country’s leader, Joseph Aoun, Trump pledged to help Lebanon “a lot.” Aoun came to Washington to push for long-term calm after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

▶ Read more

Hegseth’s remarks repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protestors

One after another, protestors interrupted the defense secretary’s opening remarks and were quickly removed by Capitol Police. The secretary paused four times for protestors to be removed from the room.

“Stop bombing our children, stop bombing Palestine, this is illegal,” yelled one protestor who was escorted from the room.

“We will have order in the hearing room,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told the room after a third protestor interrupted Hegseth’s remarks.

Collins added after a fourth protester interrupted proceedings: “I would ask that the Capitol Police, whose professionalism I admire, remove those who are seeking to disrupt the hearing.”

Senators criticize Iran war’s costs and Hegseth’s leadership as hearing begins

Senators opened Tuesday’s hearing on the Iran war’s costs with ample criticism for the conflict as well as the stalled careers of Black and female military officers under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth is set to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee as Republicans push a $95 billion budget package to fund the military.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican and committee chair, cited news reports that women and people of color are disproportionately fired or sidelined under Hegseth’s leadership, arguing that it’s “likely to discourage well qualified women and individuals of color from joining our armed forces.”

Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat, noted the war’s lack of popular support and impact on the economy as gas prices rise and economic growth slows.

Judge weighs bid to block Trump administration policy to reject visas for natives of 75 countries

Lawyers for dozens of immigrants have asked a federal judge to block the Trump administration from enforcing a policy directing the State Department to reject visa applications by citizens of 75 countries based on their nationality.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington, D.C., didn’t rule from the bench on Tuesday after hearing arguments from attorneys for the government and roughly four dozen immigrants from the countries singled out by the January 2026 policy.

McFadden, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, appeared to be skeptical that the lawsuit’s plaintiffs have legal standing to challenge the policy. But the judge also said he sees some legal precedent to support arguments by plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys said it’s illegal for the State Department to enforce a blanket prohibition on issuing immigrant visas to nationals of the 75 designated countries.

Government lawyers say the plaintiffs haven’t shown how they’re irreparably harmed by the policy.

UN chief warns military escalation puts pressure on trade, transport, fuel and commodities prices

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and the region, including a desalination plant and nuclear power plant under construction, “unacceptable” and a violation of international law, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.

Attacks on vital infrastructure for civilians including hospitals and water supplies must stop immediately, the secretary-general’s spokesman said.

The secretary-general and his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, call the current situation “teetering,” and don’t want to see a return to full-scale conflict, he said.

Guterres reiterates that there is no military solution to the conflict and calls for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and intensified efforts toward a peaceful settlement, Dujarric said.

Trump appears to try to shift blame for US soldiers’ deaths

The president told reporters he would go to Dover for the dignified transfer of U.S. soldiers killed in the Middle East over the weekend.

“They did slip something through in Jordan,” he said, appearing to refer to the deadly Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks there. “If we had other operators, you know, it would have not happened, unfortunately.”

He went on: “We’ve stopped almost everything, but when you let other people do your job with the United States — we let other people do the job — and sometimes it doesn’t work out so well.”

Trump did not elaborate on his comments, and it was not immediately clear who Trump was saying was responsible for protecting U.S. forces in Jordan. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

Trump says US will strike Pickaxe Mountain ‘very soon’

Discussing plans to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Trump said the United States will soon target the area near Pickaxe Mountain — a fortified underground site near one of Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment facilities.

“We’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

The president made the comment after being asked whether he believes Iran has moved nuclear centrifuges to the site. He said it “doesn’t mean anything” unless Iran has uranium to enrich.

“We follow the material,” he said. “That’s where the action is.”

Trump says he’ll pay his respects to fallen service members at Dover

The president is expected to attend the dignified transfer on Wednesday. It’s a ritual considered to be one of the most somber duties of the commander-in-chief.

“I’ll be going to Dover for something that I feel is — it’s a great honor for me to do it,” Trump told reporters.

Two soldiers killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan will be returned during the dignified transfer, according to an administration official speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.

The remains of another soldier killed in Iraq during a detonation of an Iranian drone will also be returned, the official said, as well as a fourth service member whose remains have not yet been identified but who is believed to be a soldier missing after the Jordan attacks.

—- Collin Binkley

Trump says US will ‘take care of business’ if Houthis impose blockade

Asked about his level of concern about a blockade of the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Trump suggested it wasn’t an immediate problem.

“So far, it hasn’t happened,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think that if there is something like that, we’ll just have to take care of business.”

The Houthi-run SABA news agency said six ships were forced to reroute on Tuesday after being warned by the rebels, a day after they announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.

But Trump said “we’ve had no problem with the Houthis” recently, and “they’ve had no problem with us for a long period of time, including during this conflict.”

Trump says he’s looking at a tariff on Canada over wildfires

Days of smoke from wildfires in Canada drifting into the United States contributed to poor air quality in cities from Detroit to Washington, D.C.

“They’re not managing their forests properly. And the wind has a tendency to blow right over New York City,” said Trump, once a longtime resident of the city. “Michigan was really affected,” he added.

Asked about the issue during an Oval Office appearance with the president of Lebanon, Trump said Canada seems unable to manage the problem.

Trump says US has ‘no interest’ in Iran talks for now

Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump gave a dim view on possible talks with Iran to end the war.

“I will tell you, they want to desperately meet. And until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting,” Trump told reporters.

He said that in dialogue behind the scenes, Iranian officials have said “they want to meet desperately to try and end it, because they’re getting decimated.”

Iran and the U.S. have escalated attacks recently as their interim deal to end the war falls apart.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels say their Red Sea blockade is working

The rebels have opened a new front against Saudi Arabia by declaring a naval blockade of the kingdom, threatening the flow of global oil supplies and trade through the Red Sea.

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil to market.

Six ships in the Red Sea were forced to reroute on Tuesday after they received warnings from the rebels, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency.

Separately, three Houthi officials told The Associated Press that the rebel group warned international shipping companies on Monday to avoid transiting in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

— By Jon Gambrell and Munir Ahmed

Report says Trump administration has harmed global efforts to prevent and treat HIV

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, is credited with saving at least 26 million lives since its inception in 2003. But it’s been impaired by the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and cuts to thousands of global health grants.

These disruptions to the global AIDS relief program have forced organizations to close clinics, lay off staff and cut services, seriously impeding efforts to prevent and treat the disease in dozens of countries, according to a report released Tuesday by amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Other research, published in the journal Nature Health in June, found a 10% decline in antiretroviral treatment — nearly two million fewer people living with HIV — getting the life-saving treatment through PEPFAR.

▶ Read more

Trump administration pushes ahead with plans to reopen US embassy in Libya

The State Department has informed Congress that it plans to move ahead with the potential re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Libya. It’s proposing to allocate nearly $41 million to restore America’s formal diplomatic presence in the North African nation.

The effort comes amid new warnings of Iranian-related attacks against U.S. facilities and interests around the world, particularly in the Middle East.

The department told lawmakers that the money would cover “a range of security-related activities associated with plans for the potential phased resumption of embassy operations in Libya.” The embassy in Tripoli was shuttered in July 2014.

The Trump administration reopened the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela following the ouster of former President Nicolas Maduro in January and is also seeking to reopen the closed embassy in Damascus, Syria.

AI stocks keep rising, even as Brent oil’s price tops $90

More gains for makers of computer chips and other winners of the artificial-intelligence boom are carrying Wall Street higher on Tuesday after tumbling the week before.

After rocketing higher because of the boom in investment in AI chips and data centers, they’ve come under pressure in recent weeks on worries that they shot too high. Concerns are also weighing that AI investments may fall off if they don’t produce as much profit and productivity as promised.

The gains came despite more climbs for oil prices, and Brent crude oil topped $90 per barrel because of continued attacks between the United States and Iran. It rose 2.2% to $91.17, up from less than $72 early this month.

The oil price hikes threaten a reacceleration of inflation, just as it was slowing more than economists expected. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.

▶ Read more

Rubio will meet with Chinese counterpart in Manila

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday in Manila, the State Department said.

The top diplomats from the world’s two largest economies are attending annual talks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week in the Philippine capital.

The ASEAN summit comes amid unfolding crises led by renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran as well as a violent skirmish in the disputed South China Sea.

The Rubio-Wang meeting could help set up the next sitdown between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Rubio said ahead of the summit that he expects Xi to visit the U.S. in September and that “it’s incumbent on powerful, important countries like ours to continue to talk and have a relationship.”

Secret Service agent injured at White House correspondents’ dinner will be honored at make-up event

Secret Service Police Officer Victor Gonzales will be given a special award for exceptional service at a rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, the association said Tuesday.

Gonzales was at a security checkpoint during the April dinner when it was interrupted by a gunman who prosecutors say was trying to assassinate Trump. The Secret Service said Gonzales was struck in his protective vest as he engaged the gunman, who was tackled outside the ballroom.

“His swift and decisive actions assisted in deterring the gunman from proceeding any further,” the Secret Service said.

A make-up event being held Friday at the Waldorf Astoria hotel at Trump’s encouragement will also honor Washington Hilton hotel staff who helped guests in the aftermath.

US military identifies soldier killed while disarming a drone in Iraq

The military said it was investigating the death of Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone on Sunday at an air base in Irbil.

Swinton, 30, will get a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant, the military said in a statement.

He enlisted in the Army in 2017, and was assigned to the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, out of Fort Bragg.

Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed in Jordan on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. They were the first U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.

Funeral home director charged with 5 felonies after allegedly stealing nearly $2.2M from dead man's estate

Bryce Newberry — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:25:49 +0000

A Houston funeral home director is charged with five felonies after investigators say they submitted forged documents to obtain a state license — and then stole the estate of a man whose family hired them for his funeral.

Unique Green, the unlicensed director of A Community Funeral Home on Wheeler Avenue, faces charges including theft, forgery, and tampering with government records, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

The Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office confirmed Green was arrested on Tuesday afternoon.

Green faces charges brought by the Houston Police Department and the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, according to records obtained by KPRC 2 News.

How the alleged scheme unfolded

Lawrence Gammon, 78, died naturally last summer. His out-of-state family contacted Green for funeral services and provided personal information over email, investigators say.

Within weeks, Green allegedly filed a fraudulent last will and testament claiming to be Gammon’s common-law spouse — and sole heir to his entire estate. Prosecutors say the two had no connection before his death.

From there, while pretending to be his widow, Green allegedly stole Gammon’s three vehicles, his home on Tottenham Drive, and nearly $2.2 million from his bank accounts, according to records.

“When we bury a loved one, we cry together, we smile together, we laugh about good times, and we remember a life well lived,” said Adam Brodrick, Chief of Consumer Fraud at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. “Green has effectively robbed this family of that experience.”

Brodrick described the case as “very sophisticated” and said simply: “It’s as bad as it gets.”

Police raid during an active funeral

In November, Houston police raided A Community Funeral Home on Wheeler Avenue in the middle of a funeral service.

KPRC 2 cameras captured investigators removing boxes of electronics and 48 boxes of cremains — including, according to records, those of Lawrence Gammon.

Investigators wrote in court records that some families had been waiting for the remains of their loved ones since 2023.

Forged credentials, no license

Some of the felony charges stem from allegations that Green also submitted fraudulent documents to the Texas Funeral Service Commission, claiming to have military experience as an “exceptional embalmer” with an outstanding reputation.

Records show Green never served in the armed forces and never obtained a license as a funeral director or embalmer — all while operating a community funeral home.

In addition, investigators said Green forged the signature of a past employee at A Community Funeral Home in documents submitted to the TFSC to operate the business, despite that former employee telling investigators he never gave oral or written permission for Green to become the funeral director in charge.

Attorney responds; more victims possible

An attorney representing Green in an ongoing probate case said he was not aware of the new felony charges when contacted by KPRC 2 News on Tuesday afternoon.

He said Green maintains having rights to Gammon’s estate but would not elaborate on how the two knew each other.

Prosecutors say they have not ruled out additional victims connected to the scheme.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Consumer Fraud Unit.

Senate panel advances Jay Clayton's nomination to lead US intelligence agencies

Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:45:16 +0000

The Senate Intelligence Committee has advanced the nomination of Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the nation’s intelligence agencies, along party lines.

The 9-8 vote came after some Democrats had praised Clayton and indicated that they might vote for him. But that shifted after a contentious hearing last week in which Clayton repeatedly refused to say that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the panel, said at the end of the hearing that he was “bitterly disappointed” in Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, even though he had worked with him in the past.

The committee’s approval sets up a floor vote on Clayton’s nomination, potentially early next week. The vote took place behind closed doors, as is customary for the panel, and all Democrats voted against Clayton, according to a person familiar with the vote who requested anonymity to disclose it.

The Democratic pushback on Clayton comes as Trump has made revisiting the 2020 election, which he lost, a primary focus. On Thursday evening, he delivered a speech from the White House in which he again tried to cast doubts on that election and amplified debunked theories about Biden’s win.

Clayton told senators that he had no involvement with that speech, but he said repeatedly that the election was “certified” for Biden, declining to say outright that the Democrat won.

Warner said after the vote on Tuesday that he wants to see someone in the job “who is going to be a restraint, not an agitator.”

Republicans want to quickly confirm Clayton

Senators in both parties have expressed concerns about the interim director, Bill Pulte, who took over when Tulsi Gabbard resigned last month. Pulte has no known intelligence experience and investigated the president’s perceived enemies in his previous post as a federal housing regulator.

Republicans were hoping to confirm Clayton in June so he could replace Gabbard without Pulte serving as interim. But Trump delayed Clayton’s nomination before the Senate left for a two-week recess, allowing Pulte to take the job temporarily.

As the nomination heads to the Senate floor, it’s unclear whether Democrats will allow Republicans to speed up a vote. Though he is opposing Clayton's nomination, Warner said he didn't want to slow it down.

“We are between a rock and a hard place” with Pulte in the job, he said.

Clayton did not mention Pulte in the hearing last week. But he emphasized his own government and national security experience, attempting to assuage senators in both parties.

“I saw firsthand how a strong national security apparatus depends on decisive judgment, discipline, integrity, and effective communication and cooperation across different branches of the government,” Clayton said. “If confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, I will commit to upholding these principles every day.”

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who expressed frustration last month when the hearing was delayed, said that Clayton has a reputation for operating with “morality, decency and integrity” in his previous positions.

“Jay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combating a wide range of national security threats," Cotton said in a statement on Tuesday.

2 married couples from Honduras were among 5 adults who drowned in an Ohio river

Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos And Marlon González, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:13:25 +0000

The skies were mostly clear and weeks of sweltering heat had finally broken as 33-year-old Jose Mario Pineda Dias and his 28-year-old wife, Marina Suyapa Regalado, set out with their two children for some leisurely fishing in an Ohio river. A second Honduran couple and an adult friend joined them.

A photo snapped by a passing boater sometime Sunday shows them apparently about thigh deep in the Scioto River, fishing poles in hand, standing around a big log. Calm as the surface appeared, the river was running high and fast, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. All five adults ended up drowning, authorities have said.

After the photo was taken, the group might have returned to shore. It is not quite clear. What Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer has said is that one of the adults was struggling to swim in the river when several others went into the water to help. All five were swept under, he said.

The two women's bodies were recovered Sunday and the three men's bodies were found Monday.

On Tuesday, Honduran authorities confirmed that four of the five adults were Honduran citizens — Dias and Regalado and another married couple whose names have not yet been released. The fifth adult also has yet to be identified.

Flabia Zamora, director of consular affairs at the Honduran Foreign Ministry, told reporters Tuesday that they were working with U.S. authorities to bring their bodies home.

Zamora said that once U.S. officials have identified all the victims, Honduras will start the repatriation process, which could take at least a month.

She said the couple’s children are in the care of the state of Ohio and that arrangements will be made to reunite them with relatives in Honduras.

One of the children, a boy wrapped only in a towel, fled the riverbank in a panic and ascended to the road as the adults were drowning. According to a passing driver who called 911, “He was screaming, ‘Mama! Mama!’ and he was about to come out onto the road, and he was crying.” She said she was afraid he was headed onto a multilane road that snakes along the Scioto's eastern banks.

Brenda Raya, who described herself as a relative, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral and transportation costs, as well as childcare costs for the two orphaned children. She said they are 8 and 10.

“The emotional and financial burden is overwhelming, and we want to honor the memory of our loved ones while providing for the children left behind,” she wrote.

The drownings occurred along the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. The reservoir and its 18 miles (29 kilometers) of shoreline are the property of the city of Columbus. According to the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, Jet Skis, tubing and swimming are not permitted in any city of Columbus reservoir.

Lt. Heather Byers, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said rivers can be deceptively calm on the surface.

“Even though the water doesn’t seem to be moving very quickly, you can still get swept away in very slow-moving water,” she said. “Also, since you can’t always see the bottom, you never know if you’re in, you know, you could be in 2 to 3 feet of water, what you’re comfortable standing in, and then the next thing you know you’re at 4 or 5 feet.”

Besides the currents and the depths, people can catch a foot between the rocks, snag their clothes on a branch or lose their balance on slippery algae.

___

González reported from Honduras. Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus and John Raby in Charleston, W.Va., contributed to this report.

Wisconsin Democrats want to allow absentee voters to cast a new primary ballot

Scott Bauer, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:52:04 +0000

A chaotic Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor that has seen numerous candidates drop out and re-enter the race has threatened to leave thousands of voters who have already returned their ballots with worthless votes for the state's top office.

That possibility prompted the state Democratic Party on Tuesday to make a plea to the state elections commission, urging it to allow voters who already cast an absentee ballot to vote again. More than 80,000 ballots have already been returned.

The request is all-but certain to result in a lawsuit with the primary just three weeks away.

Democrats want to allow voters to cast new ballots after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, a Democrat, ended her campaign for governor on Friday and another candidate, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, rejoined the race with the endorsement of current Gov. Tony Evers. There are now five Democratic candidates actively campaigning for governor ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.

Any voter who already returned an absentee ballot cast for Rodriguez would not be able to get a new ballot, based on guidance approved by the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission earlier this month. The guidance was adopted after another Democratic candidate for governor, Missy Hughes, dropped out in June. Both Rodriguez and Hughes remain on the ballot even though they have ended their campaigns.

The winner of the Democratic primary for governor is likely to face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has only token opposition. The seat is open after Evers decided against seeking a third term. Democrats hope to retain the office and flip both chambers of the Legislature to gain full control of state government for the first time since 2010.

Democrats say absentee voters must be allowed to vote again

The Democratic Party argues that the commission’s guidance must be rescinded because it reversed its own rule that was in place four years ago and is inconsistent with a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. That ruling said voting rules should not be changed close to an election.

If the elections commission does not reverse itself and allow for new absentee ballots to be cast, “some voters will not be able to truly participate in our Democratic primary process,” Democratic Party Chairman Devin Remiker said in a statement.

He said the party asked for the reversal after checking with all five of the candidates actively campaigning for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Rodriguez ended her campaign after discovering that she had far less money on hand than she thought. She blamed her campaign manager for double counting donations and underreporting expenses. A day after she dropped out, Crowley rejoined the race. He had gotten out on July 8 and endorsed Rodriguez.

Both Crowley and Hughes were at the bottom of the field in public opinion polls before they dropped out. Hughes ended her campaign June 22 and said Democrats needed to coalesce around a candidate who could win in November. She endorsed Rodriguez, who then dropped out less than a month later.

Absentee voting by mail has been going on since late June and early in-person voting begins on July 28. Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming criticized the push by Democrats to allow early absentee voters to cast a fresh ballot.

“Their primary is already chaotic enough," he said. “Election laws should not be changed to rescue one party from the consequences of its own actions.”

Fight over recasting absentee ballots dates to 2022

The rarely used practice known as ballot spoiling was the subject of a lawsuit in 2022. A Waukesha County judge sided with a Republican group that brought the lawsuit, ruling in October 2022 that the elections commission must rescind its guidance allowing for spoiling of ballots. But a state appeals court put that on hold just weeks before the midterm election that year.

And then in February, a state appeals court repealed the ruling, saying the lawsuit was not properly served. The appeals court did not address the merits of the case.

Despite that ruling, the elections commission voted 4-2 to prohibit voters who have already turned in their absentee ballot from getting a new one. One Democratic commissioner joined with three Republicans in voting in favor of the prohibition. Two Democrats voted against it.

It's rare for absentee voters in Wisconsin to seek a new ballot

There’s no way to know how many of the spoiled ballots were from Democrats or Republicans because voters in Wisconsin do not register by party. Voters who obtained an absentee ballot, but have not yet voted and want to obtain a new one, can still do that.

Previously in Wisconsin, voters who had submitted an absentee ballot could spoil it and cast a new ballot up to three times for any reason. But it very rarely happened.

From the 2018 midterms through the 2022 primary, less than 1% of all votes cast were cast by people who cast a new absentee ballot after spoiling an earlier one, data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission showed.

Private mission launches to extend life of out-of-gas communication satellites

Marcia Dunn, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:16:18 +0000

A two-armed space robot blasted off on a private salvage operation Tuesday to slap life-extending jetpacks on old satellites running low on fuel thousands of miles up.

It’s the second satellite-saving mission to launch this month, all part of a growing, money-saving effort to keep spacecraft running as long as possible. Another company’s three-armed spacecraft rocketed into orbit on July 3 to boost NASA’s Swift Observatory so it doesn’t crash to Earth this fall.

Launched by SpaceX, Northrop Grumman’s mission robotic vehicle — dubbed MRV — and its jetpacks will spend the next year angling into the proper orbit 22,300 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth. Hundreds of satellites orbit at this so-called geosynchronous orbit, where they match the speed of Earth's rotation and keep to the same part of the sky for continuous coverage.

Once in place by mid-2027, the minivan-sized spacecraft will use its 10-foot (9-meter) arms to attach a jetpack to an aging communication satellite. Then it will zip off to two more satellites in need.

For its debut flight, the spacecraft carried three electric-propelled jetpacks that were programmed to peel away following liftoff and, like the MRV, use their own xenon gas thrusters to get to the desired orbit. The jetpacks will wait for the robot to grab them, one at a time, and plug them into their designated satellites.

Each jetpack — the size of a washing machine — will provide the necessary oomph for an out-of-gas satellite to keep operating for several more years instead of retiring. If it works, it will be a boon for satellite operators SES of Luxembourg and Optus of Australia, saving them millions of dollars in replacement costs.

This is Northrop Grumman's latest foray into the satellite-servicing business. In 2019 and again in 2020, the company launched a pair of spacecraft that latched onto faltering communication satellites and steered them, providing extra years of life.

Northrop Grumman designed its new robotic helpers to be even more resourceful. The company envisions future versions repairing and relocating live satellites, and even latching onto dead ones for removal from highly trafficked orbits. The company is collaborating with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Katalyst Space Technologies, meanwhile, continues to test its Link satellite helper in orbit before rushing to the Swift Observatory's rescue. Flight controllers had to overcome initial communication and pointing problems with Link, beaming up software patches.

Launched in 2004, NASA's Swift telescope has been sinking faster than usual because of all the recent solar activity. A boost by Link in the coming weeks could give the nearly $400 million gamma ray observatory many more years of studying some of the biggest explosions in the universe.

NASA is paying Kataylst $30 million to raise Swift to its original 373-mile (600-kilometer) altitude. Northrop Grumman provided Link's ride to orbit, using a plane-launched Pegasus rocket.

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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.

Arson charge lodged against ex-Army soldier in fiery attack on Manhattan federal building

Michael R. Sisak And Larry Neumeister, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:10:46 +0000

An arson charge was lodged Tuesday against a former Army soldier who was detained without bail after a prosecutor said he gave investigators a lengthy confession detailing his fiery attack on a federal building in Manhattan that houses immigration court proceedings.

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, was charged in Manhattan federal court a day after the attack at 26 Federal Plaza that injured three people when authorities say he set off a sidewalk fire, ignited fireworks and fired a pellet gun before security officers subdued him. The building is two blocks from the courthouse.

Arrabaca, a U.S. citizen, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky, who immediately conducted a bail hearing.

Prosecutor Samantha Fry urged detention without bail, saying Arrabaca is a danger to the community and a flight risk. She said Arrabaca, while living in his car, had planned the attack since January, buying supplies in upstate New York including weapons such as two hatchets, a mallet, a hammer and fireworks.

She noted that only a few people were injured, but said "this attack could have ended much more tragically” at a building where hundreds of federal employees work. She said the evidence was overwhelming on a charge that carries a potential mandatory minimum of seven years in prison.

Defense lawyer Jennifer Brown urged that Arrabaca should be released into a Veterans Health Administration locked-ward psychiatric evaluation program, saying that he has no criminal history and has long been a resident of New York with a long history of employment until recently.

“There’s an underlying mental health issue going on here,” she said.

Brown said Arrabaca intended to damage property rather than people. Fry insisted that Arrabaca, during his lengthy confession to investigators, detailed what he did and why and “was aware people could be hurt and was willing to accept this risk.”

The building has been a hub of protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

At a news conference Monday, authorities said that Arrabaca, wearing a military-style helmet, dragged a cart featuring a sign that said “ICE Off Our Streets” up to an employee entrance at the building before igniting a large firework. He then fired several airsoft rifle pellets at the building and ignited gasoline he'd spread on the sidewalk.

He was subdued and apprehended by two Federal Protective Service officers and a security contractor, according to James Barnacle, who leads the FBI’s New York field office.

Barnacle said Arrabaca, formerly a resident of Harlem and Poughkeepsie, made “anti-government and anti-American statements” as he was arrested and told investigators that he didn't care if he killed people.

Although the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating, Barnacle did not label the attack terrorism.

Two government employees and a civilian who was going to immigration court were injured, along with a bystander who was grazed by the fireworks, authorities said, though only one person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Barnacle said Arrabaca, who repaired Patriot missile systems in the Army from 2001 to 2005, derided ICE with profanities during his arrest. In addition to the pellet gun, Barnacle said, Arrabaca had two axes, three fixed-blade knives, a hammer and a machete. An Army spokesperson said Arrabaca had no deployments and left the Army as a specialist, including a one-year stint in the Army National Guard-New York.

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Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

US civil rights agency moves to end demographic data collection after 60 years

Alexandra Olson And Claire Savage, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:29:07 +0000

How many women hold executive-level positions at top U.S. companies? What is the racial and ethnic breakdown of those roles? What is the gender and racial breakdown of the lowest-paid roles at those companies?

The Trump administration is making it harder for the public to know, moving to toss aside a 60-year-old requirement for tens of thousands of private sector employers to submit workforce demographic reports each year to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws in the workplace.

The EEOC's Republican majority voted 2-1 Tuesday to rescind the data collection requirement, submitting the proposal to a 30-day public commentary period before final approval. The proposal is a quiet but profound salvo in President Donald Trump's shake up of civil rights enforcement, ending a practice that has endured through 10 Republican and Democratic administrations.

EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, an outspoken critic of diversity and inclusion practices who has urged white men to come forward with discrimination complaints, argued that requiring companies to submit the annual demographic reports risks encouraging companies to justify discriminatory practices to diversify their workforce.

“It may promote racial stereotyping at work, and it may encourage employers to engage in discrimination," Lucas said during a hearing ahead of the vote.

Former Democratic EEOC commissioners and civil rights organizations have denounced the proposal, saying it will deprive the agency of a critical tool for uncovering discrimination patterns and tracking how women and racial minorities have fared since the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which created the EEOC and prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin and religion.

The EEOC, which receives more than 88,000 worker complaints each year, has historically used the data to guide its enforcement priorities and inform some of its investigations.

Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal, the sole Democrat left on the EEOC since Trump moved to wrest control of the agency, voted against the proposal.

“Today, the commission discusses whether to turn back time to a period before the civil rights movement, kneecapping its ability to protect workers,” Kotagal said.

Here's what to know about the reporting requirement and the proposal to end it:

How the EEOC has collected the data

Since 1966, the EEOC has required companies with at least 100 employees, or federal contractors with at least 50 workers, to submit a form called the EEO-1 each year.

The form, which has evolved over time, identifies 10 job categories from “Executive/Senior Level Officials and Managers” to “Laborers” and “Service Workers.” It asks employers to report on the number male and female workers in each job category, as well as the number of workers from different race and ethnicities: Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, American Indian or Alaska Native and two or more races.

The data typically covers more than 50 million employees and 73,000 employers nationwide.

A view into gender and race in the private sector

The EEOC launched during the Biden administration an interactive tool allowing the public to explore historical demographic metrics across industries and job categories. The most recent data is from 2023. Under the Trump administration, the EEOC last collected EEO-1 data for the year 2024 but has not publicly disclosed it. Collection of the year 2025 would have begun this year.

The data shows white men dominating executive and senior manager roles at private companies, though women and minorities have made inroads, especially in the years following the #MeToo and Black Lives Matters movements.

Women remain underrepresented in the top ranks of companies. While they make up nearly half the workforce at the companies surveyed, women held just 34.5% of executives and senior manager roles in 2023. That was up from 29.2% a decade earlier.

White and Asian women made the fastest gains, and by 2023, were no longer underrepresented in senior roles compared to their numbers in the overall workforce. In contrast, Black and Hispanic women remained sharply underrepresented in executive and senior manager roles despite making modest gains.

Asian men have been proportionally represented in senior roles for years, while Black and Hispanic men remained underrepresented in 2023.

Of those demographic groups, only one was overrepresented in senior roles: white men, who made up a third of the overall workforce at the companies surveyed but held 52.7% of executive and senior management roles.

Why the government wants to end the data collection

Lucas said the annual reporting requirements impose “hundreds of millions of dollars” on costs on employers, a burden she argued was unnecessary absent “any allegation, indication, or evidence of discrimination.”

The move was recommended by Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundation’s blueprint that has guided many of the Trump administration’s policies.

A group of former Democratic EEOC commissioners and legal counselors said there is little evidence that companies are routinely using employment data to engage in quotas or race-based hiring.

“This is simply inaccurate and unsupported speculation, at odds with the ways in which this data is actually collected, managed and used,” the former officials said in a statement.

Instead, the officials said, tracking such data encourages companies to proactively examine their hiring, promotion, benefits and other policies to ensure they are not unnecessarily erecting barriers.

Kotagal said the agency has used the data to determine whether a discrimination charge might be part of a deeper pattern at a company. She cited a recent investigation of California supermarket chain Vallarta Food Enterprises, in which the EEOC alleges the grocer failed or refused to recruit, hire or promote non-Hispanic individuals. In that case, EEO-1 data showed that “nearly 100 percent of its employees were Hispanic,” Kotagal said. “It’s a key tool in our toolbox.”

The agency has also issued special reports on demographic employment trends across certain industries or roles.

Kotagal highlighted a 2024 report on the tech sector, which showed that women had made virtually no gains between 2014 and 2022, and that workers under 40 years old had actually lost ground. The report also found tech company workers were more likely that others to file age or pay discrimination charges, suggesting systemic barriers to women and older workers in the industry.

The report has been removed from the EEOC’s website.

Corporate retreat from demographic disclosure

The EEOC is prohibited from publicly releasing an individual company’s EEO-1 form, only publishing the information in the aggregate. In recent years, however, a growing number of the country’s top companies began publicly releasing their forms in response to pressure from shareholders and Democratic elected officials to show transparency in their diversity efforts.

Many of those companies have complained that job categories in the EEO-1 forms don't align with their internal structures, a point Lucas echoed Tuesday, saying the categories don't reflect the modern workforce. But advocates of EEO-1 disclosure argued it's the only standardized form that allows for comparison across companies, and offer more detail.

However, the trend toward transparency has started to reverse.

Companies have started to pull back on publicizing both EEO-1 forms and their own diversity reports, which conservative advocates and the Trump administration have seized on to argue that companies are using discriminatory tactics to add women and minorities to their ranks.

In 2025, 24 companies in the S&P 100 — the largest U.S. publicly traded companies — chose not to disclose their EEO-1 data after having done so the year before, according to Andrew Jones, principal researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center. Still, 60 S&P 100 companies did release the data.

Meanwhile, fewer companies are publicizing any form of demographic metrics. The number of Russell 3,000 companies that disclosed metrics on women in the workforce fell from 75% in 2024 to 62% in 2025, according to a study by The Conference Board. Those disclosing metrics on minority representation fell from 30.9% to 26.5%.

Why companies may keep gathering data

Companies are still likely to keep track of their demographic data, whether or not they disclose any of those metrics publicly, and even if they are no longer required to submit annual EEO-1 reports. That's because Title VII requires employers to keep records that could be pertinent to any discrimination investigation, and the EEOC is empowered to request them.

“What we are generally advising is to stay the course,” Jennifer Robins, counsel in law firm Saul Ewing’s Labor and Employment Group. “Private litigants, employment discrimination lawsuits are not going away, and this data is helpful to defending oneself.”

The EEOC has demanded extensive demographic data from companies to bolster Lucas' own marquee cases. Those include an investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices of sports giant Nike, which Lucas has alleged discriminate against white employees; a lawsuit against the New York Times for allegedly discriminating against a white man who was passed over for a promotion, and an investigation into alleged antisemitism against staff at the University of Pennsylvania.

Lucas emphasized Tuesday that the EEOC would continue to demand data in the course of its investigations. Kotagal warned employers that under future leadership, the EEOC could reinstitute the EEO-1 collection.

Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, said she sees the elimination of EEO-1 data as part of an effort to obscure the prevalence of discrimination against racial minorities and women and create of a sense of urgency around protecting white workers from DEI-related policies.

But Frye said the data "doesn’t suggest that their top priority ought to be discrimination against white men.

"If the chair is moving forward with an agenda that thinks she ought to be focused on men and ought to be focused on white people, my answer is, ‘Well, does the data tell you that?’” Frye said.

___

The Associated Press’ women in the workforce coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. 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.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy fires his military chief after protests and names a replacement

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:55:16 +0000

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces and named his replacement, following days of mass protests in Kyiv, the country's capital, and other cities across the nation demanding his removal.

It was the second major change Zelenskyy has made under street pressure, after protests last summer forced him to undo a law weakening Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs.

Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief, according to a statement on social media. “Our shared wish is one — victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader said he made the decision after a series of meetings with military commanders. They began shortly after protests broke out demanding the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, seen by demonstrators as a driver of military modernization, and the removal of Syrskyi, who they said embodied the army’s old, Soviet-style command culture.

Zelenskyy thanked Syrskyi for his achievements in Ukraine's fight against Russia and praised him for the defense of Kyiv and for operations in Kharkiv and Kursk.

“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to every one of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions,” he said. “I am grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi for holding that same view.”

Drapatyi wrote in a Facebook post that serving Ukraine "has always been an honor for me, and during this war for independence, it means absolute responsibility.” He thanked Syrskyi for his consistent work strengthening the Ukrainian military.

“I grew up in it,” he added, referring to the army. “I will work responsibly, with focus and with respect for the people defending our state today.”

Zelenskyy said Drapatyi and other commanders must present an updated defense strategy, including continued reform of the corps system, faster weapons and drone deliveries, stronger air defense against Russian strikes and a clearer mobilization plan.

Former defense minister's future in the government remains unclear

Zelenskyy met separately with Fedorov on Tuesday and offered him what he called a respected position in the government that would unify the country’s technology sector. It wasn't clear if Fedorov accepted the offer — or whether the latest moves would satisfy protesters and calm the streets.

Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi, calling the appointment “new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice” and “a voice for change that could not go unheard.”

Fedorov had criticized Syrskyi publicly before his dismissal, saying the general was blocking his reform efforts and needed to be replaced for Ukraine not to fail in its resistance against Russia. He said Ukrainians’ high expectations must now be met with a clear vision for ending the war, decisive action to preserve soldiers’ lives, expand robotic warfare at the front, strike asymmetrically and exhaust Russia’s economy.

Fedorov called Syrskyi to thank him for defending the Kyiv region, the Kharkiv operation and other battles, calling it “already an important part of Ukraine’s history” but adding that the country must “move even faster and write new chapters, correcting all previous mistakes.”

The army chief's dismissal was sparked by protests

The crisis began last Thursday, when Zelenskyy overhauled his wartime government, replacing his prime minister and firing Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister after just six months in the post.

Zelenskyy cited an unworkable rift between Fedorov and Syrskyi, telling reporters that as the two couldn’t resolve their dispute, he would “have to resolve it.”

Following his dismissal, Fedorov publicly accused Syrskyi of blocking military reforms and fostering a top-down command culture, criticism that echoed complaints from soldiers and veterans over heavy casualties in costly front-line assaults.

The reshuffle immediately drew thousands of protesters into the streets of Kyiv and other cities, framing Fedorov’s removal as Zelenskyy siding with an entrenched military old guard over a reformer.

The backlash promptly spread to inside the military: the Air Force’s deputy commander resigned in protest, warning the move would weaken Ukraine’s air defenses; veterans and soldiers on leave joined the protests in Kyiv and other cities, and numerous public figures among soldiers spoke out publicly against Syrskyi on social media.

Criticism of the military chief had escalated

Syrskyi has long been associated with a Soviet-style, top-down command culture, and many protesters said they wanted a new generation of generals who would place a higher priority on preserving soldiers’ lives.

Within the military, Syrskyi has earned the gruesome nickname of “Butcher,” which particularly spread during his command of the defense of Bakhmut, one of the war’s longest and costliest battles.

His already precarious public standing eroded further after Ukrainian outlet Babel published an investigation in June detailing allegations of abuse within the Skelia assault regiment, a unit closely associated with Syrskyi that has reportedly suffered higher-than-average battlefield losses. The investigation documented dozens of deaths among recruits.

US sends food for Cuban residents while still pressuring island's government

Daniel Kozin And David Fischer, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:14:22 +0000

A Cuba-bound cargo plane carrying food and hygiene kits left Miami on Tuesday under U.S. efforts to give direct assistance to the island's residents while continuing to pressure their government.

The flight carrying 700 packages is meant to bypass the Cuban government, with the items distributed directly to the Cuban people by Catholic groups in Cuba, according to the U.S. State Department.

Tuesday’s shipment is a $60 million first tranche of a total of $100 million the U.S. offered to Cuba some time ago. It comes after months of intensified U.S. pressure on the Cuban government and government-related institutions that has focused mainly on imposing significant sanctions against the country’s military and intelligence apparatus. The imposition of an energy and oil blockade has practically paralyzed the Cuban economy and the daily lives of people on the island.

The latest iteration of this was a lengthy document released by the State Department on Monday accusing Cuba of running a vast espionage and left-wing influence operation in the United States over the past five decades.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, has taken a personal interest in pushing Cuba to make changes to its socialist system, while President Donald Trump has on several occasions suggested that the U.S. could take military action to topple the island’s communist government.

Jeremy Lewin, the State Department’s senior official for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom, said the partnership builds upon a program that last year delivered $9 million in direct support to the island following Hurricane Melissa.

He said challenges have included convincing the Cuban government to allow the aid’s distribution and agree not to intercept and take it for themselves. Lewin said that since local priests and Catholic groups are distributing the assistance directly, “there’s very little, if any, opportunity for the regime to interfere with the delivery of the assistance.”

Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, said he visited the island a few weeks ago to ensure accountability for the aid's distribution.

“We’re hoping that this is one small step forward on the humanitarian side,” Callahan said. “But hopefully we’ll bring the people of the United States and Cuba together into the future.”

Neither the Cuban government nor its press reported on Tuesday's humanitarian flight from the U.S.

In early July, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez dismissed the announcements of aid that had yet to arrive as “fantasy,” while downplaying the amount in contrast to all the losses the island suffers daily due to the energy blockade and sanctions imposed by the U.S.

“One hundred million dollars would certainly help, although we must acknowledge that it only amounts to five days of the blockade,” the foreign minister said.

___ Associated Press reporters Matthew Lee contributed from Washington, and Andrea Rodriguez contributed from Havana. Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Morgan Rogers 'so excited' after sealing British record $156.5M move from Aston Villa to Chelsea

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:47:05 +0000

The England World Cup forward Morgan Rogers completed his British transfer record move from Aston Villa to Premier League rival Chelsea on Tuesday.

No fee was officially disclosed but media reports say it is worth 117 million pounds ($156.5 million), which surpasses England teammate Elliot Anderson's 116 million pounds ($155 million) switch from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City earlier this month.

The all-time record Premier League transfer is still Sweden striker Alexander Isak's 125 million pounds ($167 million) move from Newcastle to Liverpool last year.

The 23-year-old Rogers, established as one of the Premier League's top attacking talents, has signed a contract with the London team until 2033.

“I’m so excited,” he told the club's website. "For me, Chelsea are the biggest club in London and a club I’ve always admired since I was a kid.

“I’m really excited about the project with the new manager, the players we’ve got and where the club is heading. That’s why I’m here and I can’t wait to get started.”

Rogers is the third major signing made in the offseason by new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, following wingbacks Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda.

Rogers was in England's team beaten at the World Cup last Wednesday. Trailing 1-0 going into the 85th minute of their semifinal, Argentina rallied for a 2-1 victory.

He scored 21 goals in 85 Premier League appearances for Villa, and last season helped guide the club to a top-four finish and to the Europa League title.

Rogers joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 for a reported fee of 8 million pounds.

He made his England debut in November 2024 and has now won 22 caps for his country.

___

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

Trump says US-Lebanon flights can resume, pledges help for that country after meeting its president

Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:59:55 +0000

President Donald Trump pledged to help Lebanon “a lot” during a White House meeting on Tuesday with the country’s leader, Joseph Aoun, who came to push for long-term calm after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

The U.S. has championed peace in Lebanon but has been increasingly distracted by new escalation of the war in Iran, which has destabilized much of the Middle East. Trump says he now has little interest in talks with Iran’s leaders to end the war.

In the meantime, Lebanon and Israel have held rare direct talks mediated by Washington.

“It’s been a very badly treated place and country, and we’re going to have it properly treated and treated with the respect it deserves,” Trump told Aoun during a meeting which wrapped the Lebanese leader’s four-day visit to Washington. “We’re gonna help it a lot,” he said of Lebanon, without giving concrete details.

Hours later, Trump made the surprise announcement that he’d allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon for the first time in 40-plus years after the US suspended the route.

“I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land,” Trump said on social media after Aoun had left the White House.

It is highly unlikely U.S. carriers will want to fly into Lebanon in the near future, however, as the situation in Iran disrupts larger air traffic and questions Hezbollah's influence in parts of the country remain. Direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by the Reagan administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

Lebanon hopes the Washington talks result in Israeli troops withdrawing from large swaths of southern Lebanon that they currently occupy, and the Lebanese military receiving support to assert full control in areas where Hezbollah militants had held sway.

Trump said of Israel’s army withdrawing from Lebanon, “They’re in the process of doing that,” but didn't elaborate.

Aoun told Trump, “Your vision is peace,” calling it Trump's “legacy.” He also said Trump was a “great president.”

Trump responded by joking, “I do agree with that” and said Aoun was handsome and “knows how to get to me,” adding, “Now he can have anything.”

A framework agreement is being tested

Lebanon and Israel announced a “framework agreement” on June 26, setting a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw and for the disarmament of Hezbollah, which for decades had a strong presence in southern Lebanon. The deal's implementation was to begin in small “pilot zones.”

The U.S. State Department said Monday that operations in three villages of one pilot zone had begun. Two of them — Froun and Srifa — were not under Israeli military control to begin with, and the Lebanese army was already present there, while Israeli forces were at one point in a part of the third village, Zawtar al-Gharbieh.

The Israeli military said it would “adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas in order to enable the Lebanese Armed Forces to carry out their mission,” without specifying the location.

The Lebanese army said it began deploying troops in Zawtar al-Gharbieh.

The June 26 agreement also lays out steps toward an eventual Israel-Lebanon peace agreement. The two countries have never had formal diplomatic ties and have been nominally in a state of war for nearly 80 years after Israel’s establishment.

Trump noted Tuesday of Lebanon, “There’s a Hezbollah problem” and suggested that he personally could speak with that group if Aoun wanted him to. He also again floated the idea of having Syria intervene to fight Hezbollah — though he didn't fully commit to that.

Such a concept would be highly unpopular in Lebanon and potentially embarrass Aoun.

Confusion over pilot zone implementation

It remained unclear whether Israeli troops actually withdrew from any territory. A Lebanese military official said the Lebanese army was unsure whether Israeli forces had been in Zawtar al-Gharbieh before Tuesday, but that they were in adjacent areas and would open fire on anyone who tried to enter.

An Israeli military official said Israeli forces had not been in Zawtar al-Gharbieh “for quite a time” and “we didn’t withdraw from there.” Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with military regulations.

Still, the pilot zones got off to a rocky start.

The Lebanese military said Israeli troops fired Tuesday near an area where they were deploying. The Israeli military said Lebanese soldiers had entered an area that was not part of the pilot zone and Israeli troops fired warning shots in the air.

The Lebanese army disputed this, saying its soldiers were within the pilot zone when Israeli troops opened fire. It called on Israel to resolve disputes through “established coordination and communication channels, instead of resorting to aggression.”

A village mayor is cautious

Abed Ezzeldine, mayor of Zawtar al-Gharbieh, was waiting for word from the Lebanese military on whether it's safe for displaced residents to check on their homes.

He said the civilians would go in, but “only to check it out and see how things are and then we will leave.”

“We can’t stay because the infrastructure is completely damaged and houses have been leveled. They (the Israelis) have bulldozed the roads,” he added.

The Lebanese military last week increased its presence in some of the areas expected to be included in the pilot zone, with troops patrolling and setting up checkpoints.

Rubio says US will support the framework agreement

Aoun also met Sunday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Washington will continue to endorse the Lebanese agreement. Rubio warned that Lebanon will “never be fully at peace” as long as the Hezbollah issue is not resolved.

“How do you replace Hezbollah? You defeat and replace them with a government that is strong enough to be the sole force of arms in the country,” Rubio said.

Skeptics in Lebanon fear that a military confrontation with Hezbollah could lead to a civil war.

Government officials have urged investment in the country's battered infrastructure to empower the weakened state, which Rubio echoed.

Israel plans on a long-term presence

Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said they plan to keep troops long-term in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has dismissed the U.S.-brokered direct talks and instead backed Washington’s talks with its key ally and patron Iran to end their war, which includes ending the war in Lebanon as a condition.

Lebanon’s government came to power on a reformist platform in early 2025, vowing to disarm all non-state groups, including Hezbollah, which it blames for dragging the country into another war with Israel in March, when the militant group fired several rockets toward northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

Beirut's leadership, however, has condemned Israel’s subsequent ground invasion and massive aerial campaign in the country, which has killed over 4,000 people and displaced 1.2 million others.

While grappling with stark political opposition from Hezbollah and allies within the deeply divided country, Lebanon's leadership insists that Israeli withdrawal and international financial support for Lebanon’s cash-strapped army are crucial for a sustainable security solution.

___

Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Giovanna Dell'Orto and Erin Cunningham in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5 billion as he defends funding request to Congress

Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:55:59 +0000

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced questions and protests Tuesday over the U.S. war with Iran, which he estimated has cost $37.5 billion so far, as Republicans prepare a $95 billion GOP budget package to fund the military, along with other White House priorities.

Hegseth provided the new estimate, up from earlier assessments, during a fiery hearing at the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senators asked pointed questions and several times protesters interrupted Hegseth's opening remarks, which came days after the Pentagon announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17, and that more than 100 have been injured since early July.

Hegseth said the supplemental war funding is an “urgent, necessary” injection of money, and with President Donald Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget a generational investment in the military.

“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls,” Hegseth testified.

But Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the panel, warned of "another forever war.”

“This war is now spiraling out of control again,” Murray said in her opening remarks.

She said Trump has said repeatedly that "a deal is near, and the war will be over soon. But now, he’s asking for $70 billion more — and for us to just trust him it’ll all work out fine.”

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins were also testifying before the panel. The proposed budget package includes $60 billion and $12 billion for other national security needs, along with $10 billion for farm aid and $10 billion for voting law changes.

Before the hearing, the White House issued a statement urging support of the budget resolution, “without modification — immediately.”

War funds make up the bulk of the GOP budget plan

War funding makes up the bulk of the GOP's new budget proposal, one last priority package the Republicans hope to launch before lawmakers recess to campaign for the midterm elections. The package aims to help farmers struggling under Trump's tariffs and to pay for voter law changes, none of it paid for with offsets.

Most Americans continue to disapprove of how Trump is handling Iran, according to an AP-NORC poll. Gas prices have spiked as Iran works to control oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. munitions are running low from the onslaught of American missile strikes and Trump has shifted away from his own campaign promise not to draw the U.S. into prolonged military conflicts.

Nevertheless, Trump has showed no signs of backing off the war, and the Republicans have largely refused to confront his strategy or use Congress' power of the purse and war powers authority to halt the conflict.

“The commander in chief and the whole Department of War are working very hard to bring this to a resolution,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson at his weekly press conference Tuesday.

Hegseth faces questions over war and his own leadership

Hegseth appeared before the panel facing a torrent of questions about not only the war, but his own leadership of the department.

Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the committee, opened the hearing saying it's “deeply troubling” that the Pentagon has blocked or denied promotions to various officers, particularly women and minorities.

“This is likely to discourage well-qualified women and individuals of color from joining our armed forces, thus depriving us of their talent, dedication and patriotism,” Collins said.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire questioned why Hegseth is asking for more money when the department has not yet spent about half the $150 billion Republicans provided the Pentagon in last year's big budget bill.

“Why are you asking the American people to absorb the cost of a war they don't support?” asked Shaheen, who is also the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.

When Hegseth started describing the “historic nature” of Trump's military strategy, she cut him off.

Hegseth later explained that the rest of last year's budget package would be spent by September.

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana was among several senators demanding answers over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, asking if Iran will impose tolls on what historically has been an open waterway vital to the flow of oil.

Caine said, “That’s a hypothetical question, and I don’t know the answer to that.”

But Kennedy retorted: “Guys, we need straight answers.”

When GOP Sen. Mike Rounds wanted to know if this request would be enough to “get the job done,” the general demurred.

“I can’t answer the question on what it will cost, because the enemy has a vote,” Caine said.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told Hegseth his war claims don't add up.

Has the U.S. obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities or not, she demanded to know.

“We're staying laser-focused on the objective,” Hegseth responded, “and you're trying to make campaign commercials.”

This week, the Senate will consider another war powers resolution, having voted nearly a dozen times to try to halt the conflict. The House has approved a war powers resolution limiting Trump’s ability to wage war, with a few Republicans joining the Democrats to pass the measure, but no resolution has cleared both chambers to be sent to the president's desk.

Republicans work to pass budget over Democratic objections

The GOP budget proposal is expected to flow through the reconciliation process, which enables the majority to approve the plan on its own, over the objections of Democrats in the minority.

It's the same lengthy process Republicans used to approve Trump's big tax cuts bill last summer, as well as Homeland Security money earlier this year.

The proposal is headed toward a House vote this week, which would start the process by instructing various committees to begin drafting the legislation. Johnson can afford only a few defectors from his slim majority, and some conservatives want the funding offset with spending reductions elsewhere.

GOP senators have so far panned the House budget plan, but are waiting to see if Johnson can kickstart the process.

___

Associated Press writers Matt Brown and Ben Finley contributed to this report.

The world’s fragrance community comes together at FRAGCON in Houston

Javana Vela — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:46:31 +0000

From longtime collectors to those searching for their very first signature scent, fragrance lovers have something new to experience in Houston.

The inaugural Global Fragrance Convention, known as FRAGCON, is bringing together fragrance houses, independent brands, perfumers, retailers, content creators, and enthusiasts from around the world for a first-of-its-kind event celebrating the art and community of fragrance.

Founder and Executive Producer Clara Igwala-Anumege created FRAGCON after noticing a gap in the industry. While fragrance expos and trade shows exist, there wasn’t a convention dedicated to bringing the entire fragrance community together. Inspired by the thriving online fragrance community on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, she envisioned an event where people who have connected virtually could finally meet in person.

Attendees can sample new fragrances, meet the people behind their favorite brands, discover emerging perfumers, and learn more about the craftsmanship and storytelling that goes into every bottle. Whether you’re new to fragrance or have an extensive collection, FRAGCON is designed to welcome everyone.

The event also highlights Houston’s growing role as an international destination, with brands and attendees traveling from across the United States and countries around the world to be part of the experience including Houston-based brands Atelier Élixir, Hustlers Scents, and Vice of Vieve plus Italian brand Tiziana Terenzi.

For tickets and more information, visit GlobalFragranceConvention.com

Detials for the inaugural Global Fragrance Convention FRAGCON

Man dead, suspect detained after telling deputies he shot his brother in Porter

Christian Terry — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:20:47 +0000

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a man has been detained after authorities say he allegedly shot and killed his brother in the Porter area Tuesday.

Authorities say it happened in the 20700 block of Kenswick Park Drive.

According to the sheriff’s office, they received a call just before 8 a.m. from a man who stated he had just shot his brother.

Deputies arrived at the scene and found the victim. They attempted life-saving measures, but the man died at the scene.

Surveillance shows man minutes before allegedly setting Cypresswood apartment on fire that killed his brother

The suspect was detained. Authorities say there is no threat to the public.

Officials with the sheriff’s office identified the suspect as 21-year-old Jesse Myers.

He has been booked into the Montgomery County Jail and is charged with murder.

Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens in the Gulf, but significant Houston impacts are not expected

Anthony Yanez — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:28:25 +0000

Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened Tuesday afternoon as it moved slowly through the northeastern Gulf, but the latest forecast continues to show the system weakening before it reaches Southeast Texas.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Bertha had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was located about 105 miles south-southeast of Mobile, Alabama. The storm was moving northwest at 6 mph with a minimum pressure of 995 millibars. Bertha is expected to turn westward and move near or along the northern Gulf Coast through Friday.

Tropical Storm Bertha Track

The current forecast brings a weakening Bertha toward the Upper Texas coast late Thursday into Friday, potentially as a weak tropical depression—or the system could dissipate before arriving.

Significant impacts are not expected across Southeast Texas at this time. Strong northerly wind shear has pushed most of Bertha’s thunderstorms and strongest winds south of its center, which should keep much of the heavier rain offshore as the system approaches.

A few showers and thunderstorms will still be possible near the coast Thursday and Friday, but widespread heavy rainfall is not currently anticipated. The National Weather Service estimates only about a 10% chance of receiving more than one inch of rain near the barrier islands, with lower chances inland. Even a reasonable worst-case forecast generally keeps totals below one inch south of Interstate 10.

Gusty winds and seas as high as 6 feet could develop over the coastal waters, and the rip-current risk will likely increase at area beaches. The probability of tropical-storm-force winds reaching inland communities remains below 5%, and no significant coastal flooding is expected under the current forecast.

Early impacts are being felt first across the Florida Panhandle, there are currently Tropical Storm watches and warnings extending to Louisiana.

Tropical storm alerts extended along the Gulf Coast:

A Tropical Storm Warning stretches from the Florida Panhandle to Morgan City, Louisiana, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A Tropical Storm Watch extends farther west to Cameron, Louisiana.

Tropical storm conditions will spread westward along portions of the northern Gulf Coast Tuesday night and Wednesday. Bertha could also produce a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet near the mouth of the Mississippi River, with 1 to 3 feet possible across other portions of the central Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Alerts

Forecast Rainfall:

Bertha is expected to produce a widespread 2 to 4 inches of rain from the Florida Panhandle through southern Louisiana, with isolated totals near 6 inches possible through Thursday.

The heaviest rainfall should remain east of Houston and could lead to localized flash flooding, particularly in urban areas along the central Gulf Coast.

Forecast Rainfall

Do not panic, instead check on the forecast daily as we monitor the trends. If you feel like you need more information, click below:

KPRC 2’s 2026 Hurricane & Flood Survival Guide

Extreme heat warning issued for Houston as temperatures soar to 100 degrees

Anthony Yanez, Justin Stapleton — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:40:25 +0000

Tonight’s Temps:

Houston will get very little relief from the heat overnight. Skies will remain mostly clear, with temperatures only falling into the upper 70s to lower 80s. The warm and humid night will set the stage for dangerous heat to build quickly again Wednesday morning.

Wednesday’s Forecast:

An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday across the Houston area. Afternoon temperatures are expected to climb near 102 degrees, while the combination of heat and humidity could make it feel as hot as 115. Some communities north of Houston could experience heat index values approaching 120. Limit strenuous outdoor activity, take frequent breaks in air conditioning and drink plenty of water. Never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle.

Wednesday Afternoon Heat Index

Tracking the tropics: Tropical Storm Bertha

The current forecast brings a weakening Bertha toward the Upper Texas coast late Thursday into Friday, potentially as a weak tropical depression or the system could dissipate before arriving.

Tropical Storm Bertha Track

Impacts for southeast Texas are expected to be minimal, aside from some stronger surf and occasional rain bands moving through Wednesday night and Thursday.

Forecast Rainfall

Read more about the storm’s potential path changes: Tropical Storm Bertha forms in the Gulf and tracks into Houston late week

10 Day Forecast:

A few isolated showers or thunderstorms could briefly interrupt the heat Wednesday and Thursday, but most neighborhoods will stay dry. Highs dip into the upper 90s from Thursday through the weekend before returning to around 100 early next week. Overnight lows will remain unusually warm, generally hovering near 80 degrees, offering little relief after sunset.

10 Day Forecast

MLB players propose expanded draft eligibility in another sign of looming labor confrontation

Ronald Blum, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:03:35 +0000

Baseball players proposed expanding eligibility for the amateur draft rather than decreasing it, maintaining 20 rounds of selections and moving it back to June in a signal the sport is heading to a labor confrontation this offseason.

During a two-hour bargaining session Tuesday at Major League Baseball’s headquarters, the union proposed allowing college sophomores to be eligible for the draft along with those finishing their junior years, a group eligible under the current rules along with high school seniors.

Players proposed moving the draft back to June, when it was held through 2020. They asked that draft slot values continue to be increased at the same percentage as industry revenue through 2027 and may not be decreased for the remainder of the agreement.

Baseball’s five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1 and a management lockout is expected that would halt offseason trades and signings, and threaten the start of spring training workouts on Feb. 9 and opening day on March 24.

MLB in May proposed a salary cap for the first time since players fought off a proposal during a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95 that led to the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years. Players vow never to accept a cap.

MLB said last month it wanted to eliminate eligibility for high school seniors and junior college players, arguing college programs offer better preparation for professional careers. MLB also proposed cutting the draft to 12 rounds in 2027.

The union also wants maintain the ability for players to negotiate deals rather than have fixed slots, reduce penalties for exceeding signing bonus pools, allow more draft selections to be traded and keep competitive balance round selections.

It would allow a $2 million signing bonus pool increase for a revenue-sharing recipient team that is not in a large market in one draft from 2027-31 and also allow those teams to sign two players drafted before the third round to major league contracts rather than minor league deals.

Revenue-sharing recipients that reach the postseason would receive an extra $1 million in their signing bonus pool in the following draft.

Teams exceeding their signing bonus pools by up to 15% would not lose a pick in the next draft, up from 5%.

For players not drafted in the first 10 rounds, the signing bonus pool exemption would increase from $150,000 to $1,000 over the figure for the last 10th-round selection, which was $191,900 this year. For draft and follow players — those who play an additional junior college season after the draft — the signing bonus maximum would rise from $225,000 to $75,000 above the last 10th-round pick's slot value.

Players would agree to MLB's proposal that draft picks could be traded during a period of about a month starting in early November and for the month prior to the draft.

Selections acquired could be traded on to another team but cash couldn't be included except to offset salary of a player involved in the trade. Each team would be required to retain at least one first-round pick in a two-year period and no team could obtain more than three additional selections within the first three rounds. A newly drafted player could not be traded for the first 90 days after he signs or the day after the World Series ends, whichever is later.

Players proposed only picks in the first 10 rounds be tradable.

MLB claims the union's draft proposal in tandem with its revenue-sharing stance would not address payroll.

The union proposed that tax proceeds from penalties for exceeding amateur draft pools be split, with half going to joint funds and half to revenue-sharing recipients who made the playoffs in the prior season.

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

6,600 noncitizens registered to vote after error in New Jersey motor vehicle system, governor says

Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:54:03 +0000

About 6,600 people who indicated they were noncitizens while obtaining New Jersey driver's licenses and other state IDs were improperly registered to vote in 2023 and 2024, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Tuesday.

The Democratic governor, who took office this year, blamed a Motor Vehicle Commission system software error but said a preliminary analysis showed that fewer than 400 of those who registered that way went on to cast ballots.

The revelation comes as President Donald Trump and other Republicans continue to assert that voting by noncitizens is rampant in U.S. elections, even though it’s rare and, when caught, can be punished as a felony that can lead to deportation.

Registrations were for Democrats, Republicans and independents

Sherrill promised immediate action and said she has ordered that all erroneously added voter registrations from that period be removed. She also is replacing the vendor who ran the system and is launching an investigation into how the error happened.

“I am appalled by the reckless failures that allowed this to happen and the lack of transparency shown by those in charge at the time,” she said in a statement.

She also attempted to head off any future criticism of the issue from the president.

“As the Trump Administration tries to weaponize elections for political gain, I am ensuring we protect our elections,” she said.

The White House on Tuesday used the revelation to promote Trump's SAVE America Act, which would require people to show documentary proof of citizenship before they register to vote and impose voter ID requirements nationwide. The measure has passed the U.S. House but has not gotten a vote in the Senate, where even some Republicans oppose it.

“American voters deserve to have confidence that our elections are safe and secure,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

Sherrill also noted that the noncitizens who registered did so as Democrats, Republicans and independents. About 6.9 million people in New Jersey are registered to vote and more than 4 million cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election.

Phil Murphy, also a Democrat, was governor when the error occurred. A representative for the former governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Christine Hanlon, chair of the Republican party organization in New Jersey, said voter registration needs to be improved and that a bipartisan investigation should dig into what happened, including why the registrations weren't disclosed previously.

"The system and verification process must be improved in order to safeguard our elections,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “The public also deserves to know why this was covered up and who was responsible for keeping this critical information from the public.”

Trump has focused on New Jersey, among other states

In a speech last week, Trump touted an investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, which said it had identified about 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections across the country. It said most of them were in California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday suggested it was that report that prompted Sherrill to take action.

“Appreciate you responding back to our letter, @GovSherrillNJ. This should’ve been done a LONG time ago,” he said in a message on X. “Just ONE illegal vote cancels out the vote of a U.S. citizen.”

The Pennsylvania Department of State said in an emailed statement provided by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office Tuesday that “evidence has shown that noncitizen voting is extremely rare across the country, including in Pennsylvania.” The department added that it would review any information the Department of Homeland Security provided to “evaluate the validity of these claims.”

Other states have had problems with automatic voter registrations

New Jersey is among 19 states that allow people who are in the U.S. illegally to hold driver's licenses and other state-issued ID cards, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Every state allows noncitizens who have legal status in the U.S. to hold a license.

The NCSL also says that about half the states have automatic voter registration in which eligible people who obtain licenses or, in some cases, other state services, can opt in to voter registration.

In Oregon, officials in 2024 found that about 1,600 people were registered to vote through the state's DMV even though they didn't show proof of citizenship. Most of them were later confirmed to be citizens. The number of people wrongly registered grew by more than 100 by last year, but the state found that only about 30 ineligible voters had cast ballots.

Colorado officials said in 2022 that they had mistakenly sent postcards to 30,000 noncitizens to encourage them to register. The state said none would be allowed if they tried to do so.

A 2019 state audit of California's then-new DMV registration program found numerous errors, some that might have allowed about 1,500 people to incorrectly register to vote. Of those, some might not have been U.S. citizens.

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Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.

Texas foster care agency cancels troubled provider’s contract

Texas Tribune, Terri Langford — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:35:12 +0000

Four months after two children’s deaths and other staffing problems at Dallas-based foster care provider EMPOWER forced the state to place it into receivership, the agency’s commissioner took action on Tuesday and abruptly canceled the private company’s contract.

In a letter sent to Texas Family Initiative — EMPOWER’s parent entity — Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Audrey O’Neill notified the company that “EMPOWER has failed to perform satisfactorily under its Community-Based Care contract after continuous quality improvement plans, corrective action plans, and other remedial measures.”

In a separate letter sent to judges, attorneys and advocates, O’Neill said the action came “following an extensive assessment” and was done with “one priority in mind: helping ensure children, youth, and families receive safe, stable, and high-quality services.”

The agency also noted that the decision came after conditions within EMPOWER continued to present safety problems and contributed to “critical breakdowns in case planning and decision-making, resulting in the deaths of two children. Additionally, medical mismanagement stemming from staff turnover caused a child to suffer a lupus flare-up and hospitalization.”

Those services and care to more than 2,000 children in EMPOWER’s care will now transition to two other contractors: Our Community Our Kids (OCOK) and Texas Family Care Network (TFCN). The move prompts even more questions about the state’s rocky progress in handing off state foster care management to private companies.

A representative for EMPOWER informed The Texas Tribune that it was not allowed to comment on the state’s action without getting its statement pre-cleared by DFPS.

“We are required to have DFPS vet and approve all incoming media requests,” Frida Cossio, a spokeswoman for the company told the Tribune “We will begin that process and get back to you.”

The Tribune also reached out and asked the agency why EMPOWER was not allowed to respond openly to reporters’ questions.

DFPS selected EMPOWER to manage and oversee foster care children in nine north Texas counties: Dallas, Collin, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro and Rockwall. But in its first two years, the state issued more than a dozen notices to the agency outlining its shortcomings when it came to training, staffing and case management.

More than a year ago, attorneys with the Dallas County district attorney’s office took their complaints to state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, and she carried a bill creating the receivership process for DFPS to take over the supervision of poor performing foster care contractors.

After a second child’s death in two years occurred in March, the state petitioned a Dallas County district judge to allow it place EMPOWER under its supervision. The move is the latest challenge to the state’s efforts to privatize all of its foster care management system and occurs as the agency tries to settle its ongoing 15-year federal lawsuit over foster care conditions. That lawsuit, which comes with court-appointed monitors of foster care placements and resulting improvements, has cost Texas taxpayers more than $200 million.

DFPS has declined to offer details about their ongoing negotiations with EMPOWER since it took over the supervision of the company’s work in March. The agency’s supervision was supposed to end in June, but instead, DFPS requested that the receivership be extended to August. It also requested that when it files its official progress report on EMPOWER to the Dallas court in August, that it be sealed from public view.

This is a developing story.

French lawmakers approve a sweeping social media ban for children under 15

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:00:35 +0000

France banned children under 15 from using social media on Tuesday, becoming the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban on the platforms as concerns grow worldwide over the harmful effects of digital content on kids.

Both chambers of the Parliament voted in favor of the measure, a flagship initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. The bill also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools.

Several families in France have sued TikTok over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content. Children’s advocates and parents applauded the vote.

“We’ve been campaigning for this bill from the start because, frankly, we have no other option, no other way to counter tech giants,” said Gaëlle Berbonde, a 52-year-old who lives in the Paris region. “The only thing we can do is protect our children, just as we protect our children from drinking alcohol.”

Berbonde told The Associated Press that her daughter was in seventh grade when she got her first smartphone. A parental control app helped monitor what she did online, but Berbonde had no idea what TikTok really was. After a few months, the family realized that the daughter was cutting herself and was suffering from anorexia and depression. She spent a year and a half in the hospital but is now 16 and well.

Macron wants the ban in place for the new school year

The legislation is one of the final major measures adopted under Macron’s presidency before he leaves office next year. Macron wants the law to take effect at the start of the new school year in September. However, a review to determine whether the bill complies with the French Constitution is likely to take place and could delay its implementation.

“France is leading the way in Europe in protecting our children and our teenagers,” Macron said. “We will keep on going.”

The ban won’t cover online encyclopedias, or educational or scientific directories.

Lawmakers from the left-wing party France Unbowed opposed the bill, arguing that its constitutionality is unclear, that it would effectively end online anonymity, and that it would be impossible to enforce.

Ines Legendre, a legal adviser for the online protection group e-Enfance, said the law will not immediately translate into an outright ban.

“We’ll also have to address the issue of existing accounts for those under 15. How do we identify them? How do we suspend them? And then there’s the question of age verification for all new accounts that will come into effect,” she said.

According to France’s health watchdog, one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone. In a report published in December, it said that some 90% of children between 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, with 58% of them using their devices for social networks.

The report highlighted a range of harmful effects stemming from the use of social networks, including reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with risky behaviors such as self-harm, drug use and suicide.

After the European Commission found that the latest version of the bill overlapped with the EU’s Digital Services Act, which sets strict rules aimed at keeping internet users safe online, lawmakers held final negotiations Monday. They reached an agreement on an amended version of the legislation, which was then submitted to both chambers for a final vote.

Other countries implement restrictions

Growing awareness of the dangers social media poses for young, developing brains has shown up in a wave of new restrictions globally.

In 2024, Australia became the first country to kick kids under 16 off social media. The law makes platforms — including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram — liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($35 million) if they fail to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts.

In Europe, Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced in February that the country wants to limit social media access for children under 16. Denmark and Greece have unveiled plans for bans for youngsters while the United Kingdom said it would also consider banning young teenagers.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — the EU's top executive — earlier this month called for limits to be placed on children using social media. A special EU panel looking into the issue recommended forbidding access for those under 13 until tech companies can prove their platforms are safe.

Von der Leyen said that children under 3 should have no exposure to screens at all. She noted infinite scrolling as one of the “addictive” traits that tech companies must address. The European Commission is likely to come up with a proposal for the 27 member countries to consider in the near future.

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Catherine Gaschka and Alex Turnbull in Paris contributed to this report.

How CenterPoint Energy says they’re building a stronger, more resilient electric grid

Javana Vela — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:31:26 +0000

With Tropical Storm Bertha in the Gulf serving as a reminder that hurricane season is well underway, now is a good time for Houstonians to make sure they’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

CenterPoint Energy appeared on Houston Life to discuss the work being done to strengthen the electric system across Greater Houston and the resources available to help customers stay informed before, during, and after severe weather.

It’s been nearly two years since the company launched its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative following Hurricane Beryl. Since then, crews have completed thousands of projects designed to improve both everyday reliability and the system’s ability to withstand major storms. Those efforts include clearing more than 12,000 miles of hazardous vegetation, installing more than 72,000 storm-resilient utility poles, and undergrounding nearly 700 miles of power lines.

While much of that work happens behind the scenes, CenterPoint says it’s all part of a year-round effort to prepare for hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and other weather events that can impact Southeast Texas. The company also highlighted the work of its frontline crews, who are out in the field every day helping maintain and restore the electric system.

The conversation also focuses on the digital tools customers can use to stay informed when storms threaten. CenterPoint encourages customers to sign up for Power Alert Service, which provides outage and restoration updates by text message, email, or phone call. Customers can even add multiple contacts so family members receive updates for the same address.

Viewers also learned about the company’s Progress Tracker, which allows customers to see grid improvement projects happening in their neighborhoods, along with updates to the outage tracker that make it easier to report hazards such as downed power lines after a storm.

The company says it’s also invested in thousands of hours of emergency response training for employees to help ensure crews are ready when storms strike.

Good to Know

Stay at least 15 feet away from downed power lines.
Report hazards when it’s safe to do so.
Sign up for outage alerts before severe weather arrives.

To learn more about grid improvements, track projects in your neighborhood, or sign up for outage alerts, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter or give them a call at 713-207-2222.

Woman dead after man fires gunshots into Clear Lake apartment

Christian Terry — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:06:37 +0000

Houston police say a woman is dead after a shooting at an apartment complex in the Clear Lake area Tuesday.

It happened at 240 El Dorado Blvd.

Police say they responded to the complex at approximately 1:50 p.m.

Person hospitalized after shooting in SE Houston

According to Lt. Larry Crowson, a woman and several teenagers were inside an apartment when a man on a bicycle rode up and fired several shots into the apartment, one of which struck the woman through a window.

The man fled the scene after the shooting. The woman was taken to a hospital where she died.

Crowson says they believe the suspect was involved in a dispute with the individuals inside the apartment and police don’t believe there is a danger to the public.

They are currently looking at surveillance video to try and get a better description of the suspect.

Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding along the Gulf Coast

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:45:50 +0000

Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday but was expected to weaken as it chugs closer to the U.S., potentially bringing coastal flooding and heavy rain from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana.

Those areas along the northern Gulf Coast were under a tropical storm warning through Wednesday and could see rain and flooding into Thursday morning, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. New Orleans also was under a tropical storm warning.

The storm was about 105 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of Panama City, Florida, and roughly the same distance southeast of Mobile, Alabama. It was moving slowly to the northwest Tuesday afternoon with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the hurricane center said Tuesday. Gradual weakening was forecast through Friday.

Bertha was forecast to make landfall Wednesday night somewhere in the coastal and lightly populated part of Louisiana southeast of New Orleans, said Michael Buchanan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Louisiana.

Wind will be biggest threat there, he said.

Authorities open sites to distribute sandbags

Authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida opened sites to provide sandbags to residents while red flag warnings were posted along some beaches advising swimmers about the dangers of rip tides.

Up and down the coast, double red flags signaled that Gulf waters were closed for swimming.

Beaches near Pensacola, Florida, were mostly deserted except for tourists venturing out to take photos of the pounding surf.

“For locals, this is just another storm,” said Candice Henderson, manager of the Crab Trap, a beachside restaurant that was packed Tuesday on Pensacola’s Perdido Key. “When you’re on vacation and its raining, you either shop or you go out to eat.”

The storm was expected to weaken as it moves along the coast, said Jamie Rhome of the hurricane center. It's possible that the worst of the storm will stay offshore, he said Tuesday.

Bertha was expected to weaken further as it pushes into Texas, forecasters said.

Forecasts called for as much as 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain from western Florida to the southern Louisiana coastline, with higher amounts in some scattered areas.

That could cause flash flooding in some urban areas.

Authorities also advised that areas in Louisiana from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama-Mississippi state line could see storm surges of up to 4 feet (1.2 meters). Parts of Florida and Alabama could see smaller surges.

The tropical storm warning extended west to Morgan City, Louisiana.

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arthur last month brought heavy rainfall to the southeastern U.S.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects this year to see a below-average Atlantic hurricane season although that doesn’t eliminate the chances of a catastrophic storm.

Bertha could dump heavy rain on coastal areas of Mississippi that are still recovering from flooding brought by Arthur that destroyed and damaged homes in June.

“Because of that, people are definitely paying attention, or at least you would hope so,” said Jeff Clark, a spokesperson for Mississippi's Harrison County, where six sites were open for sandbag distribution.

So far, there hasn't been a need to open any shelters or order evacuations, Clark said on Tuesday.

Hurricane Fausto churns in the Pacific

In the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Fausto churned far from Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and posed no threat to land, the hurricane center said.

Fausto gained hurricane status Monday night. It was about 780 miles (1,260 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, had top sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

The storm was expected to strengthen Tuesday and Wednesday. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, though ocean swells generated by the storm could cause life-threatening surf and rip tide conditions on the Baja California coast, the center said.

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Associated Press journalists Kimberly Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama, Stephen Smith in New Orleans, and Haya Panjwani in Washington contributed.

Brewers remaining careful with Jacob Misiorowski as he returns from layoff

Steve Megargee, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:45:38 +0000

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy says the Brewers want to monitor Jacob Misiorowski’s workload coming out of the All-Star break.

The first example of that came Monday night.

Misiorowski worked just four innings in an 8-3 victory over the New York Mets that marked his first appearance since pitching seven innings in a July 7 victory at St. Louis. The Brewers scratched Misiorowski from a scheduled July 12 start in Pittsburgh because of arm fatigue, and he didn’t pitch in the All-Star Game last week despite getting selected for a second straight year.

“I think we take that as kind of a reset,” Murphy said before the game. “Now I think we have to build him back up and make sure that we are mindful of it.”

Misiorowski struck out six Monday while allowing one unearned run, four hits and a walk. Twenty-six of his 65 pitches went at least 100 mph, and he topped out at 104 mph on a first-inning fastball to Juan Soto. He reached 102 mph on 12 pitches, though all but one of them came in the first inning.

Murphy noted after the game that limiting Misiorowski to four innings wasn’t simply a matter of being careful with the flamethrowing right-hander. He said it was more a matter of “just being mindful of when a guy’s not right.”

“We would have probably let him go further if his delivery and his legs felt great,” Murphy said. “I think he was a little bit out of it. The long layoff kind of affected his delivery and everything else. I think it was important to notice that and get him out of there then. The velo dropped. He couldn’t find the rhythm on his heater and went to off-speed stuff.”

Misiorowski acknowledged that it felt a little more difficult than usual pitching Monday after such a long layoff.

“Of course,” Misiorowski said. “I felt like I wasn’t in my legs as well as I should have been, but I felt halfway decent. Good enough.”

Misiorowski's next start is expected to come Sunday when the Brewers host the Colorado Rockies. The Brewers initially didn't include Misiorowski among the projected starting pitchers for their weekend series, but they updated that Tuesday afternoon to list him as their likely Sunday starter.

The Brewers have reason to be careful with their young star as he makes his way through his first full season in the big leagues.

Misiorowski already has pitched 115 innings this season. He worked 141 1/3 innings last year, including his regular-season totals in the majors and minors plus his 12 postseason innings during Milwaukee’s run to the NL Championship Series.

The Brewers (63-37) have the best record in the majors and lead the Chicago Cubs by seven games in the NL Central. Misiorowski has been baseball’s best pitcher, and the Brewers’ chances of making a deep postseason run likely depend on him staying healthy and effective.

Misiorowski hasn’t allowed an earned run in eight of his last 13 starts, and he owns a 9-2 record and 0.87 ERA during that stretch. He has a 1.57 ERA and 173 strikeouts this season to lead the majors in both categories.

The 24-year-old said after Monday’s game that he’s hopeful he can go longer in his next start and can ramp his way back up quickly after this recent time off. He had spent the offseason preparing for the greater workload he expected to encounter this year.

“The offseason last year, we focused on legs and doing all that stuff to get myself ready for this track of the year,” Misiorowski said. “I feel good where I’m at. Ready to go.”

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

Mexican man killed after ICE encounter in Florida was on vacation, officials say

Gisela Salomon And Fabiola Sánchez, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:19:12 +0000

A Mexican man who was struck and killed by a tractor trailer in Florida after running from federal immigration officers was vacationing in the U.S. and had a tourist visa, according to a Mexico official and a group assisting his wife.

Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, 28, died July 14 after authorities said he darted across a busy road in St. Augustine and into the path of a truck. His death was the third in roughly a week involving encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, following fatal shootings in Texas and Maine.

Coronilla Durán traveled from his hometown of San Luis de la Paz, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, to Atlanta to visit family and friends, according to Isaret Jeffers, founder of Colectivo Arbol, a farmworkers advocacy group. He had stayed in Georgia for three weeks before traveling to Florida’s east coast to enjoy the beaches, Jeffers said Tuesday.

U.S. authorities have not publicly identified the man, but a Mexico official confirmed his name. Jeffers said Yezzika Alamilla, the man's wife, told them he had been visiting the U.S. on a tourist visa.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday about whether Coronilla Durán had a valid visa.

Authorities say he ran from immigration officers

Coronilla Durán was one of four people in a vehicle that stopped in a gas station parking lot before 7 a.m. on the day he died. The four fled on foot during an encounter with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, with one darting across a busy road into the path of the semi, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

It is unclear what prompted the encounter and what happened to the vehicle's other three occupants.

The Highway Patrol and DHS have not provided additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

Advocacy group says his wife sought help

Alamilla called Colectivo Arbol, which provides legal advice and assistance to farmworkers in Central Florida, the day after her husband died, Jeffers said. She was seeking help to travel from Mexico and repatriate her husband’s remains. The organization bought her a plane ticket and put her up for three days, until Monday, she said. The Mexican consulate has been helping her since.

“His wife said he was there on a tourist visa. She didn’t understand what was happening,” Jeffers said. “He didn’t come to work; he wasn’t working. He was here as a tourist.”

Alamilla “thinks he was very afraid, and that’s why he ran away," Jeffers said.

His remains will be repatriated

According to information provided by the widow, Coronilla Durán “had been in the United States for only a very short time (and) had a tourist visa," said Susana Guerra Vallejo, the undersecretary for assistance to migrants and mobility issues for the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

She said that Alamilla would be able to see the body of her husband at the Florida funeral home.

Coronilla Durán’s body will be transported to Mexico on a commercial flight from Orlando, Guerra Vallejo told The Associated Press. He will be buried in his hometown of San Luis de la Paz, a farming community in Guanajuato that is about 160 miles (260 kilometers) northwest of Mexico City, she said.

Coronilla Durán and Alamilla had two children, a 7-month-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, Jeffers said.

Coronilla Durán’s death was at least the 10th involving encounters with immigration agents since President Donald Trump launched his mass deportation campaign last year.

The Mexican government said it had asked state attorneys general in the U.S. to review the deaths of migrants in ICE custody or during raids for possible criminal prosecution.

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Sánchez reported from Mexico City. Associated Press reporter Maria Verza contributed from Mexico City.

Attacks between US and Iran across Mideast overshadow efforts to keep diplomacy alive

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:44:28 +0000

A 10th straight day of attacks between the United States and Iran across the Middle East on Tuesday overshadowed diplomatic efforts in Pakistan to salvage an interim ceasefire deal that has collapsed.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict seeking to revamp diplomacy. But it was unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the war, which lately has become a battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to world energy supplies.

Speaking from the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump gave a dim view on possible talks, saying the U.S. had “no interest in meeting.” He signaled that U.S. forces could soon target an area of Iran close to one of its main sites for enriching uranium.

With negotiations and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely stalled, both sides have sought to gain leverage by targeting civilian infrastructure in the region relied on by millions of people.

A barrage of U.S. strikes hasn’t loosened Iran's grip on the strait, through which about one-fifth of the world's crude oil and natural gas was shipped before the war.

The U.S. continued its airstrikes on the Islamic Republic Tuesday, and Iran attacked a tanker in the strait, forcing the crew to abandon the ship. Iran also kept up attacks against U.S. allies in the region. Sirens in Bahrain and Kuwait warned residents of incoming projectiles.

The escalation pushed energy prices higher. The international benchmark for crude oil traded Tuesday above $91 a barrel and regular gasoline in the U.S. climbed to an average of $4 a gallon.

With U.S. midterm elections approaching in the fall, polls have pointed to the unpopularity of the war among Americans, who have felt the pain of pricier gas and seen new casualties in a conflict that weeks ago seemed to be winding down.

Iran-backed rebels in Yemen open a new front in the Red Sea

In the Red Sea, Iran-backed Yemen's Houthi rebels have opened a new front against Saudi Arabia by declaring a naval blockade of the kingdom, threatening the flow of global oil supplies and trade. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked up, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil out to market.

A news agency in Yemen that is run by the Houthis, SABA, said Tuesday that six ships in the Red Sea were forced to reroute after they received warnings from the rebel group. The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the claim.

Three Houthi officials said the group warned international shipping companies on Monday to avoid transiting through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they weren't authorized to speak to journalists.

Trump says US has ‘no interest’ in Iran talks

Momeni, Iran's interior minister, met Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations. Momeni later met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In a statement, Sharif expressed deep concern over the recent U.S.-Iran escalation, and urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.

Pakistan’s political leadership and Munir, who serves as both the chief of army staff and defense forces, played a key role in brokering last month’s interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Islamabad has been working to persuade both sides to return to the negotiating table.

Trump told reporters that Iranian officials "want to desperately meet. And until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting.” He said the U.S. would soon target the area near Pickaxe Mountain — a fortified underground site near one of Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment facilities.

Iran's military leaders said any attack on nuclear or “other sensitive facilities” would be considered a major escalation, according to a statement reported by Iranian state media.

“We declare that if the invading and terrorist military of that country enters such a phase, we will regard it as an expansion of the war across the region, and all interests of the United States, its allies, and its supporters will become targets of powerful attacks by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said the statement from the armed forces' Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

A deep level of mistrust persists on both sides. Iran came under a surprise attack in June 2025 and again in February while it was engaging in nuclear negotiations with the U.S. The interim deal unraveled when Iran resumed attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which was supposed to be reopened under the agreement.

US strikes come as ships are attacked

The U.S. military’s Central Command said Tuesday it targeted “Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and air defense systems.” It released more footage of bombings that targeted sites in Iran.

“American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait,” the command said.

Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard in Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as two other attacks on ships Monday in the waterway.

The route close to Oman's shores has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control.

To enforce the blockade in the strait, as of Tuesday U.S. forces have redirected eight commercial vessels and disabled one, CENTCOM said on X.

Iran strikes US allies around the region

Tehran also hit U.S.-allied countries throughout the Mideast on Tuesday.

Jordan's military said Iran targeted it with five drones and three missiles, all of which were shot down. Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens on Tuesday afternoon as another Iranian barrage targeted the island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

In Iraq, flights were temporarily suspended at Irbil International Airport after a wave of attacks targeted the capital of the semiautonomous northern Kurdish region, according to Iraq’s state-run news agency. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, but in the past both Iran and Iran-backed Iraqi militias have launched attacks in the Kurdish region, where U.S. troops are present.

The Kuwaiti government said Iran struck desalination and power plants for a fourth straight day on Monday night. Authorities said the attacks sparked fires and caused damage.

Some 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination, making the attacks a matter of life and death for the tiny nation.

U.S. strikes have been hitting electrical equipment in Iran as well, and Iranian officials also have said Americans targeted water facilities.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the attacks on civilian infrastructure “unacceptable” and a violation of international law.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Fatma Khaled in Cairo, Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, Collin Binkley in Washington, and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

AI stocks lead Wall Street higher, even as Brent oil's price tops $91

Chan Ho-Him, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:52:31 +0000

More gains for makers of computer chips and other winners of the artificial-intelligence boom carried Wall Street higher Tuesday.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.9%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 385 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.3%.

AI stocks once again were at the center of the action, and they rose for a second straight day after tumbling the week before.

After rocketing higher because of the boom in investment in AI chips and data centers, they’ve come under pressure in recent weeks on worries that they shot too high. Concerns are also weighing that investment in AI may fall off if it doesn’t produce as much profit and productivity as hoped.

Micron Technology jumped 12.2% and added to its 1.9% gain from the day before, coming off its 13.3% drop from last week. Nvidia added 2%, and they were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500.

The gains came despite more climbs for oil prices, and Brent crude oil briefly got near $92 per barrel for the first time in more than five weeks because of continued attacks between the United States and Iran. It later pared its gain to 2% and settled at $91.01. That’s up from less than $72 early this month, which is roughly where it was before the war with Iran.

Rising oil prices are threatening a reacceleration of inflation, just as increases for prices were slowing more than economists expected. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.63% from 4.60% late Monday and from just 3.97% before the war with Iran began.

On Wall Street, several stronger-than-expected profit reports from big U.S. companies helped stocks to strengthen despite the added pressure.

3M climbed 7.3% after topping analysts’ expectations for both profit and revenue in the latest quarter. It also raised its forecast for profit over the full year of 2026.

Hasbro rallied 8.8% after the toy maker said its Magic: The Gathering game topped $500 million in revenue for a quarter for the first time. It also raised its revenue forecast for the year.

General Motors cruised 4.9% higher after the automaker’s profit and revenue for the latest quarter beat analysts’ expectations and CEO Mary Barra said demand in North America remains strong.

They helped offset a drop for Danaher, which slid 11% even though it likewise topped analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue. Analysts pointed to its forecast for an underlying measure of revenue growth for the summer, which was weaker than Wall Street expected.

Homebuilder D.R. Horton slipped 0.9% despite topping profit and revenue expectations for the latest quarter. Executive Chairman David Auld said it’s still feeling the effects of affordability concerns in the housing market and caution among potential homebuyers.

Mortgage rates have already climbed to their highest level in nearly a year because of higher Treasury yields in the bond market. That could force D.R. Horton to offer more incentives to homebuyers in the current quarter, which would cut into its profits.

Companies broadly are under pressure to deliver strong growth in profit and revenue because of how high their stock prices have shot. Indexes are near their records, even with the recent shakiness for AI stocks.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 65.92 points to 7,509.20. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 385.38 to 52,224.64, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 329.13 to 25,837.21.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly in Europe. The United Kingdom’s FTSE 100 added 0.6% as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham hosted his first Cabinet meeting.

In Asia, stocks swung more. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 3.6% on strong gains for its two dominant stocks. Both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have been big beneficiaries of the AI boom, and the Kospi has soared 60% so far this year even with its 20% drop through July.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 3.3% after returning from Monday’s holiday, while indexes rose 1.8% in Shanghai and edged down by less than 0.1% in Hong Kong.

___

AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

Appeals court upholds White House adviser Peter Navarro's contempt of Congress convictions

Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:43:43 +0000

A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld White House adviser Peter Navarro's convictions for defying a subpoena for records from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters.

Navarro couldn't prove Trump had shielded him from the subpoena's requirements by invoking executive privilege, according to the unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

“In short, Dr. Navarro has acknowledged that even if executive privilege had been invoked, that would not have excused his categorical failure to comply with the Select Committee’s subpoena,” D.C. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett wrote.

Navarro already has served a four-month prison sentence for his contempt of Congress conviction. He was a White House trade adviser during Trump’s first term in office and is serving in a similar role during the Republican's second term.

In a book published in 2021, Navarro took credit for a plan to delay the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Ultimately, the mob's attack on the Capitol interrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College results.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack issued a subpoena for him to turn over documents and appear for a March 2022 deposition. He didn't comply with the subpoena's demands.

Navarro has maintained that he couldn’t cooperate with the committee because Trump had invoked executive privilege. But the courts, including the D.C. Circuit panel, concluded that Navarro couldn’t prove Trump had actually invoked it.

Abhishek Kambli, an attorney for Navarro, suggested that they aren't giving up on their appeal. Kambli described the panel's decision as “one step in a battle to correct decades of incorrect (D.C. circuit) precedent.”

"He intends to move swiftly with his appeal because his case affects every senior presidential advisor, regardless of political party, who believes in good faith they cannot comply with a congressional subpoena based on executive privilege,” Kambli said in a statement.

In September 2023, a jury in Washington convicted Navarro of two counts of contempt of Congress. In early 2024, Navarro reported to a federal prison in Miami.

Only hours after his release from prison, Navarro spoke on stage at the Republican National Convention, telling the crowd that “I went to prison so you won’t have to.” He continued to pursue an appeal after serving his sentence.

Navarro’s appeal also was heard by Judges Cornelia Pillard and J. Michelle Childs. Millett and Pillard were nominated to the court by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Childs was nominated by Biden. Navarro was sentenced by District Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama nominee.

Arizona Republicans pick nominees Tuesday for governor and other top offices

Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:04:03 +0000

Arizona Republicans are choosing nominees Tuesday to challenge Democrats who hold top offices as the GOP searches for a path back to power in a battleground state it used to dominate.

U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, who represent neighboring districts in metro Phoenix, offer a clash of styles in the race to take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, considered the most endangered Democratic governor in the country this election cycle.

With President Donald Trump's endorsement and support from the grassroots turnout machine of the conservative group Turning Point Action, Biggs says he can unite the party going into a general election.

Schweikert says his low-key, pro-business, fiscal conservatism can win back voters turned off by a string of Trump loyalists like Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor four years ago.

Both parties have hotly contested primaries to replace Schweikert in the highly competitive 1st Congressional District.

Republicans also are picking nominees for secretary of state and attorney general, key posts with power over elections in a state that was pivotal for Trump's efforts to overturn his loss in 2020.

Election officials in Maricopa County, which includes metro Phoenix and two-thirds of the state's voters, said two polling sites had power outages, and voters were directed to other nearby locations. Several polling places also had technical problems earlier in the day, including connectivity issues with electronic poll books, that were resolved.

Maricopa County has been an epicenter of election conspiracy theories since Trump lost his reelection bid in 2020, and handling of elections is closely scrutinized.

Biggs and Schweikert responded differently to Trump's GOP takeover

Biggs built a national profile as chair of the House Freedom Caucus from 2019 to 2022 and as a staunch defender of Trump. He assisted the president’s attempt to block the certification of his loss in the 2020 election, voting against accepting Electoral College votes from Arizona and other battleground states after the Jan. 6 riot.

He has always represented safe Republican seats and is a veteran of factional brawls within the GOP. Before going to Congress, he nearly lost his post as state Senate president during a confrontation with then-Gov. Jan Brewer, also a Republican, over her push to expand Medicaid.

Schweikert has walked a tightrope with Trump, carefully keeping his distance without antagonizing him. That has helped him win a string of tough races in a competitive House district — a track record he says will help him win over swing voters and beat Hobbs — but has left him isolated from Trump's “Make America Great Again” base.

Democrats have focused their attacks on Biggs, whom they plan to portray as an extremist focused on helping Trump and not Arizonans.

Primaries will set the field for a top House battleground

Schweikert’s 1st District is a top battleground in the fight for a congressional majority. Anchored in Scottsdale, it is home to many of the white, highly educated and affluent voters who have soured on the GOP under Trump.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee controversially threw its support behind Marlene Galán-Woods, a former television news anchor who used to be a Republican. Her late husband, Grant Woods, was the Republican attorney general in the 1990s and later became a vocal Trump critic.

Galán-Woods’ chief opponent, Amish Shah, is an emergency medicine doctor and former state legislator who was the nominee in 2024 but lost narrowly to Schweikert.

On the Republican side, former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feeley has Trump’s endorsement. But he has been dogged by criticism for living outside the district — he resides in Biggs’ district and originally was running there until Trump endorsed a rival in that contest.

Feeley faces Joseph Chaplik, a former state legislator popular with many of the GOP’s grassroots activists, and businessperson John Trobough.

In Tucson, retired Marine drill instructor JoAnna Mendoza is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to challenge second-term Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who also has no primary opponent. The seat is perennially competitive in general elections and is a top pickup target for Democrats in November.

Meanwhile, the GOP primary for the safe Republican seat Biggs is vacating has turned salacious: Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is endorsed by Trump, came under scrutiny for alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

The county attorney cleared him of criminal wrongdoing, and Trump reiterated his endorsement this month. Lamb dismissed the allegations as “slander and lies.”

He faces Daniel Keenan, who owns a construction company.

___

Associated Press writer Josh Kelety contributed.

Judge hearing evidence against singer D4vd in killing, dismemberment of teen; will decide on trial

Andrew Dalton, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:05:44 +0000

Prosecutors on Tuesday showed a body camera video with singer D4vd telling sheriff’s deputies who were investigating a missing person’s report that he had only met then-13-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez once in person, and he did not know she was a minor.

“She told me she was 18,” the singer said in the video from February 2024. “Everybody’s telling me she was 13.”

Prosecutors allege that D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, had already been having a sexual relationship with the girl for several months, and that 14 months later, he stabbed her to death after she threatened to expose the relationship and ruin his career. He was 18 at the time.

The video was shown on the first day of a hearing in Los Angeles County court to determine whether there is enough evidence to put Burke, now 21, on trial on charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty and his lawyer has said he did not cause the girl's death.

Prosecutors also showed photos of the dismembered and decomposing body of Rivas Hernandez. The body had been found on Sept. 8, 2025, by a homicide detective in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard.

Det. Joshua Byers of the Los Angeles Police Department testified that he found the head and torso in a body bag, and arms and legs in a garbage bag underneath it. He said two fingers were missing from a hand.

Rivas Hernandez's parents were in court along with dozens of reporters and members of the public who got their seats through a lottery drawing. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman, the lead prosecutor, checked on the family during a break in court after the photos were shown. She said she does not intend to have them testify.

Byers said the father, Jesus Rivas, called police a few days after the body's discovery because he had seen news reports and feared it was his daughter. He shared dental records with police. Byers said the investigation of Burke began immediately after he found the car's registration.

LA County Sheriff's Deputy Juan Gonzalez, whose body camera video was shown, testified that Burke had been extremely cooperative when he visited in 2024 to look into the missing person's report. In the years before she was killed, Rivas Hernandez was reported missing a number of times.

Burke allowed Gonzalez to search the house, which was owned by Interscope Records for its artists to use. The deputies found no signs that Rivas Hernandez or any girl had been there.

The mood was friendly and jovial among the three, and one of the deputies says “Ohhh, that’s pretty cool, good for you,” when Burke described his music career.

Burke said he had met Rivas Hernandez online on Instagram and Discord in 2021, had seen her once in person a few months earlier and had last communicated with her a few days earlier. He shared Rivas Hernandez's phone number with them and showed them photos from his phone of a yearbook picture of her and a missing person's flyer.

The hearing resembles a mini trial

The preliminary hearing is expected to last about four days and resemble an abbreviated trial. Judge Charlaine Olmedo will decide whether the prosecution offered enough evidence to demonstrate probable cause to proceed to trial.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said outside the hearing that his office has not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty in the case.

The defendant, who has been held without bail in a jail near the courthouse since his arrest, appeared in court in his Orange jail clothes. The judge ruled that his hands could be uncuffed, but he must remain shackled to his chair. No cameras are allowed in the courtroom.

The defendant and the victim had known each other several years

Burke was reported missing multiple times in the years before her death, and prosecutors said in a court filing that they have evidence she was with Burke for long stretches, including a trip to Texas where she met his family. Prosecutors said they have sexual text messages and photos the two exchanged.

The court filing said he sent a car to pick her up on the night of April 23, 2025, from her hometown of Lake Elsinore, California, some 80 miles (129 km) outside of Los Angeles. The two exchanged messages until she arrived at his Hollywood home, after which her phone went dead.

“Knowing he had to silence the victim before she ruined his music career as she had threatened, very soon after her arrival at his home, defendant stabbed the victim to death multiple times and stood by while she bled out,” the document said.

Prosecutors say they have evidence linking Burke to girl's death

Prosecutors said they have records showing Burke ordered chain saws he used to dismember her body in his garage, and that her DNA was found there on blood stains discovered when police served a search warrant. Byers testified that Burke ordered a body bag on Amazon using an alias but with his own card and address.

Blue fragments were clearly visible on the body in the photos shown in court — and prosecutors said they will demonstrate they are from an inflatable pool Burke used in the dismemberment.

The defense has not publicly provided its version of events.

D4vd had budding music career

D4vd began making music for YouTube videos he created of the video game Fortnite when he was a teenager.

The songs he wrote and recorded on his phone were a blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop. The music made him a phenomenon on TikTok, Instagram, Soundcloud and Spotify, where his top songs, including his 2022 breakthrough “Romantic Homicide,” have more than a billion plays. In 2023, he released two EPs and opened for SZA on tour.

He performed at last year's Coachella music festival just a few weeks before prosecutors said Rivas Hernandez was killed, and his album was released. Five months later, he was on tour promoting it when the body was discovered.

Man in critical condition after shooting in SE Houston

Christian Terry — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:19:48 +0000

Authorities say a man is in critical condition after he was shot in the head in southeast Houston Tuesday.

It happened at the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Griggs Road.

Houston police say they received the call around 1:40 p.m.

Man dead, suspect detained after telling deputies he shot his brother in Porter

Lt. Larry Crowson with HPD says the victim and another man had been on a METRO bus earlier and there were some words exchanged between the two. They got off the bus and were walking south when another man walked up and shot the victim before fleeing into a nearby apartment complex.

Right now, Crowson says they have one possible suspect detained and they are trying to determine if he is the shooter.

Crowson says the victim is currently in surgery at a hospital.

Harris County DA certifies 2 ICE shooting witnesses as victims of alleged violent crimes, documents show

Jaewon Jung — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:16:18 +0000

Two men who were inside the van when federal immigration agents shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo have been formally certified by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as victims of alleged violent crimes, according to newly filed federal court documents.

Daniel Tirado Pantoja and José Trinidad Rojas Pliego remain in federal immigration custody at the Montgomery ICE Processing Center in Conroe. Both men have filed petitions in federal court seeking their immediate release.

The filings include U-visa certifications issued by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office identifying both men as victims of “felonious assault,” “manslaughter” and “murder.” The forms describe the investigation as ongoing and identify District Attorney Sean Teare as the head of the certifying agency.

A U-visa is a form of immigration relief available to certain noncitizen victims of qualifying crimes who possess information about the crime and assist law enforcement.

The certifications do not mean an ICE agent has been charged or that prosecutors have made a final determination that a crime occurred. However, the signed documents certify, under penalty of perjury, that Tirado Pantoja and Rojas Pliego were victims of qualifying criminal activity.

RELATED: Family says ‘crystal-like substance’ found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s work van was homemade electrolyte mix, not drugs

The certifications state the criminal activity occurred July 7 in the 6800 block of Canal Street in Houston.

Both men reported bruising to their knees resulting from their arrests, according to the records.

The forms state the men provided voluntary statements, possess material information about the shooting and have been “helpful and cooperative” with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office investigation.

The certifications are dated July 13. The men’s court filings state their U-visa applications were submitted three days later.

Witness disputes ICE’s account of shooting

Rojas Pliego’s U-visa application includes his first-person account of what happened before Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot.

Rojas Pliego said Lorenzo Salgado Araujo picked up the men around 6:30 that morning as they headed to work. He said the group encountered ICE agents and was pursued before officers surrounded the van.

Rojas Pliego said the passengers told Lorenzo Salgado Araujo to stop.

“When Lorenzo stopped the van, the officer shot him anyway,” the English translation included in the court filing states.

Rojas Pliego said agents then pulled Lorenzo Salgado Araujo from the van while he was wounded, handcuffed him and threw him to the ground. He said the remaining passengers were also forcefully removed, thrown to the ground, handcuffed and placed in restraints.

His statement directly disputes ICE’s claim that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo used the van as a weapon.

“They say they wanted to run us over, but that’s a lie; there wasn’t a single officer behind or in front of us, they were only on the sides,” Rojas Pliego’s statement reads.

Second witness alleges agents exchanged guns

Tirado Pantoja provided a separate statement describing a series of collisions before the shooting.

He said an ICE vehicle nearly struck the van, prompting Lorenzo Salgado Araujo to drive onto a curb while turning around. Tirado Pantoja said an ICE vehicle then hit the van from behind and later struck the driver’s side.

According to the English translation in the filing, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo said, “Ya me mataron,” translated in the document as, “They’ve already killed me.”

RELATED: Harris County ME rules Houston ICE shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo a homicide

Tirado Pantoja also made a potentially significant allegation involving the agents’ firearms.

RELATED: Harris County ME rules Houston ICE shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo a homicide

“After they took Lorenzo, another agent came and switched guns with the agent that fired then shot at Lorenzo,” the statement reads.

Tirado Pantoja also said agents were never positioned in front of the van and that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo put the vehicle in park while agents were firing.

Men challenge continued ICE detention

Separate Notices to Appear show ICE placed both men in removal proceedings after the shooting.

ICE alleges they entered the United States without being admitted or paroled and did not possess valid immigration documents.

Both are scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in Conroe on Aug. 3.

Their attorneys filed separate federal habeas corpus petitions July 20, arguing their detention without an individualized bond hearing violates their Fifth Amendment due-process rights.

According to the petitions, Tirado Pantoja has lived in the United States since approximately 1996, while Rojas Pliego has lived in the country since approximately 1998. Their attorneys say neither man has a criminal history and neither poses a danger to the community or a flight risk.

The petitions argue ICE should release the men because of their pending U-visa applications and their status as victims cooperating with a criminal investigation.

Judge blocks Rojas Pliego’s deportation or transfer

On July 20, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered the federal government not to deport Rojas Pliego or transfer him outside the Southern District of Texas while his habeas petition remains pending.

The government must obtain the judge’s permission before moving him outside the district and explain in writing why a transfer would be necessary.

Ellison also ordered the government to respond to Rojas Pliego’s petition by July 24. The response must explain the legal authority under which he is being detained and specifically address his factual allegations and legal claims.

Third witness seeks to seal his case

Victor Hugo Salgado Araujo, another passenger and the brother of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, has also filed a federal habeas petition.

His attorney, Ruby Powers, asked a judge to seal the entire case, describing Victor Hugo Salgado Araujo as a “key eyewitness” who could face retaliation or intimidation if details about his identity, location and account were made public.

The motion states the shooting remains under investigation by multiple agencies, including the FBI, Texas Rangers and Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Tebas: Infantino should resign for 'destroying the football industry'

Carlos Rodriguez, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:12:01 +0000

Gianni Infantino should resign as head of FIFA for “destroying the football industry” by expanding international competitions, La Liga president Javier Tebas said Tuesday.

It is not the first time he has lashed out at Infantino over fixture congestion and for considering a proposal to expand the 2030 men's World Cup from 48 teams to 64.

“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn’t just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup,” Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up,” he said of Infantino. “However, he has the support of the system and the federations, so there’s not much more to add, is there? There’s no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose. This is the system and it’s rotten at its core.

“He shouldn’t stay, but he won’t leave. I’ve heard many people who are against Infantino. They say it, but then they do nothing. I don’t know what’s worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering.”

South American soccer’s ruling body CONMEBOL has made an official proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. The competition is already set to be the most sprawling edition with six host nations spread across three continents.

“It’s national competition that sustains this sport," Tebas added. "They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players.”

He also criticized world football’s governing body FIFA over the new hydration breaks implemented at the World Cup which ended Sunday, as well as the extended 27-minute halftime interval — rather than the standard 15 — during the final that saw Spain defeat Argentina 1-0.

The hydration breaks midway through each half were introduced to help players deal with the summer heat in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But critics say they had unintended consequences, ruining the flow of the game and giving coaches a chance to tactically shift momentum in their team’s favor.

“FIFA arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests — certainly not for football,” Tebas said. “Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it’s genuinely hot. Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta had air conditioning. It was a lie — and just a break for advertising.”

Infantino announced in April that he would run for re-election for a fourth term as president. The vote for the 2027–2031 period is scheduled for March 18 in Morocco.

The Football Supporters Europe group also called on the wider soccer community to hold FIFA to account.

In a statement on its website headlined “A World Cup that failed supporters”, the FSE demanded “structural governance reforms to hand decision-making power back to the FIFA Council and Congress and ensure full consultation with clubs, leagues, players and supporters.”

It added: “The 2026 World Cup should have been a celebration of the game and the supporters who give it life. Instead, it has too often become a case study in what is so deeply wrong with football today.

"From the outset, supporters were asked to place their trust in FIFA and “chill”, but it prioritised spectacle and commercialisation over the match-going experience with key elements of football’s identity being messed with. Over the last month, we've seen football contorted to the whim of Gianni Infantino and the Trump administration.”

The FSE, accepted by European soccer's governing body UEFA as the recognized group representing fans in the region, then went on to attack “historically high ticket prices” and “skyrocketing transportation costs, bending of rules and procedures, exclusion of swathes of the global population and a lack of transparent communication.

“All this created an environment of confusion and distrust that has severely damaged the reputation of FIFA, the World Cup, and the integrity of football itself.

“The lessons from this World Cup are clear: FIFA is unfit to govern global football. The future of the game cannot rest in the hands of a man who has proven yet again that he puts financial and political interests ahead of the future of our game.”

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

Messi returns to Argentina for rest after World Cup final loss to Spain

Hernán Álvarez, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:18:29 +0000

Lionel Messi arrived back in Argentina on Tuesday for a few days of rest following the World Cup final loss to Spain.

Messi's private jet landed near his hometown of Rosario from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6:27 a.m. Although many fans were waiting with signs and flags, he did not make a public appearance.

“The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,” he posted on his Instagram account. “I cherish all the good moments, memories that will last forever — and the support of an entire nation which, combined with this group’s hard work and effort, propelled us once again into the ranks of the world’s best.”

Supporters only caught a brief glimpse of the SUV that met Messi on the tarmac to transport him and his family to the private neighborhood of Funes, roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.

The Argentina captain reportedly traveled with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, all of whom had accompanied him throughout the tournament in North America. Waiting for him in Rosario was his 68-year-old father, Jorge, whose ongoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness had been revealed by the family during the World Cup.

Fans had gathered at the airport as early as 3:30 a.m. hoping to catch a sight of the star. Among them were two young girls in Albiceleste jerseys holding welcome signs, one of which read: “Messi: You’re a legend. Thank you for bringing joy to our hearts. A whole country loves you!”

Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami in late July or early August for the ongoing MLS season

Fifteen members of Argentina’s 26-player World Cup roster, led by head coach Lionel Scaloni, landed at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport on Monday on a chartered flight.

The squad’s arrival followed Sunday’s 1–0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, decided by a Ferran Torres goal.

Scaloni’s arrival at his family home in Pujato — a small town in the province of Santa Fe — on Tuesday and it was quite an event as his neighbors gathered to welcome him.

After a few minutes, he stepped out of the house and began signing Argentina jerseys handed to him by the crowd, as well as posing for photos.

“We didn’t win, but we can be satisfied. It hurts not to have been able to bring that joy,” Scaloni told reporters. “We lost because they were better ... perhaps we were running on fumes. It’s good to acknowledge that — it will make us better.”

Scaloni said he would honor his contract with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) through December 31, though he stopped short of confirming whether he would continue beyond that date. “I’m here until December, guys ... let’s not make a fuss,” he added.

Sunday marked Messi’s third World Cup final appearance, following 2014 and 2022. He ended the tournament as the runner-up for the Golden Boot with eight goals, two behind France's Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé tops the all-time World Cup goal-scoring chart with 22, one more than Messi.

“It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message,” Messi added. “I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.”

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

SEC's move to 9-game conference schedules pauses some rivalries and awakens others

Eddie Pells And Mark Long, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:31:53 +0000

It used to be the biggest rivalry game of the week, the month — maybe the entire season.

In 2026, Florida and Tennessee will be complete strangers.

Their once-a-year matchup that, back in the day, featured Steve Spurrier, Peyton Manning, Phil Fulmer and snark that sometimes even outweighed the stakes — “You can’t spell Citrus without ‘U-T'" — is absent from the schedule for the first time in 37 seasons.

Alabama-LSU — that’s gone too, for the first time since 1963.

The Gators and LSU — they’ll miss each other for the first time since 1970.

Such is the price of progress in the Southeastern Conference, which has grown from 10 teams in the old days to 16 now.

The league is introducing a nine-game league slate this season in an attempt to boost strength of schedule for what is now a playoff system that has a committee awarding seven at-large spots in the 12-team field.

“When you look at our schedule, no one has created the kind of weekly competition that exists in the Southeastern Conference,” commissioner Greg Sankey said.

The divisions that once made Florida-Tennessee such a big deal — winner had an inside track for the East, a spot in the conference title game and maybe the national championship — are gone, another product of expansion.

Under the new system, in place through 2029, each school will play three “annual” foes. Some of the SEC’s most ancient rivalries, like Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia and Auburn-Georgia, were preserved.

Others are now less-permanent affairs. Another oldie but goodie that's missing this year, Georgia vs. Tennessee, first played in 1899 and became an annual event in 1992. The Volunteers got the best of the Bulldogs early, but Georgia has won nine in a row and 14 of the last 16 — a run that prompted a question to Georgia coach Kirby Smart on Tuesday about feeling like he has “one less win” on the schedule.

“You said that; not me,” Smart responded. “I got a lot of respect for Josh (Heupel) and their staff. I mean, they’re a tough prep. I’m glad other teams get an opportunity to do that, and then we get some new teams to play.”

Some new teams, yes. Some old rivalries will return, too.

For instance, Arkansas-Texas, a must-see game on the old Southwestern Conference schedule that produced the Game of the Century, attended by President Nixon in 1969, is an annual affair again. Two years ago, Missouri renewed acquaintance with Oklahoma, reupping a rivalry that meant a lot in the Big Eight for a time in the 1970s. And Texas-Texas A&M, the “Lone Star Shootout" and a game held every year between 1915 and 2011, will now be played annually.

Asked about rivalries being renewed and others that, in another effect of realignment, are changing dates — Missouri's season-ending tradition against Arkansas has been moved to Week 8 — Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said: “I don’t worry about that. I know each and every game in the SEC is extremely difficult.”

The SEC also mandated its teams play a 10th game against a Power Four opponent, which led Kansas and Missouri to renew their so-called "Border War" and created other early season matchups like Oklahoma-Michigan, Clemson-LSU, Ohio State-Texas, Auburn-Baylor, Arkansas-Utah and Arizona State-Texas.

SEC coaches believed moving to a nine-game league schedule would coincide with College Football Playoff expansion, which didn’t happen.

Now, they have tougher schedules, no increased access to the 12-team playoff and a few less rivalries.

“That’s what our conference looks like,” Oklahoma coach Brett Venables said. “Each and every week, you’re not going to sneak up on anybody.”

A brief look at the Tennessee-Florida series

The Tennessee-Florida rivalry decided the SEC East a dozen times between 1993 and 2009. Spurrier got under Fulmer’s skin with his “Citrus Bowl” comments. Manning, despite all his accolades, went 0-4 against the Gators. The importance of the rivalry diminished beginning in 2011, with both schools falling behind Georgia in the East.

A brief look at the Florida-LSU series

The Florida-LSU matchup has been filled with chaos, controversy and close games. Among the most memorable one: LSU upset No. 1 Florida in 1997, stormed the field and tore down goal posts; the top-ranked Tigers won another close one a decade later by converting five fourth-down plays; in 2020, unranked LSU stunned the sixth-ranked Gators in Gainesville on Cade York’s 57-yard field goal through heavy fog after cornerback Marco Wilson inexplicably threw an opponent’s shoe and kept alive the game-winning drive.

A brief look at the LSU-Alabama series

Alabama and LSU played 12 times between 2008 and 2021 with one of them ranked first or second. It often had Western Division and national title implications. Few matchups outweigh the 2011 showdown in which top-ranked LSU knocked off No. 2 Alabama 9-6 in overtime. The Crimson Tide won the rematch in New Orleans two months later for the national championship.

Could current rivalries be affected beyond 2029?

The SEC has been adamant that each team’s annual opponents will be revisited and potentially realigned to maintain competitive balance before the 2030 season. Of course, by then, there’s no telling what the SEC or college football will look like.

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Long reported from Gainesville, Florida.

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Trump administration says it's deferring $1B in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota

Ali Swenson, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:59:15 +0000

The Trump administration on Tuesday said it was deferring more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to Minnesota and California because of “suspected fraud and noncompliance,” the latest in a series of punitive steps it has linked to allegations of fraud in mostly Democratic-led states.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the new actions — which come after previously announced Medicaid funding deferrals in those states — are part of the administration's strategy to “stop the fraud before it happens” rather than claw back problematic spending after bad actors are prosecuted, as previous administrations had done.

“We have a duty to stop the payments, demand answers and then follow the evidence wherever it leads,” Kennedy told a news conference.

The tactic is part of the administration’s sweeping campaign to show it’s cracking down on fraud and saving taxpayers money when rising healthcare costs and other economic stressors have made affordability a top voter concern in November’s midterm elections.

In March, Vice President JD Vance launched a new anti-fraud task force at the request of President Donald Trump, bringing together officials from various departments to use data and technology to identify and investigate suspected wrongful use of federal dollars.

But the federal government hasn't provided “data or explanation on how the deferral amount was calculated or what it was based on” to Minnesota, said John Connolly, the temporary commissioner and state Medicaid director for Minnesota's Department of Human Services.

“Today's actions show that the federal government is acting again in unprecedented and punitive ways as part of their war on Medicaid and its recipients,” he said in a statement. “Partnership — not politics — is required to stop criminals and protect services for the people who need them.”

Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz suggested the Republican administration was deferring the funds to pay for Trump’s tax cuts to wealthy Americans. California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the administration of targeting it for political reasons.

The Trump administration intensified anti-immigration efforts in Minnesota earlier this year, sending in a robust force of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers whose actions there caused weeks of counterprotests and included the shooting deaths of two civilians. Trump himself has frequently denounced California as a badly governed state.

States are facing obstacles because of the actions

The strategy has led to some false starts and headaches for states.

In April, for example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services acknowledged to The Associated Press it made a significant error in figures it used to help justify a fraud probe in New York. Last month, California's Medicaid director told a congressional committee that CMS had not yet provided “any instances of fraud, waste or abuse” to the state in its justification of a $1.3 billion Medicaid funding deferral announced in May.

And in Minnesota, state officials have been executing a thorough corrective action plan to defray CMS concerns that have led the agency to defer some $260 million in federal money and to threaten future cuts.

“We have cooperated in good faith and proactively engaged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to first raise the alarm on fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program, to effectively investigate fraud and to institute further safeguards against future misuse of funds,” Connolly said.

Kennedy didn't specify in Tuesday's announcement whether the new deferrals — $867.5 million in federal Medicaid payments to California and $199 million to Minnesota — are in addition to, or overlap with, earlier deferrals announced this year.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz didn't provide concrete examples of fraud in the two states in justifying the deferrals. He did mention some patterns the agency noticed that it found questionable, including that some providers were billing for four or more patients at the same time, or billing after the date of a Medicaid beneficiary's death.

Oz also highlighted a fast rate of growth in California's home care program as a reason for concern. California officials have disputed that idea, explaining that the state's home care program has grown because of an intentional strategy to keep people out of more expensive nursing homes.

Flow of money could be restored — with documentation

Kennedy and Oz said states could restart the flow of federal funding by providing documentation proving the payments in question were legitimate.

A representative for California's Medicaid program didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials in the state have previously acknowledged they are working with the federal government to provide the requested information.

Oz said Minnesota had already returned documents to the federal government and they were being “reevaluated very carefully.”

Kennedy also suggested Tuesday that he would extend the power to exclude providers from Medicaid, Medicare and other federal health programs to CMS. In the past, that authority has rested solely with his department’s Office of the Inspector General.

“This is going to be a full force multiplier,” HHS Inspector General Thomas March Bell told a news conference. “It's going to create additional momentum, and it's going to exclude additional bad actors.”

Abbott orders Texas agencies to crack down on ‘birth tourism’ schemes

Kendra Mackey — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:45:00 +0000

Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday directing state agencies to investigate and crack down on unlawful “birth tourism” schemes in Texas and to take enforcement action against licensed health care providers found to facilitate them.

Abbott said Texas “will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the United States illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child.” He added, “U.S. citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism.”

The order directs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to investigate claims of birth tourism schemes within the state’s health care industry.

RELATED: Texas officials are cracking down on “illegal birth tourism.” Here’s what that means

Under the order, agencies must take enforcement action against any licensed or regulated individual or entity found to be advertising, soliciting, engaging in, assisting with, providing or otherwise participating in unlawful birth tourism schemes.

Potential penalties include revoking or suspending licenses, prohibiting participation in state contracts, denying state benefits or pursuing other enforcement action under state law, according to the governor’s office.

The order also allows state agencies to partner with federal prosecutors to identify and combat birth tourism schemes, including by sharing information and referring potential federal law violations.

Abbott said the order builds on prior action. On July 7, he directed HHSC to investigate Texas hospitals advertising birth tourism packages and to refer potential violations of state law to the Texas attorney general for civil enforcement and to local prosecutors for possible criminal charges. HHSC later referred two hospitals to the attorney general in connection with alleged advertising of “birth packages” in Mexico, the governor’s office said.

Abbott’s office urged Texans with information about birth tourism schemes to report it to the HHSC Office of Inspector General. Tips may also be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice or to the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office in Texas.

Michael Brockers gives back to Houston with free youth football and cheer camp

Zion Webb — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:38:48 +0000

After 11 seasons in the NFL, Michael Brockers has dropped the pads and picked up a whistle to make an impact in his own community: H-Town.

This past weekend, hundreds of kids gathered at Rice University for the 9th annual Michael Brockers Youth Football and Cheer Camp, a free event designed to provide instruction, mentorship and a foundation of community for families across Houston.

For Brockers, the camp has been more about teaching kids his biggest tips from the NFL but, instead, making a difference in the lives of kids who may need it.

“I think because I didn’t have it,” Brockers said. “For me to give back and show some of the kids in this community, especially the less fortunate ones who can’t afford to go to the Tyreek Hill or OBJ camps. I always said mine was going to be affordable, free for the kids to come out so I can give back to them.”

Messi returns to Argentina for rest after World Cup final loss to Spain

The former defensive lineman, who attended Chavez High School, says returning to his hometown is what makes the camp meaningful.

“I’m a Houstonian through and through,” Brockers said. “It’s more about my relationship with the community. I’m not looking for anything in return.”

That impact on the community has been expressed by parents. Keon Worthington said he brought his son to the camp and believes it has been an invaluable experience.

“Exposure is the key,” Worthington said. “It’s good to see great role models in the community giving back to our youth. Accessibility is huge because some parents can’t afford camps that have fees attached to them.”

Ira Duckworth, a returning camper, says it’s been the experience that keeps him coming back.

“I set my timer early before because I get better every time I come,” Duckworth said. “It’s just work all throughout this camp.”

Brockers says seeing familiar faces return year after year reminds him why he started the camp in the first place.

ESPN starts layoffs tied to NFL Network acquisition, memo says

“It’s the kids that continue to come back every year,” he said. “Seeing them grow and seeing the commitment and support from the community – that’s the biggest thing for me.”

The camp is extending lessons far beyond football, giving young kids confidence and encouragement in the community, from equipment giveaways to advice from local community college football mothers navigating the new NIL landscape.

It has been clear this camp is huge for the community.

“It’s a big deal,” Catchrina Zenon, mother of an attendee, said. “I worked 12 hours last night. We will be here rain, sleet or snow.”

ESPN starts layoffs tied to NFL Network acquisition, memo says

Joe Reedy, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:42:15 +0000

ESPN is undergoing a significant round of layoffs for the first time in three years after taking over NFL Network in April.

Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a memo to employees Tuesday morning, obtained by The Associated Press, that most moves are the result of ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network and other league digital assets last year.

The deal was announced last August and also included NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators. In return, the NFL got a 10% equity stake in ESPN.

It was approved by government regulators in January. NFL Network employees became part of ESPN on April 1.

“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro wrote in the memo. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.

“While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.”

While most of the layoffs affect production and behind-the-scenes personnel, some on-air talent were affected. Ryan Clark, who joined ESPN in 2015 as an NFL analyst, learned of his layoff while on “NFL Live” on Monday. A person familiar with the situation said Clark was originally going to be told Tuesday morning before reports leaked about the decision.

Clark was told by company executives rather than hear about it elsewhere. He did not finish his appearance on the show.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not at liberty to discuss personnel decisions.

Clark took to social media on Tuesday to address the layoffs. He also shared a video of himself working out.

“Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN. So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now,” Clark wrote on X. “My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!”

Other notable names include Karl Ravech, who had been with ESPN since 1993 and had been an integral part of its baseball coverage. Ravech was the voice of “Sunday Night Baseball” from 2022-25 before the package moved to NBC this season. He did call Monday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.

Tom Pelissero, who had been with NFL Network since 2017, is also part of the cuts. ESPN had recently signed NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter to extensions.

The ESPN cutbacks are also part of other reductions that are taking place throughout the Walt Disney Company this week.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

NFL training camps set to open with 10 new head coaches, several QB changes and plenty of hope

Rob Maaddi, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:52:49 +0000

The countdown is over. NFL training camp has arrived.

Every team is 0-0 so there's hope in each city that this season ends with a championship parade.

Bryce Young and the defending NFC South champion Carolina Panthers report Wednesday. So do the Arizona Cardinals, led by rookie head coach Mike LaFleur.

The teams will meet in the Hall of Fame Game that kicks off the preseason on Aug. 6.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots open camp on Friday. They’ll face off in a Super Bowl rematch that opens the regular season on Sept. 9.

Many teams have plenty of questions to answer before Week 1. It’s a long road to Los Angeles, which hosts Super Bowl 61 on Feb. 14. Valentine’s Day will be the latest date the game will have been played.

That just means more football.

Ten teams have new coaches. Some have new quarterbacks. A few superstars have changed teams.

Training camp starts

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers report to camp on Saturday, making it six teams in before the end of this week. The NFC West rivals will play the first regular-season game in Australia on Sept. 10. The remaining 26 teams are due in next Tuesday.

The head coaches in new places

John Harbaugh joined the New York Giants after he was fired by Baltimore following 18 seasons. He has Jaxson Dart and some talented players to build around.

Two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski took over in Atlanta after six seasons in Cleveland. He inherits a team that has plenty of playmakers on offense, including All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. They have to figure whether Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. will be the quarterback.

Robert Saleh is the new man in charge in Tennessee. The Titans are coming off consecutive 3-14 seasons but Saleh already has a franchise QB in Cam Ward and he brought in Brian Daboll to develop him and run the offense.

Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers are reunited in Pittsburgh. They won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay and aim to get the Steelers at least their first playoff win since January 2017.

The other six new head coaches are first-timers. LaFleur has a tough task in Arizona. Klint Kubiak helped Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl in Seattle and hopes to rebuild the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeff Hafley went from running Green Bay’s defense to leading the Miami Dolphins. Joe Brady replaced Sean McDermott in Buffalo after the Bills kept falling short in the playoffs.

Todd Monken replaced Stefanski in Cleveland and Jesse Minter is Baltimore’s new coach.

The quarterback carousel turns again

Tagovailoa has a chance to revive his career with Stefanski in Atlanta after a disappointing end in Miami. Kyler Murray left Arizona for Minnesota, where the Vikings hope he can stay healthy and regain his Pro Bowl form.

Kirk Cousins is the stopgap for the Raiders, who drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Malik Willis parlayed three solid starts in two seasons with the Packers into a $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins that includes $45 million fully guaranteed.

Geno Smith returned to the Jets. Justin Fields is the new backup for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. Kenny Pickett is Carolina’s new No. 2, veteran Andy Dalton joined Philadelphia to play behind Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew went to the Cardinals.

Quarterback competitions in several cities

Tagovailoa and Penix will compete in Atlanta. Cousins is expected to start in Las Vegas but Mendoza could end up starting sooner than later. Murray has to beat out J.J. McCarthy, who was the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2024.

The most interesting battle will be for the Browns’ starting job. Deshaun Watson is back after missing 2025 to compete with Shedeur Sanders.

The other top storylines

Will Baker Mayfield get a contract extension from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Mayfield is in the final season of a three-year, $100 million deal. He's expected to get around $55 million per season and another three-year deal makes sense.

Will Aaron Donald come out of retirement to join two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in Los Angeles? The Rams acquired the five-time All-Pro from the Browns and bolstered their secondary by adding cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is 35 and hasn't played since retiring after the 2023 season.

Joint practices

More teams choose to use practices against other opponents to prepare their quarterbacks and key starters for the regular season instead of preseason games.

Only the Lions, Chiefs, Broncos and Steelers are not participating in any joint sessions.

When are the roster cuts?

Teams can carry a maximum of 90 players throughout training camp and for all of their preseason games. Rosters must be trimmed to 53 by 6 p.m. EDT on Aug. 30.

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

Thousands of African winter skiing tourists are flocking to snowy Lesotho

Mogomotsi Magome, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:36:49 +0000

One may not expect thousands to flock each winter to Lesotho but for many ski enthusiasts from across southern Africa, the small, landlocked mountain kingdom has become the go-to place in recent years.

Lesotho's high elevation and mountainous terrain combine to make it the coldest country on the continent, with temperatures in the highlands typically plunging to minus 8 degrees Celsius (about 18 degrees Fahrenheit) between June and August.

The Afriski Mountain Resort, some 3,200 meters (10,499 feet) above sea level, nestled in the northern Maluti Mountains, is Lesotho's single fully operational ski resort — and the only one in sub-Saharan Africa.

The majestic snow-covered landscape is ideal for skiing, and both seasoned and new visitors enjoy the slopes that are spread over 17 hectares (42 acres) surrounding the resort — about the size of 24 standard soccer pitches. The resort opened 25 years ago, a short bus or car ride from the nearest major town of Butha-Buthe, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) away.

Last year, tourism contributed about 7% to Lesotho's annual GDP of some $2.6 billion. For its part, Afriski provides a chunk of needed cash in a country cited by the World Bank as one of the poorest in the world — and its artificial snow machines ensure it stays open throughout the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

Thousands come to a country Trump says no one's heard of

U.S. President Donald Trump may have joked in 2025 about Lesotho being a country that “nobody has ever heard of” but just a year earlier, the kingdom, bordered on all sides by South Africa and with a population of 2.3 million, celebrated 200 years of the founding of the Basotho nation and 58 years of independence from British rule.

Located in its entirety at and over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level, Lesotho sees a lot of snow — and skiing is growing in popularity here from a rare sport previously mainly associated with North America and the European Alps.

Most people drive into Lesotho from neighboring South Africa but international visitors can also fly in to the airport in Maseru, the country's capital.

Afriski's CEO, Theo Ferreira, says almost 70% of the visitors come from South Africa; the rest are mostly from Lesotho or elsewhere in southern Africa. The resort now has 227 full-time and seasonal employees, nearly all Lesotho nationals, with about 30 South Africans, working mainly as skiing instructors, he said.

While the resort has rooms for 420 overnight guests, the nearby Butha-Buthe and Mohlokong towns can offer extra accommodations in peak season. The busiest day so far this year saw over 1,400 visitors while in 2025, the record was over 1,600 day visitors and those staying overnight or longer, Ferreira said.

Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long.

Lesotho's snow may not be how you imagine Africa

The resort has played role in helping ski tourism emerge as another attraction in southern Africa, known for its wildlife and scenic coastlines along the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

For many visitors, Afriski is where they had their first ski lessons, braving falls and dusting themselves off before having another try, and another — until making that first, full glide down without falling.

Janco Smits, a student from Cape Town, South Africa, describes it as "an amazing slope to learn on.”

“At the start it was a little discouraging because you fall, and you fall hard,” he said. “But the people here, they gave me one lesson and after an hour, honestly, I felt confident.”

“When you think of the African continent, you don't think of snow. You think about ... the sun and the Sahara (Desert),” said Thato Ramaphoko, a first-timer at the resort from Pretoria, South Africa’s capital. "But that you can actually go to all that and also come here and it also snows at the same time, it is just mind-blowing, so I just had to see it for myself."

Visitors at Afriski can also sample a taste of Lesotho in the form of traditional sausage rolls and Maluti Lager, the country's proudly home-brewed beer.

As for a souvenir to take home, try the colorful Basotho blanket, which comes in vibrant colors and patterns that also pop up in local garments and are creatively integrated into various skiing jackets and gear.

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This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Janco Smits's name.

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For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

Trial underway for man accused of killing Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constable and her daughter in fiery crash

Rilwan Balogun — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:25:26 +0000

The trial is underway for the man accused of causing the crash that killed a Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constable and her young daughter in 2024.

On the second day of testimony, Harris County Precinct 5 Assistant Chief Deputy took the stand as prosecutors continued presenting evidence against Omar Jose Alvarado.

Alvarado is charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of a peace officer and intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. He remains in the Harris County Jail on a $500,000 bond as the trial continues.

RELATED: Man booked into jail on charges of intoxication manslaughter in crash that killed Harris County deputy, daughter

The charges stem from a fiery crash that happened around 3:45 a.m. on the Katy Freeway near 610.

Investigators say Katherine Hutson, a 46-year-old Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constable, was working an off-duty security job, providing safety and security for a road construction crew, when police say Alvarado crashed into her vehicle.

According to investigators, Hutson’s marked Chevrolet Impala had its hazard lights activated when Alvarado’s gray Mazda 3 struck the vehicle. The impact pushed the patrol car into a stationary TxDOT truck, causing it to burst into flames.

RELATED: Driver arrested after causing crash on Katy Freeway that killed Pct. 5 deputy, her daughter

Hutson and her 8-year-old daughter, Kacey, were both killed in the crash. Authorities said Kacey had been asleep in the back seat of the vehicle while her mother worked.

Investigators say Alvarado was under the influence at the time of the crash.

The trial is expected to continue this week as prosecutors and defense attorneys present testimony and evidence to the jury.

ICE is arresting relatives who come forward to take custody of migrant children in federal shelters

Texas Tribune, By Uriel J. García And Alex Nguyen, Graphics By Apurva Mahajan — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

On an early April morning, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents approached Y.R. in the parking lot of her Dallas-Fort Worth area apartment as she was about to head to her construction job.

Y.R., a 37-year-old undocumented Honduran immigrant who came to the U.S. in early 2022, had spent nearly a year been filling out government forms and submitting to a background check and DNA test to get custody of her niece and nephew, who had been stuck in a federal shelter after they crossed the Texas-Mexico border in the spring of 2025.

After two weeks in a detention center in North Texas, Y.R., was released on bond by an immigration judge and reunited with her now 11-year-old niece and 14-year-old nephew in May — over a year after they entered the shelter. Even though they have reunited, Y.R. is in deportation proceedings.

“I never thought about giving up on trying to get them. Even when I got arrested, I immediately thought about my niece and nephew,” said Y.R., who asked to be identified by her initials out of fear that the Trump administration may retaliate against her. “I told my lawyer, ‘I’m not leaving the U.S without the children.’”

Since President Donald Trump returned to office, his administration has implemented a slew of changes to the vetting process for close relatives and other guardians who volunteer to take in undocumented children, from narrowing the list of acceptable identity documents to mandating DNA tests. Crucially, it also dropped a rule that prohibited the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which cares for unaccompanied migrant kids, from sharing information about potential sponsors with ICE.

According to ICE documents, agents said they found and arrested Y.R. with help from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Y.R.’s nephew and niece, aged 14 and 10, play chess with each other at their home on June 27, 2026. The girl pictured learned to play chess while she and her brother were held in ORR custody for 400 days after trying to enter Texas from Honduras.

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Y.R.’s nephew and niece, aged 14 and 11, play chess at their home on June 27, 2026. The girl learned to play chess in the ORR shelter where she and her brother were held. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

Those changes have led to prolonged stays in shelters for unaccompanied children. Some advocates say the changes allow ICE to use kids as “bait” to arrest their potential caregivers.

Under the first Trump administration, immigration officials created a public firestorm by separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border — parents went to detention centers while children went to shelters. In some cases, the parents were deported while their children remained in shelters for months.

More than 4,600 children were separated from their parents after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border under what the Trump administration called a zero-tolerance policy. More than half were boys under the age of 10. The Biden administration reunited nearly 70% of the children with their parents, as of April 2024, the last report a family reunification task force published before the Trump administration returned to office.

The new information-sharing practice and arrests of potential sponsors will have a chilling effect on families who may not come forward to take children for fear of being detained, said Bob Carey, the former director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement director during the Obama administration.

The Trump administration did not say how many sponsors have been detained as part of these efforts, but an NPR radio affiliate in California cited at least 100 such cases across the country as of March. In comparison, at least 170 sponsors were arrested during the first Trump administration as of late 2018.

Alexa Sendukas, a managing attorney with the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, said the policy is separating migrant families without generating the attention that followed the border separations during Trump’s first term, because arresting potential sponsors is “much less obvious to the general public and much less likely to generate outrage, because it’s happening secretly.”

Advocates say the new policies also harm children’s mental health by keeping them in shelters for months at a time.

As of June, the Office of Refugee Resettlement had an average of just under 1,800 children in custody across the country — a drop from an average of over 5,000 kids in January 2025 when Trump returned to the White House. But they spent an average of 117 days in shelters in fiscal year 2025 — double the average during the first Trump administration and three times more than a decade ago.

There is no specific law that dictates how long immigration officials can hold a child in a shelter. But immigration lawyers representing children in custody say that the prolonged stays in shelters violate a federal law that requires that each child be “promptly placed in the least restrictive setting” that best serves them.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, defended the Trump administration’s practices of arresting some sponsors who are undocumented and have a criminal history.

In the statement, the spokesperson blamed the Biden administration for letting thousands of unaccompanied minors cross the U.S.-Mexico border and provided more than a dozen examples of ICE detaining sponsors with criminal histories that included possession of child pornography, larceny, fraud and homicide.

ICE is committed “to protect vulnerable children from sexual abuse and exploitation” through collaboration with local police departments, the spokesperson said. “The primary focus of this initiative is to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure that they are safe and not being exploited.”

Sendukas, who is representing Y.R., said she doesn’t buy it. She said her organization’s clients, including the three women the Tribune interviewed, are law-abiding sponsors who have complied with everything the federal government has asked them to do. In the ICE documents, the agency said Y.R. has no criminal history.

“I do not believe for one second that this is about protecting children,” she said. “All of the families we’re working with are honest, God-fearing, hard-working people, just trying to make a better life for their children, and all they want is to reunite with their children.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, which oversees ORR, did not respond to requests for comment from the Tribune.

Mental breakdown

F.S., a 32-year-old woman, said she left Guatemala in 2023 because of violence and because she couldn’t afford to raise three children in her home town. She joined a caravan of migrants that got her to Mexico, then crossed the border, surrendered to the Border Patrol and requested asylum.

She was allowed to stay in the U.S. while her case was pending and moved in with a childhood friend who lived outside of Dallas. A deportation order was issued after she missed a court date; F.S. said she didn’t get the letter about the court date because they moved and it wasn’t forwarded to their new address.

In October 2025, her oldest son decided to join her. After getting a ride to the Texas-Mexico border, where he crossed alone and turned himself into Border Patrol agents, he was immediately placed in a shelter.

F.S. said she talked to her 13-year-old son regularly and visited him at least once a week. She would make the four-hour drive one way to see him at the shelter.

Like Y.R., she was arrested by ICE after she began the vetting process to get custody of her son. According to court documents filed in immigration court by F.S.’s lawyer, she was arrested as part of the Trump administration’s operation to find undocumented sponsors.

“I believe I was arrested because I came forward for my son,” she said. “I feel bad because he blames himself. He says the reason I’m arrested is because of him.”

Her son has been in a shelter for over eight months as of July 20. He took her arrest hard, she said, and has been prescribed various medications to help quell his anxiety “and to help control his emotions.” He has refused to talk to anyone at times.

F.S., who also asked to be identified by her initials because she fears retaliation by the government for speaking publicly about her case, said her son was recently admitted into a psychiatric hospital because his anxiety has become debilitating.

“I fear for him here in the United States if he remains in the shelter. He is not doing well there, and he needs my support,” she said.

Both the mother and son have agreed to be deported so they can reunite sooner, said Sendukas, who is also representing them.

Sural Shah, a California-based pediatrician and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health, said long stays in shelters can also cause children to mistrust their caregivers.

“There can be, especially for young kids, a lot of questions: Why didn’t you come help me? Why didn’t you come get me?” Shah said. “That’s really difficult because all of that affects how children adjust to that trauma and we know that these early experiences can have impacts on them for the rest of their lives.”

“I feel guilty,” F.S. said. “I never imagined he would be in the shelter too long because I thought I was doing everything by the rules.”

Another immigrant mother said she also was arrested after coming forward to sponsor her daughter, following the advice of a social worker who assured her nothing bad would happen.

M.R.’s 9-year-old daughter drew pictures in late 2025 about her home and her journey to the United States. Artwork provided by attorneys for M.R.’s daughter

M.R., 41, said she crossed the Texas-Mexico border illegally with one of her three children in 2021 after a crime syndicate murdered her husband, brother and pregnant cousin in El Salvador. Her two other children crossed the border in 2025 and were placed in a shelter, she said; her eldest daughter was released when she turned 18, but her 9-year-old was not.

When she gave her information to ORR, the agency asked her to come to an office for a DNA test, she said. ICE agents were waiting to arrest her. Three months later, she’s in a Louisiana detention center awaiting deportation, while her daughter has been in the Texas shelter for over seven months.

“I feel terrible, I came to the U.S. seeking refuge, but I feel like I’m in an equally, if not, worse situation than we were in El Salvador,” M.R. said, holding back tears. “I thought I was doing everything the right way, but it turned out it’s just a nightmare.”

Crossing the river alone

Y.R. said she left Honduras in April 2022 because she feared she would be a target of local gangs known to extort people.

“There was just a lot of insecurity,” she said.

She left behind her daughter with her father. She also left her niece and nephew, who she had helped her sister raise. She entered the U.S. with a tourist visa.

A year later, Y.R.’s sister and brother-in-law decided to flee Honduras too, with her niece and nephew. Y.R. said someone threatened to kill her brother-in-law and the rest of his family if he didn’t pay a “safety fee.”

They arrived in Mexico, hoping to get an appointment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to request asylum. But with only so many appointments available each day, the family grew desperate after months and decided to cross the border and surrender to Border Patrol agents. Instead of being allowed to stay, they were deported back to Honduras, Y.R. said.

The family decided to try again, only to be kidnapped by suspected drug cartel members looking to ransom migrants in exchange for their freedom, Y.R.’s nephew said. The boy, who is now 14, said they escaped when the men guarding them were distracted.

The family decided the children had a better chance of getting permission to stay in the U.S. if they crossed without their parents, so they walked to the banks of the Rio Grande and the children waded across on April 25, 2025 and approached Border Patrol agents.

The next day, they were in a government shelter with dozens of other children. Meanwhile, the parents returned to Honduras.

“God’s best soldiers“

Soon after, Y.R. received the call from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, asking if she was indeed the boy and girl’s aunt and if she was willing to take responsibility for them.

She agreed, and began a process that would take nearly a year.

She allowed an inspector to go through her apartment to make sure it would be a safe environment for the children.

After the paperwork, DNA test and background check, she thought she was done.

Then officials asked her to apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number, commonly known as an ITIN, a nine-digit number the IRS provides to people who file taxes but don’t have a Social Security number, such as undocumented immigrants. The IRS told her it would take four weeks to issue her a number and in the meantime they would hold onto her passport until her application was processed.

As she waited for her ITIN, immigration officials told her the criminal background check she had done had expired and needed to be done again.

“It just felt like they wanted me to give up, like they were dragging their feet to see who would give up first, me or the kids,” she said.

An aunt holds her nephew and niece at their home on June 27, 2026. The two children, aged 10 and 14, were held in ORR custody for 400 days after trying to enter Texas from Honduras. Their aunt was then temporarily detained by ICE while trying to get custody of the kids.

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Y.R. holds her nephew and niece at their home on June 27, 2026. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune

The process is making it harder for families to reunite, said Becky Wolozin, senior attorney at the National Center for Youth Law.

“It is a real Kafkaesque situation where there are endless bureaucratic steps that have very little or nothing to do with the child’s safety or welfare,” Wolozin said.

In March, she received a call from an immigration official asking her to report to a local office to verify her identity. Y.R. told them the IRS still had her passport to process her ITIN. The immigration agent told her to come in anyway.

Y.R. said she didn’t go, suspecting it was a trap to detain her.

A month later, two immigration agents arrested her at her apartment. According to the arrest affidavit, the agents said they got her information from the Health and Human Services and that Y.R. had no criminal history.

The immigration judge released her from detention, in part, because she had entered the country legally.

“I like to say I’m one of God’s best soldiers, but I’ve been asking him for a break,” she said.

“It felt like a prison”

Meanwhile, her niece and nephew waited in the shelter. They saw friends leave and had to make friends with new children as they came in.

The shelter separated them by gender, so they would only see each other once a week, the nephew said. The girl embraced her brother and sometimes she cried, he said.

To pass the time, he played basketball and watched movies. She learned how to play chess. They started to learn English.

But it still felt oppressive, he said.

“It was stressful because you couldn’t do anything freely, you had to ask for permission to do anything,” he said. “It felt like a prison.”

In May, Y.R. received a call from her lawyer, Sendukas, who said the federal judge in the case ordered her niece and nephew to be released to her.

“Are you serious?” Y.R. asked, she recalled.

“Can you pick them up today?” Sendukas asked.

“Of course,” Y.R. said without hesitation.

Y.R. left work at a construction site and rushed home to shower. Meanwhile, the nephew received the news from a shelter employee.

“To be honest, I cried,” the nephew told his aunt later.

Five hours later, Y.R. arrived at the shelter.

The children’s luggage was already in the lobby. Y.R. and the children rushed to each other and hugged.

“There was a sense of relief, like we finally did it,” Y.R. said.

After taking the kids for pizza, Y.R. called her sister in Honduras to tell her the good news.

“‘I didn’t call you sooner because I didn’t want to jinx it,’ she recalled telling her sister, who broke down in tears.

Colleen DeGuzman contributed to this story.

Analysis: Have progressives peaked? The next few weeks will be crucial in Democrats' tug-of-war

Steve Peoples, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:46:51 +0000

The progressive movement may already have hit its high point in the 2026 midterms. Or this may be the beginning of a much more powerful shift as voters, eager for change, decide to embrace far-left populism on a national scale.

It depends upon who you ask within a Democratic Party that is undeniably locked in a tug-of-war between emboldened progressives demanding radical change and the party's pragmatic establishment.

Progressives expect their newest candidate in Maine, former state lawmaker Troy Jackson, will clinch the Democratic nomination Saturday to replace Graham Platner on the November ballot, giving the party a chance to recover from Platner's downfall earlier this month. Next up will be August Senate primaries in Michigan and Minnesota — contests that put the intraparty divide on clear display less than four months before the midterms are decided. All three states will be important in the fight for Senate control, raising the stakes over who Democrats should nominate.

“We’re seeing the pendulum shift from right to left. That’s ultimately what this midterm election is about,” said Joseph Geevarghese, who leads Our Revolution, the progressive organization founded by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a decade ago. “We're in a transitional moment in national politics.”

On the other side of the same party, establishment leaders, including the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, believe that the progressive movement's momentum this summer will ultimately hurt the party's chances in the general election this fall. Democrats are in position to win control of at least one chamber in Congress given President Donald Trump's low approval ratings, the unpopular war in Iran and surging costs.

Count Matt Bennett, co-founder of the centrist Democratic group Third Way, as one of those fighting to stop his party's ascendant progressive wing from undermining their midterm chances.

“It is an enormous mistake and an enormous risk for them to be engaged in an effort to push the party to the left,” Bennett said. Sanders' brand of far-left politics, he added, “is not what America is asking for.”

Voters will ultimately decide who is right this fall — and the results could shape policy and politics inside the Democratic Party for years to come.

In the meantime, as establishment Democrats worry from Washington, Sanders and his allies like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are barnstorming through key swing states to harness the energy of the party's grassroots.

Republican officials were watching with glee.

“Socialists have gone from a sideshow in the Democrat Party to the main event," said Bernadette Breslin, spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Sanders rallied for progressives in Michigan and Minnesota

On Monday night in Minneapolis, Sanders railed against billionaires and corporations as he campaigned for Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota's lieutenant governor who has aligned herself with his populist movement in Minnesota's contentious primary for U.S. Senate.

“When you stand up to these billionaires, as you will, and when you defeat them, you will bring hope and inspiration to people all across our country and in fact, all over the world,” Sanders said.

Flanagan faces U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who is backed by much of the party's establishment in a race that has brought in millions of dollars from super PACs and other independent groups backing both candidates.

“I want you to know that we have an opportunity to change the way that Washington works,” Flanagan said.

When they were done, Sanders, Flanagan, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and retiring Sen. Tina Smith locked arms as John Lennon's “Power to the People” thundered from the speakers.

The scene was similar a day earlier in Michigan, where Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives campaigned with Abdul El-Sayed, whom many centrist Democrats worry is too far left for a must-win seat for Democrats in a battleground state.

The progressive movement has also seen setbacks

Dozens of progressive candidates up and down the ballot aligned with Sanders, including more than 30 backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, have won Democratic nomination contests in recent weeks — in some cases defeating sitting members of Congress.

There have been setbacks, however, none more painful for the progressive movement than Platner's implosion in Maine.

Platner, a Sanders acolyte and political newcomer who dominated Maine's sitting governor in the Democratic Senate primary, was forced to drop out barely a week ago after a sexual assault allegation emerged from his former girlfriend. Platner has denied the accusation, which many allies deemed credible.

Geevarghese described the situation as “a bump in the road” that would not cause any lasting damage for the broader progressive movement.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a 2028 presidential prospect aligned with the progressive wing, acknowledged that he made a mistake by supporting Platner when so little was known about his background.

“It’s an important lesson of being more aware of the red flags of candidates,” Khanna said, while insisting that the progressive movement “is so much bigger than any individual.”

“Despite a very flawed candidate, the platform of Medicare for all and no foreign wars and taxing billionaire wealth was so strong that he did well,” Khanna said of Platner. “No one candidate is a test for the progressive movement.”

But the fallout from Platner’s campaign renewed a long-running debate among Democratic establishment figures over whether the party’s progressive wing is hurting its chances of winning competitive general election races.

The divide has been especially apparent in the Senate, where some rank-and-file senators have backed progressive candidates at odds with Schumer and other party leaders. Platner’s collapse sparked behind-the-scenes finger pointing and prompted some establishment figures to more actively step into other competitive primaries.

In Michigan, for example, Sen. Gary Peters endorsed Haley Stevens last week after previously saying he wouldn’t get involved.

“We do want to have candidates who are fully vetted running in these high-profile races,” Peters said.

Bennett, of Third Way, says that it's all about winning in November. That's not to say he thinks it's impossible for Democrats to win with a nominee like El-Sayed on the ballot.

“In this cycle, with the war raging again, anyone might be able to beat a Republican in a place like Michigan,” he said. “But it sure as hell is going to be harder.”

___

Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti in Washington and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed.

Judge approves a $1.5B Anthropic settlement over pirated books used to train the Claude chatbot

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:41:52 +0000

A federal judge has approved a $1.5 billion copyright settlement in which artificial intelligence company Anthropic will pay thousands of authors about $3,000 per book after using pirated copies of their works to train its Claude chatbot.

District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín said in a Monday ruling that the class-action settlement provides “meaningful relief” to affected authors and publishers.

About 91% of the more than 482,000 books covered by the ruling have been claimed by authors or publishers who are now due payment.

Plaintiff attorney Justin Nelson said in a statement that the settlement was "the largest known copyright recovery in history. We look forward to making distributions to the Class as promptly as possible.”

U.S. District Judge William Alsup issued the preliminary approval in San Francisco federal court last September and has since retired. Alsup had dealt the case a mixed ruling last summer, finding that training AI chatbots on copyrighted books wasn’t illegal but that Anthropic wrongfully acquired millions of books through pirate websites.

Anthropic's deputy general counsel, Aparna Sridhar, highlighted that ruling Friday as a landmark showing “that training AI on books is fair use under copyright law.”

“We are pleased that more than 91% of authors and publishers covered by the settlement have claimed their share of the payment, and we’re looking forward to bringing this matter to a close,” Sridhar said in a written statement.

Bestselling thriller novelist Andrea Bartz first brought the suit with two other authors in 2024. It's the first major settlement in dozens of AI copyright lawsuits that are still working their way through courts.

Smithsonian history museum chief rejects White House criticism of its leaders as radical activists

Steven Sloan, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:14:20 +0000

The director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History pushed back Tuesday against a recent White House report that branded the institution's leadership as radical activists who cannot be trusted.

The testimony from Anthea M. Hartig came as President Donald Trump has engaged in a broad national effort to reshape the stories of America told by cultural institutions controlled or influenced by the federal government and, in particular, to purge diversity, equity and inclusion elements from those narratives. Many historians are alarmed by the revisionism.

“As we continue to fact check the report, we unwaveringly attest that it does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum,” Hartig told a House Oversight subcommittee. “There is always room for improvement. But I also know the beauty and the inspiration and the expertise that lies in our collections, our exhibits, and our programming.”

Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a report on July Fourth arguing that the museum, a centerpiece of the sprawling Smithsonian complex on the National Mall, doesn't tell history “in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”

Republicans on the panel reiterated some of those concerns on Tuesday.

“In the museum’s current telling, history is just an ongoing power struggle between oppressors and the oppressed,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. “The report makes clear that the museum’s woke exhibits and materials reflect a broader vision held by the museum leadership.”

Hartig, the first woman to serve as director of the National Museum of American History, said the institution “does not take sides in America's political debates.” She described the museum's presentation of the nation's story as an evolution intended to add voices, not erase history as detractors sometimes argue.

“When historians talk about reframing a traditional narrative, we don’t mean erasing it,” she said. “We mean adding the evidence, the voices, the objects, that earlier tellings left out, so that more Americans can see themselves reflected in the national story.”

The White House report argued that the museum “has refused to celebrate the Nation and its history.”

“It has not created any exhibit dedicated to presenting a general narrative of American history or telling the story of any of our Founding Fathers, the Second Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolutionary War, or the achievement of independence and the establishment of the constitutional rule of law,” the report said.

But the museum opened an exhibit in May dubbed “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness” that displays 250 objects throughout the building to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. The artifacts include the desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence, a Revolutionary War-era gunboat and the Star Spangled Banner.

Some Republicans on the panel on Tuesday acknowledged that the museum displays important material related to the anniversary but argued it was challenging to navigate. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, said he expected references to the Declaration of Independence to be more prominent during a recent visit.

“I'm not saying it's not there, but it's hard to find,” he said.

Hartig faced particular scrutiny from Republicans over an exhibit entitled “Girlhood (It's Complicated),” which included a diary from a 13-year old exploring issues including gender identity. The museum director said the exhibit, which ran from 2020 through 2023, included a label making clear it was not designed for children.

Hartig's future as the museum's director hung over the hearing. Trump last year said he was firing the longtime leader of the National Portrait Gallery, another Smithsonian museum that, like the National Museum of American History, operates independently of the executive branch. The National Portrait Gallery's director, Kim Sajet, nonetheless stepped down from the museum in the face of the White House pressure.

At one point, Burchett asked Hartig why she should continue in her job. She responded simply that overseeing the museum is “the honor of my career.”

A Minnesota town now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker

Sarah Raza, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:06:23 +0000

Crossing the open farmland of southwestern Minnesota, you'll encounter an otherworldly sight: a massive head with a beard, mustache and red-striped top hat looming over the horizon.

Pull into the small town of Luverne and the figure — a nearly 66-foot (20-meter) tall nutcracker, decked out like Uncle Sam — comes into full view.

Luverne, which thanks to a local collector claims to have more of the decorative figurines than people, now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker too. And yes, the star-spangled behemoth has a working jaw.

Outside a quirky rock shop in the town's center, hundreds of people gathered for a weekend ribbon cutting where the nutcracker's name and exact height were revealed to a crowd that was later served red, white and blue cookies and slushies.

“Please welcome our newest Luverne resident, Verne the Patriot,” Katie Walgrave announced to cheers.

It stands 65 feet and 7 1/2 inches tall, with the pedestal pushing Verne an additional 9 feet (2.7 meters) over the surrounding prairie, according to Walgrave. That's almost twice the height of a 33-foot (10-meter) tall nutcracker in Neuhausen, Germany, that Guinness World Records currently has ranked as the largest.

Walgrave, who runs the rock shop called Those Blasted Things with her family, said that since the nutcracker was completed in mid-June, customers have quadrupled. Other local businesses have reported more traffic too.

“Our goal is to have something that’s different and that you won’t see anywhere else. And so that’s what we have here,” she said.

Given the association between nutcrackers and Tchaikovsky's namesake holiday ballet, the July unveiling seemed a bit out of season. But nutcrackers are a year-round obsession in Luverne, which also hosts a “Nutcracker Fest” every summer.

It all traces back to Betty Mann, 96, and a trip that she made to a Cracker Barrel in January 2001 after her daughter and husband had recently died.

“I said to my daughter-in-law, ‘I had a hard Christmas and I’ve always wanted a wooden nutcracker. I’m buying myself a belated Christmas present,’” she recalled.

She got her first in the Cracker Barrel’s gift shop. She kept buying them, and Mann's collection eventually ballooned to more than 2,500 nutcrackers. In 2016, she donated them to the town’s historical society, where she was president, hoping to draw more visitors to its museum.

Others also started donating and today, Luverne’s 7,554 nutcrackers outnumber its roughly 5,000 residents. No two are the same.

A few years ago, when the city brought in a tourism expert to figure out how to lure more visitors, he concluded “we’re crazy if we don’t utilize the nutcracker collection,” Mayor Patrick Baustian said.

A city committee came up with the idea of building the world's tallest nutcracker, and so Verne was conceived. It was timed perfectly to arrive as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.

The nutcracker was several years in the making, with the pieces crafted in Utah and assembled in Luverne. The head and hat had to be lifted on with a crane three weeks ago, completing the structure.

It cost around $600,000, and was funded by donations and grants, Walgrave said.

John Hawkinson of Lakeville, Minnesota, surprised his wife, Francine, with a trip to Luverne (nearly 200 miles, or 321 kilometers, away) after a house fire last month destroyed her collection of nearly 300 nutcrackers. Many represented times from their life together — a nutcracker resembling a sailor for John’s time in the Navy, and matching bride and groom nutcrackers for their marriage.

“Betty started her collection as a way of dealing with grief,” John Hawkinson said Saturday. “We came down here out of loss as well. … I thought that was kind of a full circle moment.”

Luverne is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and about 200 miles (322 kilometers) from Minneapolis. One of its other claims to fame is being a setting for the second season of the TV show “Fargo.”

US soldier killed in Iraq was a 30-year-old father from North Carolina

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:57:02 +0000

A U.S. soldier killed in Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone was a 30-year-old father from North Carolina who had served for nearly a decade, according to a military statement Tuesday and his family.

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton will receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and will be promoted to staff sergeant. The Army said it was investigating the circumstances of his death Sunday at an air base in Irbil.

He leaves behind a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter, his mother said.

“I will never recover from this,” his wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, posted Monday on Facebook. “We had so many plans for when you got back, I’m sick to my stomach.” She said she was notified Sunday that he had been killed.

Two U.S. Army soldiers were also killed in Jordan last week while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. They were the first U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.

His wife and kids were the center of his world, his mother, Christel Swinton Andujar, told The Associated Press.

“His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the laughter he shared, the strength he gave others, and the unconditional love he poured into his family,” she said via text message. “He will forever be missed, forever honored, and forever our hero.”

Swinton enlisted in the Army in 2017 and was assigned to the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He lived in Spring Lake, a popular off-base location for Fort Bragg families, according to pubic records. The military gave his hometown as Fayetteville, another nearby community.

“Sgt. Swinton was an experienced noncommissioned officer who took great pride in his work and the people around him,” said Brig. Gen. John L. Dawber, commanding general of the Army Air and Missile Defense Command. “He answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication.”

Renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran is now in its 10th day, with both sides launching barrages of strikes. Iran has attacked U.S. allies in the region, and American soldiers are stationed across the Middle East.

The Defense Department identified the soldiers killed in Jordan as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. They were also with Army Air and Missile Defense Command units.

A third service member was reported missing after the attack. U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said “unidentified remains” have been found and were being examined.

Iranian authorities say U.S. strikes in just the past three weeks have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500 others.

Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. Workers on ships, as well as foreign workers and others in Gulf nations, Israel and Lebanon have also died in the conflict.

The U.S. State Department said in a new warning to Americans that “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has said the war is necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump, a Republican, now faces political pressure to bring the war to a close and avoid the kind of prolonged Middle East conflict he had campaigned against. The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks.

Swinton Andujar said her son was the kind of person who could light up a room with his humor and contagious laugh.

“Michael had a remarkable ability to excel at whatever he set his mind to,” she said. “He knew when it was time to laugh and when it was time to be serious. Whether serving his country, supporting his family, or helping a friend, he gave his whole heart and expected nothing in return.”

___

This story was corrected to show Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton died Sunday, not Saturday, as earlier reported by the military.

___

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

UK leader Burnham gathers his Cabinet after sweeping away Starmer supporters

Jill Lawless, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:48:42 +0000

New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham gathered his Cabinet for its first meeting on Tuesday and vowed to take a “one-team approach” despite purging allies of predecessor Keir Starmer from the government.

Burnham told his top team that he would lead a “cost-of-living government” focused on easing the economic burden felt by millions of people.

“We need to think every day, what can we do just to take that little bit of pressure off people’s shoulders, to give them that little extra sense that help is coming, so they can have that bit of hope that things are getting better,” Burnham said.

He made a small down payment on that pledge by announcing a tax cut on domestic electricity bills that will save the average household about 45 pounds ($60) a year. The cut will take effect Oct. 1, Burnham said, with the funding coming from scrapping a plan for digital ID cards announced by Starmer.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester entered Downing Street on Monday after replacing Starmer as leader of the governing Labour Party, becoming Britain’s seventh prime minister since 2016. Starmer resigned just two years after winning a landslide election victory, forced out by his party after missteps and U-turns.

In his first speech as prime minister, Burnham pledged to ease the cost of living, decentralize political power, revitalize industry and end street sleeping by homeless people — a tall order, especially given Britain's sluggish economic growth in recent years.

Burnham acknowledged at the Cabinet meeting that the government would have to make difficult financial decisions and “take a really hard look at what our priorities are.”

Starmer loyalists removed from office

After taking office Monday, Burnham set about remaking the government.

Starmer’s finance minister, Rachel Reeves, was ousted, replaced by John Healey, a former defense secretary who resigned in June and accused the Treasury of failing to spend enough on the military at a time of rising threats. In an interview after he quit, Healey called the Treasury “a dead hand on dynamic government” and “in denial.”

Healey has said defense spending, due to be 2.6% of GDP next year, should rise to 3% by 2030. Now he will have to find the money.

Wes Streeting, whose resignation as health secretary in May helped topple Starmer, took over the defense portfolio.

Other key Cabinet appointees include Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who has an expanded brief that includes innovation and science.

Louise Haigh, a key Burnham ally who helped engineer his rise to the top, was named First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, effectively the deputy prime minister.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has overseen contentious rules designed to reduce immigration, kept her job.

Burnham has huge support from the party that is desperate for a new leader to reverse its decline in popularity under Starmer. But there is some grumbling after Burnham removed several of Starmer’s senior ministers including ex-Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, former Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Starmer’s chief secretary, Darren Jones.

Foreign policy challenges lie ahead

Burnham has little experience of foreign policy and faces a stack of challenges including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and managing relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, who first warmed to Starmer before souring on him.

Burnham’s office said he had an “extremely warm” conversation with Trump in one of his first calls as prime minister and “underlined his commitment to defense and security.” Trump posted on social media that the men had “a very good conversation” and would be “meeting in the not too distant future for topics of mutual interest.”

The prime minister also spoke to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and leaders of the European Union and NATO.

Burnham told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that putting former defense chief Healey in charge of the nation’s finances “was a signal of his intent.”

In a reminder of the growing international tensions Britain faces, a Russian warship carried out a live-fire weapons exercise in the English Channel on Monday, the day Burnham took office.

The Ministry of Defense said the frigate Neustrashimy was being shadowed by the Royal Navy when it conducted the exercise in international waters about 46 miles (74 kilometers) south of the southwest England port city of Plymouth. It said the navy “continues to track the vessel’s activity closely and stands ready to protect U.K. national security.”

Streeting, the new defense secretary, said the Russian ship's actions were “performative and irresponsible.”

“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this government and this prime minister, our resolve to stand against Russian aggression in Ukraine but also Russian aggression against all of our allies,” he said at a news conference.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian warships always acted “in strict accordance” with international and maritime law.

Asked whether the Russian government felt relations with the U.K. would improve under the new prime minister, Peskov said it had “no such hopes.”

SafeSport Center to begin publicizing names of people who go on its banned list

Eddie Pells, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:00:27 +0000

The U.S. Center for SafeSport began making public announcements of people placed on its disciplinary database Tuesday, a move designed to increase transparency and bring more attention to what the center believes is one of its top tools in the fight against sex abuse.

The center, in charge of combating abuse in Olympic sports, has long published what it calls its Centralized Disciplinary Database. But without publicizing who lands on the list, people had to access the database and know who they were looking for to learn about banned and restricted people in their orbit.

Now, the center will share weekly updates about people added to the list; the updates will include cases taken to arbitration that have reached a decision.

"Knowledge is power and maintaining safe sport environments improves when information is as accessible as possible,” said the center's CEO, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley. “By sharing weekly news updates of individuals who have been added to the Centralized Disciplinary Database, we hope to improve safeguarding through increased public awareness.”

Among those who receive the center's correspondence are national governing bodies, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and media, making the news of someone's listing on the database more likely to be seen.

Publicizing offenders is a core principle in anti-doping. Public announcements of people who get caught doping is considered a deterrent to drug use and the practice is part of the world drug-fighting rulebook.

In the SafeSport Center’s news release announcing the change, it said people listed on the database are currently restricted or banned from participating in Olympic or Paralympic sports — a penalty that encompasses elite level down to the grassroots. The center said the database is a snapshot in time — i.e., someone on the list could come off of it — and that the center's process is neither a criminal nor civil legal proceeding.

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

Audience Growth Strategist

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:33:37 +0000

KPRC 2 is looking for an Audience Growth Strategist to help shape the future of local journalism.

This role sits at the intersection of journalism, audience behavior, and platform strategy — helping our newsroom create content that is not only informative, but genuinely useful, relevant, and impactful in a rapidly changing media environment.

We believe great journalism alone is no longer enough. Stories must be clearly framed, thoughtfully packaged, and strategically distributed in ways that connect with modern audiences across streaming, mobile, social, and digital platforms.

Reporting to the Marketing Director and working closely with newsroom leadership, this role will help shape how stories are prioritized, presented, optimized, and distributed across platforms. You’ll collaborate daily with reporters, producers, digital teams, photographers, and creatives to strengthen audience connection and help our journalism reach more people in more meaningful ways.

Because this role is deeply collaborative and embedded in the daily editorial process, this is an on-site position based in Houston.

This is not a traditional social media role. It is a strategic position focused on growing audience habits, strengthening story impact, and helping evolve how local journalism serves the community.

What You’ll Do

Partner with newsroom and marketing teams to identify stories with the strongest audience impact and engagement potential.
Help shape story framing, packaging, headlines, thumbnails, captions, and presentation across platforms.
Develop platform-specific strategies for social, streaming, mobile, YouTube, and emerging digital spaces.
Use audience insights, analytics, and platform behavior to guide content decisions and improve performance.
Identify opportunities during breaking news and major events to maximize reach, relevance, and engagement in real time.
Experiment with new storytelling formats, workflows, and audience strategies.
Help newsroom staff better understand audience behavior, digital best practices, and platform trends through clear, practical coaching.
Contribute to a newsroom culture focused not just on producing content but creating journalism that people genuinely value and return to.

We’re Looking for Someone Who

Wants to help reinvent how local journalism connects with communities.
Thinks strategically about how stories are consumed in today’s media environment.
Understands both journalism and audience behavior.
Has strong instincts for what makes people stop, watch, click, share, and come back.
Can balance editorial judgment with creativity, experimentation, and data-informed decision-making.
Is collaborative, curious, adaptable, and comfortable influencing across teams.
Thrives in fast-moving environments where priorities shift quickly and breaking news matters.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, media studies, or related field or equivalent job experience.
Experience in audience development, digital content strategy, social storytelling, newsroom growth, or platform strategy.
Strong understanding of digital and social platforms including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, streaming, and mobile.
Experience using analytics and audience insight tools to inform content strategy and decision-making.
Excellent writing, editorial, and communication skills.
Experience with short-form video, visual packaging, or digital storytelling workflows is a plus.
Knowledge of SEO, headline strategy, and content optimization best practices are helpful.
Passion for local journalism and serving audiences in meaningful ways.

Bilingual English/Spanish skills are a plus, but not required.

To apply: MUST HAVE A PORTFOLIO! Please submit your resume, application and portfolio to: Human Resources: jobs@kprc.com

Click HERE to download and complete employment application.

Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks. You must hold a valid driver’s license and be insurable under Texas Law.

No Phone Calls Please

KPRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, KPRC will comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

Ex-UK politician Widdecombe was hit 21 times with a hammer, prosecutors say

Brian Melley, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:40:15 +0000

Former British politician Ann Widdecombe was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer as she was eating lunch at home, a prosecutor told a court hearing on Tuesday for the man charged in her murder.

Joshua Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London over the killing that shocked the public and the political establishment.

Widdecombe, 78, was eating around noon on July 8 when Kerry drove to her house in an isolated southwest England village, prosecutor Kashif Malik said. Kerry walked through the front door and beat her with a hammer, took her wallet and was gone two minutes after the attack began.

Blunt force injury to the head was listed as the provisional cause of death.

Kerry was charged Monday while in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder and acts of terror. Police are investigating his motive, including a potential political or terrorist connection, prosecutors said.

Kerry, who wore a gray sweatsuit, spoke only to confirm his identity and did not enter a plea. He was ordered held in custody and is scheduled to appear in the Central Criminal Court on Oct. 9.

Widdecombe, a former member of Parliament and government minister, was a prominent political voice known for her blunt-spoken, socially conservative views opposing abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.

When she failed to appear for a scheduled interview on July 8, TV producers called her assistant, who contacted her gardener, prosecutors said. He found Widdecombe lying face down on her kitchen floor the next day.

Kerry was arrested July 11 in South Yorkshire, a northern England county where he lived, more than 250 miles (400 kilometers) from Widdecombe's home in the village of Haytor, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

Widdecombe was a MP in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, serving as a prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s 1990s Conservative government.

She found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.”

She later joined the Brexit Party, briefly serving as a member of the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in 2020. Most recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK, often appearing in the media as the party's immigration and justice spokesperson.

Widdecombe's killing has renewed concerns over the security for politicians, which had been tightened in the past decade after the murders of two prominent MPs. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

A blast in a tunnel at an Indian hydropower project leaves 12 dead and 13 missing

Wasbir Hussain, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:03:46 +0000

A suspected gas explosion collapsed part of a tunnel under construction at a hydropower project in India’s northeastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, leaving at least 12 people dead and 13 missing, officials said Tuesday.

Rescue teams with oxygen gear raced to find survivors Tuesday as toxic levels of gas were detected at the disaster site in Samardung village near the Chinese border.

The blast had ripped through the tunnel Monday while 21 laborers were inside working on the 500-megawatt Teesta hydroelectric project, officials said. Two of them managed to escape. Six power utility officials later entered the tunnel to help in the rescue, but became trapped themselves, officials said.

The explosion was believed triggered by a buildup of methane, said State Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who visited the site Tuesday. Survivors told authorities they heard a loud explosion before debris came crashing through the tunnel, civil official Anupama Tamling said.

Officials had recovered 12 bodies on Tuesday while rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force, or NDRF, raced to reach the 13 people believed to be still trapped.

“We found toxic gases such as methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide inside the tunnel,” NDRF official Nitin Kumar said at the scene.

The conditions late Tuesday were so dangerous that, although equipped with oxygen gear, the rescuers could enter the disaster site only for shifts of about 15 minutes at a time, officials said.

Construction accidents are not uncommon in India, where rapid infrastructure growth often collides with fragile geology, construction lapses, extreme weather and safety standards.

In the Himalayan region, fragile mountains, seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions make tunnel projects especially risky. An explosion inside a coal mine in neighboring Meghalaya state in February killed at least 18 workers. In 2023, a tunnel section in northern Uttarakhand state collapsed, trapping 41 workers for 17 days before they were rescued.

Experts say the Teesta River basin, where the hydropower project is being built, lies in a seismically active region marked by young, fragile rock formations riddled with fractures and underground pockets that can trap ancient gases.

Dr. Devesh Walia, a geology professor at North-Eastern Hill University in Meghalaya, said the area contains relatively young rock formations, some associated with coal-bearing strata.

“It is quite possible that methane along with other gases accumulated underground and may have triggered an explosion,” he said.

US actions harm global efforts to prevent and treat HIV in dozens of countries, new report says

Laura Ungar, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:00:13 +0000

The Trump administration’s disruptions to a global AIDS relief program have forced organizations to close clinics, lay off staff and cut services, seriously impeding efforts to prevent and treat the disease in dozens of countries, a new report released Tuesday shows.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, is credited with saving at least 26 million lives since its inception in 2003. But last year, it was impaired by the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and cuts to thousands of global health grants.

“The disruptions were very widespread,” with services for young women, orphans and children impacted, said Elise Lankiewicz, policy associate for the nonprofit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, which released the report.

Researchers contacted groups that got PEPFAR funding to deliver HIV services last year. Nearly a quarter — 166 groups from 46 countries — responded to an electronic survey conducted between last November and April, providing information on their funding, staff and services.

The survey didn’t reach all PEPFAR groups and certain types of organizations — like those that were most severely disrupted or still receiving U.S. funding — may have been less likely to respond. That could result in an underestimate or an overestimate of disruptions, depending on which organizations were missed. Nevertheless, the findings are a window into the struggles that some groups faced last year.

Some key findings were:

—Most organizations had at least one award terminated or payment delayed last year. Terminations led to the closure of more than 1,700 clinics, drop-in centers and other service delivery sites, and to the loss of more than 16,000 full-time staff members.

—Even though the U.S. government directed services providing HIV treatment, testing, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission to continue, a majority of partners still reported a disruption to those services.

—Cuts were concentrated on services for populations most impacted by HIV. Most organizations previously serving groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and people who inject drugs reported permanently ending a service for these groups. Even among organizations that didn’t lose funding, some reported stopping a service for one of these key populations to comply with U.S. policy.

—HIV prevention has been sharply reduced, with many organizations stopping condom programs or services offering what's called PrEP, preventive medicines to guard against sexually transmitted HIV. From fiscal years 2024 to 2025, prevention spending fell 51%, according to PEPFAR expenditure data.

—Locally-based partners were much more likely than international organizations to have an award terminated and to close service delivery sites. Funding disruptions also destabilized interconnected HIV service systems.

“Taken together, these results describe widespread degradation of the infrastructure built to deliver HIV services worldwide, with the deepest damage falling on the populations and partners most essential to controlling the epidemic,” the report says.

The survey doesn’t provide data at the country level, but amfAR officials point out that the majority of responses came from African countries.

When asked about the report, a State Department spokesperson said in an email that the Trump administration has “strengthened PEPFAR through clear, strategic direction.”

“As a result, the number of children testing positive and on treatment for HIV has continued to decline,” the spokesperson said.

In April, the U.S. State Department released PEPFAR data for one quarter in 2025: July through September. Officials said PEPFAR-supported programs provided standard HIV treatment for 20.6 million people in more than 50 countries, which they said is stable from the same reporting period in 2024. They also said PEPFAR started 103,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women on PrEP, up from 43,000 the previous year.

The data from that quarter “demonstrates the resilience and strength of the program,” the spokesperson said.

But researchers from amfAR and the International AIDS Society combined that quarter's data with another data release that included all four quarters and found substantial disruptions across PEPFAR services.

Other research, published in the journal Nature Health in June, specifically examined treatment globally using PEPFAR data. It found that nearly two million fewer people living with HIV were receiving PEPFAR-supported antiretroviral treatment in fiscal year 2025 as compared with the previous fiscal year — about a 10% decline.

“That does raise really important questions about program stability," said Ramona Godbole, an author of that study who wasn’t involved in the latest report.

AmfAR's report made numerous recommendations to help restore care. It said the U.S. government and PEPFAR leaders should reinstate support for all HIV services, not just treatment. It also called on other national governments to spend more on HIV services and contract with nongovernmental organizations, including those led by people in key vulnerable populations.

But Jennifer Sherwood, amfAR’s director of research and public policy, said even if money is put back into the system, it will take time to get the services up and running and regain the trust of communities.

“And unfortunately, with HIV and infectious disease, each day is deadly,” she said. “Each day that we don’t have those systems in place, you see new infections.”

___

Cut the number of choices you make each day. Your brain will thank you

Albert Stumm, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:03:12 +0000

Jeans that fit perfectly. The ideal Netflix show for a Tuesday night. Your one and only soulmate. Modern life promises that with enough options, you will happily find the best of everything.

But behavioral scientists say the increasing flood of choices — whether it comes to shopping, social lives or relationships — is doing the opposite.

The idea that more choice is better is baked into Western culture, but research shows that having more options can make people anxious, indecisive and, paradoxically, less happy with what they pick, said Barry Schwartz, an emeritus psychology professor at Swarthmore College and author of “The Paradox of Choice.”

“There have been hundreds of studies showing that there can be too much of a good thing,” Schwartz said.

To minimize the mental noise, he said, limit the number of choices you make, and your brain will thank you for it.

More is often more confusing

Schwartz offered several examples of cases where more options left people worse off.

In the case of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, people in states with more choices were less likely to choose any of them, he said. The same goes for 401(k) investments. The more options a company had, the less likely employees were to sign up, even when the employer offered matching money.

Less consequential choices are no different. Schwartz pointed to one often-cited study that showed shoppers at a gourmet grocery store bought more jars of artisanal jam when they were presented with six flavors rather than with a wider array of 24. In a follow-up study, students were more likely to complete an extra-credit assignment when they were given six topics to choose from instead of 30.

Schwartz’s research expanded on those findings to learn the emotional responses to this phenomenon.

“Instead of being liberated by all this choice, you’re paralyzed,” he said. “You can do anything, and you can’t figure out which of those many things to do.”

People also often end up making worse decisions since more options suggest more potentially bad outcomes, he said. And once someone finally decides from all the possibilities, they may be less satisfied with even a good choice because they fear there was a better alternative.

Schwartz said the satisfaction problem is especially acute for people whose aim is to get the best, whom psychologists call maximizers.

“People who are maximizers especially suffer from the proliferation of options,” he said. “Only the best will do.”

The tendency isn’t true for all people in all situations, Schwartz noted. Car buffs will gladly dive into the details of nearly unlimited choice when buying a new one.

“But you don’t feel that way when it comes to buying jam,” he said.

The brain doesn't like making decisions

Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor and neuroscience researcher at the University of Virginia, said the phenomenon occurs because the brain is designed to save people from having to think.

Problem-solving requires more energy than relying on memory, a fact that has roots in evolutionary survival mode, Willingham said. When faced with a goal, whether it be an immediate need like responding to a threat or something longer term like finding shelter, the mind first searches for what’s worked before. The problem-solving part of the brain only kicks in afterward.

“Another way to put it is that if you’re thinking, things are not going well,” he said.

That explains why sometimes people move through parts of their day on autopilot, he said. Throughout the day, people are confronted with hundreds of situations where they could do something different, but they almost always take the same route to work.

Schwartz said the proliferation of choices also has become tangled with identity in the social media age, where everyone can easily compare their choices to others.

“When all you’ve got to choose from is Lee’s and Levi’s, nobody expects the jeans they buy to fit perfectly,” he said. “When there are 2,000 options, well, now, dammit, you do expect your jeans to fit perfectly.”

Limit your choices and move on

David Epstein said that after researching his book, “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better,” he began to shift away from his maximalist tendencies. Now, he limits his opportunities for making choices, such as when he bought 10 of the same well-fitting T-shirts in different colors.

He was following the example of Herbert Simon, a psychologist and 1978 Nobel laureate in economics, who had three sets of clothes and ate nearly the same thing every day. Simon introduced the term “satisficing,” a combination of satisfying and sufficing that means setting good-enough criteria for decisions and moving on.

Epstein sets satisficing rules for himself when shopping online by first focusing on the purpose of the purchase.

“When I find one that does that, I’m buying it, instead of reading all the reviews and getting sucked into, ‘Well, this one has all these other features.’”

Willingham and Schwartz suggested farming out some decisions. If you’re looking for a new phone, find a friend who is happy with theirs and buy that one.

For larger decisions like financial planning, you’ll be happier if you rely on someone else’s professional expertise, Willingham said.

“If you’re thinking, ‘Well, I’m a clever guy, I can figure that out,’ I think 9 times out of 10, you’re fooling yourself,” he said.

Schwartz acknowledged that for people who have trouble making decisions, changing is difficult. But it’s worth it.

“What happens over time is you find it easier to make decisions, you end up more satisfied with the decisions you make, and all of a sudden, you’ve got an extra two hours in every day,” he said.

___

EDITOR’S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about wellness, food and travel. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com

___

This story was first published on Jul. 18, 2026. It was updated on Jul. 21, 2026 to correct the name of Swarthmore College. It is not Swarthmore University.

Appeals court rejects Biden's bid to block release of recordings of ghostwriter interviews

Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:12:07 +0000

A federal appeals court has rejected a request by Joe Biden to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with a memoir ghostwriter before he was elected president.

A divided three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit suspended its decision until Aug. 3 to allow more time for Biden to consider another appeal.

The panel's 2-1 ruling late Monday found there is a “substantial” public interest in disclosing the material that Biden wants to keep under wraps. Redactions to the recordings would help protect Biden's privacy, the majority noted.

“We conclude that any remaining incursion on personal privacy from disclosure of the now-redacted materials likely does not outweigh the public interest in disclosure,” the ruling says.

Judge Florence Pan, who was nominated by Biden, a Democrat, wrote a dissenting opinion in which she said Biden has shown a “substantial privacy interest” in keeping the material hidden.

“The conversations at issue took place in Biden’s home, and the recordings of them were obtained by the government in the course of a criminal investigation that did not lead to an indictment,” she wrote.

The appeal also was heard by D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and Judge Gregory Katsas. Srinivasan was nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat who chose Biden as his vice president. Katsas was nominated by President Donald Trump, a Republican who as president lost to Biden in 2020 but was elected again to the White House in 2024.

Mark Zwonitzer, who worked with Biden on two memoirs, 2007’s “Promises to Keep” and 2017's “Promise Me, Dad,” interviewed him at his home in 2016 and 2017. Biden’s lawyers say the conversations were candid, personal and intended to remain private.

Biden spokesperson T.J. Ducklo said the former president disagrees with the ruling but “respects the courts and the vital role an independent judiciary plays in a healthy democracy.”

“President Biden’s conversations for a book a decade ago that discussed his late son are private, and were provided to the Department of Justice on the express condition they stay that way,” Ducklo said in a statement. “Reversing course and making them public is just the latest example of this administration weaponizing the (Justice Department) for political retribution.”

The recordings were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden's handling of classified documents from his time as a senator from Delaware and as Obama's vice president. Republicans in Congress demanded the material after Hur declined to file charges against the then-president.

Biden sued and sought an injunction to prevent the Justice Department under Trump from releasing the recordings to Congress and the conservative Heritage Foundation. The department previously argued that the recordings were exempt from disclosure under public records law.

Biden appealed after U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who was nominated by Trump, ruled in June that the public interest in the material outweighed whatever privacy rights Biden had.

Pan noted that the majority is effectively ruling in favor of immediately disclosing the material by denying Biden's request for an injunction pending appeal.

“That, of course, will moot this case,” she wrote.

Southeast Asia's top diplomats hold security talks in Manila as US-Iran fighting rages

Jim Gomez, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:01:22 +0000

Southeast Asia’s top diplomats opened three days of talks in the Philippine capital on Tuesday with an agenda topped by their most daunting security problems and a backdrop of unfolding crises led by resurging U.S.-Iran fighting and a violent skirmish in the disputed South China Sea.

The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met behind closed doors in Manila before issuing a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to fighting in the Middle East and the full and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for energy shipments.

“We expressed serious concern over the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the renewed hostilities involving the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the ASEAN ministers said.

The ministers said they reaffirmed the obligations of states to peacefully resolve their differences and respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Southeast Asia, a bustling region of more than 680 million people, relies heavily on Middle East oil and gas and was severely hit by the global supply and price shocks sparked by the Iran war. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency in March to ensure the availability of fuel, food and other basic goods and prevent hoarding and profiteering.

Rubio to meet his Chinese counterpart

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Manila on Tuesday morning for an annual meeting with his ASEAN counterparts on Wednesday, where the Middle East crisis will be high on the agenda along with other security and economic issues.

Rubio plans to join regional security talks called the ASEAN Regional Forum, which also will include the European Union, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Rubio will meet Wang on the sidelines on Wednesday, the State Department said. It will be the highest-level contact between the U.S. and China since President Donald Trump flew to flew to Beijing in May for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that focused on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, trade and the status of Taiwan, among other issues.

Rubio, Wang and Lavrov will attend a final forum Thursday called the East Asia Summit, where 18 Western and Asian countries, including the 11-nation ASEAN, will tackle geopolitical, economic and security concerns.

Tensions have grown in the South China Sea

ASEAN ministers were scheduled to meet Wang on Wednesday with an agenda that includes a discussion on the status of negotiations between China and the regional bloc on a proposed pact called a “code of conduct,” which aims to prevent territorial disputes in the South China Sea from spiraling out of control.

A new clash in the disputed waters underscored the urgency of the proposed nonaggression pact, which has been negotiated by the two sides for about two decades. They aim to conclude talks within the year.

The Philippine military accused China’s coast guard of injuring a Filipino sailor during an altercation Monday in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

Chinese coast guard personnel aboard a motorboat repeatedly struck the sailor on the head with a wooden baton, injuring him and damaging his smaller vessel, the Philippine military said.

Philippine officials condemned the Chinese coast guard, which blamed the Filipinos for starting the high seas confrontation. Marcos called the Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan for a meeting Tuesday afternoon, his spokesperson said without providing details.

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry said the Philippine ambassador was summoned on Tuesday to protest his country’s actions in the confrontation.

___

Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Manila, Philippines, and Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.

Officials sought phone records of NYT journalists and their relatives in an effort to unmask sources

Eric Tucker And Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:02:53 +0000

President Donald Trump's administration sought phone records of several New York Times journalists and even those of some of their relatives, according to a motion unsealed Monday — an unusually aggressive attempt to unmask the confidential sources of reporters who wrote about Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet.

The push by the Republican president's administration to compel the identity of sources in the form of additional subpoenas comes at a time when the executive branch's relationship with the press is increasingly contentious. The efforts, described in a letter-motion filed by the Times over the weekend, were more expansive than previously known, the newspaper noted, and also covered a time frame that exceeded the news articles in question.

“Two of the subpoenas seek records beginning on January 1, 2026, long before the events that are purportedly the basis for the Department’s investigation,” lawyers for the Times wrote in the letter. “That timeframe strongly suggests that the Department is using this investigation not to focus on any purported concerns arising from the July 8 and 9 articles, but instead to forage for information about the Journalists’ source relationships more broadly.”

Government has said reporters aren't the target

The phone records subpoenas are on top of grand jury subpoenas served July 10 on three journalists that sought to compel testimony from the reporters about the identify of their sources. The Times has separately challenged those grand jury subpoenas and U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday. The judge has also frozen enforcement of the phone records subpoenas pending a ruling on the newspaper's motion to quash those.

Lawyers for the newspaper noted that some of the phone records subpoenas were issued on the same day as the grand jury ones, an additional one was issued on July 14 and another was issued on July 16 — after the Times had already moved to quash the grand jury subpoenas.

In arguing for the phone records subpoenas to be spiked, the Times said the government had acted in “bad faith” and had ignored its own protocols by not giving the journalists advance notice that records were being sought and by demanding the information “without first conducting any serious investigation.”

The newspaper’s lawyers said the additional subpoenas call “into question the accuracy” of testimony given last week by Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, where the grand jury subpoenas were issued. At his confirmation hearing to be the Trump administration's director of national intelligence, Clayton said that “we followed the protocols” and that the government had taken “the least intrusive possible” steps possible.

The Justice Department has justified the grand jury subpoenas by saying that “reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are.”

The additional subpoenas included a request for phone records of one reporter's mother and two of the journalists' spouses. The motion noted that the mother in question is a mental health professional with confidential client relationships and that one of the two spouses is the general counsel of a law firm.

"The disclosure of additional subpoenas for confidential newsgathering information of the Journalists is deeply concerning, revealing yet another instance of the alarming pattern of conduct detailed in the Motion to Quash,” the news organization’s lawyers wrote.

“These actions demonstrate abuse of the grand jury process, continued bad faith attacks on the Journalists, violations of the Department’s own internal regulations and disregard for the law in this Circuit intended to protect critical First Amendment interests," the motion stated.

In a response posted Tuesday morning, the Justice Department said that it had complied with its own regulations in issuing the subpoenas and that it had taken investigative steps before seeking them. The department said it was authorized to delay disclosure of the subpoenas but had decided to alert lawyers for the journalists to give them an opportunity to challenge.

“Any subpoenas served for a phone number not used by one of the movants was a result of information in a law enforcement database indicating that the phone number was associated with the movant,” lawyers for the department said, “If the Government determines that these phone numbers were not used by the movants, the Government will not pursue the corresponding subpoena(s).”

It's part of an ongoing legal challenge

The grand jury subpoenas, delivered to reporters at their homes, marked a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on media leaks that free press advocates swiftly condemned as a government effort to intimidate news organizations. It followed an FBI search earlier this year of a Washington Post reporter’s home and the seizure of her electronic devices.

The new jet in question, a present from Qatar that Trump’s administration spent $400 million to retrofit and upgrade, recently entered service. But Trump used an older model Air Force One jet to leave a NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month.

The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that the switch had come at the urging of the Secret Service and that the newer plane lacked some of the advanced security features of the older Air Force One aircraft, including antimissile capabilities. On social media, Trump denied security concerns.

Trump's administration has clashed with the press, from newspapers to TV networks to the Voice of America, on multiple fronts since he returned to office last year. The methods include lawsuits, administrative actions and public threats.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the press' ability to operate free of governmental restrictions.

The Associated Press is currently battling the Trump administration in court over the White House's decision last year to bar AP journalists from the president's press pool after the news organization refused to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” as Trump demanded. AP style is to acknowledge the president's renaming but retain the term “Gulf of Mexico" because parts of it lie outside U.S. jurisdiction.

Man charged with felony murder, arson in Cypresswood apartment fire that killed brother, injured 13

Katherine Levens, Bill Spencer — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:15:15 +0000

A Houston-area man is now officially charged with felony murder and arson after investigators say he set a massive fire at a local apartment complex that killed his own brother and injured 13 others, including a 3-year-old boy who was severely burned.

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Matthew Atwater faces a felony murder charge with an underlying charge of arson in connection with the blaze that broke out early Sunday morning, July 20, at the Cypresswood Apartments, located at 4607 Cypresswood Drive.

Atwater was scheduled to appear in probable cause court Monday morning to hear the charges against him. Instead, the judge in the case ordered him held at the Mental Health Unit, or MHU, rather than appear in court.

KPRC2 obtained surveillance video showing Atwater walking around the complex shortly before flames broke out and shot high into the air. Investigators say one man was killed and 13 others were injured in the blaze. The man killed was Atwater’s own brother.

Investigators say Atwater had gotten into some kind of violent argument with family members shortly before allegedly setting the fire. The judge in the case wants to make sure nothing like that happens again if Atwater is ultimately released on bond.

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Neighbors tell KPRC2 that Atwater had been seen setting a small grass fire at the same apartment complex several months ago. According to CrimeStoppers of Houston, Atwater also has a history of other violent crimes.

India’s youth-led Cockroach movement vows to keep demanding reforms after police crackdown

Sheikh Saaliq And Shonal Ganguly, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:41:38 +0000

Supporters of India’s youth-led Cockroach movement demanding educational reforms and government accountability refused to leave their New Delhi protest site Tuesday, a day after their thousands-strong march toward Parliament drew police tear gas, beatings and a new wave of sympathy from across the country.

The movement, now attracting professionals and families beyond students, represents a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s government, reviving criticism over its handling of dissent and use of force to respond to protests.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and dozens of his Congress party lawmakers showed their support Tuesday with a sit-in outside Modi’s residence before police forcibly removed them in a dramatic escalation.

Footage showed Gandhi, who had urged “every patriotic Indian who believes that our students should get justice” to join, resisting. Government minister Jitendra Singh said Gandhi was told the location was not “suitable for a sit-in."

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters remained camped at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site, under heavy police presence, saying they would stay until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over alleged failures in India’s examination system.

“We are going to continue our protest,” said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, which emerged just two months ago as a satirical protest after a Supreme Court judge described India's youth as “cockroaches” but quickly evolved.

It gained momentum over the weekend after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose three-week hunger strike became a symbol of the protests, was forcibly taken to a hospital by police.

Video of police beating protesters and dragging them away spread on social media, fueling public outrage. Footage showed young protesters crying and pleading with officers not to hit them, while others stood their ground and endured blows.

Delhi Police said nearly 180 people were injured, including 118 security personnel and 60 protesters.

Sona Bisht, a 20-year-old student who was part of the protest, said the confrontation strengthened her resolve.

“If the government thinks that doing this with Gen Z, they can stop us, then that won’t happen. We are here talking about education, talking about securing our future. And till the time our demands are not met, we will not move from here,” she said.

After nearly a month of silence, the government made its first apparent move to engage with the protesters Monday, when a senior minister held talks with movement representatives. The outreach failed to ease tensions.

Movement leaders said they wanted action rather than assurances, including Pradhan’s resignation, examination reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after alleged exam irregularities.

Dipke accused authorities of breaking their word, saying police resorted to a baton charge after protesters were invited for talks.

Rights group Amnesty International said in a statement late Monday that the police action showed “how peaceful dissent is being suppressed in India," noting that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is recognized under the Indian constitution.

More people have joined the movement after seeing the confrontation.

Rabina Kashyap, a 26-year-old working professional, said she joined the protest on Tuesday.

“I have nothing to do with this protest," she said. “But this is India, this is my country, and these are my people. So I will stand by them.”

___

Associated Press video journalist Piyush Nagpal contributed to this report.

Rescuers in Afghanistan search for scores missing after floods kill at least 23

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:15:31 +0000

Rescue crews in Afghanistan searched Tuesday for survivors and bodies in the rubble of houses destroyed by devastating flash floods that authorities said have killed at least 23 people and left more than 100 missing.

The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said Tuesday that 80 people also were injured when floods struck the eastern province of Nuristan on Monday, causing an undetermined number of buildings to collapse. The provincial capital city of Parun was among the areas affected, authorities said.

Video footage from Parun showed scenes of utter devastation, with piles of mud, rocks and rubble where buildings used to be. Bulldozers helped clear mud and smashed concrete while local residents used shovels to dig away at piles of earth.

“The flood came through here. We saw bodies being swept away in the floodwaters with our own eyes," said Parun resident Zubair Ahmad, who said homes and shops were destroyed. “The flooding caused extensive damage and heavy losses for the local people.”

Forecasters predicted more extreme weather, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds accompanied by sand and flash floods in 10 of the country's 34 provinces, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department said Monday evening. The ministry warned residents to avoid riverbanks and other areas at risk of flooding.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that trigger flash floods, often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time. In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods. Earlier this year, at least 110 people were killed by widespread flooding and landslides in several parts of the country.

Decades of conflict, along with poor infrastructure, a struggling economy, deforestation and the intensifying effects of climate change, have amplified the impact of such disasters, particularly in remote areas where many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges or heavy snowfall.

Fulshear weighs tougher e-scooter rules as Harris County constable pushes new e-bike safety policies

Katherine Levens, T.J. Parker — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:59:42 +0000

As electric scooters and bikes continue to grow in popularity, local leaders are considering new steps they say could improve safety for riders and the public.

The Fulshear City Council is scheduled to discuss whether additional regulations — or even a prohibition on e-scooters — should be considered after reviewing the city’s current ordinance and months of public education efforts.

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The discussion comes as Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman is asking several school districts to adopt policies banning certain high-powered electric motorcycles from school campuses.

Fulshear first adopted an e-scooter ordinance in October 2025, establishing rules for how scooters cross intersections and creating fines of up to $500 for violations. City leaders later discussed additional topics, including helmet use, speed limits, penalties and sidewalk use, but initially favored expanding education over adding new restrictions.

Since then, the city has launched a public outreach campaign that included social media posts, utility bill inserts, school newsletters, brochures, youth outreach, police presentations and other educational efforts.

City staff will now ask council members whether they believe the current approach is effective or whether additional regulations should be considered. The agenda also includes discussion of whether prohibiting e-scooters should be explored.

Separately, Herman sent letters this week to the Aldine, Cy-Fair, Humble, Klein, Spring and Tomball independent school districts requesting districtwide policies prohibiting unregistered electric motorcycles — including electric dirt bikes, minibikes and pocket bikes — from being operated or parked on school property.

Herman said deputies have responded to crashes involving children and continue to encounter juveniles operating the vehicles on public roadways.

The request does not apply to electric bicycles that meet the legal definitions of Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 e-bikes under Texas law. It also excludes mobility devices, motor-assisted scooters and other vehicles that are legally permitted.

“Our goal is to work collaboratively with our local school districts to enhance student safety through education, awareness, and proactive policies,” Herman said in a statement.

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The two efforts are separate but reflect a broader conversation among local officials about balancing the growing popularity of electric mobility devices with public safety concerns.

Fulshear City Council is expected to discuss the issue during its meeting Tuesday. Any changes to the city’s ordinance would require future council action.

LIV Golf suffers setback with Asian Tour joining new alliance with European and PGA tours

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:42:33 +0000

LIV Golf suffered a potential setback Tuesday when the PGA Tour, European tour and Asian Tour announced a strategic alliance aimed at global collaboration that is likely to affect the partnership the Asian Tour had with LIV.

In an alliance that takes immediate effect through 2029, the PGA Tour and European tour will partner with the Asian Tour to help provide commercial and playing opportunities and establish a path for Asian Tour members to join European circuits.

The PGA Tour and DP World Tour -- as it is known commercially -- have a separate alliance that has yet to be renewed, which includes 10 top European tour players earning PGA Tour cards. Officials from both tours met at the British Open. The alliance with the Asian Tour, along with the PGA Tour's involvement with the Australian Open, is seen as progress on a new deal.

The announcement was a blow to LIV Golf, which has had a relationship with the Asian Tour since before the rival league launched in 2022.

LIV invested $300 million in the Asian Tour to create the “International Series” with purses of up to $2 million. They have been won by LIV players such as Peter Uihlein, Carlos Ortiz and David Puig.

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, the financial muscle behind LIV Golf, has said it will no longer fund the league after this season. Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, has been trying to find investors to keep the league alive for 2027 and beyond.

The European tour had an alliance with the Asian Tour from 2016 until 2021. It stopped co-sanctioning Asian Tour events in 2022.

Now that’s back in play under the alliance that is expected to have at least two co-sanctioned Asian Tour events each of the next three years. Other details, such as Asian Tour players having access to European and Challenge Tour events, are still being worked out.

“We feel the time is now right to collaborate with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to enhance the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners,” said Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour. “Bringing the three tours together under one partnership will increase the bandwidth of the professional game in Asia.

“Not only will co-sanctioning events see our members competing regularly on the global stage, but we are excited to welcome players from the other Tours to our pinnacle events.”

The announcement comes one day after reports that Canadian-based Mobii Systems Group has sued LIV Golf in U.S. District Court in Miami, alleging LIV has not paid $925,100 in fees to the company that supplies the league’s “Any Shot, Any Time” technology during the LIV broadcasts.

Mobii Systems also claims $209,531 in lost revenue for the remaining six events in 2026.

ESPN reported that Nick Connor, LIV Golf’s senior vice president of technology, wrote in a May 25 email to Mobii Systems that LIV would no longer use the technology after the South Korea event that ended May 31 or the remaining events on the schedule as it evaluates its business model.

The PGA Tour recently announced a commercial partnership with the European tour involving the Australian Open as golf makes a push to recognize more national opens. The Masters this year added to its invitation criteria the winners of six national opens.

Christian Hardy, the senior vice president of international for the PGA Tour, said the three-tour alliance was an example of collaboration by tours “with a shared vision for the future of professional golf.”

“Through our strategic alliance with the DP World Tour, we have worked to build a more connected global golf ecosystem, and we are excited to welcome the Asian Tour into that effort,” Hardy said. “Together, we are creating new opportunities for players, enhancing key national opens around the world and continuing to evolve and strengthen pathways to identify and develop the next generation of elite talent.”

___

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

Man stabs and wounds tourists near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 06:22:55 +0000

A man stabbed and wounded two tourists Tuesday morning near the ancient Acropolis in Athens, Greece’s top tourist attraction, police said, in what appeared to be a random attack.

The assailant, identified only as a 60-year-old Greek man, attacked a Greek American couple with a knife on a pedestrian street near an entrance to the archaeological site and near the entrance to the Acropolis Museum, which lies at the foot of the Acropolis hill.

The 53-year-old male victim suffered a serious wound to his arm which required a tourniquet to be applied, while the 48-year-old woman was more lightly wounded in the leg, police said. Both were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Neither of their injuries was reported to be life-threatening.

The attacker was detained at the scene and was to appear in court before a prosecutor later Tuesday to be formally charged, police said. Authorities did not provide further details on his identity, in line with Greek law regarding the identification of suspects. The motivation for the attack was not immediately clear, but police said the assailant appeared to have been suffering from psychological problems.

The incident did not lead to any closure to the sites, which continued operating as usual. Greek media reported that the assailant had allegedly been randomly threatening passersby with a knife, and that police had been alerted by a member of the public.

The attack occurred shortly after 8 a.m. local time, just as the ancient site opened. Early morning visits to the Acropolis are popular as they avoid the intense midday summer heat on the exposed hill, where there is little shade. Greece is currently experiencing its first heat wave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to reach 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in Athens and 41 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country.

Violent street attacks are rare in Greece. In April, authorities arrested an 89-year-old man who allegedly opened fire with a shotgun in a social security office and a courthouse in central Athens, wounding at least four people, reportedly over social security grievances.

The Acropolis hill in Athens hosts the nearly 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple as well as other monuments, and attracts millions of tourists. Last year, about 4.6 million people visited the site.

Israel is building a miles-long earthen barrier inside Gaza, entrenching its division

Lee Keath And Julia Frankel, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:03:14 +0000

The Israeli military is quietly but quickly building a giant earthen barrier separating the over 50% of the Gaza Strip it controls from the rest of the territory, according to satellite imagery, further entrenching the division of the tiny Palestinian enclave.

More than 23 kilometers (14 miles) have been constructed in recent months, running through Palestinian communities demolished by the military. That is equivalent to more than half the length of the coastal strip, which is some 40 kilometers (25 miles) long and 11 kilometers (7 miles) wide, and home to over 2 million Palestinians.

When presented with the satellite images, Israel’s military confirmed to The Associated Press it has built a physical barrier in the area of the so-called yellow line, the boundary to which Israeli troops withdrew under the October ceasefire deal with Hamas. The line was envisioned in the U.S.-backed agreement as a temporary division of the territory pending a fuller Israeli withdrawal.

But as the truce stagnates, it appears Israel is digging in, heightening Palestinian fears that the line is morphing into a border. Neither U.S. Central Command, which is tasked with monitoring the ceasefire, nor the Board of Peace, the body led by U.S. President Donald Trump meant to eventually oversee Gaza, would comment on the barrier.

Along with the barrier, the military told AP it has developed a “security zone” around the line, equipped with intelligence and technological assets. It declined to give details on the route of the barrier when asked how far it would be extended. It said the barrier aimed to prevent infiltration and protect Israeli troops and Israeli communities near Gaza.

Construction of the barrier is proceeding rapidly

Since the ceasefire deal took hold, Palestinians in Gaza have feared Israel would not return the area of Gaza it controls. But few appear to be aware of the berms now being built around them — because of the danger of even approaching that area.

A portion of the berm network in southern Gaza was extended by more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in two weeks this month, according to the satellite images provided by Planet Labs PBC.

The berm was about 500 meters (0.3 miles) long on July 1. By July 15, it was about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles), splicing the Israel-controlled ruins of the city of Rafah from Muwasi, site of some of the largest Palestinian tent camps.

If construction continues in its current direction, it will join up with the longest stretch of the barrier, which runs nearly unbroken for around 17 kilometers (10 miles) from the southern city of Khan Younis to near Gaza City, in the north.

Construction began on that stretch in February, and it appears work to extend it further south is continuing, according to the satellite images. More than a kilometer (0.6 miles) was added between June 21 and July 7, running close to an Israeli military base built on the ruins of the town of Bani Suheila, near Khan Younis.

In the far north of Gaza, several unconnected stretches of berms run just outside the largely leveled town of Beit Lahia.

The height of the berms in each place remains unclear. In some places, the barriers appear to run outside the yellow line.

Israel has mostly destroyed and depopulated the half of Gaza it controls

Gaza’s population has been crowded into the coastal area west of the yellow line, most living in squalid tent camps and dependent on aid.

On the other side of the line, satellite imagery shows that Israeli forces have leveled the vast majority of buildings using bulldozers and explosives, virtually erasing several towns and Rafah, once home to more than a quarter million people.

They have carved new road networks and erected new bases on the ruins of Palestinian towns. Agricultural land has also been destroyed. The Israeli military says it is demolishing infrastructure used by Hamas.

The yellow line was never precisely defined, whether in the ceasefire deal or by Israeli or U.S. officials, and it has been inconsistently marked on the ground. The military told AP it is working to clearly mark the route of the yellow line to “reduce friction and prevent harm to uninvolved individuals.”

Israeli forces have killed Palestinians who came close to the line or crossed it. The Israeli military says it fires on those believed to be militants threatening its troops. But those killed have included children and other civilians seemingly unaware of the line. Some soldiers have said they don’t always know who they are firing on and have orders to kill anyone crossing the boundary.

Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians since the ceasefire

Israeli forces have killed more than 1,100 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, most in airstrikes and drone strikes around Gaza. Militant attacks have killed five Israeli soldiers in the same period.

Early on Tuesday, an Israeli strike in Gaza City killed Firas al-Masri, his wife and their four children, ages 6 to 13, according to Shifa Hospital. Israel's military only said that they conducted a strike on Hamas militants in the area at that time.

Firas' brother, Ahmad al-Masri, lives nearby and said he heard the children's voices at the moment of the blast.

“They were calling out to me, ‘Uncle! Uncle!’” he said. “But the fire was raging, and we couldn’t do anything.”

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel is eventually supposed to withdraw its troops further to the very edges of Gaza, to be replaced by an international security force. But implementation of the deal has been stalled for months.

A former U.N. diplomat now in charge of coordinating the ceasefire has blamed Hamas’ failure to disarm. Sporadic talks to reach a formula for decommissioning its weapons appear to have made little progress, and Hamas accuses Israel in turn of violating the ceasefire.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage. Israel responded with a punishing military offensive that has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The ministry, which was part of the recently dissolved Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.

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Frankel reported from Jerusalem.

WNBA enjoys 'hypergrowth' under Commissioner Cathy Engelbert amid strained relationship with players

Doug Feinberg, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:07:41 +0000

The WNBA has grown at an exponential rate during Cathy Engelbert's tenure as commissioner, a stewardship that at times has been tumultuous during her nearly seven years at the helm.

Engelbert, the second-longest tenured WNBA president or commissioner, helped negotiate a transformative collective bargaining agreement this past spring that gives the WNBA its first core of million-dollar player salaries.

“There’s not a lot of jobs where you can make over 30-plus millionaires instantly, right?” Engelbert said in a phone interview with The Associated Press heading into this weekend's WNBA All-Star festivities in Chicago. “It just doesn’t exist in most companies, except if you’re like a stock-option company, and your stock does really well. Most of them are under the age of 30 and there are more to come.”

Even with the financial gains, the WNBA’s growth has come amid a strained partnership between the commissioner and players. Engelbert has been criticized for how she has handled various situations, including for being out of touch or not doing enough to help combat social media vitriol.

Engelbert will meet with the executive committee of the players’ union on Tuesday to discuss the recent uptick in online hatred and threats directed toward players.

New York Liberty All-Star Breanna Stewart, vice president of the WNBA players' union executive committee, said there is a respect for Engelbert among the players, just not much of a relationship.

Her Liberty teammate, Sabrina Ionescu, said she talks more to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver than Engelbert.

WNBA business is booming

While the commissioner continues to try and strengthen her relationship with players, the business of the WNBA has thrived.

Engelbert was involved in talks that led to a record media rights deal worth over $3 billion. The league has had record ratings, attendance and team valuations, and will expand to a record 18 teams by 2030.

“We’ve been in hypergrowth mode now for two or three years and companies, if you look back in time, you are not in hypergrowth mode forever,” Engelbert said. “We’re preparing ourselves now for the next version of ourselves, which probably isn’t as hypergrowth.”

From a business standpoint, though, the league has grown, including navigating the coronavirus pandemic that could have crippled the WNBA.

“Give Cathy credit, as she advocated for the season,” Seattle Storm owner Ginny Gilder said. "We had no idea what was going to happen. People had to make decisions. Cathy pushed the Board of Governors to not only have a shortened season, but to fully pay the players. Don’t bicker. We were going to figure out the finances.”

Expansion fees have gone up five-fold over the past few seasons. Golden State paid $50 million to join the league and Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — all joining the league over the next four years — each paid $250 million.

“Look at the financial side in such a short period of time — Cathy with all the work she did and the staff she hired deserves a tremendous amount of credit for that,” Gilder said. “If you look around the league from 2015 to 2020 to now, you know it is a completely new day.”

Valuations of teams were around $5-10 million a decade ago and now the average is around $460 million, Engelbert said.

“When you’re CEO, when you’re commissioner, you’re going to have good days and bad days. But if you just looked at the overall scorecard, you’d have to say we’re doing great,” Washington Mystics owner Ted Leonsis said.

More endorsements for WNBA players

It's nearly impossible to turn on a major sporting event over the past few years without seeing a WNBA player featured in a commercial. From Gatorade to State Farm, Nike and CarMax, product ads feature some of the league's top newsmakers, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu.

Engelbert said when Clark was drafted, it created a "domino effect, because they started seeing the value of putting players in their ads and then separately endorsing the players. I’m really proud of that because when I came to the league, absent a few sneakers ads, I don’t remember any players in spots. Maybe there were a few.”

The commissioner has seen the trend continue with younger players coming into the league, including Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles.

“Everybody sees the W is here to stay,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner's future and what's next for the WNBA

Engelbert deflected questions about her future other than to say she's turning 62 this year and that was the mandatory retirement age at her old job at Deloitte, where she was the president.

“I haven’t given it a ton of thought. We’ll think about it,” Engelbert said of how long she will stay in her current role, adding she is "focused on the whack-a-mole that is our season. I always tell people don’t focus on me, focus on the rest of my team.

"You always want to leave an organization better than you found it. Internally we’re proud of the team we’ve built.”

Silver said in Las Vegas that he supports what Engelbert is doing.

“I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league,” the NBA commissioner said. “We’ll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like.”

With media rights stable for the next decade as well as labor peace achieved and expansion finished for the immediate future, Engelbert said her list of priorities includes a look at officiating, with WNBA referees finding themselves at the center of questions from frustrated players, coaches and fans. She also wants to help teams with lower attendance improve those numbers, and expand the league's international footprint.

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

This year's supersized World Cup had some things go wrong. There was also a lot that went right

David Brandt, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:27:32 +0000

There are a lot of things that could have gone wrong during this summer's World Cup — a complicated logistical undertaking that included three host nations, 16 stadiums, 48 teams, 104 games and endless opportunities for controversy on and off the soccer field.

But in retrospect, a lot of things went right.

The United States, Canada and Mexico spent nearly six weeks hosting soccer's biggest showcase and — at least for the most part — the action stayed on the field.

Star players like Argentina's Lionel Messi, France's Kylian Mbappé and Norway's Erling Haaland became household names across North America, television ratings remained high in the U.S. even after the Americans were eliminated and despite high ticket prices, most games featured packed stadiums.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave effusive praise to the host countries on Sunday after Spain won the final by beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time.

Attendance was good, so were ratings

Fox broadcast all 104 games in English on its platforms and American viewership remained strong even after the U.S. was eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16.

Spanish broadcasts on Telemundo were also a popular option — even for non-native speakers.

Fox hasn't yet released its viewership numbers for Sunday's final, but Telemundo's preliminary numbers show the Spain-Argentina matchup had a total audience of 22.6 million, putting it on track to become the most-watched World Cup final in Spanish-language media history.

The US-Belgium game on July 6 was watched by more than 45 million, including 33.1 million on Fox and 12 million on Telemundo.

And despite a few early hiccups, stadium attendance was strong throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“We have had a record number of spectators in the stadiums, almost 7 million," Infantino said. "We will have had, I mean the official figures will come out soon, but probably over 6 billion people watching it from home."

The weather cooperated — usually

Fans and players from other countries found out what Americans, Canadians and Mexicans have known for a long time — it can get pretty hot here in the summer. Climate change isn't helping matters.

But Mother Nature could have been a lot meaner than she decided to be.

Even so, there were a handful of games that featured particularly hot and muggy conditions. The best example was a knockout-round game between Paraguay and France on July 4 in Philadelphia when temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius).

The World Cup final on Sunday also dodged a potential problem when smoke from Canadian wildfires that wrapped the Northeast in haze mostly cleared from the New Jersey area just in time thanks to some well-timed thunderstorms.

Size doesn't matter

This year's 48-team World Cup field was the biggest in the tournament's history and many thought it would water down the competition.

That wasn't the case.

Cape Verde held eventual champion Spain to a draw in its opening game, advanced to the round of 32 and gave Argentina a scare before losing 3-2 in extra time in a World Cup classic. Congo also advanced beyond the group stage and pushed England before eventually losing, while Curaçao was still in with a chance of making the knockouts going into its final group match.

After those Cinderella stories, fans eventually got to enjoy semifinal games full of heavyweights. England, Argentina, Spain and France were the top four in the world rankings.

Politics can't be ignored

The World Cup is famously a petri dish for political conflict, and this year's version provided its share of strife.

Iran's participation in the tournament amid the war in the Middle East was a particularly thorny issue and the team had to move its base camp from Arizona to Mexico. The Iranians' participation was overshadowed by travel complaints and visa issues, with the U.S. refusing visas to several members of Iran’s delegation.

U.S. President Donald Trump's relationship with Infantino was scrutinized after American striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card was suspended ahead of the team’s round of 16 game against Belgium.

Travel restrictions for a series of countries prevented some fans from traveling to the U.S., but there were no reports of the aggressive immigration enforcement that some human rights groups had feared could take place around World Cup stadiums.

Infantino brushed aside most of the controversies, instead focusing on the positives. While the FIFA president has a vested interest in painting a rosy picture of this year's World Cup, there's little doubt the tournament was a hit from a soccer perspective.

“I think we have to invent a new vocabulary, new words to define the success of this World Cup,” Infantino said.

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AP Soccer Writer James Robson and AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy contributed to this story.

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

Missing the World Cup? Relief is on the way next summer with the Women's World Cup in Brazil

Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:51:12 +0000

It's the women's turn now.

The next World Cup, the women's edition, is set for next summer in Brazil. Just as Spain won the men's trophy in the recently concluded tournament, that nation's women were the champions three years ago.

Currently the top-ranked women's team in the world, Spain topped England 1-0 in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney. That squad was loaded with talent, including Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, as well as young star Salma Paralluelo.

In a television interview following the men's final, Spain star Rodri paid Bonmati the ultimate compliment: “I'm trying to see if I can get to her level.”

The memories of 2023 aren't so sweet for the United States, which was knocked out of the tournament in the round of 16 by Sweden. Still, the U.S. has won four World Cup titles and is currently ranked No. 2 in the world.

The United States will host Spain twice in October, serving as a tuneup for CONCACAF qualifying to start in late November in Texas. The friendly matches against Spain could provide a glimpse of what both teams might look like next summer.

“We know Spain is an amazing team, and I think we’re just really looking forward to having this prep. Especially before qualifying,” said U.S. midfielder Lily Yohannes. “And yeah, I think it will be a really great opportunity for us. Playing these players, I played against them in the Champions League, and I know how great they are.”

The road to Brazil

Qualification for the World Cup is well under way, with 14 teams already securing berths. Brazil, which has an automatic spot as host, has never won the women’s tournament.

“Some time ago the opportunities for men and women were not equal. But that’s changing. This World Cup has tremendous potential to make that change truly happen,” said former Brazil defender Aline Pellegrino, now executive director of legacy and stakeholder affairs for Women’s World Cup in Brazil. “So there’s a great deal of excitement and expectation that we’ll have the best possible atmosphere in our stadiums, just as we recently saw in the two matches between the Brazilian national team and the United States. FIFA, together with the federal government and the host cities, have been working very hard to ensure that we’ll have full stadiums and that everything runs as efficiently as possible.”

The biggest question around the Brazilians is the status of veteran captain Marta, the nation's all-time leading scorer with 122 goals. Marta retired from international play following Brazil's 1-0 loss to the United States in the gold-medal match at the Paris Olympics, but returned the next year for the Copa America Femenina. She will be 41 when her nation hosts the World Cup.

The United States visited Brazil for a pair of matches in June, falling 2-1 in Sao Paulo before a 1-0 victory in Fortaleza. U.S. coach Emma Hayes said the team needed to embrace those “moments of chaos” in a hostile environment.

Who's in so far?

Australia, the Philippines, Japan, North Korea, China, South Korea, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain and Denmark are among the nations that have qualified. Germany, the 2003 and 2011 world champions, are ranked No. 3 globally.

Brazil previously hosted both the men's World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. All eight cities that will host women’s matches next year also hosted men’s games in 2014: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador.

Next year's tournament will be the last with 32 teams before jumping up to 48 teams like the men’s tournament. The 2031 Women's World Cup is expected to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. The formal decision will likely be announced in November.

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez takes steps to prevent renaming Boca Chica Beach

Texas Tribune, Berenice Garcia — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +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.

McALLEN — U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat from McAllen, is trying to protect the name of a beloved South Texas beach that was on the verge of losing its historic name earlier this month.

Boca Chica Beach, which has gained national recognition as the site of SpaceX launch sites, was proposed to be renamed to Cyber Beach after a SpaceX fan applied with the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to officially adopt the name in November 2024.

The U.S. Board of Geographic Names works with the U.S. Geographical Survey, the same entity that changed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump.

The proposal failed after the agency’s Domestic Names Committee voted against it, but Gonzalez, whose district includes Boca Chica Beach, introduced a bill on Monday that would codify the Boca Chica name. The bill — the Hands Off Our Boca Chica Beach Act — would also require the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to notify the respective member of Congress of a name change within their district.

“It is absurd that a name proposal from outside our state was able to threaten the very essence of a cultural and historic landmark in South Texas,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “The severe lack of transparency from the Domestic Names Committee almost shut out the people of Cameron County from a decision that directly impacted our daily lives — and would have created a financial burden for local municipalities responsible for replacing signage and other publicly used identifiers.”

He added: “While our community was able to quickly band together to stop this initial proposal from being adopted, my bill would ensure that Boca Chica Beach always remains the People’s Beach.”

The name change proposal was submitted in November by Josh Hazel, a Mississippi man, according to agency records. Hazel is a member of “Starship Enthusiasts,” a group who gather at the beach in CyberTrucks to watch SpaceX launches.

OnIn his application, Hazel wrote that while the beach is referred to as “Cyber Beach” by enthusiasts, they were seeking a formal declaration “to commemorate the location where inter-planetary travel was started,” despite the fact that Cape Canaveral in Florida has historically been the U.S. hub for space exploration.

The Domestic Names Committee considered the name change proposal during a meeting earlier this month. However, the committee members unanimously denied the measure in the face of strong community opposition, having received close to 2,780 emails against the name change and one email in favor.

Anyone can propose a change for it to be voted on, said Bryan Purtell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Geological Survey, the agency that works with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to maintain the name of the geographic places in the U.S., in a statement before the vote.

But while the name change of the gulf had Americans split, largely along political party lines, the change to Cyber Beach had very little public support outside those who proposed it.

In the lead-up to the vote, the proposal had also prompted public statements of opposition from state lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle and from the city of Starbase.

“Boca Chica Beach has been known by that name for generations,” State Rep. Erin Gamez, a Democrat from Brownsville, wrote in a letter to the committee. “Boca Chica Beach is part of the cultural and historical identity of our community, and that identity deserves to be preserved.”

Gamez was among the state lawmakers who reached out to committee on Wednesday asking the members to reject the name change or that they, at minimum, postpone the vote to allow more input from Cameron County residents.

The Boca Chica name dates back to 1936 in official government records. To change it, Gamez argued, would create logistical challenges because it would necessitate the change of public roads, maps, signs, publications and landmarks that reference Boca Chica Beach.

“Renaming the beach would inevitably require updates to public signage, maps, and official documents, imposing costs on local and state governments without any corresponding public benefit,” Gamez said.

The name change was also opposed by the Texas Geographic Names Committee, the Texas body that works with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to standardize geographic names in the state.

The Texas committee noted the term “cyber” was widely associated with enterprises like nearby SpaceX and using it would be inconsistent with the U.S. Board’s policies.

Additionally, the Texas committee noted the lack of local support, including from the city of Starbase, which sits just inland of the beach and was incorporated last year by SpaceX employees.

State Sen. Adam Hinojosa, a Republican from Corpus Christi whose district includes Boca Chica Beach and who has been a supporter of SpaceX’s activities in South Texas, had also urged the Domestic Names Committee to reject the proposal.

“Our communities have welcomed investment, innovation, and economic growth, and I appreciate the opportunities those investments have created for South Texas,” Hinojosa wrote in a letter to the committee. “Those achievements, however, do not require replacing a historic place name that has existed for generations. Progress and preservation can, and should, exist together.”

Had the name change been approved, it would have taken effect immediately, although it would have taken time for the new name to be reflected in the Geographic Names Information System, the official record of geographic names for the federal government.

Name changes approved by the agency only affect use of the name by the federal government, Purtell said. Groups outside the federal government can decide whether to use those names or not.

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

Another tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz as US strikes Iran for 10th consecutive night

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:44:21 +0000

Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship even as the United States conducted yet-another round of airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic over control of the key waterway.

The 10 consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes haven't compelled Tehran to loosen its grip on the strait, through which about a fifth of all crude oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime.

Even as the U.S. and Iran inch closer to all-out war again, Iran’s interior minister traveled to Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, for talks. However, it remains unclear just what new deal could be reached to end the fighting.

The interim deal signed last month that was meant to end the fighting has crumbled. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. And as fighting intensifies, both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people.

“Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world,” the U.S. State Department said in a new warning to Americans.

The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks. Benchmark Brent crude traded Tuesday above $88 a barrel and regular gasoline in the U.S. climbed to an average of $4 a gallon, keeping pressure on Americans’ wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military identified two soldiers who were killed in Jordan in attacks that left a third person missing. Separately, the military confirmed another death in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone. President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to warn that “Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!"

Trump was planning to attend a ceremony on Tuesday evening at Dover Air Force Base, where at least one service member's remains were due to arrive.

US strikes come as ships attacked

“American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait," the command said.

However, traffic through the strait has slowed to crawl with the latest violence. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack, as well as two other attacks on ships Monday in the waterway.

The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control.

Tehran also hit U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East.

Kuwait said its air defenses fired at an incoming barrage, and Jordan’s armed forces said Monday evening they had shot down three Iranian missiles, adding that there had been no material damage or casualties. Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry condemned Iranian drone strikes targeting the country’s air traffic systems, saying they endanger travel for civilians.

Nearly 100 US injuries since early July

The Pentagon’s chief spokesman said nearly 100 U.S. service members have been injured since the U.S. restarted strikes on July 7, and 96% of them have returned to duty.

“The vast majority of injuries experienced were minor concussions,” Sean Parnell posted Monday on X in response to a New York Times report that the Pentagon has withheld information about troop injuries from Iranian strikes. He denied that the Pentagon was hiding data about injuries.

However, the Defense Casualty Analysis System, the military’s clearinghouse for reporting deaths and injuries in conflict, has not been updated as of Monday night with the latest attacks.

Yemen rebels threaten attacks on other Mideast waterway

Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on Monday. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, said they would block shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by targeting the Bab el-Mandeb, a maritime chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz, in response to an attack on Sanaa International Airport last week that they blamed on Saudi Arabia.

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil out to market. The Houthis earlier demonstrated their ability to disrupt shipping there when they targeted ships for months over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with over 100 vessels attacked.

Saudi Arabia's military said it would keep the waterway open.

“All Houthi threats against transiting vessels will be dealt with swiftly and firmly, as such threats are a blatant violation of international law and fall under acts of maritime piracy,” said Maj. Gen, Turki al-Malki, a Saudi military spokesman.

A glimmer of hope for diplomacy

Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts in recent days to resuscitate the interim deal.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday for two days of talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others.

On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. is still open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real.”

“If the door opens to diplomacy — if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system, or take control of the negotiations — that’ll be a very positive development,” Rubio said. “That’s not where we are tonight, unfortunately.”

Iranian authorities on Sunday said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest rounds of U.S. strikes. Since the war began on Feb. 28, 17 U.S. service members have been killed.

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Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix, Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.

Tropical Storm Bertha drifts toward land as Hurricane Fausto forms in the eastern Pacific

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:33:36 +0000

Tropical Storm Bertha formed Monday evening in the Gulf of Mexico south of the Florida Panhandle as it drifts erratically toward populated coastal areas bearing a threat of heavy rain, storm surge and damaging wind gusts, forecasters say.

Meanwhile, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Fausto formed far from Mexico's Baja California peninsula and posed no threat to land Monday night.

The center of Bertha was located about 140 miles (225 km) south of Panama City, Florida, in the northern Gulf. Maximum sustained winds were around 40 mph (65 kph) and some additional strengthening is expected as the storm approaches land, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

The slow-moving storm drifted for hours on Monday, but is expected to stay near or along the northern Gulf Coast early this week, unleashing heavy rain on coastal areas of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana as it pushes west toward Texas.

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arthur last month brought heavy rainfall to the southeastern United States.

The storm was nearly stationary by Monday night, but it was expected to make a west-northwestward or westward turn toward the coast over the next few days, according to the hurricane center.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for a wide area from the Alabama-Florida border westward to southeastern Louisiana at the Jefferson and Plaquemines parish line. A storm surge watch also has been posted from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama-Florida border on the Gulf Coast.

Potentially life-threatening storm surges of up to four feet (1.2 meters) could occur in portions of the Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, the hurricane center said, warning Bertha could spin off an isolated tornado or two over the Florida Big Bend region in the week.

Areas of flash flooding will also be possible through Friday along the coast from western Florida to middle Texas, forecasters said. They added that rainfall could total 3 to 5 inches (7 to 12 centimeters) along the Louisiana coastline with higher amounts in some scattered areas.

Red flags were flying on the beach at Orange Beach, Alabama, cautioning swimmers about high surf and currents. In Escambia County, Florida, emergency officials offered sand for people living in flood-prone areas to use for sandbags.

Fausto gained hurricane status Monday night and was about 745 miles (1,200 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, forecasters said.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Fausto had top sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving to the west-northwest at 9 mph 15 (kph).

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect though ocean swells generated by the storm could pummel the Baja California coast and cause life-threatening surf and rip tide conditions, the center said.

The Tate brothers fight extradition to the UK where they face rape and sex trafficking charges

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:03:34 +0000

Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate will fight extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking, their lawyer said Monday, suggesting their arrest in Miami was politically motivated without explaining why.

The Tates appeared in federal court Monday for the first time since their arrest on Saturday and are being held in federal detention. In the coming weeks, a U.S. district judge will consider whether they meet the conditions for extradition. U.S. Magistrate Lauren Louis set another hearing for July 27.

In court documents unsealed Monday, U.S. prosecutors described allegations from the United Kingdom against the brothers involving three victims. One woman accused Tristan Tate of rape and assault during a long-term relationship with him beginning in 2012, including when she was unconscious, reporting him to U.K. authorities multiple times. Two other women, one who met Andrew Tate through a webcam business and another through a dating app, also accused him of rape and assault in 2014 and 2015.

The brothers, through their social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny, are among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities.

Normally photographed in tailored suits and fitted shirts, they wore tan jail uniforms and handcuffs during Monday's brief hearing. Neither brother said a word.

Their attorney, Joseph McBride, insisted they should remain in the U.S.

“We are of course objecting to extradition because Andrew and Tristan are innocent," McBride said after the hearing. “They’ve never done nothing wrong. They shouldn’t be extradited for crimes they did not commit.”

The brothers were surprised when they were arrested, McBride said, adding that the attempt to have them extradited was politically motivated. “There’s no question about it,” he told reporters.

He suggested the Tates' case “had a lot to do with” former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to step down, without providing any details, and said it was no coincidence that the brothers were arrested after meeting “friends in Washington, D.C.”

“We went to see our Congress people in D.C. and now we’re getting arrested. This feels political,” McBride said. He didn't specify who the pair met with or what was discussed.

On Sunday, McBride said he was confident the extradition request would be denied.

Prosecutors in Britain said the new charges relate to four new victims and were brought after authorities received evidence from Bedfordshire Police in southeastern England. The allegations, spanning 2010 to 2017, include rape, assault, trafficking and offenses relating to “indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.”

McBride said none of the latest accusers have been identified, adding “we'd like to know who’s accused Andrew and Tristan of what.”

The brothers are already charged with rape, bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain relating to three other alleged victims in the U.K. between 2012 and 2015.

Their lawyer said in a statement Saturday that he believed the arrests were “greenlighted by a low-level functionary” at the Justice Department without input from leadership. The Justice Department told The Associated Press that the arrests were approved by leadership of its Criminal Division.

The new allegations are the latest in a long-running international legal saga involving the Tates that has spanned the U.S., Britain and Romania. The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

The dual U.S. and British citizens moved to Romania in 2016. They were arrested there in 2022, accused of participating in schemes to lure women for sexual exploitation. They denied those allegations and the Romanian case hasn't gone forward because of legal and procedural problems.

Last year, they were allowed to leave Romania and flew to Florida.

The former professional kickboxers have millions of followers on social media and are vocal supporters of President Donald Trump.

Andrew Tate, 39, first became known a decade ago when he was a contestant on the U.K. reality television show “Big Brother.” He was booted from the show when a video appeared to show him assaulting a woman.

He has amassed over 10 million followers on X but has been banned from other platforms for violating hate speech guidelines, including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. He has made widely condemned comments, such as saying women who are sexually assaulted should bear some responsibility for the attacks and sharing graphic descriptions of how he might attack women.

The Tate brothers have consistently denied allegations of abuse and human trafficking, claiming their violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context or were intended as jokes.

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Associated Press reporters Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.

Power surge: Guardians hit 7 homers against Twins, 1 short of franchise record

Joe Reedy, Associated Press — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:22:51 +0000

Manager Stephen Vogt and the Cleveland Guardians have been searching for a breakout game on offense for most of the season.

They finally got it Monday night.

The Guardians hit seven home runs in a 13-4 victory over Minnesota Twins, one short of the franchise record and matching the record for a home game.

It was an unlikely power surge for the Guardians, who came into the game tied with Tampa Bay for the third-fewest homers in the majors with 94.

“A really fun night,” Vogt said. “The coolest feeling in the world is hitting a home run in the big leagues. So to see our guys keep doing it, obviously we’re getting good pitches to hit and we’re not missing them. I think that’s more telling than anything.”

Five of the longballs were by players who came into the game batting under .200. Petey Halpin and Rhys Hoskins each went deep twice and Patrick Bailey's shot in the seventh made it the sixth game in the franchise’s 125 seasons with at least seven homers. Cleveland hit eight home runs at Milwaukee on April 25, 1997, and at Seattle on July 16, 2004.

“We’ve been talking a lot about how both good and bad things are so contagious in this game and we feed off that as a team,” said Hoskins, who came into the game batting .177.

It was the first time two Cleveland players homered at least twice in a game since José Ramírez and Carlos Santana did it in 2019 against the Yankees.

Brayan Rocchio and Travis Bazzana also went deep for Cleveland, which also homered seven times at home on April 30, 2013 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

It’s the fourth time this season a major league team has hit at least seven homers. The Chicago Cubs had eight in their 23-3 win over the San Diego Padres on July 1.

Twins starter Joe Ryan became the 11th starting pitcher in major league history to give up six homers in a game. It was also a franchise record for homers allowed. Ryan, who pitched in his second All-Star Game last week, left too many of his 78 pitches over the middle of the plate as the Guardians took advantage of an off night by the right-hander.

“It’s a tough one, right, because I’m the one that’s wearing it. It’s definitely all on me,” said Ryan, who allowed eight runs and a career-high 10 hits in four innings, raising his ERA from 2.85 to 3.38. “It’s definitely frustrating and not the way you want to start a series against this team. They beat me to the spot more times than I got them.”

Vogt was happiest for Halpin, who hit his first two major league homers with drives to right-center in the second and fourth innings.

“It feels incredible. I think that my role and what I try to do is get on base for the guys that do hit home runs. And today I was able to connect on a couple of them,” Halpin said.

Halpin's homer in the fourth extended Cleveland's lead to 8-2. According to Sportradar, it was the first time since 1974 — when innings data started to be tracked — that Cleveland had six homers in the first four innings. It had five on July 22, 1994, against the Chicago White Sox and on Aug. 15, 2019, at the New York Yankees.

It was the 24th time that has happened in the majors during that span. The last was by the New York Yankees on Aug. 27, 2025, against the Washington Nationals.

Rocchio hit a two-run homer to right in the first. Two pitches later, Hoskins followed with a drive down the line in left to make it 3-0. It was the second time this season that Rocchio and Hoskins have gone back to back. They also did it against the Twins on July 8.

Bailey led off the seventh with a solo shot to center off Woo-Suk Go. The Guardians also had three other balls that went off the wall for doubles.

“I think it was just a great commitment on our part to really not be sold out, but be really confident about what we’re trying to do with the fastball,” Hoskins said. “I also think it gives you some conviction on which ones are balls. And I think we just did a really good job of that today. Ready to hit on the ones that weren’t up. And I think a lot of those are the ones that we did damage on, those are the pitches that you can’t miss against a guy like that and we just didn’t do that tonight.”

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

Surveillance shows man minutes before allegedly setting Cypresswood apartment on fire that killed his brother

Corley Peel — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:07:56 +0000

Surveillance video obtained exclusively by KPRC 2 News Reporter Corley Peel, appears to show the man accused of intentionally setting an apartment building on fire, moments before it burst into flames, killing his own brother and injuring several others, including a 3-year-old boy.

Matthew Atwater is charged with felony murder with arson as an underlying offense. The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. at the Cypresswood Apartments on Cypresswood Drive.

The surveillance footage appears to show Atwater walking up and down a stairwell minutes before the blaze erupted.

Neighbor Leroy Broussard described the terrifying scene.

“The fire just took off super fast,” Broussard said.

RELATED: Man charged with murder after fatal fire at Spring area apartment complex

His son woke the family up after spotting the building next door in flames.

“The upstairs family, they were actually climbing from the balcony to get down. They couldn’t even go out the front door,” Broussard said.

Investigators say Atwater got into an argument with family members before allegedly starting the fire intentionally. Its unclear how he allegedly started the fire, but detectives say it was fueled from anger. When firefighters arrived, Atwater’s 40-year-old brother, Andrew, was transported to the hospital, where he later died. Atwater’s mother was also seriously injured. Neighbors saw her covered in blood.

Neighbor Megan McCrary tried to help Atwater’s mother in the chaos.

“I asked her if I could get her anything, but she was just in shock and she couldn’t get any words out. I said I’ll be right back — I’m going to get some water and a towel. When I came back downstairs, they had already taken her,” McCrary said.

Deputies say a 3-year-old boy in a neighboring apartment suffered extensive burns. Several others were also hurt. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office says two other people are intubated and one is in intensive care.

McCrary says she had previously raised concerns about Atwater’s behavior to apartment management, including reports of him jumping into dumpsters and allegedly starting a small grass fire five months ago.

“A family member came by one day and they were like, ‘Hey, somebody’s down there burning something in the grass.’ When I came outside to see who it was, that’s when I decided I should contact management,” McCrary said.

Neighbors say they never expected the situation to escalate to something so devastating.

“I just pray for everybody who lost everything,” McCrary said.

Atwater is charged with felony murder, but investigators say additional charges are possible. The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents. The Harris County Fire Marshal and the Harris County Sheriff’s office are investigating this case.

Houston weather: A heat advisory issued before watch for potential tropical impacts late week

Anthony Yanez — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 02:42:37 +0000

Tonight’s Forecast:

Tonight will stay warm, muggy and buggy, with mostly clear skies and temperatures only falling into the upper 70s to lower 80s. Winds will remain light, so it will still feel sticky through the overnight hours.

Tuesday’s Forecast:

Tuesday will be dangerously hot, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures climbing close to 100 degrees. A Heat Advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. as humidity pushes feels-like temperatures above 105 degrees in some areas. Limit strenuous outdoor activity during the afternoon, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in air conditioning.

Heat Advisory

Tracking the tropics: Tropical Storm Bertha

Tropical Storm Bertha has formed in the eastern Gulf.

It will move northwest, bringing high surf, and gusty winds along the Gulf Coast. For southeast Texas, the center of circulation doesn’t arrive until late Thursday and Friday.

Impacts for southeast Texas are expected to be minimal.

Tropical Track

Read more about the storm’s potential path changes: Tropical Storm Bertha forms in the Gulf and tracks into Houston late week

10 Day Forecast:

The 10-day forecast stays hot, with temperatures hitting 100° for the first time this year. Significant impacts are not expected at this time from Bertha.

What to expect through Thursday of next week

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis say they will block Saudi shipping at Red Sea gateway

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:21:21 +0000

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday announced they are imposing a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for a blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa International Airport, threatening another vital waterway for global shipping and raising fears of renewed conflict.

A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a video statement that the maritime ban against Saudi Arabia will be effective immediately, describing it as an “equation of ‘an eye for an eye.’”

There were few details on how the embargo might work, but the deputy head of the Houthi media office, Nasruddin Amer, said on X that the Bab al-Mandeb strait will be closed to the Saudis in response to what he called the kingdom's "unjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 years.”

Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is the gateway to the Red Sea through which around 12% of the world's trade usually passes. A fourth of global container trade transits through the 32-kilometer (20-mile)-wide strait to and from the Suez Canal.

The Houthis earlier demonstrated their ability to disrupt shipping there when they targeted ships for months over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with over 100 vessels attacked. It is unclear whether the Houthis will resume that level of attack against neighboring Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s military said it would keep the waterway open.

Iran war limits shipping routes

The kingdom already faced pressure as it uses its East-West Pipeline to the Red Sea as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which remains in the grip that Iran imposed shortly after the U.S. and Israel attacked it on Feb. 28.

The Saudis have been sending millions of barrels of crude oil a day through the pipeline. Now, about 2.5 million barrels of oil per day could be at risk, Texas-based Rystad Energy wrote Monday.

Saudi Arabia leads a coalition against the Houthis and imposed an air and sea blockade on Yemen in 2015. Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. A truce was reached in 2022.

Exchange of fire escalates tensions

That truce has been threatened in recent days after the Houthis said the Saudis struck the Sanaa airport in an attempt to affect a flight carrying Houthi leaders back from Iran, where they attended the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The plane landed safely at another airport.

The Houthis then launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport in the most significant confrontation in years.

By allowing a direct international flight to land without the approval of the Saudi-led coalition, the Houthis sought to establish a new reality in which they could independently make decisions over Yemen’s airspace, experts told the AP.

“We affirm the right of our great people to respond to the blockade with a blockade,” Saree emphasized on Monday, adding that Houthis are prepared to confront “any foolish act committed by the reckless Saudi enemy ... with a comprehensive and decisive escalation."

Houthi-run Al Masirah TV broadcast footage of hundreds of supporters gathering in the city of Ibb, south of Sanaa, to back the embargo against Saudi Arabia. Similar rallies were held in the governorates of Saada, Marib, Hajjah and Taiz.

Iranian weapons supplies dwindle

The Houthis are a crucial part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” which also includes militant groups in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.

The rebels have had a large stockpile of drones, but several Houthi members previously told the AP that the stockpile is running low after its attacks during the Israel-Hamas war. The Iran war has further impeded the flow of weapons, said the members, who at the time spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk to the media.

The U.S. and Israel responded to the Houthis' earlier attacks on shipping with a punishing air campaign across Houthi-held areas in Yemen until a deal that saw the rebels stop their assaults.

Disrupting transit through the Bab al-Mandeb forces shipping firms to route vessels around the Cape of Good Hope off South Africa, significantly increasing costs. The U.S. government in the past has said going around the cape would add about 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers) to the journey from Saudi Arabia to the U.S.

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Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

US soldiers killed by Iran were from Texas and Hawaii, military says

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:36:10 +0000

Two U.S. Army soldiers killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks were identified on Monday — the first U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.

The Defense Department said in a statement that Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed in Jordan in Friday’s attacks.

Feehan, a first lieutenant, will be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain and awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge. The Army did not provide details about his commendations. He was assigned out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Feehan was just weeks away from getting a Master of Business Administration from Southern Utah University, according to the school. The university will award his degree posthumously.

“Our hearts are with his family, fellow service members, classmates, and all who knew and loved Tyler as we mourn this profound loss together,” Mindy Benson, the university's president, said in a statement.

Gonzales was a private with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany. She graduated last year from Hebron High School in Carrollton, near Dallas, school officials said.

“She gave her life in that service, and our district is heartbroken by her loss,” the Lewisville Independent School District said in a statement. “Her decision to serve after graduation speaks volumes of her character.”

The military said Gonzales died on Friday and Feehan died the following day. It did not provide details.

A third service member was reported missing in the attacks that killed Feehan and Gonzales. U.S. Central Command said Sunday that “unidentified remains” have been found and were being examined.

The US military says 17 service members have been killed in the war with Iran

The deaths reflect the complicated reality that American soldiers don’t need to be on the ground in Iran for there to be lethal risks in a conflict that involves drones, missiles and airplanes. American forces are arrayed across the Middle East, making other nations targets of Iran and its allies as the fighting has escalated after a breakdown in peace talks.

Drones and missiles are claiming lives on both sides

An American service member was also killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during a “controlled detonation” of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone, U.S. Central Command said Sunday. A second service member was wounded and was receiving medical treatment for a minor injury.

The military said it was withholding additional information until 24 hours after families had been notified.

Iranian authorities said U.S. strikes in just the past three weeks have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500 others, including eight killed in a strike on a bridge Friday.

The first US military fatalities came soon after the war started

Shortly after the U.S. and Israel began the war on Feb. 28, an Iranian drone strike at a civilian port in Kuwait killed six American soldiers. The soldiers were part of a supply and logistics unit based in Iowa who were working at a shipping container-style building that had no defenses.

A seventh soldier died more than a week after being wounded during a March 1 attack by Iran on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Later in March, six service members were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting U.S. military operations against Iran crashed in Iraq. The aircraft was in “friendly” airspace when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft took place, according to U.S. Central Command.

Last week, the U.S. military said a Navy pilot died in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea. The Navy initially described the July 1 crash as an emergency landing and said there was “no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action.” The remaining three sailors aboard the helicopter were rescued.

Bellaire High School student detained by ICE at Houston airport released from detention

Christian Terry, Joy Addison — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 01:53:28 +0000

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s office says an 18-year-old Bellaire High School student who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Houston’s Hobby Airport has been released from detention.

Teachers and friends identify the student as Alim Garipov, an 18-year-old originally from Russia. According to those close to him, Garipov was traveling with family members to visit colleges when he was detained.

RELATED: Bellaire High School community rallies behind student detained by ICE at Houston airport

In a joint statement, immigration lawyer Olsa Alikaj-Cano of Cano Immigration PLLC, Congresswoman Fletcher (TX-07), and Alim’s family, say his release was secured following a community-wide advocacy effort.

“We are relieved and grateful that Alim has finally been released from detention and reunited with his family. This outcome came after a tireless, expeditious effort over the weekend, working in partnership to secure Alim’s release. So many people across our city—his friends, teachers, coaches, and so many others—rallied behind Alim in support, and those who know him know it’s easy to understand why. He is an extraordinary young man with a bright future ahead of him. He loves his family and this country, and he has done everything the right way, legally, throughout this process. Too many immigrant families in our community and across the country are facing similar uncertainty and separation, and we are actively working to help many others facing the same fear. We will continue working to help members of our community in these challenging times, and we will continue to advocate for an end to the unfair and unjust policies that led to this heartbreaking situation in the first place. We hope that everyone who expressed concern for Alim will continue to do so for him and for others—it matters.”

What ICE is saying

ICE confirmed Garipov was arrested in Houston on July 17, saying he remained in the United States after his authorized stay expired.

In a statement, ICE said Garipov was admitted to the United States in 2022 as a non-immigrant but did not depart before his authorized stay expired.

The agency said a pending asylum application does not confer legal immigration status and that individuals detained by ICE continue to receive due process under federal law.

US suspends funding for US Virgin Islands' housing authority and accuses it of corruption

Dánica Coto, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:17:10 +0000

The U.S. government announced Monday it suspended funding for the U.S. Virgin Islands’ housing authority after an investigation found widespread corruption, as residents still struggle to recover from two major hurricanes that hit nearly a decade ago.

U.S. Housing Secretary Scott Turner said that nine years after the U.S. territory received $1.9 billion in disaster recovery funding, it has spent only $570 million, less than a third of the funds.

He noted that a HUD investigation found “widespread financial mismanagement, inadequate fraud controls, false certifications and improper payments.” The investigation is ongoing.

“This failure has, to date, deprived Virgin Islanders of roughly $1.3 billion worth of assistance that Congress intended them to have,” stated a July 20 letter that HUD sent to the head of the U.S. Virgin Island’s Housing Finance Authority.

The director for the U.S. territory’s housing authority and its spokesperson did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The authority has the right to appeal the suspension by requesting a hearing.

In a post on X, Turner accused officials with the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Housing Finance Authority of prioritizing “kickbacks over helping families recover from disasters.”

The U.S. Virgin Islands was struck by Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm, in September 2017. Roughly two weeks later, Hurricane Maria, also a Category 5 storm, struck St. Croix. The U.S. territory is still struggling to recover from the storms.

In a July 20 letter to the head of the U.S. Virgin Islands' housing authority, HUD said that its “record demonstrates that it is an abysmal steward of taxpayer funds.”

The investigation so far has found that the U.S. Virgin Islands’ housing authority has completed only two of 95 planned single-family rental rehabilitation projects and zero of 329 single and multifamily housing projects.

In addition, the authority had spent only 2% of its electrical grid recovery funding as of May, the investigation found.

Meanwhile, the Virgin Islands housing authority has spent more than half the grant funds slated for administrative costs, according to the letter.

The authority also is accused of seeking $6.2 million in disaster-related funds that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency had already paid.

The U.S. government also noted that the authority’s former chief operating officer who oversaw disaster recovery programs is in federal prison after being convicted on charges including fraud and money laundering.

Turner wrote on X that the former chief operating officer inflated a lumber contract meant to rebuild hurricane-damaged homes from $3 million to $4.5 million and took a $107,000 kickback “and let the lumber rot in the sun, rendering it useless — a waste of taxpayer funds.”

In February, the executive director of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ housing authority resigned as local legislators questioned why some $4.2 million remained idle as a September deadline to use the funds looms.

At the time, Sen. Kurt Vialet accused the former director of “just sitting there with a smug look.”

“The Housing Finance Authority is not building. You can’t be upset at senators being frustrated,” Vialet was quoted as saying by the St. Thomas Source, a local news site.

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This version has corrected that the U.S. government says the territory spent $570 million, not $570,000, of the disaster funding that was sent.

Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing disputes over autos, alcohol and cheese

Josh Boak, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:01:43 +0000

President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products.

The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump's return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump's previous tariffs and must be held accountable.

The official insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to preview the president's actions and said that Trump signed three proclamations to launch the tariffs under Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act. Several Democratic lawmakers last year proposed repealing the section because they said Trump could use it to destabilize the economy.

The new 50% tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That 2020 trade pact was not renewed by the U.S., triggering a new set of negotiations that could run until 2036.

The White House said in a fact sheet that the tariffs would go into effect in 30 days, meaning there is time for negotiations as Trump has not always followed through on his announced tax hikes on imports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that his government believes in the “benefits of free and fair trade,” having signed “more than 20 new economic and security partnerships." He said Canada is prepared to negotiate with the Trump administration.

“This trade dispute has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S.,” Carney said. “Canada stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the U.S. to the mutual benefit of our citizens.”

Canada faces the risk of a broader trade war

Still, the tariffs could escalate into a wider trade war as Canada seeks to defend its economy. Ontario Premier Doug Ford saw a possible showdown ahead.

“If these tariffs proceed, Canada should respond tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar,” Ford posted on social media.

Candace Laing, CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the Trump administration's moves were “regrettable” but the two countries need to use the 30-day window before the tariffs start "to make meaningful progress in advancing formal talks.”

Chris Swonger, CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, also called for a deal: "We encourage policymakers on both sides of the border to pursue a negotiated solution that restores market access for U.S. spirits and avoids further harm to the U.S. hospitality sector.”

But the use of a Great Depression-era law to impose the tariffs broadens some of the risks, as those tariffs could be applied to other U.S. trading partners, not just Canada, and inject “massive uncertainty” into the global economy, said Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

“We crossed the Rubicon,” Lincicome said. “The invocation of 338 is the nuclear option for Trump tariffs.”

Tariffs are also a political challenge for Trump

The new tariffs carry serious political and economic risks for Trump ahead of the November midterm elections for control of Congress. His “Liberation Day” tariffs last year in April provoked a financial market meltdown over concerns about inflation and a recession, prompting him to walk back the rates for a period of negotiation.

The Supreme Court ruled this February that Trump had lacked the legal authority to impose the tariffs by declaring an economic emergency, causing the administration to find alternative ways to raise import taxes based on a series of legal authorities.

Tariffs are taxes on imports, which companies can then pass along to consumers in the form of higher prices. The president maintains that the costs created by tariffs will cause manufacturing to relocate to the U.S., though there is little evidence of that in the economic data.

“These new taxes will raise prices on American families and likely lead to retaliation against the very industries Trump purportedly wants to protect,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., who is chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The latest import taxes could worsen Trump's weak ratings on the economy. He promised voters when running for the presidency that he would bring prices down, but the annual inflation rate has risen since he became president because the tariffs and the war in Iran are pushing up oil prices.

Trump has repeatedly targeted Canada on trade issues

The Trump administration official said the president had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada because its wildfires hurt air quality in the U.S. He had publicly threatened to do so in social media posts.

At the World Cup final on Sunday, Trump watched the game with Carney. The Trump administration official said their time together at the game was not a working visit to discuss trade and tariffs.

Trump claims in the proclamations that Canada discriminates against American autos, alcohol and cheese relative to other nations, but his argument rests in large part on retaliatory actions taken by Canada after the U.S. president imposed tariffs on Canada under the pretext that it should do more to stop fentanyl smuggling.

Trump noted in his autos proclamation that Canada maintained, starting in April 2025, a 25% tariff on the imports of U.S. motor vehicles that did not qualify for preferential treatment under the USMCA.

The White House said that, regarding alcohol, all but two Canadian provinces and territories halted the purchase and retailing of American alcoholic beverages beginning last year, which was also a response to Trump's tariffs and taunts of making Canada the 51st state.

But Trump has long objected to Canada's treatment of U.S. cheese, saying in his proclamation that Canada discriminates against the U.S. compared to Europe on dairy products.

Trump and Carney have had a frosty relationship, with Carney, a former central banker, who pledged to go “elbows up” for Canada during his election campaign last year.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Carney called out Trump — without naming him — by saying that the “most powerful” countries are using the economy to coerce less powerful nations.

Trump responded at the time by saying: “Canada lives because of the United States."

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Associated Press writer Jim Morris contributed from Vancouver, British Columbia.

US pledges to crack down on Haitian gangs making money off social media

Dánica Coto, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:00:40 +0000

The U.S. envoy to the United Nations said Monday that the U.S. government soon will move to stop violent gangs in Haiti from making money off social media posts.

Gang leaders in the troubled Caribbean country are prolific users of social media and have celebrated killings, issued threats and posted musings on various sites. Younger gang members also post music videos and wave cash they've earned in an effort to recruit children in the impoverished nation.

Mike Waltz, who recently visited Haiti, called the practice “incredibly disturbing” and warned the U.S. would “shut that down” in the near future. He didn’t provide further details while speaking at a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York.

He spoke as the U.S. prepares this week to strip the temporary protected status of some 350,000 Haitians who live in the United States, exposing them to deportation, a move largely criticized by lawyers and human rights experts.

Efforts to crack down on the gangs' use of social media are not new. In 2023, YouTube banned Johnson André, considered Haiti's most powerful gang leader and also known as Izo, following heavy criticism after he received an award for surpassing more than 100,000 subscribers.

The U.S. envoy also called on countries with aircraft capacity to help with the deployment of foreign troops joining the latest U.N.-backed mission in Haiti to fight gangs, including Sri Lanka and Ivory Coast. He said sea lifts take too long and that Haitians need help now.

Gang violence surges as Haitians in US brace for deportation

Gang violence has displaced a record almost 1.5 million people across Haiti, where more than half of the country's nearly 12 million inhabitants need humanitarian aid.

More than 2,300 people have been killed and more than 1,100 injured since January, according to the U.N. Earlier this year, clashes in the Cite Soleil slum in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, led to 542 killings and 355 injuries. In addition, at least 176 women and girls were raped, the U.N. found.

Waltz shared how gangs recently surrounded an armored vehicle that got stuck in a ditch and lit a fire underneath, forcing Haitian police officers to flee.

“They were flayed alive on the streets,” Waltz said, adding that their bodies were pinned to the side of the vehicle to send a message.

“I want everyone to understand the fight ahead,” he added.

Waltz noted that Haiti needs equipment including heavy bulldozers to clear streets and gang-controlled checkpoints, adding that armed men have taken over roads, ports, hospitals, prisons and other state infrastructure.

“Haiti’s just a few hundred miles from Florida,” he said. “In that regard, it’s a critical interest to the United States.”

Gangs control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince, and about half of gang members are children, according to the U.N. Poverty and hunger are deepening.

“The situation of children in Haiti is among the most alarming anywhere in the world,” said Vanessa Frazier, the U.N.’s special representative for children and armed conflict. “Children are being killed, maimed, abducted, recruited and used by armed gangs, displaced from their homes, denied access to education and deprived of basic protection and legal identity.”

Jack Christofides, special representative of the U.N.-backed gang suppression force operating in Haiti, said it has established its headquarters, deployed its first forward operating base and recently began cracking down on gang infrastructure.

“The political and humanitarian environment nevertheless remains extremely challenging,” he said. “Armed gangs are likely to adapt their tactics to stay in control.”

Haiti is under pressure to hold elections

The international community has been pressuring Haiti to hold general elections, which would be the first in more than a decade.

While the country is led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who was appointed, it hasn’t had a president since President Jovenel Moïse was killed at his private residence in July 2021. Gang violence has surged since then.

Seven of Haiti’s 10 provinces are ready for electoral activities, while the gang suppression force is vital to restoring security in the remaining three, said Raina Forbin, Haiti’s foreign affairs minister.

The three provinces include Port-au-Prince, and overall they account for more than half of all voters, noted Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the U.N. secretary-general’s special representative for Haiti. He noted the displacement caused by gang violence and said the voter registration that began on Monday “will give us a new reality of where the voters are currently.”

Forbin said that by year’s end, an additional 4,000 officers are expected to join Haiti’s National Police, which remains understaffed and underfunded. Meanwhile, an additional 1,500 recruits are expected to join Haiti’s revived Armed Forces.

5 dead in attempt to save a struggling swimmer in an Ohio river, sheriff says

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:14:08 +0000

Five people have died on a river in Ohio after several of them went into the water to help another person who was struggling to swim, authorities said Monday.

The group had gathered Sunday along the Scioto River in the Columbus suburb of Powell when one of them went into the river for a swim. “That’s when the tragedy started to occur,” Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference. He said others who jumped in to help also began struggling.

A motorist called 911 after spotting a frightened child with the group who was running along a nearby road to seek help, Balzer said.

Rescue crews searching the water later Sunday found two women who were pronounced dead at a hospital, Balzer said. The bodies of three men were found in the river on Monday, said Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities did not say exactly where the victims were found.

The river was running high and fast on Sunday, according to data from a U.S. Geological Survey water gauge at the nearby dam. The data shows the water was flowing at a rate of about 350 cubic feet (10 cubic meters) per second on Sunday — more than a fourfold increase over a three-day span, and more than double the average rate.

The tragedy occurred two days after five people were killed in southern Utah after a flash flood swept through scenic red rock canyons during a hiking excursion.

The Ohio sheriff said the child who ran for help, prompting the 911 call, has been placed in the care of family services along with another child under the age of 10. Authorities were working on notifying relatives of the victims, he said.

Balzer said people who gather near water must be aware of the conditions and take precautions.

“Know your skill level before you get in the water. Are you a confident swimmer?” Balzer said. “Make sure you have other people around in case something goes wrong to notify someone.”

___

This story has been updated to correct that it is the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, not the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department.

Spring Branch homeowner now getting flood issue fixed after city failed to deliver initially

Mario Díaz — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:23:26 +0000

A Spring Branch homeowner repeated flooding events in recent years have left him living in constant fear every time heavy rain moves into the Houston area.

Standing along a drainage ditch in the 2200 block of Bauer Drive, Paul Braddock points to what he says is the source of the problem. According to Braddock, whenever heavy rain falls, water collects in the ditch instead of draining away. As the water rises, it spills across the street and onto his property. After Hurricane Beryl, he says, floodwaters even entered his home.

“A couple of inches of water, a half-foot of water crashed down my driveway and then flooded my entire home,” Braddock recalled of the 2024 storm.

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Since that flood, Braddock says he has done everything a homeowner is expected to do. He has repeatedly contacted the City of Houston through emails, phone calls and 311 service requests, documenting every flooding event with photos and videos.

“I’ve got around 80 emails to and from the city where I have submitted pictures, videos and have just every event I have been documenting since then,” Braddock said.

He says much of his communication has been with a city employee named Vincent Wells.

When 2 Helps You pointed out a Public Works employee with a name like Wells should be pretty good when it comes to getting water moving, Braddock quickly pointed out, “It would be great if he helped”.

According to Braddock, promises of improvements never materialized. “One time he called me to tell me that the whole area was getting fixed. Since then it’s actually gotten worse,” he said.

The ongoing flooding has forced Braddock to invest thousands of dollars into protecting his own property. He constructed a retaining wall, installed protective berms and added multiple sump pumps in an effort to keep floodwaters from reaching his home.

“I had to, and I also had to put up those berms... to stop water from crashing into my property... and even back here you will see two of my sump pumps,” Braddock explained.

After reviewing the situation, I contacted Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi directly and briefed on Braddock’s concerns.

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“I have no idea off the top of my head, but I’m going to find out,” Macchi said on the call.

Less than two hours later, Macchi followed up, confirming to 2 Helps You that Braddock’s case had been overlooked. He said the matter would be expedited and directed his staff to move the project forward.

Braddock was appreciative of 2 Helps You delivering a solution and hopes the renewed attention finally leads to a permanent fix before another major storm puts his home at risk again.

We of course will monitor this case closely until that final resolution is delivered.

If you have a problem that you wants 2 Helps You to examine contact us through the Help Desk, remember we should not before your first call but we sure don’t mind being your last.

What MCSO redacted: Policy raises new questions about traffic stop that ended in arrest

Jaewon Jung — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:13:57 +0000

A routine traffic stop over a turn signal and dim license plate lights ended with a Montgomery County woman being arrested. Now, an unredacted sheriff’s office policy obtained by KPRC 2 is raising new questions about whether the deputy followed required procedures.

40-year-old Elizabeth Kim was arrested May 21 after a Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy pulled her over in Shenandoah. Body-camera video shows the deputy repeatedly ordering Kim to leave her truck from behind her vehicle instead of initially approaching the driver’s window.

RELATED: Montgomery County traffic stop bodycam sparks questions: We reviewed Texas police training to find answers

For nearly four minutes, the deputy can be heard calling out commands, whistling and referring to Kim as “sweetheart” before walking toward her truck.

Kim was ultimately charged with interfering with public duties and resisting arrest.

What the unredacted policy says

Following KPRC 2’s initial report on Kim’s arrest, we submitted a public records request to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office seeking its traffic-stop policy.

The sheriff’s office provided a heavily redacted document that concealed portions detailing the procedures deputies are directed to follow during traffic stops involving minor violations.

redacted traffic stop policy

KPRC 2 later obtained an unredacted copy of the policy through a source and confirmed its authenticity with two law enforcement sources.

Unredacted traffic stop policy

The unredacted policy states: “Traffic stops will be conducted using the seven-step violator contact.”

The first step directs deputies to: “Approach the driver and identify who you are by your title and name.”

Bodycam video from Kim’s traffic stop shows the deputy remained behind her truck and repeatedly ordered her to come to him. He did not initially approach the driver’s window and identify himself by title and name as outlined in the policy.

Former prosecutor believes charges should be dismissed

Nathan Alsbrooks, a Montgomery County criminal defense attorney who previously worked as a county prosecutor from 2017 to 2023, reviewed the body-camera video and the unredacted policy.

“He clearly violated policy,” Alsbrooks said. “Specifically, the deputy was supposed to approach her and identify himself. He did not do that. He gave commands to her from his vehicle, asking her to step out and approach him.”

Alsbrooks said context is important when evaluating the encounter, particularly because Kim is a sexual assault survivor who was stopped at night and did not initially know who was calling out to her from behind the truck.

“There was a clear deviation from the seven-step violator protocol that is sheriff’s office policy,” Alsbrooks said. “There’s no justifiable reason for that deviation when you review the body-camera footage.”

Alsbrooks said deputies should be allowed to depart from standard traffic-stop procedures when there is a legitimate safety concern. However, he said the video did not appear to show circumstances that justified doing so in Kim’s case.

“It should be dismissed,” Alsbrooks said of the criminal case. “I don’t think that case should move forward.”

Increase in interference cases

Alsbrooks said he has seen what he described as a significant increase in people being charged with interfering with public duties in Montgomery County.

KPRC 2 filed a public records request with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office which showed 213 cases filed for interference with public duties in 2025, with more than 60% of those cases dismissed.

In 2017, that number was 29, with 44% of cases dismissed.

“Of the cases on my docket, I can truthfully tell you, I’ve had 75 to 80% of these cases dismissed,” Alsbrooks said.

Under Section 38.15 of the Texas Penal Code, a person may be charged with interfering with public duties if they act with criminal negligence to interrupt, disrupt, impede or otherwise interfere with a peace officer performing a duty.

Alsbrooks said the statute can be appropriately used when someone meaningfully obstructs an officer’s work. He questioned whether it should apply to routine traffic stops in which a driver is slow to comply, asks questions or attempts to understand what is happening.

“In my opinion, there’s overcharging going on and abuse of that statute,” said Alsbrooks.

Retired HPD captain also questions arrest

Dr. Greg Fremin, a retired Houston Police Department captain and current professor, previously reviewed the complete body-camera video for KPRC 2. After reviewing the unredacted policy, he also concluded that the deputy did not follow the agency’s procedure.

“He deviated from their standard operating procedure, specifically the very first line about walking up to the car and introducing yourself,” Fremin said.

Fremin described the sheriff’s office policy as a standard traffic-stop procedure that is consistent with law enforcement training. He said Kim’s stop involved minor alleged violations rather than a suspected felony or another apparent circumstance that would require the deputy to remain behind her vehicle.

“It wasn’t a felony stop, anything that would have been exigent circumstances,” Fremin said. “So he definitely deviated from their SOP, in my opinion.”

Kim files formal complaint

After KPRC 2’s initial report, a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said Texas law gives an officer the legal authority to order a driver out of a vehicle.

Kim has since filed a formal complaint against the deputy with the sheriff’s office’s Internal Affairs Division.

KPRC 2 contacted the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Law Enforcement Association with questions about the department’s traffic stop policy.

A sheriff’s office spokesperson sent the following statement:

“Due to the pending criminal charges against Ms. Kim, as well as the recent internal affairs complaint received by our office regarding this matter, we cannot comment on this case at this time. It would be inappropriate for our office to provide further statements or details while these investigative processes are ongoing.”

Cyclospora outbreak — what Houston-area shoppers need to know right now

Bill Barajas — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:16:29 +0000

The Houston area and its neighboring counties continue to monitor cyclospora cases as the FDA pulls back on part of its investigation into a multi-state outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce.

The agency says a Taylor Fresh Foods sample that initially tested positive turned out to be a false positive after a second review. The FDA says it now has no confirmed positive product tests — but is still working to ensure recalled lettuce is off store shelves.

RELATED: FDA links shredded lettuce at some Taco Bell restaurants to Cyclospora outbreak; Here’s what Texas families should know

In Texas, state health officials have confirmed 98 cases so far. KPRC 2 reached out to multiple local health departments and here’s what we know:

Fort Bend County has 20 suspected cases. Montgomery County has nine. Brazoria County has one confirmed case and four suspected cases. Galveston County has seven confirmed cases and six pending investigations. Harris County has not yet responded to KPRC 2’s request for information.

What is cyclospora — and how does it spread?

Cyclospora is a microscopic, single-celled parasite known to cause intestinal illness. Too small to be seen without a microscope, it is typically found in soil, water and on certain fresh produce.

Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist with Memorial Hermann, says the type of produce matters when it comes to risk.

“It is possible to wash this parasite off of produce, and so the type of produce that tends to cause problems are things that are very difficult to wash — precut lettuce, raspberries, blackberries, anything that is difficult to wash,” Yancey said.

Her advice for shoppers? Make some simple swaps at the grocery store.

“If you want lettuce, instead of the bagged precut lettuce, go ahead and buy a head of lettuce, discard the outer few leaves and the interior will be perfectly safe,” Yancey said. “If you want fruit, go for fruit that are easier to wash, like grapes and blueberries.”

Symptoms to watch for

Symptoms of cyclospora typically appear about one week after exposure and can include watery diarrhea — which can be frequent and sometimes explosive — abdominal cramping and bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue and weight loss.

Yancey says tracing the origin of a cyclospora outbreak is particularly challenging due to the parasite’s long incubation period.

RELATED: Taylor Farms recalls lettuce shipped to 27 states over cyclospora risk

“Cyclospora can be difficult to trace down an origin, mainly because it has such a long incubation period — up to 10 days,” Yancey said. “Historically, this is something we see a lot, and it’s entirely possible to have more than one outbreak going on at the same time. We’ve seen that in the past.”

An origin for this outbreak has yet to be determined.

Italian court blocks Lee Gilley's extradition for now over death penalty concerns

Bryce Newberry — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:43:50 +0000

The Court of Appeal in Turin, Italy, has for now blocked the U.S. government’s request to extradite Harris County capital murder suspect Lee Gilley over concerns about the death penalty, according to Italian court records obtained by KPRC 2 News.

The new records come after a hearing in Turin last week as the Italian judges are now asking the U.S. government for additional guarantees to protect Gilley from the death penalty.

Gilley, 39, had been on a $1 million bond for capital murder since Oct. 2024 when he allegedly murdered his pregnant wife Christa Bauer at their home in the Heights. In May, he cut off his ankle monitor and flew to Milan, Italy, using a fake name and forged travel documents, according to federal investigators, before being caught by law enforcement at the airport.

In a sworn declaration to support the extradition request prepared by the U.S. Department of Justice and Harris County District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors noted the penalty for capital murder in Texas is the death penalty or life without parole, according to records, and the DA’s Office indicated it had not sought the death penalty, so if convicted, Gilley would receive an automatic life without parole sentence.

The records included a late June email from prosecutor Janna Oswald to defense attorney Dick DeGuerin indicating the DA’s Office would not file anything with the court in Texas “saying that we are not seeking the death penalty or are waiving it. We do not do that in other cases, as you know.”

In the order from the Italian court, the judges raised concerns about Oswald’s email, according to an English translation of the records, because “the wording of this communication suggests that the Harris County District Attorney’s Office has not definitively waived pursuing a death sentence; moreover, the previously cited sworn statement only said the death penalty had not been sought, not that it could not be sought in the future.”

The judges wrote that the Court could not see clearly how the U.S. government can guarantee compliance with the condition that the death penalty will not be imposed.

The Italian court is also seeking clarification from the U.S. government about whether Gilley could be convicted of a lesser offense with a lesser penalty, according to a translation of the records, which would be more aligned with the Italian legal system, where the government considers a maximum sentence to be 26 years.

In a list of requests for clarification, the judges asked to confirm the email appearing to be sent by Oswald to DeGuerin was in fact sent by her, how the U.S. can guarantee compliance with the non-application of the death penalty, whether Gilley could be convicted of a less serious penalty than life imprisonment without parole, whether the prosecution intends to maintain the multiple-murder charge or whether a different and less serious charge may be brought, and if there are any options for a person sentenced to life without parole to be released.

The court set a deadline of Aug. 31 for a response. A hearing has also been scheduled for early September, according to the records.

5 family members found dead after flash flood in a scenic Utah canyon, authorities say

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:25:36 +0000

Five family members who had set out for a day of hiking were killed after a flash flood swept through canyons of southern Utah on Friday, law enforcement officials said.

The victims were a captain in the Provo, Utah, fire department, his wife and their sons, according to fire officials. A daughter who was not on the trip survived.

The family arrived Friday at Sunglow Campground in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah for their day excursion, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said.

“It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains,” the sheriff's office said in a news release.

Although the sheriff's office did not identify the victims, the Provo Fire Department confirmed in a social media post that a fire captain, Spencer Long, and his family members were killed.

“We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time,” officials with the fire department wrote.

Later Friday night, deputies were called to the campground after the body of a young male was found in the flood wash. The bodies of the other family members were recovered late Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, tributes poured into the family.

Long, his wife Katrina and their sons Reid, Thayne and Gage died in the devastating floods, according to a GoFundMe site set up by a family friend to support the Longs' daughter as she navigates the loss of her family.

“Spencer and Katrina were loving, devoted parents whose greatest joy was their family. They touched the lives of so many with their kindness, generosity, and unwavering love,” Bree Nielson wrote on the page.

Katrina Long was the cofounder of a medical spa. "Our hearts are with all of their loved ones as we grieve the unimaginable loss of Katrina, her husband, and their three beautiful boys," Summit Medical Spa posted on Facebook.

Wilt Chamberlain Lakers jacket found by a teen at a thrift store fetches over $89,000 at auction

Claire Rush, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:54:26 +0000

A warmup jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA finals that was bought by a teenager for $3.07 at an Oregon thrift store sold for $89,600 at auction on Monday.

Quinn Brown had been eyeing a massive bin of clothes at a Goodwill store outside Portland in January when he saw someone toss a Lakers jacket with Chamberlain's name on it back on the pile. Brown, who resells used clothes online, quickly grabbed it.

The jacket was auctioned by Sotheby’s, which had estimated its value between $150,000 and $250,000 before bidding closed Monday. It received a total of 48 bids, according to the auction house.

Described on Sotheby’s website as an “extraordinary piece of memorabilia," the short-sleeved yellow warmup jacket was worn by Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA finals, in which the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks.

“I didn’t even think that finding something like this was possible,” Brown said. “I got very, very lucky.”

Chamberlain, an NBA Hall of Famer viewed as one of the all-time greats, played in the league from 1959 to 1973. He won two championship rings — one with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967, and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. He holds the record for most points scored by a player in a single game, netting 100 points in a 1962 match.

For the past three years, Brown has been reselling clothes online after finding them in thrift stores. The most expensive item he had sold previously was a T-shirt of Sub Pop Records, the indie label that signed Nirvana in 1989 and released the band’s first album. It went for $250.

After buying the Chamberlain jacket back in January, Brown searched online to see if it was worth something. He found a picture on Google of Chamberlain wearing such a jacket and compared it to the one he had.

In examining the Lakers patch on the front, he noticed certain small stitching details that matched the photo. He also looked up the measurements of a different jersey worn by Chamberlain, a towering figure at 7 feet, 1 inch (2.2 meters) tall, and discovered that they nearly aligned.

“I really just wanted to make sure, because it was so hard to believe at the time,” he said, adding that he had only ever read about such serendipitous thrift findings.

When he posted a photo of the jacket on social media, Sotheby’s contacted him about consigning the jacket to the auction house. Brown agreed, and an armored van came to pick it up.

Sotheby’s then did its own photo verification and determined that the jacket was worn by Chamberlain during the 1972 finals, in which he was named the finals MVP.

“Photomatching a piece of game-worn clothing to a specific Finals series, for a player of this era, is genuinely exceptional,” Sotheby’s website says. “As photomatched items worn by Chamberlain become exceedingly rare, this jacket is a piece of sports history.”

It is not the first Chamberlain item from the 1972 finals to fetch a hefty sum under the hammer: A game jersey he wore during the series sold for $4.9 million at Sotheby's in 2023, the fourth most expensive NBA jersey ever sold by the auction house.

As for his thrifted find, Brown said: “That was as good as it gets.”

Powerhouse performer Christina Wells, now in a wheelchair, is still lighting up Houston stages

Derrick Shore — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:49:01 +0000

Singer and actress Christina Wells first burst onto the national stage nearly a decade ago when she showcased her larger-than-life voice on America’s Got Talent. Since then, the Houston-based mom and grandma has appeared in dozens of productions in the Houston area, including her critically acclaimed portrayal of Ursula, the evil sea witch, in Theatre Under the Stars’ production of ‘The Little Mermaid.’ She also toured with the Broadway National Tour of ‘Chicago,’ bringing the role of the bawdy and sassy Matron Mama Morton to life.

Now, as Christina is set to reprise the role of Ursula, she now relies on a wheelchair to help her navigate recent health struggles. In late June, the actress took to social media to update fans and explain that after Memorial Day she had suddenly fallen ill, suffering from extreme pain from torn muscles in her hip and leg, on top of existing complications from multiple sclerosis.

“I could not sit or stand at all,” said Wells, fighting back tears.

Along with the intense physical pain, which Christina describes as the worst pain she’s ever experienced, she was also facing a frustrating situation: many of her upcoming gigs would have to be canceled or postponed.

“I just saw it all going down the drain,” she said.

But many producers are happy to make accommodations to ensure Christina and her wheelchair can seamlessly fit into their shows. Theatre Under the Stars Artistic Director Dan Knechtgnes assured Christina his organization would do whatever it takes to ensure Christina is able to appear as Ursula this December.

“He said to me, ‘Christina, we are a thousand percent committed to you as Ursula,” noting that Mr. Knechtges and the TUTS team are already working on a technical plan to reimagine the way Christina will magically move about the stage.

After a long hospitalization and intense rehab, Christina is continuing to make progress, finally able to sit and even stand for short periods, though she’ll likely be in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future. She’s also starring in the current production of ‘Hairspray’ at Art Park Players in Deer Park, ‘Follies’ at Doc’s Jazz Club on July 28th, and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Deluxe Theatre in August.

Watch the full interview with Houston Life’s Derrick Shore to find out why this temporary health setback has been filled with uplifting moments, silver linings, and the determination to move forward.

Road deaths have declined globally since 1990 except in poorer countries, study finds

Mike Stobbe, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:34:16 +0000

Road deaths are declining in the U.S. and worldwide, but lower-income countries aren't experiencing much of the improvement, according to a study published Monday.

Global rates of road injuries and deaths each fell more than 30% between 1990 and 2023, according to the study published in Lancet Public Health, which noted the progress varied from country to country.

Pedestrian and vehicle occupant deaths rose over that time in six countries — including the United States. However, more recent data shows road deaths fell in the U.S. in 2024 and 2025.

The World Health Organization put out its own numbers Monday, finding that road traffic deaths declined by 21% between 2011 and 2025. However, traffic crashes still claimed more than 1.1 million lives last year, and they remain the leading cause of death among children and youth aged 5 to 29 years, the WHO said.

Road deaths involve fatal injuries that happen to pedestrians, cyclists and people riding in cars, trucks and other vehicles. Complete data is lacking in some countries, so the researchers behind the new report made estimates based on what data is available.

The researchers, from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, found that road injury rates are higher in high-income countries, but 90% of road deaths occur in low-income countries.

In many low-income countries, safety measures have not kept up with rapid growth in cities and use of motorized vehicles. For example, seat belt mandates are more common in high-income countries, as are car safety features such as air bags.

“Road injury outcomes are shaped not only by crashes, but by the systems designed to prevent them and protect people when they occur,” said Liane Ong, the new paper's senior author, in a statement.

However, there have been conflicting trends in the U.S., including the proliferation of taller and larger passenger vehicles, the authors wrote. U.S. officials also have said thousands of deaths each year can be attributed to “distracted driving," including drivers looking at their phones.

In the U.S., motor vehicle traffic fatalities rose in the last decade and peaked at more than 43,000 in 2021 before beginning to decline, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency estimated the count fell to about 36,600 last year.

Meanwhile, the Governors Highway Safety Association recently reported that U.S. drivers hit and killed 7% fewer people walking on U.S. roads in 2025 compared with the year before. It was the largest annual reduction since pedestrian deaths began falling three years ago, but it was still higher than what the numbers were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WHO identified road safety as an international public health priority more than two decades ago. The Lancet report's release coincides with the start of a two-day United Nations high-level meeting on improving global road safety, being held in New York City.

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Ex-soldier started a fire and fired a pellet gun outside a New York federal building, FBI says

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:29:42 +0000

A former U.S. Army soldier toting an anti-ICE sign set off fireworks, lit a fire and shot a pellet gun Monday morning outside a Manhattan federal office building, injuring three people before security officers subdued him, authorities said.

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, went to the building known as 26 Federal Plaza “armed with bad intentions,” made “anti-government and anti-American statements” as he was being arrested, and told investigators he didn’t care if he killed people, said James Barnacle, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office.

“The building was attacked,” Barnacle said at a news conference on the street where the incident occurred. “Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people and harm people.”

Among the injured was a person who had an immigration court hearing at the building, which also houses offices for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI and other federal agencies. The building has been a hub of protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

No charges had been announced against Arrabaca as of Monday evening. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating, though Barnacle declined to classify the attack as an act of terrorism. It was not immediately clear if Arrabaca had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

Arrabaca showed up outside 26 Federal Plaza around 8:30 a.m. wearing a military-style helmet and hauling a cart affixed with a sign that said “ICE Off Our Streets," New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. His last known address was in Harlem, Tisch said, though he has also lived in Poughkeepsie — about 69 miles (111 kilometers) north of the city.

According to Barnacle, Arrabaca poured gasoline on the ground outside an employee entrance and ignited it with a lighter and a large firework, which also caught fire. He then pulled out an airsoft rifle and fired five to seven pellets at the building before two Federal Protective Service officers and a security contractor ran up and took him into custody, Barnacle said.

Arrabaca, who repaired Patriot missile systems while in the Army from 2001 to 2005, “yelled derogatory terms” and “used bad words” about ICE as he was being arrested, Barnacle said.

“He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist,” Barnacle said. “We know that from what he said. We know that from what he said postarrest. And we know that from his actions that he tried to take today.”

Tisch, citing security video, offered a slightly different sequence of events. She said Arrabaca first lit a bundle of fireworks and then, as they began to smoke, pulled the pellet gun from his coat and fired at the building. Then, she said, he grabbed an orange bucket from his cart, dumped a flammable liquid near some bushes lining the building's perimeter and started a fire.

Videos and photos from the scene showed a fire on the sidewalk outside the building with a plume of smoke, as well as officers restraining a person and taking them away.

An initial 911 call reported an active shooter, Tisch said. Subsequent calls reported an explosion and a man setting off fireworks, she said. In addition to the pellet gun, Barnacle said, Arrabaca had two axes, three fixed-blade knives, a hammer and a machete.

Two government employees and a civilian, the person going to immigration court, were injured. The Department of Homeland Security, which runs the Federal Protective Service and ICE, said a bystander was grazed by the fireworks. A security officer who tackled Arrabaca sustained minor injuries, the agency said. The New York City Fire Department said one person was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.

“What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media. “I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody.”

The building, where agents have carried out chaotic and sometimes violent arrests in the hallway as migrants leave hearings, is in a cluster of government buildings and courthouses in Lower Manhattan, a few blocks from City Hall, NYPD headquarters and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Security at 26 Federal Plaza was increased dramatically in the 1990s after it was revealed that followers of Egyptian sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman had included the building in a list of five New York City landmarks that were targeted for bombings. A bulletproof security booth was installed and a street outside the building’s parking garage was closed to most vehicular traffic. ___

Stengle reported from Dallas. Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington and Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.

US gas prices back up to an average of $4 a gallon again as the US and Iran launch attacks

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:55:25 +0000

U.S. gas prices jumped back to $4 a gallon on average Monday, as Washington's latest fighting with Iran renews strain on the flow of fuel worldwide.

According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now just above the $4 mark. That's about 13 cents more expensive than it was a week ago, and far higher than where prices at the pump stood at this time last year, when American drivers could fill up for about $3.14 a gallon on average.

The U.S. and Israel's war with Iran plunged the world into a global energy crisis, notably as the cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline — soared due to supply chain and production disruptions across the Middle East.

Energy prices cooled last month when Washington and Tehran reached an interim agreement aimed at permanently ending their fighting and reviving traffic in the key Strait of Hormuz. But that peace deal has now crumbled — with the U.S. on Monday only intensifying airstrikes against Iran, which has responded by launching its own attacks on American allies in the region. And oil flows are largely stalling again.

Many eyes are on the White House. Before co-launching the war in late February, President Donald Trump once bragged about keeping gas prices low — and expressed frustration about them not falling as quickly as the cost of crude oil last month. If prices continue to rebound, expensive gas will likely be at the top of voters' minds during the midterm elections this November.

Here's what we know.

Where gas prices stand today

Again, U.S. gas prices are now back at the $4 mark. But that figure is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now, while others pay less.

California on Monday continued to see the most expensive gas, with an average of nearly $5.50 a gallon — followed by almost $5.42 in Hawaii and $5.01 in Washington state, per AAA. Meanwhile, states like Indiana and Mississippi have averages closer to $3.35 and $3.57, respectively. Prices vary between due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.

Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline, and its cost makes up the bulk of what consumers pay at the pump. There's a bit of a delay because refineries buy crude in advance, and deliveries of that oil take time. But the latest gas prices follow an uptick in oil costs seen over recent weeks. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, swung between roughly $86 to $91 a barrel Monday — compared to closer to $72 at the start of July.

Oil has been volatile throughout the course of the war, with prices soaring more rapidly in the conflict's early days. In March, Brent climbed as high as nearly $120 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. gas prices hit a four-year record of more than $4.50 a gallon in May.

The national average fell to as low as $3.79 a gallon earlier this month. And the latest turnaround is bringing whiplash to some drivers.

“I am down to the last drops of gas,” said Litza Mavrothalasitis, a Chicago resident, when filling her tank on Monday, adding that she was shocked to see how high it had gone up again. “It was just unbelievable. I thought we were finally settling down.”

Jacob Fisher, another Chicago resident who was buying gas on Monday, added that thinking about what's behind these higher fuel costs “makes me angry.”

“Senseless war in Iran, and our current administration is fueling a lot of this — and it’s terrible,” Fisher said. “It is not serving the American people. Nor does it serve anywhere in the entire world.”

White House's response and the road ahead

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement Monday that “oil and gas prices will plummet back to pre-conflict levels” as the U.S. military degrades Iran’s ability to attack vessels and disrupt trade in the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly a fifth of the world's oil sailed through during peacetime.

“President Trump remains committed to unleashing American energy dominance, cutting costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families,” Rogers added.

Still, the escalation of attacks and confusion over future control of Hormuz has fueled uncertainty. All the while, traffic in the key waterway has stalled — with analysts from S&P Global Energy noting Monday that vessel crossings fell 50% last week compared to the week prior.

“The continued predominance of Iran-linked and sanctioned vessels suggests mainstream shipowners remain cautious about transiting the waterway,” the analysts added.

Even if fighting ends, experts have repeatedly warned it could take months, if not longer, for supply chains to return to prewar levels. Last month, S&P Global Energy said it did not expect Persian Gulf oil production to rebound fully until at least the first quarter of 2027.

Gas isn't the only necessity getting more expensive

Beyond gasoline, fuel like diesel — which powers many freight and long-haul trucks — is also back on the rise. On Monday, diesel averaged at nearly $5.11 a gallon in the U.S., per AAA, up from $4.88 just a week ago.

American households have already collectively paid nearly $71.1 billion in extra costs for gas and diesel alone since the war began, according to an online tracker from Brown University’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs.

Beyond pain at the pump, higher fuel prices raise transportation costs across businesses. And shortages of other core necessities — like fertilizer — have also worsened amid the war. Groceries, airline tickets and even goods like condoms and shoes have gotten more expensive in recent months.

Supply shocks have been even starker in places that rely more heavily on imports from the Middle East — notably countries across Asia and Africa.

______

AP journalists Laura Bargfeld in Chicago and Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report.

Tate brothers will fight extradition to the UK. But the law makes it difficult to win

Ed White, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:13:08 +0000

Any extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate from the U.S. to the United Kingdom would ultimately rest with the State Department, but only after a judge determines whether the request complies with the law and a treaty between the countries.

The U.S. has agreed since 2020 to send more than 20 people wanted in the U.K. on various criminal charges, according to the U.K. Parliament. With possible appeals, the process could last a few years — if the accused wants to fight it.

“The government holds all the cards in an extradition proceeding because the rules of evidence allow the government to submit any evidence they wish,” said Jacques Semmelman, a New York-based lawyer and expert in the procedure.

“It is very hard for the defense to defeat an extradition,” he said.

Process starts with a treaty

The U.S. has a treaty that allows it to honor a U.K. extradition request if the alleged crimes would also be considered illegal in the U.S. The Tate brothers are accused of rape, assault, trafficking and other offenses in southeastern England, from 2010 to 2017.

“They’ve never done nothing wrong. They shouldn’t be extradited for crimes they did not commit,” defense attorney Joseph McBride said.

A federal judge will review arrest warrants, investigative documents and other information submitted by the U.S. government to show there was a “reasonable basis” to file charges against them in the U.K., according to the treaty.

The hearing would not be similar to a trial, said Semmelman of the Katten Muchin Rosenman law firm.

“A partial victory might mean a reduction in the charges to be extradited upon,” he said. “An across-the-board victory — no extradition — is very difficult to achieve.”

It's rare to reject extradition

If a judge finds that the U.K. government has met the threshold, and any appeals fail, the final decision to extradite would rest with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has wide discretion, or his successor.

“In most cases the secretary of state will sign the warrant of extradition,” Semmelman said.

Some extradition requests have failed in the U.S. In 2015, a judge said there was insufficient evidence to show that an art dealer knew that an 18th-century painting taken from a Polish museum by the Nazis during World War II was stolen property when he inherited it.

In 2020, during President Donald Trump's first administration, the government declined to turn over an American woman who fatally struck a young man while driving in eastern England. Anne Sacoolas, who was the wife of a U.S. intelligence officer, subsequently returned to the U.S. She later admitted responsibility in a U.K. court by video.

Dallas birthed the booming DFW region. It’s now bleeding people, arenas and companies to the suburbs.

Texas Tribune, Joshua Fechter — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

DALLAS – On Tuesday morning in downtown Dallas, it might have been hard to tell the state’s third largest city has suffered some big-name economic losses.

Colorful street art installed for the FIFA World Cup, which has injected good vibes and camaraderie into the sprawling 8.5 million-person region, adorned car-jammed streets. Employees holding coffee cups passed through the glass front doors of Whitacre Tower, long home to AT&T, like any other day.

But AT&T plans to leave downtown Dallas for a mega-campus in nearby Plano, one of many prominent setbacks the city faces. The Dallas Stars, the city’s National Hockey League franchise, will join them. Though the Dallas Mavericks plan to remain in city limits, the team is also leaving the city’s urban core, opting for a spot closer to the city’s northern, more suburban fringe.

Those departures from in and around downtown follow years of relative stagnation in Dallas. Last year, the city’s population fell for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic — it’s now at 1.3 million people after losing 1,800 residents — while the region and other large Texas cities boomed.

The American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas on Feb. 17, 2026.

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The American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas on Feb. 17, 2026. Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribune

“We’re a bug floating in a sink of water, and for the first time, the water didn’t rise, the water went down a little bit,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. “We need to deal with the fact that the sink has a leak.”

As big names depart for Dallas’ suburbs and its population stagnates, the city’s status as the region’s economic engine could be in serious jeopardy — and the suburbs once birthed by Dallas now hold the cards.

Dallas has long sustained an outflow of people to the surrounding suburbs, driven by perceptions of better schools, attainable housing, public safety and family friendliness. Officials and experts say that Dallas hasn’t built enough housing, which could stanch the bleed, and without efforts to seriously beef up the city’s population growth, observers warn that the city could wind up hollowed out.

“If you start having population decline, then you’re going to have empty housing,” said Lloyd Potter, the state demographer. “When you have empty housing, the property values start going down. If your tax base starts decreasing, you’re going to be hurting pretty bad especially with the kind of infrastructure demands that Dallas has.”

The string of recent losses has fueled an already impassioned debate over whether Dallas should demolish its iconic-but-divisive City Hall downtown in a moonshot bid to spur redevelopment — a bitter fight that has magnified the stresses of the city’s uncertain future as well as its potential reinvention.

Y’all Street development in downtown Dallas on Feb. 17, 2026.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="Y’all Street developments in downtown Dallas on Feb. 17, 2026." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?fit=780%2C624&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?fit=2560%2C2048&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,2048" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/yall-street-developments-in-downtown-dallas-on-feb-17-2026/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" developments="" downtown="" feb.="" height="624" in="" on="" sirivelu="" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=780%2C624&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=300%2C240&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=1024%2C819&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=768%2C614&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=1536%2C1229&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=2048%2C1638&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=1200%2C960&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=2000%2C1600&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=780%2C624&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=800%2C640&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?resize=400%2C320&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260217-Dallas-Downtown-MS-62.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" street="" texas="" the="" tribune","camera":"nikon="" width="100%" z=""/>

Y’all Street development in downtown Dallas on Feb. 17, 2026. Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribune

Signs abound that Dallas could be on the verge of renewed growth, spurring some optimism amid the losses. The city’s burgeoning financial sector, dubbed “Y’all Street,” is on the rise. Pockets of vibrancy exist throughout the city in places like the Bishop Arts District and Lower Greenville. And the urban core is adding residents as developers transform long empty office towers into new residences.

“I don’t think we are going to become that city who bottoms out and has to declare bankruptcy and start over,” Council Member Paula Blackmon said. “Dallas is that can‑do city. We build stuff.”

Civic and business leaders argue the losses are potentially a blip on the way to greater growth. But they acknowledge the city could be more competitive with its neighbors to prevent a growing exodus.

“The city has reinvented itself a number of times over the decades,” said Brad Cheves, who heads the Dallas Regional Chamber. “I think we’re at one of those moments right now, and I think that’s thrilling. We should embrace it as opposed to being fearful of it.”

Flight to the suburbs

This year’s commercial purge started with AT&T, which in January announced it will relocate from downtown to a sprawling, 2.3-million-square-foot campus in suburban Plano — replete with a 280-foot tower resembling downtown Dallas’ distinctive Reunion Tower. Plano officials lured the company with a $20 million incentive package.

Months later, the Stars, the city’s National Hockey League franchise, said it too would move to Plano, setting up shop on the sprawling site of a flagging suburban mall, which the Stars plan to redevelop into a mixed-use development that includes an arena as well as apartments, shops and restaurants.

The move puts the Stars at the center of the region’s growth, Stars CEO Brad Alberts said in an interview. The team’s base of ticketholders is there, and with the growth of cities further north like Celina, Prosper and Anna, they only expect that ticket base to grow, Alberts said.

“Our fans live up this direction, and we’re betting that it’s only going to increase over time,” Alberts said.

The new Aura 3Twenty housing development in McKinney, Texas on Sept. 28, 2025.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="The new Aura 3Twenty housing development in McKinney, Texas on Sept. 28, 2025." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?fit=780%2C624&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?fit=2560%2C2048&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,2048" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/the-new-aura-3twenty-housing-development-in-mckinney-texas-on-sept-28-2025/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" development="" height="624" housing="" in="" mckinney,="" new="" on="" sept.="" sirivelu="" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=780%2C624&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=300%2C240&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=1024%2C819&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=768%2C614&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=1536%2C1229&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=2048%2C1638&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=1200%2C960&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=2000%2C1600&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=780%2C624&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=800%2C640&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?resize=400%2C320&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20250928-Mckinney-File-MS-0005.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" tribune","camera":"nikon="" width="100%" z=""/>

The new Aura 3Twenty housing development in McKinney, Texas, on Sept. 28, 2025. Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribune

While Dallas’ population grew by 2% from 2020 to 2025, the Dallas-Fort Worth region grew by a whopping 10%, driven largely by the suburban explosion, according to Census figures. Six cities in the region — Fort Worth, Celina, McKinney, Frisco, Denton and Princeton — added more residents than Dallas in that span.

Companies “want a safe and secure environment, and they want to make sure that their employees are safe and secure,” said John Muns, mayor of Plano, about the suburban attraction. “They want good education for their employees’ children and they want a qualified workforce.”

And among the state’s five largest cities, Dallas has added the fewest residents since 2020.

Given the city’s growth woes, Dallas housing advocates want city officials to urgently pass a suite of potential reforms to make it easier for developers to build denser, more affordable kinds of housing including townhomes, duplexes and smaller apartment buildings. That would enable the city to absorb more of the region’s growth, advocates posit, while bringing down the city’s housing costs.

For the past five years, Collin, Tarrant and Denton counties have consistently seen more homes permitted per capita than Dallas County, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of Texas A&M University building permit data. Last year, jurisdictions in Dallas County permitted about 4.7 homes for every 1,000 residents. In Collin County, that figure was 14.7. The amount of undeveloped land on the urban fringe has enabled suburbs and exurbs to quickly put up tens of thousands of single-family homes, though the other counties also build more apartments per capita than Dallas County.

“As a city, if we value having our workforce actually live in our city, we need to make it as easy as possible to build good quality housing close to jobs, transit and schools,” said Dallas City Council Member Chad West.

Weak growth has already compounded Dallas’ budget problems, leaving the city with a potential $51 million hole in its upcoming budget. Without enabling more housing, local governments of all stripes will find themselves in an increasing financial bind, putting the rising cost of government services like public safety and infrastructure on a stagnant tax base. If that base doesn’t grow, homeowners and business owners may find themselves paying higher taxes to pay for crucial services.

“If we don’t see some growth, it’s a really bad deal for businesses and homeowners,” Jenkins said.

Downtown dreams

Some see growing downtown Dallas as the road to more robust growth for the city. It’s at the heart of the city and it’s easier to build housing there because residents are less likely to fight it as they might in parts of town dominated by single-family homes.

“If we attract young professionals and people as they move and relocate to North Texas, if we’re competitive as a place to live, we’ll put forth the best chance to retain a robust employment sector,” said Jennifer Scripps, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc., a nonprofit that oversees the area.

The view fro a bed room of an apartment inside Santander Tower in downtown Dallas, on Nov. 07, 2023.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="DallasOfficeConversion" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/dallasofficeconversion-22/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" downtown="" driven="" during="" exclusively="" factors="" for="" glut="" have="" height="520" housing.","created_timestamp":"1699397425","copyright":"photographed="" in="" inside="" into="" loading="lazy" metros="" nov.="" of="" office="" offices="" on="" other="" overbuilding="" pandemic.="" photo","focal_length":"19","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"dallasofficeconversion","orientation":"1","alt":""}"="" remote="" residential="" rise="" room="" santander="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" space="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Office-Conversion-BT-16.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" to="" torres="" tower="" tribune","camera":"nikon="" tribune.="" two="" vacant="" view="" width="100%" work,="" z=""/>

The view from a bedroom of an apartment at Santander Tower in downtown Dallas on Nov. 7, 2023. Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune

Downtown has steadily added residents since 2010, and is now home to about 16,000 residents bolstered by conversions of empty office spaces to apartments, according to a presentation by Downtown Dallas Inc. Those conversions have produced more than 1,100 apartments since 2020, and another 1,975 are in the works, according to CBRE Group Inc., a commercial real estate services and investment firm.

Some think downtown Dallas needs a big jolt to sustain the progress, eying the iconic City Hall, designed by the legendary brutalist architect I.M. Pei, as a site that could potentially serve as a catalyst for new development — if it were razed.

The City Council voted in June to stop making repairs on the building and explore options to relocate, citing estimates that it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to make various repairs to the current building as the city faces a budget crunch.

“We must fight for the city of tomorrow rather than worship decaying, outdated government buildings from bygone eras,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who declined an interview through a spokesperson, said in June.

That opens up the opportunity to help bring life to a long-dormant section of downtown, proponents argue. The area around City Hall is pock-marked by half-empty parking lots and vacant land as well as some low-lying commercial buildings and warehouses.

“City Hall is iconic,” Cheves, the Dallas Regional Chamber head, said. “It’s not historic.”

Dallas City Hall on July 11, 2024.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="Dallas City Hall in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 2024." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/dallas-city-hall-in-dallas-texas-on-july-11-2024-3/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" for="" hall="" height="520" in="" july="" loading="lazy" on="" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" sordo="" sordo","focal_length":"24","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"dallas="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0711-Forward-Dallas-AS-36.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" texas="" the="" tribune","camera":"ilce-7m4","caption":"dallas="" width="100%"/>

Dallas City Hall on July 11, 2024. Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribune

Others aren’t convinced such a move is necessary, and that razing what they see as an architectural gem without a clear plan for what happens to the site after would pose a huge risk.

“It’s our seat of government,” Blackmon said. “You don’t dispose of your seat of government like it is a disposable building.”

It’s possible to reinvigorate downtown Dallas without tearing down City Hall, said Zaida Basora, an architect and co-leader of the Save Dallas City Hall Coalition. A proposal put together by architectural students at the University of Texas at Arlington shows that new high-rises, hotels and arenas could theoretically fit into the section of downtown occupied by City Hall without demolishing the building.

“There’s room for everybody,” Basora said.

Dallas’ name still carries weight

The Dallas name still has power, business groups said. It’s what created the city’s burgeoning financial sector, luring the Texas Stock Exchange and a raft of the country’s biggest financial firms to the city including Goldman Sachs, whose home in Uptown Dallas will become the financial giant’s largest presence outside New York City. Morgan Stanley is weighing a $1.3 billion office tower that would bring 4,800 jobs to Dallas proper.

Boosters see areas where Dallas outshines the suburbs, including in its presence of the arts and neighborhood character that can’t be found in the suburbs.

“We have a diversity of communities and neighborhoods in Dallas that they don’t have in other communities,” said Linda McMahon, executive director of Dallas Economic Development Corporation.

There are also signs that the city’s population is ticking up this year. Population estimates from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the agency in charge of transportation planning for the region, project the city’s population has surpassed 1.4 million as of Jan. 1.

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas in 2022. The convention center is getting a $3.8 billion renovation.

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The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas in 2022. The convention center is getting a major renovation. Kylie Cooper for The Texas Tribune

Signs of vitality, too, abound. Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is undergoing a $3.8 billion overhaul. A half mile away, the Dallas Farmers Market boasts more than 1,800 apartments and 200 townhomes as well as restaurants and shops.

The city’s newest deck park, the name for a greenspace built over a freeway, opened in May in southern Dallas over a portion of Interstate 35. Since then, the 2.8-acre Halperin Park has hosted a Fourth of July celebration along with musical performances and classes.

The park came about as a way to restitch a community divided when the highway was first constructed and bring renewed vibrancy to the community, said April Allen, who led the effort to build the park and now oversees it. The hope is that the park is also a proving ground for development in southern Dallas, which has long gone underdeveloped.

Allen said she’s bullish on Dallas.

“I don’t think the future of our city is going to be decided by whoever’s leaving,” Allen said. “It’s really going to be shaped by the people that are here, the places that we’re investing in, and the momentum that we’re creating.”

Officials and the city’s boosters admit that the city needs to be proactive to sustain the momentum Allen speaks of and to offset the big-name economic departures and population drop. Waiting-and-seeing is what can kill cities.

”We don’t want to wait 10 or 15 years to where we’re circling the drain to deal with it,” Jenkins said.

Cars drive on Interstate 35 East with the downtown Dallas skyline in the distance on July 27, 2025.

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Cars drive on Interstate 35 East with the downtown Dallas skyline in the distance on July 27, 2025. Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune

Disclosure: AT&T, Goldman Sachs, Linda McMahon and Texas A&M University 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.

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