The Labor Department's consumer price index rose 3.8% from April 2025, according to data released Tuesday. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 0.6% from March as gasoline prices rose 5.4% during the month; the month-over-month gain was down from 0.9% increase from February to March.

Labor Department figures showed that gasoline prices are up more than 28% compared with a year ago. However, the AAA motor club listed the average regular gallon of gasoline above $4.50 on Tuesday, about 44% more than it cost last year at this time.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called consumer core prices rose 0.4% last month from March and 2.8% from April 2025, relatively modest readings that suggest the energy price burst has yet to spill over more broadly into other prices.

Grocery prices rose 0.7% from March to April as meat prices rose. Those prices had retreated slightly the month before.

“Inflation is the key drag on the U.S. economy now,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union wrote. “There is a real financial squeeze underway. For the first time in three years, inflation is eating up all wage gains. This is a setback for middle-class and lower-income households and they know it. They are having to cut back on spending and stretch every dollar.”

In April, average hourly wages fell 0.3% from a year earlier after accounting for inflation – the first year-over-year drop in three years.

Inflation had been dropping more or less steadily since peaking with a 9.1% year-over-year spike in prices in June 2022, a surge caused by supply chain bottlenecks at the end of COVID-19 lockdowns and an energy price shock following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

Then, the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, and Tehran responded by shutting off access to the Gulf of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Energy prices rocketed in response.

The Fed, which had been expected to cut its benchmark interest rates in 2026, has turned cautious as it waits to see how long conflict lasts and whether higher energy prices spill over into other products and cause a broader inflationary outbreak.

President Donald Trump has lambasted the Fed and its outgoing chair, Jerome Powell, for refusing to slash rates to boost the economy. Kevin Warsh, the president’s hand-picked choice to succeed Powell, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate this week; but it’s unclear whether Warsh would pursue lower rates given the uncertainties arising from the war — or whether he could persuade his colleagues on the Fed’s rate-setting committee to go along if he tried.

Some companies are also starting to feel the pain. For example, Whirlpool, which makes KitchenAid and Maytag appliances, reported last week that revenue dropped nearly 10% in its most recent quarter and said that the war has caused a “recession-level industry decline″ that has undermined consumer confidence.

Grace King, 31 of Ames, Iowa, said that higher prices in the food aisle and at the pump are making her cut back on spending for things like clothing. The administrative assistant used to spend $200 per month on clothing, mostly on Amazon, but not anymore.

"There’s pressure basically everywhere from the groceries that I buy to the gas to fill up the tank,” she said.” I’ve severely cut back on my frill spending.”

For example, King noted that while it’s only a five minute drive to work, she makes the trip twice a day. And if she needs to do any big shopping, that’s a 40-minute drive to malls in Des Moines, Iowa.

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AP Retail Writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this story.

For this part, the Pentagon chief softened his tone from previous hearings on Capitol Hill in his opening remarks, which notably lacked criticism of lawmakers and outlined the Trump administration’s efforts to expand the military’s industrial base.

The powerful House and Senate subcommittees that oversee defense spending are holding back-to-back hearings to review the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which calls for a historic allocation of $1.5 trillion. The discussions in the House quickly veered into the handling of a war that appears locked in a stalemate as higher fuel prices pose political problems for Republicans in the midterm congressional elections.

Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, told Hegseth that the "question must be answered at the end of this crisis: What have we accomplished and at what cost?”

“This administration has not presented Congress with any kind of clear or coherent strategy week to week, day to day, hour to hour," DeLauro said. "The rationale shifts, the objectives change. The end game is ill defined when it is defined at all.”

California Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, the House subcommittee's chair, also asked about the impact of the Iran war on funding as well as the U.S. military's weapons stockpiles.

“Questions persist about whether we are building the depth and reliance required for a high end conflict,” Calvert said.

“The world has grown more dangerous, more complex, and more interconnected in its risks," Calvert said. "China is modernizing its military at a pace and scale that is alarming. Russia continues to wage a brutal war of aggression. And while Iran and their proxies have been dealt a severe blow, they remain a threat.”

Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, asked for a breakdown of funding needs for the Iran war.

“We’ve asked several times for a complete update on munitions levels, and it has not been provided,” she said.

McCollum also pressed Hegseth on whether the U.S. military has a plan to draw down troops if Congress passes a war powers resolution to end the conflict.

Hegseth said the military has a plan to pull out, but also to escalate or shift assets if necessary.

“But certainly in this setting, we wouldn’t reveal what the next step may be, considering the gravity of of the mission that the president is undertaking to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear bomb,” Hegseth said.

The defense secretary also said that concerns over the military's weapons stockpiles, drawn down from the Iran war, have been “unhelpfully overstated.”

“We know exactly what we have. We have plenty of what we need,” Hegseth told lawmakers.

He said the defense industry has been told to "build more and build faster,” while blaming the military industrial base's inadequate capacity on previous administrations and U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

“We are rebuilding a military that the American people can be proud of, one that instills nothing less than the unrelenting fear in our adversaries and confidence in our allies,” Hegseth said.

President Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure from the economic shocks of Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor where 20% of the world's oil normally flows. The U.S. military in turn has blockaded Iranian ports and the two sides have traded fire, with American forces thwarting attacks on their warships and disabling Tehran-linked oil tankers.

Trump said Monday that the ceasefire is on “massive life support” and criticized Iran for its latest proposal, pointing to his demands that Iran significantly limit its nuclear program.

“I would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us,” Trump said.

The Republican president also said he wanted to suspend the federal gas tax to help Americans shoulder surging fuel prices. He has previously said higher costs are worth it to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Tuesday's hearings will give a mostly new group of lawmakers the chance to grill or applaud Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the planning and execution of the war.

That includes Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican whose reelection this year is far from guaranteed. She voted with Democrats on an effort to halt the conflict late last month, saying she wants to see a defined strategy for bringing the war to a close.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, another Republican on the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, has voted against the string of unsuccessful war powers resolutions but spoken of the need for congressional authorization so Americans will know the war’s limits and objectives.

Hegseth and Caine had faced marathon hearings two weeks ago before the House and Senate Armed Services committees, which mostly traced the well-worn positions of both parties.

In the previous hearings, Hegseth notably said the ceasefire paused a 60-day deadline for congressional approval of the war, which is required under the 1973 War Powers Act. The U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, while the fragile truce began April 8.

Hegseth's reasoning faced pushback from Democrats and will likely encounter similar criticism Tuesday. But he will face plenty of friendly Republicans, including the Senate subcommittee's chair, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and perhaps the Iran war's biggest booster in Congress, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Hegseth and Caine are expected to outline the proposed defense budget and stress the need for more drones, warships and missile defense systems whose stocks have been drawn down during the conflict.

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Barrow reported from Atlanta.

President Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure from the economic shocks of Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor where 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. Trump said Monday that the ceasefire is on “massive life support” and criticized Iran for its latest proposal, pointing to his demands that Iran significantly limit its nuclear program.

Here's the latest:

The cost of the Iran War climbs to nearly $29 billion

The Pentagon’s top budget official told Congress the Defense Department now believes the cost of Operation Epic Fury is “closer to $29 (billion).”

Jules Hurst, the Pentagon comptroller, told Congress in testimony Tuesday that the estimate has climbed from the $25 billion he provided lawmakers nearly two weeks ago “because of updated repair and replacement of equipment ... and also just general operational costs.”

Hegseth claims reports of munition shortages are ‘overstated’

In response to lawmakers arguing the U.S. military is facing issues in replenishing the bombs and missiles it has expended in the war with Iran, Hegseth said the Pentagon is “well aware of all those dynamics.”

“The munitions issue has been foolishly and unhelpfully overstated,” Hegseth claimed before adding “we know exactly what we have, we have plenty of what we need.”

The comments come just days after Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly told “Face the Nation” on Sunday that it’s “shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines.”

Hegseth fired back on social media saying Kelly was “blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a (asterisk)CLASSIFIED(asterisk) Pentagon briefing he received.”

Hegseth sidesteps question about scaling back the Iran war

The defense secretary wouldn’t say anything specific about the next steps in Iran.

“We have a plan to escalate if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets,” Hegseth told the subcommittee.

He was responding to Rep. Betty McCollum, the panel’s ranking Democrat, asking whether the administration has a “Plan B” to scale back operations.

US consumer prices rise 3.8% as Iran war sends energy prices higher

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its consumer price index rose 3.8% from April 2025. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 0.6% from March as gasoline prices rose 5.4%.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called consumer core prices rose 0.4% last month from March and 2.8% from April 2025, relatively modest readings that suggest the energy price burst isn’t spilling over much yet into other prices.

Inflation had been dropping more or less steadily since peaking with a 9.1% year-over-year spike in prices in June 2022, a surge caused by supply chain bottlenecks at the end of COVID-19 lockdowns and an energy price shock following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

Then, the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, and Tehran responded by shutting off access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Energy prices rocketed in response.

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Defense Secretary Hegseth defends ‘historic’ budget request

Hegseth said the “admittedly a historic budget” the Pentagon is requesting from Congress is “a fiscally responsible budget, and it is a warfighting budget.”

Hegseth argued that the Trump administration inherited a defense industrial base that had been “hollowed out by years of America last policies, resulting in a diminished capability and capacity to project strength.”

However, in contrast with his Congressional testimony two weeks ago, Hegseth struck a much softer tone and did not personally criticize lawmakers in his initial remarks.

Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, specifically noted that “it was disappointing that you referred to members of both parties as defeatist” in previous testimony.

“I will not question your patriotism, nor will you question mine,” she added.

The defense secretary said the $1.5 trillion request also includes a large troop pay increase and “eliminates all poor or failing barracks” while investing heavily in projects championed by President Trump such as the Golden Dome and Golden Fleet.

House Appropriations Committee chair subtly pushes against Trump approach

Rep. Tom Cole, the top Republican on the powerful House money committee, added his concerns about Trump’s approach on the world stage, saying “America First has never meant American alone.”

“American power is most effective when it’s exercised in concert with like minded nations who share our interests and our values,” the chairman said in his opening remarks.

He added an endorsement of NATO as a “critical pillar of collective defense” in the world.

“American strength is not diminished when allies shoulder their share,” he said. “It’s multiplied, and we must continue to sharpen our strategic advantages.”

Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, did not explicitly mention the president or his criticism of NATO and traditional U.S. allies. But his remarks stood as a clear contrast to Trump’s statements and approach.

Top Republican and Democrat open with concerns about Pentagon strategy

Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert, a California Republican, and Ranking Member Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, opened the hearing expressing bipartisan worry over the Pentagon’s budget requests, especially to fund the Iran war.

They repeated their request that the Trump administration offer a more detailed breakout of what the war costs and how the Pentagon would spend any budget increase.

“The subcommittee needs to understand how the resources requested in this budget translates into real, measurable improvements in warfighting capability,” Calvert said, adding that he has “serious concerns” about the request.

“Questions persist about whether we are building the depth and reliance required for a high end conflict,” he said.

McCollum noted that lawmakers have “asked several times for a complete update on ammunition levels, and it has not been provided.”

Lawmakers begin hearing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine

The House Appropriations’ defense subcommittee has opened its Tuesday session to hear from President Trump’s top advisers on the Iran war.

The hearing is part of a series of congressional budget deliberations. The Pentagon is asking for $1.5 trillion for fiscal 2027, a roughly 44% increase from the current U.S. defense budget.

Hegseth has had contentious exchanges with Democrats in recent appearances on the Hill. But he’s been a staunch defender of the Iran war even as public opinion sours on the conflict.

Trump is getting another medical checkup at the end of May, the White House says

Trump is scheduled to see doctors for a medical and dental checkup this month — his fourth publicized visit to medical experts since returning to office — in what the White House describes as an annual physical and regular preventive care.

Trump, who turns 80 next month and was the oldest person elected U.S. president, will see his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26, the White House said in a brief statement Monday evening.

The president’s health has been the subject of tremendous scrutiny, so much so that Trump said he regretted getting imaging on his heart and abdomen last year because it raised public questions about his health.

Trump has recently remarked how good he feels despite his years. Earlier Monday, Trump that he feels the same as he did 50 years ago. “I feel literally the same,” he said at an Oval Office event. “I don’t know why. It’s not because I eat the best foods.”

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Supreme Court halts order for Alabama to use US House map with 2 largely Black districts

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday set the stage for Alabama to eliminate one of two largely Black congressional districts before this year’s midterm elections, creating an opening for Republicans to gain an additional U.S. House seat in a partisan battle for control of the closely divided chamber.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling in April that struck down a majority-Black U.S. House district in Louisiana as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, significantly weakening a provision of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Alabama officials had pointed to the Louisiana case as a reason for the Supreme Court to end a judicial order to use a court-imposed House map until after the 2030 census. The high court on Monday overturned that order and directed a lower court to reconsider the case in light of the Louisiana decision. That could free the state to instead use a map approved in 2023 by the Republican-led legislature that includes only one district where Black residents comprise a majority.

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Trump and Xi appear intent on keeping deep differences over Iran war from overshadowing China summit

Trump is set to leave Tuesday for Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping after weeks of trying, and failing, to persuade the Chinese government to use its considerable leverage to prod Iran to agree to U.S. terms to end the two-month war, or at the very least, reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has veered between venting that China, the world’s biggest buyer of Iranian oil, hasn’t done more to get the Islamic Republic in line, and acknowledging that Xi’s government helped de-escalate the conflict last month by nudging Tehran back to ceasefire talks when negotiations wobbled.

But ahead of the U.S. leader’s high-stakes visit, the White House has set low expectations that Trump will be able to persuade Xi to change China’s posture.

Instead, the administration seems determined not to let differences on Iran overshadow efforts to make headway on other difficult matters in the complicated relationship — ranging from trade to further Chinese cooperation to block exports of fentanyl precursors.

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Andriy Yermak is suspected in an alleged 460-million-hryvnia ($10.5 million) money-laundering scheme, the agencies announced late Monday.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy met with the CEO of Palantir Technologies, part of Ukraine’s growing cooperation with the U.S. defense sector, as a three-day U.S.-brokered ceasefire that decreased the fighting but failed to stop it altogether ended Monday.

Russia’s invasion of its neighbor is now in its fifth year, with no sign of a peace settlement within reach.

Graft investigation embarrasses Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.

The move is a step short of formally charging Yermak, who resigned in November. He was the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the U.S and left during the scandal that brought the biggest threat to Zelenskyy’s government since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The investigation is deeply embarrassing for the Ukrainian leader as he pushes for his country’s admission to the European Union, a process that will likely take years. Endemic corruption is one of the obstacles slowing Ukraine’s admission.

Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council and a key negotiator in U.S. diplomatic peace efforts, has been questioned and is a witness in the case revolving around a luxury real estate development near the capital, prosecutors told a media briefing in Kyiv.

Several other senior officials, including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, are “implicated” in the case, according to the prosecutors, as is prominent Ukrainian businessman Tymur Mindich.

The graft investigation also involves suspected wrongdoing in Ukraine’s energy sector, the defense industry, and the procurement of drones and other military equipment, they said.

Yermak was a trusted confidant of Zelenskyy, who resisted persistent pressure to replace him, and a powerful figure in the government. Investigators searched his home in November.

Zelenskyy made no public comment on the anti-graft agencies’ announcement, but his press officer, Dmytro Lytvyn, said: “The investigation is ongoing, it’s early to draw conclusions.”

Yermak’s attorney, Ihor Fomin, called the suspicion notice groundless and denied his client’s involvement in the alleged laundering of 460 million hryvnias through an elite construction project outside Kyiv.

“In my view, this entire situation has been provoked by public pressure,” Fomin said in an interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne.

A decision on whether to bring formal charges against Yermak could still take months.

Zelenskyy holds talks with CEO of US firm Palantir

Zelenskyy said Tuesday he met in Kyiv with Alex Karp, as part of Ukraine’s growing cooperation with the U.S. defense sector.

The Ukrainian leader said in a social media post that Ukraine and Palantir “can be useful to each other.”

“We discussed directions of technological development both in the context of combat operations and civilian needs,” Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app.

Palantir Technologies is an artificial intelligence software company that helps global defense agencies. It specializes in software platforms that collate and analyze large volumes of data and has partnered with Ukraine for several years.

AI can help combatants quickly sift and decipher a huge volume of battlefield information, enabling more accurate attacks, among other things.

Ukraine Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said after meeting with Karp that cooperation with the company is giving Ukraine a technological edge in the war.

It has enabled detailed analysis of air attacks, AI solutions for handling large volumes of reconnaissance data, and the integration of technology in the planning of Ukraine’s deep-strike operations on Russian soil, Fedorov said on Telegram.

Also, Ukraine and Palantir have created a platform for developers to get battlefield data to train AI models, with more than 100 companies currently involved, he said.

Russia launches strikes on Ukraine after relative lull

Ukraine offered to extend the pause in hostilities, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said. But he reported Tuesday that Russia launched over 200 drones against Ukraine overnight, striking civilian infrastructure and killing at least one person and wounding another six.

“It is time to strengthen our positions and force Moscow to end the war,” Sybiha said on X. Russian President Vladimir Putin “must realize that it will only get worse for him.”

Western analysts say Ukraine’s battlefield position has recently improved as it deploys cutting-edge drone technology to hold Russia’s bigger army at bay.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted 30 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions on the border with Ukraine.

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Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.

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

Host city Vienna has been bedecked in hearts and the contest’s “United by Music” motto for a week in which singers and bands from 35 countries will compete onstage for the continent’s musical crown. But five countries — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — are boycotting to protest Israel's inclusion.

Several pro-Palestinian demonstrations are planned in Vienna during Eurovision week, and security is tight, with police officers from across Austria deployed in the capital, and support from forces in neighboring Germany.

Last month a 21-year-old Austrian man accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group pleaded guilty to plotting to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024, and the head of Austria’s DSN intelligence service, Sylvia Mayer, said “the terror threat posed by Islamist terror groups, as well as Iran-affiliated groups, is still at a high level.”

Israel aiming for the Eurovision final

Israeli singer Noam Bettan is among 15 acts competing for votes from viewers and national juries in Tuesday’s semifinal at the Wiener Stadthalle arena. The top 10 will go through to Saturday’s grand final, along with 10 from Thursday’s second semifinal. The U.K., France, Germany and Italy automatically qualify because they are among the contest’s biggest funders. Austria, last year’s winner, goes through to the final as host country.

Bettan is seeking to get Israel, which came second in 2025, into Saturday’s final with the ballad “Michelle.” Like last year’s Israeli competitor, Yuval Raphael, he has practiced singing while being booed.

Hoping to cement its status as bookmakers’ favorite is Finland, with the intense “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”) by violinist Linda Lampenius and pop singer Pete Parkkonen.

Other competitors in Tuesday’s semifinal include Greece’s Akylas with fan-favorite party-rap track “Ferto” (“Bring It”); Portuguese quintet Bandidos do Cante with the soulful “Rosa”; and singer Senhit, representing tiny San Marino with “Superstar,” a party anthem featuring a guest appearance by Boy George.

Long a forum for good-natured — and sometimes more pointed — national rivalries, Eurovision has found it hard to separate pop and politics in recent years. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden, and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, saw pro-Palestinian protests that called for Israel to be expelled over its conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza and allegations it ran a rule-breaking marketing campaign to get votes for its contestant.

The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, has toughened voting rules in response to the vote-rigging allegations, halving the number of votes per person to 10 and tightening safeguards against “suspicious or coordinated voting activity.”

But the EBU declined to kick Israel out, spurring five countries to announce in December that they would not participate this year.

Protesters urge artists to withdraw

At a press conference on Tuesday the group No Music for Genocide urged participants to pull out of the contest.

“Israel will not withdraw. The Austrian government will not have Israel removed from the competition, from the Song Contest. So I think it is a moral obligation for each and every artist to take action and step away from the competition,” said Congolese-Austrian activist Patrick Bongola, a member of the group.

Israel strongly denies committing genocide in Gaza. Demonstrations in support of the country's participation are also planned this week in Vienna.

The five-country boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year. Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania have returned after skipping the event for artistic or financial reasons in recent years, but the number of participants, at 35, is still the lowest since 2003.

Jonathan Hendrickx, a media researcher at the University of Copenhagen, said any more boycotts will stress the structure of the contest and raise doubts if the very show can still go on as usual.

“They really are at their limits now, in terms of what they can handle with the current format,” Hendrickx said.

Dean Vuletic, the author of “Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest,” is confident Eurovision can weather the latest storms.

“We’ll see demonstrations, but we’ll also see a lot of colorful events going on which will really represent what Eurovision is about, which is bringing Europeans together,” he said.

“If you look at the history of Eurovision, it’s gone through so many crises, so many political challenges, so many geopolitical changes in Europe, and it’s always managed to survive.”

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Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed to this story.

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For more coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/eurovision-song-contest

Trump has veered between venting that China, the world’s biggest buyer of Iranian oil, hasn't done more to get the Islamic Republic in line and acknowledging that Xi's government helped de-escalate the conflict last month by nudging Tehran back to ceasefire talks when negotiations wobbled.

But ahead of the U.S. leader's high-stakes visit, the White House has set low expectations that Trump will be able to persuade Xi to change China's posture.

Instead, Trump's Republican administration seems determined not to let differences on Iran overshadow efforts to make headway on other difficult matters in the complicated relationship — ranging from trade to further Chinese cooperation to block exports of fentanyl precursors.

“We don’t want this to be something that derails the broader relationship or the agreements that might come out of our meeting in Beijing,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Bloomberg TV last week.

US administration sanctioned China ahead of the trip

Beijing publicly insists that it wants to see the war end and has been working diplomatically behind the scenes to help its ally Pakistan push to broker a peace agreement. It has also sent a “subtle message of discontent to Iran” for closing the Strait of Hormuz and to the U.S. for its blockade of Iranian shipping, said Ahmed Aboudouh, a specialist on China’s influence in the Middle East with the London-based Chatham House think tank.

“They are very cautious, risk averse, and they don’t want to be involved in anything that would drag them into something that they don’t consider their problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kuwait on Tuesday accused Iran of dispatching an armed paramilitary Revolutionary Guard team to launch a failed attack earlier this month on an island in the Middle East nation that is home to a China-funded port project. Iran didn’t immediately acknowledge the allegation by Kuwait, which came under repeated attack by Iran in the war and even during the shaky ceasefire still holding in the region.

In recent days, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have stepped up their calls for China to use its influence to help reopen the strait, through which about 20% of the world's crude flowed before the war began.

The State Department announced on Friday it was sanctioning four entities, including three China-based firms, for providing sensitive satellite imagery that enables Iranian military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Earlier, the Treasury Department moved to target Chinese oil refineries accused of buying oil from Tehran, as well as shippers of the oil. The sanctions cut off the companies from the U.S. financial system and penalize anyone who does business with them.

Beijing has called the sanctions “illegal unilateral pressure” and enacted a blocking statute — passed in 2021 and never used until now — that prohibits any Chinese entity from recognizing or complying with the sanctions.

Ahead of Trump's arrival, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week hosted his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Beijing. The Chinese foreign minister used the moment to defend Iran’s right to develop civilian nuclear energy.

Xi has also offered implicit criticism of the U.S. over the war. He has said that safeguarding international rule of law is paramount, adding it “must not be selectively applied or disregarded,” nor should the world be allowed to revert “to the law of the jungle.”

China and the US want to avoid a return to a tariff war

Trump on Monday downplayed differences with China over Iran and underscored that Xi wants to see the strait reopened. “He’d like to see it get done,” Trump said of the Chinese leader.

Like Trump, Xi also has plenty of reason to not let differences over Iran impact other facets of the relationship, analysts say. China imports about half of its crude oil and almost one-third of its liquefied natural gas from Middle Eastern countries affected by the closure of the strait, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.

Beijing wants to guard against further deterioration of the U.S.-China relationship — something that would add further challenges to its economy.

“(Xi) wants the summit to validate China’s superpower status, preserve the tariff predictability, and to reaffirm that Washington has to deal with Beijing on Beijing’s terms," said Craig Singleton, senior director for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ China program

Yet, since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, there have been difficult moments between Trump and Xi that threatened to set back the relative stability in their relationship.

China has long supported Iran’s ballistic missile program and backed it with dual-use industrial components that can be used for missile production, according to the U.S. government.

Last month, Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on China after reports that Beijing was preparing to deliver a shipment of new air defense systems to Iran, but he later backed away from the threat, claiming that he had received written assurance from Xi that he would not provide Tehran with weaponry. Days later, Trump said cryptically that the U.S. Navy had intercepted a Chinese vessel carrying a “gift” for Iran. He has not offered further explanation.

Both Trump and Xi may be eager to avoid creating dark economic clouds, as they did last year, when the two powers appeared on the precipice of a massive trade war.

Trump had set tariffs on Chinese goods at 145%, and China announced a further tightening of rare-earth export controls that would have hurt U.S. industry — before the governments backed off from inflicting maximalist penalties on each other. The two sides reached a fragile truce in their long-running trade disputes in October.

Trump and other administration officials have made the case that the Iran conflict — particularly the closure of the strait — has caused greater harm to China and its Pacific neighbors than it has to the United States, which is far less dependent on Middle East oil and has an export-driven economy.

“You can’t buy from them if you can’t ship it there, and you can’t buy from them if your economy is being destroyed by what Iran is doing,” Rubio told reporters last week, making the case that it was in China’s interest for Iran to let traffic resume.

But for now, China has shown little interest in wading deeper into the conflict and has appeared reluctant to be seen siding with Washington.

“It will be difficult to get the Chinese deeply involved under any circumstances,” said Kurt Campbell, a former deputy secretary of state during President Joe Biden's Democratic administration and chair of The Asia Group. “They will want to be careful because they can see political quicksand as well as the next guy.”

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Associated Press writers Didi Tang in Washington, Adam Schreck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Dozens of Labour lawmakers are calling on Starmer to resign, though several ministers publicly spoke of their support for Starmer as they left a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The prime minister has insisted he has no intention of resigning. Starmer could be forced out if one-fifth of sitting Labour lawmakers, or at least 80 or them, agree to back a lawmaker to challenge him. So far, no formal leadership challenge has been triggered.

In a blow to Starmer, a junior minister became the first member of his government to quit on Tuesday.

Here's the latest:

Another minister resigns

Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for tackling violence against women and girls, wrote in a letter to Starmer to “act in the country’s interest and set out a timetable for your departure.”

She called Starmer a “good and honest man,” but described the scale of Labour’s defeat at last week’s local elections as “catastrophic.”

“The country has spoken and we must listen,” she wrote. “We waited fourteen years to get into power and change the lives of those we represent. The time now is for bold, radical action.”

“We have needed to do more and therefore it is with a very heavy heart that I feel I have no choice but to resign,” she said.

Second minister resigns from Keir Starmer’s government

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has lost a second member of his government amid a growing chorus of Labour Party members to resign.

Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, announced her resignation in a letter Tuesday.

“I think you are a good man fundamentally, who cares about the right things,” she wrote. “However I have seen first-hand how that is not enough.”

“I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter,” she added. “I want a Labour government to work and I will strive as I always have for its success and popularity, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.”

The king’s speech

The political crisis engulfing Starmer’s government comes just hours ahead of the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.

King Charles III will deliver the King’s Speech to mark the beginning of a new parliamentary year. The speech, which is written by officials but read out by the monarch, will set out the government’s legislative agenda for the coming months.

“As far as I’m aware, the King’s Speech is going ahead tomorrow,” Starmer’s chief secretary, Darren Jones, said.

Growing number of lawmakers demand Starmer stand down

At least 80 out of Labour’s 403 lawmakers have now demanded the prime minister stand down, or at least set out a timetable for his departure, after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections last week.

However, so far no Labour lawmaker has announced they will challenge Starmer for the leadership.

What to know about contenders who could replace Starmer as Britain’s Labour leader

While there is no clear frontrunner to replace Starmer, here are some of the leading contenders for the top job:

1. Wes Streeting - The health secretary is widely regarded as one of the government’s best communicators and has led on one of its key pledges, improving the creaky National Health Service.

2. Angela Rayner - the former deputy prime minister has long set herself apart as a different kind of politician with a compelling personal story. She was brought up in social housing and left school at 16 as a teen mother.

3. Andy Burnham - The former cabinet minister has long been seen as a potential rival for Starmer. But his leadership prospects were dented after Labour blocked him from standing as the party’s candidate for Parliament.

4. Ed Miliband - The energy secretaryis a former Labour leader, but his five years at the top of the party ended in the party’s 2015 election defeat.

5. Shabana Mahmood - The home secretary has become a favorite of many on the right of the Labour Party with her moves to tighten border controls and crack down on immigration.

British minister says ‘cabinet united’ around Starmer

A cabinet member in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government said there was no direct challenge to his leadership at Tuesday’s meeting.

Jenny Chapman, minister of international development, said she did not think Starmer’s authority had been destroyed by dozens of Labour Party members calling for him to step down.

“That’s not what I have just seen around the Cabinet table,” she told reporters outside 10 Downing St. “I saw a Cabinet united and focused on dealing with the issues that are confronting the British people.”

UK health secretary ignores shouted questions

U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, long believed to be preparing for a leadership challenge against U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, didn’t comment as he left the Cabinet meeting at Downing Street.

“Wes Streeting, do you want the job, or not?” one person yelled from across the street. “Are you measuring the curtains?”

He was among senior ministers who dodged a barrage of shouted questions from a scrum of reporters gathered outside.

Starmer showing ‘steadfast leadership,’ Cabinet minister says

U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle has voiced support for embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer is showing “really steadfast leadership,” Kyle told reporters as he left the Cabinet meeting.

Kyle says the meeting discussed the economy and issues facing society. He said that he was on his way to Brussels to deepen the U.K. relationship with the European Union — one of the goals Starmer announced Monday as he delivered a speech aimed at winning back support.

No one has made a leadership challenge yet, official says

A U.K. official says that nobody had yet made a challenge to the leadership of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“The prime minister talked about the challenges we faced as a country, the crisis in the Middle East and the impact on the cost of living here,” Liz Kendall, the secretary of science, innovation and technology, told reporters as she left a Cabinet meeting.

“This government will do what we were elected to do, which is serve the British people. The prime minister has my full support in this,” Kendall said.

“There is a process to challenge the leader. Nobody has made that challenge,” she said.

Treasury chief pulls out of business event

U.K. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves won’t be taking part in a London risk summit that she was due to appear at after attending a Cabinet meeting.

Her place will be taken by Treasury minister Lucy Rigby.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is in turmoil as dozens of Labour Party lawmakers joined calls for him to quit, after poor local election results for the party last week.

UK housing secretary urges support for Starmer

Housing Secretary Steve Reed has urged Labour Party colleagues to support Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he faces calls to step down.

Reed posted a message on social media during a meeting of Starmer’s Cabinet.

“This is not a game,” Reed said on X. “This instability has consequences for people’s lives. The people who will be hurt most will be those that elected us less than two years ago. We must unite behind the Prime Minister.”

Treasury chief pulls out of business event

The Treasury confirmed that Rachel Reeves has pulled out of a London risk summit she was expected to take part in after attending a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Her place will be taken by Treasury minister Lucy Rigby.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is in turmoil as dozens of his Labour Party lawmakers joined calls for him to quit Tuesday.

Starmer resolves to stay in office

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer doubled down Tuesday on his resolve to stay in office, despite calls to step down.

Starmer told Cabinet ministers that he took responsibility for devastating losses that his center-left Labour Party suffered in last week’s local elections across the U.K., but he would fight on.

Starmer said there’s a process to oust a leader and that hadn’t been triggered.

“The country expects us to get on with governing,” he said. ”That is what I am doing and what we must do.”

Junior minister quits UK government

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer lost the first member of his government Tuesday as he faced pressure to step down following losses in local elections.

Housing, communities and local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh stepped down and urged Starmer “to do the right thing for the country” and set a timetable to step aside.

Fahnbulleh, a junior minister who is considered to be on the left of the party, said that she was proud of her service, but that the government hadn't acted with the vision, pace and mandate for change it had been given by voters.

How Starmer could be replaced

The next U.K. national election doesn’t have to be held until 2029, but British politics allows parties to change leader midterm without the need for a general election.

If it comes to it, the simplest option would be for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to announce his intention to resign, triggering an election for the Labour leadership. A resignation announcement could possibly come if members of his Cabinet tell Starmer in their regular meeting on Tuesday that he has lost too much support within the party.

If Starmer doesn’t resign, he could face a challenge from one or more Labour lawmakers.

The 81-year-old was sworn in Tuesday for a seventh consecutive term to extend his presidency over a further five years that may well be his last — although not necessarily for the Museveni family.

Army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president's son and presumptive heir, oversaw dayslong rehearsals of the military parade that animated the inauguration of Museveni, with Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets flying noisily over official ceremonial grounds in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

Museveni took the oath of office and received the ceremonial instruments of power while being cheered by thousands attending the event in the Kampala suburb of Kololo. The president urged Ugandans to work hard and build wealth for their families, citing the stories of individuals whose entrepreneurial spirit had paid off.

“No more excuses,” he said.

Many Ugandans now accept that Museveni’s presidency — the only one that many millions of them have known — is nearing its end.

What remains uncertain is the nature of the transition and how orderly things would be in the time he has left in office.

Two possible routes to the top

Kainerugaba looks poised to take over. He has declared his wish to succeed his father and said recently that the mission is unstoppable.

Still, his path is narrow and could follow one of two ways: either a bloodless but unconstitutional takeover by Kainerugaba or a constitutional amendment that allows lawmakers with the ruling party — which has an overwhelming majority — to pick him as Museveni’s successor. An electoral win is seen as a hurdle too high for Kainerugaba, whose challengers would include opposition leader Bobi Wine, the popular entertainer who has twice run for president and rejected the outcome of the January election that gave Museveni his next term.

Anita Among, the parliamentary speaker, said last month that legislators would do everything possible to assist Kainerugaba in his pursuit of the presidency.

“For the sake of MK, just assure MK that we will do whatever it takes,” Among told a group of lawmakers celebrating the general's birthday, mentioning Kainerugaba's initials. “In the 11th parliament, the opposition got swallowed. In the 12th parliament, it is going to be walloped.”

In addition to the speaker, many other leaders have been scampering to show allegiance to Kainerugaba. While their moves display a quest for political survival, they also underscore Kainerugaba’s rise as Uganda’s de facto leader as his father ages and relies more on the army chief to exercise authority.

“Many Ugandans close to power have learned this lesson. That the president is old and exhausted, both intellectually and physically,” Andrew Mwenda, a close ally and friend of Kainerugaba, wrote last month in The Independent online newspaper. “He has a limited ability to monitor many things across a large spectrum of sectors.”

Kainerugaba, 52, joined the army in the late 1990s, and his rise to the top of the armed forces has been controversial, with critics dubbing it the “Muhoozi Project” to prepare him for the presidency.

Museveni and Kainerugaba denied the existence of such a scheme, but it has become apparent in the last two years that hereditary rule is possibly what the president prefers.

Museveni, who has not said when he will retire, has no rivals within the ruling party — the reason many believe the military will have a say in choosing his successor.

“While people are waiting for the legal transition from Museveni, the de facto transition has already happened,” said Angelo Izama, an analyst who runs the Uganda-based Fanaka Kwawote think tank. “Kainerugaba, more than the president, is the final voice on defense and security matters.”

A more confrontational style than his father's

Kainerugaba’s associates describe him as a dedicated military officer who often eschews ostentatious displays of wealth. He attended military schools in the U.S. and Britain before taking charge of a presidential guard unit that has since been expanded into an elite group of special forces.

In addition to his military duties, he is the founder of a political activist group known as the Patriotic League of Uganda. Its members and well-wishers range from government ministers to businesspeople.

But Kainerugaba lacks the public charisma and folksy style of Museveni, who has kept power in part by striking deals with his political rivals and even convincing some to serve in his government. Kainerugaba's style is more confrontational, expressed often in harsh online posts that can give offense. He has ordered the arrest over alleged corruption of multiple generals, including some known to have once been his friends.

Museveni first took power by force in 1986 as the leader of a guerrilla force whose goal was to democratize Uganda after years of chaos and civil war. He said at the time that Africa’s problem was leaders who overstayed their welcome. Much later, he changed his stance to say his criticism was of leaders who prolonged their rule without an electoral mandate.

Museveni, a U.S. ally on regional security, is often credited with presiding over relative peace and stability. But many others see an increasingly authoritarian streak at odds with his early promise of democracy. Term and age limits have been scrapped and some opponents jailed or sidelined.

Lawmakers recently passed a punitive bill whose stated purpose is to deter foreign interference, but which drew widespread concern over its potential to hurt the work of non-governmental organizations and opposition groups.

The legislation forbids an “agent of a foreigner” from obtaining grants or other monetary support from external sources exceeding 400 million Ugandan shillings — roughly $110,000 today — within a 12-month period without the approval of the interior minister.

Wine's party, the National Unity Platform, condemned the legislation as “unconstitutional, irrelevant and brought in bad faith to further persecute those with divergent views.”

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AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Starmer is trying to shore up support within his Cabinet following a febrile few days in the wake of hefty losses for the Labour Party in local elections last week, which if repeated in a national election would see it overwhelmingly ejected from power.

Two junior ministers resigned from the government on Tuesday and called for a change in leadership, but no candidate has yet come forward to challenge Starmer directly.

Around 80 Labour backbenchers have now said Starmer should stand down or at least set out a timetable for his departure, but that’s not enough to trigger a leadership contest. Under Labour party rules, a fifth of its lawmakers in the House of Commons, or 81 members, must publicly give their backing to a single candidate, and that hasn’t happened yet.

First resignations

On Tuesday, Miatta Fahnbulleh, minister of housing, communities and local government, became the first member of his government to step down, urging Starmer “to do the right thing for the country” and set a timetable for his departure.

She was followed by Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, whose resignation letter called Starmer a “good man fundamentally” but vented about his inability to make bold changes.

“I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter,” Phillips said. “I’m not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that’s needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress.”

Despite winning a landslide election victory in July 2024, Labour’s popularity has sunk and Starmer is getting much of the blame.

The reasons are varied, including a series of policy missteps, a perceived lack of vision, a struggling British economy and questions over his judgment — especially over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.K. ambassador to Washington despite the envoy’s ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Starmer defiant

At the start of the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Starmer said he took responsibility for the losses in last week’s local elections across the U.K. but that he would fight on. Labour was squeezed from right and left, losing votes to both the anti-immigrant Reform UK and the “eco-populist” Green Party, as well as nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales. The result reflects the increasing fragmentation of U.K. politics, long dominated by Labour and the Conservatives.

Starmer said that there’s a process to oust a leader and that it hadn't been triggered.

Under Labour’s rules, candidates must have the support of a fifth of the party’s House of Commons lawmakers — a number that currently stands at 81.

“The country expects us to get on with governing,” Starmer said. “The past 48 hours have been destabilizing for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.”

That cost was evident in financial markets on Tuesday, with the interest rate charged on British government bonds up by more than those of comparable nations — that shows that investors are putting a higher price on taking on government debt.

Some voices of support

As Cabinet ministers left 10 Downing Street, some voiced their support for the embattled prime minister.

Works and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said nobody publicly challenged Starmer at the meeting, while Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the prime minister was showing “really steadfast leadership.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, long believed to be preparing for a leadership challenge against Starmer, did not comment as he left the meeting.

“Wes Streeting, do you want the job, or not?” one person yelled from across the street. “Are you measuring the curtains?”

He was among senior ministers who dodged a barrage of shouted questions from a gaggle of reporters outside.

Though no one in his Cabinet has challenged Starmer, he will be aware that someone else within the parliamentary party could trigger the leadership process.

The next U.K. national election doesn’t have to be held until 2029, but British politics allows parties to change leader midterm without the need for a general election.

Starmer had hoped to regain momentum with a speech on Monday intended to kickstart his fightback, and an ambitious set of legislative plans to be set out by King Charles III at the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.

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Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.

The Thunder — who trailed in the fourth quarter for the first time in these playoffs — eliminated LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, winning 115-110 to close out another four-game sweep.

Oklahoma City also swept Phoenix in Round 1.

The Thunder join the New York Knicks as teams in the conference finals. Their opponents won't be known for at least a couple of days — with both remaining series tied at 2-2.

Game 5 in the Western Conference matchup between San Antonio and Minnesota is on Tuesday. Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinal between Detroit and Cleveland is on Wednesday.

Tuesday's schedule

— Game 5, Minnesota at San Antonio, 8 p.m. EDT (NBC, Peacock)

Series: Tied, 2-2.

Odds: San Antonio by 10.5.

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama — who will play, after the NBA said nothing more than an ejection was merited after he elbowed Minnesota's Naz Reid in Game 4 — is about to face the most pressure-packed game of his career, with the Spurs looking to keep home-court advantage against the Timberwolves.

Wednesday's schedule

— Game 5, Cleveland at Detroit, 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN)

Series: Tied, 2-2.

Odds: Detroit by 3.5.

Home teams are 4-0 in this series, and the Pistons need to continue that trend. Everyone knows Game 5 in a tied-up series is a swing game, but the Pistons — who fended off elimination three times in the Round 1 win over Orlando — are used to playing amid pressure.

Monday's recap

— Cavaliers 112, Pistons 103 to tie series at 2-2. Donovan Mitchell ran wild after halftime.

— Thunder 115, Lakers 110 to win series 4-0. And now, all eyes are on LeBron James' future.

Sleepy, you have company

Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell backed up his talk.

He told teammates at halftime Monday night that he had to be better — so he went out and scored 39 of his 43 points in the second half to lead the Cavs to a Game 4 win.

Mitchell's 39 points tied the NBA record for points in a playoff half. Sleepy Floyd also had 39 in the second half for Golden State against the Lakers on May 10, 1987 — a record that was unmatched for, ironically enough, 39 years (and one day).

Charles Barkley (for Phoenix against Golden State on May 4, 1994) and Kevin Durant (for Golden State against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 26, 2019) both had 38-point first halves in playoff games.

Awards watch

A breakdown of this season's NBA awards:

— Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year: DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans.

— Hustle Award: Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte.

— Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.

— Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City.

— Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson, San Antonio.

— Sportsmanship Award: Derrick White, Boston.

— Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta.

— Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Dallas.

— Executive of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston.

Among the announcements still to come:

— Most Valuable Player: Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama or Denver's Nikola Jokic.

— Coach of the Year: Johnson, Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff, or Boston's Joe Mazzulla.

Betting odds

Defending champion Oklahoma City (-165) is favored to win the NBA title, according to oddsmakers.

The Thunder are followed by San Antonio (+350), New York (+600), Detroit (+2000), Cleveland (+4000) and Minnesota (+5000).

Key dates

— Through Sunday: NBA draft combine.

— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.

— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.

— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).

— June 23: Round 1, NBA draft.

— June 24: Round 2, NBA draft.

Quote of the day

“They threw a lot of pitches at us, and I think we’re a better team at the end of the series than we were at the beginning. And that’s a credit to them. So, just a tip of the hat to them. Deep respect.” — Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault, on the Lakers.

Stats of the day

— Oklahoma City got its first fourth-quarter comeback win of these playoffs — because the Thunder had not trailed in the fourth quarter in any of their first seven playoff games this year.

— LeBron James got his 147th playoff double-double Monday night, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for third-most in NBA postseason history. Only Tim Duncan (164) and Magic Johnson (157) have more.

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

The passenger with the new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid, where 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated Sunday — who all tested negative for the virus — also are staying.

With the evacuation of all passengers and many crew members completed, the MV Hondius is now sailing back to the Netherlands, where it will be cleaned and disinfected.

The director of the World Health Organization, who was in Madrid, said all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three people who died. Nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as the Andes virus.

“These numbers have changed little over the past week thanks to the governments of multiple countries and partners,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, said.

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” he added, “but of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”

Meanwhile, 12 staff members at a Dutch hospital where a hantavirus patient is being treated were told to quarantine after incorrectly handling bodily fluids.

In a Paris hospital, a French woman evacuated from the stricken ship remained in intensive care in stable condition. The French government was holding two new hantavirus emergency meetings Tuesday, the prime minister said.

Health authorities say it’s the first hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. While there is no cure or vaccine for hantavirus, the WHO says early detection and treatment improves survival rates.

The evacuation of the MV Hondius is complete

A total of 87 passengers and 35 crew were escorted from the ship to shore in Tenerife by personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks in a carefully choreographed effort that ended Monday night. Remaining crew members then took on supplies and set course for the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, the ship’s operator Oceanwide Expeditions said.

Two aircraft arrived in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven overnight. The first was carrying 19 of the ship’s crew and three medics. The Dutch nationals were taken home to quarantine and the others, including 17 crew members from the Philippines, were sent to a quarantine facility set up by Dutch health authorities.

A second plane landed later in Eindhoven chartered by Australian authorities and carrying six Hondius passengers — four Australians, one person from New Zealand and a British national who lives in Australia, according to the Dutch foreign ministry. It said the passengers will remain in quarantine near the airport and continue their journey toward Australia “as soon as possible.” Australian authorities did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

Hantavirus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms — which can include fever, chills and muscle aches — usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.

WHO chief Tedros has advised that returning passengers should stay in quarantine, either in their homes or in other facilities, for 42 days. He added that WHO cannot enforce its guidance, and that different countries may handle the monitoring of passengers without symptoms in different ways.

Dutch hospital staff quarantined

Twelve employees at a Dutch hospital where a passenger from the Hondius is being treated have to quarantine for six weeks after improperly handling bodily fluids, Radboud University Medical Center said in a statement Monday night.

The “risk of infection is low” the hospital said, but was requiring the dozen employees to go into preventive quarantine as a “precaution.”

The hospital in the eastern city of Nijmegen received a passenger last week from one of the evacuation flights that landed in the Netherlands and the person has since tested positive for hantavirus.

Blood and urine from the patient should have been handled “according to a stricter procedure,” the hospital said.

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Associated Press writers Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Molly Quell in The Hague, Netherlands, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.

The University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs polled likely voters in two Houston-area contests — the heavily Democratic 18th Congressional District, where Green and Menefee are running, and the red-leaning 9th Congressional District’s Republican runoff between state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, and Army veteran Alex Mealer.

In the 18th District, the poll found Menefee garnering 50% of the vote to Green’s 43%. The poll was conducted from May 5 to 8 and included a sample of 800 likely voters. It has a margin of error of +/-3.46 percentage points.

The two are running against one another after Texas GOP legislators redrew the state’s congressional map last summer, moving the 9th District, which Green has represented for over 20 years, to new territory that favors the GOP, and in the process putting a large share of Green’s current constituents into the new 18th District.

The race pits the 38-year-old Menefee, who was elected in January to finish out the late Sylvester Turner’s term in the 18th District, against the 78-year-old Green.

In the March primary, Menefee finished first with 46% of the vote to Green’s 44.2%. The winner will be decided in a May 26 runoff because neither won a majority of the vote in round one.

The UH poll found Green narrowly leading, 48% to 45%, with Black voters, who make up a majority of the district and especially of the Democratic primary electorate. But Menefee is up by a 33-point margin with white voters and by 18 points with Latino voters.

Long a bastion of Black political power in Houston, the 18th Congressional District is one of two majority-Black districts in Texas’ new map. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s dismantling of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which has kicked off a mad dash among Republican-led Southern states to break up majority-Black seats, the contest has taken on new resonance. And the politics of age have played a prominent role throughout the primary, given that two of the district’s representatives have died in office in the past two years.

The poll found that Menefee leads heavily with voters under 55, while the over-55 vote is split close to evenly.

In the 9th District, the UH poll found Mealer, a former Harris County judge GOP nominee, leads the Republican runoff against Cain, 50% to 41%.

The two emerged from a crowded March primary in which Mealer finished first with 36% and Cain came in second with 31%. The poll was fielded from May 5 to 9 with a survey population of 400 likely runoff voters and a margin of error of +/-4.9 percentage points.

The 9th District was completely redrawn by the Texas Legislature to favor Republicans, with a new makeup that would have voted for Donald Trump by a 19-point margin in 2024. Narrowly majority-Hispanic, it encompasses eastern parts of Harris County, including the Houston Ship Channel, Pasadena and Deer Park, as well as heavily Republican Liberty County.

Mealer is well-known from her 2022 challenge to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, in which she came within 2 percentage points of flipping the seat, and received a boost in February when Trump endorsed her. Cain, who has represented Deer Park and La Porte in the Legislature for a decade, is backed by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The UH poll found Mealer winning women, white voters, voters older than 55 and independents by double-digit margins.

Third-place candidate Steve Stockman, a former representative who won 16% of the vote in March, endorsed Cain on Monday. The poll, which was conducted before the endorsement, found Stockman voters breaking close to evenly: 46% for Cain and 44% for Mealer.

Democrat Leticia Gutierrez, an environmental advocate, is waiting for the Republican nominee on the other side of the runoff.

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

The matchup was one of three announced by the NFL on Monday as NBC, Fox and Prime Video made their upfront presentations to advertisers.

The Dallas Cowboys were part of the other two unveilings. The Cowboys will visit the New York Giants in the first NBC “Sunday Night Football” game of the season on Sept. 13 and they will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Fox on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 26.

The full schedule will be released on Thursday with other matchups revealed in the coming days.

The Bills are one of 10 teams to have new coaches this season with Joe Brady taking over after Sean McDermott was fired after nine seasons. The game will feature two of the top quarterbacks in the league with Josh Allen and the Bills hosting Jared Goff and the Lions. Detroit is looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season.

The NFL has traditionally used Week 2 to showcase new stadiums in a primetime game.

This is the eighth time in the past 15 years the Cowboys and Giants are opening the season against each other. It also marks the 15th time the NFC East rivals are meeting on NBC's Sunday night package, the second-most played matchup since the network started the package in 2016.

Dallas is always a national television draw as “America's Team,” and New York could get more primetime exposure with Super Bowl winner John Harbaugh in his first year coaching the Giants and Jaxson Dart established as the franchise quarterback coming off his eventful rookie year.

This also could be the NFL debuts for a pair of former Ohio State teammates: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, taken with the fifth pick, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, drafted not long after at No. 11.

This will only be the third time, and first since 2014, that the Eagles will be the Cowboys' Thanksgiving opponent.

Dallas has won its past four Thanksgiving games, including a 31-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last year.

The late afternoon Thanksgiving game is traditionally the most viewed of the regular season. Last year’s game averaged 57.23 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched regular-season game in league history.

This will be the second straight season Philadelphia will have the spotlight on Thanksgiving week. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles hosted last year's Black Friday game and lost to the Chicago Bears 24-15.

Monday's announcements mean the Cowboys know the dates for three of their 17 games. It was announced a couple of weeks ago their game in Rio de Janeiro against the Baltimore Ravens will take place in Week 3 on Sept. 27 and air on CBS.

Dallas at New York in Week 1 also means neither of those teams will be the visitor at Seattle on Wednesday night, Sept. 9, when the defending champion Seahawks unveil their Super Bowl banner and kick off the season. Chicago, Arizona, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers or a title-game rematch against New England are the remaining possibilities.

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

Ryan Cohen’s GameStop disclosed earlier this month that it was pursuing a takeover of eBay, seeing it as a vehicle to compete with online retail giant Amazon.

The national gaming retailer said at the time that its approximately 1,600 U.S. stores could become drop-off and shipping locations. One proposal included live sales broadcasts from GameStop locations featuring eBay products.

GameStop’s bid is worth $125 per share in cash and stock. The equity value of the proposed deal is $55 billion on paper. The company previously said that it started accumulating shares in eBay beginning in February and currently has a 5% stake.

In a letter from eBay Chairman Paul Pressler sent to Cohen, eBay's board said that it had completed its review of GameStop's offer and believes that eBay is a “strong, resilient business.”

“With its differentiated global marketplace and a clear strategy, eBay’s board is confident that the company, under its current management team, is well-positioned to continue to drive sustainable growth, execute with discipline, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders,” the letter said.

GameStop did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company's stock fell 4% before the market open on Tuesday.

S&P 500 futures slipped 0.4% before the opening bell, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%. Nasdaq futures slipped 0.9%.

As the war with Iran threatened to drag on, benchmark U.S. crude rose $3.43 to $101.50 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed $3.62 to $107.83 a barrel.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was on “life support” after rejecting Iran’s latest peace proposal. That raises the stakes for Trump’s trip this week to China. China is the biggest buyer of Iran’s sanctioned crude oil.

The war has already sent the price for a barrel of Brent racing up 50% from prewar levels of roughly $70 and stoked inflation through the global economy. The war has shut the Strait of Hormuz and kept oil tankers stuck in the Persian Gulf instead of delivering crude to customers worldwide.

U.S. markets over the past couple of weeks had focused on big corporate profits and seemed to look past the war as earnings season rolled out. The strong performance suggested the U.S. economy was holding up even though households are being pressured by expensive gasoline and higher prices for goods due to new U.S. tariffs.

A new look at inflation in the U.S. arrives Tuesday in the form of consumer price data for April. That could give economists and investors insight into how much the Iran war is impacting Americans and what that might mean for the broader economy going forward.

Elsewhere, in Europe at midday, France's CAC 40 slipped 0.6%, while the German DAX dipped 1.1%. Britain's FTSE 100 shed 0.5%.

In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.5% to finish at 62,742.57. South Korea's Kospi dropped 2.3% to 7,643.15, in what analysts are categorizing as fallout from overreliance on fraying AI hopes.

“Global equities remain dangerously dependent on a tiny cluster of AI leaders, creating a rally structure that looks powerful on the surface but increasingly fragile underneath,” said Stephen Innes, analyst with SPI Asset Management.

He believes South Korea may be among the first major economies that will undergo what he called "the political redistribution phase of the AI boom.”

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.4% to 8,670.70. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost earlier gains and fell 0.2% to 26,347.91, while the Shanghai Composite lost nearly 0.3% to 4,214.49.

In a letter sent to families and staff on Monday, Tomball ISD said Nick Codutti was being investigated for “allegations of misconduct that date back to his employment in Tomball ISD.”

Codutti served as offensive coordinator and strength and recruiting coordinator at Tomball High School from 2017 through 2021, according to Tomball ISD officials and his personal website. He was hired to be the head coach at Klein in 2025.

Tomball ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said the district was recently notified by law enforcement about the allegations, calling the situation “difficult and deeply concerning.”

Community sources confirmed with KPRC 2 that Codutti is under investigation by an “agency that protects children.” Police sources added that a student told a healthcare worker about the incident, and then the student’s family notified authorities.

It’s not immediately clear what exactly happened or where the incident occurred.

“Tomball ISD is fully cooperating with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation, and at this time, the matter is in their hands,” the district said in the statement.

According to the letter, no complaints, concerns, or reports of misconduct involving Codutti were made during his employment with the district.

“We take all reports seriously and act promptly when concerns are brought to our attention,” Salazar-Zamora wrote.

The district did not provide details about the nature of the allegations or identify the law enforcement agency involved in the investigation.

The Tomball ISD letter follows a letter sent to Klein High School parents last week.

In that letter, Klein Principal Shannon Strole said Klein ISD had asked Codutti to “step away from campus” as the investigation unfolded. She added that none of the allegations appear to involve Klein High School students or staff.

Lamar CISD also released a statement addressing the allegations last week because Codutti served as head football coach at Fulshear High School for four seasons before being hired at Klein. Lamar CISD said the allegations appear to predate Codutti’s time at Fulshear.

No additional information has been released at this time.

San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs has put an artificial intelligence agent nicknamed “Mona” in charge at the eponymous Andon Café in the Swedish capital. While human baristas still brew the coffee and serve the orders, the AI agent — powered by Google’s Gemini — oversees almost every other aspect of the business, from hiring staff to managing inventory.

It is not clear how long the experiment will last, but the AI agent appears to be struggling to turn a profit in Stockholm’s competitive coffee trade. The cafe has made more than $5,700 in sales since it opened in mid-April, but less than $5,000 remains from its original budget of $21,000-plus. Much of the cash was spent on one-time setup costs, and the hope is that it eventually levels out and makes money.

Many cafe patrons have found it amusing to visit a business that's run by AI. Customers can pick up a telephone inside the cafe and ask the agent questions.

“It’s nice to see what happens if you push the boundary,” customer Kajsa Norin said. “The drink was good.”

Experts worry about AI's role going forward

Experts say ethical concerns abound, ranging from technology's role in humankind's future to conducting job interviews and judging employee performance.

Emrah Karakaya, an associate professor of industrial economics at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, likened the experiment to “opening Pandora’s box" and said putting AI in charge can cause many problems. What might happen, he said, if a customer gets food poisoning? Who’s to blame?

“If you don’t have the required organizational infrastructure around it, and if you overlook these mistakes, it can cause harm to people, to society, to the environment, to business,” Karakaya said. “The question is, do we care about this negative impact?”

Founded in 2023, Andon Labs is an AI safety and research startup that says it focuses on “stress-testing” AI agents in the real world by giving them “real tools and real money.” It has worked with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Claude’s Anthropic, Google DeepMind and Elon Musk’s xAI, and the startup says it is preparing for a future where “organizations are run autonomously by AI.”

The Swedish cafe is billed as a “controlled experiment” to explore how AI might be deployed going forward.

“AI will be a big part of society in the future, and therefore we want to make this experiment (to) see what ethical questions arise when we have AI that employs other people and runs a business,” said Hanna Petersson, a member of Andon Labs’ technical staff.

The lab previously held pilots that put Anthropic’s Claude AI in charge of a vending machine business and a San Francisco gift store. The vending machine simulation revealed some worrying traits: The AI agent told customers it would issue refunds but never did, and it also intentionally lied to suppliers about competitor pricing to gain leverage.

AI agent struggles with inventory orders

Mona got to work after it was prompted with some basic instructions, Petersson said. The team told it to try to run the cafe profitably, be friendly and easygoing, and figure out operational details by itself but ask for new tools if needed.

From there it set up contracts for electricity and internet, and secured permits for food handling and outdoor seating. The agent then advertised for staff on LinkedIn and Indeed, and set up commercial accounts with wholesalers for daily bread and bakery orders. It communicates with the baristas via Slack, often messaging them outside of working hours, which is a workplace no-no in Sweden.

Other problems have arisen, particularly related to inventory.

The AI agent has placed orders for 6,000 napkins, four first-aid kits and 3,000 rubber gloves for the tiny cafe — plus canned tomatoes that aren’t used in any dish the cafe serves.

And then there’s the bread. Sometimes the agent orders far too much, while other days it misses bakeries’ daily deadlines, forcing the baristas to strike sandwiches from the menu.

Petersson said the ordering issues are likely due to the AI assistant’s “limited context window.”

“When old memory of ordering stuff is out of the context window, she completely forgets what she has ordered in the past,” Petersson said.

Barista Kajetan Grzelczak said he isn’t worried about being replaced by AI just yet.

“All the workers are pretty much safe,” he said. “The ones who should be worried about their employment are the middle bosses, the people in management.”

The accusation by Kuwait of an Iranian link to the incident came just before U.S. President Donald Trump travels to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Iran didn't immediately acknowledge the allegation by Kuwait, which came under repeated attack by Iran in the war and even during the shaky ceasefire still holding in the region. However, the allegation and ongoing attacks throughout the region have threatened to tip the region back into open warfare.

The accusation came as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said that Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to operate them to the United Arab Emirates to defend the country during the war as well.

That underlined the growing defense relationship between Israel and the UAE, countries long suspicious of Iran. It also represents the first publicly acknowledged deployment of Israel's military to the Emirates, a federation of seven sheikdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The narrow Strait of Hormuz remains in Tehran's chokehold and negotiations between the U.S. and Iran appear at a standstill for the moment — also raising the risk of the conflict breaking out again.

Kuwait alleges Iran planned attack

Kuwait said that a team of six armed members of the Guard tried to infiltrate Bubiyan Island in the northwest corner of the Persian Gulf near Iraq and Iran on May 1.

It accused the team of planning to carry out “hostile acts,” without elaborating.

Kuwait said that it detained four of the men, while two escaped when its forces disrupted their infiltration of the island. Kuwait that said one of its security officials had been wounded in the attack, which initially was announced on May 3 without any details.

Kuwait identified the men held as two Guard naval captains, a Guard naval lieutenant and a Guard army lieutenant.

Bubiyan Island is home to Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, which is under construction as part of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative. That project also came under attack during the war by Iran.

Kuwait provided no reason for why it delayed linking the attack to Iran. Trump is traveling this week to China for a summit with Xi, during which Iran will likely be a topic. Beijing long has been a buyer of sanctioned Iranian crude oil and has been hurt by the strait's closure, which has sparked a global energy crisis.

Huckabee says Israel deployed to UAE

Huckabee, a Baptist minister, former governor of Arkansas and one-time presidential candidate, made the comment on stage at an event in Tel Aviv, Israel.

“I’d like to say a word of appreciation for United Arab Emirates, the first Abraham accord member,” Huckabee said at the Tel Aviv Conference. “Just look at the benefits. Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”

The United Arab Emirates diplomatically recognized Israel in 2020. That drew criticism from Iran, long Israel's main regional enemy. Iran didn't immediately respond to Huckabee's remarks, though it has repeatedly suggested over the years that Israel maintained a military and intelligence presence in the Emirates.

Israeli deployment comes as UAE signals strength

The UAE and Israel didn't immediately respond to a request for comment over the acknowledgment by Huckabee. However, Huckabee's remarks came after the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, was quoted as saying the same during an event at the Israeli mission there Monday night — suggesting this was an intentional release of the information, likely with the Emiratis' and Israelis' blessing.

It comes as the UAE has faced Iranian missile and drone fire even after the ceasefire was reached in the war and has been trying to signal to nervous investors and the public it remains open for business and safe. The UAE also has closed down Iranian government-linked sites in the country since the war began. The Emirates long has been used by both the Iranian government and average Iranians as a place to safely do business offshore from the Islamic Republic.

On Thursday during a visit to the Emirates by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan accompanied him to an air base where Egyptian pilots and Rafael fighter jets were stationed — the first acknowledgment of a detachment operating in the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed and the UAE strongly backed el-Sissi as he rose to power in 2013 and in the years since.

Huckabee urges other Gulf states to recognize Israel

Huckabee added that he was “very optimistic” that additional countries in the region will soon join the Abraham Accords, the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal that also included the Gulf Arab kingdom of Bahrain, for formal relations with Israel.

However, many Arab states remain incensed by Israel's wide-ranging military campaigns after Hamas' 2023 attack on the country, which has seen the Gaza Strip leveled and Iran's allies attacked across the wider Mideast. Israel now controls territory in Lebanon and Syria as well.

Huckabee in his remarks also sought to shore up U.S. support for the recent war, suggesting that “Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entrée" for Iran's theocracy.

“The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?" Huckabee asked. "They see that Israel helped us and Iran attacked us. Israel is not trying to take over your land, and is not sending missiles to you.”

Bahrain sentences two dozen over alleged Iran ties

Meanwhile Tuesday, prosecutors in Bahrain said at least two dozen people were handed prison sentences on Tuesday on charges including espionage and conspiring with Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. They said three were sentenced to life. Others received shorter Iran-related sentences.

Bahrain — an island nation ruled by a Sunni Muslim monarchy with a Shiite-majority population — has sentenced dozens on Iran-related charges since the start of the war. Prosecutors and the Interior Ministry have alleged that Iran maintains cells that carry out espionage and help identify targets there. Rights groups say the island nation has widened a crackdown on dissidents during the war, as well as on Shiites.

___

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Sam Metz contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.

Investments worth 23 billion euros ($27 billion) will fund various sectors in Africa including, energy, AI and agriculture, Macron said, adding that 14 billion euros ($16.4 billion) will come from French companies and 9 billion euros ($10.5 billion) from African entities.

Macron said the summit marks a financial shift in relationships between the European nation and African countries, including those that once were its colonies.

President William Ruto of Kenya, which is co-hosting the summit with France, referred to sovereignty eight times in his speech on the summit's final day. He reiterated that the days of European dependency were over for Africa in favor of mutual respect between cooperating nations.

New partnerships between the African nations and France “must not be built on dependency but on sovereign equality, not on aid or charity but on mutually beneficial investment, and not on extraction or exploitation but on win-win engagements," Ruto said.

The event, which is set to close Tuesday with a declaration that is expected to be signed by all 30 heads of state and government, comes at the height of a fallout between France and its former colonies, mostly in West Africa.

France has long maintained a colonial policy of economic, political and military sway dubbed Françafrique, which included keeping thousands of troops in the region it controlled.

After years of criticism from leaders and opposition parties in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach, France has withdrawn most of those troops. It completed the withdrawal of troops from Senegal in July.

Macron said Paris will be respectful of each African country's independence, adding that “sovereignty and autonomy is shared, and your success is our success.”

France’s new strategy, according to Macron, is based on a shared agenda and the “days of offering assistance are behind us.”

“I’d like to focus on co-investment,” he said.

Macron hailed a strong show of unity from the African heads of state and governments as “an image of a united continent with a shared agenda.”

Thanks to Sunday’s front, we’re waking up in the upper 60s, but dress in layers - our high will be in the 80s.

With high pressure in firm control of our forecast, we’re going to see a very low weather impact for the next few days. Staying in the green!

Your 10 Day Forecast:

We’re tracking highs in the 80s this week as the heat and humidity stick around. So enjoy the sunshine this week and don’t forget to drink your water!

Have you captured a dramatic rain photo or video? Share your weather moments with the KPRC 2 community through Click2Pins at Click2Houston.com/pins.

Let’s jump straight into the news of the morning.

One of the biggest stories from the past few months has been the rise of gas prices, not only in the Houston area but in the country. With so many Americans already living paycheck-to-paycheck, the rise of even a dollar or $50 a month can be detrimental to most people.

But, since we want to help, KPRC 2 reporter Bill Spencer worked up some ways you all can save on gas using Amazon, Walmart, and other grocery stores and gas stations, where you can get discounts.

To read more, click here.

➡️ Love our morning newsletter? Share it with your family and friends!

YOUR MORNING FORECAST ☀️

TODAY: 85° TONIGHT: 68°

KPRC 2 Meteorologist says:

“Thanks to Sunday’s front, we’re waking up in the upper 60s, but dress in layers - our high will be in the 80s. With high pressure in firm control of our forecast, we’re going to see a very low weather impact for the next few days. Staying in the green!”

Get your forecast details here.

TOP STORIES

Teen shot multiple times by employee outside northwest Houston dispensary

Houston police are investigating after a teen was shot multiple times outside a northwest Houston dispensary late Monday night.

The shooting happened at the Greenhouse dispensary located along Long Point Road.

Investigators said a teen went inside the store before an employee opened fire as the teen was leaving the business.

‘Deeply concerning’: Klein HS head football coach faces allegations involving ‘misconduct’ from past role in Tomball ISD

The head football coach at Klein High School is being investigated for misconduct stemming from a previous job in another school district.

In a letter sent to families and staff on Sunday, Tomball ISD said Nick Codutti was being investigated for “allegations of misconduct that date back to his employment in Tomball ISD.”

Katy mother charged in deaths of 2 toddlers found in pool with cocaine in systems

Two Katy-area toddlers who reportedly drowned in a backyard pool earlier this year had cocaine in their systems at the time of their deaths, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

On May 8, HCSO homicide detectives charged Laura Nicholson, 23, with two counts of injury to a child in connection with the deaths of her daughters, according to the sheriff’s office.

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The company, which revolutionized online shopping in 2005 with two-day deliveries for Prime members, is rapidly opening small order-processing hubs in dozens of U.S. and foreign cities to cater to shoppers who can't or don't want to wait for cough medicine to relieve flu symptoms or tomatoes for tonight's dinner salad.

The ultrafast service, called Amazon Now, first launched in India last June. Amazon says 30-minute deliveries now are also available in urban areas of Brazil, Mexico, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The mini-warehouses devoted to Amazon Now are about the size of a CVS drugstore. They stock about 3,500 products for expedited delivery, including beer, diapers, pet food, meat, nonprescription medications, playing cards and cellphone charging cables.

“We know that customers love speed and always have,” Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s head of transportation, told The Associated Press on Monday. “What we see customers doing, when we offer faster speeds, are they purchase more from Amazon. And Amazon becomes more top of mind for that or other types of items as well.”

In the U.S., the company first tested Amazon Now in Seattle, the home of its headquarters, and in Philadelphia. Most residents of Atlanta and the Dallas-Fort Worth area now have access as well. The service also is live or expected to land by year-end in Houston, Denver, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Florida, and dozens of other cities, Amazon said.

The service charges for Amazon Now start at $3.99 for Prime members, who pay an annual fee of $139, and $13.99 for non-members. A $1.99 small basket fee applies to orders under $15, Amazon said.

The company's bet on a need for speed also comes as some consumers are rebelling against rushed deliveries as they weigh the potential impact on the environment and the workers tasked with preparing orders at a rapid rate.

Amazon’s approach

A relentless focus on speed helped Amazon build a logistics and e-commerce empire. After it made two days the new delivery time normal, Amazon moved into one-day and same-day deliveries for its Prime members. This spring, the company began making 90,000 products available in one hour or three hours at an extra cost.

The scaled down and sped up microhubs that are designed to handle 30-minute orders represent another step in Amazon's pursuit.

Only a handful of people prepare orders from aisles of shelves in the 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot facilities, unlike the sprawling fulfillment centers storing millions of items where Amazon employs a mix of human workers and robotics to pick and pack orders.

Amazon tailors the product inventory to each location and uses artificial intelligence and other technology to analyze what customers buy, as well as when and how often. The most popular U.S. purchases so far include soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, toilet plungers, bananas, limes and wireless earbuds, Amazon said.

The competition

Amazon’s attempt to up the instant gratification ante provides direct competition to on-demand food delivery platforms like Instacart, Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub, which don't have the scale of the e-commerce titan, according to independent retail analyst Bruce Winder.

“What Amazon brings is their prowess in supply chain,” Winder said.

These smaller companies said they don't see Amazon as a threat, though, citing the hundreds of thousands of items they are able to deliver to users' doorsteps by partnering with various merchants and restaurants.

“DoorDash has a mission to empower grocers and retailers and augment their existing footprint, not to replace them,” DoorDash spokesperson Ali Musa said in an emailed statement. “We win only when they win, which is how we can offer over half a million grocery and retail items in under an hour across the country.”

Amazon also is in a race with Walmart to become the retailer that reliably gets orders to online shoppers in under an hour.

For an additional $10 on top of standard delivery charges, shoppers can place Walmart Express Delivery orders from among more than 100,000 products that are guaranteed to arrive in an hour. Many customers, however, are receiving the items under 30 minutes, Walmart CEO John Furner told analysts in February.

Domino's cautionary tale

Companies have promised deliveries in 30 minutes or less before, but the landscape also is littered with failed attempts to break the speed barrier.

The COVID-19 pandemic produced a flurry of companies that promised 10- to 15-minute grocery deliveries from microwarehouses in dense neighborhoods, according to Sucharita Kodali, an analyst at market research firm Forrester Research.

But soaring operating costs, low customer loyalty and the drying up of investor money ultimately caused most to fail before the pandemic was over, analysts said.

Domino’s in 1984 pushed a guarantee that customers would receive their pizzas for free if they weren't delivered in under a half-hour. The company amended the “30 minutes or it’s free” policy after two years, providing only a $3 discount for late deliveries.

The promotion helped Domino’s win market share, but it ended up tarnishing the company's reputation. It dropped the guarantee in December 1993 after a string of crashes and lawsuits involving drivers racing to meet the deadline.

Brad Jashinsky, a retail analyst at information technology research and consulting firm Gartner, said he thinks Amazon should take the pizza chain's experience as a cautionary tale.

“You get in trouble when you start overpromising something like that,” he said.

Amazon won't be making any time guarantees and instead plans to keep customers who chose the 30-minute delivery option updated on the progress of their orders, Tomay said.

“There's no rushing either in our building workers or the gig workers,” she said.

Taking it slow

Kodali thinks Amazon will need a lot of people placing orders around the same time from the same or adjacent apartment buildings for the 30-minute service to be cost-effective.

Consumers may appreciate rapid receipt of products like toilet paper and batteries, but retailers and logistics experts said they also see some online shoppers, especially members of Generation Z, choosing no-rush shipping for products they don't need in a hurry.

Amazon for several years has invited customers to skip one- or two-day delivery and to receive their orders on the same day in as few parcels as possible. Consolidating orders into fewer packages by electing to have them delivered at the same time cuts down on boxes, shipping envelopes and fuel use, analysts said.

“The millennials who came to age in an era that was on fast delivery came to expect it de facto, whereas ... Gen Z is more accepting of a slower speed than previous generations before them,” said Darby Meegan, a general manager at Flexport, a supply chain and logistics company that fulfills orders for thousands of online merchants.

Still, Amazon executives have cited positive early results for Amazon Now in India, where they said Prime members tripled their requests for 30-minute deliveries once they started using the service.

Amazon Now also is attracting more repeat American customers, Tomay said.

“It’s in early days and time will tell,” she said. “I think that it will be interesting to see how it evolves.”

The attack took place in Lakki Marwat, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police chief Azmat Ullah said. He said that two traffic police officers and a woman were among those killed.

Ullah provided no further details but said traffic police officers were apparently the target of the attack. The bombing also damaged nearby shops. Most of the dead and wounded were passersby, he said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Suspicion in such attacks often falls on the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has intensified its campaign against Pakistani security forces in recent years. The group is separate from but allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

However, the Pakistani Taliban denied involvement in Tuesday's attack, saying in a statement that it had learned about the bombing but was not behind it.

The latest attack came days after 15 police officers were killed in a suicide bombing and gun assault on a security post in the nearby Bannu district on Saturday, prompting Islamabad to summon a senior Afghan diplomat to lodge a formal complaint.

Pakistan on Monday blamed that attack on Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban.

On Tuesday, Afghan Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in a post on X, rejected Pakistan’s claim that the recent attack in the Bannu district was planned in Afghanistan, calling it baseless.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan believes that problems can be resolved through understanding, mutual respect and genuine cooperation, rather than accusations, threats and emotional reactions,” he said. Mujahid reiterated that Kabul’s position remains that Afghan territory will not be used against any country, and that no one will be allowed to engage in activities that undermine regional security and stability.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Tuesday's attack and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims.

In a statement, he said the government and all relevant institutions were committed to eliminating terrorism and would not allow militants to obstruct peace and development in the country. He directed authorities to swiftly complete the investigation, identify those responsible and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Pakistani authorities have long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of sheltering militants. Kabul has denied the allegation, saying it does not allow militants to use Afghan soil to launch attacks against other countries.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, straining relations with Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups have grown more emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have persisted, including fighting that has killed hundreds of people since late February. In early April, the two sides held peace talks mediated by China. However, sporadic cross-border clashes have continued, though at a lower intensity than before.

___

Associated Press writers Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Abdul Qahar Afghan in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.

Let’s jump straight into the news of the morning.

If you were up last night, you may have heard of some storms that hit the area. The storms dumped heavy rain in some Houston areas, but now, the storms are moving out, and skies are set to be clear by 8 p.m.

We had a rainy Saturday and Mother’s Day evening this year. Storms brewed Saturday afternoon, bringing a brief moment of heavy downpours in some areas.

To read more, click here.

➡️ Love our morning newsletter? Share it with your family and friends!

YOUR MORNING FORECAST ☀️

TODAY: 79° TONIGHT: 66°

KPRC 2 Meteorologist says:

“We’ll kick off the day with leftover wet roads, but the active storms will have moved out by 8 am. Once our front passes, our morning lows go from the 70s to the 60s for a few days, but our highs will stay in the 80s. Looking ahead into next week, expect a drier weather pattern, but the mugginess will stick around with temperatures forecast to range between 84 and 88 degrees. Next chance of rain is Sunday, May 17th.”

Get your forecast details here.

TOP STORIES

How drivers can save on gas using Amazon, Walmart and other loyalty and reward programs

Gas prices across the country continue climbing as tensions tied to the conflict involving Iran push fuel costs higher, and now the Trump administration says it is open to suspending the federal gas tax to help Americans save money at the pump.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has now reached $4.52, according to officials cited Sunday.

Spring Branch ISD board to consider closing Northbrook Middle School amid enrollment decline, budget concerns

The Spring Branch Independent School District Board of Trustees is expected to consider closing Northbrook Middle School during a meeting on Monday night as the district faces declining enrollment and ongoing budget challenges.

District leaders said Spring Branch ISD has lost about 2,000 students over the last several years, contributing to financial strain across the district.

United flight from Cabo to Houston diverts to Monterrey after mechanical issue

A United Airlines flight headed to Houston from Mexico was forced to divert Sunday afternoon after the crew reported a mechanical issue and declared an emergency.

According to United Airlines, Flight 579 was traveling from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to Houston when the Airbus A320 diverted to Monterrey, Mexico.

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Children’s Museum Houston and Houston Life present a first look inside the ‘Gallery of Wonder’ on KPRC 2

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The shooting happened at the Greenhouse dispensary located along Long Point Road.

Investigators said a teen went inside the store before an employee opened fire as the teen was leaving the business.

Police spent hours overnight reviewing surveillance video from inside and outside the dispensary as they work to determine exactly what led up to the shooting.

“We’ve seen a lot of video and it’s pretty clear what happened in the videos,” an officer at the scene said. “But we’ll let the Major Assaults Division contact the DA’s Office, and they can determine whether or not charges will be filed tonight or whether it will be referred to a grand jury.”

Video from the scene showed multiple police units, crime scene tape, and investigators collecting evidence outside the business.

According to police, the teen was shot multiple times but was still conscious and talking when paramedics transported him to a hospital. His current condition has not been released.

Investigators also said the only gun recovered at the scene belonged to the employee involved in the shooting.

The employee’s father told KPRC 2 his son called him immediately after the shooting.

“From what I know, my son called me, said he had shot somebody,” the father said. “I rushed up here to find out that the kid was stealing out of the store. Scared my son. My son shot three times and hit him in the back once.”

As of Tuesday morning, no charges had been announced as investigators continue reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses.

The French Riviera festival beginning Tuesday will include 12 days of nonstop world premieres before culminating May 23 with the presentation of the Palme d’Or, the festival's top honor and one of the film industry's most prestigious awards.

The festivities kick off with the opening-night film, “The Electric Kiss,” a French period-comedy, and the awarding of an honorary Palme d’Or to the “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson.

What isn’t at Cannes has been as buzzed about as much as what is. Hollywood is largely absent this year.

While blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Elvis” have touched down at previous incarnations, studio films this year have been either scared away by the possibility of a rocky reception or by the high cost of flying in A-listers to the Cote d’Azur. The closest thing in Cannes' slate is an anniversary celebration for “Fast & Furious.”

Speaking to members of the press Monday, Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux said Hollywood “is reshaping” in the midst of Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

“I hope the studio films will come back,” Frémaux said.

Cannes has become better known for its lengthy standing ovations than its boos. This year, a long list of big-name filmmakers will have center stage.

Among the filmmakers set to unveil new movies are Pedro Almodóvar (“Bitter Christmas”), James Gray (“Paper Tiger”), Na Hong-jin (“Hope”), Pawel Pawlikowski (“Fatherland”) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (“All of a Sudden”).

If Cannes has waned as a global launchpad for studio releases, it has grown as a breeding ground for Oscar contenders.

Two years ago, Sean Baker’s “Anora” won the Palme in Cannes before winning best picture. Last year, Cannes selections like “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent” and “It Was Just an Accident” went on to play prominent roles in awards season.

More often than not, the specialty distributor Neon has been at the forefront of the Cannes-to-Oscars pipeline. Neon has backed the past six Palme d’Or winners, an unprecedented streak that it may be poised to extend. Neon is attached to more than a quarter of the 22 films in competition for the Palme d’Or.

On Tuesday, the jury deciding that award and others will hold a news conference before beginning their sequestered movie watching. South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is serving as president of the nine-member panel, along with Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård and others.

How much any of this will serve as backdrop for “The White Lotus” remains to be seen. The fourth season of Mike White’s acclaimed HBO series is based around a trip to Cannes. Last month, the show began shooting on the French Riviera.

While Cannes may be light on big Hollywood movies, it isn't lacking in stars. Set to appear over the next two weeks are Kristen Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Adam Driver, Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Rami Malek, Sebastian Stan, Sandra Hüller and many others.

District leaders said Spring Branch ISD has lost about 2,000 students over the last several years.

• HISD superintendent announces closing 12 schools

Northbrook Middle School, located near Rosefield Drive and Kemp Forest Drive in northwest Houston, currently has about 450 students enrolled.

According to district officials, rising property values, gentrification, and families moving farther into the suburbs in search of more affordable housing have all contributed to the enrollment decline.

Under the approved plan, students currently zoned to Northbrook Middle School will be rezoned to attend Spring Oaks Middle School, Spring Woods Middle School, or Landrum Middle School.

The closure comes as several school districts across the Houston area continue grappling with declining student populations and financial concerns tied to enrollment losses.

SKY 2 aerials captured the aftermath of the latest crash, showing a tanker truck wedged beneath the bridge after impact. The collision caused the tanker to lose its load onto the freeway, creating a large cleanup scene below the overpass.

The Houston Avenue bridge over Interstate 10 has become notorious for repeated crashes involving oversized trucks. Based on previous reporting, the bridge was hit 72 times last year alone.

Each strike typically forces at least partial lane closures on the Katy Freeway for hours while crews assess damage and clear debris. Previous incidents have led to shutdowns lasting around three hours or more.

The bridge’s low clearance has long frustrated drivers and commuters who regularly travel through the area near downtown Houston.

Relief may finally be on the way. The bridge is scheduled to be demolished and replaced early next year as part of the White Oak Bayou I-10 elevation project being led by Texas Department of Transportation.

No information about injuries or the extent of damage from the latest crash has been released.

“This is what happens when job creators and innovators are welcomed, not punished,” Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a statement. “More businesses are sure to follow.”

Readers may be forgiven for thinking Dell was already located in Texas, given the existence of its headquarters in Round Rock for decades and founding more than 40 years ago on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

Abbott was celebrating the company’s decision to move its legal home rather than its physical home, from Delaware, the legal home to nearly 70% of all Fortune 500 companies, to Texas. Dell’s reincorporation here will mean it will be subject to Texas’ legal and tax regulations, so that shareholder lawsuits against the company, regardless of where they originate, would have to play out in more business-friendly Texas.

Dell’s announcement to reincorporate from Delaware, where its legal home has been since 1988, follows a similar decision in March by the ExxonMobil board of directors to recommend reincorporating the Spring-headquartered oil and gas company to Texas, from New Jersey. Tesla, Space X and Coinbase are among major U.S. companies to redomicile in Texas in recent years.

“I think we’re going to see more,” said state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola and an architect of several recent changes to state law aimed at attracting more corporations to the state. “Delaware has been the default state of incorporation for decades. So it’s not going to change next week, but it’s changing.”

Despite the fanfare over each announcement, Dell and Exxon’s reincorporations will change little for the state, said Ann Lipton, a law professor at University of Colorado Boulder who studies corporate governance.

The companies’ robust physical presence in Texas means any investment and jobs the companies have already been here for years and their reincorporations wouldn’t add many more. Both companies also already pay franchise taxes to the state because of their physical presence here, and the legal filing fees collected by the state for the companies doing business here represent little to the state budget, Lipton added.

“I don’t know that there’s going to be obvious, clear financial benefits, the way Delaware has,” Lipton said.

The strength of the Texas economy puts Texas in a strong position to capitalize on corporate discontent in Delaware, and these reincorporations could have knock-on effects throughout the state economy, Hughes said.

When a company moves its legal home to a state, that brings their legal and financial operations under that state’s umbrella. While an incorporation may not necessarily bring a new warehouse or factory, it could create more jobs or more clients for those white collar sectors — such as attorneys, accountants and financial analysts for those companies — and further emphasizes Texas as a good place to do business, Hughes said.

“What you see is Texas becoming the financial services capital of the country. I know that sometimes that sounds like puffing, you know, we’re Texans, we brag,” Hughes said. “But objectively, Texas is going to pass New York as the financial services capital. So whenever we bring jobs like that to Texas, that grows the economy, it generates other jobs.”

Last year’s creation of the Texas Stock Exchange, along with announcements that the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ would open their own locations in the state, is proof of Texas’ rising status as a hub for corporations, Hughes said.

Delaware for decades has been the preferred location of incorporation for companies due to its longstanding expertise and efficiency with corporate filings, business-friendly legal framework and its Court of Chancery that specializes in corporate disputes.

Texas and other states’ efforts to lure corporations from Delaware began in the past several years after the Court of Chancery came under criticism for rulings considered unfriendly to corporate management. A 2024 decision voided a $56 billion pay package for Elon Musk, despite shareholders approving the deal. Musk responded by moving Tesla and his other companies to Texas.

While New Jersey does not hold the same importance as Delaware in the world of incorporations, Exxon had called the state its legal home since the 1800s before the state sued the company in 2022, arguing it contributed to climate change and should help contribute to natural disaster recovery.

Amid growing corporate discontent in the north, Hughes and other Texas legislators created Texas’ business courts during the 2023 session. Much like Delaware’s Court of Chancery, Texas’ new courts do not have juries, instead relying on judges specialized in corporate law to hear and rule on cases.

“If the rules are predictable and people know what to expect, they’ll risk their capital, they’ll invest their money, they’ll build factories and employ people,” Hughes said.

The Legislature made further changes to the business courts in 2025, and updated its statutes governing corporations to be more business friendly. This included allowing companies to adopt a threshold where shareholders can only sue a company if they own 3% of the company, making it harder for shareholders to sue.

Shareholders also must be able to show fraud, intentional misconduct or known violation of the law to be able to sue, a legal bar that is difficult to clear, Lipton said.

States like Nevada and Georgia have also worked to update their own state laws to attract corporations disaffected with Delaware, creating a national competition to lure companies away.

Legislators should not expect Delaware to stand by while Texas and other states encroach on their incorporation monopoly, said Lawrence Hamermesh, an emeritus professor at Widener University’s Delaware Law School.

“Delaware has devoted a lot of time and effort to this, because per capita, it’s way more important to Delaware than it is to Texas,” Hamermesh said.

Taxes and legal filing fees from companies incorporated in Delaware, a state of 1 million people, make up 20% to 25% of its entire state budget, Hamermesh said. The massive number of large companies incorporated there also supports a robust legal and financial industry in Delaware, Hamermesh said.

Delaware’s General Assembly also meets annually and is known for reacting quickly to pass laws in response to corporate needs, Lipton said.

“Texas is a big state,” she said. “They’ve got other things to do in a Legislature that only meets every two years. That’s a problem when you need to update the code.”

Regardless, the rising competition for incorporations puts Delaware in a bind, Lipton said.

In particular, Texas’ law that raised the threshold for shareholders to sue companies is difficult for Delaware to respond to because of the importance of its corporate legal workforce. If it raises the bar too high, the number of cases moving through Delaware courts could dry up, leaving attorneys and other legal professionals out of work, Lipton said. If more states follow suit, it could create a national environment where it’s very difficult for shareholders to sue their companies, Lipton added.

Lipton noted recent criticism of eXp Realty’s reincorporation from Delaware to Texas over fears that the Washington-based real estate firm may be using Texas’ higher bar for shareholder lawsuits to shield itself from a recent lawsuit related to sexual assault allegations. The Court of Chancery in Delaware allowed the lawsuit to proceed as shareholders argue that the company’s officers breached their fiduciary responsibility, just weeks before the company’s board announced the legal move.

The company has said publicly that the proposed reincorporation has nothing to do with the lawsuit and did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Hughes said he and other legislators understand the need to balance both shareholder rights and corporate interests and would be keeping a close eye on how recent changes play out in practice.

“We are not looking to create a situation where business always wins, where management always wins,” Hughes said. “What we are looking to do is create predictable rules and a system that people can trust.”

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

Lately, that job has required Thakur, who was born in New Delhi, to sit on the dais at Frisco City Hall and listen as a steady stream of people hurl racist invective at him and the entire Indian community. The speakers, many of whom don’t live in Frisco, rail against invaders, anchor babies, H-1B visa fraud and the “Indian takeover” of a city where nearly one in five residents are Indian. 

Dylan Law, a McKinney resident who grew up in Frisco, told the council in early February that the city was falling to “unchosen, unwanted and uninvited forces.” 

“Be America First,” Law implored the council, to audience cheers. “And to those who abuse the system my people built, go home before you are sent back.” 

Over the last few months, Frisco has become the unwilling backdrop for a larger conflict between Republicans’ nascent relationship with Indian American voters, and the party’s rising nativist strain, which rejects anyone not born here, including naturalized citizens. The same faction that’s been targeting Muslims over the specter of Sharia law has turned its hostility toward Texas’ growing Indian community, accusing them of exploiting the H-1B visa program to steal American jobs and undercut wages.

For some conservatives, Frisco’s changing face is proof that President Donald Trump’s America First agenda must be taken to what they see as its natural conclusion: cutting off immigration to the U.S. en masse.

“We’ve got communities like Frisco that have been totally transformed, whether it’s Islamic immigration or immigration from anywhere else in Asia,” Rep. Brandon Gill, a Republican who represents parts of Frisco, told conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson. “If you go to some of these areas, you feel like you’re in a foreign country, and that’s a problem. America is for our people. We have a distinct heritage … and that’s something we as conservatives should seek to actually conserve.”

Gill and other members of Texas’ congressional delegation have called for a freeze on all legal immigration, citing concerns with the H-1B visa program, which is primarily used by high-skill Indian immigrants. Gov. Greg Abbott, following Trump’s lead, restricted H-1B visas for state workers, a move he promoted on social media to push back against complaints about H-1B visas in Texas. 

Many testifying at Frisco City Council meetings or posting about the city on social media go far beyond asking for immigration reform. There’s been a surge in anti-Indian racism on social media since Trump returned to the White House, framing legal immigrants as “job stealers” and “invaders.” A clip of Boy Scouts leading the Pledge of Allegiance before a Frisco City Council meeting went viral, attracting thousands of reposts, many with hateful language, because the boys were Indian.

“If you go after Boy Scouts, 10-year-old kids doing literally the most American thing ever, how can you also say the issue is assimilation?” Thakur asked. “This parsing, this segmenting of populations by identity politics, is the worst kind of politics there is.”

Conservative YouTubers have descended on Frisco, making documentaries purporting to show widespread H-1B visa fraud, content Texas’ elected leaders have amplified. Gill has gone further, criticizing Hindu events as “Third World religious ceremonies” and saying multiculturalism will “tear our country apart.” He did not respond to emailed questions or an interview request. 

Gill is married to the daughter of right-wing commentator and staunch Trump defender Dinesh D’Souza, who is Indian. In October, when D’Souza attracted a flurry of anti-Indian hate on a social media post supporting the president, he said he’d never encountered this type of rhetoric over his 40-year career. 

“The Right never used to talk like this,” he said on social media. “So who on our side has legitimized this type of vile degradation? It’s a question worth thinking about.”

A new group of GOP voters

Twenty five years ago, Frisco was farmland and 35,000 people, almost all of whom were white. Like the rest of the Dallas suburbs, its population has exploded, hitting almost 250,000 residents last year. 

The city has become a major hub for the Indian community, especially after a prominent Hindu cleric blessed a tract of land for a new temple in 2008. As of last year, about 19% of residents were Indian, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates — the highest concentration of any city in Texas and 10 times higher than Indians’ national representation of less than 2%. 

Vijay Karthik is one of those transplants. He and his wife, Kelly, had been living in Chicago, but when they were looking for somewhere more family-friendly to raise their kids, they were drawn to Frisco for the exemplary schools, plentiful housing and good jobs. 

Born in India, Karthik came to the U.S. on an H-1B visa in 1995, a few years after the pathway for highly skilled immigrants was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. Karthik never planned to stay in the U.S. after this stint, but tech companies cashing in on the dot com boom convinced him to return. He became a citizen, rose to C-suite roles at major companies and co-invented the technology behind in-flight Wi-Fi. 

Like most Indians, Karthik identified as a Democrat. South Asians have long been the party’s most reliable supporters among all Asian ethnic groups, motivated in part by a sense that the Republican Party’s anti-immigration stances are not welcoming.

But that’s been shifting. A 2024 survey found Indians have been leaving the Democratic Party; their party allegiance dropped by close to 10 points since 2020. While Indian voters remain overwhelmingly left-leaning, one in three Indians planned to vote for Trump in 2024, driven largely by young men born in the U.S. 

While there isn’t reliable state-level data, Karthick Ramakrishnan, a political researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, said Indian voters in red states tend to lean more conservative. 

“Trump lost the Indian American vote in 2020 and 2024, but he did gain support, and I imagine states like Texas were helping drive that,” said Ramakrishnan, who runs AAPI Data, a research and polling group that focuses on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. 

For Karthik, moving to Frisco prompted a political reckoning. The more he learned about the Republican Party that dominated the area, the more he felt a connection.

“Our culture is very conservative,” he said. “Fiscally, heavily conservative, and culturally, we focus on education, family values, small businesses, less government. I think a lot of Indians are waking up to this, realizing we’re conservative too.”

Republicans have been working to win over Indian Americans, who are wealthier and more highly educated than the average American, and very politically engaged. In 2021, the Republican National Committee opened community centers in purple areas around the country, hoping to shore up relationships outside the party’s typical white, Christian voters. 

The center in Coppell, a Dallas suburb, was christened with a Diwali ceremony. Abraham George, now chair of the Texas GOP, attended the opening and celebrated the party’s impending inroads with diverse communities. 

“The RNC has recognized that they need to bring minority communities together and build communities out, so they will be on our team for the next election,” said George, who later became the first Indian to lead the Texas GOP. “We will see a great turnout from every minority community.”

In 2024, Abbott led a delegation to India, coordinated by a major donor, Arun Agarwal. During the nine-day trip, Abbott touted the $18 billion trade relationship between India and Texas and the “enduring bond forged by our hardworking, resilient peoples.”

Later that year, he hosted a Diwali celebration at the Governor’s Mansion, where he addressed a crowd of Indian community leaders and donors. 

“As long as I am governor of this great state, Texas will be a land for the Indian community,” he said. 

Republicans and “the Indian issue” 

In 2024, Sreekanth Reddy worked with the Collin County GOP to hang Trump/Vance campaign signs in Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati and Tamil all over the county, part of the party’s outreach to the growing contingent of Indian voters north of Dallas. 

Just two years later, he was at Frisco City Council, fighting against the rising tide of anti-Indian rhetoric that had swept through the city and his party. 

Sporting a cowboy hat, Reddy described himself as a “law-abiding, taxpaying, conservative Republican American,” who is “as patriotic as anyone.” 

“What exactly is the issue here?” he asked. “If this is about immigrant Indians moving into Frisco legally, who are opening businesses, running them successfully, contributing to the economy of Frisco and following the law, then I honestly do not see this as a problem.”

But many do. The H-1B visa program, created by Republicans and defended by corporations, has become a new target on the right, with some extending the criticisms to Indians who are here through other pathways or are naturalized citizens. 

In January, Abbott froze all new H-1B visa applications for public universities and state agencies, saying “the program has too often been used to fill jobs that otherwise could — and should — have been filled by Texans.” 

Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, said Texas “cannot allow a program intended only to supplement the American workforce to be exploited to displace qualified U.S. workers or suppress wages.” He did not respond to a question about rising anti-Indian rhetoric in the party. 

More recently, conservative content creators have claimed to have uncovered widespread H-1B visa fraud in Frisco, including ghost businesses and falsified papers. Citing those reports, Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened investigations into 30 North Texas businesses, and four members of Congress from Texas sent a letter asking the feds to investigate “reported H-1B fraud activities in North Texas.” Gill and other elected officials have pointed to these YouTube documentaries as evidence that the H-1B visa program should be abolished entirely. 

Both political parties agree that the H-1B visa program could use more guardrails to ensure companies aren’t exploiting either American or foreign workers. But there is no evidence of widespread fraud, or that it’s displacing huge numbers of American workers, said Guarav Khanna, an economics professor at the University of California San Diego. Most voters agree, with more than 60%, including majorities in both parties, saying legal immigrants take jobs that Americans don’t want. And the overall economic impact has been positive, research shows, especially through contributions to innovation. 

“When you’re working on a better computer, you don’t realize that innovation was likely done by an Indian immigrant in Silicon Valley,” Khanna said. “That’s less tangible, whereas suddenly seeing more Indians in your neighborhood, the way that affects your life feels much more salient.” 

Since Trump took office, attention on the program has ratcheted up significantly, alongside a spike in hateful rhetoric and threats of violence against South Asians on social media. The use of South Asian slurs in online spaces rose by 115% between January 2023 and December 2025, according to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit that tracks discrimination against Asian Americans. 

If there are loopholes in the H-1B program, the federal government must address that, Reddy said. But the conversation in recent months has gone well beyond just talking about visa reform.

Earlier this year, attorney general candidate Aaron Reitz called for deportations of legal immigrants, saying the “invasion of un-assimilated and un-assimilable Indians” is turning Collin, Dallas and Harris counties into “Calcutta, Delhi and Hyderabad.” Videos of Abbott’s Diwali event have gone viral, as have clips of Sen. John Cornyn, who is in a tight primary against Paxton, speaking to the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce.

At a recent Grapevine Republican Club event, in a Dallas suburb 30 minutes from Frisco, conversation about visa fraud quickly turned to discussion of the area’s rapid demographic change, with attendees complaining about the number of Indian families at Costco and South Asian immigrants who are newly learning to drive. 

Laura Oakley, president of the Grapevine Republican Club, said Abbott needed to take more action on “the Indian issue,” saying his block on H-1B visas for state institutions wasn’t enough. 

“I will say, it’s a little bit like setting a fire and then running in as a fireman and being the hero,” she told the crowd. 

The last few months have been demoralizing for Indian Americans in Frisco, Reddy said, as their everyday activities like worshipping at temple or hosting community events have become social media cannon fodder. 

After years of working to elect Republican candidates, Reddy decided to throw his cowboy hat into the ring for city council this year. Karthik ran too, along with other Indian community leaders who stepped up for council and school board, a show of political engagement that seems to have intensified the backlash. 

Reddy and Karthik say they saw it as an opportunity to give back to a community that has given them so much. They lost, as did all the other Indian candidates, an outcome that activist social media accounts closely watched and celebrated online. 

Reddy sees Indians’ slow move to the right as evidence of the assimilation that activists demand from them. But he worries this season in the spotlight will drive voters away from the party. In its February nationwide survey, AAPI Data found those fears may be well-founded: 68% of Indian voters said Trump has gone too far in restricting legal immigration.

“I think a lot of the people who voted for Trump wouldn’t now,” he said. “It’s been disappointing.”

Indian GOP leaders not immune to vitriol

Last September, Alexander Duncan, a short-lived Republican U.S. Senate candidate and online provocateur, posted on social media about a 20-foot Hindu statue that had been erected outside Houston. 

“Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu god to be here in Texas? We are a Christian nation!” Duncan wrote. When Hindu and religious freedom groups called on George, the GOP chair, to respond, he defended Duncan.. 

“Christians need to be concerned about idols and false gods,” George said on social media, noting that his father was a Pentecostal preacher. “There is only one God, and that is Jesus Christ Himself…I know it is not politically correct, but I honestly don’t care.”

In the comments, among the GOP bashing and alarm bells about the First Amendment, were a smattering of racist comments toward George. Even when pushing party priorities, like abolishing the H-1B visa program, George regularly attracts anti-Indian replies. Elijah Schaffer, a controversial MAGA influencer, said on social media that George is “why Texas is turning into Mumbai and the center of the H1B immigration fraud.” 

George, who did not respond to a request for comment, is up for reelection next month and has been endorsed by a wide array of conservative groups. That election, like other GOP races featuring Indian candidates, will test how much of the anti-Indian sentiment pervading social media is spilling into the party itself. 

In Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy easily won the GOP nomination for governor, despite a slew of racism from his opponent, and white supremacist Nick Fuentes, who called him an “anchor baby who got your birthright citizenship from your H-1B parents.” 

Vice President JD Vance, whose wife is Indian and Hindu, has tried to walk a fine line amid this recent firestorm, echoing concerns about widespread H-1B visa fraud while praising “people who have come to the United States in the past who have enriched this country, like my in-laws.” 

Trump, meanwhile, recently reposted remarks by a conservative podcast host who called India and China “hellhole” countries whose immigrants haven’t integrated into American society like “European Americans.” A spokesperson for the president said in a statement to the New York Times that Trump “loves patriotic Indian Americans” and acknowledged their place in his winning 2024 coalition.

Karthik, who found a new political home in the Republican Party, said he hopes the GOP more forcefully shuts down the anti-immigrant, anti-Indian voices that have taken hold in some corners. 

“The block of voters, when we come together, we can swing elections,” he said. “We’ve talked about this with the Republican Party, saying, don’t alienate us, because [Indians’] viewpoints are aligned and you can capture them.” 

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

Ajay Mitchell scored 10 of his 28 points in the frantic final period as the Thunder overcame the Lakers' tenacious effort and improved to 8-0 in the playoffs with their toughest victory of the postseason.

“We've done our job so far, that's all it really means,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We've gone out there, we've executed, we've played at a high level and we've been able to win eight tough games against really good opponents. That's all it means. Nothing is guaranteed.”

LeBron James had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of the unprecedented 23rd season for the top scorer in NBA history, but he missed a driving bank shot with 20 seconds left that would have put the Lakers ahead.

The 41-year-old James has repeatedly said he hasn’t decided whether to play next season, so there was no ceremony or momentousness around this game. Instead, the Lakers desperately tried to extend their year, only to lose to Oklahoma City for the eighth time this season.

“I don't know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now, tonight,” James said. “I've got a lot of time. I'll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and when the time goes, obviously you guys will know what I decide to do.”

Austin Reaves scored 27 points before missing a tying 3-point attempt with eight seconds left for the Lakers, who advanced one round farther than almost anybody expected after losing NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and Reaves to significant injuries a month ago.

Los Angeles still lost six of its final seven playoff games and fell well short of the conference finals for the third straight season.

“I didn't want our season to end,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I wanted to keep this thing going. I enjoyed every bit of this year.”

Oklahoma City faced its first fourth-quarter deficits of the entire playoffs in Game 4 as the Lakers repeatedly refused to fold. The Thunder still got it done, and they've earned at least the rest of the week off before they open the conference finals against the winner of San Antonio’s second-round series with Minnesota. The Spurs and Timberwolves are even heading to Game 5 on Tuesday night.

“They won more of the minutes tonight than we did, and that hadn’t been the case (earlier in the series),” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “They outplayed us for stretches. They’re a really good team with prideful players. We did not expect them to give us an unearned win, and we went out and earned it.”

Oklahoma City went 8-0 against the Lakers this season, winning all four regular-season matchups as well — but this one was the toughest. The Lakers took the lead and kept it close down the stretch with big buckets from Reaves and Rui Hachimura, who scored nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Holmgren’s dunk with 2:03 left put the Thunder up 109-103, but Hachimura coolly converted a four-point play. Marcus Smart then drove the lane and hit a layup while being fouled in the final minute, converting a three-point play for a 110-109 Lakers lead.

But Holmgren got the ball inside and triple-pumped for a dunk with 32.8 seconds left, and James missed on his drive. After Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws, Reaves missed again, and the Thunder hung on to secure their sixth berth in the Western Conference finals in the last 16 seasons.

The Thunder won the first two games of the series at home by 18 points apiece, and they routed the Lakers 131-108 in Game 3.

Doncic missed the final 15 games of the Lakers’ season after incurring a grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 in Oklahoma City, and he watched the season finale on the bench in a black sweatsuit. The Slovenian superstar apparently didn’t get close to returning from the injury, which often requires two months of recovery.

___

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

The eight-time All-Star went 1 for 5 with a single and a strikeout hitting second behind Shohei Ohtani and ahead of Freddie Freeman in a 9-3 loss in the series opener against the San Francisco Giants.

“We just have to make sure we swing at good pitches,” Betts said before the game. “Those guys are good, too. They drive nice cars, too. We just have to control the zone, swing at good pitches.”

The Dodgers have dropped eight of their last 12 games and were looking for Betts to help jumpstart a stagnant offense. They have scored three runs or fewer in nine of those 12 games.

"I know I’m not the hero,” said Betts, the 2018 AL MVP. “It’s important for everyone to know it’s going to take all of us and not just one guy getting through their struggles or whatever it is.”

Betts was batting .179 (5 for 28) with two home runs in eight games before he went on the injured list April 5 with a right oblique strain.

"I just didn’t really realize how long it takes for it to really heal,” he said. “I felt pretty good pretty fast actually. But just some of the movements I couldn’t do kind of lingered for a long time. I was trying to hurry but obviously the doctors were saying it just takes a month for it to heal.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts would start at shortstop Monday and Tuesday before taking Wednesday off.

“After seven days, six days, I think he’s going to want to be in there regularly, but we’ll kind of see,” Roberts said.

Betts was on a tear in spring training, hitting .357 with a .786 OPS in five games before briefly leaving the team for the birth of his third child. He cooled off the first two weeks of the regular season before getting hurt.

Roberts is taking a wait-and-see approach toward Betts' offense. The 33-year-old shortstop was 2 for 5 in two minor league rehab games.

“Certainly two games of rehab, taking batting practice, a day of live at-bats, is not ideal,” the manager said, “but I think with Mookie you just don’t know. The hope is that he can kind of hit the ground running.”

With Betts' return, infielder Alex Freeland was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was hitting .235 with two homers and eight RBIs in 33 games.

The front office chose to keep second baseman Hyeseong Kim over Freeland.

“What it came down to is Hyeseong has performed better,” Roberts said.

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

“It’s just about staying ready,” Kelly said, “and all these guys in here are ready.”

Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first start this postseason after relieving Scott Wedgewood during a 5-1 loss in Game 3 on Saturday, and the Avalanche moved within one win of taking the first spot in the Western Conference finals. Game 5 will be in Denver on Wednesday.

“You’re never going to be perfect after 30 days off, so I just try to do my best to stay sharp,” said Blackwood, who learned the day before he would be starting.

Nazem Kadri scored on a power play in the second period, and Nathan MacKinnon — who had a brief absence to fix a bloody nose from a puck to the face — and Brock Nelson added empty-net goals in the final minute.

Nico Sturm tied the game at 2 for Minnesota with his first goal of the postseason about two minutes after Colton scored, but the Wild were outshot 20-4 over roughly the first half of the game by an energized Colorado offense.

Rookie Danila Yurov scored his first career postseason goal on a deflection midway through the first period for the Wild during a four-minute power play prompted by a double minor penalty on defenseman Josh Manson, but they failed to consistently get pucks deep into the offensive zone and allowed their crowd-noise advantage to all but disappear during their slog of a second period before coming to life down the stretch.

“The style of game that we needed to play to win the game, we didn’t,” coach John Hynes said. "We made the conscious choice not to play that way tonight, so we’ll readdress that and then we’ll get ready for Game 5.”

After leading the NHL in goals during the regular season while posting the league's best record, the Avalanche scored 14 times over the first two games before Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt stonewalled them in Game 3.

But Colton, whose wrist shot was set up by a slick across-the-slot pass by linemate Nicolas Roy, became the 15th player to score for the Avalanche in just eight postseason games this spring. Then Kelly made it 16.

“They were doing a lot of what we want to do — quick with the puck, get it down deep, work our players down low," Wallstedt said. “They got a lot of pucks to the net. They were creating rebounds. They were creating scoring chances. We want to do the exact same thing. It just took a little longer for us to get there.”

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Omaha-area district, where Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon is retiring, is one of the Democratic Party's biggest targets this midterm season. It's also a national focus every four years in presidential contests because Nebraska is one of just two states that splits its electoral votes. The 2nd District has gone to Democratic presidential candidates three out of five times since 2008 — a “blue dot” in an otherwise sea of red.

Three Democrats are seen as the top contenders in Tuesday's primary: state Sen. John Cavanaugh, political activist Denise Powell and district court clerk Crystal Rhoades. Republican Brinker Harding, an Omaha City Council member endorsed by President Donald Trump, is running unopposed on the GOP side.

Cavanaugh, more than anyone else on Tuesday's ballot, has been under attack from both parties.

Some Democratic opponents argue that a primary victory for Cavanaugh would jeopardize the district's “blue dot” status because he'd be leaving his valuable state legislative seat, making it easier for Republicans in the Nebraska Legislature to change the law that allows the state to split its electoral votes.

The issue has defined the primary contest perhaps more than any other.

Opponents say the ‘blue dot’ is in danger

The Democratic argument against Cavanaugh has little to do with his politics or policies.

His opponents and groups backing them have flooded mailboxes, airwaves and social media warning that if he wins the congressional primary, Nebraska's Republican governor would appoint a conservative Republican to replace him in the Legislature.

That move, they say, could give state Republicans enough votes to enact a conservative wish list that includes stricter limitations on abortion and transgender rights.

It could also empower Republicans to enact midcycle redistricting or change the state's unusual system of splitting presidential electoral votes, some Democrats argue. Republicans failed in 2024 to pass a bill that would have made Nebraska the 49th state to award its Electoral College votes on a winner-take-all basis.

“Our Blue Dot. We fought hard for it. But if John Cavanaugh goes to Congress, it could all fall down,” cautions one TV ad by the super PAC New Democrat Majority.

EMILY’s List, a national group that supports women running for office, has put its reach and money behind Powell, calling Cavanaugh’s candidacy “a gift to MAGA Republicans.”

Republican groups also target Cavanaugh

Republican groups have sent out mailers and social media posts claiming Cavanaugh “is in agreement with President Donald Trump” and showing a photo of Cavanaugh overlaid on a photo of the president, making it appear as if the two are standing together.

“Clearly, the Republicans know that I’m the strongest general election candidate,” Cavanaugh said. “And so they’re trying to hurt me.”

The attacks on Cavanaugh show Democrats and Republicans believe he has the best chance of winning the general election, said Paul Landow, a former Nebraska Democratic Party executive director.

He called the “blue dot” attacks disingenuous, noting Republicans already have a filibuster-proof majority in the Legislature but have still failed to pass key elements of their agenda because it is unpopular even among GOP lawmakers. The argument that a Cavanaugh win could weaken the state’s “blue dot” also assumes Democrats won’t pick up additional legislative seats this year, he said.

“There’s so many things that have to fall into place for this alleged danger to the ‘blue dot,’” Landow said. “It’s just wild speculation.”

The Democratic primary grows contentious

While all the Democratic contenders cite affordability and opposition to Trump administration policies — from immigration and healthcare to military actions — the top three contenders began attacking one another more aggressively in the days leading up to the primary.

Candidates and allied groups have spent more than $2.6 million on TV and digital advertising since Jan. 1, according to the advertising tracking company AdImpact. Nearly all of that has been by or on behalf of Cavanaugh and Powell.

Cavanaugh has spent about $375,000. Powell's campaign has spent almost as much — $345,000 — but with the help of groups backing her, campaign advertising has been overwhelmingly pro-Powell.

Powell co-founded Women Who Run Nebraska, a political action committee that supports progressive female candidates, and she has a decade of Democratic political activism. She's never held office but said her deep connections have helped her with independents and third-party voters who make up nearly 30% of the district's electorate.

“My name recognition has increased dramatically,” Powell said, adding that "people are really connecting with my message.”

Rhoades carries her own name recognition after 20 years in public service and running a slew of successful local Democratic elections — including that of Omaha Mayor John Ewing, who unseated a longtime Republican last year. Rhoades has raised a fraction of what Cavanaugh and Powell have amassed, but said she's intentionally eschewing campaign ads and instead blanketing the city with door-knocking and personal contact with voters.

Both Powell and Rhoades have leaned heavily into the concern that Democrats' influence in the district will erode if Cavanaugh is elected to Congress.

The winner of Tuesday's primary will head to a highly competitive general election. Trump won the district in 2016, and the retiring Bacon, who has clashed with Trump, has held the House seat for five terms.

Other Tuesday contests

Also on Tuesday's ballot is the race for U.S. Senate, where Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts is seeking a full term, following his 2023 appointment and 2024 special election victory to replace Republican Ben Sasse.

Ricketts faces four Republican primary challengers, but he’s already looking ahead to an expected general election contest against independent candidate Dan Osborn, an industrial mechanic and military veteran who came within 7 points of defeating Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer in her 2024 reelection bid. Running in the Democratic primary are William Forbes and Cindy Burbank.

In the race for governor, incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Pillen faces five primary challengers, while former state Sen. Lynne Walz and frequent candidate Larry Marvin compete for the Democratic nomination. Marvin previously ran for U.S. Senate four times since 2012.

___

Peoples reported from New York.

Already, testimony about Altman's turbulent tenure at the ChatGPT maker has become prime fodder for internet jokes. One piece of evidence that has inspired countless memes was a text exchange between Altman and a company officer, Mira Murati, in 2023 during his short-lived ouster as CEO, when Altman asked if things were moving “directionally good or bad” and she wrote back: "Sam this is very bad."

Musk, the world's richest man, is seeking Altman's second ouster from the company leadership as part of a civil lawsuit accusing him of betraying their shared vision for OpenAI. Since its start as a nonprofit funded primarily by Musk, Open AI has evolved into a capitalistic venture now valued at $852 billion.

Even if Musk loses, the trial has invited further scrutiny of Altman’s leadership at a pivotal time for the company and its competition with Musk’s own AI firm and another rival, Anthropic, formed by a group of seven ex-OpenAI leaders. All three firms are moving toward planned initial public offerings that are expected to be some of the largest ever.

A jury that’s already heard about Altman’s character from a parade of his former allies and adversaries will ultimately decide the verdict. But the repercussions could reverberate widely.

“This is not looking good for any of them and I think that that’s a little bit unfortunate for the AI industry at a time when the public perception of AI is quite negative and seems to be getting worse,” said Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.

Musk warned Altman would be one of America's ‘most hated’ men

The lawsuit accuses Altman and his top lieutenant, Greg Brockman, of double-crossing Musk by straying from the San Francisco company’s founding mission to be an altruistic steward of a revolutionary technology. The lawsuit alleges they shifted into a moneymaking mode behind his back.

Shortly before the trial began, Musk abandoned a bid for damages for himself and instead is seeking an unspecified amount of money to be paid to fund the altruistic efforts of OpenAI’s charitable arm. In a text exchange with Brockman proposing a possible settlement, Musk warned that Brockman and Altman “will be the most hated men in America” as a result of the trial.

While Musk, the head of SpaceX, Tesla and a slew of other companies, was well known by the San Francisco Bay Area jury pool, fewer knew who Altman was before the start of the trial, even if they were familiar with ChatGPT.

As the trial has played out in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California over the last two weeks, jurors have heard from witnesses including OpenAI ex-board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley, who spoke about the decision to fire Altman in 2023 before they were themselves ousted from the board of directors when Altman returned to his role.

In video testimony last week, Toner said a starting point for the decision to oust Altman was when OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, a respected AI scientist, reached out to confide some of his own concerns.

“A phrase we used was ‘a pattern of behavior,’ so no one single cause,” Toner said. “The pattern of behavior related to his honesty and candor, his resistance of board oversight.”

Sutskever was instrumental in the unsuccessful attempt to oust Altman but later said he regretted his role in the shakeup. In his own testimony Monday, Sutskever confirmed that he wrote a 2023 memo to OpenAI’s board that characterized Altman as pitting his executives against one another and exhibiting a “consistent pattern of lying” that was causing a loss of trust and productivity.

Sutskever said Altman’s behavior contributed to an environment that was “not conducive” to the company's goals, including its mission to safely build artificial general intelligence. He said he later backtracked and supported Altman’s reinstatement because he was concerned about what would happen to a company he worked hard to create and “cared very much about.”

“I felt that, had I not done this, the company would have been destroyed, and I felt that this was a Hail Mary,” he testified.

OpenAI begins presenting its side

The trial has carried risks also for Musk, who is pursuing an initial public offering this summer for his rocket ship maker, SpaceX, which could make him the world's first trillionaire. Among the witnesses has been Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member who served as a conduit between Musk and OpenAI's leaders and also didn't disclose that Musk was the father of her two young twins, according to trial testimony.

Not until midday Monday, on the third week of the trial, did OpenAI begin calling its own witnesses, starting with Bret Taylor, the current chair of OpenAI’s board who painted a more positive portrait of Altman’s leadership.

“I think Sam has done a great job as CEO,” Taylor said. “He’s been forthright with me and the other board members.”

Syracuse University professor Shubha Ghosh, an expert in business and technology law, said regardless of the outcome of the case, he has doubts about Altman staying on as CEO of OpenAI in the long run.

“A lot this of might depend upon a testimony,” he said. “And I don’t know what he’s going to say or how he’s gonna say it. But even like the best case, movie theater type performance, with all the music playing and the angels descending or whatnot, I don’t see him coming off as a fairly strong leader, especially (since) this case has gone this far."

____

O'Brien contributed from Providence, R.I.

Morton died Saturday in Mill Valley, California, the Broncos confirmed through his family.

Morton is one of only four QBs to start the NFL’s biggest game with two organizations. The other three — Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner — all ended up with at least one win. Morton's only Super Bowl ring came as a backup.

His first Super Bowl start was in a turnover-plagued Super Bowl V to end the 1970 season — a 16-13 loss by the Cowboys to the Colts. Morton threw the Cowboys’ first touchdown pass in a title game.

Seven years later, and after an unsuccessful stint with the New York Giants, Morton led the Broncos to a matchup against his former team. He threw for 39 yards and four interceptions before getting pulled for Norris Weese in a 27-10 loss, which marked the first of four straight Super Bowl defeats for Denver.

Known for his strong arm, Morton turned in a college football Hall of Fame career at California, where he played for coach Marv Levy and assistant Bill Walsh. Morton went fifth in the 1965 NFL draft to the Cowboys. Oakland also took him in the 10th round of the AFL draft.

He joined a Cowboys team coached by Tom Landry that had veteran Don Meredith at QB. Morton played in four games that season. He then split time with up-and-coming Roger Staubach in 1970-71, the year the Cowboys went to their first Super Bowl.

The next season, Morton and Staubach also split time — at some points, even alternating every play. But ultimately, it was Staubach who took over the starting job, then led the Cowboys to the Super Bowl and a 24-3 win over Miami. Staubach was the MVP of that game and it wasn’t hard to imagine the end of Morton’s time in Dallas.

The Cowboys dealt their backup to the Giants in 1974 for a package that included a pick Dallas would use to take defensive lineman Randy White, who became a Super Bowl MVP and Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Morton struggled in New York, but enjoyed a renaissance after getting traded to Denver before the 1977 season — the season that put the Broncos on the map.

The veteran QB became the final piece for a Broncos team under a new coach, Red Miller, who inherited a strong defense that would become known as the Orange Crush.

Morton led the Broncos to a 12-2 record and playoff wins over the Steelers and Raiders. He famously spent the week in the hospital with a hip injury before spearheading the win over rival Oakland.

Four years later — and after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves. In 1981, Morton threw for 3,195 yards and 21 TDs, both career highs (he matched his best mark in TDs).

He retired after starting three games in the strike-shortened 1982 season. Denver would trade for John Elway, who supplanted Morton as the franchise’s most famous and revered No. 7.

Morton threw for 27,908 yards over his career with 183 touchdowns and 187 interceptions. Morton ranked in the top 20 all-time in yards passing and TD passes when he retired following the 1982 season.

He was voted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988, along with two other standouts from that ’77 team — Haven Moses and Jim Turner.

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AP National Writer Eddie Pells and AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

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

The Federal Aviation Administration said it approved Boeing’s proposed fix for the workhorse MD-11s “after extensive review.” And then FedEx started flying them to deliver packages again Sunday.

The UPS plane crashed in November 2025 shortly after taking off once the left engine flew off the wing as the plane rolled down the runway. Three pilots on the plane that was headed for Hawaii loaded with packages and fuel were killed along with 12 more people on the ground near Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Boeing developed a plan to replace a key spherical bearing and step up inspections of the parts that hold the engines to the wings. The National Transportation Safety Board has said that in 2011 Boeing had documented four previous failures of the part that helps secure the MD-11’s engines to the wings on three different planes, but at that point the plane manufacturer “determined it would not result in a safety of flight condition.” These planes were built by McDonnell Douglas, which was later bought by Boeing.

The FAA grounded all MD-11s after the crash because of concerns that the planes might not be safe. Earlier this year, UPS retired its entire fleet of the aircraft, which made up about 9% of its total fleet. But FedEx had remained committed to getting them back in the air even though they only account for about 4% of its fleet. The other package hauler that used MD-11s, Western Global Airlines, has not commented publicly since the crash and didn't respond to an email about the FAA's decision.

FedEx said in a statement that it worked closely with Boeing, the FAA and its own experts to inspect and repair its planes, and the government certified that it had complied with Boeing's recommendations. It owns 46 of these planes though even before the crash it had been storing more than two dozen of them.

“Safety is our highest priority at FedEx,” the company said.

But FedEx does plan to eventually retire its MD-11s and replace them with more efficient models. They had announced that long-term plan even before the crash.

Aviation lawyers who are representing some of the families that have sued over the Louisville crash said they hope the FAA made sure these planes will be safe.

“We hope the FAA does a thorough job of investigating the fixes before the MD-11 fleet is allowed to return to flight,” lawyer Bradley Cosgrove said.

But aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said he’s surprised it took this long to get these planes flying again given how quickly the NTSB identified key concerns that likely contributed to the engine falling off. The NTSB is planning two days of investigative hearings on the UPS crash next week to delve deeper into what happened.

“I’m confident that the solution will work, and I would like to see the MD-11s back up in the air. It will be a safe airplane with regards to its engines after these corrective actions are made,” said Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and FAA.

Some experts speculated after the crash that the MD-11s might never fly again if the repair proved to be more expensive that it was worth in these older planes. But Boeing found a way to address the safety concerns with just replacing the bearing and stepping up inspections.

___

Associated Press writer Jack Dura contributed to this report from Bismarck, North Dakota.

State records from the Texas Department of State Health Services show only 18 youth camps across Texas had been fully licensed as of this week, while many others remain in pending status.

The new laws were passed after devastating floods tore through the Texas Hill Country last summer, killing 27 campers and counselors.

The new requirements include detailed emergency action plans, updated communication systems, additional inspections and, in some cases, fiber optic internet requirements aimed at improving emergency response capabilities.

Camp leaders who spoke with KPRC 2 said they support the new safety standards — but say the biggest obstacle has been the time it takes for the state to review the new emergency plans.

• Texas youth camps reach agreement with state on fiber rule

“The hardest part right now is the timeline it takes for them to review the emergency action plans,” said Garret Larsen, president and CEO of Camp Cho-Yeh.

Larsen said many of the camp’s safety procedures were already in place before the new laws were passed.

“Safety is not an afterthought for us. It’s central to what we do every year,” Larsen said.

He said the biggest hurdle has been making sure the state’s required wording and documentation align with the camp’s existing emergency plans.

Camp Cho-Yeh operates multiple camps, including locations near Lake Livingston and Riverside.

Larsen said he remains confident the camps will receive final approval before campers arrive this summer.

“We’ve been in close communication with DSHS,” Larsen said. “Our pre-summer inspection is this week and so we expect to have our license by the end of this week or early next week.”

• Texas lawmakers repeatedly failed to pass flood protections. Some could have saved lives.

Mike McDonell, president of Kidventure, said his organization is also expecting final approval soon.

“They’re actually coming out tomorrow to do the final licensing paperwork with us,” McDonell said.

Kidventure operates 31 day camp locations across Houston, Dallas and Austin.

McDonell said some of the new rules created confusion for day camps because certain requirements appeared geared more toward overnight camps.

“After 32 years, we had not seen anything about cabins, for example,” McDonell said.

Still, McDonell said he believes the changes are ultimately beneficial.

“What happened last summer was an absolute tragedy,” McDonell said. “Anything that we can do as parents, as a community, and as a state to make camps a safer place, we have got to do that.”

KPRC 2 reached out to Texas DSHS to ask whether the agency expects most camps to receive licenses before summer camp season begins.

• Camp Mystic abandons bid to reopen this summer

A spokesperson sent us the following statement:

“Many of the youth camps who have applied for an initial or renewal license were sent a notice of deficiency letter regarding the specific updates needed for their emergency plan to meet the requirements. Camps who receive the NOD letter are given 45 days from the time they received the letter to bring their emergency plans into compliance with the new requirements. DSHS is concurrently conducting pre-licensure inspections so that licenses can be issued as soon as a camp has met the requirements. For camps whose license applications are pending while they are updating their emergency plan, the timing of license issuance depends on camps bringing their emergency plans into compliance quickly.

As long as a camp applied for a renewal license before their current license expired, they can continue to operate on their existing license until their application is processed and they receive a new license OR if they are denied a renewal license, they can continue to operate on their existing license until they have gone through due process to contest and appeal the denial.

The Texas Government Code pertaining to licenses:

Sec. 2001.054. LICENSES. (a) The provisions of this chapter concerning contested cases apply to the grant, denial, or renewal of a license that is required to be preceded by notice and opportunity for hearing.

(b) If a license holder makes timely and sufficient application for the renewal of a license or for a new license for an activity of a continuing nature, the existing license does not expire until the application has been finally determined by the state agency. If the application is denied or the terms of the new license are limited, the existing license does not expire until the last day for seeking review of the agency."

According to DSHS, the agency updates its list of licensed youth camps every Friday.

Overnight storms kept a lot of folks up last night as we continue to track the chance for rain this afternoon into the evening.

You can track radar here before you leave your house:

Futuretrack: We’re watching a few areas as we get into the afternoon into evening for rain and thunderstorms. We’re tracking .10″ of rain today but some cells are capable of producing higher rain totals.

But after today, you can put your umbrella up for the most part. Our highs will be in the upper 80s this week.

Rain for Some Not All: Mother’s Day Front - brought more than 1″ of rain for areas like Kingwood, Houston and Spring while areas like Bellaire and Sugar Land got a trace of rain.

Tuesday: Thanks to Sunday’s front we’re waking up in the upper 60s but dress in layers - our high will be in the 80s.

Your 10 Day Forecast: We’re tracking highs in the 80s this week as the heat and humidity sticks around. So enjoy the sunshine this week and don’t forget to drink your water!

Have you captured a dramatic rain photo or video? Share your weather moments with the KPRC 2 community through Click2Pins at Click2Houston.com/pins.

The measure passed 93-0 in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament, reflecting widespread support for punishing those found responsible for what was the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. The remaining 27 lawmakers were absent or abstained from voting.

Rights groups have criticized the measure, saying it makes the death penalty too easy to impose while also doing away with procedures safeguarding the right to a fair trial. Defendants can appeal their sentences but the appeals have to be heard by a separate, special appeals court rather than regular appeals courts.

Because the bill empowers a panel of judges to hand down the death penalty by a majority vote — and requires the trials to be conducted in a livestreamed Jerusalem courtroom — it has drawn comparisons to the 1962 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, which was broadcast live on television.

Eichmann was executed by hanging, the last time the death penalty was carried out in Israel, though technically capital punishment remains on the books for acts of genocide, espionage during wartime and certain terror offenses.

Opponents of the bill also say that livestreaming the proceedings before guilt is established risks turning the trials into a spectacle. They have raised questions about the reliability of the evidence that may be presented, saying it could have been extracted by harsh interrogation methods.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 as hostages. Israel’s ensuing blistering offensive on Gaza has killed over 72,628 Palestinians, including at least 846 killed since a ceasefire took hold last October.

That's according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children. The figures by the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

Israeli forces also killed hundreds of militants in battles in the coastal enclave, and took an unknown number of suspects into Israeli custody where they now await trial.

Simcha Rothman, one of the bill’s sponsors who is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's ruling coalition, said the overwhelming consensus for the bill in the Knesset shows Israeli lawmakers can come together “around a common mission.”

Several Israeli rights groups — including Hamoked, Adalah and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel — said on Monday that while “justice for the victims of October 7 is a legitimate and urgent imperative,” any accountability for the crimes "must be pursued through a process which includes rather than abandons the principles of justice.”

The bill is separate from a law passed in March that approved the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a measure harshly condemned by the international community and rights groups as discriminatory and inhumane.

That law applies to future cases and is not retroactive so it could not apply to the October 2023 suspects.

According to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, the country still holds about 1,300 Palestinians from Gaza without charge in its detention facilities. At least 7,000 Palestinians from Gaza had been held in Israeli custody since October 2023, and 5,000 of them were later released.

The 1,300 number does not include those held on suspicion of attacking Israel on Oct. 7 or involvement in holding the hostages.

Spurs, just above the drop zone, moved two points clear of relegation rival West Ham.

Tottenham went ahead in the 50th minute on Mathys Tels' strike.

However, Tels’ foul on Ethan Ampadu with 15 minutes left led to a Leeds penalty that was converted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Spurs takes on Chelsea away and Everton at home in their last two games, while West Ham is away at Newcastle before facing Leeds at home on the final day of the season.

One of the two teams will join the already relegated Burnley and Wolves in next season’s Championship.

Spurs went into the game on a high after two consecutive victories, but though they dominated the first half in terms of possession and shots on goal, they didn’t break the deadlock until five minutes into the second half.

Pedro Porro’s corner kick was cleared to an unmarked Tels, who coolly struck into the far corner of the net from 20 meters out. It was the center forward’s first goal since Jan. 7.

Tels turned villain 24 minutes later when his high foot was adjudged to have made contact with Ethan Ampadu’s head.

The referee pointed to the spot and Calvert-Lewin, who was denied a first-half penalty after a video review, confidently dispatched the spot kick.

In an edgy last few moments and a remarkable 15 minutes of added time there were no more goals. Spurs will content themselves that their destiny remains in their hands.

“We played a good game but there was big pressure," Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi said. “We didn’t play calmly. We wanted to win immediately without passes. When you are fighting for relegation you can’t play every game calmly.

“Leeds played a good game and we hope they play like that against West Ham in the next game.”

Spurs have taken eight out of a possible 12 points since De Zerbi’s debut defeat at Sunderland on April 12.

“We deserve to stay up," he said. “We will fight until the end. . . . Even if we had won today it wouldn’t have been finished yet.”

Hull secures playoff spot

Hull will play Southampton or Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final after second half goals from Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt gave it a 2-0 win over Millwall in London.

Belloumi’s 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock in the second game of the two-leg affair and Gelhardt made sure with a low shot that squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper.

The win means Hull have one match to secure a place in the Premier League for the first time since it was relegated in 2017.

Southampton and Middlesbrough drew the first leg 0-0 on Saturday and will play their return tie on Tuesday.

The playoff final is set for Wembley on May 23.

___

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

Workers were seen inspecting the site of the proposed arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery with tools and equipment. Part of the site was fenced off and pink flags typically used as survey markings were planted in the grass.

The work on the site was announced in a court filing Thursday in a federal lawsuit challenging the proposed arch. It consists of "surveys and geotechnical testing which are being used to generate information that will assist Defendant National Park Service (NPS) in completing procedural prerequisites” that are part of the decision-making process.

The 250-foot-tall (76-meter) proposed arch is one of several projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave his lasting imprint on Washington. With the potential to change the city's sightline, it has already sparked opposition, including through the lawsuit filed by a group of veterans and a historian.

The arch design, proposed by Trump, has already gotten early approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump.

The proposed monument rises from the four lions guarding its base to a torch held aloft by a Lady Liberty-like figure on top, which would be flanked by two eagles — all gilded. The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would be inscribed in gold lettering atop either side of the monument.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the four plaintiffs.

The group of veterans and a historian have sued in federal court to block construction on the grounds that the arch would disrupt the sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery, among other reasons.

The court filing on behalf of the Trump administration said the National Park Service had not issued a final agency action authorizing construction of an arch and should it do so, it would provide at least 14 days notice before any work could begin.

The document said the plaintiffs had been notified of the survey work beforehand and said the survey work did not constitute "construction, or a demolition in preparation for construction, of an arch."

Nicolas Sansone, a lawyer with the Public Citizen Litigation Group that brought the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs, said the government taking the preparatory steps for the construction of the arch is a confirmation that it intends to move forward. "Unless and until Congress has passed a law authorizing the arch, though, the project is unlawful, and the government has no valid basis for pursuing it,” Sansone added.

Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, sergeants in the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, filed the lawsuit in Miami federal court earlier this month against Artists Equity, a film production company owned by Affleck and Damon. Court filings don't say how much the officers are suing for, but the civil complaint says they're seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees, as well as a public retraction and correction.

“The Rip” features Affleck and Damon as South Florida police officers who find millions of dollars inside a house. Parts of the movie were inspired by a real 2016 case, where police found over $21 million linked to a suspected marijuana trafficker in a Miami Lakes home.

Affleck and Damon have said while promoting the film that the story is loosely based on accounts from Miami-Dade Police Capt. Chris Casiano, who served as a technical advisor on the film. Damon told The Associated Press during a January interview that he and Affleck spent time with Casiano and other narcotics officers in preparation for the film.

“We really wanted to kind of understand what those dynamics were like,” Damon said. “I mean, these units are very tight because they’re really putting their lives in each other’s hands, and they’re doing something that’s very dangerous.”

An attorney for Artists Equity declined to comment when reached Monday by the AP. But in a March 19 response to the plaintiffs' demand letter, Leita Walker, an attorney for Artists Equity, wrote that the film does not purport to tell the true story of that incident or portray real people, which had been stated by a disclaimer in the film's credits.

Although Smith and Santana aren't named in the film and weren't involved in its production, the lawsuit claims that Santana was serving as the lead detective assigned to the real case, and Smith was the sergeant who supervised the investigative team. The film's inclusion of real details about the case gives the impression that the characters are based on the plaintiffs, the suit said.

This, the lawsuit claims, has given friends, family members and colleagues the impression that the plaintiffs committed the criminal acts that appear in the film, which include (SPOILER ALERT) conspiring to steal seized drug money, murdering a supervising officer, communicating with cartel members, committing arson in a residential neighborhood, endangering the lives of civilians, repeatedly violating core law-enforcement protocols and executing a federal agent rather than making an arrest.

Walker wrote in March that the plaintiffs haven't even identified which particular character is supposed to be based on Smith or Santana, so even if “The Rip” was actually about a real-life narcotics team, there's no way to connect any of the characters to the plaintiffs.

“The Rip,” directed by Joe Carnahan, debuted in January on Netflix. It's currently rated 78% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

_____

Associated Press video journalist Brooke Lefferts in New York contributed.

Mohammed Asasa said his family had coordinated the burial of his 80-year-old father, Hussein, with the Israeli military. He said the burial took place in a cemetery belonging to his village, also called Asasa, where the family said generations have been buried in clearly marked graves.

The incident last Friday illustrates the influence extremist settlers have gained during the past four years of Israel’s current government and the military’s inability or unwillingness to halt settler violence and land seizures.

Asasa said after the funeral, armed men from the nearby settlement of Sa-Nur arrived and ordered the family to exhume the body, claiming the land belonged to the settlement, less than half a kilometer away.

“While we were receiving condolences at home, some young men from the village came running and told us that the settlers were digging at the grave we had just buried at the cemetery.” he said. “When we reached the cemetery we found it filled with settlers and the army surrounded by them.”

He said the villagers decided to exhume the remains themselves after settlers threatened to dig up the grave with a bulldozer. Video showed them carrying the body from the cemetery with military escorts, with men who appeared to be settlers further uphill.

“This had never happened before,” he said. “You have no other choice.”

The Israeli military said forces responded to reports of clashes at the site and confiscated settlers’ digging tools. It said the army did not force the family to move the remains, but protected them as they relocated the body to a nearby cemetery. It did not say whether anyone was arrested.

Israel evacuated Sa-Nur in 2005, but settlers opposed to that withdrawal have spent years trying to reestablish it as an outpost. Israel reauthorized it in 2025 and reestablished it last month with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting attended by multiple government ministers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government is dominated by settler leaders and their allies.

The Palestinians and most of the international community consider all settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal and obstacles to peace, categorizations Israel disputes.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has developed strong ties with settler representatives, in contrast to his predecessors.

Asasa said the sequence of events left him confused about what will happen with funerals in the future. “Are we going to go around the neighboring villages asking for a place to bury them?” he asked.

Palestinian man is shot and killed near a school

Separately, a Palestinian man that Israeli police said was armed with a rifle was shot and killed on Monday by Israeli forces near a school for refugees on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Israeli police said the man was shot after exiting his car with a military-style rifle. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry identified him as Ayman Al-Hashlamoun, a 30-year-old from Kufr Aqab on Jerusalem’s northern outskirts. They said his body remained in Israeli custody.

The shooting, which took place outside a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Kufr Aqab, near the Qalandia refugee camp, came amid broader violence in the occupied West Bank as Israel authorizes new settlements and revises the administrative measures governing areas under its control.

As of May 3, at least 45 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

But Paris is expected to use the two-day Africa Forward Summit, which it is co-hosting, to push a new Africa policy that focuses more on English-speaking countries and offers what it calls a “partnership of equals." Its new defense agreement with Kenya marks the direction it hopes to go.

France has long maintained a policy of economic, political and military sway over its former colonies dubbed Françafrique, which included keeping thousands of troops in the region. But after years of criticism from leaders and opposition parties in those countries over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach, France has been forced to withdraw most of those troops.

The summit — France's first in an English-speaking African country — will be attended by more than 30 heads of state and government, including from Francophone countries. On his arrival Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France may disagree with West African governments but “never disagrees with the people.”

Kenya’s newly ratified defense agreement with France has been criticized by civil society groups for granting too much immunity from local law to French troops, a sensitive issue in a country where a similar agreement with the United Kingdom has left a trail of hard-to-prosecute crimes against locals.

At a time when many African nations, particularly in the Sahel region, are reducing or expelling foreign military presences in what they say is a quest to reclaim their sovereignty, Kenya is hosting a growing international military presence.

The Kenya-France Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed on Oct. 29, 2025, by Kenya’s Defense Minister Soipan Tuya and French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet and ratified by parliament on April 8. The same month, it also ratified defense agreements with countries including the Czech Republic, China and Italy.

While defending the defense agreements, parliament defense committee chair Nelson Koech said Kenya's treaties with advanced militaries provide training and intelligence-sharing opportunities that will make its defense stronger.

Koech said the agreements were not a “surrender of sovereignty,” adding that newer agreements guarantee that foreign troops will be tried in Kenya in the event of serious crimes such as murder.

A month ahead of the summit, a contingent of around 800 French troops arrived in Kenya aboard a navy ship.

The agreement grants visiting French forces primary jurisdiction over their personnel for on-duty offenses, echoing broad legal protections in past UK pacts that shielded British soldiers from Kenyan courts amid scandals like the 2012 murder of a young woman named Agnes Wanjiru and the deadly 2021 Lolldaiga ranch fire.

A British soldier is due to be extradited after Kenyan courts found him answerable for the 2012 death of Wanjiru, who was last seen alive in his company near the British troops’ training grounds in Nanyuki, central Kenya.

Hours after announcing Game 5 between the Frost and Victoire would not be played on time, the league announced it was rescheduled for Tuesday night in Laval, Quebec.

Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the illness is limited to Montreal. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the PWHL is not revealing that information.

The PWHL said medical assessment has determined that the symptoms are not consistent with hantavirus.

The rodent-borne disease has drawn attention in recent days after several Canadians were identified as contacts linked to a deadly outbreak aboard an Antarctic cruise ship, though no Canadian cases have been confirmed.

“The decision was made following consultation with medical personnel and in accordance with the league’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of players, fans, staff and all those involved in the competition,” the PWHL said in its initial news release.

The winner will face the Ottawa Charge in the Walter Cup Final after they defeated the Boston Fleet in the other semifinal matchup. Minnesota won the title in each of the league’s first two years of existence and is going for a three-peat.

The regular-season champion Victoire and third-seeded Frost have alternated wins, splitting each of their two games at home, including Montreal's 1-0 triple-overtime win in Game 2. The Frost forced Game 5 with a 3-1 win at Minnesota on Friday night.

The teams flew together by charter to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4 but traveled back to Montreal separately on Saturday.

The PWHL said earlier in the day that Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-five final at Ottawa were set for May 18 and May 20.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Passengers began flying home aboard military and government planes Sunday after the MV Hondius anchored in the Canary Islands. Personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks escorted the travelers from ship to shore in Tenerife, an effort that concluded Monday.

“If they stayed longer on the ship, the situation could have been difficult,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization. He said citizens of the countries passengers are returning to should know “there is nothing to fear, the risk is low, this is not another COVID.”

Three cruise ship passengers have died, and six people with confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus are being quarantined, according to the WHO. The lab results of the American who tested positive were inconclusive, WHO spokesperson Sarah Tyler said Monday.

Health authorities say it's the first hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. While there is no cure or vaccine for hantavirus, the WHO says early detection and treatment improves survival rates.

The ship's captain, Jan Dobrogowski, issued a video message Monday praising passengers and crew for their courage and perseverance, and he called for respect for their privacy.

“I could not imagine sailing through these circumstances with a better group of people, guests and crew alike,” he said.

New cases in France, United States

The French woman who tested positive for the hantavirus was in intensive care in stable condition at a Paris hospital, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Monday. He said four French passengers who returned Sunday tested negative but remained in isolation at the same hospital.

One of 18 evacuated passengers flown to the U.S. also tested positive for the hantavirus but was not showing symptoms, while another had mild symptoms, U.S. health officials said.

After landing early Monday, 16 American passengers — one of them a British-U.S. dual citizen — were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which has a federally funded quarantine facility and a biocontainment unit for treating people with highly infectious diseases. They were being assessed to determine if they had close contact with any symptomatic people and their risk levels for spreading the virus.

An American who tested positive for hantavirus on the cruise ship was taken to the Omaha campus' biocontainment unit and will be tested again. The passenger “is doing well and not having symptoms at this time,” said Dr. Angela Hewlett, the unit's medical director.

The others taken to Nebraska will be monitored in quarantine for several days. They arrived “in good shape, good spirits,” said Dr. Michael Wadman, the quarantine unit's medical director.

Two additional American passengers, a couple, arrived Monday at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. One of them had mild symptoms and will be tested for hantavirus.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean, just because someone has symptoms, that they’re going to end up having this illness,” said Dr. Brendan Jackson of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some public health experts have accused the U.S. government of being slow to respond to the hantavirus outbreak. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rejected the notion that cuts at his agency had left the U.S. less prepared.

“We have this under control," Kennedy said Monday, “and we’re not worried about it.”

WHO recommends close monitoring of former passengers

Oceanwide Expeditions, which owns and operates the cruise ship, said 25 crew and two medical professionals remained on board Monday as the Hondius departed the Canary Islands. It was expected to arrive in Rotterdam on Sunday.

The Hondius left the southern Argentine port of Ushuaia on April 1 and a Dutch passenger died on board April 11. It wasn’t until early May that the WHO said it was reacting to a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the ship, which by that time was off the West African island nation of Cape Verde.

South African health authorities said on Monday that the condition of a British man admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg and being treated for hantavirus was gradually improving. He was evacuated from the ship on April 27 after becoming ill.

The Dutch couple who presented the first two cases had traveled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay before boarding the ship, the WHO said. They visited sites where the species of rat known to carry Andes virus was present.

Health officials say risk to public is low

Hantavirus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms — which can include fever, chills and muscle aches — usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.

Tedros of the WHO advised that returning passengers should stay in quarantine, either in their homes or in other facilities, for 42 days. He added that WHO cannot enforce its guidance, and that different countries may handle monitoring of passengers without symptoms in different ways.

Numerous countries have said their people will be quarantined or hospitalized for observation.

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This story has been corrected to show that it is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

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Corder reported from the Hague, Netherlands. AP journalists Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Mike Stobbe in New York; Collin Binkley in Washington and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed.

According to the Houston Police Department, the attack happened around 6:47 a.m. at the campus located at 6519 Fannin Street.

Investigators said the employee was stabbed in the upper body area, possibly the face or neck, on Level 5 of Garage 1.

The victim was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital. In an update sent to employees Monday afternoon, Houston Methodist officials said the employee is expected to be released from the hospital later the same day.

“We are relieved to share that she is being released from the hospital today,” Houston Methodist Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Roberta L. Schwartz said in the message. “She asked us to let everyone know that she is doing well, remains in good spirits, and appreciates the continued thoughts and prayers she has received.”

Hospital officials said several employees witnessed the attack and some immediately rendered emergency aid before Houston Fire Department crews and Texas Medical Center police arrived.

“We want to thank all of you who quickly assessed the situation and helped the employee,” the message stated.

Authorities said the incident does not appear to have been a targeted attack against the employee or Houston Methodist Hospital.

“I’m not sure who exactly it was, but any employee to get injured in a parking lot here is pretty scary,” said Serafi Lopez, who works at Houston Methodist Hospital.

HPD is actively searching for the suspect, described as a man with a beard wearing a red or orange hoodie, black pants and black sneakers.

“I’m not sure who exactly it was, but any employee to get injured in a parking lot here is pretty scary,” said Serafi Lopez, who works at Houston Methodist Hospital.

“It is a sign of the times; people have no regard for each other,” added Sondra Armstrong, who was visiting the hospital with a patient. “The world right now is unsafe, so you have to go out and make sure that you have all your shields on.”

KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding: "Do you park in this garage?"

Serafi Lopez: "I don’t park in this one specifically. But the garage I park in is still pretty close. This one’s the closest one to the hospital, so I think if it happens here, it’s pretty scary."

Houston Methodist said some buildings were temporarily placed on lockdown following the stabbing, but normal security operations are expected to resume Tuesday.

The hospital also announced increased patrols and security visibility across the Texas Medical Center area, including Garage 1, Smith Tower, Scurlock Tower, the OPC and JRB garages. TMC Police, METRO Police and HPD are also increasing patrols in the area.

Employees were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or Houston Methodist Public Safety.

Officials also shared several safety reminders, including parking in well-lit areas, having keys ready before approaching vehicles, avoiding sitting in parked cars and requesting security escorts if needed.

Houston Methodist also encouraged employees affected by the incident to seek counseling resources through the hospital’s employee assistance program.

The investigation remains ongoing.

On May 8, HCSO homicide detectives charged Laura Nicholson, 23, with two counts of injury to a child in connection with the deaths of her daughters, according to the sheriff’s office.

OUR FIRST REPORT: Two toddler girls drown in pool at Katy-area home

Sheriff Gonzalez said detectives began investigating the deaths of the two sisters, ages 2 and 3, after deputies responded Feb. 11 to a home in the 21000 block of Creek Edge Court in the Katy area for a reported drowning.

Authorities said both girls were found in the backyard pool by their grandmother. Investigators said it is not known how long the children had been in the water before they were discovered.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two young toddlers — sisters — in our community. May these little ones rest in peace. https://t.co/nqmxR2zIE8

— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) May 11, 2026

According to investigators, Nicholson was asleep on a couch inside the home when the children were found.

She later told authorities she woke up to her mother “screaming and hollering” after the children were discovered in the pool. Nicholson and the children’s grandmother then pulled the girls from the water, according to court records.

Investigators said Nicholson was arrested Monday in Florida by the Violent Criminals Apprehension Team working alongside the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. She was booked into the Lee County Jail.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two young toddlers — sisters — in our community,” Gonzalez said in a social media post announcing the arrest. “May these little ones rest in peace.”

Timeline laid out by investigators

Court records state deputies detained Nicholson and both grandparents at the scene while investigators worked to determine what happened.

The children’s grandmother told investigators she left the home around 9:30 a.m. to run errands. Before leaving, she said Nicholson was asleep on the couch while the children played in the living room.

The grandmother returned home shortly after 11 a.m. and noticed the back door partially open before finding both children in the pool, records state.

The children’s grandfather told investigators he returned home from work around 8:30 a.m., played with the girls while they were eating, and then went to bed around 9:30 a.m.

According to court documents, the grandfather said Nicholson was fit to care for the children but added that she “falls asleep a lot and this causes issues.”

Nicholson reportedly told detectives she had been staying at the home for about a year. She said she went to bed around 12:45 a.m. the night before while the children went to sleep around 8:30 p.m.

She told investigators the girls woke up around 7:45 a.m. and that she fed them before they started watching a movie.

Nicholson also told detectives the latch on the back door had been broken for two days and could not lock. She reportedly said the children had previously gotten out of the house and gone toward the pool area.

What investigators learned later

On April 30, officials with the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences released findings from the girls’ autopsies.

According to investigators, both children had cocaine and benzoylecgonine — a cocaine metabolite — in their blood.

The medical examiner noted drowning can be difficult to determine through an autopsy alone and is often determined through the facts and circumstances surrounding a death.

Officials said the autopsies could neither confirm nor rule out drowning as the cause of death.

However, the medical examiner stated that the children having access to the pool without proper fencing or functioning locks was “extremely dangerous,” and that inadequate supervision “could certainly have been a contributing factor” in the deaths.

Forensic experts also stated that any amount of cocaine in a 2- or 3-year-old child can cause serious bodily injury and substantially increase the risk of death.

Authorities have not determined how the children ingested the drug.

Investigators also learned from Child Protective Services that Nicholson’s mother previously accused her of using cocaine during an interview conducted after the children’s deaths. CPS had reportedly questioned Nicholson last year regarding separate drug allegations.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, The Cultural Landscape Foundation said the administration's moves to repaint the bottom of the Reflecting Pool blue without undergoing relevant reviews ran afoul to federal preservation laws governing historic sites. The group argued that the changes at the Reflecting Pool are part of President Donald Trump's broader effort to push through dramatic renovations in Washington without proper reviews and undermine the tone of the area.

"The design intent, to create a reflective surface that is subordinate, is fundamental to the solemn and hallowed visual and spatial connection between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial,” said Charles A. Birnbaum, the group's president and CEO, said in a statement. “A blue-tinted basin is more appropriate to a resort or theme park.”

Trump has taken a personal interest in the project, calling the area “filthy” before workers repainted the Reflecting Pool a color he has called “American flag blue.” His motorcade was driven over a drained and repainted Reflecting Pool last week to give him a chance for a firsthand review of the project.

Speaking at a Rose Garden event Monday evening, Trump said the pool would be reopened “sometime next week, week after.” He did not mention the lawsuit in his remarks but said the end result would be beautiful and rebuffed criticism that it was just a new paint job. “This is not paint," he said. "This is highly sophisticated stuff.”

The suit was filed against the Interior Department and the National Park Service, which oversee much of the renovations underway in Washington. Katie Martin, an Interior Department spokeswoman, said in a statement that Trump “has done more to make our nation’s capital a shining beacon than any other president in the history of this country.”

“The Department is proud of the work being carried out by our Park Service to ensure this magical spot can be enjoyed for not only our 250th, but for many generations to come,” she said.

Over the past year, Trump has bulldozed the East Wing to make way for a ballroom. His name was added to the facades of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center, which he plans to close for a two-year renovation. His face adorns a banner at the Department of Justice’s headquarters, among others. He is pushing for a triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery and has closed parks, including Lafayette Square across from the White House, for a rehab.

Many of those projects are also subject to litigation.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman will rule this week on whether the state’s flagship university’s handling of the protest was a violation of free speech rights or lawfully managed.

Ammer Qaddumi, a student organizer with the Palestine Solidarity Committee, was among the first to be arrested at a protest in April 2024. He was later suspended for three semesters. Qaddumi is set to graduate from the school this month, but the suspension could still threaten his employment, Pitman has said.

The protest at the center of the suit was a chaotic scene where state troopers used horses and riot gear to get protesters to disperse. The protesters were calling for UT-Austin to divest its multibillion dollar endowment from manufacturers supplying Israel weapons in its strikes on Gaza.

What UT-Austin says: In its first public defense, UT-Austin justified its suspension of Qaddumi on Monday, saying his conduct, not his position on Palestine, led to the discipline.

School officials said they had ordered PSC to cancel the protest, and that Qaddumi’s failure to cancel and proceed with the protest made him responsible for any disruption that followed.

“The documentation shows in his student conduct record he led students to violate university policy,” Katie McGee, the associate vice president and dean of students until last month, said. “There was a pattern of noncompliance that seemed to be entrenched.”

In explaining efforts to cancel the event, the university said they had reason to believe the protest would be disruptive because of a pair of Instagram posts that used near identical imagery to pro-Palestinian student groups at other college campuses, like Columbia University, where encampments had popped up.

Lawyers representing UT-Austin referenced “the Tinker test,” which came out of the 1969 landmark case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District and allowed schools to limit students’ free speech if they can prove substantial disruption.

McGee also was asked about Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order which directed universities that spring to revise free speech policies to prevent antisemitism. McGee said it had no part in how the school sanctioned students.

Why the student sued: Lawyers for Qaddumi argued UT-Austin restricted the student’s free speech because of his pro-Palestinian position for UT to divest.

“What Ammer Qaddumi did on April 24 is critical for protected speech,” said Grace Darrah, an attorney for the student. “UT targeted Ammer’s speech, specifically when it comes to encampment.”

UT-Austin had never pre-emptively canceled a protest before, nor did they discipline a smaller pro-Israel group that had gathered that day, according to the lawyers and school officials.

Lawyers also showed a series of videos and emails that demonstrated Qaddumi and the PSC had no intent to be disruptive during the protest. The group had never hosted an encampment before and had a longstanding presence on campus.

And as protesters gathered that day, Qaddumi directed them to not use amplified sounds or tents and to disperse after police orders to do so.

Qaddumi’s arrest marked a turning point in the protest, where tensions escalated, both parties agreed. But Joe Ahmad, an attorney representing Qaddumi, described an “irony” to blame Qaddumi for disruption that followed his arrest, given his efforts to urge students to follow school rules.

Why it matters: Qaddumi’s suit against UT-Austin could become a major test of how far public universities can go in policing political protest without violating the First Amendment. It may shape the ways universities can preemptively limit demonstrations in anticipation of disruption.

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

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

The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.

Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for a gas-tax suspension, saying it would provide much-needed relief for families and businesses that rely on their cars and trucks to get to work and school and run everyday errands.

As of Monday, the average national gas price was $4.52 a gallon, according to the AAA motor club, 50% higher than the average price of just under $3 a gallon before Trump began the war against Iran.

What the gas tax supports

The federal tax is currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, an amount that does not include state taxes, which often are higher. The tax provides more than $23 billion per year in revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.

Asked by reporters at the White House how long the tax should be suspended, Trump said, “Until it’s appropriate.” While the tax is only a small percentage of the price of gas, “it’s still money,” Trump said.

As gas prices have spiked, the Trump administration has released millions of barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and temporarily lifted sanctions on some Russian and Iranian oil shipments already at sea. The U.S. is negotiating with countries reliant on Middle East crude to join a coalition to police the Strait of Hormuz, where about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil normally flows.

Trump needs Congress — and they're beginning to react

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said on social media Monday that he will introduce legislation to suspend the gas tax. Democrats have previously sponsored similar legislation. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., also said in a post on X that she will introduce a bill “to suspend the federal gas tax in light of Trump’s recent remarks.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday he has not “been a fan” of a gas tax suspension, but added: "You know, I’ve got some colleagues out there who think it’s a good idea. So, we’ll hear them out.''

Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said he'd prefer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to “normalize gas prices" without legislation. “Obviously, any time you suspend the gas tax, that leaves a big hole in the highway trust fund, which also has implications down the road,” he said.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said that "instead of suspending the tax, we should suspend the war.”

The ongoing spike in gas prices has set off alarms among some Republicans that it could hurt the party's chances in the midterm elections.

Sen. John Cornyn, who is in a tough runoff race later this month to keep his seat, said he wants to know how roads and bridges would be paid for if the tax is lifted. But he said there’s a “difference between a temporary suspension and a permanent suspension.”

“A temporary suspension to get through this sort of bumpy time because of the uncertainty about energy prices, I could live with that,” he said.

Trump has previously said higher fuel prices are worth paying to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. That hardline message appeared to soften Sunday as Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration was “open to all ideas,” including a suspension of the gas tax, during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

A bill sponsored by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Mark Kelly of Arizona would suspend the federal tax through Oct. 1. A similar measure was sponsored in the House by Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire.

"Trump’s war of choice with Iran is driving up gas prices across the country — and Americans shouldn’t have to bear the additional economic burden of Trump’s reckless decision making,” Blumenthal said in introducing the bill.

Kelly told reporters Monday he still prefers his legislation but would take “whatever we can get at this point.”

“People need relief,” he said.

Several states, including Indiana and Georgia, have recently suspended their taxes to alleviate high prices amid the war. Kentucky and Utah have reduced their state tax. Other states are weighing similar suspensions or tax reductions.

There are drawbacks, industry group says

The gasoline tax is the single largest source of revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.

While proposed bills would offset any lost Highway Trust Fund revenue with general funds, the tax suspension could raise the federal deficit and jeopardize the long-term sustainability of investments for highway and public transit programs, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, which represents the transportation construction industry.

The group cites studies showing that many retailers do not pass on the full amount of the gas tax reduction to consumers. Research also suggests that state and federal gas taxes are just one component of a complex pricing scheme that includes the global price of oil and other factors.

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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Steven Sloan in Washington contributed to this story.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling in April that struck down a majority-Black U.S. House district in Louisiana as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, significantly weakening a provision of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Alabama officials had pointed to the Louisiana case as reason for the Supreme Court to end a judicial order to use a court-imposed House map until after the 2030 census. The high court on Monday overturned that order and directed a lower court to reconsider the case in light of the Louisiana decision. That could free the state to instead use a map approved in 2023 by the Republican-led legislature that includes only one district where Black residents comprise a majority.

Anticipating a court reversal, Alabama officials recently enacted a law allowing it to void the results of a May 19 primary for some congressional districts and instead hold a new primary under the revised district boundaries. Alabama had asked for an expedited decision ahead of the primary.

Alabama Republicans praised the decision.

“Today, the Supreme Court vindicated the state’s long-held position. Now, the power to draw Alabama’s maps goes back to the people’s elected representatives. That’s our Legislature,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a video statement. Marshall said his job was “to put the legislature in the best possible legal position to draw a congressional map that favors Republicans seven-to-zero.” He concluded with the statement, “Stay tuned.”

Republican House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter called the decision “a massive victory not just for Alabama, but for conservatives across the country.”

In a dissent to Monday's brief ruling, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the Louisiana case had reversed only one of the grounds upon which the Alabama case had been decided. Although the Voting Rights Act violation is gone, Sotomayor said a lower court could still find that Alabama had intentionally discriminated against Black voters in violation of the 14th Amendment.

The decision was a setback for Black residents and groups that had waged a legal fight for several years to get a second Alabama congressional district where Black voters had an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

“We are witnessing a return to Jim Crow. And anybody who is alarmed by these developments — as everybody should be — better be making a plan to vote in November to put an end to this madness while we still can," NAACP National President Derrick Johnson said in a statement.

Deuel Ross, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney who argued the Alabama case, said, "We will consider all of our options to fight to protect the rights of these voters and keep the court ordered map in place.”

Shalela Dowdy, a plaintiff in the Alabama redistricting case, said she was disappointed in the decision.

“For me, I feel like this is a step backwards towards the Jim Crow era for congressional representation. The state is not going to stop here,” Dowdy said, predicting Alabama will eventually go after the remaining district.

Primaries are just a week away

The decision comes a week ahead of the May 19 primaries, setting up a potentially confusing scenario for voters. Alabama lawmakers last week approved legislation to allow special primaries in four impacted congressional districts if the state is able to switch maps. The special elections would be set by the governor.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen called the decision a “historic win for Alabama voters.” Allen said the May 19 primaries will proceed as scheduled and his office will remain in close contact with the governor’s office "as this situation continues developing.”

The change would give Republicans a chance to reclaim the district now represented by Rep. Shomari Figures, a Democrat. Figures was elected in 2024 under the court-ordered map. His election gave the state — where Black residents comprise more than one quarter of the population — two Black representatives in its congressional delegation for the first time in history.

Figures called the Supreme Court action an “incredibly unfortunate decision” that “sets the stage for Alabama to go back to the 1950s and '60s in terms of Black political representation in the state.”

Alabama is one of several states trying to change their congressional district boundaries before the November elections as part of a nationwide redistricting battle being won, so far, by Republicans.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, immediately after a census, to account for population changes. But President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans last year to redraw congressional districts to their advantage in a bid to hold onto a narrow House majority in the midterm elections.

Democrats in California countered with their own redistricting. And numerous Republican-led states have followed. The high court’s Louisiana ruling provided fuel for Republicans to intensify their redistricting efforts.

So far, Republicans think they could win as many as 14 additional seats in the November elections from new districts enacted in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Democrats think they could win up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah. But Democrats suffered a major setback when the Virginia Supreme Cour t overturned a voter-approved redistricting amendment that could have yielded four more seats for the party.

___

Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri, and Chandler from Montgomery, Alabama.

Republican senators returning to Washington on Monday faced questions about the plan, which would spend taxpayer dollars to secure the East Wing project after Trump had said it would only be paid for with private donations. He has said the construction would cost around $400 million, but the White House had not previously proposed a number for security costs.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the total is “what it costs to protect the President of the United States in a very dangerous time and a dangerous world.”

“Keeping the leader of the free world safe is an expensive proposition,” Thune said. ”The Secret Service has a job to defend and protect the president, and we need to make sure they have the tools to do it.”

Democrats say they will try and defeat the plan, which Republicans added to a partisan spending bill that would restore funding for immigration enforcement agencies that the Democrats have blocked since February.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a letter to colleagues Monday that they will push Republicans to strip the security money, noting that Trump said a few months ago not one penny of taxpayer money would be used for the ballroom.

“Well, give me a break. He’s put a billion dollars in the budget for it. This staggering waste of taxpayer dollars has nothing, nothing to do with security and everything to do with Trump’s ego,” Schumer said.

Senators want to know more about the security money

Republicans are using a partisan budget maneuver to push the spending legislation through Congress without any Democratic votes. But it is still unclear if the security money will have enough backing among Republicans to advance, as some have said they are not yet ready to support it.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she wants clarification on how the funding would be used from the Secret Service Director Sean Curran, who is expected to attend a closed-door lunch with GOP senators Tuesday. Collins said the ballroom should be paid for with private donations, “as the president had indicated.”

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., also said the funding should be private. “That's still my preference,” he said, adding that Congress had also increased the Secret Service budget after the attempted assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the 2024 campaign.

“Was it spent wisely? Do they really need more at this time?” Paul asked. "And a lot of people think this might be papering over for the, you know, the ballroom.”

Other Senate Republicans said they would support the request. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said he had “no problem” with it. Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis said the private funding would go for construction of the ballroom, but “the security part, there’s a role for the taxpayers.”

House Republicans have questions, as well

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was also expected to attend the Republican lunch Tuesday as some House Republicans were already questioning whether they could support the Senate plan. The House has not yet released its own bill.

Republican Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia said last week that he would look at the Senate security proposal “very carefully and make sure those things are in the national interest.”

Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., also said he wanted to hear more details. He asked colleagues to recognize the “volatile times” and the need to ensure the president, members of Congress and guests can gather in a safe location.

"If Republican and Democratic members can take a step back and say this is a real security issue, then maybe it will get done. But if Democrats dig in, it’ll be really challenging to pass that, as you can only imagine,” Haridopolos said.

Schumer said Democrats will push the Senate parliamentarian to strike the ballroom security money from the budget bill and offer amendments that force Republicans to vote on it if it remains in the legislation when voting is expected to begin next week.

White House has said the ballroom will be 'heavily fortified'

Lawmakers in both parties were looking for more detail about how the money would be spent. The Senate bill would designate the money for the U.S. Secret Service, including for “security adjustments and upgrades” related to the ballroom project, but there was little additional detail.

The legislation says the money would support enhancements to the ballroom project, “including above-ground and below-ground security features,” but specifies it may not be used for non-security elements.

The White House has said in court documents that the East Wing project would be “heavily fortified,” including bomb shelters, military installations and a medical facility underneath the ballroom. Trump has said it should include bulletproof glass and be able to repel drone attacks.

Trump said Friday that the money would be for “many of the projects" and it wouldn't all be for the ballroom.

“They want to do certain things militarily with respect to the ballroom, having nothing to do with us or having to do with the safety of the president,” Trump said. “So having to do with a lot of things, but we are going to have a safe ballroom.”

The woman, who asked to be identified only as Anne, says a caller claiming to represent a company called “Dynamic Energy” contacted her to say trucks would soon be in her neighborhood checking for high electric usage and weatherization issues, work she was told was tied to the state’s power grid.

“I almost fell for it,” Anne said.

The caller referenced a company called “ECORP” as the entity running the state’s utility grid — but Anne knew better.

“She said, ‘Yeah, they run the utility grid for the state of Texas,’ and I said, ‘No, that’s ERCOT,’” Anne said.

That slip was the first red flag. The second came quickly.

“They said they needed to come into my house and check my attic,” Anne said.

• Experts warn AI is making romance scams more convincing than ever

After Anne contacted Precinct 5, authorities were unfamiliar with the scheme. Houston Police and the BBB said the same.

“That is a little bit different. We haven’t quite seen that before,” a BBB representative said.

The BBB says most utility impersonator schemes stay remote, with callers demanding money or personal information over the phone. While some scammers do occasionally go door to door posing as workers, a scheme that combines a phone call with a request for home access by scheduling a time is raising new concerns. It also points to a local scammer.

“If they want access to your home, they could be trying to steal items from the inside,” said Leah Napoliello of the Houston Better Business Bureau.

KPRC 2 reached out to ERCOT, which confirmed it does not send contractors to private homes. Companies with names similar to those mentioned in the call also said they are not aware of their names being used in impersonation schemes.

• ‘Deeply concerning’: Klein HS head football coach faces allegations involving ‘misconduct’ from past role in Tomball ISD

The BBB recommends the following steps to avoid falling victim to utility-related schemes:

• Never take an unsolicited call at face value
• No unsolicited caller should be asking for access to your home
• Ignore pressure to act without verification
• Hang up and contact your utility company using the number on your bill or the company’s official website

“If your utility company contacts you out of the blue wanting some type of action, you should treat that with suspicion,” Napoliello said.

The BBB warns that schemes are constantly evolving, making it more important than ever to stay alert.

Then, she says, everything suddenly changed.

“It’s a bit disturbing because some changes were made specific for my child and I wasn’t even involved in the conversation,” Kushaliyeva told KPRC 2 News.

Kushaliyeva says she recently learned her daughter, who is on the autism spectrum, will have to relocate from Sinclair Elementary to Wainwright Elementary under Houston ISD’s proposed special education changes for the 2026-27 school year.

• RELATED: U.S. Department of Education opens disability discrimination investigation into HISD special education proposal

“So my meeting literally just happened on April 1st or 2nd,” Kushaliyeva said. “At that meeting we talked about what’s going to be expected for next year, where she is today when it comes to her objectives and goals, what the next year is going to look like… and then here comes this change.”

The proposed changes are now drawing federal attention.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced Friday, May 8^th, it has opened an investigation into HISD to determine whether the district’s plans could violate federal disability laws, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

According to the federal investigation, HISD is allegedly centralizing certain special education services and could separate some students with disabilities from their non-disabled peers beginning next school year.

Federal officials say parents have raised concerns that some students could be moved into more restrictive learning environments and face longer transportation times to specialized campuses.

“Schools cannot exclude students with disabilities simply because of their disability status,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. “Placement decisions must be made individually, based on each student’s needs, rather than by blanket policies that segregate students by disability category.”

Kushaliyeva says she still does not fully understand why her daughter’s campus assignment is changing.

“What’s the explanation? What reason did the district give you?” KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun asked.

“No reason,” Kushaliyeva responded. “In their official letter it says to better support the needs or something else, which I’m not sure if they know what the needs of my child are to begin with.”

• RELATED: ‘Don’t move kids’: HISD parents push back against proposed special education overhaul

KPRC 2 News reached out to HISD with several questions about the proposed changes, including how students are being selected for relocation, what services will change, and what support families can expect next school year.

The district did not directly answer those questions but instead referred us to an FAQ page outlining the upcoming changes.

In a video posted online through HISD Now, Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole said the district’s goal is to expand access to special education services across more campuses.

“Historically in HISD, some students who are special education students were required to go to certain campuses to receive their services because their zoned campus or their home campus may not have offered that,” Hole said.

Hole said the district now plans to provide services at more campuses across HISD.

“What we actually can do now is provide services to them at any campus at HISD,” Hole said. “So, we’re really increasing their choice and their access to services across the district.”

The district also says it plans to increase support in self-contained classrooms by reducing class sizes and adding more staff.

“We’re focused on increasing resources and supports,” Hole said. “That looks like smaller class sizes, a larger number of adults in the classroom so that there’s smaller groups of students who are learning together.”

Still, district leaders acknowledge some students will have to move campuses under the changes.

“Some students though will be required to move campus locations so that they can access the services in the self-contained setting,” Hole said.

For Kushaliyeva, the uncertainty surrounding those decisions remains one of the biggest concerns.

“A lot of these children are going to be under the scrutiny of these decisions,” she said, “But nobody’s thinking about what that would actually mean in real life for us, the parents, the caretakers and the children themselves.”

In a statement to KPRC 2 News regarding the federal investigation, HISD said any review of the district’s special education updates “will show that all special education updates for the 2026–27 school year focus on increasing access to services in the least restrictive environment, strengthening systems to improve the quality of instruction, and improving student outcomes.”

Freddie Hendricks, a middle school theater teacher at Utopian Academy for the Arts in Ellenwood, Georgia, and who founded the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, is getting the special Tony Award that honors educators.

Hendricks has been an arts educator for more than 30 years and was an honorable mention for the special Tony in 2023 and 2024. He estimates between 20 and 30 of his students have gone on to Broadway, including Tony-nominated Saycon Sengbloh, and one, Kenan Thompson, who is a household star on “Saturday Night Live.”

“I’ve always had a passion for theater. I’m an actor myself and when I got into teaching years and years and years and years ago, it became my passion," he says.

Ellington, who has earned his third Tony nomination for “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” credits Hendricks as “the first person to show me the importance of storytelling in theater.” Ellington watched as shy kids who started quiet at the beginning of Hendricks' class were by the end the featured singer or performer.

Hendricks graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts. He created “Soweto, Soweto, Soweto: A Township is Calling!” and has also taught in Europe and South Africa.

He is artistic director, writer and teacher for the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, which is comprised of students ranging from 11-20. At Utopian, Hendricks trains students in a “rigorous, ensemble-based program of acting, movement and storytelling.”

“A lot of kids these days, they don’t love themselves,” he says. “They don’t know who they are, for one thing. And I just kind of start with that and then go with loving themselves for who they are and letting them know up front, ‘In here, this is a safe space. You’re loved in here. You’re accepted in here. This is your home.’”

Hendricks is known for encouraging his students to come up with topics they care about — poverty, gun violence, teen pregnancy, apartheid or AIDS — and building performances around their ideas from their perspective.

“That just empowered these kids so much,” says Ellington. “Not only empowered them from an internal place of owning who you are, but empowering them as storytellers and showing the importance of storytellers.”

The annual Excellence in Theatre Education Award bestowed by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University recognizes U.S. educators who have “demonstrated exemplary impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession.”

The award includes a $10,000 prize for Utopian Academy and a pair of tickets to the June 7 Tony ceremony and gala in New York City. Hendricks' students will also receive a visiting master class taught by Carnegie Mellon drama professors.

A panel of judges comprised of the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon and other leaders from the theater industry selects the winner, from candidates submitted by the public.

Hendricks imparts the importance of theater skills — like collaborating, listening, interpreting, storytelling, checking your ego, taking criticism — even if his pupils go on to careers outside the arts.

“I just want to let them know that life is great out there and the key to success is to never stop the pursuit of it. Whatever you want, keep going. It’s not going to happen tomorrow. It’s not going to happen next year. Or if it does, you may lose it, but it will come again if you continue to pursue whatever it is that you desire.”

___

More on the Tony Awards: https://apnews.com/hub/tony-awards

What starts as a simple text message, friend request, or online romance can quickly turn into financial fraud.

Investigators say scammers are now using artificial intelligence to create fake online identities that appear more realistic than ever. The schemes often target women through dating apps and social media platforms, using AI-generated photos, videos, and even cloned voices to build trust and manipulate victims emotionally.

In some cases, women have lost tens of thousands of dollars before realizing the person they were communicating with never actually existed.

• Which Texas city is the capital for scammers? Can you guess?

Experts say many scammers attempt to move relationships forward quickly while avoiding live video calls or in-person meetings. They may also create fake emergencies to pressure victims into sending money or sharing sensitive information.

The Better Business Bureau says there are several warning signs people should watch for.

“If you’re on a dating site, for instance, and you see someone’s photos, you can do an independent verification of your own,” said Leah Napoliello, VP of Investigations BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas. “You can do a reverse image search and see if that photo appears on any other sites under a different person’s name.”

Napoliello also warned people not to automatically trust everything they see online.

“Sometimes with AI images or videos, there may be blurry areas or odd shadowing or lighting,” she said. “You want to look very carefully and pause and examine everything thoroughly.”

• $75,000 lost in hours: Alvin couple’s story shows how quickly fake bank texts and calls can hit

Experts recommend never sending money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or banking information to someone you have not met and verified in real life.

They also encourage people to:

• Keep social media accounts private when possible
• Limit personal information shared online
• Use strong passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication on banking and social media accounts
• Set up fraud alerts through banks or credit card companies

Investigators say talking openly about scams with friends and family can also help others recognize the warning signs before becoming victims.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted should stop all communication immediately, change passwords, contact their bank, and report the incident to the FTC or FBI.

Authorities say one of the most important safety tools is trusting your instincts. If something feels suspicious online, experts recommend stopping and verifying before responding.

To file an FTC complaint online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to report scams, fraud, or unfair business practices. The process is fast, helps law enforcement detect patterns, and can be done anonymously. You can also report identity theft specifically at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)

The 2024 rule adopted under former President Joe Biden was meant to refocus the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management, which oversees about 10% of land in the U.S. It allowed public property to be leased for restoration in the same way that oil companies lease land for drilling.

But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has said the rule could have blocked access to hundreds of thousands of acres (hectares) of land — preventing energy and timber production and hurting ranchers who graze on public lands.

Supporters argued that conservation had long been a secondary consideration at the land bureau, neglecting its mission under the 1976 Federal Lands Policy Management Act. While the bureau previously issued leases for conservation purposes in limited cases, it never had a dedicated program prior to the Biden administration.

Bobby McEnaney with the Natural Resources Defense Council said repealing the rule ”means less protection for the clean drinking water, less protection for endangered wildlife that depend on healthy habitat, and less accountability when corporations leave these landscapes damaged and degraded."

In documents released Monday, administration officials said it exceeded the land bureau’s authority for outside parties to be allowed to obtain conservation leases.

Industry groups and their Republican allies in Congress strongly opposed the rule and had lobbied to repeal it. They said the change under Biden violated the “multiple use” mandate for Interior Department lands by catapulting the “non-use” of federal lands — meaning restoration leases — to a position of prominence.

“This action provides greater clarity and predictability for independent oil and natural gas producers—many of whom rely on consistent permitting and leasing processes to operate efficiently and invest in domestic energy supply,” Dan Naatz with the Independent Petroleum Association of America said in a statement.

The federal government's vast land holdings are concentrated in Western states including Alaska, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Since taking office, Trump has pursued a flurry of actions aimed at boosting fossil fuel production from those taxpayer-owned sites. The Republican administration also has sought to sideline some renewable energy projects, claiming they were unfairly subsidized under Biden.

The repeal is effective 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register, which was scheduled for Tuesday.

It comes after Republicans in Congress in recent months canceled land management plans adopted in the closing days of Biden's administration that restricted development in large areas of Alaska, Montana and North Dakota.

In addition to its surface land holdings, the Bureau of Land Management regulates publicly owned underground mineral reserves — such as coal for power plants and lithium for renewable energy — across more than 1 million square miles (2.5 million square kilometers). The bureau has a history of industry-friendly policies and for more than a century has sold grazing permits and oil and gas leases.

The affidavit states a Texas City officer responded around 1:30 a.m. Saturday to Highway 3 for a report of a blue Toyota SUV parked in the left lane.

According to the document, the officer found a black 2022 Toyota 4Runner with its hazard lights on, parked behind a vehicle. The officer wrote that Wyatt was in the driver’s seat, the ignition was on, and she appeared to be asleep.

When the officer opened the driver’s door and turned off the vehicle for safety, he wrote that he woke Wyatt up and asked where she was. Wyatt reportedly told the officer she was “in heaven.”

According to the affidavit, Wyatt later said she was in Houston and on her way to Galveston for a conference at 11:30 a.m. the following morning.

The officer wrote that Wyatt said she had dinner, drank wine at her home around 10 p.m., and initially said she had one glass of wine. The affidavit states she later told the officer she had two glasses.

The officer wrote that he smelled alcohol coming from Wyatt, noticed she was swaying while standing near the vehicle, and saw clues of intoxication during a horizontal gaze nystagmus test.

According to the affidavit, Wyatt told the officer she did not feel comfortable doing other field sobriety tests because of a prior left foot injury.

The officer wrote that Wyatt was unsafe to operate a vehicle and placed her in custody for DWI.

Wyatt was previously arrested for DWI in Houston in 2023. That case was later dismissed after she completed a pretrial diversion program.

KPRC 2 obtained the Houston Police Department report from that prior case through a public records request. In that report, officers said Wyatt’s breathalyzer results were between .365 and .367 — more than four times the legal limit of .08.

Wyatt was also arrested in Harris County last December and charged with burglary of a motor vehicle outside a business on Washington Avenue. That case was no-billed by a grand jury last month.

Wyatt is currently seeking re-election as Harris County Treasurer in the November 3 election.

KPRC 2 went to Wyatt’s home seeking comment on Sunday, but no one answered the door. We have also requested body camera footage from the latest arrest in Texas City.

The policy research group Texas 2036 analyzed the state’s enrollment data and projected that about 100,000 fewer students would attend public schools by the end of the current decade. However, some projections show that number growing by nearly half a million over that time.

Hispanic students accounted for 81% of this school year’s enrollment drop, Texas 2036 found. Students learning English and those from low-income families experienced some of the sharpest declines. Over the past year, federal and state leaders increased anti-immigration rhetoric, in some cases detaining Texas students and prompting fear across communities. 

Meanwhile, the rate of Texas families having children has declined in recent years. Districts have lost students to other schooling options, with more families expected to opt out of their public neighborhood campuses as the state launches school vouchers later this year.

Texas educates about 5.5 million public school students, 53% of whom are Hispanic, 24% are white and 13% are Black.

“What stands out in the data is that public school enrollment is falling even as Texas continues to grow,” said Carlo Castillo, a senior research analyst at Texas 2036, in a statement. “In many parts of the state, population gains are no longer translating into public school enrollment growth. That points to a broader structural shift policymakers and district leaders will need to plan for.”

The nonprofit shared the findings just ahead of Monday’s education committee hearing for the Texas House. The focus included updates on enrollment trends and the stability of Texas’ school funding system. 

The state funds public schools based on attendance. Some districts have cut programs and shuttered campuses recently, despite a nearly $8.5 billion increase to public education funding approved last year. 

As the hearing began, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath laid out the enrollment drop to lawmakers, noting, “We cannot tell you the precise cause of this.”

In recent years, growing immigration helped public schools manage the slump in birth rates, Bob Templeton, who studies Texas’ education demographics, said during the Monday hearing. 

Now, districts will serve higher concentrations of students with significant needs, but they will have less funding due to drops in the number of children born and slowing immigration, Templeton said. He estimated that public school enrollment could drop by roughly 500,000 in the next four to five years. 

“This is not another blip or a one-off,” Templeton told lawmakers. “This is an inflection point.”

Districts in urban areas, the Panhandle and along the southern border disproportionately experienced the enrollment decline, according to the Texas 2036 report. The 2.1% decline in Hispanic enrollment — or 61,781 students — represents “the single largest year-over-year reversal” among the four major demographic groups. 

Mary Lynn Pruneda, the director of education and workforce policy for Texas 2036, told The Texas Tribune that her group could not determine to what extent increased immigration enforcement contributed to the enrollment loss. 

Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat running for governor, said during a press conference Monday, “I wouldn’t be surprised if it is contributing to it.”

Esmeralda Alday said she hears directly from families who question whether they should send their children to school at a time when immigration officers have increased activity. She is the senior director of programs and impact at ImmSchools, a national nonprofit that supports immigrant students in Texas and other states.

Some parents considered pulling their kids from bilingual education programs or sending their children to virtual schools out of fear that officers will target them, Alday said. 

“I’ve heard it directly from the teachers, from principals, saying, ‘Hey, these kids just disappeared. Can you help us locate them or help us figure out what happened to them or to their parents?’” Alday said. “So, yes. It’s fear.”

Disclosure: Texas 2036 has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The annual event, benefiting the Houston Food Bank, has raised more than $1.2 million to help fight hunger in the Houston area, which equates to more than 3.6 million meals.

Visitors are invited to purchase one of more than 1,500 one-of-a-kind handmade bowls, created out of ceramics, wood, glass or other materials, and donated by local artists.

“For a $25 bowl donation, you can help provide 75 meals,” said Sean Crowl, Houston Foodbank’s Special Events Manager, who pointed out that more than one million people in the Houston area are considered food-insecure, meaning they don’t have consistent access to nutritious food.

As part of an international initiative to fight hunger, Empty Bowls has become a popular fundraising event in Houston. This year the event will be held at Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards on Saturday, May 16th starting at 10am.

There is also a ticketed preview night on Friday, May 15th for those who wish to shop early and get first pick. Guests will also enjoy light bites, food, and live music. Visit the Empty Bowls website to purchase tickets. 100% of bowl sales and ticket proceeds directly support Empty Bowls Houston.

Republicans' rush to gerrymander congressional districts across several Southern states after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling hollowed out the Voting Rights Act is confusing voters and creating logistical headaches for local election officials. The changes are hitting while primary season is in progress.

The chaotic upheaval to an election season that could determine which party controls the U.S. House is the latest fallout from an intensely partisan gerrymandering battle initiated by President Donald Trump last year to protect Republicans' slim majority.

The Supreme Court's decision last month severely weakening the Voting Rights Act required Louisiana to reconsider a map drawn in 2024 with two majority minority congressional districts that elected Black representatives. The GOP-controlled Legislature could eliminate one or both in a state where roughly 30% of the population is Black.

The ruling also encouraged Republicans in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee to consider eliminating four Democratic districts among them, three represented by Black lawmakers. Florida has a new map meant to cost Democrats four of their eight seats, out of 28.

In Louisiana, 66-year-old New Orleans resident Sallie Davis voted early last week. Her ballot allowed her to vote for Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, but a sign at her polling booth showed his race crossed off with a ballpoint pen. She was confused and frustrated — especially when a poll worker told her to go with what the sign seemed to convey. She's now worried that her entire ballot will not be counted.

"I was supposed to believe a piece of paper with an X on it marking out the person I wanted to vote for,” she said, her voice breaking as she recounted her experience later. “I think I have been disenfranchised. I think my vote, that I just voted on, it's not going to count or something. I think it's illegal.”

Primaries postponed, deadlines compressed

Louisiana's primary is Saturday, and a week of early voting there began May 2, two days after Republican Gov. Jeff Landry declared an emergency and suspended congressional primaries to give lawmakers a chance to draw a new map.

The Louisiana secretary of state's office said nearly 179,000 primary ballots had been cast as of Friday, including about 53,000 absentee ballots returned by mail. The ballots included U.S. House races, but votes in those contests won't be counted.

In a “60 Minutes” interview that CBS aired Sunday, the governor started to say, “It's not a big deal,” but didn't complete the word “deal.”

“If anyone has a grievance, take it to the United States Supreme Court,” he said.

In Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee, Republicans said new maps, increasing GOP seats, would better reflect their states' conservative values. Alabama lawmakers passed legislation Friday allowing a do-over of congressional primaries.

Alabama’s primary is May 19, and voting in congressional races will occur then as planned, with the old districts. But the state doesn't expect to count those votes because the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed it to switch to different districts.

Mississippi held its primaries in March, but a federal court has ordered it to redraw its state Supreme Court districts, and Trump is pushing Republicans to redraw the state's four congressional districts.

A special session of its Legislature is set for May 20. Renovations of the House chamber will force members to meet at the Old State Capitol, where, decades ago, Mississippi lawmakers passed Jim Crow laws suppressing Black voting.

“Modern-day voter suppression relies on election administration errors and chaos, and that’s what we’re going to see play out in all of these states,” said Amir Badat, a Jackson, Mississippi, voting rights attorney and activist.

Tennessee continues yearlong fight

Tennessee was the first state to enact a new map since the U.S. Supreme Court decision, but Trump's push for redistricting started in Texas last year. Democrats countered in California and tried but ran afoul of the courts in Virginia.

Tennessee’s new map divided Memphis among three congressional districts. Before its enactment last week, the state’s elections coordinator told county officials in a memo that it would mean reprogramming election systems, retraining poll workers and possibly adjusting precinct boundaries, meaning some voters’ polling places could change.

Tennessee’s congressional primaries will go forward Aug. 6 as planned, with candidates required to qualify by Friday.

In South Carolina, lawmakers could move all the state's June 9 primaries to August, or just the congressional races. While mail balloting is limited because the state requires an excuse, more than 6,800 mail ballots already had been sent to voters — with 260 returned — as of Friday, the state Elections Commission said.

A separate election for congressional primaries would cost $3 million and the time for preparations would be compressed, Conway Belangia, the commission's executive director, told lawmakers Friday.

“It will be difficult, but it will be possible,” he said.

Activists see problems ahead for voters

Michael McClanahan, the NAACP's Louisiana State Conference president, is hearing “total confusion” as voters call him and ask, "Is there an election?”

“People say, ’I ain’t going to vote because the governor’s suspended the election,'" he said. "But he didn’t, he only suspended one aspect of it.”

In Alabama, Senate Democratic leader Bobby Singleton said he has been fielding calls from confused public officials.

“These are the people who are the head of elections,” he said. "They don’t know what to do.“

Voting rights activists see a harbinger for Memphis voters in problems that arose in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2022, when Republican legislators divided the state's capital city into three congressional districts to take a seat from Democrats. A state report said more than 3,000 Nashville-area voters were assigned to incorrect districts and more than 430 cast ballots in the wrong races in the November 2022 election.

“It’s going to be really hard for the election commissions to be able to keep up with this short timeline,” Matia Powell, executive director of the voting rights nonprofit Civic TN, said during a conference call Friday with other voting rights activists in the South.

Some fear confusion will lead to distrust and apathy

Anneshia Hardy, executive director of Alabama Values, which provides support to voting and civil rights groups, said people will lose trust in elections if they believe the rules can change every two years.

“Once people stop believing that the process is stable and fair, disengagement is going to increase, and that's one of the biggest dangers here,” she said. “Democracy doesn’t just depend on voting systems existing but really on people believing that their participation matters.”

At least a few Democratic voters who went to the Louisiana Capitol on Friday to protest the gerrymandering expressed doubt about whether they still have a political voice.

Davis came to the State Capitol in Baton Rouge and had a bullhorn with her for a protest in which she yelled, “Whose vote? Our vote!”

David Victorian, a 79-year-old Vietnam veteran from Baton Rouge, said: “I’m concerned for the survival of the democracy that we’re supposed to be living in.”

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Hanna reported from Topeka, Kan. Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., and Kim Chandler, in Montgomery, Ala., contributed.

Is this the most wide open Preakness ever?

The morning line odds suggest it could be after Iron Honor was installed as a 9-2 favorite following Monday's draw.

With Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo held out of the race and a sizeable field of 14 horses currently in it, there's no clear choice to beat. Any number of entrants could conceivably be favored by the time the race starts Saturday at Laurel Park.

Taj Mahal (5-1), Chip Honcho (5-1), Incredibolt (5-1) and Ocelli (6-1) are the other top picks on the morning line. Napoleon Solo (8-1) was next, and trainer Chad Summers saw little reason his horse couldn't prevail.

“It’s the right opportunity with the right field, and we’ve already beaten the morning line favorite,” Summers said.

That's because Napoleon Solo was fifth in the Wood Memorial and Iron Honor was seventh. Iron Honor did win the Gotham Stakes in February.

Chad Brown, who has won the Preakness twice, trains Iron Honor. He chalked up the horse's seventh-place showing at the Wood Memorial on April 4 to getting bothered in the first turn and never really relaxing throughout that race. The decision was then made to take the blinkers off the horse.

“We’ve given him a change to get over that experience, and he seems to be in a good place right now training just the way we want him,” Brown said last week. “He’s been training very consistent, very relaxed.”

No Preakness favorite — when the race started — has had odds of 9-2 or longer since at least 1940. Often, it's the Derby winner going off at a short price, but now Golden Tempo is the third in the past five years to skip this race.

Perhaps that explains why this could be the largest Preakness field in 15 years. The previous time 14 horses made it to the starting gate was in 2011.

Post time Saturday is 7:01 p.m. at Laurel, which is hosting the middle race of the Triple Crown this year as Pimlico in Baltimore is rebuilt.

Three horses from the Derby are in the field — Ocelli, Incredibolt and Robusta (30-1). Great White (15-1) is also back after being scratched from the Derby when he threw his jockey just before the race began.

Ocelli was third in the Derby as a 70-1 shot. Incredibolt was sixth and Robusta was 14th.

Jose Ortiz, the jockey from Golden Tempo’s Derby win, is on Chip Honcho this time.

Taj Mahal is trained by Brittany Russell, who has won several meet training titles in Maryland. Taj Mahal has three wins in three starts, all at Laurel. He'll be on the inside after drawing the No. 1 post Monday.

“It is what it is. We'll just have to see how it goes,” Russell said. “He's a good gate horse, he has speed. So that'll help us.”

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AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

Officers responded to Cumming Elementary School around 7:30 a.m. and said the suspect made his way onto the roof of the building.

When he saw the police, he dropped the weapon and came down to speak with the officers.

No injuries were reported.

Statement from Alief ISD:

Dear Alief ISD community,

Cummings Elementary was on lockdown this morning due to an unidentified, non-Alief ISD male on the roof.

First responders successfully removed him from the facility, and a local law enforcement agency will transport him.

Students and staff who were in the building during the incident were safe. The investigation is completed, the lockdown has been lifted, and the day will continue as scheduled.

Thank you to our Alief ISD Police Department, local law enforcement agencies, and the Cummings Elementary staff for their support.

Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, has advocated for temporarily lifting the federal gas and diesel tax to help combat soaring fuel prices since the U.S.-Israel war in Iran began in February. On Monday, Trump said he would move to suspend the 18.4-cents-per-gallon gas tax, which primarily funds federal highway and mass transit programs.

“I applaud President Trump’s support for a federal gas tax suspension,” Talarico said in a statement. “Lowering prices at the pump should be a bipartisan commitment. I urge Senator Cornyn to drop his opposition to suspending the gas tax. He should join President Trump and me in supporting this critical tax relief for Texans.”

Cornyn previously panned the proposal as “not really a solution” and one that would “explode the deficit.” But on Monday afternoon, after Trump endorsed the idea, he said he would be open to a temporary gas tax holiday.

“There’s a difference between a temporary suspension and a permanent suspension,” Cornyn told reporters at the Capitol. “I don’t know exactly what the president has in mind. I think a temporary suspension getting through this sort of bumpy time because of uncertainty about energy prices — I could live with that.”

Cornyn is in the midst of a viciously competitive primary runoff election against Attorney General Ken Paxton, a hero of the hard right. With Republicans more broadly grappling with how to minimize the political backlash to rising costs and a new war in the Middle East, Democrats are seizing on a favorable national political climate, Trump’s low approval ratings and a bruising Senate GOP primary contest to support their effort to flip a statewide seat for the first time since 1994. Early voting in the Republican runoff begins in a week.

Talarico criticized Cornyn’s previous opposition to lifting the gas tax, arguing that the senior senator is “never worried about the deficit when it comes to billionaire tax cuts or new foreign wars, but when we start talking about lowering gas prices for working people, suddenly he’s a deficit hawk.”

“We should lower the deficit, and we should do it by closing billionaire tax loopholes and ending this disastrous new war,” Talarico said on CNN.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan budget watchdog, a monthlong gas tax holiday would cost the federal government $3.5 billion, and a six month holiday would cost $21 billion. With the gas tax set at 18.4 cents per gallon and the diesel tax at 24.4 cents per gallon, a tax holiday would cover only a small percentage of the price at the pump. Average gas prices stood at just over $4 a gallon in Texas on Monday, according to AAA, up by almost 50% since a year ago.

Cornyn said Monday that he would be interested in proposals for how the federal government would make up the shortfall caused by a gas tax holiday. Talarico has said he would look to fill that gap through revenue from proposals he’s unveiled to “close billionaire tax loopholes,” including by ending the “carried interest loophole,” which allows investment managers to claim a lower tax rate by treating capital gains as profit rather than income; ending the “buy, borrow, die” loophole whereby the ultrawealthy skirt taxes by borrowing against their wealth to access tax-free cash flow; and restricting offshore bank accounts that his campaign said lead to more than $100 billion in annual lost revenue.

A 29-year-old woman from Mexico and a 24-year-old man from Honduras were among the six deceased individuals found inside a shipping container at Union Pacific Railyard on Sunday afternoon, according to Webb County officials. The other four individuals were all male and included one teenager, though their identities had not yet been confirmed.

The Webb County Medical Examiner determined that the woman died due to hyperthermia, or overheating. Hyperthermia is also suspected to have caused the death of the other five individuals, though formal examinations for them are still pending, according to a news release issued by the county.

Corinne Stern, the county’s medical examiner, found identification cards and cellphones that indicated the individuals were from Mexico and Honduras, according to the Associated Press. Their fingerprints were also shared with the U.S. Border Patrol to help confirm their identities and nationalities through the Missing Alien Program.

The medical examiner’s office is also working with the Mexican Consulate to confirm the identities of individuals, notify their families, and repatriate their remains.

Laredo Mayor Victor D. Trevino issued a statement lamenting the deaths, which he called a “tragedy.”

“In our close-knit binational community, every loss is felt deeply,” Treviño said. “Our hearts are with the families and loved ones affected, and we thank our first responders for their efforts during this difficult time. Our community stands united in prayer and compassion.”

The six people were discovered at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in a Union Pacific train boxcar. It is unclear where the train’s route originated or when the individuals boarded the train.

Union Pacific did not respond to questions but issued a statement saying the company “is saddened by this incident and is working closely with law enforcement to investigate.”

Migration to the U.S. continues to be a high-risk endeavor.

Immigrant deaths are a common occurrence for the Webb County Medical Examiner’s office, which serves 11 counties on the South Texas border, Stern told the AP.

“This spring has been busier than it was this time last year,” she said.

In 2025, at least 131 people died along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the International Organization for Migration. About 15% of those cases were due to extreme environmental conditions and lack of access to water, food, and shelter.

In 2022, 53 people from Mexico and Central America died after being transported in a sweltering tractor trailer the driver abandoned in Southwest San Antonio.

In that case, considered by officials to be the deadliest migrant smuggling case in U.S. history, 64 migrants were packed into the trailer without water or air conditioning, on a June day that reached 100 degrees.

Federal prosecutors indicted two Texas men over the deaths. Both of them pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

Alex Nguyen contributed to this story.

His nomination comes as the Trump administration has increasingly signaled it is backing away from promises to dismantle FEMA, an agency that has faced withering criticism by the president. The nomination of Hamilton, who argued abolishing FEMA was not in the country’s best interests, is the latest indication of that change.

If confirmed, Hamilton would be the principal adviser to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on emergency management and FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term. The agency has gone through three temporary leaders, including Hamilton’s brief tenure from January to May 2025.

He would take over an embattled agency still reeling from Kristi Noem’s turbulent leadership of the Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA is part. FEMA’s workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures, policies that hamstrung operations and a 75-day-long DHS shutdown that ended April 30.

Hamilton will need to ensure the agency is prepared for summer disaster season, just weeks away, while answering to Trump, who is likely to expect major reforms after a council he appointed recommended sweeping changes last Friday.

“Now is the opportunity to stabilize FEMA,” said Michael Coen, the agency’s chief of staff in the Obama and Biden administrations.

Fired after defending FEMA

Hamilton, who had never been a state or local emergency management director and who had publicly criticized FEMA in the past, was a controversial choice when Trump named him temporary leader in January 2025, just days before the president floated the idea of “getting rid” of FEMA.

His rupture with DHS officials began as he defended a federal role in supporting disaster-impacted states, tribes and territories.

“Once the conversation shifted to, ‘Now we’re going to abolish,’ I immediately expressed concern,” he said last September on the “Disaster Tough” podcast with John Scardena, a former FEMA incident management team leader.

DHS officials even subjected him to a polygraph test, accusing him and other officials of leaking details of a private meeting. He passed, but said he knew his dismissal was inevitable.

At a May 7 appearance before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, asked Hamilton if he believed FEMA should be abolished.

“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he replied. The next day, he was fired.

Hamilton will have to rebuild trust

Defending FEMA despite knowing it would likely cost him his job garnered respect and trust among people whose job it is to lead communities through crisis, said Scardena, now president of the consultancy Doberman Emergency Management Group, which trains emergency managers.

“He won myself over and I think a lot of people by what he did,” Scardena said.

But multiple current FEMA employees who requested anonymity for fear of retribution for speaking publicly told The Associated Press they had concerns over some of the actions taken under Hamilton.

In 2024, Hamilton shared posts on X promoting misinformation about FEMA spending during Hurricane Helene.

During his temporary leadership, FEMA ceased door-to-door canvassing to reach survivors after disasters, and canceled a multibillion-dollar resilience grant program, since restored by a federal judge. The Department of Government Efficiency gained access to internal FEMA networks containing survivors’ private information. FEMA staff were fired for fulfilling a reimbursement payment to New York City for housing undocumented immigrants as part of FEMA’s Shelter and Services program.

Hamilton has said he believes FEMA needs major reform. He has said that he wants FEMA to move faster, that the agency is saddled with responsibilities he sees as outside its remit, and that some states have become too dependent on the agency. A Trump-appointed council last week urged sweeping changes to FEMA, which would require congressional action.

“I think he’s going to need to rebuild trust across the agency,” said Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator under former President Joe Biden, adding that she believes Hamilton cares about FEMA and she appreciated his outreach to emergency management directors and former officials during and after his tenure.

Senate confirmation process could raise questions of experience

Hamilton could face pushback in the Senate confirmation process over never having led an emergency management agency, a common stepping stone to becoming administrator of an agency with over 21,000 employees.

Federal law requires the FEMA administrator to have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” and at least five years of “executive leadership and management experience.”

Hamilton trained as a Navy hospital corpsman before spending a decade as a Navy SEAL on SEAL Team Eight. He then became a U.S. State Department emergency management specialist handling overseas crisis response, then directed emergency medical services at DHS.

That includes fifth-round safety Kamari Ramsey to a $4.945 million deal that includes fully splits in 2026 and 2027 and a $575,620 signing bonus.

A former USC standout slated for a versatile role, Ramsey is due base salaries of $885,000, $1.05 million, $1.165 million and $1.28 million.

Love, a sixth-round draft wide receiver who played for former Texans coach Bill O’Brien at Boston College, signed a four-year, $4.646 million deal that includes a $266,880 signing bonus. The deal includes fully splits in 2026 and 2027.

The Texans have signed seventh-round linebacker Aiden Fisher, an All-American and All-Big Ten Conference selection for the national champion Indiana Hoosiers, to a four-year, $4.507 million deal that includes a $127,568 signing bonus.

The Texans previously signed second-round defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and consensus All-American from Ohio State, to a fully guaranteed four-year, $12.904 million deal that includes a $5.584 million signing bonus.

He’s due base salaries of $885,000, $1.471 million, $2.058 million and $2.644 million. The deal is guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap.

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

The move came after the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a constitutional amendment that voters narrowly passed just last month. The 4-3 state court decision found that the Democratic-controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun in the Virginia's general election last fall.

Democrats argued unsuccessfully that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that, even if early voting is underway, an election does not happen until Election Day itself.

The appeal is the latest twist in the nation’s mid-decade redistricting competition. It was kicked off last year by President Donald Trump urging Republican-controlled states to redraw their lines and was supercharged by a recent Supreme Court ruling severely weakening the Voting Rights Act.

“The Court overrode the will of the people who ratified the amendment by ordering the Commonwealth to conduct its election with the congressional districts that the people rejected,” wrote lawyers for Virginia Democrats and the state's Democratic Attorney General, Jay Jones. They added, “The irreparable harm resulting from the Supreme Court of Virginia’s decision is profound and immediate.”

The filing is a sign of Democratic desperation after the Virginia decision deprived them of four winnable House seats in the mid-decade redistricting race that President Donald Trump kicked off last year. Democrats are still favorites to recapture the House of Representatives, but their GOP rivals have claimed to have gained more than a dozen seats through redistricting. The voter-approved Virginia map would have partly offset that.

Democrats are taking a legal long shot in asking the justices to reverse the Virginia court's ruling. The Supreme Court tries to avoid second-guessing state courts' interpretations of their own constitutions. In 2023, it turned down a request by North Carolina Republicans to overrule a state Supreme Court decision that blocked the GOP's congressional map.

Politically, the appeal could help a party struggling to compete with Republicans in the unusual mid-decade redrawing of congressional boundaries by providing fodder for election-year messaging about a partisan Supreme Court. The court recently allowed Louisiana Republicans to proceed with redistricting after the justices struck down a majority Black district as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

Democrats have been set on their heels because, days after the Virginia ballot measure passed, the Supreme Court's conservatives reversed decades of rulings and effectively neutered the Voting Rights Act, paving the way for Southern states to eliminate some majority Black districts and further pad Republican margins in Congress.

The Virginia amendment had been launched long before that ruling. It was intended as a response to Republican gains in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, and to blunt a new map in Florida that just became law. Once the Virginia amendment passed, it briefly turned the nationwide redistricting scramble into a draw between the two parties.

That was unraveled by the Virginia Supreme Court's decision. The justices are appointed by the legislature, which has flipped between the two parties in recent decades, and the body is generally not seen as having a clear ideological bent.

__

Riccardi reported from Denver.

Rodríguez was speaking at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the final day of hearings in a dispute between her country and neighboring Guyana over the massive mineral- and oil-rich Essequibo region.

“We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,” said Rodríguez, who assumed power in January following a U.S. military operation that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela is “not a colony, but a free country,” she added.

Speaking to Fox News earlier on Monday, Trump said he was “seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st US state,” according to a post by Fox News' co-anchor John Roberts on social media. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

Trump has made similar comments about Canada.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly later declined to comment on Trump’s plans in an interview of her own with Roberts on Fox News. Kelly said the president is “famous for never accepting the status quo,” and praised Rodríguez for “working incredibly cooperatively” with the U.S.

Rodríguez went on to say that Venezuelan and U.S. officials have been in touch and are working on “cooperation and understanding.”

Before addressing Trump's comments, Rodríguez defended her country’s claim to Essequibo at the United Nations' highest court, telling judges that political negotiations — not a judicial ruling — will resolve the century-old territorial dispute.

The 62,000-square-mile territory, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana, is rich in gold, diamonds, timber and other natural resources. It also sits near massive offshore oil deposits currently producing an average 900,000 barrels a day.

That output is close to Venezuela’s daily production of about 1 million barrels a day and has transformed one of the smallest countries in South America into a significant energy producer.

Venezuela has considered Essequibo its own since the Spanish colonial period, when the jungle region fell within its boundaries. But an 1899 decision by arbitrators from Britain, Russia and the United States drew the border along the Essequibo River largely in favor of Guyana.

Venezuela has argued that a 1966 agreement sealed in Geneva to resolve the dispute effectively nullified the 19th-century arbitration. In 2018, however, three years after ExxonMobil announced a significant oil discovery off the Essequibo coast, Guyana’s government went to the International Court of Justice and asked judges to uphold the 1899 ruling.

Tensions between the countries further flared in 2023, when Rodríguez’s predecessor, Maduro, threatened to annex the region by force after holding a referendum asking voters if Essequibo should be turned into a Venezuelan state. Maduro was captured Jan. 3 during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

Rodríguez did not address the referendum in her remarks, but she told the court that the 1966 agreement is designed to allow negotiations between Venezuela and Guyana to resolve the territorial dispute. And she accused Guyana’s government of undermining the agreement with the “opportunistic” decision to ask the court to address the dispute.

“At a time when the mechanisms established in the Geneva agreement were still fully in force, Guyana unilaterally chose to shift the dispute from the negotiating arena to a judicial resolution,” she said. “This change was not accidental; it coincided with the discovery in 2015 of the oil field that would become world-renowned.”

When hearings opened last week, Guyana’s foreign minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, told the panel of international judges that the dispute “has been a blight on our existence as a sovereign state from the very beginning.” He said that 70% of Guyana’s territory is at stake.

The court is likely to take months to issue a final and legally binding ruling in the case.

Venezuela has warned that its participation in the hearings does not mean either consent to, or recognition of, the court’s jurisdiction.

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Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said the Trump administration was no longer planning to construct the wall within the national park following pushback from residents, the Examiner reported this week.

“Big Bend National Park has some just, like, unbelievably huge granite cliffs. It would be kind of silly to put like a 30-foot border wall on top of a 90-foot granite cliff,” Scott said in an interview with the Examiner. “So what we’re trying to convey is that we are going to have meaningful border security in that entire area.”

Scott’s comments only referenced the national park and did not detail whether CBP’s withdrawal from wall construction also included the nearby Big Bend Ranch State Park or private property in the region.

In a statement on Monday, a CBP spokesperson said the agency would “use and improve” existing roadways in the region.

“By deploying cameras, sensors, and barriers in strategic areas, CBP is restricting unlawful vehicle access while utilizing the natural barriers that already exist in the area,” a statement from the agency said.

Instead of a wall, federal officials will pave roads along the border in the national park and make use of drones and other digital surveillance equipment, Scott said. News of the cancellation comes after weeks of upheaval in Texas as elected officials from both political parties and residents asserted that construction in the park would be a waste of resources.

In February, Trump administration officials waived over two dozen environmental laws to clear the way for a 150-mile-long border barrier through West Texas, including Big Bend National Park.

Then in early April, an interactive map on the CBP website showed the agency planned to instead install “virtual wall” technology in the region that would alert Border Patrol agents when people cross the border. CBP officials took down the map in late April, and it is not currently available on the agency’s website.

Opponents of the wall being built in Big Bend have expressed skepticism that federal officials’ will make good on their statements about withdrawing from construction in the region, and point to the repeated altering and subsequent removal of the online map. Local residents near Big Bend sued the Trump administration in mid-April, arguing that federal officials waived the regulations illegally in pursuit of the construction project.

Funds acquired through the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” President Donald Trump’s key spending package, direct CBP to construct a multifaceted barrier system, or a “Smart Wall,” across the southern border with Mexico. The proposed barriers would include bollard walls and patrol roads, as well as surveillance technology and floating buoys placed in the Rio Grande.

The Border Patrol’s 517-mile Big Bend Sector has historically been the least busy of the nine sectors, with agency apprehensions in the region accounting for 1.3% of more than 237,000 across the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2025. 

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil climbed 2.9% to settle at $104.21 after President Donald Trump said the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was on “life support” after he rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end their war. The rejection raises the stakes for Trump’s trip this week to China, where he could urge President Xi Jinping to pressure Iran into making concessions. Xi has influence because China is the biggest buyer of Iran’s sanctioned crude oil.

The war has already sent the price for a barrel of Brent up from roughly $70 and delivered a blast of painful inflation through the global economy. That’s because it has shut the Strait of Hormuz and kept oil tankers stuck in the Persian Gulf instead of delivering crude to customers worldwide.

Still, the U.S. stock market has set a run of records on hopes that the war will not keep oil prices high for very long. Companies are meanwhile producing bigger profits than analysts expected, while signals suggest the U.S. economy is holding up even though households are feeling discouraged by expensive gasoline and tariffs.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its prior all-time high set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 95 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.1% to reach its own all-time high.

The majority of stocks within the S&P 500 fell, even though the overall index rose. Among them was Mosaic, which reported much weaker results for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

The fertilizer company is benefiting from higher prices for its products, but it’s also contending with much higher prices for sulfur and other raw materials because of logistics snarls created by the war with Iran. Mosaic’s stock fell 1.8%.

Stocks of companies whose customers have the least cushion to absorb higher gasoline prices also struggled, and Dollar General fell 7.6%. Businesses with big fuel bills likewise had sharp losses, including drops of 4.3% for Royal Caribbean and 3.2% for Southwest Airlines.

Helping to offset that was Fox, which climbed 7.6% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

More than four out of every five companies in the S&P 500 that have reported their results for the latest quarter so far have topped profit expectations, and they’re on track to deliver overall growth of nearly 28%, according to FactSet. If that turns out to be the case, it would be the best growth since the end of 2021.

It’s not just U.S. companies muscling past analysts’ profit expectations. Globally, companies are on track for their strongest growth in more than four years, according to Deutsche Bank strategists led by Binky Chadha. The boom in artificial-intelligence technology has helped corporate profits rise at a faster rate than overall economies.

Outside of earnings reports, Beazer Homes USA soared 34% after Dream Finders Homes offered to buy it in a deal valued at roughly $704 million. A combination would create the country’s seventh-largest homebuilder, and Dream Finders is asking Beazer’s shareholders to push its management and board to OK the deal after making several attempts itself.

Dream Finders rose 5%.

Tech stocks were also strong, continuing their big run amid the AI boom. Gains of 2% for Nvidia and 6.5% for Micron Technology were the strongest forces pushing the S&P 500 upward.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 13.91 points to 7,412.84. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 95.31 to 49,704.47, and the Nasdaq composite gained 27.05 to 26,274.13.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Europe and Asia. France’s CAC 40 fell 0.7% for one of the world’s bigger losses, while South Korea’s Kospi soared 4.3% thanks to gains for Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and other tech stocks benefiting from AI.

In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher. The 10-year yield rose to 4.40% from 4.38% late Friday.

Yields had moderated a bit this month, but they remain well above where they were before the war with Iran began. Higher yields can raise rates for mortgages and other kinds of loans going to U.S. households and businesses, which in turn can slow the economy. Higher yields also tend to push downward on prices for stocks and other kinds of investments.

A report on Monday said the pace of sales for previously occupied U.S. homes was weaker last month than economists expected.

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

On Houston Life, we’re diving into what those wins mean for the Texas craft beer scene and why American Craft Beer Week is the perfect time to raise a glass to local brewers.

James Simpson, host of What’s on Tap Radio, breaks down how beers are judged through a blind-tasting process led by highly trained experts certified through the Beer Judge Certification Program.

He brought a winning flight of Texas medal winners, including Spoetzl Brewery, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, and Real Ale Brewing Company.

Beyond the medals and the tasting, there’s also a bigger conversation happening in the craft beer community. With some local breweries facing closures in recent months, advocates are encouraging supporters to show love in any way they can, whether that’s visiting taprooms, buying merch, or simply engaging with their social media.

Cheers to these Texas beers!

Karen Eubanks Jackson and her daughter, Caleen Allen, are the leadership team behind Sisters Network® Inc., a Houston-headquartered organization that describes itself as the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization. Together, they continue a mission rooted in advocacy, education and direct support for women navigating breast cancer.

A MISSION SHAPED BY SURVIVORSHIP AND CARRIED FORWARD BY FAMILY

Jackson founded Sisters Network after her own breast cancer journey, later becoming a prominent advocate for Black women’s health. Today, Allen serves as the organization’s executive vice president, helping drive what the family calls a next generation of impact.

Their story, centered on motherhood and legacy, lands during a season when many families are reflecting on care, sacrifice and resilience.

FINANCIAL HELP AVAILABLE NOW FOR WOMEN IN ACTIVE TREATMENT

Applications are currently open for the Karen E. Jackson Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP), which offers financial assistance to women undergoing active breast cancer treatment, according to the organization.

Eligible applicants may receive help covering rent, mortgage or utility bills, while funds remain available.

Advocates say that kind of support can be critical for patients trying to stay housed and keep the lights on while balancing treatment, side effects, time off work and medical costs.

WHY THIS MATTERS, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK WOMEN

Sisters Network leaders say the work also highlights ongoing concerns about disparities in breast cancer outcomes, and the need for trusted, culturally informed support and resources especially for women who may already be juggling caregiving responsibilities.

To learn more, click here Sisters Network Who We Are

On Monday, health officials in Nebraska said 18 American passengers were flown back to the United States and taken to a specialized quarantine facility in Omaha designed to handle highly infectious diseases.

Officials say one passenger tested positive for the virus and is now being treated inside a biocontainment unit. Another passenger with mild symptoms is receiving treatment in Atlanta.

As for the two passengers from the Houston area who were on the ship, the Texas Department of State Health Services says they are not showing any symptoms.

Officials say the two Texans were not sent to Nebraska because they left the ship last month before the virus was identified and had already returned home.

• American passengers from cruise ship tied to hantavirus outbreak arrive in Nebraska for evaluation

KPRC 2’s Re’Chelle Turner spoke to Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development about what Houstonians need to know.

“You know, the initial exposure probably happened off-ship, and probably the initial infection occurred when a couple was in southern Argentina,” Dr. Hotez said.

Dr. Hotez says it’s important to understand the incubation period — the time between when someone is exposed to the virus and when symptoms begin appearing.

Hantavirus incubation period

• Symptoms typically appear about three weeks after exposure
• The incubation period can last up to six weeks
• Officials say the outbreak timeline dates back to late March and early April

“So the likelihood is those two individuals who were in Texas who were exposed to the virus, I think there’s a good likelihood they will not turn out to have the hantavirus infection,” Dr. Hotez said. “So the point is, this is not COVID. It’s not nearly as transmissible as COVID.”

Turner also asked Dr. Hotez whether families should be changing anything they’re doing to protect themselves.

“There should be no fear in terms of getting hantavirus infection, at least from this epidemic,” Dr. Hotez said. “If you are concerned, one of the things to recognize is that rodents, mice, rats, do transmit other virus infections. And so if you have these animals in your garage or in your home and you’re sweeping up rodent feces or dry rodent urine and dust, you might want to wear a respirator mask and some glasses or goggles to protect yourself.”

• New details: 2 Houston residents among those exposed during Atlantic cruise ship Hantavirus incident

Again, the two passengers from the Houston area are not experiencing any symptoms. State leaders are not releasing any additional details to protect their privacy.

This is a developing story that Turner will continue following throughout the week. If you have questions or concerns you would like addressed, email me at rturner@kprc.com.

McDonald uncoiled out of his three-point stance at the Texans’ rookie minicamp, firing off the football with explosiveness and intensity.

McDonald was determined to make his first NFL practice count, and establish a gold standard.

It was obvious how much McDonald is putting into his rookie season. And the former Ohio State consensus All-American defensive tackle, the Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year, should bolster the top-ranked defense in the league.

Once projected as a first-round draft pick and selected in the second round with the 36th overall selection, McDonald has set his ambitions on the kind of banner first season that would make history.

“Win a Super Bowl, Rookie of the Year, All-Pro first year,” McDonald said in response to a question from KPRC 2 on his goal-setting. “These are realistic for me. I wrote those down and I’m blessed to be here and I’ve got a chance.”

McDonald doesn’t shy away from high expectations.

After meeting formally with the Texans at the NFL scouting combine, he visited them along with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals. McDonald had a special feeling about the Texans throughout the draft process.

“Yes, sir. I thought it all the way through,” McDonald said. “Texans, they made it clear who the best defensive tackle was. It’s a blessing to be here. I’m ready for the opportunity.”

The Texans needed a young, athletic defensive tackle to work in tandem with Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai and Logan Hall and play inside opposite Pro Bowl defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.

McDonald, a Texarkana native who grew up in Suwanee, Georgia, provides a dominant inside presence at 6-foot-2 1/8, 326 pounds and operates with outstanding leverage and pad level. The first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection recorded 65 tackles last season for the Buckeyes with three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Yes, McDonald rivaled his Buckeyes teammates, Washington Commanders first-round linebacker Sonny Styles and Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, for the first hit throughout the season. He was simply that active.

“What I like about Kayden and his tape at Ohio State is the physicality, it shows up,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “When he’s across the line from an offensive lineman, no matter who it was, he was knocking those guys back in the backfield. That translates to Houston Texans defense.

“We want to knock guys back. He does that. He’s still a very young player who has so much room to grow, so much room to ascend. It starts right here today. You see him in his individual drills. He has the power. We can win with that type of power.”

And confidence, too.

McDonald has stated multiple times he’s the best defensive tackle in the draft. The fact that he wasn’t the first defensive lineman selected bothers him to this day. And it provides significant motivational fuel.

“Being blessed, staying in the moment,” McDonald said. “You can’t take this for granted. I’m walking out here today, and it’s like: ‘This is your first day in the NFL.’ It’s not a game no more. It’s a job, and you got to take it serious. ..

“Just getting out there with my teammates for rookie minicamp. We’ve all got energy and enthusiasm. It’s a great opportunity. At the end of the day, we want to get to L.A. and win a Super Bowl.”

The way that McDonald can complement the pass rushers and edge-setters that headline the Texans’ front seven and keep blocks off of Pro Bowl middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair can make him a tone-setter for defensive line coach-run game coordinator Rod Wright.

“He’s one of the best in the league, he wants everything his way and we’ve got to follow that,” McDonald said. “You’ve got to stay on that $50 million, $40 million line. You’ve got Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, those are two All-Pro guys. You just follow that plan and all things are going to work out.”

McDonald was in the green room during the first round of the draft. When he got passed over, McDonald was convinced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to return for the second night of the draft. That led up to an emotional moment where McDonald got the life-changing call from the Texans after they traded up two spots to land him.

“Roger, he told me I’m going to be a special guy,” McDonald said. “He got a lot of respect for me and I’ve got a lot of respect for him. It meant a lot to me to come back on Day 2 and walk that stage.”

McDonald is already making fast friends with Anderson and is happy to reunite with former Ohio State players like quarterback C.J. Stroud and tight end Cade Stover. McDonald met Anderson at the Rockets’ playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

“My teammates, it’s like a brotherhood here,” McDonald said. “Staff, training staff, even the dieticians, people that cook the food, it’s been a warm welcome.

“Got to help out the defensive ends, get them to second-and-long, get them to third-and-long, let Will and Danielle Hunter and all the other guys get off the edge. It’s going to work out. Three-and-out, get off the field, give it back to C.J. and go score.”

The Texans’ defense, under the leadership of coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke is formidable.

“It’s going to be tough to score on us,” McDonald said. “We already got the pieces on defense. Adding me, it’s gonna be special.”

The Texans traded the 38th overall pick and 117th overall selection of the fourth round in exchange for the Raiders’ original 36th overall pick and the 91st overall selection in the third round.

“We felt McDonald was probably the best run defender in the draft,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “Matt Patricia did a really good job with him, got the most out of him. He’ll be a good fit for our program. We like the player. The player falls, we can’t control any of that.

“We brought him in the building, had a good visit with him. Did a lot of work on him. We felt like he was the best run-stopping defensive tackle in the draft. So, let’s add him to the team.”

One of the top defensive players in the draft, McDonald is determined to prove the Texans made a great decision to pick him.

“Everybody that went before me, that’s what fuels me,” McDonald said. “There’s not one player better than me in this class. I’m gonna show it.”

TRYOUT CENTRAL

The Texans worked out multiple players during their rookie minicamp, including former University of Houston quarterback Clayton Tune.

Tune has played for the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.

The Texans also worked out Connecticut kicker Chris Freeman, Texas A&M long snapper Jacob Graham, a Memorial High graduate, Connecticut tight end Louis Hansen, Washington quarterback Kai Horton, former Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers and Northwestern running back Evan Hull, Lenoir-Rhyne defensive tackle ANdre Jefferson and Marshall wide receiver Demarcus Lacey.

Rookie running back Jordan Whittington, an undrafted player from Oregon, participated in the drills despite not being fully recovered from offseason toe surgery, per a league source.

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

Normally, Collins is on the receiving end of those type of throws as the Texans’ Pro Bowl wide receiver and expert at contested catches.

On Saturday, Collins was in a different role as the permanent quarterback during his annual youth football camp at Santa Fe High School. Collins had a good time throwing touchdown passes to 625 campers in partnership with FlexWork Sports.

“It’s always a blessing to come out and hang out with the kids, spend this wonderful day with the kids,” Collins told KPRC 2. “It’s always a blessing to come out to see the kids’ faces, smiling, and just having fun, enjoying the moment. That’s what it’s all about.”

#Texans Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins has gotten to know this young man at all of his annual youth football camps. It means the world to him to interact each year and be a part of the camp experience 'Show him love and support'@KPRC2 @FlexWorkSports @nfl@DrewJRosenhaus https://t.co/nv86IChFBY pic.twitter.com/debVaodiNE

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 9, 2026

Collins spent a lot of time Saturday talking with a young man that uses a wheelchair and has attended several of his camps. He brought him onto the field for a couple of plays to make sure he was included in the fun.

“My mission is just to show everybody that everyone is equal, make him feel like he can do the same thing, feel loved,” Collins said. “So, I just want to give him love and show him the love and support from me. I’m glad that he came and be able to come out and have fun here today.”

For Collins, having his family with him at these camp events, including his father and brother Saturday, makes the experience a lot more fun.

“That’s most important,” Collins said. “My family is everything. Your family, that’s the stepping stone and I’m glad they’re in my corner.”

#Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins @lbg_nico7 gives back, and plays quarterback for over 600 kids at his annual youth football camp. 'It was great. It's always a blessing' @KPRC2 @FlexWorkSports pic.twitter.com/vx8oEOdf6t

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 9, 2026

Collins is one of the Texans’ most active players in the community. Between his football camps, shopping sprees for kids at Dick’s Sporting Goods and giving out food with the Salvation Army, Collins devotes himself to giving back. That’s the legacy he wants off the field.

“That’s always my mission, always give back to the community,” Collins said. “I love that, it’s part of me, part of my heart. Give back to the youth, family that’s in need, and just always just have a big heart with that.”

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

An All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection at Syracuse who averaged a school-record 47.1 yards per punt last season, Stonehouse is competing with former New Orleans Saints starting punter Kai Kroeger for the starting job and accompanying roster spot.

“For Jack,we saw a guy that’s very consistent,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said of Stonehouse, the third-highest graded punter in the nation last year. “He has a very strong leg. He does a great job of booting the ball. He had a really good first day today. You can hear the ball coming off his foot. That’s the thing that stood out about him today.”

Stonehouse, whose father and cousin played in the NFL, had a long punt of 64 yards, with six touchbacks, and 25 fair catches. He set a school career record with a 45.8 yards per punt average.

Stonehouse went to the NFL scouting combine and East-West Shrine Bowl. He participated in the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers’ local prospect days and met privately with the San Francisco 49ers. A Missouri transfer, his average hang time was 4.29 seconds, fourth in the nation.

A former undrafted free agent from South Carolina where he was an All-American selection and All-Southeastern Conference selection, Kroeger averaged 44.8 yards for the Saints. He had 18 punts land inside opponents’ 20-yard lines. He had two blocked punts, impacting his average.

“Having that healthy competition is only going to make that position better when it comes to the punter position,” Ryans said. “We’ve got Kai Kai’s done it in the league and now adding Jack is going to be really healthy competition coming through training camp.”

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

CEO Omar Durham and board member Andrea Creppel joined Houston Life to discuss the organization’s mission and the growing challenges many students face today. From social media pressures to lack of real-world resources, the nonprofit says many teens are struggling with issues that go far beyond academics.

RELATED: Houston non-profit ‘Bridge The Gaps’ fills needs for at-risk students

Through programs like Real Talk 4 Real Life, Bridge The Gaps helps students navigate difficult real-life situations through role-playing, mentorship, and conflict resolution. The organization also provides support through holiday meal drives, school supply giveaways, scholarships, and community events.

The group is now preparing for its 2nd Annual Giveback Kickback, a public fundraiser blending sneaker culture, community engagement, and philanthropy. Organizers say proceeds from the event help fund mentorship programs, holiday outreach efforts, hygiene products, bikes, and other necessities for students and families in need.

Bridge The Gaps says community involvement is key to expanding its impact across Houston. From attending events to donating supplies or becoming a sponsor, organizers hope more Houstonians will step in to help support local youth and families.

They have built a strong relationship, chemistry and timing in their first three seasons collaborating.

During that span, Collins emerged as a Pro Bowl selection and three-time 1,000-yard receiver who has piled up 209 catches for 3,420 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Now, Collins is seeing encouraging signs from a leaner Stroud who’s been described as locked in and ultra-focused on the heels of a rocky playoffs that included five interceptions and five fumbles and seven turnovers that included a career-high four interceptions in a divisional round loss to the New England Patriots. Collins sees Stroud regaining his NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl form and a big season unfolding after uncharacteristic performances in the playoffs.

For his career, the former second overall pick, consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State has completed 63.8 percent of his throws for 10,876 yards, 62 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

“Different guy, different dude, man on a mission,” Collins told KPRC 2 during his annual youth football camp Saturday at Santa Fe High School. “Man, he’s ready to hunt.”

#Texans Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins has gotten to know this young man at all of his annual youth football camps. It means the world to him to interact each year and be a part of the camp experience 'Show him love and support'@KPRC2 @FlexWorkSports @nfl@DrewJRosenhaus https://t.co/nv86IChFBY pic.twitter.com/debVaodiNE

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 9, 2026

That approach defines the Texans’ ambitions collectively.

The Texans have lost three consecutive AFC divisional round playoff games and are 0-7 all-time at that stage of the postseason. They’re determined to take the next step in the fourth season after going 3-3 in the playoffs under the direction of coach DeMeco Ryans.

Since the end of the season, they’ve traded for punishing running back David Montgomery, signed veteran offensive linemen Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller, retained guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million deal, drafted offensive lineman Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge, signed safety Reed Blankenship and spent a ton of money on contract extensions for defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (three years, $150 million), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (three years, $54 million), defensive end Danielle Hunter (one year, $40.1 million) along with kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and tight end Dalton Schultz.

“The excitement is great, man,” said Collins, whose absence due to a concussion impacted Stroud and the Texans against the Patriots as they played without their most dangerous offensive player. “I feel like we had a great draft. Getting back in that mode, I feel like the energy is great and we’ve got to continue to go in our mission because ahead is our Super Bowl. So, it starts right now, though.”

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

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

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

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

Collins is due $20 million fully guaranteed in 2026 and $21.25 million nonguaranteed in 2027. He has salary-cap figures of $27.517 million and $28.59 million over the next two years. He is now the 18th highest paid wide receiver in terms of average compensation per year.

The deal could be restructured again for salary cap purposes. And Collins is also likely due for a raise at some point and additional years on his contract. It’s certainly not out of the question that the contract could be addressed this year or before next season. Especially factoring in his importance to the Texans’ offense.

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

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

#Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins @lbg_nico7 gives back, and plays quarterback for over 600 kids at his annual youth football camp. 'It was great. It's always a blessing' @KPRC2 @FlexWorkSports pic.twitter.com/vx8oEOdf6t

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 9, 2026

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

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

In the first season of offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the Texans averaged 23.8 points per contest to rank 13th in the NFL in scoring offense. They finished 18th in total offense, 14th in passing offense and 22nd in rushing offense. The running game, with Joe Mixon missing the entire season due to a mysterious foot injury that involved an infection and ultimately required surgery, struggled mightily to complement the passing game. With Montgomery in the backfield, there should be more balance overall and options for Caley as a play-caller.

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

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

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

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

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

As off as Stroud was, Collins could have potentially steadied the damage. Playing without Collins and losing Schultz, the leading receiver in the regular season with 82 receptions, couldn’t be overcome.

Now, Collins is determined to take his game up another notch.

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

Another potential improvement for the offense could involve the return of wide receiver Tank Dell.

Dell missed the entire season last year due to a devastating knee injury suffered in a December 2024 regular-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs. At Arrowhead Stadium, Dell dislocated his knee and tore anterior cruciate, medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments. He has undergone two surgeries and he has made a lot of progress in his recovery, running again and cutting in his routes. He is not 100 percent yet, but he’s doing well in the Texans’ offseason conditioning program.

“Tank Dell looked good,” Collins said. “I’m glad he’s back now and getting his groove back. You know how much this game means to him, and nobody wants to get hurt the way he did. So, his work ethic, his mindset on the road to recovery was amazing. So, it’s only right he get back on the field with us, with his brothers, get back to what he’s been doing. I’m happy he’s back.”

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

Hull is a former Indianapolis Colts fifth-round draft pick from Northwestern. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, rushing for 49 career yards and catching two passes for 12 yards.

Lachey was signed last year to a four-year, $3.46 million deal that included a $101,672 signing bonus. He spent last season on the practice squad.

Lachey is the son of retired NFL offensive tackle Jim Lachey.

Lachey caught 28 passes for 231 yards in his final season for the Hawkeyes He caught 10 passes for 131 yards two seasons ago. As a sophomore, he caught 28 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns.

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

45-year-old Ryan Boyd was removed from the campus and placed on administrative leave after the district contacted the Livingston Police Department about the allegations on May 1.

Texas DPS and the Texas Rangers conducted an independent criminal investigation after being contacted by the Livingston police chief. LPD also conducted an internal investigation into policy violations.

LPD said after both investigations were completed, they were notified that criminal charges would be filed. On Monday, Boyd’s employment with the department was terminated and he was taken into custody by Texas Rangers.

He was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with inappropriate relationship between educator and student.

• Houston Methodist nurse stabbed in Texas Medical Center parking garage; police search for suspect

Livingston ISD acknowledged it is aware of the arrest and explained school-based officers are employees of the Livingston Police Department and serve the district through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Livingston.

“Livingston ISD takes this matter very seriously. The district does not condone or tolerate conduct of this nature by any employee or contracted staff. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. Livingston ISD is committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, the district will not provide additional details at this time,” the district said.

Livingston PD also released a statement:

“LPD understands incidents like this can damage public trust. We want our community to know that these allegations were taken seriously from the beginning. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and protecting our community.

This investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Polk County District Attorney’s Office."

The 2-1 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is in place “pending further order” of the court.

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Monday afternoon asked the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate the stay, arguing Busby’s appeal is meritless and was improperly brought before the appeals court.

In his appreral, Busby argued that a federal district court improperly denied his request for funding to test him for intellectual disability. The appeal also provided two new tests from experts, including one provided by the state, that his lawyers argue prove Busby is intellectually disabled.

Defendants determined to be intellectually disabled are ineligible for execution under Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

Busby was sentenced to death out of Tarrant County in 2005 for the kidnapping and murder of 78-year-old Laura Crane after he robbed her and suffocated her by wrapping her face with tape.

Judge Stephen Higginson ruled in favor of a temporary stay of execution, arguing that Busby’s appeal could be significantly shaped by a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a separate case. That case, originating from Alabama, could determine how courts consider the cumulative effect of multiple IQ tests in determining a defendant’s eligibility for the death penalty.

“In a matter of life and death, we must be certain that we apply the proper constitutional rule as to whether and how to determine intellectual disability before states may execute defendants for capital crimes, especially when it is a rule that the Supreme Court imminently will clarify,” Higginson wrote.

Busby’s stay of execution is Texas’ third in just over a year and the first in 2026, as death row inmates David Wood and Robert Roberson both had their cases returned to trial court for review in 2025. Busby previously had his sentence stayed twice, once in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and again in 2021 by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Texas court also vacated the sentence of Clarence Curtis Jordan in April, joining 19 others who have been removed from death row in Texas due to ineligibility due to intellectual disability.

Busby’s execution was scheduled to be Texas’ 600th since the U.S. Supreme Court reimplemented the death penalty in 1976. Two other death sentences are currently scheduled in the state, with the next slated for November.

Cummins, who worked as a senior vice president at Serco, a government contractor that works with local and federal agencies, would take over a TSA bruised by the longest partial government shutdown in history which ended late last month.

During periods of the shutdown, employees at the TSA, currently overseen by acting administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, went without pay, thousands didn't show up to work and hundreds quit entirely. It left travelers frustrated over delays and missed flights and politicians pointed fingers over who was to blame for shutting down the Department of Homeland Security.

Cummins has experience in transportation at Serco, and says on a LinkedIn profile, which appears to have been taken down, that he was co-awarded a “dozen patents in transportation systems." His profile also touted that he was the director of operations for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002.

A spokesperson for Serco did not immediately return a request for comment from Cummins.

Behind the scenes, it’s been Jessica Pegula, the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up, organizing the top tennis players in their protest with the Grand Slams over the share of tournament revenues devoted to prize money.

It comes naturally to Pegula, who grew up in a household of sports managers: Her parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

“I think it maybe does (come naturally) just because I feel like I’ve taken on a bit of a leadership role with it,” Pegula said.

Already this year, No. 5-ranked Pegula was named to lead a new 13-person panel to suggest changes to the women’s tennis calendar, rankings points rules and the requirements about competing in certain events. Now she's taking on the prize money issue, too.

“I’m not afraid to go up to any type of player and go like, ‘Hey, are you interested in this or not?’" Pegula said. "Some players, they don’t care, sometimes they’re not worried about it. Sometimes they’re like, ’Yeah, for sure, I’m 100% in.' I’ve been reaching out to players on the men’s and women’s side.”

Sabalenka said last week the players should consider a boycott for a bigger slice of tournament revenue, while Sinner said there’s a lack of respect.

“At the end of the day the players are the ones that have the big voices,” Pegula said. “It’s been nice to see Aryna and Jannik kind of step out. I know a lot of other players feel the same way. But to have the two No. 1s very outspoken about it, that’s kind of what it takes to get them to listen.”

Players' share dropped in Paris

Whereas in the NFL and NHL athletes take home about 50% of the revenues, at most tennis events the number isn’t even half of that. The upcoming French Open is allegedly devoting under 14.9% to the players — down from 15.5% in 2024, according to a players’ protest statement issued last week.

Roland Garros organizers announced last month they were increasing overall prize money by about 10% for an overall pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total amount up 5.3 million euros from last year. But the players’ said that the the underlying figures tell a very different story.

“It’s crazy. It’s an insane difference. Obviously they’re different sports. They’re run differently," Pegula said, comparing tennis to the NFL. "But tennis has been a very old-school sport. I think it’s one of the things that needs to change. Sometimes change is good. Sometimes that means fighting for things.”

The same group of players sent a letter a year ago to the heads of the four Grand Slams seeking more prize money and a greater say in decision-making. Wimbledon increased its 2025 total pot by 7%, the U.S. Open by 20% and the Australian Open this past January by 16%.

Still, the players say the Grand Slams don’t match the rate of 22% at regular ATP and WTA Tour events.

“The slams have kind of just gotten away with paying not that much because we’re a very individual sport,” Pegula said. “It’s hard to get players to come together. We’re not on a salary where football players or basketball players can afford not to play.”

Organizers at the French Open, which starts in less than two weeks, have not responded to requests for comment.

Wimbledon is due to announce its prize money next month and Pegula said the players have not had a response from the All England Club.

“We’re just going to kind of continue to talk amongst ourselves,” she said.

One of the big issues affecting tennis governance is that there are seven organizing bodies: The four Grand Slams, the ATP, the WTA and the International Tennis Federation.

“That’s what makes it so hard is that our sport is super fragmented. Hard to get everybody on the same page,” Pegula said. “That’s why it’s been huge to actually have the top 10 men and women really come together. I’m hoping that will get the Slams’ attention.”

Pegula advances in Rome

Before she gets to Paris, Pegula has been perfecting her clay-court game at the Italian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win over Anastasia Potapova on Monday. She routed Rebeka Masarova 6-0, 6-0 in the previous round.

Pegula will next face three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek, who beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-1.

Sabres' playoff run

In between her matches and prize money activist duties, Pegula has been struggling to watch the Sabres’ run to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years due to the time difference between the U.S. and Europe.

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.

“My gosh, I am so upset that I have not been able to see any of the games,” Pegula said. “I would give anything to just be at a playoff game. … I love it so much. It’s my favorite thing.”

___

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

Starmer said he would “face up to the big challenges” and restore hope to the country, in part by forging closer ties with the European Union, six years after the U.K.'s acrimonious departure from the bloc.

“I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will,” Starmer said during a speech in London intended to kickstart his fightback against detractors.

It did not appear to have the intended effect. In the hours after the speech a steady stream of Labour lawmakers spoke to the media or posted on social media saying Starmer should resign, either now or soon.

Several of those calling for him to go were ministerial aides, in an apparently coordinated move aimed at putting pressure on Starmer's Cabinet to deliver an ultimatum, perhaps at its weekly meeting on Tuesday.

Labour despondent at election losses

Labour has been plunged into gloom by heavy losses last week in local elections across England and legislative votes in Scotland and Wales. The elections have been interpreted as an unofficial referendum on Starmer, whose popularity has plummeted since he swept to power in a landslide less than two years ago.

Starmer's government has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living, and been hamstrung by repeated missteps and policy U-turns on issues including welfare reform. He has been further hurt by his disastrous decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

Last week’s elections saw Labour squeezed from both right and left, losing votes to both Reform UK and the “eco-populist” Green Party. The result reflects the increasing fragmentation of British politics, long dominated by Labour and the Conservatives.

Starmer had hoped to regain momentum with his speech and an ambitious set of legislative plans to be set out in a speech Wednesday by King Charles III at the State Opening of Parliament.

In Monday's speech, he vowed to prove to millions of people “tired of a status quo that has failed them” that the government is on their side.

He said Labour is in “a battle for the soul of our nation,” and warned Britain will go down “a dark path” if Reform UK, the anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage, comes to power.

Starmer told an audience of party lawmakers and activists that the government will take control of Britain's energy, economic and defense security and make the country fairer. He announced plans to nationalize what is left of the once-mighty British Steel, a move that could save some industrial jobs in an area where working-class voters have deserted Labour for Reform UK.

Starmer also pledged to put Britain “at the heart of Europe” and forge closer ties with the 27-nation EU. Farage, who spearheaded the Brexit campaign, and Reform UK oppose any move to get closer to the EU.

Brexit has been a drag on the British economy, and President Donald Trump's “America First” economic and foreign policy has spurred Britain to seek closer defense, security and economic cooperation with its European neighbors.

Labour supporters are largely anti-Brexit, which failed to deliver the benefits its backers promised. But Starmer has been reluctant to reopen a debate that bitterly divided the country. He has ruled out seeking to reenter the EU, or to rejoin the bloc's customs union or single market, things that would make a big economic difference.

Rivals weigh making a move

British politics allows parties to change leader midterm without the need for a new election.

None of the high-profile Labour politicians considered potential challengers to Starmer — including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham — has yet called for him to resign.

Rayner did not explicitly call for Starmer to quit, but accused him of presiding over “a toxic culture of cronyism” and said the government must “stay true to Labour and social democratic values” and ease the cost of living for working people.

Labour lawmaker Catherine West, who had vowed to trigger a leadership challenge if Monday's speech didn’t mark a major turning point, said she would hold off for now, though she urged Starmer to resign by September.

More than 60 other lawmakers, out of Labour's total of 403, also urged him to announce a departure date, with the number ticking up in the hours after the speech.

“I don’t think we saw a plan from the prime minister this morning in order to implement the kind of change that this country needs,," lawmaker Chris Curtis told Sky News.

Another legislator, Joe Morris, said: “the message from last week’s elections was clear: The prime minister has lost the confidence of the public.”

But some who attended Starmer's speech said kicking out the man who led them to victory in 2024 would be counterproductive.

“You can't be changing prime ministers two years in,” said Kevin Craig, a former local councilor in London. “It's really important we stay grown-up now.”

President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s response to his latest proposal was “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”

Also, Trump will travel to Beijing this week for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But Beijing’s deep economic ties to Iran, as well as trade tensions over tariff threats stretching back to Trump’s first term, could crimp the meeting, even though the Republican president has for years effusively praised Xi.

Trump also said Monday that he would indefinitely suspend the federal gas tax, though Congress needs to approve the move. The war continues to send fuel prices skyrocketing and rattle world markets. After Trump’s comment on the weakness of the ceasefire, the price for a barrel of Brent crude oil climbed 2.9% to $104.18.

Here's the latest:

Trump taps Lake, Mastriano for ambassadorships

The president is choosing two loyalists and failed statewide political candidates as his nominees for two vacant ambassadorships.

Trump is nominating Kari Lake, who most recently served as the acting head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, as the U.S. envoy to Jamaica. While she ran the agency which oversees Voice of America, Lake had effectively shut down the government-run news outlet. But a federal judge earlier this year ruled that Lake did not have the legal authority to take such actions.

Lake was the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee in Arizona in 2022 and then the party’s Senate nominee in 2024. She lost both times.

Trump is nominating Doug Mastriano to be U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic. He ran for Pennsylvania governor in 2022, losing to Democrat Josh Shapiro.

Democrats ask the Supreme Court to halt a Virginia ruling blocking new congressional districts

Democrats on Monday filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to halt a Virginia ruling invalidating a ballot measure that would have given their party an additional four winnable U.S. House seats.

The move came after the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a constitutional amendment that voters narrowly passed just last month. The 4-3 state court decision found that the Democratic-controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun in the Virginia’s general election last fall.

Democrats argued unsuccessfully that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that, even if early voting is underway, an election does not happen until Election Day itself.

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Supreme Court temporarily extends women’s access to a widely used abortion pill

The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect.

Justice Samuel Alito’s order Monday allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. It prevents restrictions on mifepristone imposed by a federal appeals court from taking effect for the time being.

The court is dealing with its latest abortion controversy four years after its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

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White House says 17 CEOs will travel to China as part of the US delegation

Executives who are scheduled to join Trump in Beijing this week represent American tech, finance and agricultural companies, according to a White House official.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the executives include Apple’s Tim Cook, Blackrock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, Cargill’s Brian Sikes, Citi’s Jane Fraser, Cisco’s Chuck Robbins, Coherent’s Jim Anderson, GE Aerospace’s H. Lawrence Culp, Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon, Illumina’s Jacob Thaysen, Mastercard’s Michael Miebach, Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon, Tesla/SpaceX’s Elon Musk and Visa’s Ryan McInerney.

—- Aamer Madhani

Satellite images appear to show oil slick drifting south of Iran’s Kharg island

The images from Monday reviewed by The Associated Press appear to show an oil slick drifting in the Persian Gulf southward from the island, Iran’s primary crude oil terminal.

The slick is believed to be the same one observed last week off the western side of Kharg Island.

The slick was first observed a week ago through Satellite images. It’s unknown whether the spill was caused by a malfunction, an airstrike or something else.

On Monday, it looked like the slick had spread out, apparently dissipating. It is currently 47 miles (75 km) wide and appeared to be 28 miles (45 km) south of Kharg Island.

US warns banks to watch for suspected Iranian money-laundering networks

The Treasury Department wants U.S. banks and other financial institutions to monitor for suspected Iranian money laundering networks that use their funds to smuggle sanctioned oil through shell companies and crypto networks.

The move, which effectively deputizes the global financial system to help disrupt Iran’s sanctions-evasion infrastructure, comes as the U.S. and Iran reached another impasse over how to end their war while their ceasefire has grown increasingly shaky.

The Trump administration is calling on banks to flag certain customers who may launder funds for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard — including newly formed companies moving unusually large amounts of money, firms that route payments through multiple intermediaries or transactions connected to Iranian crypto firms, among other indicators.

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Trump to sign executive orders on beef supply

The two orders, according to a White House official, are meant to address short-term supply issues in the U.S. beef market.

The official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the orders in advance of their signing, said the plans will expand beef imports and support the renewal of America’s domestic cattle herd.

The orders were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

—- Seung Min Kim

Officials tout new website for mothers

Trump administration officials shared more details Monday about the website they stood up in time for Mother’s Day, at the URL moms.gov.

“It is one-stop shopping for IVF, for prenatal care, for postnatal care, for nutrition, for baby formula, and of course, for TrumpRx,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in the Oval Office.

The website centralizes government-led guidance on nutrition and health surrounding pregnancy and links out to Trump’s website for discounted drugs, TrumpRx.

The site also prominently displays a link to a pregnancy center resource called Option Line run by the anti-abortion group Heartbeat International. It signaled the administration staking out its side on the abortion debate as the Supreme Court weighs whether to restrict access to abortion pills by mail nationwide.

Trump likens Jimmy Lai to Comey as he plans to discuss case with Xi

The U.S. president said he’ll bring up the plight of Jimmy Lai in China this week but he compared the pro-democracy activist to one of his most detested foes.

“Jimmy Lai, you know, he caused a lot of bedlam,” Trump told reporters Monday. “It’s like saying to me, ‘if Comey ever went to jail, would you let him out?’ That might be a hard one for me.”

Trump is referring to former FBI director James Comey, whom he fired in 2017 over his handling of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. The Justice Department is now prosecuting Comey on charges of making threats against the president. Its first indictment of Comey was dismissed.

“Jimmy Lai, he caused lots of turmoil in China. He tried to do the right thing. He wasn’t successful, went to jail, and people would like him out,” Trump said. “And I’d like to see him get out too.”

Asked about hantavirus, Trump says ‘I hope it’s fine’

Trump made the comment Monday in the White House as countries around the world repatriated passengers from a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak.

“I hope it’s fine. All I can do is everything that a president can do, which is something — which is actually somewhat limited,” Trump said.

Among the cruise ship passengers who tested positive were a French woman and an American. Some experts have said U.S. authorities were slow to respond, but Trump said he thought the response was, “I think fine.”

“The one thing with this one is that it’s much harder to catch,” Trump said. “It’s been around for a long time, people are very familiar with it.”

What is a gas tax holiday?

A gas tax holiday is a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax, currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel. That does not include state taxes, which often are higher.

The tax provides more than $23 billion per year in revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.

The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.

Both the House and Senate are controlled by Republicans.

Trump says he’ll suspend federal gas tax

Trump answered yes when asked if he would suspend the federal gas tax amid higher prices stemming from the war with Iran.

He said the price of oil and gas would drop “like a rock” as soon as hostilities are over. Asked how long the suspension would last, he said “until it’s appropriate.”

The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.

The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Trump says Iran went back on allowing the US to remove its highly enriched uranium

Trump claims that Iran told his administration that it would allow the U.S. to come in and help extract its highly enriched uranium but went back on that in its latest ceasefire proposal.

“They changed their mind because they didn’t put it in the paper,” he said.

Trump added that besides taking the uranium, the U.S. wants Iran to “guarantee no nuclear weapons for a very long period of time and a couple of other minor things, but they just can’t get there. So they agree with us and then they take it back.”

Iran has not publicly agreed to give up its enriched uranium and insists its nuclear program is peaceful.

Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support’

President Trump on Monday said the Iran ceasefire is on “life support” after he rejected the country’s latest proposal for not including a nuclear concession.

Asked if the ceasefire was still in place, Trump said he’d say it’s “unbelievably weak” and on “life support.”

“I would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us,” Trump said during an unrelated appearance in the Oval Office. “I didn’t even finish reading it.”

Democrats vow to fight $1 billion Senate security proposal for White House ballroom

Republicans returning to Washington on Monday are facing questions about a $1 billion Senate security proposal that could help pay for President Trump’s ballroom as Democrats say they’ll try to defeat it.

Senate Republicans added the money for White House security to a spending bill that would restore funding for immigration enforcement agencies Democrats have blocked since February. The steep security proposal was put forward after a man was charged with trying to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month.

Republicans are using a partisan budget maneuver to push the spending legislation through Congress without any Democratic votes. But in a letter to colleagues Monday morning, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will fight it in other ways, including by pushing the Senate parliamentarian to strike the ballroom security money from the budget bill and offering amendments forcing Republicans to vote on it.

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Trump administration announces new rule establishing a fertility benefit

Trump held an event in the Oval Office on Monday to announce that the Labor Department was issuing a new regulation to formally create a fertility benefit option for employers that could be offered to workers outside normal health insurance plans.

The Trump administration said in October that it had struck a deal with a drugmaker to reduce the cost of fertility medication.

Trump asked his guests at the event to speak quickly because generals were waiting for him to discuss the war in Iran.

Two regional diplomats say one issue frustrating Trump is Iran’s demand for war damages

They noted that, traditionally, reparations are paid by the defeated side and Trump is wary of the term “reparations” appearing in Iranian proposals, as agreeing to it could be seen as acknowledging defeat.

Both diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing negotiations.

One diplomat added that Pakistan is working to broker a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the war and maintaining broader dialogue on unresolved issues.

He said Islamabad has support from other regional countries, and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have been in contact with both sides, as well as regional governments, to help ensure the ceasefire holds, the war ends and the parties agree to in-person talks next week.

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

— Munir Ahmed

Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz?

Maritime experts say granting Iran exclusive sovereignty over the strait — or allowing it to collect tolls on ships passing through — would violate a basic and enduring principle of international maritime trade: freedom of peaceful navigation. It’s an ancient idea that was codified by the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.

Before the war, the strait was an international waterway through which ships were meant to pass freely.

Agreeing to Iranian sovereignty would cement the country’s control over the waterway — eroding the freedom of navigation on which global trade depends and potentially making other global choke points subject to geopolitical power plays.

Suspect’s lawyers seek to have Justice Department officials recused from the case

Cole Tomas Allen’s lawyers are asking U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden to disqualify at least two top Justice Department officials from direct involvement in prosecuting him because they could be considered victims or witnesses in the case, creating a potential conflict of interest.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro were attending the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner when Allen ran through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer, authorities said. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm said the defense likely would seek to disqualify Pirro’s entire office from involvement in the case.

McFadden didn’t rule from the bench on that question but asked Allen’s attorneys to elaborate on the possible scope of their recusal request.

Allen is scheduled to return to court on June 29.

Man charged in White House correspondents’ dinner attack pleads not guilty

The California man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while armed with guns and knives has pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill President Trump and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer who tried to stop the attack.

Cole Tomas Allen was handcuffed and shackled and wearing an orange jail uniform when he appeared in federal court for his arraignment Monday.

Allen didn’t speak during the brief hearing. One of his attorneys entered the plea on his behalf.

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Oil prices rise after Trump rejects Iran’s latest peace proposal, but US stocks hold steady

Oil prices are rising as the war with Iran threatens to drag on for longer, but the U.S. stock market is nevertheless holding near its record heights.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil rose 1.7% to above $103 Monday after President Trump blasted Iran’s latest proposal to end their war as totally unacceptable. The rejection keeps the two sides in an uneasy limbo, one that’s already driven the price of Brent up from roughly $70 per barrel before the war.

But the S&P 500 slipped just 0.1% from its record. The Dow fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.2%.

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Voter confusion and headaches for election officials follow hasty GOP push to redraw US House seats

Thousands of Louisiana voters have already cast early ballots for congressional candidates in what soon could be the wrong districts. Alabama’s primaries are a week away, but the state could force a do-over for voting on U.S. House races. A new congressional map in Tennessee upended races that had been underway for months.

Republicans’ rush to gerrymander congressional districts across several Southern states after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling hollowed out the Voting Rights Act is confusing voters and creating logistical headaches for local election officials. The changes are hitting while primary season is in progress.

The chaotic upheaval to an election season that could determine which party controls the U.S. House is the latest fallout from an intensely partisan gerrymandering battle initiated by President Trump last year to protect Republicans’ slim majority.

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Trump’s deal making with Xi may determine Hong Kong jailed activist Jimmy Lai’s fate

Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai once hoped Trump could help stop the imposition of a controversial national security law. The law not only took effect but was also used to sentence him to 20 years in prison.

Ahead of an anticipated trip by Trump to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, Lai’s son said his family is now hoping that Trump can help secure his father’s release.

Lai, a prominent critic of Beijing, founded a pro-democracy newspaper that was shut down during a crackdown following the city’s massive anti-government protests in 2019.

Trump is expected to discuss trade, the Iran war and Taiwan with Xi. But he said he is also planning to bring up Lai, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, “there’s a little bitterness, I would say, with him and Jimmy Lai.”

Lai’s son says his family is hopeful that Trump could help, adding that it’s easier to resolve than many of the other complex geopolitical issues the leaders will discuss.

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World shares are mixed and oil rises after Trump rejects Iran’s response to ceasefire proposal

World shares were mixed Monday after Wall Street set more records, and oil rose more than 2% following U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s response to the latest U.S. proposal on ending the war in Iran.

U.S. futures edged less than 0.1% lower.

In early European trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.2% to 10,253.99. Germany’s DAX fell less than 0.1% to 24,328.17, and France’s CAC 40 lost 0.8% to 8,049.31.

In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.5% to 62,417.88 after briefing reaching another record high in intraday trading at above 63,300. Technology-focused investment holding company SoftBank Group, one of Japan’s largest stocks, fell more than 6%.

South Korea’s Kospi gained 4.3% to 7,822.24. It also hit an all-time intraday high, led by gains from tech-related stocks including Samsung Electronics and memory chipmaker SK Hynix.

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Iran war could make Trump’s trip to China a bit chillier than his first-term visit

Long before this week’s trip to China, Trump was already predicting on social media that Xi Jinping would “give me a big, fat hug when I get there.”

But Beijing’s deep economic ties to Iran, as well as trade tensions over tariff threats stretching back to Trump’s first term, could crimp the good feelings when Trump flies to Beijing this week — even though the Republican president has for years effusively praised Xi, making it clear he sees China’s leader as a competitor strong enough to warrant his respect and admiration.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that Beijing is willing to work with the U.S., based on equality and mutual respect, to expand cooperation, manage differences, and add stability to a turbulent world. The diplomacy between the leaders “plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role” in the bilateral relation, he said.

There will be plenty of ceremonial splendor, but the grandeur is not expected to rival Trump’s first visit to China in 2017, which Beijing dubbed a “state visit-plus.”

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The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, stemming from a Louisiana lawsuit, blocks a 2023 Food and Drug Administration rule allowing mifepristone to be delivered by mail — a provision commonly used to get around Texas’ abortion ban. With the Supreme Court’s temporary pause on the 5th Circuit’s ruling scheduled to expire Thursday evening, the future of Texans’ access to mifepristone remains unclear.

Abortion advocates condemned the ruling as a gateway into a national abortion ban, while anti-abortion groups heralded the 5th Circuit’s decision as a first step in the right direction.

Here’s what to know about the drug, court ruling and more.

Are abortion pills illegal in Texas?

Mifepristone and misoprostol, pills commonly taken to end a pregnancy, are not illegal in Texas and often prescribed to manage miscarriages, but it is illegal to supply them for elective abortions because of Texas’ ban on abortions.

Providing abortion pills in violation of the state’s abortion ban can result in criminal charges. Over the summer, a North Texas man was charged with capital murder after slipping mifepristone into his girlfriend’s food and she miscarried. That case is still pending.

Additionally, state law allows private citizens to sue virtually anyone who assists in providing abortion, including medical professionals, companies that facilitate the movement of abortion pills into the state and family or friends who purchase pills for a pregnant person. Any individual can file the suit to seek up to $100,000, a provision commonly referred to as a “bounty hunter” law.

Women who seek out abortions or take abortion pills are exempt from criminal charges or lawsuits under Texas’ abortion restrictions.

Despite Texas laws that penalize the supply of abortion pills, thousands enter Texas from 22 other states with “shield laws.” Texas has sued medical providers in New York, Delaware and California who have sent abortion pills over alleged violations of Texas’ abortion restrictions, but those states’ shield laws provide civil and criminal protections over their healthcare providers against Texas’ legal actions. These providers continue to provide prescriptions, often through telehealth appointments, to people in states like Texas that have abortion bans.

Roughly 25% of abortions nationwide are done through telehealth, an estimate that is “likely an undercount” because it may not include those having abortions illegally, University of California Davis Law professor Mary Ziegler, said.

What does the ruling restrict and why?

The 5th Circuit’s ruling on May 1 only restricts mail access to mifepristone, one of two drugs commonly used in medication abortions, including in managing miscarriages. The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000, and also approved two generic versions of the drug in 2019 and 2025. Multiple studies have shown the drug to be a safe and effective means of ending a pregnancy.

In 2023, the FDA established a rule allowing doctors to prescribe mifepristone remotely and for the drug to be mailed to patients, including those in Texas from other states where abortion is legal. The May 1 ruling overturned that rule, arguing it was put in place without proper FDA review of the drug’s effects.

If the 5th Circuit’s ruling stands and the 2023 rule goes away, people will not be charged with a crime for possessing or using mifepristone and the drug would still be available for in-person prescription. Mifepristone is solely used in ending pregnancies, unlike the second drug it is commonly paired with, misoprostol, which is used to treat ulcers but prescribed off-label to end pregnancies.

Pairing mifepristone and misoprostol helps the body to safely speed up the passing of pregnancy-related tissue, which is particularly important during miscarriages to avoid complications like increased bleeding, infection, scarring of the uterus and future invasive procedures.

The Supreme Court’s temporary block of the 5th Circuit’s ruling on May 4 restored medical providers’ ability to provide the drug through mail after a brief pause. The court extended the order on Monday, setting it to expires on May 14 at 5 p.m. EST unless the court extends the block further. On May 7, Texas joined 22 other states in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court asking them to let the 5th Circuit’s ruling stand.

Rachel Rebouche, a University of Texas at Austin law professor, said the Supreme Court’s order was unsurprising and likely designed to offset disruption in medical care caused by mifepristone’s sudden unavailability. The court’s one-page order did not provide an explanation for the block.

“It’s really hard to have a legal status for a drug that thousands and thousands of people use flicker,” Rebouche said. “Just maintaining the status quo is a way to damp down the confusion that occurs when something changes overnight.”

Will out-of-state organizations that mail abortion pills stop sending them to Texas?

While mailing of mifepristone is expected to stop if the Supreme Court’s temporary block expires and the 2023 FDA rule goes away, abortion pills will still be mailed into the state. That’s because providers will likely switch to misoprostol-only prescriptions, Ziegler and Rebouche said.

Studies have shown misoprostol-only abortions to also be safe, and the prescription is commonly used around the world, Ziegler said, but may come with additional side effects and potential for complications.

Shield laws would not protect the continued mailing of mifepristone under the 5th Circuit’s ruling and the 2023 FDA rule’s withdrawal because mailing the drug would violate federal regulations and result in penalties. But, the switch to exclusively sending misoprostol would likely make that moot, Ziegler and Rebouche said.

What are anti-abortion advocates saying about pulling the 2023 FDA rule?

Texas Right to Life president John Seago described the ruling as a restoration of a “common sense safeguard,” but stopped short of calling the ruling a full win, as he and other anti-abortion groups have urged the federal government to get more involved in halting abortion access.

“This is not an ultimate victory by any stretch of the imagination,” Seago said.

Seago said that the FDA could pause distribution of abortion pills nationally, and suggested that President Donald Trump could enforce a 150-year-old federal law called the Comstock Act to ban mail access to mifepristone and misoprostol. Texas joined Florida in filing a lawsuit in December seeking to challenge the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, arguing the agency did not properly evaluate the drug and also citing the Comstock Act.

“The rhetorical point we’ve been making is, we expect more and have higher expectations of the federal government, [and] for the FDA there’s a couple of things immediately they can do,” Seago said.

Rebouche said the FDA or Trump administration can’t simply “snap their fingers” and suspend availability of the two drugs, both because the FDA has not shown an immediate harm from the drugs and because any changes would likely be immediately sued and enjoined by a court.

“Somewhere, a court will do that, because there isn’t credible evidence that mifepristone is in any way dangerous or not effective,” Rebouche said.

What are abortion advocates saying about the latest ruling?

Groups that support and help assist access to abortion nationwide called the 5th Circuit’s ruling and subsequent stay from the Supreme Court “chaos” as access to mifepristone was limited and subsequently restored over the course of a few days. They say the latest court actions further chills people from trying to obtain the drug because they think it’s illegal, even though the drug itself is not.

“Today’s stay gives patients and providers only a brief moment to breathe as the dust settles on the most severe blow to abortion access since Dobbs,” Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju said on May 4 when the Supreme Court issued its temporary block.

In states where abortion is still legal, advocacy groups have pushed for legislators to pass and bolster shield laws allowing residents in states like Texas to maintain access in part through telehealth prescriptions. The courts’ rulings underscore the unpredictable nature of the courts and need for federal abortion protections, Timmaraju said in her statement.

“Blocking the baseless in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone from going into effect for a week may help to offset some disruptions to care following the Fifth Circuit ruling last week — but the underlying threat to access remains just as dire as it was before,” said Kelly Baden, vice president for public policy at the Guttmacher Institute in a statement.

When will a permanent decision be made about mifepristone?

It is currently unclear when the 5th Circuit or the Supreme Court may rule more definitively on the 2023 FDA rule, as the blocking of the 2023 rule came “very quick on the draw” in the appellate court case, Ziegler said.

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

Justice Samuel Alito’s order Monday allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. It prevents restrictions on mifepristone imposed by a federal appeals court from taking effect for the time being.

The court is dealing with its latest abortion controversy four years after its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

The case before the court stems from a lawsuit Louisiana filed to roll back the Food and Drug Administration’s rules on how mifepristone can be prescribed. The state claims the policy undermines the ban there, and it questions the safety of the drug, which was first approved in 2000 and has repeatedly been deemed safe and effective by FDA scientists.

Lower courts concluded that Louisiana is likely to prevail, and a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mail access and telehealth visits should be suspended while the case plays out.

The drug is most often used for abortion in combination with another drug, misoprostol. Medication abortions accounted for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023, the last year for which statistics are available.

The current dispute is similar to one that reached the court three years ago.

Lower courts then also sought to restrict access to mifepristone, in a case brought by physicians who oppose abortion. They filed suit in the months after the court overturned Roe.

The Supreme Court blocked the 5th Circuit ruling from taking effect over the dissenting votes of Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas. Then, in 2024, the high court unanimously dismissed the doctors’ suit, reasoning they did not have the legal right, or standing, to sue.

In the current dispute, mainstream medical groups, the pharmaceutical industry and Democratic members of Congress have weighed in cautioning the court against limiting access to the drug. Pharmaceutical companies said a ruling for abortion opponents would upend the drug approval process.

The FDA has eased a number of restrictions initially placed on the drug, including who can prescribe it, how it is dispensed and what kinds of safety complications must be reported.

Despite those determinations, abortion opponents have been challenging the safety of mifepristone for more than 25 years. They have filed a series of petitions and lawsuits against the agency, generally alleging that it violated federal law by overlooking safety issues with the pill.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been unusually quiet at the Supreme Court. It declined to file a written brief recommending what the court should do, even though federal regulations are at issue.

The case puts Trump’s Republican administration in a difficult place. Trump has relied on the political support of anti-abortion groups but has also seen ballot question and poll results that show Americans generally support abortion rights.

Both sides took the silence as an implicit endorsement of the appellate ruling. Alito is both the justice in charge of handling emergency appeals from Louisiana and the author of the 2022 decision that declared abortion is not a constitutional right and returned the issue to the states.

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Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, N.J.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

The 39-year-old, accused of killing his pregnant wife Christa Bauer in the Heights in Oct. 2024, cut off his ankle monitor while out of jail on a $1 million bond, and flew to Italy earlier this month just weeks before his trial.

RELATED: Judge forfeits $1 million bond for capital murder suspect who fled to Italy before trial

He was stopped by border police when he arrived at the airport in Milan while presenting forged travel documents and using the name “Lejeune Jean Luc Olivier,” according to a federal criminal complaint.

In the Italian courtroom Monday morning, Gilley did not consent to being extradited to the U.S., although his U.S. defense attorney Dick DeGuerin said that’s what he advised Gilley to do during a phone call last week.

An NBC News journalist in the room reported that Gilley then made unsolicited statements to Judge Marta Sterpos.

“My wife is dead, and they wrongly blamed me; that’s why I no longer have faith in the justice system. I am innocent. I did not kill my wife. The only crime I committed was fleeing. I fled to avoid being killed. I went to great lengths to escape and seek protection in Italy,” Gilley reportedly said.

Gilley told the court he chose Italy from the very beginning — a place his late wife loved dearly, according to friends — and said he’d like to live in the European country because of the lifestyle, culture, international protection, and to receive a fair trial.

RELATED: ‘She loved Italy’: Houston murder victim’s friends frustrated over husband Lee Gilley fleeing U.S. ahead of trial

The judge asked if he wanted to move to another country, and Gilley reportedly responded: “I chose Europe because of its due process guarantees, and Italy because there is strong public opposition to the death penalty.”

Harris County prosecutors have never indicated an intent to seek death for Gilley, although the other punishment option for capital murder is life without parole, which also isn’t in compliance with European law, Gilley’s Italian defense attorney Monica Grosso told reporters Monday.

Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported that Gilley also expressed distrust of the U.S. justice system, citing the removal of his two children after Bauer’s death despite a non-violent history.

Gilley thanked the judge in Italian twice, while wearing jeans and a white shirt.

The Italian Ministry of Justice told NBC News a decision hasn’t been decided yet over Gilley’s extradition, noting that there haven’t been any requests from the Trump administration.

KPRC 2 News reached out to the White House Monday, which referred any requests related to Gilley’s extradition to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Outside the courtroom, Grosso said Gilley believes he’s been the subject of a media campaign in the U.S. that would not have allowed him to obtain a real fair trial, and for that reason, “terrified,” he left the country.

Grosso, who declined to comment when contacted by KPRC 2 News over the weekend and is not subject to the gag order issued in the Texas capital murder case late Friday, described Gilley as tired but “calm and confident” about obtaining international protection.

MORE ON THE GAG ORDER: Judge issues gag order limiting public comments in Lee Gilley capital murder case

She is working to have him transferred to the CPR of Turin, an administrative detention center, where he would await the process for international protection away from prison restrictions, la Repubblica reported.

According to la Repubblica, it will take five days to determine if Gilley will remain in his cell at the Lorusso e Cutugno prison in Turin, where he’s been held in solitary confinement, or if he will begin fighting for political asylum from the CPR of Turin.

“At the CPR he would be waiting to be summoned before a territorial commission that will decide on his political asylum,” la Repubblica journalist Giado Lo Porto said. “Freedom is excluded because he has no support or a home here in Turin, therefore ... he must wait for the commission’s decision.”

For now, Gilley’s Harris County capital murder trial remains scheduled to start late this month.

Cole Tomas Allen was handcuffed and shackled and wearing an orange jail uniform when he appeared in federal court for his arraignment. Allen didn’t speak during the brief hearing. One of his attorneys entered the plea on his behalf.

Allen’s lawyers are asking U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden to disqualify at least two top Justice Department officials from direct involvement in prosecuting him because they could be considered victims or witnesses in the case, creating a potential conflict of interest.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro were attending the event when Allen ran through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer, authorities said. In a court filing last week, Allen’s attorneys argued that it creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest for Blanche and Pirro to be making any prosecutorial decisions in the case.

McFadden, a Trump nominee, didn’t rule from the bench on that question but asked Allen’s attorneys to elaborate on the possible scope of their recusal request. Defense attorney Eugene Ohm said the defense likely would seek to disqualify Pirro’s entire office from involvement in the case. Ohm acknowledged that a bid to disqualify the entire Justice Department would be unlikely.

“That would be quite a request,” the judge said.

McFadden gave prosecutors until May 22 to respond in writing to the defense's request. The judge asked the government to specify whether it believes Pirro and Blanche could be considered victims in the case.

“That might add some clarity here,” McFadden said.

In their filing, Allen's attorneys suggested that the appointment of a special prosecutor might be warranted.

Allen is scheduled to return to court on June 29.

A Secret Service officer was shot once in a bullet-resistant vest during the April 25 attack at the Washington Hilton hotel, which disrupted and ultimately prompted an early end to one of the highest-profile annual events in the nation’s capital. The officer fired five shots but didn't hit anybody, authorities said.

Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was injured but was not shot.

Besides the attempted-assassination count, Allen also is charged with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and two additional firearms counts. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the attempted assassination charge alone.

Allen was placed on suicide watch after his arrest, but jail officials removed him from that status after several days. Allen’s attorneys complained that he had been unnecessarily confined in a padded room with constant lighting, repeatedly strip searched and placed in restraints outside his cell.

Allen told FBI agents that he didn’t expect to survive the attack, which could help explain why he was deemed to be a possible suicide risk, a Justice Department prosecutor has said.

Allen was outfitted with an ammunition bag, a shoulder gun holster and a sheathed knife when he took a photo of himself in his room at the hotel just minutes before the attack, according to prosecutors. In a message that authorities say sheds light on his motive, Allen referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and alluded obliquely to grievances over a range of actions by Trump's Republican administration.

Authorities have alleged that Allen on April 6 reserved a room for himself at the Hilton where the event would be held weeks later under its typical tight security. He traveled by train cross-country from California, checking himself into the hotel a day before the dinner with a room reserved for the weekend.

Trump was rushed off the stage by his security team at the Saturday night event and appeared at the White House two hours later, still in his tuxedo, to talk about the attack and the suspect.

“When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” the president said. “They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”

The lawsuit comes after state authorities disclosed that ChatGPT gave information to the shooter about what time and location would maximize victims on campus, as well as the type of gun and ammunition to use. Authorities say he was also told that an attack can get more media attention if children are involved.

“OpenAI knew this would happen. It’s happened before and it was only a matter of time before it happened again,” Vandana Joshi, whose husband Tiru Chabba was one of two people killed, said in a statement Monday. Six people were also wounded.

The lawsuit, filed Sunday in federal court, says OpenAI should have built ChatGPT with guardrails to let someone know that police may need to investigate “to prevent a specific plan for imminent harm to the public.”

OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing in what it called a “terrible crime.”

“In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity,” Drew Pusateri, a spokesman for the company, said in an email to The Associated Press.

Separately, in April, Florida’s attorney general said there was a rare criminal investigation into ChatGPT over whether the AI tool offered advice to Phoenix Ikner that enabled the April 2025 shooting in Tallahassee. The 21-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and several counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.

Investigators said Ikner, a Florida State student, was on campus for an hour before he walked in and out of campus buildings and green spaces while firing a handgun. The shooting took place on a weekday just before lunchtime near the school's Student Union, which has food and shops. The lawsuit says Ikner asked ChatGPT about the busiest times there.

Joshi's husband, a 45-year-old father of two from Greenville, South Carolina, was a regional vice president of the food service vendor Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. The other man who was killed, Robert Morales, 57, was a campus dining coordinator at Florida State.

OpenAI “put their profits over our safety and it killed my husband. They need to be responsible before another family has to go through this,” Joshi said in a statement released by her lawyer.

OpenAI is currently valued at $852 billion.

Several lawsuits have sought damages from AI and tech companies over the influence of chatbots and social media on loved ones’ mental health.

In March, a jury in Los Angeles found both Meta and YouTube liable for harms to children using their services. In New Mexico, a jury determined that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

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Associated Press reporter Ed White in Detroit contributed.

The program features interviews with best-selling authors including:

• Leon Carroll, Jr. has served our country with distinction—as a Marine Corps officer, a longtime Special Agent with Naval Criminal Investigative Services (“NCIS”), and later as a trusted technical advisor for the hit television series NCIS for more than two decades. His remarkable career has taken him around the world, from the decks of the USS Ranger to leading NCIS offices across the globe. Today, he brings those experiences to life through storytelling. As co-author of the bestselling Ghosts series with actor and producer Mark Harmon, his new book, Ghosts of Sicily, continues a powerful narrative rooted in service, sacrifice, and truth.
• Admiral William H. McRaven is one of the most respected voices on service and leadership in America. A retired four-star admiral, he spent nearly four decades as a Navy SEAL, ultimately commanding U.S. Special Operations Command and overseeing some of the most critical counterterrorism operations worldwide in our nation’s history. Following his military career, he continued his service as Chancellor of The University of Texas System. He is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Your Bed. His newest book, Duty, Honor, Country & Life: A Tribute to America, is hot off the press and offers a powerful reflection on the values that define our nation and the individuals who embody them.
• Brad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated author of more than a dozen best-selling thrillers. Meltzer’s work spans different genres, including non-fiction and books that celebrate real heroes, like his children’s book I am Simone Biles. Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World children’s book series was the inspiration for the PBS Kids show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. He has also hosted two series on The History Channel. In this interview, Meltzer discusses his newest thriller, The Viper, and his special connection with former First Lady Barbara Bush.
• Rob Riggle is an Emmy Award–winning actor, comedian, and decorated Marine Corps veteran. He has brought laughter to audiences for more than two decades through roles in films like The Hangover & Dumb and Dumber To and television appearances on Saturday Night Live & The Daily Show. Before he hit the Hollywood spotlight, he served our country with distinction, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after earning more than 20 medals and ribbons. His memoir, Grit, Spit, and Never Quit: A Marine’s Guide to Comedy and Life, is as honest as it is hilarious—sharing how his military service shaped both his life and his path to comedy.

Watch ‘A Celebration of Reading’ in the video player above.

Visit the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation to learn more about the organization and how you can support its mission.

The community offers everything from waterfront walking paths and beautifully landscaped grounds to chef-prepared dining, fitness classes, social clubs, and happy hours throughout the week.

Designed for adults 62 and older, Eagle’s Trace focuses on helping neighbors stay engaged, active, and connected through a wide variety of programs and amenities.

The 72-acre campus includes scenic lake views, multiple dining venues, wellness programs, and spaces designed to encourage friendship and community.

Eagle’s Trace is also a continuing care retirement community, meaning neighbors have access to additional levels of care if their needs change over time.

Community leaders say one of the biggest priorities is creating an environment where people can continue living fully while also having peace of mind about the future.

To learn more about Eagle’s Trace and the lifestyle and amenities offered, visit Eagle’s Trace online at eaglestrace.com or call 281-496-7676.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: The Netflix true crime documentary “The Crash,” pop-punk paragons The All-American Rejects return with their fifth studio album and Season 2 of Stanley Tucci's gastronomic tour “Tucci in Italy” lands on Disney+

New movies to stream from May 11-17

— Théodore Pellerin slyly infiltrates the inner circle of Archie Madekwe’s pop musician Oliver in the psychological thriller “Lurker,” streaming on HBO Max on Friday, May 15. The film explores the parasocial relationship of internet fandoms, and the power dynamics within the entourage of an on-the-cusp star. It was written and directed by Emmy-winner Alex Russell (“The Bear,” “Beef”), who looked to “obsessive thrillers” like “Whiplash” and “Black Swan” for inspiration.

— The Netflix true crime documentary “The Crash” looks into a 2022 car crash in Ohio, in which 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla slammed her car into a brick building at 100 mph, killing her boyfriend and his friend, and the conflicting narratives around that night. It begins streaming Friday, May 15. Also coming to Netflix? “Black Phone 2,” streaming on Saturday, May 16, which sees the return of Ethan Hawke’s The Grabber (who, yes, was killed in the first movie) who is intent on getting revenge against Mason Thames four years later.

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

New music to stream from May 11-17

— On Friday, May 15, a new collection from the Colombian superstar Maluma, titled “Loco x Volver,” drops. It’s a celebration of his culture and then some: from the reggaetón/dancehall hybrid “Pa’ la seca” with Ryan Castro to “Con El Corazón” with the late great Yeison Jiménez and everything in between, these are songs that celebrate his roots while modernizing folkloric sounds.

— Pop-punk paragons The All-American Rejects are back, preparing to release their fifth studio album and first full-length in nearly 15 years, since 2012’s “Kids in the Street.” It’s called “Sandbox.” Expect what they’re known for: Big hooks, big chords, big choruses and bigger fun.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

New series to stream from May 11-17

— “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” has a new home for its second season. The game show, hosted by Colin Jost, makes the jump to Netflix beginning Monday, with a new episode dropping each weekday through June 5. Sample categories include “bummer movie endings,” “Broadway on the big screen” and “TV of the 2010s.” If trending topics make up your FYP on TikTok, this one’s for you.

— Stanley Tucci is fresh off a world tour to promote “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and now he’s taking us to Italy for season two of “Tucci in Italy.” In the new episodes, the actor visits regions like Sicily, Campania and Sardinia to meet with locals and eat food native to those areas. Travel along on Disney+ and Hulu beginning Tuesday.

— Fans have to wait until 2027 for a new season of “Heated Rivalry” but there’s another series available in the hockey romance genre. “Off Campus” debuts its first season on Prime Video on Wednesday. It’s about the love lives of a group of college hockey players. Each season follows a different relationship. The leads of Season 1 are Belmont Cameli and Ella Bright, while Season 2, starring Antonio Cipriano and India Fowler, begins filming very soon.

— Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser’s long-awaited “Yellowstone” spinoff debuts Friday, May 15, on Paramount+. “Dutton Ranch” takes place one year after the events of the series finale of “Yellowstone” and characters Beth and Rip have relocated to Texas. They’ve got a new ranch now but if we’ve learned anything from the other shows, owning land can be very dangerous. Annette Bening and Ed Harris also star.

— Alicia Rancilio

New video games to play from May 11-17

— U.K. developer Supermassive Games has built its reputation on horror gems like “Until Dawn” and “The Quarry” that evoked classic movies like “Friday the 13th.” For its latest thriller, “Directive 8020,” the inspiration appears to be “Alien” and “The Thing.” You are 12 light years from Earth when your colony ship crashes on Tau Ceti f. The organisms there aren’t happy to meet you, and they are quite adept at imitating their prey. Can you trust your crewmates? Can you prevent the predators from hitching a ride when you try to return home? Things start getting squishy Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

The suspect was identified by Herman as Brian Blaine, 65, of The Woodlands’ Grogan Mill Villages subdivision. Blaine was booked Friday on a charge of online solicitation of a minor and was being held on $200,000 bond, Herman said.

Herman said the investigation began when a 13-year-old girl who lives in Harris County told her parents that an adult had been sending explicit messages. The girl gave investigators access to her phone and social media communications, and undercover officers engaged the suspect online. Herman said investigators say Blaine agreed to have sex with whom he believed was a 13-year-old and arranged a meeting.

Deputies set up the meeting near one of the elementary schools in Precinct 4’s North Central district, Herman said. School officials were notified and the campus was briefly put on lockdown while investigators carried out their operation. Herman said the arranged meeting took place on school grounds but away from the building and that no students were endangered; parents were notified.

When the suspect arrived Friday evening, deputies arrested him in the school parking lot, Herman said.

Because some initial contacts occurred in Montgomery County, the investigation is being conducted jointly with Montgomery County Constable Ryan Gable’s office, Herman said. Investigators have identified other children who frequently spent time at the suspect’s house and plan to interview them to determine whether there are additional victims. At this time, Herman said, officials have no evidence of other confirmed victims but are urging parents or teens who may have had interactions with Blaine to come forward.

Herman described some of the messages as “repulsive” and said the suspect had been grooming the 13-year-old. He told reporters that investigators saw references in messages to younger children, including as young as 12. Herman said he believes Blaine is likely retired.

If convicted on the charge discussed at the news conference, the suspect could face a lengthy prison term; Herman said the sentence could be as long as 99 years. Precinct 4 officials said they plan to distribute a media release and an electronic photo of the suspect to encourage anyone with information to step forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Precinct 4 Lieutenant Jeff Lee at 832-927-6158.

Trump in December authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan — the largest weapons sale ever to the island — but has not yet moved forward with delivery and even acknowledged that he's discussed the sale with Xi. He's groused that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor business and called on Taiwan to pay the U.S. for protection.

All the while, Trump has, with the threat of hefty tariffs, prodded Taipei to agree to massive investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and to purchase billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. liquefied natural gas and crude oil.

The president during an Oval Office exchange with reporters on Monday said that he expected Xi would ask him to hold back on arming Taiwan.

“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi,” Trump said about China's strong opposition to the U.S. providing weapons to Taiwan. “President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion.”

Trump's rhetoric is fueling speculation in Beijing, Taipei and Washington about America’s commitment to help the island defend itself and whether the Republican president could be persuaded to cede ground on the long-standing U.S. posture toward the island.

Taiwan’s backers are concerned that Taipei will be “on the menu” when Trump and Xi sit down for talks, said retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery.

“I do worry that we have a transactional president and a transactional opportunity could arise, and then we would have a challenge,” said Montgomery, now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank that supports robust U.S. backing of Taiwan.

Rubio says US policy is unchanged

The Chinese have signaled they intend to make Taiwan a central part of the talks. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi raised Taiwan during a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prepare for the trip, and urged the United States to “make the right choices” about its policies toward the island in order to safeguard “stability” between the two nations, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

But Rubio said U.S. policy has not changed. “We don’t want to see any forced or compelled change in the situation,” he told reporters in Rome on Friday, saying it “would be destabilizing to the world.” He noted that Taiwan would not be “a feature of our trip, but it’ll certainly be an item that’s discussed.”

White House officials have underscored that Trump, who also approved $330 million in aircraft parts for Taiwan's military in November, has already approved more in military sales for Taiwan in the first year of his second term than the roughly $8.4 billion that Democratic President Joe Biden approved over his four years in office.

Taiwan has been under pressure from the Trump administration to increase its defense spending, and on Friday its lawmakers broke months of gridlock to approve $25 billion in arms purchases. It was significantly less than the $40 billion proposal put forward last year by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. A senior Trump administration official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said it was disappointing that the parliament did not fully fund Lai's proposal.

Taiwanese government officials have expressed concern about China's rhetoric ahead of the summit, though they've also taken some comfort from Rubio's measured comments.

“(China) may attempt some maneuvering during the talks, but the U.S. has repeatedly reiterated, through both public and private channels, that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged,” National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen told reporters.

Xi may look to loosen US-Taiwan ties

The key question, China experts say, is just how far Xi will try to go in his effort to prod Trump closer to Beijing's view.

China sees the self-ruled Taiwan as a renegade province, to be annexed by force if necessary. It prohibits countries it has diplomatic relations with from having formal ties with Taipei. Since establishing diplomatic relations with modern China in 1979, the U.S. has managed to stay within the framework of Beijing’s demands while maintaining informal support for Taiwan and providing it with arms.

As part of the U.S. ambiguity on Taiwan, Washington acknowledges Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China but does not explicitly endorse it. The U.S. has also historically stated it “does not support” Taiwan’s independence and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo between Taiwan and China.

But analysts say Xi could seek to persuade Trump — who already has demonstrated a willingness to blur the lines of traditional diplomacy — to loosen ties with Taiwan through curbs on U.S. arms sales or with informal limits on visits by prominent U.S. officials to the island. In February, Trump suggested he broke from longstanding U.S. policy and consulted with Xi on arms sales to Taiwan.

“Even if we don’t see something as dramatic as a formal shift in declaratory policy, this time around, there is always a risk that President Trump may make an off-the-cuff remark given he’s not necessarily somebody who appreciates the nuances of longstanding policy language,” said Patricia Kim of the Assessing China Project at Brookings Institution in Washington.

White House sits out Japan-China rift

A row between U.S. ally Japan and China has also raised speculation about the strength of Trump's commitment to Taiwan. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan was of concern to the region and could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan, requiring the use of force.

Trump made back-to-back calls with Takaichi and Xi that same month, though he's remained largely silent about the spat.

“I know they have a little bit of an edgy relationship,” Trump said as he hosted Takaichi for talks in March.

Additionally, Trump’s backing of Taiwan faced scrutiny after the 2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy omitted direct mention of the island.

The best-case scenario for Taiwan

One card Taiwan holds is its robust semiconductor sector, the world’s largest, which the U.S. relies on to maintain an edge in its advanced-technology race against China.

“Trump at the very least realizes the role that Taiwan plays in the U.S.’s economic growth,” said Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. “So I think that is sort of the main silver lining in thinking that nothing drastic will change in terms of policy toward Taiwan.”

While Trump is known for his transactional nature, his administration has not viewed difficult aspects of the U.S.-China relationship as “fungible” issues that can be traded, said Edgard Kagan, a former senior State Department official who served under Trump and Biden on East Asia policy issues.

“The president understands leverage. My experience of being in meetings with him, he has a very, very acute sense of how to use it,” said Kagan, who is now the China Studies chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “And so I think that the idea that there’s going to be a trade where the president sort of sacrifices U.S. interests in Taiwan in order to get other things — I think it’s unlikely based on my own experience of how he operates.”

In the end, whether the island comes out of the Xi-Trump summit on a stronger or weaker footing will likely be judged by the leaders’ public statements.

Trump on Monday reiterated that he's confident that Xi won't take military action against Taiwan under his watch.

“I think the best-case scenario Taiwan can hope for is that Taiwan is not talked about publicly or, at the very least, in a minimal way,” Nachman said.

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Mistreanu reported from Taipei. Associated Press writer Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report.

Missouri’s football program announced in a statement that Hardy was shot early Sunday morning and that the All-America running back underwent surgery for the gunshot wound later that day.

WJTV 12 News reported Hardy was shot in the upper leg, according to police, and the Laurel (Mississippi) Leader-Call reported the shooting happened at an outdoor concert at a bike club in Laurel.

“There had been a scheduled concert there of some rappers, or maybe a couple of different rappers,” Laurel police Sgt. Macon Davis told the Leader-Call. “It drew a large crowd, and then gunshots rang out at the end.”

Three people of interest were in custody, Davis told the Leader-Call. He described the scene as a “melee," saying at least two people were injured and it was a miracle others were not.

The Associated Press left Davis a voicemail requesting more information.

Missouri said it would provide more information on Hardy’s status as it becomes available.

“Ahmad is deeply loved by his teammates, coaches, friends, family and fans,” the statement said. “We will continue to stand beside him and his family through this difficult time, offering our love, prayers, strength and support. A timeline for his return to football activities is unknown at this time.”

Hardy earned first-team Associated Press All-America honors last season and was one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award given annually to college football’s top running back. He rushed for 1,649 yards to rank second among all Bowl Subdivision players.

Hardy is from Oma, Mississippi. He started his college career at Louisiana-Monroe but transferred to Missouri before the 2025 season.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Sanctions were also slapped on seven centers suspected of indoctrinating the children or training them to serve in the armed forces, either for Russia or pro-Russian militias inside Ukraine.

Over 130 people and “entities” are now under EU travel bans and asset freezes over the abductions.

EU headquarters said the measures target “those responsible for the systematic unlawful deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, including indoctrination and militarized education, of Ukrainian minors, as well as their unlawful adoption and removal to the Russian Federation and within temporarily occupied territories.”

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, about 20,500 children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-held territories in eastern Ukraine.

EU officials say many of the children are stripped of their Ukrainian identity and culture, given Russian passports and put up for adoption. Some are forced into schools for indoctrination or into military camps.

“Russia is trying to erase their identity,” Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said Monday at a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels, where the sanctions were endorsed. “When you look at the Genocide Convention, it’s one of the features of the genocide crime. So, it’s very serious.”

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions.

Around 2,200 children have been returned, but identifying them is complicated. Those taken at a young age can be difficult to recognize just a few years later. Getting them home is a harrowing task, and while Ukraine has reintegration structures in place some may face a long period of adaption when they return.

The EU on Monday was hosting, alongside Canada, a meeting of the 47-country International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children to increase diplomatic pressure on Russia and rally support for work to verify and trace those who are taken.

“War has really many faces, but stealing the children is really one of the most horrific,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said ahead of the gathering. “We should stop this, and Russia should pay.”

The officials targeted by Monday’s sanctions include the heads of children’s camps, government representatives and military officers in charge of youth training.

One of the 16 named was Lilya Shvetsova, head of the “Red Carnation” camp in occupied Crimea. The EU said she supervised “activities aimed at shaping the political and ideological views of children present at the facility, including Ukrainian children.”

Like others on the list, she was determined to be “supporting and implementing actions and policies contributing to the deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, including indoctrination, or militarized education of Ukrainian minors.”