President Donald Trump, who said Friday that he was "the one that said do it,” is not trying to overturn state election results “in any way, shape or form” on the cusp of the Nov. 3 election, Blanche told CNN's “State of the Union.”

“We wish that we didn’t have to do this. We hope for a resolution that works,” Blanche said.

Republicans fear that a second candidate on the ballot who is named Dan Sullivan — a retired teacher and school administrator from the tiny fishing community of Petersburg — could siphon away votes from the senator and tip the outcome in favor of Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman.

A day after the lawsuit was filed on Thursday, Peltola called it “just flagrant, flagrant corruption in my opinion” and a diversion tactic by Republicans. Alaska’s other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, also criticized the lawsuit in a social media post.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that he believed the ballot was illegal because it was unfair and that Sen. Sullivan should be identified to voters as the sitting senator.

“At least let him use the name Sen. Dan Sullivan as opposed to incumbent, because a lot of people don’t know what incumbent means,” Trump said.

Alaskan voters will see “Dan S. Sullivan” identified as a “registered Republican” and “incumbent” on their ballots, while “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” will not have a party affiliation.

Blanche represented Trump as a personal attorney before the Republican president appointed him to lead the Department of Justice, which filed the lawsuit in Alaska. Blanche defended Trump in his election inference case before voters elected Trump to a second White House term, effectively ending the criminal prosecution.

Blanche told CNN host Dana Bash that it was “crazy” for her to ask him if Trump was trying to lay the groundwork for the same sort of election challenges that occurred before a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“We are not doing anything improper. We’re not doing anything we’re not allowed to do. And we have to let the process play out," Blanche said. "But I do think it’s important for the American people to understand that we are not — (and) President Trump is not — trying to take over a state election in any way shape or form.”

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Associated Press writer Josh Boak contributed to this report.

Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, bested Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round of the election earlier this month. More than 33 million of the nearly 160 million registered voters did not turn out.

The difference between the two candidates is stark. Bolsonaro and Lula have opposing ideological views on issues ranging from U.S.-Brazil relations and climate change to social welfare. A win for Bolsonaro would signify a pivot to the right by Latin America’s most populous country and its largest economy in a year when Trump allies have notched victories in Chile, Peru and Colombia.

Here's the latest:

Brazilian judge orders official's arrest after public buses prevented from leaving

An electoral judge in the state of Bahia has ordered the arrest of the mobility secretary of the state capital Salvador. At least 75 public buses were prevented from leaving municipal garages during the presidential runoff vote.

Mayor Bruno Reis, an ally of opposition candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, blamed trade unionists for illegally sticking Workers’ Party materials onto transit vehicles for the measure.

Bahia state is a stronghold for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose voters tend to live in areas that depend more heavily on buses.

Trump says he’s watching the Brazilian election

While leaving the White House on Sunday, President Donald Trump declined to endorse anyone in Brazil’s presidential election. “I don’t want to get into that,” he told reporters.

But the president added that his administration was tracking the race. “We are watching,” Trump said.

Voters who chose third-party candidates in first round could decide Brazil election

Voters who chose a third-party candidate or abstained in the first round could decide the outcome this time around.

Kelvin Gomes Pimental, a 28-year-old data analyst in Brasilia, voted for a third-party candidate in the first round, making his vote a decisive one in this election. He ultimately decided to vote for Lula.

Although he said Lula was not a perfect candidate, he ultimately disagreed more with Bolsonaro’s approach.

“It’s not even about Flávio himself. It’s also very much about the management of the other Bolsonaro government. He wanted to stage a coup,” he said. “These issues scare me a little.”

Alisson Freitas, 67, who works at a bakery in São Paulo, said he didn’t vote in the first round because he was working that day too far from his polling station. But he requested the early shift this time to support Lula.

“I don’t think his government did well this time, things are expensive, but under Jair Bolsonaro it was much worse,” Freitas said.

What newspapers in Brazil are saying

Brazilian newspapers are stressing that Sunday’s runoff between Lula and Bolsonaro will be a nail-biter, though Bolsonaro’s campaign is more optimistic after recent polls.

Folha de S.Paulo cited an analysis by its own pollster to say the election result is still open, but Lula will have to see his voters increase turnout to close the 2.2 million-vote gap between the two in the first round.

Rio de Janeiro-based O Globo, owned by Brazil’s biggest media company, reported that Bolsonaro, who was handpicked by his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, overcame initial fears in the right-wing camp that he would not be a competitive candidate because of recent corruption investigations involving him.

Churchgoers in Rio’s Copacabana neighborhood are divided over candidates

Young and old trickled in and out of a Catholic church in Rio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana neighborhood, where army trucks dotted the beachfront. Some people wore stickers displaying the number 13, corresponding to the digits Lula voters punch into the electronic voting machines, while others the number 22, representing Flávio Bolsonaro at the polls.

Religion became a central theme in the lead-up to the election, after a comment about Jesus by Bolsonaro went viral and triggered fears among many Catholics that he might intend to remove Our Lady of Aparecida as Brazil’s patron saint.

Maria Helena Vilanova, a 76-year-old Bolsonaro voter, said her candidate of choice would never do such a thing. She accused Lula of “giving crumbs” to the poor and said that his famed Bolsa Familia welfare program discourages people from seeking work.

“I shouldn’t have to put up with beggars asking me for money,” she said. “Brazil isn’t growing enough as a country because we’re exploited.”

Jorge Lemos, 72, said he was on his way to vote for Lula. He recalled the quotas introduced during the incumbent’s first two terms, from 2003 to 2010, which enabled his children to study and become a doctor and a dentist.

“I feel like I could never repay the debt I owe Lula,” Lemos, who is originally from Belem in the Amazon region, said. “I went into the church to ask Our Lady of Aparecida to give us strength so that the Brazilian people vote for Lula.”

How the regions split votes

Brazil was sharply divided across its five main regions in the first round of the presidential election.

Flávio Bolsonaro won in three of the country’s five regions, but Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took the second most populous by wide margins. Bolsonaro won in the populous and rich Southeast, where Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states lie. They will be the key battlegrounds in Sunday's runoff.

Bolsonaro, 45, carried the agribusiness hub of the country’s Center-West and easily won in the South, which borders Uruguay and Argentina. Lula erased much of Bolsonaro’s gains by winning in the Northeast and also triumphed in the North, the region that includes the Amazon rainforest.

Lula voters cite his history of supporting marginalized Brazilians

Luzia da Souza, who runs a bar in a middle-class neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, is a longtime supporter of incumbent Lula and identified herself as "a Black woman from the periphery.”

“Black people’s lives greatly improved during Lula’s terms,” she said, and blamed Congress — which is largely right-wing — for the slow pace of reform.

“A president doesn’t govern on his own,” da Souza said. “But Lula is a man of the people and he knows what it’s like to be poor. I find it impossible not to vote for him.”

Anderson Falcão, a 43-year-old journalist in Brasilia who sported a red shirt in support of Lula, said he worried about Bolsonaro’s long-term political vision, which he called “exclusionary.”

“It’s a project that harms the less fortunate, harms the worker, women, the forest, the Amazon,” he said.

Social media play outsized role

Brazil’s left was caught off guard when Flávio Bolsonaro bested incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by over 2 million votes in Brazil’s first-round election.

Since then, it has made a clear bet on an unprecedented wave of digital activism and street protests to support Lula. The shift signals a turning point for the left, which has historically struggled to counter the far-right’s dominant online presence and savvy digital strategy.

Between the campaign’s launch on Aug. 16 and up to the first round, Lula and Bolsonaro had more or less the same number of interactions, according to data analytics company Bites. But since the beginning of the second round, the incumbent’s profiles received around 111 million interactions against Bolsonaro’s 31 million, it said.

Third-party influence

After the first-round results confirmed a runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, eliminated candidates started trying to influence the final vote.

Third-place finisher Augusto Cury, a writer who describes himself as a moderate and garnered 3.4 million votes, endorsed Bolsonaro to align anti-establishment voters. Conservative former governors Ronaldo Caiado and Romeu Zema, who combined received almost 3 million votes, also endorsed Flávio Bolsonaro. Renan Santos, who drew 2.4 million votes on a reject-all-other-candidates platform, has endorsed neither Lula nor Bolsonaro.

Lula casts his ballot, thanks supporters

Lula voted in the city of Sao Bernardo do Campo, where he began his political career as a union leader in the 1960s.

“I am thankful to the Brazilian people. What people did to me in recent days is something I cannot repay,” he said before casting his vote and holding Brazil’s flag in front of the cameras.

He said he was still emotional about Saturday’s demonstration of support from voters in São Paulo. “I don’t think Paulista Avenue had so many people in any political event.”

“It is a lot of generosity, a lot of care, a lot of love. I will be forever grateful,” Lula said.

First lady Rosângela da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and other allies accompanied Lula to the polling station.

Mandated voting doesn’t mean everyone votes

Voting is mandatory for literate Brazilians aged 18 to 70. But that has never been a real consideration for nonvoters, who must either submit a formal justification online or at a polling station, or pay a small fine of less than $1.

More than 33 million people did not vote in the first round of the elections on Oct. 4. Some of those were hospitalized, living overseas or working outside their voting areas. And others just chose not to.

Unexcused absences in three consecutive elections freeze tax IDs, block nonvoters from applying to state jobs, hinders loans from state banks, and delays the issuance of passports. For those who don’t want to choose a candidate even when they show up, they can cast blank or null votes.

Some Bolsonaro voters evoke desire for change

Fabianne Borges Santoro, a 45-year-old physiotherapist who lives in the neighborhood where Bolsonaro voted, said she voted for change.

“The Workers’ Party has been in power for a long time and the voice of the people is saying that we need change to see improvements in security and the cost of living,” she said, wearing a top featuring Brazil’s national colors, yellow and green. “Things are really expensive and taxes are too high.”

Santoro said she once voted for Lula’s party but now associates it with corruption, particularly after the so-called Operation Car Wash that started in 2014, when the Workers’ Party was in power and entangled dozens of politicians.

Roulen Azeredo, a 76-year-old army reservist, said he had always voted right. He also echoed the desire for a shift in the country’s direction.

“The current government did nothing,” said Azeredo, who hopes Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup, will be freed if the former president’s eldest son wins. “His imprisonment is a disgrace.”

Battle of left versus right

Sunday’s runoff is a battle of politics as much as personalities. Brazil’s next president — Lula or Bolsonaro, a Trump ally — will determine whether U.S. influence further expands in Latin America, where Trump-allied candidates have won elections in countries that include Colombia, Argentina and Peru.

Brazil is the region’s most populous country and its largest economy. A Lula win would leave Brazil and Mexico, the region’s second most populous country, with left-of-center leaders; a Bolsonaro win would likely bring Brazil closer to Washington.

Bolsonaro casts his ballot, calls for change

Presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro voted at a local school in Rio de Janeiro just after 8 a.m., accompanied by his wife, Fernanda Bolsonaro. Wearing a light yellow shirt, he smiled and waved to supporters waiting to see him in the rain.

“The time of real change has arrived,” Bolsonaro told journalists. “Brazil can’t go on another four years on its current trajectory.”

As Bolsonaro voted, supporters of the opposition candidate shouted “Lula, thief, your place is in prison,” while fans of the incumbent responded with clapping and the chant “Olé olé olé ola, Lula!” The two anthems are common in demonstrations.

Electronic voting means speedy results

In Brazil, voting is fully electronic — meaning votes are counted much more quickly than in some other countries.

Polls opened at 8 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. Brasilia time (2000 GMT) in most of the country.

On the ballot: the presidential face-off between Lula and Bolsonaro and six gubernatorial races. Votes are tallied quickly because each ballot box calculates results locally and prints a paper summary. The encrypted data is transmitted via secure networks to the nation’s top electoral court in capital Brasilia, which aggregates and publishes the counts within hours.

The system has been in place since the 1990s with few questioning its efficiency. One of its critics is former President Bolsonaro.

Aranda's dismissal came a day after Baylor lost to Kansas 25-24 to fall to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks earned their first win over Baylor since 2007, ending a 14-game losing skid to the Bears when Blake Herold blocked a field goal attempt in the final minute.

Aranda took over the Baylor program in 2020 and led the Bears to the Big 12 championship and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2021. But he couldn't keep that success going, with just one winning season since. He finishes at Baylor with a record of 40-40.

Aranda had been under pressure to turn things around in his seventh season. Part of the effort to do that was hiring Klanderman from Kansas State to take over defensive play-calling, and signing transfer quarterback DJ Lagway, a Texas native, from Florida.

"Anyone who knows Dave Aranda understands what a genuine and honorable person he is and how much he deeply cares for his players, staff and this university,” said Doug McNamee, Baylor vice president and athletic director.

“He is a gifted coach and a brilliant football mind whose leadership brought some of our best Baylor football memories. While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program."

Baylor plays at UCF, which on Saturday knocked off then-No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime, on Friday.

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It was her first appearance since the U.S. military deposed the country’s then-President Nicolás Maduro in January, replacing him with an interim president who has exceeded the time she was authorized to serve, with no election scheduled.

Machado announced her arrival on social media, writing, “I am here. With you.”

Another leading figure in the Venezuelan opposition, Edmundo González, wrote on X confirming that Machado had arrived and that he would be next to her “very soon.”

“Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!” he wrote. “You know it, this is until the end.”

Venezuela run by Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration

On Sunday afternoon, Machado strode into a church in the state of Lara, west of Caracas, to the applause of dozens gathered there as they shook her hand and hugged her, with cellphones aloft to record her return.

“María! María!” someone cried out, as another shouted, "Welcome to Venezuela!”

“Long live freedom, damn it!” a man yelled.

One woman wiped away tears and called it “a miracle” while another woman's hands flew to her face as she saw Machado enter the church.

Asked by reporters Sunday about Machado’s return to Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump said, “I don’t know anything about it, but I think she’s a very nice woman. She gave me her Nobel Prize. So how can I say anything else? And I hope she’s safe. She’s a very nice woman. But we’re doing really well in Venezuela.”

Since Maduro’s ouster, Venezuela has been run by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro ally who received the Trump administration’s blessing to succeed him.

Rodríguez was initially supposed to serve only 90 days as acting president, but has remained in office and has made no move to call an election.

Machado was briefly detained in January 2025, following a protest against Maduro’s planned swearing-in ceremony, and went into hiding in Venezuela for 11 months. After making a clandestine escape from the country, she reappeared that December in Norway, where she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful challenge to Maduro’s authoritarian government.

Machado and her allies have been demanding a date for a presidential election in Venezuela, but U.S. officials have emphasized economic stabilization first.

Credible evidence shows the opposition won the last election

In October 2023, Machado won an opposition primary and intended to challenge Maduro in the 2024 presidential election, but the government barred her from running for office.

González took her place on the ballot, and ample credible evidence showed that he defeated Maduro by more than a 2-to-1 margin. But the National Electoral Council, which is stacked with ruling-party loyalists, declared Maduro the winner.

The lead-up and aftermath of the election were marked by widespread government repression, including forced disappearances, torture and other human rights violations. More than 2,000 people, including poll workers, were detained in the days after the vote.

In January, the U.S. military captured Maduro in Caracas and whisked him to New York to face drug-related charges, which he has denied. Many Venezuelans were stunned by the Trump administration’s decision to work with Rodríguez, instead of Machado, to try to revitalize the crisis-racked country.

Machado has demanded a date for a presidential election

Machado had repeatedly vowed to return to Venezuela and, according to her party, she made seven unsuccessful attempts.

One of the efforts would have seen her take a charter boat, but the operator canceled the trip, alleging the vessel was unfit for navigation. In another attempt, her team said, Machado tried to fly to the Caribbean island of Curacao, from where she could take a speedboat to Venezuela, but her plane was denied landing permits.

Opposition activists have accused Venezuela’s government of blocking Machado’s return, a claim denied by Venezuelan authorities. Others have also questioned whether the Trump administration has also been involved in the efforts to stop her from returning.

Trump administration officials deny they are holding Machado back but have said that, on some occasions, they have advised her against returning due to safety concerns.

After Maduro was deposed, Venezuela’s highest court said Rodríguez could serve as acting president for up to 90 days — an interim appointment that could be extended by the National Assembly for an additional 90 days. But the ruling party-controlled assembly never voted to extend her term.

Machado and her allies have demanded that the Rodríguez government set a date for a presidential election. Rodríguez told the U.N. General Assembly in September that Venezuelans will determine the “right moment” for the next election.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has argued that before holding new elections, Venezuela must stabilize its economy and rebuild its institutions, including its courts and electoral council. But he said in a news conference earlier this month that Machado has “every right to enter her country whenever she wants to return.”

Supporters of Machado have held demonstrations in Caracas demanding her return.

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Garcia Cano reported from New York City; Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Associated Press reporter Josh Boak in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said long-standing restrictions on the civilian system in Ukraine made such offensive use impossible.

“It’s very strange that Elon Musk doesn’t know about the restrictions on Starlink’s operation in Ukraine,” he wrote in an online post.

SpaceX’s Starlink and its military-focused Starshield service are critical to Ukraine’s wartime connectivity. Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones connected to Starshield lost connectivity at high speeds, disrupting air defenses during daily Russian air attacks. Officials said the so-called speed caps were lifted on Saturday, and the service was restored.

Still, questions have persisted about who ordered the interruptions to satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks.

Writing on Telegram, Beskrestnov said that drones operated via the civilian Starlink system had a speed restriction of 70–90 kmh (43-56 mph) within Ukraine and did not work in Russia.

“Therefore, we physically cannot use commercial Starlink for deep strikes or medium-range strikes,” he said.

Musk acknowledged on Saturday that SpaceX had throttled Starlink in Ukraine.

“Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote. “Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week.”

But he maintained that the U.S. government controlled whatever changes happened with Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink that is the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication. U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained that he didn't make that call, while Vice President JD Vance has hinted at White House coordination with Musk.

Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield alarmed the Ukrainian military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions. They also added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by Trump’s reported deal with Moscow to import diesel from Russia that Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

The US is making new efforts to end the war

The restoration of Starlink service followed a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy on Sunday said Russia had launched nearly 2,300 drones targeting Ukrainian cities over the past week, renewing his call on Western allies to speed up deliveries of interceptors.

“This week alone, Russia has launched about 1,600 guided bombs, 48 missiles of various types, including ballistic missiles, and almost 2,300 strike drones at Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote in an online post.

He said the attacks — many of them deadly — had affected nine regions of the country, damaging power plants, grain stores, civilian homes and commercial facilities.

More civilian deaths in Ukraine and Russia

Russia launched more than 20 attacks on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region overnight into Sunday, using drones and an aerial bomb, according to local authorities. Three people died at the scene and a fourth man later died in hospital, regional military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha reported, while over a dozen people were injured.

In Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine, at least six people were injured when a Russian drone struck a residential building, according to the state emergency service. The attack also damaged a nearby care home, with emergency crews evacuating 15 elderly residents, the service said.

Also according to the emergency service, consecutive Russian strikes on a shopping center in Kharkiv injured four people late on Saturday, including three rescue workers. Ukraine has long accused Russia of so-called double-tap strikes, in which an initial attack is followed by another once rescuers arrive on the scene.

Russia's Defense Ministry on Sunday claimed its forces targeted multiple sites in and around Kharkiv, including a shopping and logistics center, that it said had stored dual-use goods meant for the Ukrainian military.

In Russia, two people were killed and 13 others injured in Belgorod, a city 40 km (25 miles) from the Ukrainian border, following “mass” nighttime drone strikes by Kyiv, regional Gov. Alexander Shuvayev reported on Sunday.

In the Russian city of Oryol, body of a fourth victim was pulled from the rubble the day after a Ukrainian strike on an industrial plant, local Gov. Andrey Klychkov reported. On Saturday, local authorities said three people had been killed in the attack.

Ukraine's General Staff that day said its forces hit an electronics plant in Oryol that makes components for the cruise and ballistic missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian cities.

Polls showed the two candidates, who need more than 50% of the vote to become Brazil’s next leader in January, in a neck-and-neck race. The election pits the left-of-center veteran politician Lula against Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump and the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Flávio Bolsonaro bested Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round of the election earlier this month. However, more than 33 million voters out of nearly 160 million did not turn out.

Bolsonaro and Lula have opposing ideological views on issues ranging from U.S.-Brazil relations and climate change to social welfare.

A win for Bolsonaro would signify a pivot to the right by Latin America's most populous country and its largest economy, in a year when Trump allies have scored victories in Chile, Peru and Colombia. A victory for Lula would leave Brazil and Mexico with left-of-center leaders.

In many ways, Brazil’s runoff vote is another tight rematch between the country’s two polarized political forces that trigger passion as much as loathing. Four years ago, Lula beat Bolsonaro’s father by the narrowest margin since the country’s return to democracy in 1985.

Security and cost-of-living concerns

Lula, who first governed Brazil between 2003 and 2010, has faced a tough reelection battle because of concerns about the cost of living and security. Bolsonaro made a tough-on-crime approach the cornerstone of his campaign and pledged to bring down food costs.

Both have been hit by corruption suspicions involving family members and allies, with Bolsonaro implicated in a sprawling scandal rocking Brazil. Lula previously spent more than a year in prison on corruption convictions that were eventually annulled.

Bolsonaro’s admission that he accepted about $12 million from disgraced former banker Daniel Vorcaro to produce a film on his father’s life has cast a shadow over his campaign. He is under investigation for corruption, money laundering and tax evasion in connection with the case.

As Bolsonaro voted at a school in Rio de Janeiro, his supporters shouted “Lula, thief, your place is in prison” while Lula’s supporters chanted in his support.

“The time of real change has arrived,” Bolsonaro said. “Brazil can’t go on another four years on its current trajectory.”

In the lead-up to the vote, Lula frequently portrayed Bolsonaro, whose father is under house arrest for attempting a coup, as a threat to democracy. Bolsonaro has promised to seek an amnesty for his father if elected.

Lula, trying to lure undecided voters, has invested in costly incentives. His government endorsed a debt relief program for small businesses and promised free public transportation on weekends. A major win then came when the Senate backed a popular proposal to end the six-day working week.

Lula thanked his voters for an outpouring of support while casting ballot in the city of Sao Bernardo do Campo, where he began his political career as a union leader in the 1960s. “It is a lot of generosity, a lot of care, a lot of love. I will be forever grateful,” Lula said.

Lula voters driven by his long political trajectory

Lula voters turned out Sunday driven by his history of supporting marginalized people and working to lift Brazilians out of poverty.

“Lula is a man of the people and he knows what it’s like to be poor,” Luzia da Souza, who runs a bar in Rio de Janeiro, said. "I find it impossible not to vote for him.”

Anderson Falcão, a 43-year-old journalist in Brasilia who sported a red shirt in support of Lula, said he worried about Bolsonaro’s long-term political vision, which he called “exclusionary.”

“It’s a project that harms the less fortunate, harms the worker, women, the forest, the Amazon,” he said.

Bolsonaro voters want change

Bolsonaro voters, many who wore yellow and green Brazil jerseys in support of the senator, said they want change.

“Things are really expensive and taxes are too high,” Fabianne Borges Santoro, a 45-year-old physiotherapist in Rio de Janeiro, said. She added that she once voted for Lula’s party but now associates it with corruption.

Davi Vidal de Negreiros Nobrega Leite Andrade, a 20-year-old computer science student in Brasilia, said he prefers Bolsonaro’s economic plans over what Lula has done.

Third-party voters and abstentions from first round could decide vote

Kelvin Gomes Pimental, a 28-year-old data analyst in Brasilia, voted for a third-party candidate in the first round, making his vote a decisive one in this election. He ultimately decided to vote for Lula.

“It’s not even about Flávio himself. It’s also very much about the management of the other Bolsonaro government. He wanted to stage a coup,” he said. “These issues scare me a little.”

Diogo Furtado, a 35-year-old Uber driver in Rio de Janeiro, didn’t vote the first time because of his work, but said he'll vote blank on Sunday. He said that neither candidate convinced him.

“Brazil needs a new candidate,” Furtado said. “But unfortunately our country has become dominated by two names: Lula and Bolsonaro."

The Trump administration looms large

Lula criticized the U.S. president before Brazil's election, speaking about the risks of U.S. intervention in Brazilian elections after the Trump administration imposed high tariffs against Brazilian exports and classified drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations. Experts say the moves may have been intended to make Lula look soft on crime.

Flávio Bolsonaro has touted his proximity to the White House and insisted that Brazil needs to strike better deals with the Trump administration, including in the rare minerals economy. Brazil estimates that its deposits hold up to 21 million tons, second only to China. He denies he's being helped by the U.S. government.

Trump said Sunday that he is watching the election but declined to endorse a candidate.

Voting in Brazil is conducted electronically and the result is usually available within hours after polling stations close at 5 p.m. (2000 GMT) in Brasilia.

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Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. Brigida reported from Brasilia.

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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Became a familiar face as Lil’ Sweet in the Diet Dr. Pepper commercials.

Plus, he did voice-overs for Disney and performed on Broadway.

But for singer and songwriter Justin Guarini, the road to success was never a straight line.

Now, in his new chapter as an author, he’s drawing on 25 years of experience — the highs, lows and everything in between — to share his best tips for embracing your story and inspire confidence in his new book, “Center Stage Confidence.”

Sometimes, the fails lead you to a better path. All you have to do is own it and move forward.

When Guarini performed live on “Saturday Night Live,” he found out his record label dropped his album. Aspiring dreams do not always happen as planned, but Guarini didn’t let the moment stop him and welcomed unplanned opportunities.

According to Guarini, confidence is about trusting yourself — one of the points in his book. “When you feel the fear, you can make it into an ally,” Guarini says in his chat with “Houston Life” hosts Derrick Shore and Lauren Kelly.

“Center Stage Confidence” is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and major book outlets. For more information, visit centerstageconfidence.com/home.

For more of his tips and a look down memory lane — including behind-the-scenes footage of Lil’ Sweet — watch Guarini’s fun and inspirational conversation in the video above.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross has begun receiving lists again of Palestinian detainees from the occupied West Bank and Gaza after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the government to resume sharing them.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Sunday. Read our full coverage here.

Iran says messages are still passed to the US via intermediaries

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said Tehran has not closed the window of diplomacy and messages are being passed to the U.S. via intermediaries. Negotiations over the war have appeared to stall for weeks.

State media said Baghaei spoke in an interview with a German broadcaster. He said the U.S. appears to persist in unilateral demands and that Trump and U.S. officials repeatedly use the phrase “complete surrender," which Baghaei said no Iranian accepts.

Concerns are rising among Iranians about a possible return to all-out war as Israel and the U.S. face elections in the coming days.

Trump says no strike against Iran today

Asked if he planned to launch an attack on Iran, Trump initially suggested that he would be foolish to telegraph that.

But Trump then added: “No. There will not be a strike today.” At the same time, the head of the U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, was flying over the Strait of Hormuz and asserting that over 3,000 commercial vessels have transited the waterway with U.S. military support over the last six months.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his warning that Iran or its proxies could attack ahead of Tuesday’s close elections to disrupt the vote, citing intelligence.

“The IDF is ready both to defend and to strike,” he said in a video from a visit to an anti-ballistic missile battery, adding: “You will suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine.”

Red Cross receives list of Palestinians in prison in Israel

The International Committee of the Red Cross has begun receiving lists again of Palestinian detainees from the West Bank and Gaza, a spokesperson confirmed.

The Israeli Supreme Court earlier this year ordered the government to resume sharing such lists and allowing the ICRC to visit detainees in Israeli prisons to assess their conditions. The government had suspended both practices since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and the start of the war in Gaza.

ICRC spokesperson Gilad Grossman said Israel had not yet allowed prison visits to begin again but “we hope that we will resume in the near future.”

Israel rounded up thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza after the Oct. 7 attacks. Some were released in last year’s ceasefire, but around 9,000 are still imprisoned or detained under harsh conditions.

Riyadh international airport reopens as Houthi attacks persist

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh said it opened terminals 1 and 2 for domestic and international flights, but Iran-backed Houthis in neighboring Yemen again fired drones and missiles toward the Saudi capital.

Saudi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and a drone fired toward Riyadh.

In early October, Houthi strikes hit an airport complex housing two other terminals, killing 17 people and wounding over 330.

2 wounded by debris from interceptions in Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities said debris from the interception of two ballistic missiles in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafida governorates wounded two people, a Saudi citizen and a resident from an unspecified Asian country

The Civil Defense said the missiles were launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the debris also damaged three buildings and seven vehicles.

Palestinian officials say Israeli strikes killed 7 in Gaza

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed seven people, according to Palestinian hospital officials.

Two strikes in Gaza City killed four people, and two brothers were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis. One person was killed in the central town of Deir al-Balah. The deaths were confirmed by officials from Shifa, Hamad, Nasser and Al-Aqsa hospitals, as well as an American field hospital.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

A year since a ceasefire began, Israel continues to bombard Gaza in what it says are strikes against militant targets. More than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up nearly half of those killed.

Pope calls for an end to fighting in Yemen

Pope Leo XIV urged an end to the fighting in Yemen and warned of worsening conditions for more than 1 million residents of Taiz besieged by Houthi rebels.

“The population is suffering from a lack of food, water and medical care,” the pope wrote on social media. Families have begun rationing water and a shortage of groceries has sent prices soaring in the country’s third-largest city.

Libyan leaders reject Trump’s disparaging comments

Libya’s rival governments rejected comments by Trump in which he added the nation to a list of countries he described as “terror-infested.”

Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said he rejected “any affront” to his country or its people “who have made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.” And Libya’s second government, the self-styled Libyan National Army, called for authorities to lodge a protest against Trump’s comments.

At a campaign rally, Trump had accused the Democrats of trying to open the United States for “armies of migrants from terror-infested countries like Libya, Yemen, Haiti, Somalia.”

Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising turned civil war that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country is divided between rival administrations.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Also, Brighton — the league's surprise package this season — was beaten 2-0 at Liverpool for its first defeat since August.

United's winless run extended to eight games in all competitions after its latest setback, coming four days after a humiliating 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League that was followed by critical comments to the media by Fernandes about Carrick's tactics.

The Portugal star was left out of the team against Bournemouth in what Carrick described as a “pure football” decision and never made it onto the field, with the visitors taking advantage of woeful defending to score goals through Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson.

With United tumbling to 16th place in the 20-team Premier League, Carrick's job is under huge threat — barely five months after signing a permanent deal as manager after leading the team back into the Champions League while on a short-term contract in the second half of last season.

Disgruntled United fans also chanted against Jason Wilcox, the club's director of football who was the target of recent criticism from defender Lisandro Martinez, and the Glazer family, the majority owners.

“It hurts an awful lot to see us going through this at this moment in time," Carrick said.

United has won one of its eight league games this season — and that was at home to promoted Ipswich on Aug. 30.

“It’s nowhere near good enough,” United defender Harry Maguire said. “Something needs to change.”

Carrick was applauded by United fans as he walked around the field with his team after the final whistle. As he went into the tunnel, jeers appeared to be directed at the players.

“It wasn’t a farewell from me,” said Carrick, who added: “What it looks like, what is next — I really don’t know. But I’ll always do what’s best for this football club.”

Brighton run ends at Anfield

Aug. 30 was also the date of Brighton's only previous loss this season, with the south-coast team embarking on a stunning unbeaten run since that included two 5-0 wins and a 3-0 victory over Arsenal.

That ended in a tight game at Anfield, with Liverpool's goals coming in a four-minute span midway through the first half. Pascal Gross deflected Florian Wirtz's shot into his own net before Alexander Isak turned in Bradley Barcola's cross.

Win for Newcastle

Newcastle beat Crystal Palace 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from William Osula and Harvey Barnes. Hull and Brentford drew 1-1.

Leeds visits Sunderland later.

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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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See AP’s full soccer coverage here

El-Sayed, a onetime public health official, faces Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman backed by Trump in the Nov. 3 race to succeed retiring Democrat Gary Peters.

“We don't want to see a jihadist senator,” Trump told reporters as he left for Michigan. “We don’t want to see a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in our center.”

El-Sayed has repeatedly disavowed unproven claims by Republicans that he is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic movement with branches that the U.S. government has designated as terrorist organizations. The claims by Republicans have been denounced by Democrats as attacks on El-Sayed's faith and his Egyptian heritage. El-Sayed would be the first Muslim senator if elected.

Trump’s planned visit to Port Huron follows former Democrat President Barack Obama's appearances Saturday in Michigan and Ohio for his party's candidates. It will be Trump's latest stop on a packed campaign schedule to bolster Republicans on the midterm ballot as the GOP is weighed down by voters' frustration with the economy and the war with Iran.

Unlike Trump’s earlier trips to Republican-controlled states where his party is on defense, the GOP has not won a Senate race in Michigan for more than three decades. El-Sayed has taunted Trump, encouraging him to come to Michigan in the belief that a visit would backfire on Rogers.

“Donald, if you’re watching, don’t wuss out, man,” El-Sayed said. The progressive, who won a divisive primary in August, has said the country needs to “turn the page on Donald Trump.”

The campaign has been one of the most contentious this year.

During their second and final general election campaign debate, Rogers questioned El-Sayed's loyalty to the United States.

“Are you for America, or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?” Rogers asked.

El-Sayed said that questioning was “shameful.”

“I’m proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray,” he said.

Rogers denied that his criticisms were rooted in religion, saying “you can pray any way you want.”

Trump has referred to El-Sayed as “Mohammed” and said he “goes back to the days of the jihad.”

El-Sayed has faced criticism for his own rhetoric, particularly when he said “hurt people hurt people” after an attack on a synagogue in the Detroit area. The attacker had lost four relatives in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon the week earlier. El-Sayed later apologized, saying he was not trying to justify what happened.

“To anyone who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I’m really sorry," he said. "That was not my intention.”

The significance of El-Sayed’s candidacy has grown beyond Michigan, with Republicans casting him as a symbol of a radicalizing Democratic Party. Meanwhile, progressives hope that he will help demonstrate their clout in a swing state, which could shape how the 2028 presidential primary unfolds.

El-Sayed previously served as a public health official in Detroit’s Wayne County and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018.

Rogers lost the 2024 Senate race to then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin by less than a percentage point.

Jaylen Warren rushed for 101 yards and Rodgers completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards and scrambled for a key first down late in fourth quarter as the Steelers (5-2) won their third straight game.

Linebacker Payton Wilson had a red zone interception of Tyler Shough in the third quarter and the Saints (2-5) couldn’t recover. New Orleans rushed for just 18 yards.

With the Saints threatening on their opening drive of the second half, Wilson stepped in front of a short pass intended for Chris Olave. The Steelers got in field-goal position and Boswell was good from 39 yards for a 16-10 lead.

Patrick Queen sacked Shough on third down to stall a New Orleans with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Shough completed 30 of 38 passes for 278 yards, one touchdown and the interception.

Just before halftime, Rodgers was sacked by Carl Granderson on third down, and with 15 seconds left and no timeouts, the Steelers offense ran to the sideline. Boswell sprinted on and kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Pittsburgh a 13-10 lead at the half.

Rodgers’ 4-yard touchdown pass to 6-foot-7, 265-pound tight end Darnell Washington — with 5-foot-11 cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry in coverage — put the Steelers up 10-3.

Earlier on the drive, Rodgers moved in the pocket and found DK Metcalf for a 51-yard completion to the New Orleans 4. NFL France called it “quel caviar d’Aaron Rodgers.”

The Saints then tied it at 10-10 on Tyler Shough’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Devaughn Vele on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Attendance was 78,488 at Stade de France.

Injuries

Steelers: S DeShon Elliott was active for the first time in a year after returning from a knee injury.

Saints: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry was cleared to return after a concussion evaluation in the first half ... RB CJ Donaldson left in the first half and was later ruled out... S Justin Reid was ruled out of the game early in the second half ... rookie Jeremiah Wright started in place of right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee)

Up next

Steelers: Host the Cleveland Browns before a bye in Week 9.

Saints: Bye week.

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See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints fans mingled around the Stade de France before kickoff, with a visible but discreet police presence at the national stadium as about 76,000 fans attended the sold-out game.

The Steelers won 16-10 amid a festive atmosphere, including some live music and fan participation.

Special occasion

It was the Moore family's first-ever trip to the city. All four wore Saints tops with “The Moore Family in Paris” written on the back.

“We're celebrating our dad's 70th birthday, so we're very excited to come to the first-ever NFL game in Paris,” Alicia Moore told The Associated Press outside the stadium.

She hopes to see more NFL games in France in the future.

“I think it's amazing that we're bringing our culture over here,” she said.

Security issues in France have dominated the media in recent days, but this was not weighing too much on their minds.

“At the game, no. In the city, some,” said A'ndrea Moore, adding that they celebrated Billy Moore's 70th with a nice meal in Paris, but that “the jury's still out on the bill.”

They arrived on Wednesday: A'ndrea and Billy coming from Mississippi; Deborah from Tennessee and Alicia from Texas.

Clint and Rachel Rushing, both decked out in matching black, gold and white Santa Claus outfits, made the trek from Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

“Came all this way to Paris just for a game,” Clint told the AP.

He joked he should be renamed “Saint-a Claus" because of his eye-catching outfit in the Saints colors, which made several fans stop and turn to take a closer look — and photo.

“Paris has been wonderful, we've really enjoyed Paris,” Rachel added. “We’ve not had any issues.”

Friendly fans

Since the stadium is north of Paris and not realistically a walkable distance from the city center, transport is required via a short train ride from Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord or Châtelet, or by subway.

As fans drifted out of the local train station at Saint-Denis, the mood was relaxed as they walked together under largely blue skies.

Once they arrived at the stadium, searches were carried out, customary before any match played here. A sniffer dog patrolled the area once fans were inside the stadium gates.

Sombre Saturday

About 70,000 officers were deployed nationwide on Saturday, along with helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons. Gendarmes were stationed beneath the Arc de Triomphe, while major museums like the Louvre and Grand Palais were closed.

“NFL House” was shut in Paris on Saturday as the city awaited street protests and the soccer game between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon was postponed at the police's request.

Shopkeepers boarded up windows while others opened temporarily and endured a nervous Saturday afternoon, after around 3,000 shops were damaged or looted last weekend. Some 550,000 people marched across France in protest against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.

France's worst civil unrest for years saw city halls, public buildings and thousands of businesses nationwide impacted.

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See AP’s full NFL coverage here

The operation, focused on the city of Hebron, the site of Friday's attack, came as Israel enters the final days before a tense election, which is largely seen as a referendum on current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and security policies during the past three years of war.

In new measures, the army said that most Palestinian workers with permits will not be allowed to enter Israeli West Bank settlements on Sunday and Monday, and crossings into Israel will remain closed until after Israel’s elections on Tuesday.

The military said it operated in more than 400 different locations over the weekend and arrested 40 Palestinians it claimed were affiliated with the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups. No militant group has taken responsibility for the attack.

Thousands of Palestinians displaced from Hebron

The Hebron municipality said the operation displaced more than 2,600 people.

The military said that troops were conducting searches in the area where the gunmen operated, and warned residents to evacuate Deir Bahha, the suspected gunmen’s neighborhood. After Friday’s attack, Israel’s military said it found weapons in the gunmen’s car and that they were likely planning to attack Israeli civilians before being stopped at the checkpoint where the shootout erupted.

All entrances and exits to the city remained sealed, with the operation focused in Deir Bahha and another part of the city called Al-Jalda, according to Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari.

“People cannot reach or enter the city, and they cannot leave it. The blockade has affected every aspect of life,” Al-Jabari said. He added that the blockade is forcing businesses to close and has also shuttered a mosque.

“The army told us that this area would be closed for 12 days. Now they’re saying 12 days, but maybe they’ll leave the area after two or three days,” said Shadi al-Qawasmi, a Hebron resident who was displaced with his family. “This may be because of the elections or some political matter. No one knows except God Almighty.”

The army declined to say how long the operation might last.

The operation forced some families to leave the city on foot. At some military gates, people passed sacks of flour and gas canisters through the gates, while an elderly man pushed his wife in a wheelchair through an opening beside one of them. Another family attempted to navigate the gate to access medical appointments.

Netanyahu vows a strong response as elections loom

Hebron municipal officials said families had been displaced from nearly 500 apartments in Deir Bahha and surrounding neighborhoods.

Six Israelis have been killed this year in attacks in the West Bank, which is experiencing a surge of violence. During the same period, 112 Palestinians have been killed, including the suspected gunmen, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The attack sparked outrage in Israel, with Netanyahu traveling to the attack site and vowing to respond forcefully. On Sunday, hundreds of mourners attended the funeral in Hod Hasharon of Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, one of the Israeli soldiers killed.

With the election approaching, Netanyahu is under pressure to demonstrate a strong show of force against Palestinian attackers to bolster his image for Israelis concerned with security.

Roughly 3 million Palestinians and 540,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war. Hebron is one of its most tense cities and the only place where Jewish settlers live in the heart of a densely populated Palestinian area under Israeli military protection. The international community overwhelmingly considers all Israeli settlements illegal.

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Associated Press writer Sam Metz in Hebron, West Bank, contributed to this report.

“Every time I have communicated with someone from the Public Works Department, it feels like a dead end and nobody will help,” Katarina Barbosa wrote in an email to KPRC 2.

Julie, a Maplewood South resident, posted on Nextdoor that her water bill had more than doubled since June, reaching between $450 and $475 a month for two people.

These complaints are why ENOUGH continues to investigate equipment, billing and customer service problems at the Houston Water Department.

Previous investigation found hundreds of customers billed for water they didn’t use

In March, ENOUGH’s Amy Davis reported that nearly 700 customers were billed for water they never used because the city installed incorrect equipment on their water meters.

Customers reported bills of hundreds of dollars, including one customer who received a $683 bill.

Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi told KPRC 2 that a manufacturer sent the wrong equipment in a large order at the end of 2022. Much of it was installed in 2024.

Macchi said the wrong meter registers were not compatible with the meters, causing them to record water usage faster or slower than what customers actually used.

The department identified 637 meters with incorrect registers and said it replaced all of them by the end of March.

Houston homeowner tests his own water meter

In August, Energy Corridor homeowner Edgar Zavala contacted the water department after receiving unusually high bills. His July bill was $479, followed by an $820 bill in August.

Zavala said the city reported that he had used 27,000 gallons of water in one month, even though he and his wife were staying elsewhere while their house was on the market.

After the city told him it could take up to 30 days for someone to check his meter, Zavala decided to test it himself using a five-gallon bucket.

He made sure there was no water running inside his house. He recorded the number on his meter in the water meter box. Then he filled the five-gallon bucket. When he checked the meter afterward, it had registered 22 gallons — more than four times the amount of water he used.

Zavala shared his findings with KPRC 2 and water customer service. He wanted the city to have the information before they sent someone to his home. No one from the city responded to Zavala’s email.

About a week and a half later, a Houston Public Works employee stopped by his home. Zavala said the employee focused on finding a leak, not checking the meter’s accuracy. During a phone call, Zavala said the employee told him he was not part of the department responsible for meter accuracy.

After Amy Davis contacted Macchi and showed him video of the test, a city crew returned to Zavala’s home that same day and replaced the meter register. The register was not the correct one for his meter.

Zavala did have a small leak in his meter box, which he fixed while the crew was there. However, that leak would not have accounted for 27,000 gallons of water, according to the investigation.

The city credited Zavala’s account $872. But the letter explaining the adjustment did not tell him that the wrong equipment had caused his high bills. Zavala said he received no clear explanation of what the city had done or why.

City calls case isolated

Davis asked Macchi how many other meter registers had been installed by the same contractor on the day Zavala’s register was installed.

Macchi said the contractor installed six others on the route that day and the city had checked them, confirming the installations were correct. He called Zavala’s case isolated.

Macchi declined to speak on camera for the follow-up investigation.

Davis said the case raises questions about whether all incorrectly installed equipment has been found and why customers continue to have difficulty getting help when they report potential problems.

KPRC 2 contacts customers about refunds and notifications

KPRC 2 had only the addresses of the 637 customers identified as having incorrect meter registers, so the team mailed letters asking whether the city had notified them and whether they had received a refund or credit.

Of the 44 responses received so far, 25 customers said they had not heard from the city and had not received a refund or credit.

Davis said the team is continuing to follow up with those customers. KPRC 2 also sent their information to Macchi and asked him to review the accounts and explain why the customers had not heard from the water department.

How to test your water meter

If you are concerned that your Houston water bill is unusually high, a five-gallon bucket test may help you document a possible discrepancy.

KPRC 2 encourages customers who try the test to record it and share their findings with the ENOUGH TEAM.

ENOUGH will continue following the results and seeking answers about inaccurate bills, customer communication and whether affected customers received refunds or credits.

Related: How to check your water meter

A driver traveling the wrong way crashed head-on into a Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban’s driver was taken to Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition. Police said they saw no signs of impairment.

Investigators have not determined where the wrong-way driver entered the freeway. He was the only person in his vehicle, police said. Responding personnel arrived and pronounced the wrong-way driver deceased on scene.

• Video shows vehicle crashing into Montgomery County patrol car on I-45 during traffic stop

While officers blocked the roadway, another truck hit two patrol vehicles. Officers were outside the vehicles, and no one was injured. The truck’s driver showed no signs of impairment but told officers he had not been paying attention.

HPD is handling the investigation.

Officers were dispatched at about 2:39 a.m. to the 9000 block of Humble Westfield Road, near McKnight Lane.

Police said the man was a DJ and was leaving a party. Houston Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

• Deadly shooting at Houston party rental raises questions about city oversight

Investigators said the driver was ejected and appeared not to have been wearing a seat belt.

Police have not released the name or other identifying information of the victim.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Witnesses told investigators that after a traffic incident, someone got out of a vehicle and approached another driver who had also exited their vehicle. The person shot the victim with a handgun, then returned to their car and fled, deputies said.

The victim was identified by authorities as Pablo Miguel Angel. Deputies attempted life-saving measures, but Angel was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Video shows vehicle crashing into Montgomery County patrol car on I-45 during traffic stop

Investigators described the suspect’s vehicle as a red passenger car, but said its make and model are unknown. The shooter was described as an adult wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt over a white undershirt.

Major Crimes detectives and crime scene investigators are working on the case.

Anyone with information can call the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division at 936-760-5876. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-7867 or multicountycrimestoppers.org. Reference case 26A365480.

Weather pattern change next week:

Mid-week, our weather pattern changes. Tropical moisture from Hurricane Vance moves into the state of Texas. This, coupled with an area of low pressure, will bring rain as early as Wednesday, with heaviest rain falling on Halloween. We don’t have a specific timing yet because we are more than a week away from next Saturday, but I wanted to give you an early heads up.

Daylight saving time comes to an end next weekend:

Early Sunday, November 1st, we turn our clocks back one hour. 2 am becomes 1 pm and we seemingly get an extra hour of sleep. Below is how this affects sunrise and sunset.

Tracking the tropics:

The Atlantic is now quiet, and no tropical development is expected in the next 7 days.

Extended forecast:

The gorgeous weather continues through early next week, with slight rain chances returning Wednesday. Rain on Halloween “may” impact your plans. It is still too early to be specific on timing, so don’t make any changes to your plans just yet.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the World Cup season-opener on the Rettenbach glacier on Sunday to extend his winning streak in the discipline to four races, a streak that began with his gold at last season’s Milan Cortina Games.

The Norwegian-born Pinheiro Braathen added to his first-run advantage and finished nearly a half-second ahead of the two Swiss skiers who completed the podium.

“I didn’t want to hesitate," Pinheiro Braathen said. "I knew what I had in me, and I’m so, so proud to put it out there.”

Olympic slalom champion Loic Meillard finished second, 0.48 seconds behind, and five-time defending overall champion Marco Odermatt came third, 0.49 back.

American racer River Radamus moved up from 15th after the first run to finish fourth, 0.82 behind.

After his second run, Pinheiro Braathen held his arms out wide in celebration and yelled toward the crowd, which featured a small group of spectators waving Brazilian flags.

Also celebrating in the finish area was Isadora Cruz, the Brazilian actress who is Pinheiro Braathen’s girlfriend.

The course was shortened due to strong winds on the upper portion of the Rettenbach glacier and the race was held in flat light.

Pinheiro Braathen is unbeaten in giant slalom since his Olympic breakthrough, having also won the final two World Cup GS races last season to seal the season-long discipline title. He switched nationalities two years ago to represent his mother’s home country.

“There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders today,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “But pressure is privilege and I was able to capitalize on that. What a relief to be able to open the show in this way.”

Pineheiro Braathen's slalom victory in Levi, Finland, nearly a year ago was Brazil's first World Cup victory in Alpine skiing. He now has nine career World Cup wins — including four since he started representing Brazil.

Atle Lie McGrath stood fifth after the first run but lost control early in his second run.

Marco Schwarz lost control shortly into the opening run and went through a gate.

On Saturday, Paula Moltzan claimed her first career World Cup victory in the women’s opener; while Mikaela Shiffrin finished seventh.

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See AP’s full Alpine skiing coverage here

Though Serbia's 6.4 million voters get to choose from 18 parties hoping to enter the 250-member Parliament, the election has taken shape as a referendum between Vucic's right-wing Serbian Progressive Party and the youth-backed Students' List.

The main contenders are believed to be polling neck-and-neck, making Sunday's election the most uncertain in recent years. Turnout is expected to be high and could push most smaller parties below the 3% threshold needed to make it into the assembly.

While the increasingly authoritarian Vucic has routinely outplayed Serbia's fractured opposition in the past, the leaderless youth movement has proved to be a tough opponent that rattled his firm grip on power in Serbia like no one else could in the 14 years since his party took office.

A students' victory likely would resonate beyond Serbia as countries across Europe face youth and student protests.

Long lines form at polling places

Voters queued at polling places around the country from the early hours on Sunday as local election monitors said turnout was considerably higher than in the previous elections.

The state election commission said around 35% of eligible voters had cast ballots by noon compared to 21% in 2023. The student movement on its website dubbed the long lines of voters across the country “queues of hope.”

In the capital, Belgrade, Vucic stood alongside his wife for nearly two hours before casting his ballot, and later told reporters that he hopes for a peaceful election day and that he and his party will respect the election result.

“The will of the people is the will of God: vox populi, vox dei,” Vucic said. “If we lose, we will recognize the electoral will. If we win, no one will take it away from us.”

Vucic said his camp will announce reliable projections about three hours after polls close at 8 p.m. local time. Asked about whether the apparently high turnout means people want change, he said: “Let’s wait for the result.”

After casting his ballot in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, Ilija Srdanovic, a physician who is the first of 250 candidates for the youth movement, said the long lines heralded "record turnout in Serbia’s recent history.”

“I hope that this day will pass in a democratic atmosphere and in peace and that we will legitimately choose a new government in Serbia,” Srdanovic said.

Opponents of Vucic as well as some independent monitoring groups have warned of potential irregularities in the voting process. Local monitors recorded cases of photographing of ballots that suggested pressure on voters, attempted vote buying and carousel voting.

At a polling station in Belgrade, voter Jovan Mitrovic said he hopes that “everything goes peacefully and that everything finishes nicely,” and that "the dawn finally rises in this country after many years.”

The vote is closely watched in the EU

Recent elections have been marred by irregularities and the European Union is watching closely the conduct of Sunday's vote in a candidate nation for the bloc's membership.

Both international and local election monitors already have expressed concern about the safety and fairness of an election campaign marked by detentions, near-total government control over the media and reports of surveillance and cyberattacks against activists.

Local elections earlier this year in 10 municipalities in Serbia saw violent attacks on journalists and activists. The previous parliamentary vote in 2023 was followed by opposition protests alleging fraud.

Vucic wants to return as prime minister

If his SNS party wins the most votes, Vucic will become the prime minister after serving two near-full terms as president. He resigned the presidency last month to lead the campaign.

The populists' popularity has eroded since 16 people were killed two years ago when a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north, setting off a wave of youth protests that demanded accountability for the disaster and justice for the victims.

The anger reflected widespread accusations of high-level corruption and cronyism. Protesters said that rampant graft led to negligence during renovation work at the Novi Sad station, and eventually to the canopy collapse.

Despite the protests, Vucic retains considerable support among Serbia's voters. Admirers view him as a capable leader who can steer the nation through global uncertainties — the image that was carefully crafted by the mainstream media.

Students' List is a novelty in Serbia

The newly formed Students' List movement differs from any of the political organizations in Serbia. It is shaped by university students but none of them are actually on the list. Instead, the candidates are little-known experts, athletes, farmers and artists.

This approach was meant to counter Vucic's one-man rule and restore a sense of community and solidarity. The “we know how” message during the campaign promised a non-partisan effort to rebuild Serbia's economy and democracy after a change of government.

With their youthful energy, the students have attracted voters who are disillusioned with local politicians. Vilified by pro-government media, students have cycled and walked through the country to reach voters in rural areas — Vucic's traditional strongholds.

The outcome is uncertain

Election surveys have come up with varied results while both camps say they are ahead. Some analysts fear postelection instability in case of a close result.

Vucic has said that his side would concede defeat if it lost the vote. But he has also warned that any protests that might erupt to claim fraud in case of his party's triumph would be immediately quashed.

The state election commission is not expected to release the official tally before Monday.

Magda Anastasijevic, the Eastern Europe analyst for the conflict monitor ACLED, said that electoral violence has been on the rise in Serbia recently, and could escalate, "particularly if the results are disputed."

Now with the Philadelphia 76ers after an offseason trade, Brown didn't quite seem ready to call a truce with Tatum.

“There's no beef,” Brown said after the 76ers beat Milwaukee 127-116 on Saturday night. “There might be a little lamb chops and some gravy. He should stay ready at all times."

Tatum started the postgame back-and-forth after the Celtics beat the Knicks a night earlier.

Brown posted a social media response that took issue with Tatum saying in a video on his YouTube channel that he was “just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world” by Brown’s trade to the Philadelphia.

Brown responded on his Instagram account with a baseball cap emoji. “Cap” is slang for something that is not true. Asked if he had any response, Tatum sighed before expressing his frustrations with the entire situation for several minutes:

“I don’t have any animosity or beef, or ill will towards him. I think the toughest part is since he’s not on the Celtics anymore, the narrative or the conversations haven’t been enough about what we accomplished — all the games we won, winning a championship, how we’ve grown together. It’s turned into this drama type of thing."

Brown said he had no plans to talk to Tatum ahead of Boston’s first visit to Philadelphia this season on Nov. 10.

“We’ve both got so much stuff in front of us,” Brown said.

Brown added: “Jayson comes from a wonderful family. We accomplished some great things. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s got a great PR team.”

Both players have spoken glowingly at times about how they grew and thrived together during their nine years together as teammates.

But it’s morphed into something else since the Celtics chose Tatum as the player they want to build around after trading Brown in what amounted to a move to cut one of the two players with $300 million contracts from the payroll.

Brown celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday with 27 points that included a late 3-pointer on a pass from Joel Embiid that gave the All-Star center a triple-double. Embiid had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and went 12 of 14 from the free-throw line.

“I’m still getting used to the guys; where my spots are,” Brown said. “As I get more and more comfortable, I’ll be able to make more plays for myself and others.”

Philadelphia is 3-0, with its first two wins over the NBA champion Knicks and Eastern Conference finalist Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brown was serenaded with an off-key version of “Happy Birthday” by rookie Labaron Philon Jr. earlier in the day at shootaround. Sixers fans broke into their rendition of the song in the first half with Brown at the free-throw line.

There just might be more on the menu than birthday cake.

“No beef,” Brown said. “It should never, ever be that. It’s just basketball. We’re both blessed. It might be a little lamb chop. We’re all right.”

___

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

The elevator dinged open. A year ago in this building, surgeons removed Banda’s right breast, and she still didn't know whether treatment had expunged the cancer from her body. Doctors had told her it would be tough to beat.

“I’m more of a positive person myself,” Banda said, now sitting with a white wristband in a dim waiting room. But the bills are harder to dismiss, and the single mother with six children in her care repeated something like a mantra. “Keep the house. Keep the cars. And just keep the kids stable.”

That’s true for many Americans, as rising healthcare costs leave more families with a sinking feeling after seeing the bill for surgery or medication. Heading into the Nov. 3 midterm elections, about half of registered voters said healthcare costs are a major problem for them and their families, up from a little more than one-third four years ago, according to a Fox News poll from September.

With party control of Congress at stake, registered voters are nearly twice as likely to say they trust Democrats over Republicans to handle healthcare, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll from the same month. Those frustrations, combined with broader concerns over rising prices, have sapped support for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.

Banda knows how that feels. She backed Trump in each of his three campaigns, motivated by her opposition to abortion. But when cancer came, the ensuing scramble to make ends meet was painful enough to rearrange her priorities, and she started to think about voting Democratic for the first time.

The 46-year-old was ushered into a sterile room for her appointment, her phone lit up with a text. “Please contact TD Auto Finance.”

“This one’s $1,300,” she said of the car payment bill. “I have to go back to work.”

She had been on sick leave from her job selling internet service for one year, and she needed the income to support her three kids and three more she had taken in after her sister's death.

The doctor said her reconstruction surgery could be scheduled early next year. “I was hoping for maybe December,” Banda said, “only because I've met my deductibles.” Come January, she would have to pay down the $7,500 again. Earlier may be possible, the doctor replied, if the skin around her surgical scar loosens.

The evening had cooled slightly by the time she walked back through the rows of parked cars, their ebb and flow marking the tide of sickness, survival and death in a small corner of a colossal healthcare industry that saves lives while taking in over $5 trillion every year.

Banda paid $8 for parking as she left.

Confronting death and debt in America before a midterm election

Two weeks later, Banda was back at work, making door-to-door rounds to sell Spectrum's Wi-Fi in McAllen, her city along the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley. Banda, holding blue flyers, walked along a row of storefronts, some that shuttered since she last was in the area.

She hadn't had a sale and commission since October of last year, after the biopsy and diagnosis.

The doctor who gave her the news had hugged Banda, and she sobbed even though she never really sobs in front of other people. During chemo, her children took turns buzzing off her wispy hair. When her 9-year-old daughter's hand quivered, a teenage cousin helped guide the clipper over her mother’s scalp.

Banda’s first impulse was to maintain normalcy, stability, for the children.

But that requires roughly $7,000 a month for utilities, mortgage, car payments and groceries, along with the two water leaks. Then, even with insurance through her job, the surgeries, chemo and radiation added up to over $25,000 that she's been paying off, making Banda one of tens of millions of other people in the United States in medical debt.

Banda tries not to dwell on death and debt.

“It’ll consume you,” she says. She smothers those thoughts beneath her bubbly demeanor and avoids being alone. But that truce, between her insistence on positivity and the fears that it covers, is brittle.

Certain thoughts still arrive uninvited. Banda’s late sister, Melissa, didn’t have life insurance. Banda makes sure it's a payment she never misses.

“Sometimes I think, and I shouldn’t think like this, but I’m worth more gone than here,” she said one day. “Obviously, the goal is not that, the goal is to beat it,” she continued, “to keep the house and keep the cars.”

So far she has, with the help of others.

On top of child support, the father of Banda's 9-year-old often pays $400 a week for a nanny to help with the kids. Banda’s own father sent her $700 before for her recent Houston appointment, one of his many cash infusions. Her high school classmates, who she hadn’t been in close touch with in decades, fundraised by selling grilled chicken, rice and beans from a roadside tent. Two GoFundMe fundraisers raised nearly $30,000 and Banda rented her late sister’s house while putting her own in forbearance.

But months of insecurity takes its own, sleepless toll. She needed to sell some internet services to catch up.

After sticking the Spectrum Wi-Fi flyers onto empty storefronts, she drove to pick up her kids from school. The following day she had a morning meeting at a barbershop for what would be her first sale back at work.

Turning on Trump and voting Democratic for the first time

A lifelong Christian, Banda had voted her anti-abortion stance in past elections. When her sister was kidnapped and murdered by her ex-husband in 2020, Banda retreated from religion. The cancer brought her back to church with an apology to God, but it also made her rethink her politics.

She voted for Trump in 2016, and his first four years seemed steady, so she voted for him again in 2020. Democratic President Joe Biden's tenure, including the tail end of a global pandemic and rising inflation, felt like bedlam, so she voted for Trump to return to the White House in 2024.

But two years later and fighting an expensive disease, she had found no respite from high prices.

So when James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminary student running for U.S. Senate as a Democrat, visited one of Banda’s fundraisers — speaking about his diabetes and his work in the Texas Statehouse to lower the price of insulin — it moved her. “Imagine if he can do that for the cancer,” she said.

Talarico and his Republican opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, have different approaches to healthcare. Talarico wants all Americans to be able to join Medicare; Paxton proposed a $25,000 tax deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Talarico also supports a law guaranteeing abortion access nationwide, which Banda has voted against for years. But after she slid into debt to stay alive, after her grocery bills mounted and the high school had to comp the kids' soccer gear she couldn't afford, Banda’s anti-abortion concerns have been superseded by costs.

“Because it’s what I’m living,” she said. “I'm living it."

Banda cast an early ballot for Talarico. “Never voted Democrat before today!!” she wrote in a text with blue heart emoji.

Her news will come on Election Day, in a doctor's office

Banda had just started a new cancer-targeting medication that cost $16,000 a month, reduced to $500 by insurance. By the afternoon, she was nauseous and fatigued, unable to eat. The malaise would keep her home the next day. She would miss the meeting with the barbershop to close her first deal since getting sick, though she felt confident it was in the bag.

But Banda pushed through the discomfort one evening to join her family as they replaced the flowers at her sister's tomb.

She drove past the headstones and oak trees in the evening’s slanting light, and the family gathered around Melissa Banda's tomb in an open-air mausoleum. There was no speech. Their eulogy was her father, Fidel Banda, methodically clipping and arranging the flowers for his daughter.

Banda walked along the wall of tombs. She will find out on Election Day whether the cancer is in remission or whether it's spread to her organs.

“This one’s for me,” she said, pointing to a blank tomb next to her sister's.

“Mom!” said her daughter with the huffiness of a 9-year-old. “Why would you say that?”

Banda smiled and added, “in a hundred years."

The crash happened early Saturday in the 14000 block of I-45, where deputies were investigating a suspected impaired driver. A second deputy had arrived in a marked patrol vehicle with its emergency lights on. He was beginning to get out when the passing vehicle hit the patrol car, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators tracked down the vehicle at its registered address, where they found damage they said was consistent with the collision. The sheriff’s office identified the owner, 33-year-old Elizabeth Perez, as the suspected driver.

Perez was arrested on charges of felony failure to stop and render aid, passing an emergency vehicle and causing bodily injury, and driving while intoxicated. The driver who had been stopped before the crash, 24-year-old Jacob Zamora, was also arrested on a DWI charge. Both were booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

• DJ killed after car rolls into ditch in northeast Houston

The incident renewed Sheriff Wesley Doolittle’s call for drivers to give roadside responders space. Under Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down law, motorists approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights on must move out of the nearest lane when safe. If they cannot, they must slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

The sheriff’s office also pointed to Deputy Erika Serrato’s line-of-duty death earlier this year, saying the latest crash highlights the dangers deputies face while working on roadways.

Friday, October 23, was the final day for county election offices to receive applications for a regular ballot by mail. Texas law generally requires voters to meet specific eligibility requirements to vote by mail, including being 65 or older, having a qualifying sickness or disability, or expecting to be outside their home county during the voting period.

While most voters who missed the deadline will need to cast their ballots in person, Texas has several lesser-known emergency voting procedures designed to accommodate people facing unexpected circumstances.

Here’s what voters should know about the options still available, who qualifies and the deadlines to keep in mind.

What if you suddenly become sick or disabled?

Voters who develop a qualifying illness or physical disability after the regular mail-in ballot application period may be eligible for an emergency early voting ballot.

Under Texas law, the condition must have originated on or after Thursday, October 22, 2026, and prevent the voter from appearing at a polling place without the likelihood of needing personal assistance or injuring their health.

• More info on the Emergency Ballot due to Sickness or Physical Disability

Unlike a regular mail-in ballot, this emergency voting process allows an eligible voter to designate a representative to deliver the application, obtain the ballot and return the completed ballot to the county’s early voting clerk.

The application requires certification from a licensed or accredited physician confirming the condition and when it began.

The designated representative must meet certain requirements, including being at least 18 years old and not having already served as a representative for another voter in the election.

The deadline to submit an emergency ballot application is 5 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. The completed ballot must be returned by 7 p.m. that day.

This option is specifically intended for newly developed medical circumstances. Having an existing illness or disability does not automatically qualify someone for an emergency ballot if they simply missed the regular application deadline.

What if there’s a death in your family?

Texas also provides an emergency voting procedure for people who must leave their county because of a death in their immediate family.

To qualify, the death must occur on or after Thursday, October 29, 2026, and require the voter to be outside their county of residence on Election Day.

The law limits eligibility to relatives within the second degree by blood or marriage. This includes parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and certain relatives by marriage.

Eligible voters may apply for an emergency ballot beginning Saturday, October 31, through the close of business on Monday, November 2.

Unlike the emergency medical ballot procedure, this option requires the voter to appear in person at the main early voting polling place, submit the emergency application and complete the voting process with the early voting clerk.

The procedure is particularly important for voters who unexpectedly need to travel after regular early voting ends.

What if you’re in the military or living overseas?

Military personnel and certain U.S. citizens living overseas have special voting procedures under federal and Texas law.

Eligible voters can use a Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA, to request an absentee ballot. The process is available to qualifying service members, their spouses and dependents, and U.S. citizens living temporarily or permanently outside the United States.

However, the FPCA application deadline for the November 3 election was also Friday, October 23.

That means military and overseas voters who have not submitted an application generally cannot begin a new request through the FPCA process after that deadline.

There is still an important distinction for voters who applied on time but have not received their ballots.

Eligible military and overseas voters may be able to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB, as a backup when their requested ballot has not arrived in time.

The FWAB is not a general replacement for a missed application deadline. Voters must meet the applicable eligibility and application requirements.

Military and overseas voters may also qualify for extended ballot return deadlines, depending on their circumstances.

What if you already applied for a mail-in ballot but haven’t received it?

Voters who submitted their applications before the October 23 deadline should not assume they’ve missed their opportunity to vote by mail.

The October 23 deadline applied to requests for mail-in ballots, not the return of completed ballots.

For most domestic voters, completed mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. However, ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. November 3 can still be counted if received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 4.

Different deadlines apply to certain military and overseas voters.

Voters can check the status of their applications and ballots through the state’s Ballot by Mail Tracker.

If a ballot hasn’t arrived, voters should contact their county’s early voting clerk to determine whether a ballot was issued and what options remain.

Can you still vote if you’re hospitalized?

Potentially, but eligibility depends on when the medical condition developed.

A voter who becomes hospitalized because of a qualifying illness or physical disability that began on or after October 22 may qualify for the emergency ballot procedure described above.

Hospitalization alone does not automatically qualify someone for a late ballot application. The condition must meet the state’s medical eligibility requirements, and the required physician certification must be completed.

Patients who were already hospitalized or living with a disability before the emergency eligibility period began may face different circumstances if they did not submit a regular mail-in ballot application.

Those voters should contact their county elections office as soon as possible to determine whether another lawful voting accommodation is available.

Can you still vote in person?

Yes. For registered voters who do not qualify for an emergency voting procedure, voting in person remains the primary alternative.

Early voting continues through Friday, October 30, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Texas voters can generally vote at an authorized early voting location in their county of registration. Election Day voting locations depend on the county’s voting system.

• Moved recently? You may still be able to vote in Texas with a limited ballot

Voters with disabilities may also request assistance or accommodations at polling locations. Those who cannot physically enter a polling place may qualify for curbside voting.

More information about accessible voting is available through VoteTexas.gov.

What should you do if you missed the deadline?

The most important step is determining whether you qualify for one of the state’s exceptions rather than assuming every mail-in voting option has closed.

Voters facing a newly developed medical condition, an unexpected death in the family or complications with a previously requested ballot should contact their county elections office immediately.

Because each emergency voting procedure has its own eligibility requirements, documentation and deadlines, waiting until Election Day could make completing the process more difficult.

Voters can find their local election office through the Texas Secretary of State’s county election office directory.

Under Texas election law, eligible voters who moved from one county to another can cast what’s known as a limited ballot, allowing them to participate in certain races even if their registration still reflects their previous address.

However, not everyone qualifies, and voters have a limited window to take advantage of the option before the November 3 election.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is a limited ballot?

A limited ballot allows registered Texas voters who recently moved to a different county to vote in statewide elections and certain district races shared by their former and current addresses.

For example, someone who moved from Galveston County to Harris County but hasn’t updated their voter registration may still be eligible to vote in statewide races, including governor and U.S. Senate.

However, they would not be eligible to vote in county-specific races, such as county judge or county commissioner.

Depending on where they previously lived and where they live now, voters may also qualify to vote in certain congressional or state legislative races if both addresses fall within the same district.

Who qualifies for a limited ballot?

According to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, voters must meet the following requirements:

• They moved from one Texas county to another.
• They would have been eligible to vote in their former county if they still lived there.
• They were registered in their former county when they applied to register in their new county, or remain registered in their former county when requesting a limited ballot.
• Their voter registration in their new county will not be effective by Election Day.

The deadline to register to vote or update voter registration information for the November 3 election was October 5.

Voters who moved between counties and missed that deadline may qualify for a limited ballot.

What if I recently moved to Texas from another state?

A voter who moved to Texas from another state cannot use that state’s registration to request a Texas limited ballot.

The limited ballot process is only available to eligible voters who were previously registered in another Texas county.

For example, someone who recently moved from Louisiana to Harris County cannot use their Louisiana voter registration to request a limited ballot in Texas.

Instead, new Texas residents must register to vote in their new county by the state’s voter registration deadline.

For the November 3 election, that deadline was October 5.

Those who moved to Texas and missed the registration deadline generally cannot vote in the upcoming election. However, depending on their former state’s election laws and residency requirements, they may still have voting options in that state.

New residents should contact their county voter registrar to verify their registration status and eligibility for future elections.

When and where can I cast a limited ballot?

Limited ballots are available during the early voting period, October 19 through October 30, either in person or by mail for eligible voters.

• For in-person voting, voters must visit the main early voting polling location in their new county of residence and complete an Application for Limited Ballot. Limited ballots are not available at other early voting locations or on Election Day, November 3.
• For voting by mail, voters must also meet Texas’ eligibility requirements for mail-in voting. They must submit both an Application for Limited Ballot and an Application for Ballot by Mail to the early voting clerk in their new county.

The deadline for the early voting clerk to receive applications to vote by mail is Friday, October 23.

Voters should contact their county elections office to confirm where to cast a limited ballot or how to request one by mail.

Can I cast a provisional ballot instead?

A provisional ballot may be an option for voters whose eligibility cannot be confirmed at the polling place, but it does not replace Texas’ voter registration requirements.

For example, someone who submitted their voter registration application before the October 5 deadline but does not appear on the list of registered voters may be allowed to cast a provisional ballot.

Election officials will review the voter’s registration records to determine whether the ballot can be counted.

However, someone who recently moved to Texas from another state and failed to register by the deadline generally cannot use a provisional ballot to bypass that requirement.

Voters who believe they registered on time but are experiencing problems at the polls should ask an election worker about provisional voting or contact their county voter registrar.

What if I moved within the same county?

If you recently moved but still live in the same county, you generally do not need a limited ballot.

Instead, Texas offers a process known as “fail-safe voting,” which allows eligible voters who haven’t updated their addresses to cast a ballot using their previous registration information.

For example, someone who moved from one Harris County neighborhood to another may still be able to vote after completing a Statement of Residence at the polling place.

However, voters must still meet applicable residency requirements, and their ballot may reflect the districts associated with their previous registered address.

The limited ballot process is specifically intended for eligible voters who moved across county lines.

How do I request a limited ballot?

Voters who believe they qualify should contact the elections office in their new county of residence.

At the designated main early voting location, election officials will ask voters to complete an Application for Limited Ballot.

Officials will then determine which races the voter is eligible to participate in based on their former and current addresses.

The application also serves as a voter registration application in the voter’s new county for future elections.

Voters can check their current registration status through the Texas Secretary of State’s voter registration portal.

The deadline to cast a limited ballot in person for the November 3 election is Friday, October 30.

The vote will also be the first major test for the Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev after its triumph in parliamentary elections in April.

Despite a record number of candidates, the race is expected to be decided in a runoff between incumbent President Iliana Yotova, backed by Radev’s party, and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who is backed by pro-Western opposition parties.

The campaign has focused heavily on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the widening hostilities in the Black Sea, where recent drone attacks on commercial vessels off Bulgaria’s coast have heightened security concerns in the European Union and NATO member country.

The strikes have raised concerns over Russia’s intentions to escalate the conflict and prompted the government to ask Bulgaria's partners for assistance to strengthen its maritime security.

Candidates have also sought to address public anxiety over rising energy prices and inflation, as many families, particularly in rural areas, struggle to make ends meet.

Polling stations, which opened at 7 a.m., are to close at 8 p.m., after which initial exit polls will be announced while preliminary results are expected on Monday.

The election will likely go into a runoff as none of the 27 candidates is expected to win outright. Turnout must be above 50% of 6.6 million registered voters, and the winner needs a majority of votes. Projections have Sunday’s turnout at less than 40%, indicating a likely Nov. 1 runoff.

Bulgaria's incumbent president is a front-runner

Yotova, a 62-year-old journalist and former member of the European Parliament, is the country's incumbent president and a front-runner in the race.

She previously served as vice president under Radev, during his two terms as head of state. She took over the presidency in January 2026, when Radev stepped down to run for parliament, and is now seeking her own mandate.

She's running as an independent but also has the official backing of Progressive Bulgaria and the Socialist Party, where her career began.

If she wins, Yotova will become Bulgaria’s first elected female president.

Analysts expect her to continue Radev’s policy to keep Bulgaria on its European path but at the same time call for improved relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions. Both Yotova and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine.

Addressing supporters at a rally this week, Yotova said she “advocated for peace through negotiations, rather than force”.

Observers say that Yotova’s victory would keep the presidency in the hands of the ruling majority, and such concentration of power could prevent institutions maintaining effective checks and balances on policy decisions.

A former deputy central bank governor is the main challenger in the race

Yotova's main challenger is economist Andrei Gyurov, a former deputy governor of the central bank and caretaker prime minister who led the country in the early months of 2026. He is supported by the pro-Western reformist opposition.

Gyurov, who has often expressed firm support for Ukraine, signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership.

“I want Bulgaria to have a voice of its own in Europe. A reliable NATO ally that defends its interests through preparedness, strong diplomacy and a clear position,” he told supporters this week.

Latest opinion polls give Yotova an edge in the first round of the race by giving her between 40 percent and 45 percent, versus Gyurov’s 25-30 %, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

But some observers believe that Gyurov could have a better chance in a runoff, where results can be influenced by voters who supported candidates eliminated in the first round.

Presidents in Bulgaria are elected directly for a five-year term and can serve no more than two terms. While the post is primarily ceremonial, the direct election gives the president greater political authority. The president leads the armed forces and can veto legislation, signs international treaties and appoints ambassadors.

The mindset shift has helped the Milwaukee Brewers left-hander deliver one of the great runs by any reliever in postseason history.

Ashby finished a five-out save after the Brewers rallied from a four-run deficit in a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays for a 2-0 World Series lead Saturday night. He struck out Yandy Díaz to end the game, stranding the potential tying run at third base.

That extended Ashby’s shutout streak this postseason to 15 2/3 innings. According to Sportradar, Cleveland’s Andrew Miller had the longest streak of consecutive scoreless relief innings within one postseason with 16 in 2016. Including the regular season, Ashby has thrown a career-best 20 2/3 straight scoreless innings.

“I don’t know that I have the words to describe it,” the 28-year-old Ashby said of his October success. “Maybe when it’s all said and done.”

Ashby has been one of many outstanding bullpen performers during Milwaukee's postseason run.

Brewers relievers have allowed seven earned runs over 50 2/3 postseason innings. That's helped Milwaukee come from behind in seven of its nine victories.

Ashby's performance is particularly notable because of how he had struggled in previous postseasons.

Before this year, Ashby had allowed nine runs — eight earned — in 9 1/3 playoff innings. He believed he knew the reason why he had come up short.

“Trying to grip it too tight and make too much happen, be too good, throw too hard,” Ashby said. “Any number of things you can do in a big situation when there’s a lot of adrenaline.”

Now he’s reminding himself to take a breath and trust his stuff. The results have his teammates marveling at his poise under pressure.

“He’s just low-key, man,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said after Game 1. “He just goes with the flow. He’s got the same heartbeat every day. He’s been like that for us all season.”

That approach has made Ashby the guy the Brewers trust as much as anyone when a game’s on the line.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy showed his faith in Ashby by bringing him back out for the ninth inning Saturday after he already had gotten the final two outs in the eighth. Ashby allowed a leadoff double to Jonny DeLuca before striking out Victor Mesa Jr. and retiring pinch-hitter Ben Williamson on a grounder to the right side.

That brought up the right-handed-hitting Díaz, who got ahead 3-1 in the count after Ashby threw two pitches in the dirt. Ashby froze him with a backdoor breaking ball to make it 3-2, then Díaz attempted to check his swing but didn’t get the call, throwing up his arms in frustration.

“I didn’t go look at it, but from my vantage point, it did look like that he swung,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Ashby credited catcher William Contreras for guiding him through that final inning.

“I’m just trusting him,” Ashby said. “There’s not a lot of thinking I’ve got to do. He’s locked in right now.”

Murphy was asked after the game how he chose to bring Ashby back out for the ninth rather than using usual closer Trevor Megill.

“Very carefully,” Murphy quipped. “Very carefully.”

Murphy went into much more detail when he described Ashby's ability to have effective relief outings that extend beyond one inning. Ashby had a five-out save and a three-inning save during the Brewers’ NL Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“He does what it takes," Murphy said. “It’s unconventional. Multiple innings in relief. It’s Goose Gossage-like. I guess we had a guy like that here, too: Rollie (Fingers). Multiple-inning relief. Sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes you go with it.”

Ashby has taken a winding road to get to this point.

He signed a five-year, $20.5 million contract in the summer of 2022 as he alternated between starting and relief roles early in his career. He underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery the following April, knocking him out for the entire 2023 season. He was struggling in the minor leagues with a drop in velocity for much of the 2024 season before he started feeling like himself again.

He eventually carved out a niche as a key member of Milwaukee’s bullpen. Now he’s one of the biggest reasons why the Brewers are two victories from winning the World Series for the first time.

___

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

He couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning Saturday night against a Milwaukee Brewers lineup that specializes in driving up pitch counts and grinding starters into submission.

“They put together good at-bats,” Rasmussen said after the Rays lost 5-4 to the Brewers in Game 2 of the World Series. “Kudos to them. They fouled off some really good pitches. They took some really quality pitches. They just fought, they scrapped and they just put pitches in play.”

Tampa Bay’s inability to protect an early 4-0 lead caused the Rays to fall behind 2-0 in this World Series featuring two franchises seeking their first championship. Rasmussen gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest start since lasting just 2 1/3 innings in a 12-4 loss to the New York Yankees on July 9.

The Rays scored four runs in the first against Milwaukee rookie Logan Henderson. That lead seemed pretty secure, considering Rasmussen entered the World Series having allowed three runs in 21 playoff innings against the Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.

Milwaukee’s lineup proved tougher to solve.

“I thought early on my command wasn’t very good,” Rasmussen said. “I felt like I was falling behind far too often to expect good results. And then from there, they found themselves in some hitters’ counts and were able to find holes.”

Rasmussen also didn’t get much help from his defense.

Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers opened the bottom of the first with consecutive singles to put runners on the corners. After Christian Yelich struck out swinging, William Contreras hit a high foul pop that went off the glove of first baseman Jonathan Aranda as he positioned himself near the netting in front of the stands.

Given new life, Contreras singled home Chourio. Garrett Mitchell added an RBI single later in the inning to cut Milwaukee’s deficit to 4-2.

“There’s a lot of respect there,” Mitchell said. “We know how great of a pitcher he is. … For us, it’s chipping one at-bat after another, passing it from one guy to the next, because it’s not going to be done in one pitch or one swing. It’s going to be quality at-bat after quality at-bat and kind of just trying to get his pitch count up.”

Even when Rasmussen retired the side in order in the second, Milwaukee took something out of him. Chourio ended that inning by grounding out on an 11-pitch plate appearance.

In the fourth, Rasmussen walked Cooper Pratt, who scored from third when David Hamilton’s RBI grounder to first went through Aranda’s legs for an error. Rasmussen left after issuing a two-out walk to Bauers on his 89th pitch.

Tampa Bay still led 4-3 when Rasmussen left the game, but the Rays made too many mistakes to stay in front.

Liam Hicks got thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on Victor Mesa Jr.’s sixth-inning single to shallow left field. Rays reliever Ian Seymour allowed Milwaukee to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot by Sal Frelick, whose last regular-season homer had come on July 11. Yandy Díaz, who has gone 0 for 9 the last two games, ended this one by striking out to strand the potential tying run at third.

Rays third baseman Junior Caminero screamed in the dugout after Milwaukee had rallied to tie the game.

“Just trying to create some energy and get some life back into us,” Caminero said through an interpreter.

The Rays still have some life left in them, but they blew a golden opportunity to even this series with a four-run lead and their ace on the mound. They understand what’s at stake as the series heads to Tampa Bay.

“Obviously, we’re excited to head back home,” said Rasmussen, who went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA during the regular season. “I mean, it would be really nice to have won today. Our offense, I would say they’re pretty confident when they spot our pitching staff a four-run lead, that we’re going to go ahead and get the job done.”

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Sal Frelick and Cooper Pratt, two of the under-the-radar Brewers manager Pat Murphy thinks of with his nickname for less-appreciated candy, combined for a sweet World Series comeback.

Frelick tied the score with his first home run in three months, Pratt hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to make up for his earlier error and the Brewers stunned the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-0 World Series lead.

“I would think I’m in that orange Life Saver category,” Frelick said, turning to Pratt. “Do you? Maybe you’re a red.”

Down 4-0 in the first inning, Milwaukee rallied for its seventh comeback win among nine postseason victories. The Brewers also rebounded from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series, completing a four-game sweep.

Milwaukee has won seven straight games and became the fifth team to twice overcome four-run deficits for victories in a single postseason, the first since Philadelphia in 2022.

“They believe and they don’t give up,” Murphy said. “They just keep going.”

Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda committed one error and misplayed a foul pop, left fielder Chandler Simpson dropped a flyball and slow-footed catcher Liam Hicks was thrown out at the plate by Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio.

“We’ve had moments like these throughout the regular season and we’ve been able to flip the page,” Aranda said. “So we just have to do that here.”

Abner Uribe pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win, and the game ended when Aaron Ashby struck out Yandy Díaz on a checked swing, stranding Jonny DeLuca at third after a leadoff double in the ninth.

Game 3 of the matchup between teams seeking their first title is Monday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Of the 57 previous teams to take 2-0 World Series leads, 46 claimed the championship.

“We got beaten in all phases of the game,” DeLuca said. “We love playing at the Trop. It’s a unique place.”

After losing Friday’s opener 3-2, the Rays burst ahead in the first against rookie Logan Henderson.

Pratt made his fourth error of the postseason at shortstop, the Brewers’ ninth in 10 games, bouncing his throw past first baseman Jake Bauers on Díaz's leadoff grounder. Simpson and Junior Caminero followed with RBI singles, and Liam Hicks hit a two-run homer.

Milwaukee started to claw back with two runs in the bottom half off Rays ace Drew Rasmussen.

Chourio and Bauers started with singles and Aranda allowed Contreras’ one-out foul pop to bounce out of his mitt near netting in front of the seats.

With Bauers running on a full-count pitch, Contreras bounced an RBI single to the left of second baseman Richie Palacios, who had taken a step toward the bag.

“It’s a huge at-bat," Murphy said. “That first inning meant something that we bounced back against a pitcher that good.”

Garrett Mitchell’s two-out single cut the deficit to 4-2 in the highest-scoring Series first inning since 1993’s Game 4. Hamilton hit an RBI grounder in the fourth that bounced under Aranda’s legs for an error.

Frelick capped a nine-pitch at-bat against Ian Seymour in the sixth by driving a fastball over the center-field fence. The 5-foot-9 No. 8 hitter sped around the bases in 18.72 seconds, half the time of some theatrical postseason trots.

“I don’t think he knows what it’s like to hit a home run to dead center, so I don’t think he knew if he got it or not,” Bauers said.

Frelick had gone 103 plate appearances without a home run since his July 11 drive off Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft and had not gone deep against a lefty pitcher since opening day against Tyler Gilbert of the Chicago White Sox.

“He’s got the `it factor,'” Murphy said before the game. “You think of Joe Montana. You think of people that have — Larry Bird — that have the it factor. I’m not saying he’s at that level of talent or has been in a position to do those things, but he has that `it factor.' He can take a team down the field.”

Caminero reacted by yelling at teammates in Tampa Bay’s dugout.

“Just trying to create some energy and get some life back into us,” he said through a translator.

One of the 12-year-old kid reporters from Wisconsin working the Series pointed out to Frelick that his home run caused Bernie Brewer, Milwaukee's mascot, to slide down his 75-foot slide beyond the left-field fence for the first time in World Series history.

“That’s really cool,” Frelick said. “I only made him go down four times this whole year.”

Screaming fans in the crowd of 43,245 at Milwaukee’s first World Series since 1982 were fired up during the seventh-inning stretch, dancing to the “Beer Barrel Polka” played by Mike Schneider, an accordionist from Clinton, Wisconsin.

“It’s mayhem, and I’ve never experienced anything like it before,” Frelick said. “It’s been motivating for all the players.”

Brice Turang doubled against losing pitcher Tyler Wells on the second pitch of the bottom half, advanced on Mitchell’s deep flyout to right and scored when Pratt looped a 2-2 sinker from Kevin Kelly into short right field.

“My heart was racing,” Pratt said. “You saw me chase the 1-1 pitch in the other batter’s box.”

A 22-year-old who debuted in June, Pratt has had a season of learning. Murphy removed him from an Aug. 25 game at the New York Mets when he didn't run hard on a bloop single.

Pratt thought of that as he spoke with Frelick.

“I sat there next to this guy, and he’s like, `Hey, man, I’ve been there, I’ve done that. I’ve been pulled a couple times. Just don’t let it happen again. There’s standards here,'” Pratt said.

Up next

Rays RHP Freddy Peralta, a two-time All-Star while pitching for the Brewers from 2018-25, starts Game 3. He was the AL Championship Series MVP and is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in three postseason starts and one relief appearance. He will be opposed by Brewers LHP Robert Gasser, who allowed one run over nine innings in his first two postseason starts.

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

No. 2 BYU wasn't as fortunate. Playing with their highest ranking since 1984, the Cougars lost 39-31 in two overtimes to UCF and the list of unbeaten teams thinned to Miami, UCLA and Utah during another chaotic Saturday. Three top-10 teams lost and a total of seven Top 25 were beaten.

UCF was among five unranked teams to knock off ranked opponents. No. 8 Texas Tech lost to Cincinnati, No. 11 Tennessee to South Carolina, No. 15 Iowa to Minnesota and No. 16 Southern California to Wisconsin.

No. 7 Mississippi joined BYU and Texas Tech as losing top-10 teams.

No. 19 Texas, coming off consecutive losses, posted its third win over a Top 25 opponent and kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive by beating the Rebels 34-27.

No. 10 Utah extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 13 games and took sole possession of first place in the Big 12 with its 21-13 victory over No. 14 Houston.

Miami, No. 1 for the first time since 2002, was never threatened in its 52-23 win over Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes scored on seven of their first eight possessions and Darian Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those TD passes went to Malachi Toney, who made 16 catches for 194 yards.

BYU made the cross-country trip to Orlando, Florida, a week after it beat then-No. 2 Notre Dame at home, and there was talk all week about how this could be a trap game.

UCF's Keyone Jenkins passed for 293 yards and three touchdowns in a game that had five lead changes in regulation. The final seconds of regulation were a mess. A fumble was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. UCF had what would have been a tiebreaking field goal on third down blocked and was denied a second try even though it recovered the ball. The player who came up with the ball, the kicker, had his helmet knocked off with 2 seconds left. The helmet incident required a 10-second runoff, which sent the game to overtime.

When UCF held BYU out of the end zone in the second overtime, fans stormed the field and the Knights had their first-ever win over a top-five opponent.

“This will be humbling for us and we have to learn from it. Kind of frustrated by the outcome but am impressed with UCF,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “We’ve got some things to think about and things to correct so we can be in a better position next week. There’s still a lot of football ahead of us and there’s a lot more games to play, so we can’t let one loss define us.”

This was the third straight week in which a team ranked No. 1 or 2 lost to an unranked team. Texas was No. 1 when it lost to Oklahoma two weeks ago and Georgia was No. 1 when it was beaten by Auburn last week. The last time top-2 teams lost three times to unranked opponents was 2007, when it happened eight times.

Hoosiers win despite their offense

No. 6 Indiana overcame a balky offense in its 13-6 overtime road win over Michigan. The defending national champion Hoosiers generated 212 yards, the second-fewest in coach Curt Cignetti's three seasons, and Josh Hoover was just 8-of-18 passing for 81 yards.

“It's a great win,” Cignetti said. “They all come in different shapes and sizes. The offense struggled to say the least. Yes, Josh Hoover did practice every day but was limited a little bit. We feel he'll get better and better physically.”

Those other upsets

Cincinnati's 37-24 win over Texas Tech was the Bearcats' first victory over a top-10 opponent in five years. The Red Raiders had trouble controlling Cole Tabb, who rushed 16 times for a career-high 173 yards. His 58-yard burst for a touchdown put the Bearcats up by 19 points with 6 minutes left.

LaNorris Sellers accounted for three touchdowns and Malik Orsan kicked a 48-yard field goal as time expired to lift South Carolina past No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 and perhaps take some heat off Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, who now has consecutive wins over ranked foes.

Minnesota claimed Floyd of Rosedale for the first time since 2023 and second time in 12 years when Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat Iowa 13-10.

Wisconsin beat USC 24-7, sacking Jayden Maiava five times and holding the Trojans to their fewest points and yards (241) in coach Lincoln Riley's five seasons. Maiava threw interceptions on consecutive possessions in the first quarter, and the Badgers won despite generating only 200 yards.

Ducks go down again

Oregon's season has gone from bad to worse. The Ducks lost 21-10 to an Illinois team starting its backup quarterback. After the Ducks drove 75 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening series, they managed only a field goal on their other 12 possessions and were held scoreless in a second half for the first time since a 49-3 loss to Georgia in the 2022 opener.

The Ducks' No. 2 preseason ranking was the highest in program history and they had the potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL draft at quarterback among a bevy of returning talent. Things began going south when they lost at Oklahoma State and Dante Moore went out with a concussion in a win over Southern California. Moore has yet to return, the Ducks are 1-2 without him and they've been unranked for two weeks.

Oregon (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) has scored a total of 42 points in the three full games without Moore, and the schedule doesn't let up. No. 24 Northwestern takes a four-game win streak into Eugene next Saturday and the Ducks visit No. 3 Ohio State on Nov. 7.

Asked if first-year offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer would be replaced, coach Dan Lanning said, “I think all things are on the table to make sure we’re the best version of ourself. We’re currently not that. That’s very clear.”

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Kim’s visit to China is his latest move in an increasingly assertive foreign policy as he seeks to align Pyongyang with Beijing and Moscow in a united front against the United States under what he portrays as a “new Cold War.” It's his first visit in a year.

Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong Saturday after crossing the newly opened bridge, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry and China's official Xinhua News Agency.

Both sides promise to strengthen cooperation

In Dandong, Kim visited a memorial marking China's support of North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War and met with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of China’s Communist Party.

At the memorial, Kim said that North Korea will “firmly carry forward the invincible DPRK-China friendship forged at the cost of blood all the time,” according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

During their meeting, Kim reaffirmed a resolve to develop bilateral cooperation, while Wang conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's greetings and said Kim's visit to the memorial was “of great significance” in carrying forward the friendship between the two countries, KCNA said.

The two toured a car factory as well, before Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge to send him off, according to KCNA and Xinhua.

New bridge was built to help expand trade between the countries

Experts said the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge this month was a key symbol of strengthening ties between North Korea and China and reflected their intent to expand trade, as it is expected to accommodate two-way traffic around the clock, including container shipments and heavy cargo trucks. The bridge was opened after more than a decade of delay.

While returning home via the bridge, Kim said “the bridge would undoubtedly and correctly fulfill its historic mission of linking the two countries and firmly joining the minds of the peoples of the two countries,” KCNA reported.

Kim has recently taken steps to bolster ties with China, the North’s traditional main ally and economic lifeline, after years of prioritizing ties with Russia. China, for its part, has sought to restore its unique influence over North Korea.

North Korea has sent thousands of troops and conventional weapons to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for military and economic assistance.

Kim's visit timed to key battle anniversary in Korean War with China

Kim’s latest visit to China is his sixth since taking power in late 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. The visit appears to be timed to underscore the strength of his ties with Beijing ahead of the Oct. 25 anniversary of China’s first major victory in the Korean War, which was days after Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River into North Korea in October 1950.

The war began with North Korea’s surprise attack on the South in June 1950, prompting a U.N.-led coalition headed by the United States to intervene and push back the offensive. North Korea was backed primarily by Chinese forces, with assistance from the then-Soviet Union’s air force, before fighting ended with a 1953 armistice that left the peninsula technically at war.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang in June for a meeting with Kim. During their summit, Xi expressed Beijing’s willingness to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, construction and technology, while Kim described ties with China as a top strategic priority.

Kim last visited Beijing in September 2025, when he met with Xi and watched a military parade alongside Putin and other foreign leaders.

Kim has maintained a hard line toward Seoul and has so far rebuffed a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump to revive their diplomacy, which broke down in 2019 during Trump’s first term. Kim’s government has called for Washington to abandon its “hostile policy” and drop demands for the North’s denuclearization as a precondition for renewed talks.

South Korea’s liberal government, which favors engagement with the North, hopes renewed talks between Washington and Pyongyang will thaw inter-Korean relations, and has also urged China to play a “constructive” role in resolving the standoff. Seoul's spy agency told lawmakers last month that it saw a 50% possibility of a meeting between Trump and Kim on the sidelines of next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, summit in Shenzhen, China.

“From Seoul’s perspective, if North Korea focuses more on economic development than military buildup and threats, that would be positive for diplomacy and security,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“But if Kim can extract ever more benefits from China and Russia, it is unclear what Seoul could offer that would be worth the political risks Pyongyang attaches to exchanges with a more prosperous, globalized, and free Korea.”

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Wu reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalists Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul and Mayuko Ono in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Both Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola spoke at this week's Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage.

The organization previously endorsed Peltola, who is Yup’ik, during her House races in 2022 and 2024, but it did not issue endorsements this year. Both candidates have highlighted support from Native organizations and leaders ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Sealaska Corp., a regional Native corporation in southeast Alaska, has endorsed both of them, calling it a way to “honor their contributions and commitment to our communities, and to honor the diverse positions of our shareholders.”

The race is among the most closely watched nationally, with control of the Senate at stake. On Friday, President Donald Trump — who held a rally in support of Sullivan earlier this month — said he told his administration to sue to block certification of the race if the incumbent loses. The lawsuit cites potential confusion with another candidate who is listed on the ranked choice ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.

Sen. Sullivan is listed as a Republican and the incumbent, while Sullivan Jr. is listed without a party designation. U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on social media that the lawsuit is necessary to make sure officials “have the information necessary to make a determination as to whether Alaskan voters were confused or mislead.”

Alaskan Natives represent about one-fifth of the state's population, but they can face challenges to voting in remote communities. Advocates have raised concerns in recent years with polling locations in some villages opening late or ballots not arriving on time to be fully counted due to mail delays.

There's also cynicism about whether participating in elections will make a difference.

"There’s legitimate hesitations about whether whoever they vote for is actually going to impact them,” said actor and activist Dallas Goldtooth, who is Bdewakantunwan Dakota and Dine and came to Alaska to encourage conference attendees to vote. “And our job is to say, hey, whether that matters or not, there’s an opportunity for you to make sure that your voice is counted. And I want to encourage people just to take the opportunity as much as possible.”

Sheri Buretta, who chairs the board of Chugach Alaska Corp., an Alaska Native corporation, introduced Sullivan to the conference Thursday as “one of our strongest champions.”

Sullivan, speaking as part of a congressional delegation update, said he’s learned important lessons from Native leaders. He cited work he’s done on issues such as pushing to ensure that Alaska Native Vietnam War-era veterans have access to land allotments.

Peltola, during a candidate forum Friday, became emotional speaking about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people and said additional law enforcement resources are needed. She also expressed support for fisheries. Subsistence fishing is critical in many Native communities.

“I will always fight to restore our fisheries. I feel like working on fish issues is my life’s work,” she said.

Energy is also a crucial issue in Alaska, including within Native communities.

Peltola recently said Alaska Natives were being “absolutely crushed” by high costs from the ongoing war with Iran, which Sullivan has supported. Many rural communities rely on diesel for electricity and to heat their homes.

Sullivan has argued the war against Iran is temporary and that the “forever war is the Democrats’ war against Alaskan energy.”

Many Native leaders on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope see responsible oil drilling as critical to their region's economy, and they felt their voices weren't heard while Democratic President Joe Biden was in office. His administration sought to restrict drilling in places like the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but Trump and the Republican-led Congress have rolled those efforts back.

Peltola has said she supports expanded oil and gas drilling and would work with Trump to accomplish that. But Sullivan and his allies have tried to align her with “ Lower 48 liberals” who oppose more drilling.

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Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska.

Houston police say a disturbance inside the home escalated into an exchange of gunfire involving multiple people.

A 23-year-old man died in the shooting. A second man, believed to be 19, was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators say he is expected to survive.

Police say more people were inside than expected

Sgt. Clint Ponder with the Houston Police Department said preliminary social media photos showed a large crowd inside the rental home.

“From the limited social media photos we’ve seen so far, there was a lot of people inside the house — more than we should have been inside the house,” Ponder said.

The shooting has renewed attention on the rules governing short-term rentals used for large gatherings.

Houston requires short-term rental registration

The property was registered with the City of Houston.

Under the city’s short-term rental ordinance, operators must register their properties, provide an emergency contact and comply with applicable building and fire codes. Requirements also address disclosure of the property’s maximum permitted occupancy.

Houston’s rules also prohibit advertising short-term rentals as party spaces.

• RELATED: Man killed, another wounded in shooting at Houston house party

The regulations are intended to give the city greater oversight of short-term rental properties. However, the deadly shooting raises questions about how those requirements are monitored when a home is used for a large gathering.

Victim’s father warns young people about parties

The father of the man killed in the shooting is urging young people to avoid gatherings he believes have become increasingly dangerous.

“Stay away from these parties, man. These parties are not safe no more. There’s too much going on. Too much of the youngsters are dying,” Elthanius Toliver said.

His warning comes as investigators continue looking into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

City plans crackdown on unregistered listings in 2027

Beginning January 1, 2027, the City of Houston says it will begin notifying short-term rental platforms to remove listings that do not have a certificate of registration.

The planned enforcement step is aimed at addressing unregistered properties, but questions remain about how the city will ensure registered rentals comply with occupancy requirements and other rules.

For now, the shooting underscores the consequences of violence at large gatherings and the challenges of regulating homes rented for short-term stays.

First in Ohio, Obama took aim at Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has doubled down on an advertising campaign featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also defended the ad, even as Republican leaders across Ohio, including Gov. Mike DeWine, have called for its removal.

“In recent days, we’ve seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to,” Obama said of Ramaswamy, noting that Acton has “spoken movingly about her painful childhood and all she’s experienced: abuse, neglect and homelessness.”

Later in Michigan, Obama condemned critics of Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, suggesting that they're using his name or his faith to tear him down.

“We have seen this movie before. I starred in it,” Obama told a packed high school gym in Detroit. “I’ve got a long-form birth certificate to prove it."

“Abdul is as Michigan as it gets," he added.

Obama, 65, remains the Democratic Party’s best motivator nearly a decade after leaving the White House. And he's taking his star power on the road in the final days of the midterm elections, which will help determine the balance of power in American politics on Nov. 3.

Trump cast his own ballot on Saturday in Florida, where he defended the Ramaswamy ad, which has emerged as a national flashpoint a little more than a week before Election Day.

“The mother said that Amy Acton is a liar, and she’s no good," Trump said. "And you know what? I don’t think you can get a better reference on that.”

The Ramaswamy campaign video features Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her “a liar” and insinuating she has mental health issues.

Acton, Ohio’s COVID-19-era health director, has made no secret of facing homelessness and abuse as a child. Arthur lost custody of her children after their stepfather, Arthur’s husband, was indicted on a charge of rape involving Acton.

The abuse allegedly happened from December 1976 to April 1978. Cledith Arthur failed to show for a court appearance and became a fugitive. Donna Arthur remained married to him until his death in 2004.

Appearing before Obama, Acton spoke as if addressing Ramaswamy directly.

“My opponent has chosen to exploit, intentionally, my childhood to save his stumbling campaign, but it’s not going to work,” she said. “Decency still matters.” She added: “Mr. Ramaswamy, you are not just out of touch, you are out for yourself and you are a danger to my state. Apparently there is no low to which you won’t stoop.”

Although Ohio has become more reliably Republican, it's been a hotly contested battleground this year. Trump and Vance have both visited the state in recent weeks to drum up support for Sen. Jon Husted and Ramaswamy. And the controversy over Ramaswamy's ad has ratcheted up the already high temperature.

Michigan, too, is a critical state this midterm season, with high-stakes contests for the Senate and governor.

While Obama addressed both races, he offered a passionate defense of El-Sayed, a former public health official running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican.

The former president pushed back against those who call El-Sayed a radical, declaring that “Abdul shares my values.” He also acknowledged that El-Sayed was critical of him after his 2012 reelection for not following through on all of his progressive campaign promises.

El-Sayed wrote that Obama “was not the right choice — he just wasn’t the wrong one.”

“Some of these folks say, well, you know, Abdul didn’t like some of the things you did as president,” Obama said in Detroit, wearing a blue shirt with no tie, his sleeves rolled up. “You know who else doesn’t agree with everything I do? Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama, about five times a day.”

Democrats hoped that Obama’s appearance in the city, which is three-quarters Black, could bolster support for El-Sayed among Black voters. In the primary, his opponent Haley Stevens won Wayne County, which includes Detroit, by about 6 percentage points. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian vice president, campaigned for El-Sayed in September.

Cheryl McWilliams, 67, said Obama’s speech “pumps you up to vote,” and she's hoping to see high turnout in the midterms.

“If Detroit doesn’t vote, whoever’s running is going to lose, period,” McWilliams said. “I’m just hoping we can reach voters that don’t vote. They think it doesn’t matter, and it does.”

Chunnika Hodges, who lives in Detroit and canvassed for El-Sayed on Saturday, said some Black voters are supporting Rogers because they don’t think anything has changed after years of voting for Democrats. Some are also wary of El-Sayed because of his progressive policies, Hodges said.

“We don’t lean to the conservative, but we have seen that within our community,” Hodges said. “There are conservative Blacks, conservative Democrats.”

While Obama talked up Democratic candidates in Ohio and Michigan, he also spoke at length about Trump.

He accused the Republican president and his family of rampant corruption and called out his inability to lower costs, noting that Trump has instead focused on building a new White House ballroom and helipad on the South Lawn.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovation," Obama quipped. “He should be on HGTV.” He went on: “There's gold everywhere. He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”

The former Democratic president acknowledged that the nation has Trump for another two years, until his term ends. But voters are not stuck with Trump’s allies, he said.

“We’re not stuck with a spineless Congress and Republican governors who are handling lawlessness and carelessness and cruelty and indifference for working people,” Obama said. “After two years of chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence … you get a chance to say enough is enough.”

Obama will headline a rally in Georgia next week with Sen. Jon Ossoff and candidate for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Trump, campaigning in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday evening with their Republican rivals, made several references to Obama's Michigan event, insisting “the place was empty.”

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Peoples reported from New York. AP writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed. GaNun is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, where he sought to boost Republican candidates, Trump said Audi — the German luxury brand owned by Volkswagen — would commit $4.2 billion in nearby Macon to begin construction on a plant that will produce 200,000 cars a year.

“Think of that. 200,000 cars a year. That’s incredible,” Trump said, crediting his aggressive and unpopular tariff policies for the company's decision to build the plant.

The announcement seemed timed to offer a last-minute boost to Republican candidates in the battleground state, including Rep. Mike Collins, who is trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Trump has spent October campaigning in reliably Republican states as the party tries to hold onto its majorities in the House and Senate. Trump won Georgia in 2024 after losing it in 2020.

Trump was joined on stage by Gernot Döllner, the chairman of the board of management at Audi, who said the plant would be producing “our biggest and most premium SUVs.”

“This is a long-term investment, because we believe in the American market,” he said.

Audi, in a news release, said the plant — its first in Georgia — would create approximately 4,500 jobs and that construction was scheduled to begin in 2027, with production beginning in the early 2030s.

Republicans are bracing for losses in the Nov. 3 midterm elections as they contend with an unpopular president and an electorate that is angry over high costs and the ongoing war in Iran.

At the rally, Rick Jackson, the Republican candidate for Georgia governor, thanked Trump for the plans.

“Thank you on behalf of Georgia for putting the biggest economic deal in Georgia history right here today," he said.

___

Colvin reported from New York.

The demonstration in Milan remained peaceful, but there were brief clashes with police in both Rome and Turin.

In Milan, thousands of young people marched the streets as soldiers were deployed and luxury boutiques were boarded up, but by late afternoon, most shops had opened, Italian media reported.

Premier Giorgia Meloni announced a raft of measures, including sending an additional 500 soldiers to Milan and tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up a large part of the violent protesters last week. In Milan, police detained several minors as a preventive measure, media reported.

While protests in France have claimed most international attention, large demonstrations also rocked many European cities Saturday from Milan to Rome to Madrid, Lisbon and Tirana.

The protests encompass a broad range of issues from education and corruption to anti-war movements, pensions and housing.

Army vehicles and boarded-up luxury stores in Milan

In Milan, huge crowds of mostly young people gathered as night fell, chanting insults to Meloni and holding aloft banners such as “No to lies of the state.”

A group of protesters dumped manure outside Italy’s energy regulator and burned a symbolic, oversized electricity bill, images broadcast on local television showed.

The 500 soldiers deployed to Milan came in addition to hundreds already stationed there, supporting about 5,000 police and other security personnel. Authorities used drone surveillance, checks at railway stations, rapid-response units and online monitoring for potential calls to violence.

A mayoral hopeful, Pierfrancesco Majorino, who announced his candidacy Thursday, joined the marchers and remarked how peaceful the day was, according to Italian media. He will contest a center-left primary in early 2027. Milan's center-left Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who has held the role since 2016, is not running again.

Many stores, particularly luxury boutiques within Milan's fashion district including Omega, Tiffany and Gucci, boarded up their front windows. The Apple store also shut down and remained shut even as others reopened.

Rioters last weekend smashed their way into stores, targeting sneakers, athletic wear and sporting goods on streets that run off the city’s central Duomo square.

Security measures extended beyond the city center over concerns protesters could move into other neighborhoods.

The protesters ended their march peacefully Saturday evening outside the Milan Polytechnic, more than 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the city center.

Officials said Saturday they were investigating a 30-year-old freelance journalist said to be the “mastermind” of the newly formed Oct. 17 movement, which has been the main driver of the recent protests in Italy.

Milan police say last week's violence and looting involved about 2,000 very young protesters, many of them “naturalized, second-generation Italians,” alongside foreign nationals. Over two days, police arrested 45 people, including 34 minors.

A group of about 30 far-right activists, described as hooligans linked to Inter Milan soccer club, made a brief appearance chanting anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim slogans but were isolated by police.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the soldiers deployed Saturday were only recently allowed to use plastic restraint ties and only in areas around train stations, not throughout the city. They are not authorized to carry pepper spray or tasers, he said.

Protesters try to force entry into Colosseum in Rome

Security was also heightened in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and stepped up controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo.

A small number of protesters tried to force their way into the Colosseum, but were ushered out by guards. Elsewhere, several hundred students demonstrated peacefully to stress they were not rioters.

“I think the images from last week were truly something terrible, especially for the young people, for the students, for the vast majority of the younger generations who want to study ... and do not accept being represented by those who use issues and needs to devastate entire cities,” said Riccardo Ponzio, national president of an Italian far-right student association.

A separate anti-war march took place in central Rome. Organizers sought to distance themselves from potential unrest, urging participants to keep their faces uncovered and hands visible.

But it was these marchers who briefly clashed with police near the Piazza della Repubblica, even as organizers were trying to hold the crowd back using batons and tear gas. In the end, the protesters pulled back when a water cannon was turned on. They retreated to a location about half a kilometer (mile) away.

Clashes and buildings set on fire in Albania

In Albania's capital Tirana, riot police used water cannons on large groups of protesters, some of whom set government buildings on fire and threw projectiles at police. Authorities said 2,500 officers patrolled the streets Saturday.

For over a week, protesters have hurled rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks at police who have used batons and tear gas in clashes in the city center.

High school and university students are demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and protesting corruption in the education system. Some have joined a broader anti-government movement calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.

A separate protest organized by the opposition outside the prime minister's office turned violent earlier, with some activists lighting fires on the street.

Rama said Saturday his government was preparing a response to the students' demands and called them to a dialogue. He warned that violent protesters will face penalties.

Pensions and housing spark Madrid and Lisbon protests

Thousands of retirees and others marched peacefully in Spain's capital Saturday to demand public pensions aren’t meddled with.

“They are threatening us with privatizing pensions. It’s just another thing they want to profit from," said Maria José Benito, 68.

The protests came ahead of next month’s snap election as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party criticized the conservative opposition Popular Party for making overtures about privatizing public pensions. Spain also has been roiled by protests this fall around the issue of housing, as rental and home costs have risen in recent years beyond what many Spaniards can afford.

Taking their cue from Spaniards, protesters in Lisbon demanding affordable housing marched across the city on Saturday.

They have also targeted recent measures announced by the government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro that include easing the cap on yearly rent increases and facilitating the eviction of tenants who fail to pay rent.

Montenegro defends the measures, saying that they aim at reinforcing trust between tenants and landlords and boosting the rentals market. Protesters claim that the measures are not balanced and put tenants in a more vulnerable position.

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Nellas reported from Athens, Greece, and Hui reported from London. Associated Press writers Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Giada Zampano in Rome, and videojournalists Niccolò Lupone in Milan, Veronica Sauchelli in Rome, Alicia León in Madrid and Helena Alves in Lisbon contributed to this report.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks sent an email Saturday to clergy confirming the settlement after attorneys for the survivors of alleged abuse announced it. Hicks said the agreement will not be final until the parties sign it, an action scheduled for the week of Nov. 6.

The only larger settlement over sexual abuse claims in the U.S. was by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which agreed in 2024 to pay $880 million to 1,000 abuse victims, in addition to $740 million in claims it had paid previously. In June, the Archdiocese of San Francisco agreed to a $395 million settlement over about 500 lawsuits filed over clergy abuse, and in December 2025, a federal judge approved a settlement in which the Archdiocese of New Orleans agreed to pay at least $230 million to abuse victims.

The agreement with the New York archdiocese would end more than seven years of lawsuits. The parties agreed to a framework for an agreement in May that required everyone who filed a claim to sign off.

“The unanimous agreement of survivors who filed claims against the Archdiocese of New York marks a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice,” Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing people who filed more than 1,000 of claims against the Catholic Church in New York state, said in a statement. “Through their courage, sacrifice, and determination, survivors have helped bring about a reckoning and a meaningful step toward accountability.”

The Archiocese of New York covers the city's boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island as well as seven counties to the north of New York City and is home to about 300 churches, more than 150 parochial schools and 2.5 million Catholics.

In his email to clergy, Hicks said that if church members ask about the settlement, “please let them know that much progress has been made.”

“We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors,” he wrote. “This agreement will also allow the archdiocese to turn its full attention once again to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and needy, welcoming the stranger, and educating our children.”

A New York law enacted in 2019 allows survivors of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits against their abusers and institutions that shielded them until they turn 55. People who had already had turned 55 when the law was enacted also were given until August 2021 to file lawsuits, no matter when the alleged abuse occurred.

“This is an extraordinary achievement for the survivors,” said Trusha Goffe, an attorney in Anderson’s firm. "The survivors remined resolute through years of litigation to reach this monumental settlement.”

But Jackson’s path differs from Donald Trump’s, and the 72-year-old healthcare magnate and investor brings a vastly different persona to his first campaign. Unlike Trump, who was born to wealth, Jackson spent his early years bouncing through foster homes before launching his first company as a young man.

Now, he wants to leverage both his similarities and contrasts with the president, a challenge he's tackling with buckets of his own campaign cash and a personal story that anchors his appeal to voters.

“I have lived in poverty,” Jackson says. “When you have not eaten, you never forget that, and you don’t forget the people that are struggling.”

Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, disputes Jackson’s altruistic pitch, setting up the Nov. 3 election as a test of whether an alternate, softer version of conservative billionaire politics can complement or even counter Trump’s pugilistic populism in a key swing state.

Jackson joined Trump at a rally Saturday in Perry, marking his second appearance with the president in the closing stretch of the campaign.

“He's an amazing, really an amazing man with an incredible story," Trump said as he introduced Jackson to the crowd. Jackson, for his part, thanked Trump for a new Audi plant set to be built in Georgia, and told the crowd, “I don't have anything to prove, I really don't. But I have a lot to give."

‘From foster care to billionaire’

“My father left me at nine months old. My mother was a sixth-grade educated waitress with a severe alcohol problem,” Jackson said in the only debate of their general election campaign. “I had seven stepfathers before I was 12. I lived in the projects, went to 13 different schools, and lived in five different foster homes.”

He left college to start a business at 21. That led to Jackson Healthcare, a behemoth company that provides contract nurses and other workers to hospitals and health systems, including public entities that have helped fuel Jackson’s fortunes with taxpayer money.

At events with supporters, Jackson gets more personal.

“I have, because of my background, severe abandonment issues,” he told hundreds of voters in Cleveland, a conservative enclave in the north Georgia mountains. He turns that acknowledgment into a promise: “Let me tell you one thing: I will never abandon you.”

Rags-to-riches themes are not uncommon in politics, and it’s yielded Jackson’s campaign motto: “From foster care to billionaire.” But the scale is eye-popping, illuminated by the nearly $200 million Jackson has spent personally on the campaign. That puts him among the largest self-funding candidates in the history of American elections.

But on that score, too, Jackson tries to soften the caricature of the billionaire executive.

“It’s not my money,” he said in a northern suburb of Atlanta. Jackson calls his fortune “God’s money” and says that “my job is to have kingdom impact” with it.

“The reason I have spent so much money to do this,” he said, is to “help 11 million Georgians, to keep them from struggling.”

A range of images over a long campaign

Jackson launched his bid as a relative unknown, though Capitol insiders knew him because of Jackson Healthcare, its lucrative state contracts and his lobbying interest in healthcare, business and tax policy.

The Republican primary field featured a trio of statewide elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who won Trump’s endorsement in August 2025, before Jackson got in.

During the primary, Jackson embraced the president even though he wasn't Trump's choice. Jackson sometimes promised to “be like Trump, but with Southern tone.” He pledged to “deliver for Georgia the same type of business solutions that President Trump is bringing to our country.”

Largely aligning himself with Trump on immigration, Jackson promised to make Georgia a national leader in deportations.

“I don’t care if you’re Muslim or Mongolian, you don’t have the right to force your culture on our country,” he said in one ad. “Criminal illegals” who “commit sick, violent crimes” would “end up deported or departed,” he promised.

Soon after defeating Jones in a runoff, Jackson shelved the immigration ad, but not before using it as part of a spot featuring his grandchildren. “Granddad, why do you look so mean in these ads?” one asks after watching the “deported or departed” clip on her phone. The children and teenagers then tell their grandfather how he can “look cool” with a pickup truck, a dog and a hipper wardrobe.

“Let’s make Georgia better together,” the redressed Jackson concludes.

He has since circulated an ad with several young adults who benefited from the millions he spent helping foster children who age out of the Georgia system when they turn 18. “I am so proud of you,” he tells them as he chokes up.

On policy, Republican fare and centrist appeals

As he softens his image, Jackson maintains traditional Republican positions, pledging to cut taxes, regulation and what he describes as waste. If he cannot halve the state income tax in four years, he promises not to seek a second term. He wants a balanced budget and full audits of state spending, without saying state law requires a balanced budget and audits of state agencies have long been standard practice.

He says he will expand healthcare without expanding Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Instead, he argues he can fund broader coverage through partnerships with private insurers. That would require Washington to grant permission and commit a level of financial support that no state has gotten without expanding the traditional Medicaid program.

Jackson says he can do all of that while increasing spending on teacher salaries and vocational education.

At the same time, he has toned down his Trump adulation, reflecting Georgia’s general election math and voters' frustrations with the Iran war and inflation.

In July, Jackson stood with Trump in Marietta and expressed his hope to “be this guy’s favorite governor.” When Trump returned to Dalton on Oct. 16, Jackson did not mention Trump at all in his own speech. Later, when the president called him on stage, Jackson praised Trump — for advocating for foster children. When Trump announced that he would be back to Georgia on Saturday, Jackson's campaign initially planned its own event in metro Atlanta before changing it up so Jackson would again be with the president.

Bottoms disputes Jackson's everyman appeal

Bottoms says Jackson is “trying to buy this election” so he can be a Trump stooge. And Democrats have seized on the way that Jackson has talked about the economy.

Discussing trade schools, Jackson said on the debate stage that “my plumber drives a Mercedes.” Discussing inflation and crime during his town hall-style debate with Bottoms, he suggested Atlantans felt unsafe “at the gas store” during her tenure. When a citizen in the debate audience asked Jackson about minimum wage and affording basic necessities, Jackson told her, “Hopefully, you’re not the one that is getting the $7.50 an hour.”

Minimum wage is $7.25. Bottoms has proposed doubling it. Jackson has not proposed any increase. “My focus is creating jobs,” he said. “I’ve been creating jobs my entire life.”

Jackson's balancing act is enough for Debbie Satterfield, a 72-year-old who came to a Jackson rally in White County wearing both a Trump shirt and a Jackson sticker.

“When I heard about his harsh upbringing, and to hear how far he had climbed, and starting from nothing,” she said. “It reminds me of my life starting with nothing. You can see his soul.”

Meanwhile, the death toll rose from Friday's attack on a church in Jordan. And an Iranian military commander said his country will not allow U.S. warships to enter the Persian Gulf as concerns grow of a return to all-out war.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Saturday. Read our full coverage here.

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv days ahead of Israel's election

A large crowd gathered in a final protest against Netanyahu and his government ahead of Tuesday's close election.

The crowd heard calls for a commission of inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war in Gaza. Netanyahu has refused such an inquiry.

Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, attended the rally that was an echo of the weekly ones once held to call for the release of hostages taken into Gaza. All hostages or their remains were eventually released, but Netanyahu has been accused of delaying deals to free them sooner.

Trump weighs more strikes or a deal with Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump bristled when asked how far he was from a possible attack on Iran. He recently said on social media he would not hit Iran again before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

“Do you really think I’m going to tell you if I’m going to do it?" Trump responded. “And there’s a possibility I will. There’s also a possibility we’ll have a nice, big, beautiful agreement.”

Trump repeated his assertion that Iran wants to make a deal, “but the problem is, will they hold the deal?”

Iran’s president accuses the US of disrupting negotiations

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Washington of disrupting negotiations to end the war but said he still believes “we have to go and finish it.”

In comments aired on state television, he said Iran’s supreme leader had instructed Iranian officials to “go and finish it (the deal),” but “these scoundrels broke the rules of the game. We were holding talks, and they disrupted them.”

Anxiety has been growing in Iran and elsewhere that the U.S. or Israel will resume attacks before or just after Tuesday’s elections in Israel or the U.S. midterm elections.

Israel carries out arrests across Hebron after attack

Israeli forces carried out arrests and demolitions in Hebron in the occupied West Bank a day after two Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers and wounded three others.

Up to 300 families left Deir Baha and two adjacent neighborhoods, according to a tally from Hebron’s municipality. Israel's army didn't respond to questions about the operation. On Friday, it said its forces had begun “conducting precise, targeted and thorough searches” in the area from where the gunmen operated.

Death toll from church attack in Jordan rises to 9

A ninth person died after gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan, state television reported. More than two dozen people were receiving treatment in hospitals.

Gunmen on Friday opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, south of Jordan's capital, Amman. Karak is home to a minority Christian population.

Airstrikes kill 15 people in Yemen, including a child

Strikes killed 11 people, including four children, in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, according to the Health Ministry run by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. And an airstrike hit homes in Hodeida province, killing at least four people, health authorities said.

The Houthis blamed neighboring Saudi Arabia, which backs forces fighting the rebels. Saudi Arabia did not respond to a request for comment. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the claims.

At least two explosions were later heard near the international airport in Yemen’s southern city of Aden, the seat of the internationally recognized government. The Houthi military spokesperson said a military camp and a naval base were targeted. The government's interior ministry said the Houthis attacked the coast guard headquarters at its complex with two ballistic missiles.

The Saudi-led coalition earlier said it intercepted three ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and Taif and Yanbu cities.

The UAE closes beaches after oil spill from tanker

The United Arab Emirates closed beaches after an oil spill from a tanker. The spill impacted beaches of Umm Al Quwain, one of the seven emirates making up the federation, and cleanup efforts were underway, the Climate Change and Environment Ministry said.

The ministry said the spill poses no health risks but did not provide details about its scale. It came two weeks after Iran’s state-run broadcaster reported an oil tanker had struck a naval mine and caught fire while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without coordinating with Tehran.

Iran says it will not allow US warships to enter Persian Gulf

An Iranian military commander said Iran will not allow U.S. warships to enter the Persian Gulf or approach Iran’s territorial waters, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Gen. Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces and commander of its joint military command, also warned Trump that U.S. forces would never return to the Strait of Hormuz.

US reissues Mideast travel warnings over Houthi threats

The State Department reissued travel advisories for Americans in or traveling to the Middle East, citing threats posed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are covered by the warnings and have appeared in previous travel alerts since the start of the Iran war.

The department has reduced staffing at four U.S. embassies in the Middle East after receiving intelligence that Iran has stepped-up efforts to target American personnel.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Needing a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to force a third OT, the Cougars (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) drove to the UCF 4-yard line, but Bear Bachmeier’s fourth-down pass to Walker Lyons fell incomplete, giving the Knights (4-3, 2-2) their first win over a top-5 team in school history.

“We set a standard,” Jenkins said. “That standard has got to be upheld week in and week out. We just beat the No. 2 team in the country.”

A week after knocking off then-No. 2 Notre Dame and moving into its highest spot in the AP Top 25 since its national title season of 1984, BYU became the latest unbeaten team to fall in a wild stretch of the college football season. A school ranked in the top 2 has lost to an unranked foe in each of the past three weeks.

UCF was driving toward a potential game-winning field goal in regulation when Jenkins lost the ball on a play that was ruled a sack on the field. But after a replay review, the call was overturned to an incomplete pass, and BYU was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, moving the Knights into kicker Will Stone's range.

But BYU blocked Stone's 47-yard attempt. Stone recovered the loose ball, and since UCF tried the field goal on third down, the Knights would have had a chance at a second attempt had Stone's helmet not been knocked off on the play. That necessitated a 10-second runoff, which sent the game to overtime.

Jenkins finished 25 of 41 for 293 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score in his fifth start since replacing Alonza Barnett III, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

“There’s a lot of teams in football with their quarterbacks hurt and their backups aren’t doing great,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “Our backup is not a backup. He had an unbelievable game tonight.”

Tyren Hornes had six catches for 137 yards for the Knights, and Duke Watson ran for 94 yards on 15 carries.

“UCF put us on our heels and put us in some uncomfortable positions,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I want to give them credit for what they have done. They deserve the win.”

Bachmeier threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Kyler Kasper had six catches for 129 yards.

The Knights drove to the BYU 1-yard line with less than two minutes left in regulation, but Jenkins was stopped on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal.

UCF forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 42 seconds left, setting up the wild finish to regulation.

“That’s the weirdest end of a game I have ever seen,” Frost said. “I thought it would take 31 to win it. It should have if we would have got a sneak in.”

In the first overtime, Bachmeier gave BYU the lead when he connected with Legend Glasker for a 28-yard touchdown, and UCF tied it on a single play when Jenkins hit Josh Derry for a 25-yard TD.

There were five lead changes in regulation.

Jenkins' 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter put UCF ahead 24-21, and BYU's Matthias Dunn connected on a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to tie it at 24-all.

Fans storm the field in celebration

UCF beat a ranked team for the first time since blowing out then-No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2023, the Knights' first season in the Big 12. Fans celebrated with fitting enthusiasm by storming the field and tearing down a goalpost.

“It was unreal. It felt like a movie,” UCF running back Landen Chambers said. “I just took it all in.”

Sitake thanked security workers for ensuring his team could leave the field without incident.

BYU still has a path to a playoff spot

A Big 12 title and College Football Playoff spot remain within reach for BYU.

With No. 8 Texas Tech's loss at Cincinnati earlier Saturday, Utah is the only unbeaten team in conference play. The Cougars should be in position to make the Big 12 championship game if they win out.

“Obviously, we would like to be 7-0 right now, but it's still right there,” Kasper said. “We go win out and do what we're supposed to do, we'll be where we want to be in the playoffs.”

BYU visits the currently 10th-ranked Utes on Nov. 7.

The takeaway

BYU: No longer chasing a No. 1 ranking, the Cougars now turn their focus to winning the Big 12.

UCF: Frost, who led the Knights to a 13-0 season in 2017 before leaving for Nebraska, now has a signature win in the second season of his return stint.

Up next

BYU: Hosts Arizona State next Saturday.

UCF: Hosts Baylor on Friday.

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Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.

The dogs were just some of the estimated 30-40 dogs found abandoned near Shady Lane and Bantum Street at about 10 p.m. Tuesday.

“Today, some of the dogs from the Shady Lane case will meet potential adopters for the first time. And we’re really hoping they find their people,” BARC said.

• RELATED: ‘It’s madness’: 30 to 40 dogs found abandoned on North Houston street

BARC reiterated the Shady Lane dogs have received a lot of attention this week, but they aren’t the only animals looking for their forever homes.

“These dogs might not have made the news. They might not have hundreds of emails waiting for them. But they’re just as deserving of a fresh start. Big dogs, little dogs, shy dogs, goofy dogs, and couch potatoes. They’re all here, and one of them might be exactly who you’ve been looking for,” the organization said.

BARC’s Adoption Center is open Tuesday-Sunday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

For more information on BARC or how to adopt, click here.

The family of Brantley Conner confirms he died in an update on GoFundMe.

“Brantley fought with everything he had. Words cannot express the depth of pain our family is feeling right now as we process the loss of such a bright, kind, and deeply loved young boy whose life was taken far too soon,” his family said.

• RELATED: Dayton ISD bus driver arrested after hit-and-run leaves 14-year-old boy fighting for his life

Brantley was left critically injured after being struck by a bus in a hit-and-run crash last Friday near U.S. Highway 90 eastbound and Stilson Road.

70-year-old Ricky Eugene Cherry, a Dayton ISD bus driver, was arrested following an investigation into the crash.

In a final campaign swing with progressive candidates across the country, the Democratic congresswoman from New York packed rooms in Michigan’s deeply Republican Upper Peninsula, where chants of “AOC” broke out.

In Ohio and Maine, hundreds of students turned out to catch a glimpse of her as she campaigned alongside Democrats in competitive races in the Nov. 3 midterms. On Friday night, she was in California’s Central Valley, lending support to a progressive seeking to unseat a House Republican.

Ocasio-Cortez has built a national following that few other members of Congress can match. Her tens of millions of social media followers give her a platform far beyond her New York district, and her nickname, AOC, has become one of the most recognizable in American politics.

Now, as she contemplates a next move, including a possible run for the White House or the Senate, she is also offering a largely untested proposition: that her brand of progressive politics can appeal beyond the Democratic base and help the party win those competitive elections.

“We have written a check on the left, saying if you champion these policies that have popular support, we can win,” Ocasio-Cortez told a recent fundraiser. “Now it is time to cash in. Now it is time to go out and show what we are capable of.”

At 37, she is the natural heir to the political movement fostered by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont that has had striking appeal for young voters. It also offers a stark contrast to the roles that the superrich like Elon Musk are trying to play in influencing elections.

“You have to be the right person at the right place at the right time,” said Doug Sosnik, who was a senior adviser to Democratic President Bill Clinton. “The year that Jimmy Carter ran and got elected president is the only year I think he could have run and gotten elected.”

The progressive brand is on the line in Maine and Michigan Senate races

In a historic concert hall in Portland, Maine, filled with college students, retirees and others, Ocasio-Cortez looked to Senate nominee Troy Jackson and acknowledged the political calculation of his appearance alongside her.

“There are a lot of consultants out here in Washington that would tell him, ‘Do not sit on a stage next to her,’” she said.

Minutes later, Ocasio-Cortez received rousing applause after an emphatic response to a question about putting “America first or Israel first." She argued that the United States should question how it can afford wars rather than programs such as “Medicare for All.”

“Going back to her previous comment, why wouldn’t I want to sit alongside someone who just talked like that?” Jackson asked.

Maine, where Jackson is trying to defeat five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, will be pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate. So will Michigan, where Ocasio-Cortez recently appeared with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the Upper Peninsula.

In Iron Mountain, a town near the Wisconsin line in a county that President Donald Trump won by more than 30 percentage points, Ocasio-Cortez made the case for the progressive movement.

“Our problems are less left and right," she said. “They’re top and bottom.”

Isabella Pruter, a junior at the University of Michigan, said Ocasio-Cortez has a certain star power among younger voters.

“I remember in 2020 and hearing about her name and thinking she was so cool,” Pruter said. “She really clicks with anyone who’s younger, especially for college students.”

At the New York fundraiser for El-Sayed this month, Ocasio-Cortez made clear how much she believes is at stake in Michigan. “If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere,” she said.

But not everyone agrees that enthusiasm for progressive candidates will translate into victories in competitive states.

Former Rep. Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican who retired from Congress after voting to impeach Trump in 2021, said winning swing states requires appealing beyond a party’s base to independent voters.

“There's a place in the party for her but I don't think it's a majority," said Upton, who served with Ocasio-Cortez. “She'll win New York and California, but not in other states they'd need to get to 270” electoral votes to win the White House.

Heading west to help House candidates

The next stretch of Ocasio-Cortez's swing took her west to gauge her appeal in closely contested House districts and spend time in a state important to a potential 2028 presidential run.

In California’s Central Valley on Friday night, she rallied with Randy Villegas, a young progressive who defeated a rival backed by Democratic Party leaders in the primary.

The race against Republican Rep. David Valadao is one of the most competitive in the country. The district is nearly 75% Hispanic, though Democrats have long struggled to turn out working-class Latino voters there.

On Saturday, she campaigned in Nevada, the second state on the 2028 political calendar and one that would be crucial to her path to the nomination. Nevada, where working-class Latinos are a major force in Democratic politics, has been friendly to her brand of progressivism and overwhelmingly backed Sanders in the 2020 caucuses.

She came to support Rep. Steven Horsford, a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, near Las Vegas’ historic westside neighborhood, the cultural and historical heart of the city’s Black community.

A presidential run would require more than a theory of the case

Even if the progressive candidates Ocasio-Cortez is backing succeed on Election Day, a presidential run would present a different challenge.

South Carolina is first on the Democrats’ new early primary calendar, and Black voters make up a significant share of the state’s Democratic electorate. Sanders lost the state by wide margins in 2016 and 2020.

Jaime Harrison, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee and a South Carolina native, said Sanders’ struggles in the state were not because of his progressive politics, but because he did not put in the time needed to connect with voters.

To win South Carolina, Harrison said, “you better go to churches, you better go to union halls, you got to go to HBCUs" — historically Black colleges and universities.

“She has the talent,” Harrison said. “The question is, will you utilize that talent and focus it to do what is necessary to win on the biggest stage?”

At a rally in Columbus, Mississippi, that featured former Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate candidate Scott Colom, some voters waiting in line expressed interest in an Ocasio-Cortez presidential run, though they were not ready to commit their support.

Paula Small, a 58-year-old Democrat from Columbus, said she likes Ocasio-Cortez’s ideas but would need to learn more about her background.

“We are ready for a change. We are tired of the same politics,” Small said, adding that she believes it’s time for younger people with fresh ideas to get involved in politics.

Sosnik, the former Clinton adviser who considers himself more moderate than Ocasio-Cortez, called her an “unbelievable political talent” and described her as having at her fingertips “the zeitgeist of our times.”

But he questioned whether her appeal could extend beyond the Democratic primary electorate.

“I think she would be an extremely powerful force in the Democratic primary,” Sosnik said. “I’m skeptical that a majority of people in America would vote for her for president.”

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Associated Press journalists Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix, Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, Mike Householder in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Sophia Bates in Columbus, Miss., contributed to this report.

Ditka's family announced his death on Friday in a statement.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka,” the family said. “While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever.”

Nicknamed “Iron Mike” as a player, Ditka helped revolutionize the tight end position and in 1988 was the first to play at the spot to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He then moved to the sidelines and later took over as Chicago’s coach. His 1985 team featured one of the game’s most dominant defenses ever. It also had enough outsized personalities to record a rap video, “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” and back up their boasting in the championship game three months later.

He was arguably the NFL's most recognizable — and imitated — personality during his time as Chicago's coach with his thick but neatly groomed mustache and sweater vest with “BEARS” emblazoned across the chest. The iconic look is still mimicked by fans at Bears games decades later. That along with his fiery, red-faced sideline tantrums inspired the popular “Da Bears” skit on “Saturday Night Live” during the 1990s.

After retiring as a coach, Ditka became a restaurateur, pitchman and TV personality, as well as a forceful advocate for improved medical and retirement benefits for former players.

Ditka was tough and gruff, the quintessential Chicago Bear. He did everything from order off the menu to knock defensive backs on their butts with a growl. His adopted hometown reveled in every minute.

Revered as "Da Coach," Ditka was the ringmaster of the 1985 Bears, one of the most dominant and perhaps the zaniest Super Bowl-winning team in league history.

“When I got to Chicago in the summer of 1985, Mike Ditka and the Chicago Bears were king,” former President Barack Obama wrote on X. “Coach Ditka set the tone for a team that was punishing, dominant, and fun — and the city loved him for it. I’m thinking of the Ditka family and Bears fans everywhere on the passing of a legend.”

Ditka was enshrined in the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and the Bears said during a ceremony in 2013 that his "No. 89" jersey will be the last one retired by the team.

“Player. Coach. Legend,” the Bears wrote in a tribute on social media. “Mike Ditka embodied the spirit of Chicago and will be deeply missed.”

Ditka was the first person enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, who had won Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Tom Flores, inducted in 2021, is the only other person to accomplish the feat.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Ditka “epitomized football over so many years” during his career.

“He brought intensity, authenticity and an unmistakable personality to everything he did,” Goodell said in a statement. “As a Hall of Fame player, Super Bowl-winning coach with his beloved and iconic Bears, and as a broadcaster, Mike served as an ambassador for the game and inspired generations of fans. Through his work with the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Mike was a champion for taking care of those who helped build our game. We extend our deepest condolences to Diana and the Ditka family.”

Ditka got his “Iron Mike” nickname during his western Pennsylvania upbringing

He was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, the son of a welder who changed the family name from Dyczko. He grew up in nearby Aliquippa — which also later produced fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers Ty Law and Darrelle Revis — close to the coal-mining and steel-manufacturing plants that dotted the western part of the state, a big, talented, three-sport athlete and All-American at Pitt whose bruising style made his first nickname, "Iron Mike," a good fit.

“When our players see Mike Ditka’s name, I want them to understand how he competed," current Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “He gave everything he had and expected the same from the guys beside him. That’s Pitt. He showed us that tough people find a way through tough times and taught us to fight for the names on the front and back of our jerseys.”

Selected fifth overall by flinty Chicago owner George Halas in the 1961 draft, Ditka went on to Rookie of the Year honors, multiple Pro Bowl trips and the 1963 NFL Championship. He and Baltimore's John Mackey changed the tight end position and offensive schemes forever. He was a battering ram of a blocker, but Ditka was just as likely to catch a short pass and pinball through an entire secondary or outrace a lone safety on a deep touchdown throw.

He left Chicago in 1966, playing briefly for Philadelphia and Dallas.

Soon after his playing days, Ditka became “Da Coach” of the Bears

Ditka moved to the sideline in 1973 as an assistant to the revered Tom Landry and stayed with the Cowboys for eight years, including winning the Super Bowl during the 1977 season, before returning to a hero's welcome in Chicago as head coach in 1982.

Ditka's return to the Bears lasted 11 tumultuous years, including five straight NFC Central titles, the Super Bowl win, a DUI conviction, a heart attack, a long-running feud with defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan and, finally, a new nickname — “Da Coach.”

To Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, the seeds of what was to come were planted in Ditka’s first meeting with the team. He laid out his vision, saying Chicago would be in the Super Bowl in three years — and many of the players in the room would not be around for it.

“When I first heard him when he walked in the room, to me Coach Ditka had the opportunity to be the greatest coach of all time because he had the fire,” Singletary said at the Bears’ 100th anniversary celebration in June 2019. “I don’t know how George Halas coached. But I can imagine that the fire and intensity and passion that Coach Ditka exuded that first day set the tone for exactly what he said: ‘Three years from now, we’re going to be in the Super Bowl.’ And that was 1982. In ’85, we were there and it was because of that vision.”

The Bears were a colorful bunch, with Ditka leading the way

The public beefs with Ryan mirrored the behind-the-scenes battles that Ditka waged trying to contain a team bristling with outsized personalities.

“It was more than a team,” Ditka once said. “It was a team of characters that had character that played for a crazy man, who let him be crazy and had fun doing it and don't apologize for it ever. I wouldn’t want to be one of these suits walking around on the sideline today.

“I have no desire to be that. I was what I was and they were what they were and, damn, it was fun.”

It wasn't until two dozen players recorded "The Super Bowl Shuffle" — an audacious rap-styled video released three months ahead of the 1986 title game — that the rest of the football world wondered whether Ditka was losing his grip.

His players never did.

"We call him 'Sybil' after that girl in the movie," quarterback Jim McMahon once explained. "You know, the one that had all those personalities. Mike will be calm one minute, then throw a clipboard the next. People don't understand that, but we do."

The Bears demolished the New England Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl, but Ditka often said he regretted having McMahon and defensive tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry run for touchdowns instead of Walter Payton, Chicago's loyal and long-suffering running back.

Ryan departed for a head coaching job in Philadelphia soon after. While the Bears continued to be a contender for most of the next five years, a 5-11 season prompted Ditka's departure in 1992.

Ditka's last coaching tenure in New Orleans was highlighted by a stunning trade

After a four-year absence, he returned to coaching with the New Orleans Saints, but failed to revive the franchise. His tenure with the team might be best remembered for the trade before the 1999 NFL draft when he dealt a package of eight draft picks — including each one the Saints had that year and two of its first three selections in 2000 — to Washington to move up from 12th overall to No. 5 so New Orleans could select running back Ricky Williams.

After a miserable 1999 season ended with a 3-13 record — Ditka's worst as either a player or coach — he left the sidelines for good.

“We proudly honor his chapters as a head coach in New Orleans,” the Saints said in a statement. “While his time leading our franchise on the field was brief in longevity, his presence left an indelible mark on our organization. Mike approached his tenure with the Saints with the same bold authenticity and relentless drive that defined his entire career.”

Ditka's post-football career featured TV appearances and advocating for former players

Ditka's face and demeanor were so familiar by then that a second act became an easy segue. He began building a stable of restaurants and appeared as himself in TV sitcoms from "Cheers" to "Third Rock from the Sun," as well as shows such as “L.A. Law.”

He also stayed close to the game as an NFL analyst and game-day show personality — first at NBC after his Bears tenure, and then at CBS and ESPN after his time with the Saints.

“Mike Ditka was larger than life, an iconic football figure whose presence commanded attention the moment he walked into a room," ESPN VP and executive producer Seth Markman said in a statement. "He was fearless and candid on the air, bringing the same authenticity and conviction that defined his football career.

“For those of us who worked with him at ESPN, we were able to experience another side of Mike: a kind, generous and genuinely caring colleague who treated everyone with warmth and respect, whether he knew you or not.”

Ditka's high-profile status also made him an effective advocate to secure improved health and retirement benefits for former players.

His name also circulated for years in Illinois political circles. Though he never ran for office, Ditka described himself as a staunch conservative and was mentioned several times as a possible Republican candidate, including a congressional race against then state Senator Obama for the U.S. Senate.

“Mike Ditka," ESPN NFL host Chris Berman said in a statement, “was a national treasure.”

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This story been corrected. A previous version reported erroneously that Ditka's stint coaching the Bears lasted 10 years, not 11, and that he was out of football for five years, not four, before coaching the Saints. That version also reported erroneously that the “Da Bears” skit appeared on “Saturday Night Live” in the 1980s, not the 1990s.

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Litke is a retired AP Sports Columnist.

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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. and AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen and Joe Reedy contributed to this report.

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See AP’s full NFL coverage here

At a time when some Democratic leaders nationwide are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues, particularly sports, and polls show Americans generally back the bans, supporters are optimistic they will pass and open the door to similar efforts in other places where lawmakers have blocked bans.

Though the issue has been debated in many legislatures, this is the first time it's going to voters.

“What is happening in 2026 is a testing ground for the future,” said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which supports LGBTQ+ rights.

Twenty-seven states — including all where Republicans control both the legislature and governor’s office — already have such laws.

The efforts are billed as a way to protect women and girls and keep separate spaces for them, tapping into a concern that’s gained momentum. President Donald Trump has taken steps to roll back transgender rights. The Supreme Court has upheld state sports bans.

A June poll from Quinnipiac University found that about 7 in 10 registered voters think transgender women and girls should not be allowed to play on female sports teams. About one-quarter think they should. Democrats are divided, with about half saying transgender women and girls should be allowed and about half saying they should not.

Robert Preuhs, a professor of political science at Metropolitan State University of Denver, said the absence of public polls on Colorado's ballot measure, which also covers college sports, makes it hard to predict whether it will pass. “It’s probably going to get more support than some of the Republican candidates that will run,” he said.

Since transgender restrictions gained traction this decade, states with Democratic-led governors' offices and legislatures generally have rejected proposals such as banning transgender people from the bathrooms that match their gender identity and restricting gender-affirming care. Most Republican-led states have adopted those policies.

In addition to the two blue-state questions, a measure in Arizona would broaden an existing ban to include private schools, and one in Nebraska would add an existing state law to the state constitution.

The argument has been framed around fairness

There’s not a clear consensus on whether transgender women and girls have a competitive advantage. Factors include the age of the athlete, the sport, whether the athlete went through male puberty and how long they’ve received hormone therapy.

But the idea that girls are being cheated is personal for some athletes.

Ahnaleigh Wilson, a 17-year-old junior at Eastmont High School, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) east of Seattle, has been speaking out against allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports since she was in junior high. She said she’d won all her 1,600-meter races in seventh and eighth grade — until she finished second to a transgender athlete in a major meet.

“I knew it wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair,” she said.

Wilson said three other transgender athletes she's competed against since then placed better in girls races than they would have with the same times against boys.

“Women have fought for Title IX and our own categories and it’s very important that we keep the dignity of that, and let women have their own sports and their own spaces to be safe and completely fair,” she said, referencing the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities, including athletics.

Opponents say excluding transgender girls is also unfair.

“They will say that they want to protect kids and in particular, young girls,” said Nadine Bridges, executive director of One Colorado, which is leading the opposition to the measure there, “but I don’t understand how you can protect kids and discriminate against kids at the same time.”

The number of transgender girls in school sports is believed to be a sliver of the total participants. Neither Colorado nor Washington has an official count.

Let's Go Washington, which is behind the measure in that state, says it’s counted 16 such athletes and that there could be more. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has counted about 101,000 girls in sports that it oversees — a figure that double-counts girls who play in multiple sports.

The issue crosses party lines — and that may be the idea

Imara Jones, an advocate who runs a website that features the stories of transgender people, said the issue is attractive for conservatives because some Democrats agree with them.

Hedge fund manager Brian Heywood is funding Let's Go Washington, which is also behind two other measures. One would expand parent access to school social work and counseling records for their children and one would repeal a newly adopted tax on incomes over $1 million.

Western Washington University political scientist Todd Donovan said Let's Go is hoping that voters supporting the transgender sports ban would also favor overturning the tax.

Tracy Flint of Ridgefield, Washington, a Democrat and former graphic artist, said she’s wrestling with how to vote.

“It’s new to my brain, so it’s a really tough one for me,” she said.

Her husband, Dave Flint, 60, a former Republican who opposes Trump and now votes for Democrats, lamented that an issue affecting so few people has become such a national controversy. “But I guess you still have to address it,” he said.

One Colorado's Bridges said she believes that many voters can be persuaded to oppose the measure there, though the challenge is reaching them. Groups registered as opposing the transgender-related measures in Colorado have raised nearly $4 million — more than 20 times what proponents have brought in, but not a lot for a statewide campaign.

In Washington, Let's Go has raised more than $7.8 million to campaign for the three measures — nearly twice as much as the ban opponents.

One key question is how to enforce the ban

The Washington measure would require that a healthcare provider verify the student's “biological sex, relying only on one or more of the following: The student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels.”

“We see that as being as simple as a checkbox,” said Let's Go Washington spokesperson Hallie Herzberg. “Doctors can use the history of the patient from treating them all their lives or their medical history forms.”

But Dr. Libby Loft, who opposes the measure, says the language calls for a genital inspection as part of a physical, or expensive testing.

“I think it doesn't make any sense to force the working families of … girl sports players in Washington to pay for unnecessary medical tests to be able to weed out an estimated five or 10 girls in the state of Washington, trans girls,” Loft said.

She fears the verification requirement will lead to fewer girls — trans or not — playing sports.

The idea of exams bothers some voters.

“I’m voting against it primarily because I think medical exams of girls’ genitalia is, like, Middle Ages,” said Rosemary Kacorozki of Renton, Washington, 63, a language interpreter.

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This story has been corrected to say that Eastmont High School is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) east of Seattle.

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Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Even as the San Juan River and other streams receded from record highs, more storms rumbled through, causing local officials to warn of still more surges.

“This is not over, and we need you to monitor alerts,” police Chief Steve Hebbe of Farmington, New Mexico, said in a news conference.

The flooding affected some 2,000 people in and around the city of 46,000 not far from Four Corners, the meeting point of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

At least a couple hundred people needed rescue — too many for busy officials to keep accurate count — since rains picked up Wednesday and flooding culminated Thursday and Friday.

Some were stranded on rooftops. Rescues included 11 hoist operations involving New Mexico National Guard helicopters, each of which hauled as many as eight people to safety, San Juan County spokesperson Devin Neeley said.

But shelters were not full, leading officials to suspect that most evacuees were staying with friends and family.

Even with water levels having lowered, evacuations remained in effect until officials deem it safe to return. Potential hazards included downed power lines, leaking gas lines and the likelihood of yet more storms through the weekend.

“There’s a lot of anxiety, and there’s a lot of frustration,” San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said. “But please understand we are blocking those areas for your safety.”

Officials in Colorado and New Mexico urged people not to fly drones to check on their property or to sightsee, warning that such activity can endanger rescue aircraft. They also asked people not to use 911 except for true emergencies.

Downstream from Farmington, the San Juan River flooded parts of the vast Navajo Nation. A 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) stretch of U.S. Highway 64 west of Shiprock was closed with water on the roadway.

Upstream in Colorado, the milkshake-brown San Juan River raged through the hot springs resort town of Pagosa Springs at a level unseen in over a century. The flood was well over 2 feet (60 centimeters) higher than one just over a year ago that officials considered a 100-year flood.

The Animas River raged in a muddy torrent through Durango, a southwest Colorado tourist city, though below records dating back over a century.

Flooding extended as far east as the Conejos River in south-central Colorado, and Gov. Jared Polis added Conejos County to a list of places eligible for disaster help.

Some routes including U.S. 160 northeast of Pagosa Springs remained closed. But the famous, winding Million Dollar Highway — formally U.S. 550 — reopened between Durango and Ouray after crews addressed an area of water damage.

The flooding is just the latest from two months of on-and-off heavy rain caused by tropical moisture coming ashore from the Pacific. After months of drought, other recent deadly flooding struck the Grand Canyon and areas of New Mexico.

The region's rocky deserts are naturally prone to flash floods, but the rain has saturated soils, making flooding even likelier.

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Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas.

The letters, which were sent on Friday, ask for sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, on roughly 20,000 voters. It is illegal for noncitizens to register to vote or cast a ballot. The administration has insisted that immigrants voting is a major problem nationwide, when in fact it is quite rare, as even its own investigations have shown.

“All of this is simply meant to raise huge doubts about the integrity of this election,” said John Tuteur, the registrar of voters for Napa County in California’s wine country.

Tuteur and other election officials who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday said they have already started to count ballots that have trickled in from the state's 23 million registered voters.

“We’re not changing anything we’re doing. We’re proceeding with the election,” he said.

The federal government set a 48-hour deadline to provide information, and it warned that legal action could be taken against any official who knowingly counted a noncitizen's vote.

However, the California attorney general's office said the letters contained errors. For example, Mendocino County officials received a list of people who were not residents there, according to the state's court filing.

The letters are the latest escalation in a legal battle between Democratic-dominated California and Trump's Department of Justice ahead of the midterms. The federal government sued on Oct. 15, roughly three weeks before elections, asking a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots from people the federal government has identified as likely noncitizens. A panel of 9th Circuit appeals court judges will hear arguments on Sunday about whether California can be compelled to comply with the federal government’s demands.

Some clerks say they will proceed with counting ballots

Tuteur said that two uniformed Department of Homeland Security officers delivered a letter to his office late on Friday afternoon. The letter included the names of 42 people who the federal government accused of being noncitizens illegally registered to vote. There are roughly 86,000 people registered to vote across the county of over 130,000 people, Tuteur said. Approximately 11,000 people had already cast a mail-in ballot as of Friday. In larger counties like Los Angeles, that number has already reached over 331,000 counted mail-in votes.

He said his employees and his relatives were worried about what could come next.

“My family’s upset, worried about what’s going to happen to me,” he said.

The letter sent to Clerk-Recorder Kim Grady's office in rural Amador County listed four people allegedly illegally registered to vote in the county. Grady was waiting on more guidance from the state about what she should do, and she wasn't sure if she would get any clarity before the deadline.

DOJ threatens to prosecute

Department of Justice spokeswoman Kiersten Pels emphasized in a statement on Saturday that the department is explicitly “not requesting a purge, cancellation of registrations, or any programmatic action."

Instead, Pels wrote, federal officials are asking for collaboration to “ensure the most secure election in California history.”

The letters on Friday came on the heels of a statewide sweep by federal authorities on Monday, where 28 people from the list of 20,000 were charged with illegally registering to vote. Some were also charged with illegally voting and lying on naturalization paperwork. Those charges could lead to years in prison.

Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, said that the clerks who didn't comply with the government's demands could face prosecution as well.

“The letters speak for themselves. Any election official who knowingly processes the ballot of a noncitizen is opening themselves to legal jeopardy," Essayli said in a statement.

Noncitizen voting is very rare. For example, earlier this month Attorney General Todd Blanche announced federal charges against 10 people in Minnesota alleged to have voted illegally over the last three elections, a period in which more than 8 million ballots were cast in the state.

But Essayli said on Monday that even a small number of illegal voters could “dilute” the vote and undermine confidence in elections.

Concerns about the accuracy of federal data

Some election officials who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday have questioned the accuracy of the federal government's list of 20,000 voters.

“I expect this accusation to fall apart like we saw recently in Nevada,” Kristin B. Connelly, the Contra Costa County clerk-recorder and registrar of voters said, referring to remarks Trump made in July, when he claimed the neighboring state had 1,500 noncitizen voters on its rolls. After his administration was asked to identify them, the number of actual registered noncitizens turned out to be zero.

Officials in Los Angeles County, who are named as defendants in the federal lawsuit, have echoed Connelly's concerns about the federal government's data. A preliminary analysis of 200 names from the statewide list of 20,000 found that over 40% had canceled registrations, according to a court filing from county officials on Wednesday. More than 70% of that sample had no voting history whatsoever, and nearly 4 in 10 were born in the United States.

The school announced the decision less than a day after the Wolfpack fell to 3-4 by losing on the road to a Stanford team picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Doeren, 54, had a 98-74 record with the Wolfpack and became the program’s winningest coach with a 2023 victory over Miami. He entered this year as the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision and second in the ACC behind Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.

“I want to thank Coach Doeren for his service and contributions to N.C. State, and for always representing the university with pride,” athletic director Boo Corrigan said in a statement. “I appreciate his leadership during his 14-year tenure and the passion he brought to this role. We wish Dave, (wife) Sara and his family the best in the future.”

Running backs coach and special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Doeren was under contract through December 2029. The school will owe him $9.75 million in base salary for the remaining years plus any remaining payments for the 2026 calendar year, which would ultimately push that figure past the $10 million mark.

Doeren built a consistent winner, with the Wolfpack securing 11 bowl bids with eight of those teams reaching eight or nine wins — including a 9-4 mark against rival North Carolina. Yet N.C. State never played for an ACC championship nor reached the 10-win threshold hit only once in program history, creating a ceiling that Doeren’s teams kept bumping into and that led to a steady but typically low-simmering level of fan frustration.

Then things went quickly awry in his 14th year.

First, the Wolfpack looked surprisingly overmatched in a loss at Virginia in August. A few weeks later came a loss at Vanderbilt on a last-second fumble recovery for a touchdown, one of the most stunning and improbable finishes in recent memory in college football.

Injuries mounted to compound emerging problems, which showed when N.C. State was outscored 28-0 after halftime in a home loss to Wake Forest on Oct. 10. The Wolfpack then went into an open week with a chance to regroup before visiting the Cardinal, which boasted one of the nation's worst offenses that failed to score more than seven points in any of the team's four losses.

But the Cardinal took a 14-0 first-quarter lead and built another two-touchdown advantage in the third quarter before winning 31-28, a result that ultimately removed whatever cushion Doeren had left.

His firing was hardly expected when the school announced after last year's fifth straight win against rival North Carolina to close the season that he would return.

Hired from Northern Illinois after the 2012 season, Doeren had occasionally been linked to other jobs, including talks with Tennessee in late 2017, but remained committed to the Wolfpack. That included shutting down in-season rumors last year that he might retire, then again after the school announced his return last November.

“I’m totally invested in this place,” Doeren told The Associated Press at the time. “I love this school and I plan on finishing here.”

Doeren’s Wolfpack flirted with breakthrough moments multiple times, but seizing one proved elusive.

N.C. State formerly shared an ACC division with Florida State and Clemson when each was a national power, making it a daunting task to try to run either team down and reach a league championship game. As an example, Doeren’s best team in 2017 won nine games and had seven players go in the NFL draft the following spring — including No. 5 overall pick Bradley Chubb at defensive end — but still lost a November home game to then-No. 6 Clemson and ultimately finished a game behind the Tigers in the division.

There were three times that Doeren's Wolfpack reached a bowl game with a chance at a 10-win season. N.C. State lost two, while the 2021 Holiday Bowl matchup against UCLA was called off hours before kickoff because the Bruins had to pull out due to COVID-19 issues.

N.C. State’s only season with a double-digit win total was 2002, when the team led by eventual NFL great Philip Rivers and coached by the late Chuck Amato cracked the AP's top 10 and finished 11-3. Its last ACC crown came in 1979, a stat that loomed larger as the other three in-state league schools each twice reached the championship game, with Wake Forest (2006) and Duke (2025) winning titles.

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The Cedar Rapids Fire Department said firefighters responded to the call at about 4:45 p.m. Video and photos posted to social media showed black smoke over the downtown of the city of about 140,000.

The fire evidently began with an explosion, the department said via Facebook.

All workers got out safely and were accounted for without any injuries, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said in a Facebook video.

The fire happened in an area of the building that handled products, O’Donnell said.

“It’s not heavily populated with employees and team members. Which of course in this case was a blessing,” O’Donnell said.

There was no immediate information on what caused the fire.

PepsiCo Foods US said in a statement that fire responders went to the scene of the blaze and how it started would be investigated.

The Quaker Oats brand, by way of the Quaker Mill Company, turns 150 years old in 2027. It is owned by PepsiCo.

The Quaker Oats facility is the largest milling facility in the world, processing over 2 million pounds (900,000 kilograms) of oats daily, according to the company’s website.

On Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, he'll have the clearest view possible of the path to get there. And it could come fast.

Mercedes' championship leader earned a surprise pole position on Saturday, edging Red Bull's Max Verstappen. If he can turn that into a victory, and his closest rivals falter, the 20-year-old Italian could win the season title and become F1's youngest champion ever.

Verstappen was the favorite for pole. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton looked faster than Mercedes through all three practice sessions.

Then Antonelli put in a late-afternoon wonder lap at COTA to earn his first pole position since Belgium, a span of seven races..

“It was surprising,” Antonelli said. “I’m just going to try to do the best race I can, try to win and see what happens.”

The math for a season championship requires some help but achievable.

First he must win. If he does that, and Mercedes teammate George Russell finishes ninth or lower, and Hamilton finishes outside the top four, Antonelli will be champion.

Hamilton will start fourth, with Russell sixth.

“Just get a good start and see from there what we can do,” Antonelli said.

That's the first job. He'll be battling Verstappen into the first corner, an uphill, left turn switchback that can wreak havoc on the field and often does. Verstappen is likely to be his usual aggressive self into the first turn.

Verstappen is a four-time champion who has won four times at COTA. He also won the previous two races in Malaysia and Singapore and is trying to chase every victory he can in a season when the championship is out of reach.

Verstappen didn't offer Antonelli any advice about how to approach the race so close to the championship. He has won titles in seasons that went to the final laps, and others where he dominated.

“He doesn’t need that. He knows what he’s doing, If it doesn’t happen this weekend, it will happen next weekend, or the next weekend,” Verstappen said. “When it’s official, go celebrate.”

Antonelli's championship does appear inevitable as the season heads into the final six races.

Antonelli leads Russell by 102 points and Hamilton by 111. He built the large lead through the first half of a remarkably consistent season that included five wins in the first six races.

Russell and Hamilton will be trying to hang on Sunday to keep the championship going another week. Russell started the season as Mercedes' No. 1 driver. He won the first race but couldn't keep up.

“It’s a long race and a lot happens here in Austin," Russell told Sky Sports.

And Leclerc didn't count himself out of winning. He noted his victory at COTA in 2024 from the second row of the starting grid.

“I strongly believe we had the pace to be fighting at the front,” Leclerc said. "The last time I started from fourth here I won. I hope we can do the same tomorrow.”

Hard to keep cars on the track

The entire field struggled through all three practice sessions and qualifying to keep the cars on the track, enough so that it will be worth watching to see if any get warnings in Sunday’s race.

Race officials deleted more than 200 lap times across Friday's two practices. On Saturday, Leclerc lost a time that would have given him a clean sweep of all three sessions.

Colton Herta gets closer to super license for F1 future

Cadillac’s American reserve driver Colton Herta took part in Friday practice to earn another point toward being licensed to race in F1 in hopes of joining the grid next season.

The team could give him more practice sessions over the next five races. He has at least 38 of the 40 license points required.

Herta left IndyCar this season to join the Formula 2 junior series to restart his goal of racing in Formula 1. If he is able to join Cadillac for next season — Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are the team's current drivers — Herta would be the first American driver in F1 since Logan Sargeant, who was dropped by Williams in the middle of the 2024 season.

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See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

The 33-year-old three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender met the media before New Jersey faced the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and his eagerness to wear No. 37 for the Devils was evident.

“Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I’m just really excited to play hockey again," Hellebuyck said after his suspension by the Winnipeg Jets for his failure to report to training camp led to Friday’s trade with New Jersey. “I’m joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I’m really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”

Hellebuyck spent 11 seasons with the Jets, including a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season in 2024-25, and helped the United States win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics this year. A fifth-round draft pick in 2012 by Winnipeg, Hellebuyck is fifth on the U.S.-born goaltenders list with 345 career wins. Among U.S.-born goalies with 300 or more career starts, his .916 save percentage ranks fourth and 2.58 goals-against average ranks sixth.

Hellebuyck will share goaltending duties with 36-year-old Jake Allen, who is 5-2-0 this season.

The Devils sent forward Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick, a 2027 seventh-rounder and injured forward Nick Bjugstad to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.

“Obviously having a goaltender of this pedigree come in here and support Jake is exciting," Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. ”That should give the group more confidence."

General manager Sunny Mehta said Hellebuyck's excitement for his new destination was palpable within minutes of their initial conversation.

Hellebuyck has been skating in Michigan while trade talks continued. He has five seasons left on a seven-year contact with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.

“He was like: ‘I’m ready, I’m packed. I’ll get in my car right now,'” Mehta said about his exchange with his new goalie.

Mehta laughed and said he told Hellebuyck: "Don’t do that.”

Mehta has been trying to improve a team that missed the playoffs two of the past three seasons and won just one playoff series since 2012. With Saturday's 3-1 win over the Kings, New Jersey has won seven of its first 11 games this season.

“Everything is about winning. That is my goal every single day," Mehta said. ”This obviously makes us a better team. In my view it improves our team — and I was thrilled about my team coming out of camp."

When Hellebuyck plays his first game for New Jersey is still undetermined. He hasn't played in an NHL game since April 13, a 6-2 Jets loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Winnipeg missed the playoffs last spring a year after finishing with an NHL-best 116 points.

Hellebuyck won 47 games in 2024-25. The Jets advanced past the second round only once during his tenure in Manitoba.

Hellebuyck said it's too early to address his feeling toward the city of Winnipeg and Jets fans. New Jersey visits Winnipeg on Nov. 10.

“There’s a lot I need to say," he said. ”Out of respect for them and the celebration of hockey, I’m going to postpone to a later date. I hope they know I care about them."

Hellebuyck added that winning gold with his now-teammate Jack Hughes — who scored the overtime goal against Canada in February for the Americans' first gold medal since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team — has left an indelible mark on him.

“That’s one of those moments and memories that I will cherish forever. And I will probably hear how other people will cherish them forever," he said. “One of my favorite stories is, ‘Where were you when?’ People will tell me what they were doing during the gold-medal game. Those are my favorite stories to hear.”

The veteran netminder, a native of Commerce, Michigan, who played two seasons of college hockey at UMass-Lowell, added that he looks forward to playing home games in the U.S. after more than a decade calling Canada home.

Hellebuyck added that while he was unfamiliar with life in New Jersey at the moment, he is looking forward to discovering everything that comes with new surroundings — finding a home, favorite restaurants and new places to spend free time.

“I know I’m going to get a lot more of that here than in Canada because I don’t think they care much about it," he said of the gold-medal plaudits for the Olympic win over Canada. “This is closer to my family’s home. Just being in the USA will be very exciting for this next chapter in my career.”

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Officers responded around 1 a.m. Saturday to a report of an assault in progress in the 3100 block of Baer Street. Precinct 6 deputy constables were already at the scene and had detained several people who may have information about the incident.

Police said there was an exchange of gunfire inside the house during the party, then shots were fired out on the street.

Police found a man with a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His family identified him as 23-year-old Elthanius Toliver.

While officers were investigating, a nearby hospital reported a 19-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his arm and leg. His injuries were considered non-life-threatening, police said.

• Suspect gets away with cash after threatening teller at Cypress PNC Bank

No suspects are in custody. The Houston Police Department is handling the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

“We just beat the No. 8 team in the country,” Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said. “That team played in the playoffs last year. I’m really proud of our program. This is one of the greatest wins I’ve been a part of.”

It was the Bearcats' first win over a top-10 team at home since Nov. 18, 2006, when they defeated No. 7 Rutgers 30-11. Cincinnati won at ninth-ranked Notre Dame in 2021.

The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) failed go 7-0 for the first time since 2013 and were plagued by mistakes all afternoon.

“I'm as frustrated as I've ever been in my 32 years of coaching,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “I'm really searching for words.”

Red Raiders QB Will Hammond lost a fumble, leading to an early field goal for the Bearcats. He then had an intentional grounding penalty that forced Texas Tech to settle for a tying field goal.

Hammond passed for 227 yards with an interception, and J’Koby Williams rushed for 81 yards on 11 carries for the Red Raiders.

The Bearcats (5-2, 2-2) scored 21 points in the second quarter.

Tabb’s four-yard TD catch put the Bearcats ahead 10-6. They extended the lead to 17-6 on a 5-yard TD catch by Malachi Henry with 1:37 remaining in the half.

Following MJ Cannon's interception of Hammond, the Bearcats drove 75 yards in 27 seconds. Tabb’s 51-yard run set up a 2-yard TD catch by tight end Lyviel Waters, making the score 24-6 at halftime.

The Red Raiders caught a break in the third quarter after safety Peyton Morgan intercepted French’s deflected pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. The play initially was negated by a targeting penalty on Brice Pollock, but then it was overturned by video review and the Bearcats’ lead was cut to 24-15 after the 2-point attempt failed.

The Bearcats responded with a nine-play, 80-yard drive and French’s fourth TD pass, a 17-yarder to Larenzo Fenner that extended Cincinnati’s lead to 31-15 with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Tabb’s 58-yard touchdown run with six minutes left sealed the victory for the Bearcats.

“Those guys are ranked, they feel like they can’t be beat,” Bearcats left guard Evan Tengesdahl said. “They also have not been run on. That was our biggest motivation.”

The takeaway

Texas Tech: McGuire wanted his players to focus on the pursuit of a College Football Playoff spot this week and not lingering bad blood after quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s transfer from Cincinnati fell through when he admitted to betting on college football. Bearcats fans chanted Sorsby’s name at times during the game.

“We didn't talk about it at all,” McGuire said. “The team that was here in the middle of June versus the team that's here now is a totally different team. We made it about football and the football wasn't good enough today.”

Cincinnati: The Bearcats came in averaging 231 rushing yards. After having minus-6 yards on the ground in the first quarter, aided by a couple of sacks, they finished with 252 yards and a 6.1-yards-per-carry average.

“They hadn’t given up a rushing touchdown,” Satterfield said. “We rushed for 252 (yards). Cole Tabb had a Cole Tabb day. He’s been doing it week in and week out.”

Texas Tech hindered by penalties

The Red Raiders average 5.4 penalties per game but committed a season-high 12 for 75 yards in Saturday's loss. Their previous high was seven on Sept. 12 at Oregon State.

“We've been one of the least penalized teams in the country and we had 12 penalties today, you know, four pre-snap penalties,” McGuire said. “We also had three turnovers that led to points. Whenever you do that, you're not going to win.”

Red Raiders may nave no margin for error going forward

The Red Raiders also began last season 6-0 before losing at Arizona State. They won the remainder of their games, including the Big 12 championship game, to reach the College Football Playoff. McGuire believes that will be necessary again.

“For us to get where we want to get, we're going to have to win out,” McGuire said. “I felt the exact same way last year.”

Up next

Texas Tech hosts Arizona next Saturday.

Cincinnati hosts No. 10 Utah next Saturday.

___

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The Valkyries leader did just that as she scored 17 points and led a stellar defensive effort to beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 on Saturday and even the WNBA Finals 2-2.

“I didn’t like my last game. I didn’t like who I was in that last game,” Williams said. “So I think stepping up in that role made me step up also individually. If I want to lead my team, I have to be the one that sets the tone and I have to lead by example as well. So I think that motivated me to set the tempo today.”

Tiffany Hayes was moved into the starting lineup and scored all of her 13 points in the second half, while Kiah Stokes anchored the defense effort that stymied Angel Reese, who had double-doubles in the first three games.

Golden State will host Game 5 of the best-of-seven series Monday.

Stokes, who won three WNBA championships while playing with Las Vegas, grabbed 16 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. After Atlanta rolled to a 97-71 victory in Game 3, she told the Valkyries they only needed to worry about winning the next game.

“One thing that I had told the team after the last game is the goal when we play on the road ... just steal one on the road. So yeah, we lost on Wednesday. but to me, that doesn’t mean we’re out of anything,” Stokes said. “Because our goal was there and could still be accomplished if we won today, and then we go back home.

“Now it’s the best-of-three series," Stokes added. "So it was just shake it off and learn from it and then just get ready. Nothing was won or lost in Game 3.”

Reese, like the rest of her teammates, struggled on offense. Reese had just eight points and nine rebounds after dominating the previous two games while averaging 25.5 points and 14 rebounds in the Dream victories.

Reese missed 10 of her 12 shots, including a few layups in the fourth quarter.

“I think it was me. I think I rushed a lot on my shots and I didn’t take my time and finish around the basket like I’ve been doing the last three games,” Reese said. “It happens and I’m just looking forward to the next game and just do it.”

Atlanta shot 33.3% overall and only 4 for 23 from 3-point range. Rhyne Howard finished with 19 points to lead the Dream.

Even as poorly as they played at times, the Dream trimmed a 16-point halftime deficit to 61-55 midway through the fourth quarter, bringing fans in the sellout crowd of over 17,000 to their feet. Golden State answered with a 3-pointer by Veronica Burton to briefly silence them.

The Dream then scored seven of the next nine points, including a three-point play by Howard with 28 seconds left to get within 66-62.

Burton then made the first of two free throws a second later and Atlanta couldn’t convert on the other end as once again Golden State challenged shots led by Stokes.

She finished with three blocks and now has a WNBA Finals record of 14 in the four games, surpassing the old record of 12 by Brittney Griner and Sylvia Fowles.

“I just hang my head on defense. I like to block shots,” Stokes said.

Coach Natalie Nakase also made a change in the starting lineup, Hayes and Kaila Charles for Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini. While the Valkyries got off to a slow start again in the early afternoon tipoff with the Atlanta Hawks playing their home opener at night, when Thornton and Zandalasini entered the game they paid immediate dividends.

The two helped a key first-quarter run that gave Golden State its first lead since the third quarter of Game 2. Atlanta got within 24-20 on Reese’s basket — her lone one of the first half — but the Valkyries responded with an 18-6 run to close the half.

The 42-26 deficit at the break was the largest that the Dream had faced all playoffs.

Atlanta had dominated the third quarter in the WNBA Finals, outscoring Golden State 60-35 in the first three games. Atlanta managed just a 19-12 edge in Game 4.

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See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

The Paris march began peacefully, a week after widespread rioting and looting during protests across the country. But near the demonstration's endpoint in eastern Paris, masked protesters hurled objects and fireworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas, deafening sound grenades and jets of water cannons.

Officers with megaphones urged protesters to disperse. Some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams. Veteran protesters shouted after them: “Don’t run!”

The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000 — fewer than the 550,000 it said protested last weekend — while the CGT union that helped organize some of Saturday's protests estimated nearly 800,000. The ministry’s estimate included 110,000 in Paris, where authorities confined the march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the center. The CGT put the number of protesters in Paris at 250,000.

Unrest is challenging Macron's final months in power

More than a month of unrest that started with protests in high schools for more funding and teachers is testing Macron’s authority in the final months of his presidency before voters choose his successor in May.

The stakes are high: The far-right National Rally party has accused his government of failing to protect the public and urged people to channel their anger into votes for its candidate Marine Le Pen. On the far left, presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has backed demonstrators and criticized policing that has left some teenage protesters with life-changing injuries.

As dusk fell Saturday, violence erupted at the end of some of the 289 protests counted by the Interior Ministry nationwide. Street fires burned in the cities of Marseille and Lyon. Police used tear gas in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg and Bordeaux and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police made nearly 1,000 arrests but added that the number is expected to increase significantly as more are counted.

Nuñez said beefed-up policing, with 70,000 officers backed by helicopters, armored vehicles and other support, helped prevent a repeat of widespread looting and damage to shops the previous weekend.

A small protest became a national movement

What began last month as a protest over staff shortages at one high school southeast of Paris spread nationwide, drawing students demanding more funding for education and workers seeking help with soaring costs for fuel and other necessities.

In Paris, Bénédicte Pittion, a 46-year-old teacher, marched with her 16-year-old daughter, Garance, a high school student — in their first protest together.

“The young people who have been demonstrating have not been heard, and as a parent and as a teacher, I stand with them,” Pittion said.

Garance said she'd been “really scared” after seeing the previous weekend’s violence, but felt that staying away would hand the government a victory.

Macron met high school representatives Friday. They said he had promised to overhaul university admissions, but they called for protests to continue until concrete measures are announced.

Some protests were banned

Soumaya Abed, a 58-year-old nurse wearing a red CGT union vest, complained that authorities in Paris wanted to stifle protesters by making them march on the capital's outskirts, keeping them away from the center where the Louvre and other major museums closed exceptionally.

“But it won’t stop the movement. It won’t stop students from demanding better conditions in schools,” she said.

Other protesters expressed anger about record poverty and wealth inequality under Macron. Camille Chesnier, 27, said she hasn't found work despite having an engineering degree and a master’s degree.

“There are enormous numbers of people in the same situation as me but who aren’t privileged and who find themselves living on the streets and in squats and, frankly, it’s very tough,” she said..”

In Marseille, police put attendance at 17,000, while the CGT union estimated 100,000. In the southwestern city of Toulouse, 26,500 people joined the protests, according to authorities. Authorities had banned rallies in cities including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier.

Trade unions criticized the bans, calling them violations of freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution.

Thousands also marched Saturday in Orléans, south of Paris, in a separate peaceful protest against the far right as Le Pen’s National Rally held a two-day congress in the city.

Shops board up and museums close

Gendarmes stood guard Saturday beneath the Arc de Triomphe and shopkeepers boarded up storefronts across Paris. Near the Saint-Lazare train station Saturday, Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician’s shop.

“I got the call last night,” he said. “The owner seemed desperate. He said I was saving his life.”

Art Basel, one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art fairs, opened to the public Friday, but only for the day, with the threat of unrest prompting organizers to cancel the weekend program.

Students and workers are angry

Student groups want 250,000 more places in higher education and an end to selection through Parcoursup, the national admissions system.

Their joint 10-point plan also calls for more teachers and repairs to schools and universities.

They are also seeking help with everyday costs: an extra 200 euros ($224) a month in student grants and a rent freeze in public student housing.

Energy prices in France were 21.3% higher in September than a year earlier, helping drive overall inflation to 3.1%, according to the national statistics agency, INSEE.

Paris protester Louis Ledoux--Xatard voiced frustration over inequality.

“Looking at countries like the United States, we don’t want to end up like them, where part of the population has everything and the others have nothing,” he said.

“I never imagined that I’d be taking to the streets so much before my thirties.”

___

Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed

Caleb Komolafe rushed for 150 yards and a TD, including a 56-yard dash. Griffin Wilde, who finished with 133 receiving yards, Alex Honig and Drew Wagner caught passes for scores as Northwestern (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) raced to a 28-3 lead late in the first half.

Explosive starts are becoming a trademark for the Wildcats, who cashed in on their first three possessions.

“I think what you saw out of our football team and our offense specifically was there is, that there was urgency, there was focus, there was execution and it was a great way to start off,” Northwestern coach David Braun said.

Rutgers starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan left after sustaining a blow to the head 6 minutes, 25 seconds into the first quarter and didn’t return. He was initially replaced by AJ Surace, then by third-string QB Sean Ashenfelder late in the third quarter.

Antwan Raymond rushed for 150 yards on 18 carries and the lone Rutgers (2-5, 1-3 Big Ten) touchdown, a 46-yard run late in the third. The score was set up by the first interception thrown this season by Chiles, who finished with 219 passing yards and a career-high 83 rushing.

Rutgers’ Dane Pizzaro kicked a pair of field goals.

Chiles had his hand in five TDs in a game for a second time. The senior transfer from Michigan State tossed for three and ran in two in a 41-7 rout of Colorado on Sept. 19.

“He just continues to just feel more and more comfortable,” Braun said. “The thing I love about him is there's no complacency there. To know you've got a quarterback that isn't satisfied just being good, but wants to be great, it's pretty exciting as a coach.”

Chiles is up to 12 passing TDs and nine on the ground.

“This is an equal opportunity offense,” Chiles said. “Whatever's working is working. So if me running is a key part of our game, that's what we're going to do.”

Surace tossed for 64 yards but was sacked three times by Northwestern’s hard-nosed defense. The first sack led to a costly fumble that resulted in a pivotal Wildcats touchdown late in the first quarter that made it 21-3.

Ashenfelder was the victim of Northwestern's fourth sack of the day.

Lonergan was hurt when he scrambled up the middle for a 5-yard gain, then slid forward to the ground at the Rutgers 45 with two Northwestern defenders closing in. Lonergan’s momentum was finally stopped by Northwestern’s Kobie McKinzie as the two players’ helmets struck each other.

Lonergan remained down on the field for a couple of minutes, then was helped to a medical tent.

Northwestern jumped out to a 21-3 lead after one quarter, then upped it to 28-6 at the half.

The Wildcats scored on the opening drive as Wilde caught Chiles' 13-yard TD pass 5:06 in. The series was keyed by Komolafe’s 30-yard run.

After Lonergan exited, Surace maneuvered the Scarlet Knights to field goal range. Pizzaro kicked a 43-yarder with 4:26 left in the quarter to cut it to 7-3.

Then the Wildcats raced down the field on only five plays to up it to 14-3, scoring on Chiles' keeper.

On the first play of Rutgers' next drive, Surace was sacked at the Rutgers 8 and fumbled with Northwestern’s Jamaal Johnson recovering. Chiles hit Honig with a 8-yard TD pass off the next snap to up it to 21-3.

Komolafe scored on a 33-yard run down the left side with 1:46 left in the half, capping a zippy 61-yard drive to increase the score to 28-3. Pizzaro booted a 35-yarder as time ran out in the half to make it 28-6.

A 43-year-run by Clay Thevenin, who finished with 166 yards on the ground, and a 31-yard rush by Raymond moved Rutgers to the Wildcats 7. But Ashenfelder threw a pair of incomplete passes, then was sacked by McKinzie on a fourth-and-7.

Raymond rushed in with 8 seconds left in the third, and a two-point conversion cut it to 28-14.

Wagner pulled in Chiles' 4-yard toss in the end zone 4:28 into the fourth quarter for a 35-15 Northwestern lead. Chiles ran in his second TD, wide off a fake handoff, with 4:33 left to complete the scoring.

The Takeaway

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights never got their offense rolling after Lonergan's quick exit, and star wide receiver KJ Duff was limited to three targets and 33 yards. The severity of the Lonergan's injury was not immediately known.

Northwestern: The Wildcats are technically bowl-eligible, but are going for much more. They're 6-1 for the first time since 2020 and the fourth time since 2000.

“This season does feel different," Braun said. “For us to even acknowledge the bowl eligibility right now, I think would distract us from what's right in front of us.”

Up next

Rutgers: Hosts Michigan on Oct. 31.

Northwestern: Plays at Oregon on Oct. 31.

___

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Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at their West Palm Beach polling location at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office together after the president spent the morning at his nearby golf course. Trump has been criticized in the past for voting by mail despite his long history of railing against that method of submitting ballots.

Asked if he voted the party line, Trump, who was wearing an “I Voted” sticker, said, “Very much so.”

Speaking to reporters at the poll site, Trump again defended an ad from Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad has faced intense blowback for featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton, who lost custody of her children after her husband, the children’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12.

Trump also defended his decision to instruct his administration to file its lawsuit to block certification of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses over the inclusion of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.

As for the war in Iran, he said, “I may have to finish it off. Or maybe they’ll make a deal, but I’m not sure. Either way, we win.”

Melania Trump, who this week brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the ravaged, Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky so that humanitarian aid could be delivered and civilians evacuated, was asked whether she might travel to Ukraine.

“We will see,” she told reporters.

In Florida, Trump has endorsed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running against David Jolly, a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat, to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He has also campaigned for Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who is running to fill the last two years of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s former Senate term against progressive state lawmaker Angie Nixon.

___

Colvin reported from New York.

Curt Cignetti, though, chose to stick with Hoover instead of turning to his seventh-year backup, and the fifth-year quarterback delivered.

Hoover had a 4-yard touchdown run in overtime and No. 6 Indiana kept Michigan out of the end zone in a 13-6 win on Saturday.

“There were a lot of discussions about Grant Wilson and Josh Hoover in the second half because Grant had a good week of practice and is really capable," Cignetti said. “At the end of the day, it’s been Josh's season and even though he’s not 100%, we’ve got to finish it out with him and he responded.”

Hoover helped the Hoosiers (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) win at the Big House for the first time since 1967.

“It’s cool to be a part of," Hoover said.

The Wolverines (4-3, 1-3) started quarterback Tommy Carr and sat Bryce Underwood, but the freshman didn't fare as well as he did last week coming off the bench in a win over Penn State.

Carr lost a fumble on an ill-advised pitch in the first quarter and was picked off in the second half on a deflected pass that was thrown into traffic.

“Both turnovers, completely on me,” he said.

Carr took sacks in the second and third quarters that led to missed field goals, including a 32-yard kick after advancing to the Indiana 1.

The Wolverines reached the Hoosiers 3 in the final minute of regulation — with a chance to potentially win the game — when Carr was sacked for a fourth time and they had to settle for a 26-yard field goal as time expired.

Hoover struggled, too, until making a 21-yard pass to Brock Schott on the first snap of overtime that set up his touchdown run.

With a chance to send the game to a second overtime, Michigan advanced to the Indiana 13 and Carr threw an incomplete pass that hit the turf in front of Salesi Moa just outside of the end zone.

“If that’s the No. 6 team in the country, then we’re pretty good," coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Carr was 20 of 32 for 167 yards with an interception and a fumble. He is the grandson of College Football Hall of Famers Lloyd Carr and Tom Curtis and the brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, who attended the game while his team had the weekend off.

“It would be absurd to judge him off this one performance,” Whittingham said.

Indiana's injured QB

Hoover was 8 of 18 for 81 yards and threw an interception in the third quarter, setting up Michigan for a field goal, and isn't completely healthy.

“I had to battle through some things this week to get out here,” Hoover said. "I knew I was going to find a way to get out here and find a way to win this game for this team regardless of how I felt. There’s guys on this team that are banged up every week. It’s no different for me.”

Michigan’s close calls

The Wolverines have only had one game this year that wasn’t decided in the final minutes.

“It comes down to the last play, the last possession in every game except UTEP,” Whittingham said. “We’re the only team in the country that has done that.”

The takeaway

Indiana: A week after being inches away from beating then-No. 4 Ohio State, the Hoosiers avoided losing two straight for the first time in three years with Cignetti.

Michigan: With Carr or Underwood at quarterback, the offense is struggling on the ground and through the air.

“You name it and we’ve got to work on it,” Whittingham said.

Up next

Indiana: Hosts Minnesota next Saturday.

Michigan: Plays at Rutgers next Saturday.

___

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The motivation was still unknown for the shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the capital, Amman. Karak is home to a minority Christian population.

There was still no claim of responsibility, and no armed group has been accused of the attack that Jordan's government described as a “terrorist” act.

King Abdullah II directed authorities to respond with “an iron fist” against what he called the outlaws of Islam and anyone attempting to undermine the unity of the Jordanian people.

Friday's attack happened as people had gathered for a funeral. Some people were chatting outside the church when something sounded like an engine backfiring.

“All of a sudden, three masked men appeared, armed with automatic weapons, and began firing indiscriminately at those of us standing outside,” witness Saed al-Halaseh recalled.

And “they weren’t satisfied with just the initial casualties. They went back and fired on everyone again. They returned to finish off those who had already been hit,” he said.

“Even then, they weren’t finished; they came and stood right here, firing at the facade of the church, this part right here,” he added.

Al-Halaseh described how people he knew were shot in the head or the back as others tried to flee. He dropped to the ground and crawled behind a nearby car, which he said saved him.

Jordan, and especially Karak, has been seen as a symbol of religious coexistence, al-Halaseh said.

“The sense of security we once had, the very foundation we grew up with, has, sadly, vanished,” he added. “They were simply mourners at a funeral. I cannot fathom what the perpetrators could have possibly wanted from them. I don’t believe any religion in the world could condone what happened. It was truly a massacre.”

Emergency services in the Berchtesgaden district, in the Bavarian Alps in Germany's southeastern corner, were alerted to the fire by an alarm at about 9:15 p.m. Friday. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene — located at the end of a narrow road that winds up the mountain, in part through a series of tunnels — and could see the flames as they approached.

They stopped and arrested a man on a motorcycle driving the other way down the road.

Prosecutors said the 33-year-old suspect, a German citizen who has ties to the Berchtesgaden area but doesn't currently live there, was questioned. They said he showed signs of mental illness and he was being sent to a psychiatric facility, but they also would look into the possibility of a political motive in view of the building's history. Police said there were no current indications that anyone else was involved.

Rain that turned into the season's first significant snow, accompanied by strong wind, complicated the already difficult task of tackling the blaze and firefighters had to pull out overnight after several hours, officials said. No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters hoped to finish their work on Saturday though they weren't able to enter the building because of a danger of falling material.

The building, known in German as the Kehlsteinhaus, is located on a cliff 1,834 meters (6,017 feet) above sea level. It is reachable by an elevator built inside the rock from the end of the mountain road, which is closed to public traffic but used during the day by buses for visitors.

It has been operated as a cafe and restaurant since 1952 and contains an exhibition on its history. The Nazi dictator himself rarely used the Kehlsteinhaus — unlike the Berghof residence, also in the Berchtesgaden area, the ruins of which were blown up in 1952.

The Obersalzberg Documentation Center, further down the mountain, is home to the area's main historical exhibition and was unaffected by the fire.

Officials indicated that the Eagle's Nest would be restored, though they were vague so soon after the blaze about how exactly that would be done.

“We're not going to leave a ruin there,” Bavaria's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, told reporters in Berchtesgaden. But what the site will look like in the future will be a matter for discussions with local officials, historians, preservationists and others.

“I think we will be able to find a sensible solution,” Herrmann added. Bavaria's state government owns the building.

The minister stressed that “it is important that we continue to do the work of remembrance.”

Musk's admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted front-line operations for more than a week.

Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Musk-made satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks.

“The speeds are now where they need to be,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that restoration began overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving front-line logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.

Musk admits he was behind Starlink’s speed restriction

After Ukraine said the services had been restored, Elon Musk spoke out on the speed restrictions that began last week. In a post Saturday on X, Musk acknowledged that his company SpaceX throttled the Starlink satellite internet service.

“Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote. “Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week.”

But he maintained that the U.S. government controlled whatever changes happened with Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink that is the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication. He also defended the role of SpaceX in bolstering Ukraine’s defenses since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions.

The restoration follows a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.

Restriction led to tensions between Ukraine and the US

The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited “direct dialogue” and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington, adding that the outcome mattered most “for our front, for the military, the work of drones, logistics and communications.”

Trump has maintained that he didn’t make the call, while also saying Musk should not be blamed. Vice President JD Vance has hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied any administration involvement.

Russia and Ukraine have continued to target each other

Meanwhile, a man was killed and two others wounded in a missile attack on the city of Lozova in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, local officials said Saturday.

Moscow-installed authorities in cities across Russia-occupied Crimea reported power blackouts Saturday following overnight Ukrainian attacks.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Saturday that its forces hit a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti, which produces materials used in rocket fuel. Tolyatti Mayor Ilya Sukhikh said the overnight attack damaged industrial facilities in the city.

Ukrainian forces also hit an electronics plant in the city of Oryol, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed Saturday. Local officials in Oryol said Saturday that three people were killed in Friday’s attack. The General Staff said the plant makes components for the cruise and ballistic missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian drones also reached Russia’s Omsk region in western Siberia, more than 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Omsk regional Gov. Vitaly Khotsenko said drones “reached a northern industrial hub.”

Online retailer Ozon said Saturday that its logistics center in Omsk has been attacked by a drone, but there were no casualties. Ozon is a competitor to Wildberries, whose facilities Ukraine has also targeted.

___

Morton reported from London.

___

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

Voters didn't change their minds. Politicians changed their voters.

The Republican-controlled legislature redrew the state's congressional map to transform what was one of the last remaining swing districts in the South to a safe GOP seat. Lawmakers split the rectangular 13th District into an hourglass shape that carved out Democratic voters in Raleigh and replaced them with a swath of rural counties reaching up to the Virginia border.

Swing seats, meaning districts that a presidential candidate won by 5 percentage points or fewer in the previous election, are disappearing from the national map. For decades after World War II, the number of competitive seats in the House slowly eroded as the United States grew more polarized, voters were less likely to split their ticket between parties and people moved closer to like-minded neighbors, creating Democratic strongholds in urban areas and Republican ones across rural America.

That decline accelerated over the past year after Republican President Donald Trump sparked a partisan redistricting battle. The number of swing districts fell from 45 to 37. There were 96 House seats that fit the modern definition of a swing seat in 1964, according to one count from the 1970s, when the shrinking number of such districts was first noted.

That means the overwhelming majority of House seats are effectively won in primaries, with the support of only a fraction of voters who usually are at the extreme ideological end of their party.

Nickel saw the impact firsthand during his lone term in Washington.

“The biggest divide I found in Congress wasn’t Democrat versus Republican, it was safe seats versus competitive seats,” Nickel said. “When your focus is on running a campaign where you talk to every single voter, you look at things differently and your focus is on solving problems.”

Unite America, an organization pushing alternatives to party primaries, calculated that 87% of the representatives elected to the House in 2024 were chosen by 7% of the country’s voters.

“Voters don’t have any way of holding Congress responsible, except for a narrow window of swing districts,” Nick Troiano, the group's executive director, said in an interview, adding that he expects things to get worse in November. “The least competitive election of our lifetimes will lead to the least accountable and least representative Congress of our lifetimes.”

A narrow battlefield expands slightly in unpredictable midterm year

Republicans are hoping the smaller number of competitive seats puts a low ceiling on what Democrats can win on Nov. 3.

“Both sides are fighting over a narrow House battlefield,” said Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Campaign. “It's a knife fight in a dark alley.”

The alley may be widening this year, but it still is an alley.

Democrats have expanded their political targets, given the unpopular war with Iran and voters angry about high prices. Both parties are spending on campaigns in Republican areas that normally would not be competitive.

Even in what is shaping up as a difficult political environment, however, Republicans are protected by the limited number of seats in play.

“Even if there's the kind of swing we got in 2006, there's not going to be 40 seats changing hands. There's going to be 20 seats changing hands,” said Ian Shapiro, a Yale political scientist.

There is a long-standing debate among academics as to how much of the decline can be blamed on partisan-motivated redistricting, known as gerrymandering, and how much on Americans' increasing proclivity to live among like-minded people who vote the same way. Multiple studieshave found that without partisan gerrymandering, the House would have about double the number of competitive seats it has now.

One thing most agree on is that the diminishment of competitive seats leads to greater polarization because legislators are only beholden to primary voters.

“It produces more alienation because Congress doesn’t do anything besides investigations and positioning,” Shapiro said.

Studying the math and making a decision

Nickel decided not to run for reelection after studying election returns going back to 2016 and finding that no Democratic incumbent had held on in a seat where Trump took 55% or more of the vote. Trump received 58% of the vote in the new district.

Nickel, who had introduced a bill to require all states to use a nonpartisan redistricting system, said at first he would run for U.S. Senate because statewide seats cannot be gerrymandered. But when former Gov. Roy Cooper announced he was running for the Democratic nomination, Nickel switched to run for district attorney of Wake County, the deeply Democratic county that was largely cut out of the 13th District.

Nickel won the Democratic primary and will take office in January. No Republican ran.

That highlights how North Carolina, and the country, have effectively become segregated by political party.

“If you just draw big blocks around a state, you're going to get noncompetitive districts because we are so polarized,” said Joshua Huder, a political scientist at Georgetown University.

An hour away, a very different state

Only 15% of North Carolina's voting precincts could be classified as politically competitive, according to Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College in North Carolina.

“For the average North Carolinian, depending on where they live, if they drive an hour in any direction they will be in a very different North Carolina than they live in,” he said.

That certainly is the case traversing from the old 13th District to the new one. From the office towers, cafes and gourmet restaurants of central Raleigh that were part of the competitive 13th District, it is about a 90-minute drive north through the subdivisions and soybean and tobacco farms that are the heart of the new, conservative one.

Here, few are talking about the congressional race. While plenty express dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, they see no reason to vote for anyone other than a Republican.

“It's just what I've always been,” said Linda Long, 62, a Republican in the town of Roxboro who works at the local Walmart.

George Scott, a retired architectural engineer in Franklinton, viscerally dislikes Trump but also is a lifelong Republican and expects to keep voting that way.

“It's just one person,” Scott, 75, said of the president.

Democrats make a play in a long-shot district

This is what Paul Barringer is up against.

The Democratic nominee against Knott hopes for an upset in a year when even Republican members in safe seats like the 13th District are running scared. Neither Knott's office nor his campaign responded to a request for an interview.

On a recent evening, Barringer drove his 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, with his two dogs in back, to the home of Mary Blank, who heads the chapter of the liberal group Indivisible in Johnston County, a fast-growing, conservative-leaning area just outside Raleigh.

Barringer, a former healthcare lawyer who returned from Maryland to the tree farm in the district where he grew up to care for his ailing mother, said he was previously a Republican but switched parties to run, hoping he could attract voters of all stripes.

“I think people are disgruntled about things that are happening,” Barringer said. “They want people who will find ways to work together.”

On the house's back porch, he was greeted rapturously by a self-admitted political minority of liberals in the conservative area. At one point, Barringer reminisced about the grueling task of curing tobacco and asked everyone who had undergone that rural North Carolina rite of passage to raise a hand. No one did.

“We're all transplants!” one woman called out.

There was palpable excitement, especially after Barringer noted that national Democrats had put the seat on a list of ones to watch for a possible upset. Blank, a retired 73-year-old social studies teacher from New Jersey, said that gave her hope, but she was realistic about the local dynamic.

“I've been saying all along I don't think Paul can win,” Blank said.

Linwood Parker agrees. “They're blowing smoke,” Parker, the 78-year-old mayor of Four Oaks, a town 26 miles south of Blank's house, said of Democrats' hopes they could win the district.

Parker is a lifelong Republican who knows well that gerrymandering is a decades-old tradition in North Carolina. Democrats used to do it ruthlessly to maintain their control of the legislature and the congressional delegation until they lost power in the 2010 wave. Now Republicans are the ones who bend the maps to benefit their party.

Parker approves even though he said he is no fan of gerrymandering, or the polarization that has eaten away at bipartisan trust in society.

“Redistricting is just one of the levers that when Republicans, when they are in control, have to touch,” Parker said. “Otherwise it's like saying, when we play this baseball game, we're going to have three outs, we'll give you two.”

Also, Tottenham sealed its second win this week by beating 10-man Chelsea 2-0.

Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Villa against a City that was aiming for an eighth straight league win. Victory extended Villa’s outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in all competitions.

“It is incredible," Jackson said. "It was difficult but we got the win and that is the most important thing. Now we can focus on the next one.”

After City's defeat in the early kickoff, defending champion Arsenal took advantage by beating Everton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.

Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes scored in each half for Mikel Arteta's team, which is second on goal difference.

Spurs, without a league win until Monday against Coventry, followed that with a rare victory at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders inadvertently punched the ball into his own net and gave Spurs the lead and Cole Palmer was sent off soon after. Tottenham's win was sealed late by Mathys Tel.

Meanwhile, Fulham beat Coventry 1-0.

Arsenal ends unlikely run

Konsa scored his first goal for Arsenal since joining from Villa at the start of the season and ended the champion's run of 13 games without scoring from a set-piece.

Last season's title victory relied heavily on Arsenal's scoring efficiency from corners, in particular, but Konsa's scrambled goal after seven minutes was its first in any competition this term, excluding penalties.

“A goal from a set-piece has felt like it has been coming. Today was the day,” Konsa said.

Gabriel was also on target, heading in the second in the 68th for his first of the campaign.

After showing its Champions League credentials with a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich midweek, Arsenal strengthened its title defense with victory against Everton to move to neck and neck with City, with just goal difference separating them.

“We’re very happy with the victory, the performance and the week, because we were given a terrible schedule,” Arteta said. “We just have to focus on what we can do, and we’re very pleased with 90% of the performances and results.”

Emery a ‘tactical genius’

Villa is rapidly climbing the standings after a desperate start to the campaign saw it fail to win its opening four games and picked up just one point.

The difficult start was understandable after a hugely disruptive offseason when a raft of star players left the club including Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Konsa, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans.

Unai Emery, who transformed the club from relegation battler to Champions League contender, was forced to rebuild a team that won the Europa League last season, and has done that in double-quick time.

Villa's last defeat was on Sept. 12, to Nottingham Forest 2-1. Since then Emery's team is unbeaten.

Jackson is up to seven goals in all competitions. He fired the opener inside six minutes at Villa Park.

Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

City fell to a fourth defeat at Villa Park in as many seasons.

“Emery is just a tactical genius. Especially against Man City at our place we have been really good," Villa defender Matty Cash said. “He always has a plan for something and is always coming up with new ideas. When you play against top teams you have to adapt and we did that today.”

Maresca not so perfect now

Maresca said City would learn lessons from its first league defeat.

The Italian enjoyed a perfect start in England's top flight since succeeding Pep Guardiola in the offseason.

Villa joined Arsenal and European champion Paris Saint-Germain as the only teams to beat City in any competition this season.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose today, but we lost,” Maresca said. “You can always learn something.”

Spurs on the rise

Bottom of the standings at the start of the week, Tottenham climbed to 12th after a victory at fierce London rival Chelsea.

After steering Spurs clear of relegation at the end of last season, coach Roberto De Zerbi might have earned the standout result of his short reign — only Tottenham's second victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years.

“It’s a big moment for the fans, for the club, for the players also. They deserve this win,” De Zerbi said.

Spurs finished one place above the relegation zone in each of the past two seasons.

“We are working to change the last part of the history of this club,” he added.

Chelsea looked blunt in attack without the injured Joao Pedro and it was further hindered when Palmer was red-carded in the 80th for a second bookable offense.

“We are all disappointed with the result and the performance. Collectively and individually, we were not on our best level,” Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said.

For Fulham, Oscar Bobb scored in the 80th to seal victory at Coventry.

___

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

The lot is located at 4477 W. Sam Houston Parkway North.

A lawn crew that was working at the property discovered the remains in a brushy area.

It is unclear how long the remains have been there or how the person died. Shoes and other articles of clothing were found on and near the remains.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science will conduct an autopsy.

• PREVIOUS: Fort Bend County judge calls for Tax Assessor Carmen Turner’s resignation after federal payroll fraud indictment

The answer is yes, although an indictment alone does not automatically remove an elected official from office.

Texas law establishes a separate process for removing county officials under certain circumstances, as well as procedures for appointing replacements when an office becomes vacant.

Here’s what residents should know.

Why are officials calling for Carmen Turner to resign?

Turner was arrested Thursday, Oct. 22, following a federal indictment alleging she participated in a scheme to use Fort Bend County payroll funds to compensate people for work they did not perform.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Turner and two other defendants face charges involving conspiracy, theft concerning federal program funds and wire fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege the scheme operated between September 2023 and September 2025.

• Alief ISD weighs school closures, major changes as enrollment declines. Here’s what to know

The indictment accuses Turner of arranging for county employees to receive paychecks while performing personal services or working elsewhere instead of fulfilling their assigned county duties.

Turner is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

On Friday, Oct. 23, Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong called for Turner’s resignation, citing concerns about public confidence in the tax assessor-collector’s office.

As KPRC 2 previously reported, Turner can remain in office while the federal charges are pending.

Does a federal indictment automatically remove an elected official?

No.

An indictment is a formal criminal accusation. It does not establish guilt, and it does not, by itself, create a vacancy in the office of county tax assessor-collector.

That means Turner is not automatically required to resign simply because federal prosecutors have filed charges against her.

A call for resignation from another elected official also does not carry the legal authority to remove her from office.

However, Texas law provides a separate civil process through which certain county officials can be removed.

Can a county official be removed before being convicted?

Yes, under certain circumstances.

Chapter 87 of the Texas Local Government Code establishes procedures for removing county officials, including tax assessor-collectors.

Under Section 87.013, grounds for removal include incompetency, official misconduct and intoxication, as those terms are defined by law.

A removal case is separate from a criminal prosecution. That means a criminal conviction is not necessarily required before a court can consider whether an official should be removed.

• Who is behind the fake transgender brochures? KPRC 2 goes looking for answers

The law allows qualifying removal proceedings to be brought in district court. A removal petition must allege legally recognized grounds and follow the procedures established in Chapter 87.

Under Section 87.018, a contested removal case is generally decided through a jury trial.

Whether any particular allegations would justify removal is a question for the legal process, not something established by the filing of criminal charges.

Could Turner be suspended while a removal case is pending?

Potentially.

Section 87.017 allows a district judge to temporarily suspend an officer after the filing of a removal petition and appoint another person to perform the duties of the office while the case proceeds.

A suspension is not the same as a final removal. It is a temporary measure that may be ordered during the civil proceeding.

The decision rests with the court under the applicable law. It does not happen automatically when an official is indicted.

What happens if an elected county official is convicted?

A criminal conviction can have additional consequences for an official’s ability to remain in office, depending on the offense and the applicable law.

Section 87.031 of the Local Government Code provides for removal following certain criminal convictions.

However, not every conviction produces the same result, and the precise consequences depend on the offense, judgment and statutory requirements.

Turner has not been convicted in the current federal case, and the charges against her remain allegations.

Who would replace Carmen Turner if she leaves office?

If Turner resigns, is removed or otherwise leaves office and a vacancy occurs, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court would have the authority to appoint a replacement.

Under Section 87.041 of the Texas Local Government Code, commissioners courts may fill vacancies in several county offices, including the office of tax assessor-collector.

The law requires a majority vote of the commissioners who are present and voting.

• Sugar Land’s historic Imperial Sugar building is getting a $15M makeover. Here’s what’s planned

The person appointed would serve until the next general election, when voters would have an opportunity to choose someone to fill the office under applicable election laws.

That means the position would not automatically go to a deputy or another county employee as the permanent replacement.

Would residents still be able to pay property taxes or register vehicles?

The Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office handles important public services, including property tax collections, vehicle registrations and title transactions.

A change in the elected official leading the department would not, by itself, eliminate those responsibilities.

However, county officials would need to confirm whether any specific staffing changes or temporary service disruptions were expected if Turner were to leave office.

Residents can find current vehicle registration and title service information through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ Fort Bend County tax office directory.

What happens next?

Turner’s federal criminal case will proceed through the court system unless it is resolved through another lawful process.

Separately, Texas law provides avenues for resignation, civil removal and temporary suspension under specific circumstances.

As of Saturday, Oct. 24, KPRC 2 has reported calls for Turner’s resignation, but the indictment itself has not removed her from office.

For now, the central distinction is that facing criminal charges and being legally removed from elected office are two different matters.

In July, Beasley entered a not guilty plea in New York federal court. He was among the latest big names caught up in a sweeping federal gambling investigation.

Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, told The Associated Press in a text message that they were negotiating an agreement with the government “with an expected direction in the coming days.”

Beasley, 29, and sports agent Paolo Zamorano, who has also pleaded not guilty, were among six people charged in an indictment unsealed this summer detailing a gambling scandal that has involved more than three dozen arrests.

Zamorano, 39, formerly represented another co-defendant, ex-NBA player Ed Davis, who had lent money to Beasley and is accused of acting as his “gatekeeper” in the alleged scheme.

Beasley is accused of fixing or trying to fix his performance in at least four games while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024 by under or overperforming bookmakers’ expectations. In exchange, the indictment said, the bettors bribed Beasley — and his debts to Davis were reduced or eliminated.

“Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting,” Davis told Beasley in a Jan. 26, 2024, text message, according to the indictment. “Everything else they got the edge.”

Beasley borrowed money from Davis, a former teammate, after racking up millions of dollars in gambling losses. His widely reported financial problems include disputes with a Detroit landlord, a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist. A 2025 lawsuit from a sports marketing agency resulted in a $1 million default judgment against him.

Beasley has been out of the NBA since playing with the Detroit Pistons in 2024-25 on a one-year, $6 million contract. He averaged 16 points per game and scored 20 in his last game, a playoff loss to the New York Knicks. He is one of five players in NBA history with more than 300 three-pointers in a season. ___

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The theme park operator announced the extra safeguard less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta died after being ejected from his seat on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

“We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint,” John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, said in a statement Friday.

Goliath remains shut down while state and local officials investigate the Oct. 12 death.

Reilly didn't specify which other Six Flags coasters will get seat belts. But it has temporarily closed eight additional roller coasters at five other parks in the U.S. and Canada. Those rides all share the same manufacturer and a similar restraint system.

Six Flags hasn't said when those coasters are expected to reopen. Reilly's statement said Six Flags has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures for all rides at its theme parks.

Investigators haven't said what went wrong on the Georgia coaster. Witnesses said they saw Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected. Some people who rode Goliath before him that day said they had concerns about its restraints.

All nine of the Six Flags coasters taken offline were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard. They also feature similar clamshell restraints that sit at the top of a vertical bar between each rider's knees. The bar locks a padded restraint into place over the rider's lap and upper legs.

The U.S. patent granted to Bolliger & Mabillard for the restraint system in 2001 says it's designed to make each rider feel “that he is seated on a flying carpet or that he is at the controls of a kind of flying scooter, while still guaranteeing optimum security.”

Following the death in Georgia, non-Six Flags theme parks SeaWorld Orlando in Florida and La Ronde in Montreal, Canada, also temporarily closed one roller coaster apiece that use clamshell restraints.

SeaWorld reopened its Mako coaster Tuesday after it had been offline for a week. The Associated Press emailed the company Saturday asking if seat belts or other safety upgrades were planned for the coaster.

The AP also emailed a spokesperson for La Ronde seeking an update on its shuttered coaster.

In addition to Goliath in Georgia, eight coasters remain closed at Six Flags parks in Gurnee, Illinois; Jackson Township, New Jersey; Charlotte, North Carolina; Mason, Ohio; and Vaughan, Ontario.

___

Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.

Meghan, Prince Harry’s wife, said Friday she was “deeply distressed” by allegations that a collection of child sexual abuse images had been found at a former home of her father, Thomas Markle Sr. She issued a statement after a British tabloid newspaper reported that her brother found the images while clearing out their father's home in the Philippines.

She also referred to a letter containing “troubling and disturbing allegations” against her father that was sent to the Metropolitan Police Service’s Royal and Specialist Protection unit, which later shared its contents with her.

On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that in January 2019 it received a letter “containing a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom.”

It said that while officers shared the letter with Harry and Meghan's office, they did not share the allegations with other law enforcement agencies — and that it is now reviewing how it handled the matter and considering whether the force needs to be referred to the police watchdog.

Meghan married Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Thomas Markle Sr., a retired television lighting and photography director, did not attend their wedding, prompting extensive media coverage of Meghan’s estrangement from her father. Meghan said her decision to distance herself was intended to protect her children.

“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” Meghan said in Friday's statement.

Thomas Markle Sr. was living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. That forced him to return to the U.S.

The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr. recently found “hundreds, if not thousands” of child sex abuse images in boxes at his father’s former home in the Philippine city of Cebu when he was clearing out the property. Markle Jr. told the newspaper that he reported the images to police in the Philippines and contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S.

In the Philippines, the director of the National Bureau of Investigation, Melvin Matibag, told The Associated Press that the FBI has sought its assistance in looking into the allegations of Markle Jr. against his father.

Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told the AP separately that the national police was also investigating the allegations by Markle Jr. against his father, without elaborating.

The 82-year-old Markle denied the allegations in comments to the Daily Mail newspaper.

And rather than wait for a reason to smile, just making the physical change of literally turning that frown upside down could impact emotions, according to experts.

Research backs up the fact that smiling goes a long way.

Some older research has focused on this “facial feedback hypothesis,” according to Jeanne Tsai, a longtime psychology professor at Stanford University who runs the Culture and Emotion Lab. In one classic study in the late 1980s, researchers would have subjects put a pencil between their lips and adopt a smile or a frown while viewing a positive movie clip like a cartoon. Some subjects who smiled would feel the sensation of the smile more and be more amused.

“When we’ve done that demonstration in classes, it works,” Tsai said. “When you’re doing it in a room by yourself, you’re not doing it in a social interaction, maybe it’s making you remember, or it’s an effect of remembering some good thing that happened and that would put you in a better mood.”

At the Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts in Southern California, the power of a smile is taken very seriously. An entire section on the charter school group’s website is dedicated to its philosophy that a smile can make a difference.

“Smiling creates a supportive classroom culture that makes students relaxed, active, and motivated,” according to the website. “It increases emotional well-being, lowers stress, and gives students confidence.”

How smiling can benefit health

Dr. Judy Ho, a Los Angeles clinical and forensic neuropsychologist who also teaches at Pepperdine University, discusses smiling as a coping strategy with some patients suffering depression or anxiety.

“I'm not suggesting that that's the only way they can fix things,” Ho said. “It's just like another thing that you can add to your toolbox.”

Smiling can affect one's level of cortisol, a hormone the body releases partly to help regulate stress and mood, according to Ho. Smiling can affect brain chemicals that are associated with positive feelings including endorphins, dopamine and serotonin.

“People who smile during stressful tasks generally demonstrated lower heart rates during recovery than those maintaining neutral expressions,” Ho said. “Smiling also reduced aspects of the body's physiological stress response.”

The hope is if you smile enough, you will start feeling it emotionally.

“In some ways it's like a mediating effect,” she added.

The value of a smile varies culture to culture

How smiling and even the openness of a smile are perceived are not universal. Tsai, the Stanford professor, has conducted research on how emotion in American culture puts value on trying to always feel positive and minimizing negativity and sadness. In East Asian cultures, emotion is more about balance.

“It’s like the positive and the negative emotions are braided together, and so you don’t want to feel too positive or too negative,” Tsai said. “You want more of a balance between the two.”

Her past studies also examined how European Americans and East Asians — including Taiwanese, South Koreans, Japanese and Hong Kong Chinese — look at a “neutral or a calm” smile versus a full-on grin. Subjects rated the differing facial expressions on warmth and trustworthiness. While some Americans saw the excited smiles as friendlier, some East Asians characterized those facial expressions as “emotionally unstable” or “unreliable."

“What kind of smile matters — whether it’s a calm, closed mouth smile more like the Dalai Lama or a big toothy excited smile like Julia Roberts,” Tsai said. “We’ve done some series of studies in Taiwan and other East Asian contexts. They don’t like the big, toothy, excited smile unless it’s really situationally appropriate.”

In Thailand — known as “The Land of Smiles” — smiling is embedded in the culture. There are nearly 30 Thai words for “smile.” Many teach-abroad programs where people can teach English as a foreign language in Thailand cite that smiling often with children and colleagues is key to showing respect, good manners and calmness.

At the OCASA charter schools, smiling is part of an effort to make children feel seen.

“I’ve always believed in wanting school to be a happy place for kids,” said RaNae Posey, principal of OCASA Capistrano Elementary School. “To actually help them form habits of looking at the bright side of things.”

Mandating smiles may lead to more frowns

Women in recent years have smacked down the idea that they have to smile in the workplace while men do not. Smiling can feel like a Catch-22 for some women and sometimes for people of color who may be stereotyped as unapproachable or cold if they don’t smile enough.

Last year, retailer Target was ridiculed across social media for instituting a smiling policy. Workers had to smile and make eye contact if a customer was within 10 feet (3 meters) and personally greet them if they were within 4 feet (1.2 meters).

People do not like feeling like they have no “emotional autonomy,” according to Nicholas Coles, an assistant professor who runs the Social Science Collaboratory at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“In those scenarios, what we find is that it’s more that you’re smiling your way to misery,” Coles said. “It’s only when it feels authentic and voluntary that I think it’ll have any real effect.”

With the holidays approaching, more people may have to muster smiles with family if sensitive topics like politics and religion come up. Those could be good times to see if smiling helps.

“If we were able to just smile and be like ’Look, this is somebody that historically cares about you and loves you,' maybe that would change the way that we respond to them even in a moment of tough conversation,” Ho said.

Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, former leaders of a since-disbanded task force set up to counter foreign election interference, appeared in federal court Friday in Washington, where their lawyers pressed for a speedy hearing to contest allegations their clients lied to lawmakers by saying that they did not participate in FBI investigations of Biden.

The prosecution, a rare Department of Justice criminal case against a former employee, revisits a tangled and peculiar saga that roiled the final weeks of the 2020 race. It also comes amid a broader, backward-looking effort by FBI Director Kash Patel, who before taking over the nation’s premier law enforcement agency was a harsh critic of it, to scrutinize high-profile episodes from the bureau’s recent past that for years have animated President Donald Trump’s conservative base.

Floris’ attorneys called her “a patriot” and said she has “served our nation as a dedicated FBI intelligence officer for nearly 20 years.”

“Yet today, the DOJ has accused her falsely of a crime on the say-so of politicians, not on the facts,” her attorneys said in a statement. “It’s no coincidence the government is filing these nonsense charges now, years later, on the eve of an election.”

Attorneys for Benavides accused the government of bringing “baseless criminal charges against him in a transparently political complaint.”

“This is another sad day for the Department of Justice,” his lawyers said in an emailed statement. “But now we are in court, and the truth will come out: Brad Benavides is a true patriot who devoted his career to protecting this country and its people. These charges are a disgrace.”

A criminal complaint comes just before the midterms

The case was filed less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 elections via criminal complaint, which means prosecutors have not yet presented the allegations to a grand jury for an indictment. The Justice Department has repeatedly struggled in high-profile cases to convince grand juries in the nation’s capital to return indictments.

During the former FBI employees’ court appearance, both defense attorneys and the judge noted the unusual move to charge the case through a complaint, which is more often used by prosecutors when they have an urgent need to take people into custody because, for example, they present a danger or a risk of flight.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui remarked that it is “rare that we have charges this old coming in this nature," and over the objections of prosecutors who pushed for more time, set a preliminary hearing for next Tuesday, citing what he said was the “sword of Damocles” hanging over the defendants’ heads.

The laptop discovery created turmoil in 2020 election

The revelation of the laptop’s existence in October 2020 injected a thorny storyline in the race between Trump, the Republican incumbent, and Biden’s father, Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic challenger who went on to win the race.

The laptop was publicized by the New York Post, which said it had obtained from Trump ally Rudy Giuliani a hard drive of a computer dropped off by Hunter Biden at a Wilmington, Delaware, repair shop about a year earlier.

The criminal complaint aims to build on longstanding congressional Republican complaints about the FBI’s handling of the laptop, including allegations that the bureau was not forthcoming to the public that the materials on it — including emails that showed discussions of the younger Biden’s foreign business dealings — were authentic and not the product of Russian disinformation.

The curious circumstances of the laptop’s discovery raised concerns among Democrats and former intelligence officials about the possibility of Russian involvement, particularly at a time when the Trump administration’s own intelligence community had assessed that Moscow that Russia was attempting to interfere in Trump’s favor in the election and as Giuliani had traveled abroad looking for dirt on the Bidens. Dozens of former U.S. intelligence officials signed a letter saying that the laptop bore the "classic earmarks of an Russian information operation.”

But Trump’s then-director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, attested to the computer’s authenticity in a Fox Business Network interview. The FBI, under then-Director Chris Wray, subsequently told Congress in a letter that it had nothing to add to Ratcliffe’s public statement.

Hunter Biden was charged with, and convicted of, gun and tax offenses during his father’s administration. Joe Biden pardoned him in his final weeks in office.

The case shines a light on an FBI task force on foreign intelligence

The complaint alleges that in their capacity as leaders of the Foreign Influence Task Force, Floris and Benavides were deeply engaged in the investigations into Hunter Biden, and that Biden was a recurring subject at FITF meetings.

Yet, the complaint says, both downplayed their firsthand knowledge of the laptop or involvement in investigations during 2023 testimony to lawmakers who were doing their own Biden investigation.

It accuses Benavides of making a false statement by saying he learned through Wikipedia that the FBI was in possession of the laptop, and says Floris falsely claimed to have had no knowledge of Hunter Biden having been the subject of discussions at FITF.

“Lying to Congress by senior FBI officials strikes at the heart of our system. No one is above the law,” Patel said.

The case brings renewed attention to the work of the task force, which was established in the first Trump administration to police influence campaigns staged by Russia and other nations aimed at sowing discord, undermining democracy and spreading disinformation. The task force became a magnet of congressional Republican criticism in part because of the Hunter Biden investigation and was disbanded in February 2025 by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The Justice Department has made other splashy moves

As FBI director, Patel has presided over widespread firings of agents who were involved in investigations of Trump or who are perceived as being against the Republican administration's agenda.

He has also focused attention on years-old investigations like the Hunter Biden one that occurred before he became director and that have been the subject of grievances and complaints by Trump allies.

The Justice Department historically looks to avoid public and overt investigative acts in the direct lead-up to an election that involve candidates or that risk influencing a political outcome. But officials in the last two weeks have made a series of bold moves in cases with political undertones, including a search of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s house in an immigration fraud investigation and a corruption indictment unsealed Thursday against powerful Democratic Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas.

Omar and Lucas are both Trump critics. Omar, who's from Minnesota, has called the search of her Washington home an “attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.” Lucas has said she won't be intimidated or bullied by the federal government in its case against her and “will not back down.”

—-

This story has been corrected to reflect that then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe attested to the computer’s authenticity in a Fox Business Network interview, not in a letter to Congress, and that the FBI, under then-Director Chris Wray, subsequently told Congress in a letter that it had nothing to add to Ratcliffe’s public statement.

Infantino is seeking re-election next year in the face of attempts to force him to stand down following the divisive plan.

He infuriated soccer leaders in Europe, North America and Asia over the proposal to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary.

But in an interview released on Saturday with the BBC at the Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, Infantino brushed off calls for him to step down.

“Well, you know, I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world," Infantino said. "I think what is important is that in an organization like FIFA there can be different views, different points of view.

“But if we are serious about democracy, about the democratic process, about believing that everyone has the same vote and the same voice all over the world, that football belongs to everyone, if we are serious about that, then we need to respect as well the views of the vast, vast majority.”

Infantino is standing for a final term in office in March. The deadline for opposition candidates is Nov. 18.

His latest comments came after he apologized to FIFA’s ruling council last week for “mistakes” in his secretive investment plan for the World Cup.

Despite his apology, European delegates said they left the meeting disappointed about what they saw as a lack of clarity.

On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation endorsed Infantino for another term in an apparent turnaround in its stance from two months ago when it criticized him for a breach of trust.

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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Weather pattern change next week:

Mid-week, our weather pattern changes. Tropical moisture from Hurricane Vance moves into the state of Texas. This, coupled with an area of low pressure, will bring rain as early as Wednesday, with heaviest rain falling on Halloween. We don’t have a specific timing yet because we are more than a week away from next Saturday, but I wanted to give you an early heads up.

Daylight saving time comes to an end next weekend:

Early Sunday, November 1st, we turn our clocks back one hour. 2 am becomes 1 pm and we seemingly get an extra hour of sleep. Below is how this affects sunrise and sunset.

Tracking the tropics:

The Atlantic is now quiet, and no tropical development is expected in the next 7 days.

Extended forecast:

The gorgeous weather continues through early next week, with slight rain chances returning Wednesday. Rain on Halloween “may” impact your plans. It is still too early to be specific on timing, so don’t make any changes to your plans just yet.

Houston Public Works is bringing back its annual Pumpkin Compost Drop-Off Program, allowing residents to dispose of their pumpkins for free instead of sending them to a landfill.

The program begins Saturday, Oct. 24, and runs through Nov. 28 at two locations across Houston.

Residents can bring everything from whole pumpkins to carved jack-o’-lanterns, as long as all decorations have been removed.

According to Houston Public Works, the program has diverted more than 63,000 pounds of organic material from landfills since 2022.

Where can you drop off your pumpkins?

Residents can bring their pumpkins to either of the following locations:

City of Houston Reuse Warehouse

• 9003 N. Main St., Houston, TX 77022

Westpark Recycling Center

• 5900 Westpark, Houston, TX 77057

Both locations accept pumpkins Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The program is free for City of Houston residents, and no registration or proof of residency is required.

Drop-off locations will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, for Thanksgiving. The program will resume for its final day on Saturday, Nov. 28.

What kinds of pumpkins are accepted?

The city will accept:

• Whole pumpkins
• Carved jack-o’-lanterns
• Pumpkin pieces, seeds and pulp
• Natural, undecorated gourds and squash

However, residents must remove any nonorganic materials before dropping off their pumpkins.

That includes candles, wax, stickers, paint, glitter, tape, plastic and other decorations.

Pumpkins should be placed directly into the collection bins without bags or boxes.

• Where to trick-or-treat in Houston: Public Halloween events and trunk-or-treats for 2026

The program is intended for residential use only, with a limit of up to one truck bed of pumpkins per resident. Commercial loads will not be accepted.

Residents should also avoid placing pumpkins in their curbside recycling carts, as the city does not accept them through its regular recycling program.

Why is Houston composting pumpkins?

The seasonal initiative is designed to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills by turning discarded pumpkins into compost.

Houston Public Works is partnering with City Council Member Sallie Alcorn, who represents At-Large Position 5, to organize the program.

“This year marks the sixth anniversary of Houston’s annual pumpkin composting program, which has diverted more than 63,000 pounds of organic material from our landfills since 2022,” Alcorn said in a city news release.

City officials say composting helps preserve landfill capacity while turning organic waste into a useful resource.

• Houston-area haunted houses: All of these 2026 Halloween attractions are open

Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi also encouraged more residents to participate this year, describing pumpkin composting as a simple seasonal habit that can benefit the community.

What else should residents know?

Pumpkins can only be dropped off during the facilities’ operating hours. Residents should not leave pumpkins outside the gates when the locations are closed.

For additional information, visit the City of Houston’s Pumpkin Compost Drop-Off Program page or contact Houston 311 at 713-837-0311.

Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month ending Oct. 17 compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ, a market research firm. Nielsen also noted an 11.7% decline in candy sales in mid-September, erasing the preseason gains that Halloween candy enjoyed the previous two years.

Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that's dampening demand for Halloween treats. As of Friday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. was $4.29, up nearly 40% from the prior year.

“I think what you’re seeing now is a consumer that’s spending so much additional money on fuel and housing and clothing and food,” Costagli said. “Some of the decisions they're making about Halloween candy, it’s not necessarily because, 'I notice it's more expensive than last year,' it's, ‘I can’t afford it this year because I've paid so much more for so many other things. I just don’t have the financial means to buy it this year.’”

Small bags of candy were the only sizes seeing sales growth through mid-October, Costagli noted. Large and extra-large bags were seeing the biggest declines.

U.S. candy prices have been climbing faster than the rate of inflation for several years. As of September, candy and gum prices were up 44% over a five-year period, according to government data. Prices for all food eaten at home rose 22.5% in the same period.

This week, discount grocer Aldi was advertising a 135-piece variety pack of Mars Inc. chocolate bars – including Milky Way, Trix and Snickers – for $19.87. That’s almost the same price consumers paid for a 250-piece variety pack five years ago.

Cocoa prices are the main culprit. Global cocoa prices reached a record high of $10,710 per metric ton in January 2025 because of poor weather in West Africa – which supplies 70% of the world’s chocolate -- and speculative trading in the cocoa futures market, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Cocoa prices had been falling steadily since then, and hit $3,241 per metric ton in March. But they began climbing again in the spring as the Iran war disrupted Africa’s fertilizer supplies. The El Niño weather pattern is also expected to hurt production, with hot, dry conditions expected through February.

But Costagli noted that even in cases where prices are lower than last year, consumer demand is muted. The average price of non-chocolate Halloween candies, like gummies and lollipops, was $6.08 per pound in the nine weeks ending Oct. 17, which was about 3% lower than last year, according to Nielsen data. But that didn't lead to a bump in sales.

Sally Lyons Wyatt, a global executive vice president and food industry adviser for the market research company Circana, said one way U.S. consumers have been handling higher grocery prices is by making smaller and more frequent trips to the supermarket and buying products right before they intend to use them. That makes her wonder if shoppers are waiting until closer to Halloween to buy candy this year.

“People are very intentional and thoughtful about what they want to consume, not just for holidays, but in general,” she said. “I do believe we will still see softness overall with candy, but I don’t think Halloween is doomed.”

The National Confectioners Association, a trade group that represents candy makers like Mars, Smarties Candy Co. and Ferrara Candy Co., said it remains optimistic about Halloween sales.

“We are just now entering the peak period for Halloween and consumer enthusiasm remains incredibly strong,” the group said Friday in a statement.

Shiffrin led after the first run in Sölden, Austria, on the Rettenbach glacier. But her second run wasn't good enough and sent the Olympic slalom champion down to seventh.

When Shiffrin crossed the line, it was Moltzan who was left celebrating her first World Cup win at age 32.

“It feels like a fairy tale right now, pretty unreal,” Moltzan said.

For years Moltzan has been considered the second-best technical skier on the American team behind Shiffrin.

The Minnesota native grew up idolizing Lindsey Vonn, skiing on the same hill in Minnesota where Vonn learned to race. Both of her parents were ski instructors at Buck Hill, and Moltzan moved into the elite program led by Vonn’s former coach, Erich Sailer, when she was 12.

In February, Moltzan won an Olympic bronze medal in team combined at last season’s Milan Cortina Games with teammate Jacqueline Wiles. A year before that, Moltzan won bronze in giant slalom at the world championships. Otherwise, her career had been marked by near misses.

Lara Colturi of Albania was second on Saturday. Germany's Emma Aicher, who last season finished second to Shiffrin in the overall title standings, was third.

Shiffrin shifts focus this season

Shiffrin’s sixth World Cup overall title last season equaled the women’s record set in the 1970s by Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Pröll. But Shiffrin has called this campaign an “exploration season” in which she will reduce her slalom races and focus more on giant slalom and super-G.

The 31-year-old hasn’t won a giant slalom race in nearly three years, going back to December 2023, while her last super-G victory was in 2022.

Shiffrin used to race and win in all disciplines, but she had reduced her schedule in recent years after she endured terrifying crashes in a downhill in Cortina in early 2024 and a GS in Killington 10 months later. Her 22 career victories in giant slalom remain the women’s record, as are her 73 wins in slalom and 110 wins overall.

A men's giant slalom will be held at Sölden on Sunday.

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See AP’s full Alpine skiing coverage here

Mesa Airlines, which operates the flight for United Express, said a sensor alert indicated smoke in the cabin shortly after pushback. The airline said the evacuation was precautionary and said the crew conducted a safe, orderly exit.

The Houston Fire Department confirmed multiple units responded to 3950 North Terminal Toad. The department said the smoke has been put out, and officials declared the aircraft “fire safe.”

A passenger told KPRC 2 he was on United Flight 6153 when the cabin started to fill with smoke as the aircraft was taxiing for takeoff.

Mesa said no injuries were reported.

Flight-tracking information from the Houston Airport System listed the Houston-to-Atlanta flight as diverted at IAH after it was scheduled to depart Terminal E at 7:20 a.m.

Mesa apologized for the disruption and said it would switch to a different aircraft to complete the flight.

The cause of the smoke has not been released.

Officials in Washington, D.C., recently advanced a plan that could let computers fully control one of its subways, and Los Angeles is seeking to build a new, completely automated line. Honolulu already has one.

The Washington and LA projects, which would take years to implement and still face financial and technical hurdles, come amid an already fierce debate over the safety risks and benefits of automated trains and whether the substantial upfront expense is worth the long-term savings in labor costs.

Supporters call the push long overdue, pointing out that American cities lag far behind numerous places across the world that run unattended subways, metros or buses, including several cities in Europe and Asia, as well as major systems in Canada, Australia, South America and the Middle East.

“It should be much harder to automate something that’s on-road, that has all of these various obstacles coming at it, compared to a fixed-rail system,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, senior managing director of transportation policy at the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank that has advocated for transit automation. “I don’t know a nice way to say this, but basically the transit world is where innovation goes to die.”

Wide-scale transit automation has been slow to develop in the US

Only in recent years have on-road vehicles from such companies as Waymo,Tesla and Zoox taken the automation lead in the U.S. ahead of transit systems using a track. In fact, although operators have always been part of the Metro subway system in Washington, D.C., trains ran with some automated features when it opened 50 years ago. After a 2009 fatal crash, those were turned off, then restored over the past two years.

Now, officials in the nation's capital have renewed their push for automation on Metro's Red Line. And an environmental review is underway in Los Angeles for an automated track for a new underground line of its heavy-rail system that would cut through the rough terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Honolulu is already running an elevated driverless line — the most expansive automated transit system in the U.S. It'll stretch 19 miles when completed, surpassing the elevated driverless trains Detroit and Miami opened as pilot projects in the 1980s, a monorail connecting hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and smaller systems that carry passengers between airport terminals.

An automated monorail that once ran in Memphis, Tennessee, closed down years ago. And the driverless Jacksonville Skyway will indefinitely halt operations soon due to budget cuts, despite initial plans for an even larger automated system.

Crash slams the brakes on automation efforts

After nine people were killed and many others injured in the 2009 train collision near the Fort Totten station on the D.C. Red Line, the National Transportation Safety Board blamed the crash on a maintenance problem in the automated signaling system that separates trains from one another.

Randy Clarke, CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, pointed out in an interview with The Associated Press that the issue in Fort Totten had nothing to do with the cruise control-like system that was restored on the Red Line in 2024 and the other Metro lines last year. Still, he acknowledged that for many years the crash “paralyzed” Metro's plans for further automation.

“That was a big failure, there’s no question. We do not do anything like that now,” said Clarke, who called the current system “highly regulated, highly documented, very proficient.”

Trains could conceivably run without a human worker inside the cab as early as 2033 under the nearly $1 billion plan Metro's Board of Directors backed in April to upgrade the Red Line with safety features including protective barriers that prevent passengers from getting onto the tracks.

Clarke said that even if workers aren't needed to physically run the trains, they will be needed to maintain the tracks and respond to emergencies.

Unions have been critics of automation. John Samuelsen, a former worker in the New York subway system who now serves as international president of the Transport Workers Union, said unions have fought off automation efforts in New York and elsewhere, calling them “a catastrophe waiting to happen.”

“Passengers will be left dealing with a self-evacuation, which is a disaster in a system which runs on a third rail,” Samuelsen said.

Honolulu touts unblemished record with its automated Skyline

To alleviate massive traffic bottlenecks for commuters, Honolulu opened its Skyline automated light metro transit system three years ago and expanded it last year.

Vance Tsuda, the system's project director, said there hasn't been a single crash or injury associated with automation. Even hybrid systems are less safe than a completely automated one, he said, arguing that a human is far more likely to overlook something like an open door and prematurely clear a train for departure.

“If you have somebody making that decision, they could make a wrong decision,” Tsuda said.

But David King, an associate professor of urban planning at Arizona State University who has researched automated transportation, said the success rate has to remain perfect to keep the public trust. That's why the Fort Totten crash and others involving automation put the technology so far behind, he said.

“We allow a certain amount of failure with private industry that we don’t tolerate when the state does it,” said King, citing the several rockets blown up by Elon Musk's SpaceX — a record he argues would cripple NASA's budget if it happened in the public sector.

LA rolls out safety plans for a subway beneath the mountains

Perhaps the most ambitious transit automation effort being pursued in the U.S. is the subway line Los Angeles officials voted to recommend beneath the Santa Monica Mountains. The area is one of the most notorious traffic headaches in the country, with the mountains dividing the bustling Westside employment hub from the San Fernando Valley.

There's already a subway system under the same mountain range near Hollywood, but that one has a driver onboard. The new proposal, which is undergoing an environmental review, would use shorter, more frequent trains, said Cecily Way, who oversees planning for the Sepulveda Project for LA Metro.

Like the project in Washington, the new line in Los Angeles would feature station doors to protect passengers on the platform from oncoming trains.

Feigenbaum with the Reason Foundation said that automation of a major transit line such as in Los Angeles or Washington could open the floodgates for other cities to follow.

“It sends a signal that this is technologically doable and this is something that maybe other systems are going to want to strive for,” he said.

The league announced the closure to fans on Saturday morning through its “OnePass” app and it came a day after it said its pop-up NFL shop would also be shut Saturday — in both cases citing “potential accessibility issues.”

Security concerns have overshadowed the NFL's debut in Paris. The New Orleans Saints will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Stade de France in the league's first-ever regular-season game in France.

Also Saturday, the Saints announced that “ Saints House has been postponed until Sunday.”

Events planned Saturday at NFL House included “French Athletes in Football” and “From the Field to the Community.”

“I was looking forward to just checking out some of the installations they had — they were going to have the Lombardi Trophy,” fan Nick Paiva said.

Museums closed

Major museums including the Louvre and Orsay Museum are closed Saturday, though tourists were lined up to enter Notre Dame Cathedral. French authorities are intent on preventing a repeat of recent violent unrest.

The U.S. State Department this week issued a security alert that cautioned “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings” because of protests.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities. Street protests, he said, “are not unusual in France.”

On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Goodell along with Saints owner Gayle Benson and Steelers owners Art Rooney II at the Élysée Palace to “discuss Sunday’s game and the long-term future of the NFL in Paris.”

The NFL said Friday that its pop-up shop in the city center would be closed Saturday but that fans could use an alternative shop set up at Stade de France, located north of the city in Saint-Denis.

A weekend event for Steelers fans was canceled Thursday because of security concerns.

Fans react in Paris

Paiva, an American who lives in France, wanted to visit NFL House, where his partner, who is French, could learn more about the sport.

He had also expected to participate in the league’s activation called “Hail Mary over the Seine” in which you try to throw a football across the famed waterway, at a location near Notre Dame. Despite having registered, Paiva was told at the site that he needed to also have made a time-slot reservation.

“That was not communicated very well,” he said after being turned away. “C’est comme ca — it’s the way it is.”

French teenager Oskar Le Gall, wearing a Bryce Young jersey, was able to give it a shot. His throw came up a bit short. A worker on the other side stayed busy scooping balls out of the river using a long pole with a net attached.

Le Gall, who is from the Brittany region, said “the atmosphere of the NFL in Paris is amazing,” noting that French sports leagues and teams typically don't promote themselves that much.

Le Gall and his brother were keeping an eye on the planned path of the protests Saturday.

“It doesn't feel calm and good to be a tourist in Paris,” he said. “It's not good for the NFL.”

At one point during the Hail Mary event, 11 national police vans with their emergency lights flashing drove past on the street above as a fan got ready to throw a ball.

Fan groups staying informed

Steelers fan Monika Allen was able to avoid any protests thanks to advice posted on fan-led Facebook groups.

“The fans are doing a good job keeping each other informed of where to be and where not to be,” Allen said by the ‘Hail Mary’ event.

Her cousin, Viktor Toth, was wearing her Terry Bradshaw black-colored Steelers jersey.

“We're not worried,” she said. "My cousin is Hungarian, so he knows that the protests happen regularly in Paris."

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See AP’s full NFL coverage here

According to Houston TranStar’s weekend construction schedule, closures are planned along the 610 South Loop, I-10, I-69 and several connecting ramps from Saturday, Oct. 24, through Monday, Oct. 26.

Some restrictions will last throughout the weekend, while others are scheduled only during overnight hours.

Here’s a breakdown of the major closures and how to get around them.

610 South Loop closures

Drivers traveling westbound on the 610 South Loop will encounter a complete closure between Broadway Street and Telephone Road.

• Location: Westbound I-610 between Broadway Street and Telephone Road
• Closure: Friday, Oct. 23, at 9 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m.
• Detour: Exit at Broadway Street, continue along the frontage road and use the next entrance ramp to reenter the freeway.

The northbound connector ramp from the 610 South Loop to I-45 Gulf Freeway will also be closed overnight.

• Location: I-610 South Loop northbound connector to I-45 Gulf
• Closure: Nightly from 9 p.m. to noon, Friday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 25.
• Detour: Take the I-45 southbound exit, make a U-turn at Broadway Boulevard/Park Place Boulevard and continue northbound on I-45.

Another closure begins Saturday evening at the westbound exit ramp to Broadway Street.

• Location: I-610 South Loop westbound exit ramp to Broadway Street
• Closure: Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 25, at noon.
• Detour: Exit toward I-45 South, then use the Broadway exit and make a U-turn.

I-10 East Freeway connector closures

Several connector ramps along the East Freeway will be closed this weekend.

The eastbound connector from I-10 to I-610 North is scheduled to remain completely closed until early Monday morning.

• Location: I-10 East eastbound connector to I-610 North
• Closure: Friday, Oct. 23, at 9 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 26, at 5 a.m.
• Detour: Continue eastbound on I-10, take Beltway 8 North, then US-90 West to reach I-610.

The eastbound connector from I-10 to the 610 East Loop will also close overnight from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Sunday morning.

Drivers can use the 610 North Loop U-turn at Wallisville Road to reach the southbound East Loop.

Additionally, the westbound I-10 connector to I-610 North is scheduled to close nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Monday morning.

Drivers can continue westbound on I-10, take I-69 North and connect to I-610.

I-69 Southwest Freeway closure in Sugar Land

Drivers traveling northbound on I-69 through Sugar Land should also expect overnight disruptions.

• Location: Northbound I-69 between University Boulevard and Sweetwater Boulevard
• Closure: Nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23, through Monday, Oct. 26.
• Detour: Exit at University Boulevard and use the entrance ramp near Sweetwater Boulevard/First Colony to return to northbound I-69.

The closure is part of scheduled bridge repair work in Fort Bend County.

I-10 Katy Freeway lane restrictions

Construction along the Katy Freeway will continue to affect traffic near downtown Houston.

Two outside westbound lanes between I-45/Hogan Street and Studemont Street remain closed as part of the ongoing White Oak Bayou elevation project and Studemont Street bridge demolition.

Drivers should also expect alternating lane and ramp closures in both directions between Heights Boulevard and I-45.

Additional overnight eastbound lane closures are scheduled between Studemont Street and I-45 through Monday morning.

Unlike the weekend-specific restrictions, some of these closures are part of longer-term construction projects and will remain in place beyond Monday.

610 North Loop and East Loop restrictions

Additional work is scheduled on other sections of I-610.

Two inside lanes of the eastbound North Loop frontage road between Airline Drive and I-45 North are scheduled to close from Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. until Sunday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m.

Drivers on the East Loop should also prepare for alternating lane closures near Wallisville Road and McCarty Street/US-90 Alternate, with work scheduled to continue through Monday morning.

How to check road conditions before leaving

Houston TranStar reminds drivers that construction schedules are subject to change because of weather, emergencies or other circumstances.

Motorists are encouraged to allow additional travel time, watch for construction signs and check current traffic conditions before heading out.

For updated closure information, visit Houston TranStar’s construction schedule or its live traffic map.

They “came out of the woodwork” she said, and had stayed silent because it was well established that coming forward would be the end of a career they had worked so hard to achieve.

“Those were some of the hardest conversations to have," Cammack said. "And the stories were gut-wrenching."

This year's spike in House Ethics Committee investigations related to sexual misconduct prompted congressional leaders to set up a working group led by Cammack and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M. What they have found is disturbing, Cammack said.

Victims are unclear about where they can go for help. They do not trust there will be repercussions for the perpetrator. And the current requirements for reporting harassment can work against them, such as a 180-day “shot clock” for filing a claim after an alleged violation.

“It's a disaster," Cammack said. “The entire system on Capitol Hill is really designed to create a chilling effect for victims."

The task force is expected to release recommended changes after the Nov. 3 elections with a goal of taking action before the end of the year.

A deluge of ethics cases led to this moment

In a Congress that has generally struggled this year to do more than keep the federal government running, the House Ethics Committee has been caught in the middle of the some of the biggest stories coming out of Washington.

Three lawmakers resigned this year rather than face the prospect of an expulsion vote. Two of those cases involved alleged sexual misconduct. Another member was censured for his interactions with two female aides on his staff. Other investigations are ongoing.

Those stories emerged at a time when Congress was confronted by public outrage over the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. In the previous months, members of the Democratic Women's Caucus had multiple meetings with survivors who were pushing for the release of Epstein-related files at the Department of Justice.

In April, the Ethics Committee began an investigation into whether then-Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision. Swalwell would soon resign as colleagues called for his expulsion.

Similarly, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, resigned as the committee investigated whether he had engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office. Gonzales had acknowledged an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.

Most recently, the committee recommended the censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., following an investigation that concluded he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers in his office. The House went along with the recommendation by a vote of 413-2.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., is also the subject of a committee investigation that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct with a House staffer. Gomez said he would cooperate with the investigation but also stressed that his actions were consensual in nature and did not violate the law or House Ethics rules. He also apologized to his family and constituents.

The committee is also investigating whether Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., engaged in sexual misconduct or dating violence, among other allegations. Mills has denied the allegations and recently lost a Republican primary.

Lawmakers felt called to action

Cammack said that as stories began to surface about some of the cases before the committee, she and colleagues began talking about what they could do to “clean up the House.” She approached Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about getting on board.

Johnson’s response, she said, was: “Well, good timing, because I was going to come to you and ask you to take this effort up.”

Leger Fernandez was also talking with Democratic leadership about reforms when Cammack reached out to her about working together.

“What was neat is on both sides of the aisle, the Democratic Women's Caucus and the Republican Women's Caucus were both saying there needs to be structural changes. We need to work together,” Leger Fernandez said.

The working group started with listening sessions that included lawmakers and staff. They also reached out to people in the military, corporate America and victims advocacy groups for advice on best practices. Cammack and Leger Fernandez held a packed-room meeting with staff in July.

Several ideas for reform are on the table

Congress has tried to address the issue of sexual harassment before.

It passed legislation in 2018 that among other things required lawmakers to reimburse the Treasury Department for awards and settlements related to sexual harassment cases. It also required that staff have access to a dedicated advocate who can guide them through the process of filing a claim with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

Some recommendations from the task force will involve changing House rules. Lawmakers are already banned from having sexual relationships with members of their own staff or their committees' staff. But the task force wants to expand the ban to include all congressional staff.

“If you are looking to advance your love life on Capitol Hill, you're there for the wrong reason, in my opinion,” said Cammack, who served as a congressional aide for several years before winning election to the House.

The working group is also seeking to streamline the reporting system for staff to report harassment. Many simply do not know where to go with a complaint.

“I call it a 911 for sexual harassment line that you can make one call and find out what all the alternative options might be for somebody,” Leger Fernandez said.

Another change could be to give alleged victims more time to file a complaint. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces antidiscrimination laws, also enforces a 180-day window for filing a complaint, but that can be extended to 300 days in cases covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law.

Increasing the time for filing a complaint would be an update to the Congressional Accountability Act, which requires Congress to follow many of the same employment laws that apply to the private sector. Updating current law would also require Senate buy-in, complicating prospects.

The working group is also looking to increase accountability for lawmakers and senior members of their staff who engage in harassment.

“The fact that we're still trying to insist that it is not OK to sexually abuse or harass women in 2026 is outrageous, and if you're a woman, is so incredibly frustrating and sad," Leger Fernandez said.

The new diplomatic push comes after more than 4½ years of fighting, bringing with it a surprise announcement on Friday: Kyiv and Moscow have agreed to a local ceasefire to allow aid next week into a stranded town in Ukraine's southern war-divided region of Kherson, following secret consultations between Melania Trump and civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine.

While the initiative raised hopes of similar humanitarian missions in the future, there were few indications that any of the key positions have shifted. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian territory it does not fully control, while Kyiv insists any agreement must include ironclad guarantees against another invasion.

Within hours of Russian President Vladimir Putin saying he agreed “in principle” to restart talks, Russia launched a deadly barrage of ballistic missiles and drones on Kyiv. Moscow on the same day said it had destroyed more than 800 Ukrainian drones heading toward its cities.

Here’s a look at where the two countries stand as potential negotiations loom.

Peace talks likely in mid-November

U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff secured the latest commitment to talks after shuttling between Oslo, Norway, and St. Petersburg, Russia, this week to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin.

A new round of negotiations would be the fourth brokered by the Trump administration, following the most recent round in Geneva in February.

A Kremlin spokesman said that the next round of talks is likely to be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, around mid-November. Western governments backing the peace initiative are seeking a new formula to break the impasse while acknowledging that territorial and security questions remain unresolved.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s ties with Zelenskyy, meanwhile, have sunk to a new low. Moscow has been bolstered by Trump’s deal for Russia to supply the U.S. with diesel and his recent rejection of new Russia sanctions.

Kyiv has been undermined by disruptions in satellite support for its drones after rejecting a call by the U.S. president to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukrainian leaders fear the moves will embolden Putin, giving him little incentive to compromise at the negotiating table.

As Trump increased pressure on Zelenskyy, accusing him of being an obstacle to peace, Witkoff secured the release of an American who had been jailed for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. The envoy described the Russian leader as a “humanitarian” at their meeting in St. Petersburg — a remark met with consternation in Ukraine.

The two sides are still far apart

While both sides back calls for new talks, Russia and Ukraine are still far apart on their terms for a settlement, while their armies remain locked on the battlefield and they pummel each other with daily long-range strikes.

Central to Russia’s demands is full control of four Ukrainian regions it illegally annexed months after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, in addition to Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine but has failed to capture all the territory in the regions over which it claims sovereignty.

In a long list of demands, Moscow also wants Ukraine to withdraw forces from all four annexed regions, renounce its bid to join NATO, reduce the size of its military and drop restrictions against the Russian language and a Moscow-affiliated branch of the Orthodox Church.

Speaking on state television late Thursday, Putin said Moscow remains "ready to negotiate and seek solutions to this difficult, complex situation,” before adding: “But if some prefer a different path, so be it. In any case, all the objectives of the special military operation will be achieved.”

Zelenskyy — who for months has publicly advocated for peace talks — argues that giving up land would leave Ukraine more vulnerable to future attacks. Kyiv views security guarantees as essential to prevent Russia from restarting the war in the future.

The Ukrainian president has reaffirmed support for a ceasefire that would freeze front-line positions, followed by talks on conditions for ending the war. Moscow has rejected a break in hostilities until a comprehensive agreement on its terms is reached.

Security guarantees remain unresolved

While Kyiv and Moscow have maintained limited contact to organize prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers, previous talks have made no progress on the security arrangements needed to sustain a peace deal.

Ukraine believes security guarantees backed by Western allies are essential to any future settlement, ideally in the form of NATO membership — an option Vladimir Putin has rejected. Ukraine expects to heavily rely on its own army as the main security guarantee with financial backing from its allies.

Other elements of security guarantees being discussed range from NATO membership, which the U.S. administration has currently ruled out, direct guarantees from the United States in what Zelenskyy has described as an “Article 5-like format” and backing by the European-led 30-country alliance known as the Coalition of the Willing.

Article 5 of the NATO charter contains the alliance's mutual-defense guarantee, which establishes that an attack on one is an attack on all.

“All of these guarantees are possible on the basis of a strong Ukrainian army — in terms of both numbers and quality — with clear funding, and not a small amount. Our colleagues in Europe and America know this,” Zelenskyy told reporters Thursday at a briefing.

Following the massive attacks on Kyiv and other cities this week, he argued that only increased Western pressure on Moscow would change its calculations about future peace talks.

“It is important to keep trying to find the right solutions to end this war,” Zelenskyy wrote in an online post. “But when Russia responds to negotiations with ballistic missiles, real pressure on Russia is needed to bring about different steps — steps toward ending the killing.”

The City of Sugar Land is moving forward with a $15 million preservation project for the historic Imperial Sugar Char House, following City Council approval of a construction contract on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The century-old building, once part of the Imperial Sugar refinery, has long stood as a reminder of the city’s industrial beginnings. Now, officials hope to preserve the landmark while preparing it for a new purpose.

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The project is part of a broader effort to transform the former Imperial Sugar property into a destination featuring businesses, restaurants, public gathering spaces and other amenities.

What renovations are planned for the Char House?

According to the city, the preservation project will focus on repairing and protecting the historic building while making it suitable for future redevelopment.

Planned improvements include:

• Installing a new permanent roof.
• Repairing exterior walls and portions of the building’s structure.
• Restoring historic windows.
• Making mechanical and electrical improvements.
• Repairing portions of the building’s steel and masonry.
• Restoring and relocating the iconic Imperial Sugar signage to reflect its historic placement.

The work is designed to preserve the building’s original industrial character while addressing deterioration that has accumulated over decades.

City officials say the improvements will also help position the property for possible future uses, including office space, restaurants, retail and other commercial businesses.

However, no specific tenants or final uses for the building have been announced.

Why is the Char House important to Sugar Land?

The Char House is one of the most recognizable remnants of the Imperial Sugar refinery, which helped shape the city’s early development and identity.

Constructed during the 1920s, the eight-story building played a central role in processing and refining sugar.

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The refinery provided jobs and helped support a company town that eventually developed into modern-day Sugar Land.

“More than an iconic building, the Char House is a physical connection to Sugar Land’s history and the origins of our community,” said Mayor Carol K. McCutcheon. “This investment allows us to protect an irreplaceable landmark while creating new possibilities for how it can contribute to Sugar Land’s future.”

After the refinery closed in 2003, the historic property remained largely vacant as multiple redevelopment efforts failed to move forward. KPRC 2 previously reported on the challenges surrounding the property’s redevelopment in 2022, when the city was exploring options for the privately owned site.

“We’ve turned a long-stalled opportunity into tangible progress and are being intentional about every step forward,” said Devon Rodriguez, Director of Redevelopment. “We’re making smart investments today that preserve the Char House’s character, address challenges that have hindered previous redevelopment efforts and pave the way for a future development partner to bring new life and activity to this historic property.”

The Char House continued to stand as a prominent landmark, even as the surrounding property deteriorated.

The former Imperial Sugar refinery district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

City officials say preserving the building is an important part of protecting Sugar Land’s history while creating new opportunities for the property.

Where is the $15 million coming from?

The city says the preservation project is supported by funding from a previously issued $50 million Certificate of Obligation used for the acquisition and preservation of the Imperial property.

The funding is backed by Sugar Land’s economic development sales tax corporations.

The city acquired nearly 40 acres of the former Imperial Sugar property in June 2025, taking ownership of the Char House and surrounding historic district.

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The acquisition allowed officials to begin pursuing a comprehensive redevelopment plan after years of unsuccessful private development attempts.

According to the city, the preservation work is also being designed to meet Texas Historical Commission standards, helping maintain eligibility for historic tax credits that could offset future development costs.

What could the Imperial Sugar property become?

The Char House restoration is only one part of Sugar Land’s larger vision for the Imperial Historic District.

Following the city’s acquisition of the property, officials launched a community planning process to gather feedback from residents, businesses and other stakeholders.

In February 2026, City Council adopted a vision for the district emphasizing historic preservation, public gathering spaces, walkability and new economic activity.

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The city envisions a mixed-use destination that could include dining, shopping, entertainment and other community-oriented spaces.

However, those concepts are part of the long-term vision and do not represent finalized development plans.

“The progress we’re seeing at Imperial today is a direct reflection of the vision and leadership of both our previous and current City Councils,” said Michael Goodrum, City Manager. “Their shared commitment to Sugar Land’s future gave us the foundation to take bold steps, challenge the status quo and pursue a trailblazing approach to an opportunity that had gone unrealized for decades. That willingness to think big and lead with purpose is what continues to move Imperial forward.”

Sugar Land is currently evaluating potential master development partners to guide the broader redevelopment effort.

Additional details about the selected partner and future plans are expected in 2027.

When will construction begin?

The city has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for Thursday, Nov. 5, at 4:30 p.m.

Construction crews are expected to begin mobilizing in December 2026, with preservation work currently scheduled for completion in March 2028.

Urbano Architects is leading the project’s design, while Bellows Construction is serving as construction manager.

Although the restoration will prepare the Char House for future use, it does not mean the building will immediately reopen to the public once the preservation work is complete.

The city says the Char House and surrounding restricted areas remain closed to visitors until they can be safely accessed.

More information about the restoration and future redevelopment plans is available on the City of Sugar Land’s Imperial Historic District website.

In Evanston, Illinois, she helped turn that question into a $25,000 housing grant for Black residents whose families were harmed by discriminatory housing policies. Now, Rue Simmons is spreading the nation’s first municipal reparations program to more than 100 communities across the country.

But as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, there is a formidable hurdle: President Donald Trump's administration.

The administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and its broader efforts to curtail federal support for race-based initiatives and Black history, have prompted some institutions to reconsider or quietly scale back reparations work.

Those reversals come while at least part of the world community is reexamining the past. In March the U.N. General Assembly issued a resolution declaring the trafficking of millions of enslaved Africans “the gravest crime against humanity” and calling for reparations. More than 120 countries supported the resolution — only three voted against it — Argentina, Israel and the U.S. Fifty-two, including England and 27 members of the European Union, abstained.

“Under this administration, of course, there are many barriers to achieving that, but we still stand on federal redress as our collective north star,” Rue Simmons, the chairman of Evanston’s Reparations Committee and a former city councilwoman, told The Associated Press.

A city pushes forward

For more than three and half centuries, the trans-Atlantic slave trade forced an estimated 12.5 million Africans aboard ships bound for the Americas; some 1.8 million didn't survive the journey. Roughly 388,000 enslaved people were taken to what is now the U.S. and their enslavers maintained a system of chattel slavery, treating the enslaved and their children as property, until abolition in 1865.

Enslavement deprived generations of Black Americans their freedom and any meaningful share of the fruits of their labor. Jim Crow segregation, discrimination and systemic racism further depressed the Black population's ability to build wealth that is still largely concentrated among white families.

From the unfulfilled promise of 40 acres and a mule, to modern day reparations proposals, initiatives to address the legacy of slavery are entering a new era of political uncertainty.

“I don’t think that there’s been any president who’s been supportive of comprehensive Black reparations — for a long time it was just taboo to even speak the word," said William Darity, who wrote a book on reparations with A. Kirsten Mullen.

"Now, Trump will speak the word, but with hostility,” he added.

“They want to steal your money for reparations,” Trump told his supporters during a speech in September. "Our country doesn’t have that kind of money. ... The people that hate our country are asking for it, but it’s going nowhere.”

Marcus Anthony Hunter, a sociologist in African American studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, said reparations are about atoning for the past crime of chattel slavery, even if some programs come in the form of housing grants or college scholarships instead of direct cash payments.

"It's not even a lot of money that they are given. But it comes back to the recognition, the acknowledgment, responsibility and remedy,” he said.

The Trump administration disagrees and has entered the legal fight in Evanston to stop it from happening.

Stopping plans before they start

The Republican administration's attacks on modern-day repayment efforts include a lawsuit in Evanston, which was initially filed by Judicial Watch.

Michael Bekesha, who represents the plaintiffs, says the Evanston program distributes funds based on race without specific harm identification. He argues the city's program is unlike historical reparations programs.

“The Constitution prohibits governments from picking winners and losers based entirely on race," Beshka told the AP.

The Justice Department this month received a federal judge's permission to intervene in the case, alleging that the city’s actions violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and the Fair Housing Act.

Last year, the Justice Department sent a letter of warning to leaders in Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina, contemplating creating their own programs.

Kiersten Pels, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, said in a statement to the AP that “race-based government benefit programs are both unconstitutional and often violate federal civil rights laws."

"Those implementing these programs do so in violation of federal law and the federal government has an obligation to stop them,” she said.

The White House referred questions to the Justice Department.

What institutions are doing, and no longer doing

Georgetown University was one of the leaders, offering admission consideration for the descendants of enslaved people tied to the campus’ past, an effort that has continued despite Trump’s crackdown on campus DEI efforts.

But across higher education, new efforts have come to a standstill, said Richard Cellini, who previously led a Harvard University project to identify descendants of people enslaved by Harvard’s past leaders.

“People don’t want to talk about it, they don’t want to hear about it, they’re not hiring for it,” Cellini said.

At Harvard, Cellini's team identified nearly 500 living descendants of enslaved people tied to Harvard’s past. But just days after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 and signed an anti-DEI order aimed at U.S. universities, Harvard fired the entire team.

Research by an outside company, American Ancestors, has continued. But Harvard has yet to provide redress to living descendants.

Harvard declined to comment for this story. The Education Department referred questions to the Justice Department.

Some Virginia universities have quietly been taking steps to provide scholarships to descendants, as required under a 2021 state law. But otherwise there has been no sign of new scholarship programs being started since Trump returned to office, said Kirt von Daacke, a University of Virginia historian who leads a consortium of colleges studying slavery.

“I don’t think there is any will to do anything that would threaten federal research dollars,” he said.

How descendants are using reparations

The Georgetown initiative focuses on descendants of slaves sold by Georgetown's Jesuit priests to slaveholders in Louisiana.

Juan Woolfolk, 36, one of the Georgetown descendants, is using the $10,000 scholarship he has received indirectly through a foundation set up for descendants to pursue a degree in museum studies at Southern University at New Orleans. He called it a “tremendous opportunity,” especially with the seeming attack on presenting the nation’s past accurately.

The Virginia Theological Seminary makes annual cash payments to the descendants whose family members labored on its campus during slavery and Jim Crow eras. The private institution's program is funded by an endowment started in 2019 that has grown from $1.7 million to $2.8 million. Payments to individuals vary based on the closest lineage to the family members and continue into perpetuity.

“We believe we’re the only educational institution in the United States which makes annual cash reparations payments” with no strings attached, said Nicky Burridge, the seminary’s spokeswoman.

“The moral repair, the healing aspect is as great as the monetary one,” said Ebonee Davis-Hayes, director of reparations.

In Evanston, Joe Martin, a 46-year-old reparations recipient who works as a Delta flight attendant, said he was pleasantly surprised with the program. The nation’s history has been to ignore the contributions of Black Americans helping “build America” or the terror they endured, he said.

Now, the Trump administration supports stopping the program he benefits from.

"We all know the history, 40 acres and a mule didn’t go down the way it was supposed to,” he said, and so someone establishes a program that’s legitimate and “the government’s like, naw.”

The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the capital, Amman.

Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen who appear to be holding pistols approaching the church and firing shots. A third man who appears to be holding a semiautomatic rifle then approaches and opens fire, and all three then run toward the church.

Video footage taken by witnesses shows broken glass and pools of blood on the floor of the church.

Dorgham Halasa, who was among the mourners inside the church, said intense gunfire erupted 15 minutes after the funeral had started, and then people started running. “It was a weird situation, and heavy gunfire,” Halasa said.

He did not see the gunmen, but said other people reported seeing four of them. The Associated Press could not independently verify the number of assailants, and Jordan’s security services did not immediately release details.

A government statement said that the attack was “carried out by unknown assailants,” but didn't say whether any gunmen were captured or killed. It said that “investigations are underway at full speed.”

Jordan declared three days of national mourning, according to the kingdom’s Petra News Agency.

Karak is home to a minority Christian population.

In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Karak, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10 people, including seven officers, and wounding dozens. Jordanian security forces killed those gunmen after a long standoff.

Jordan’s Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of those wounded are in critical condition.

King Abdullah II said on X that Jordan “will confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties” and offered his “deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, and our wishes for recovery to the wounded.”

Jordan’s Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said during a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening that the attack was a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He said the assailants will be punished and legal measures taken against those who seek to introduce extremism.

Condemnation of the slayings came from around the region, including from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Oman.

Ahmed al-Tayeb in Cairo, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the Sunni Muslim world’s foremost religious institution, offered his condolences to the families of victims in Friday’s shooting, calling it a “heinous terrorist attack.”

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein called his Jordanian counterpart and “affirmed Iraq’s solidarity with Jordan in the face of terrorism,” Hussein’s office said in a statement.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack during a funeral as “especially heinous,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “The secretary-general also calls for all those responsible to be found and to be held to account.”

___

This story has been corrected to give the distance between Karak and Amman as 90 kilometers instead of 180.

Mesa and Jonathan Aranda were caught stealing in consecutive innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers scored twice in a two-pitch span when hard-hit balls deflected off the gloves of center fielder Jonny DeLuca and shortstop Taylor Walls in the first.

Milwaukee came away with a 3-2 victory Friday night, winning on the margins and taking advantage of the types of mistakes the Rays usually pounce on to beat opponents.

“Definitely have to be smart. We talked about that coming in,” Tampa Bay outfielder Chandler Simpson said. “They just played the game better than us today.”

DeLuca missed his attempt at a diving catch on Christian Yelich’s one-out drive in the first inning with Jackson Chourio on first base. Yelich hit an 0-2 cutter to the right-center gap and DeLuca sprinted 85 feet and sprawled. The ball bounced off his glove in front of the warning track and rolled away for a go-ahead triple.

“You can’t be perfect in this game,” DeLuca said. “You’re going to fail a lot more than you’re going to succeed.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash didn't view it as a failure.

“Jonny covered a lot of ground right there to even make that play close," he said. “Highlight-reel play.”

With the infield in, William Contreras lined the next pitch at 108.4 mph. The ball glanced off the webbing of Walls' glove and into left field for an RBI single and a 2-0 lead.

“We gave ourselves plenty of opportunities, put ourselves in really good positions to score runs, to prevent runs,” Walls said. “We had some good plays where we did prevent some, and then we had some that we were inches away from maybe saving a couple more.”

With the Rays trailing 2-1 after Liam Hicks' RBI groundout in the fourth, Mesa was caught stealing third for the final out of the fifth with slugger Yandy Díaz at the plate.

“Victor is really competing, trying to do something to make something happen, put a little pressure on the defense,” Cash said, “and it didn’t work in our favor.”

One inning later, Aranda was thrown out trying to swipe second as Simpson struck out on a low slider for an inning-ending double play.

“That’s on me, ultimately. So much trust in Chandler putting the ball in play,” Cash said. “But he had a pretty nasty pitch.”

Contreras, the Brewers' catcher, had an excellent 1.49-second pop time in throwing out Mesa.

“Not surprised by anything that he did, but that’s not going to change our aggressive approach, certainly on the bases,” Cash said.

In the seventh, reliever Steven Matz issued a leadoff walk to Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt after getting ahead 1-2 in the count. Pratt eventually came around to score a critical insurance run.

Tampa Bay went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position while Milwaukee was 2 for 8. The Rays led the major leagues with a .283 RISP average during the season and the Brewers were second at .276.

“They play the same type of game we play, so we know it’s going to be close, like today was, and we're expecting that all throughout the Series,” Simpson said. “We've got to continue to play our game the best that we can and we should come out on top most of the time.”

___

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Not quite yet.

What initially was ruled a game-ending double play got overturned after a video review showed Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s right foot was slightly off the bag when he reached to catch a high throw from second baseman Brice Turang.

No problem.

Megill regrouped and struck out Jonny DeLuca with two runners in scoring position as Milwaukee edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

“It's good to get the first win out of the way,” Megill said. “That's where all the nerves are at. First game, a lot of anticipation and build-up to where we are right now."

The ninth inning was particularly nerve-racking for the Brewers and the sellout crowd attending Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982.

“You have a big range of emotions,” said team captain Christian Yelich, whose RBI triple in the first put the Brewers ahead for good. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump and then have to get back on it.”

Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 and hadn’t put a runner on since the sixth until it mounted its comeback attempt against Megill.

Jonathan Aranda, who went 3 for 3 with a walk, and Chandler Simpson hit consecutive one-out singles. A double steal involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put runners on second and third before Junior Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases.

Liam Hicks hit a grounder to the right side, and Turang ranged well to his left to field the ball before throwing to Pratt to start what initially was called a 4-6-3 double play.

Fireworks went off, players poured onto the field and Milwaukee fans roared. But then the crowd hushed as it watched the play again on the videoboard.

“You've got to think worst-case scenario there,” Megill said. “I thought the challenge was at first base, maybe a bobble or something. But it was pretty clear once the replay went up that it was on the play at second base. Zoomed in and it didn't look good. It's all right. We picked up Cooper there. He'll pick us up tomorrow.”

The out call at second was changed to safe by umpire Alfonso Márquez at the MLB Replay Center, which caught Pratt by surprise.

“Obviously, it was close,” the 22-year-old rookie said. “I just didn't think it was enough to overturn, so I wasn't thinking anything of it. The video I saw, thought my cleat was dragging. ... There must have been some other angles that I haven't seen. It ultimately didn't matter because we won.”

The Brewers won because Megill got DeLuca to swing and miss at a 2-2 pitch, capping a night in which Tampa Bay went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

“This is an extremely confident group,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You know that. We know that. They’re going to be fine. I think the frustration comes from we were one swing of the bat away right at the end of potentially taking the lead.”

The Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 62.8% of the time.

This marks the first World Series featuring two teams seeking their first championship since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals in six games. The only other major league clubs without a World Series title are the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Nick Martinez. NL Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run and four hits over five innings to help the Brewers stay in front before relievers Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby shut down the Rays through the eighth.

Misiorowski, who had a season-low three strikeouts, opened the game with a 103.5 mph fastball — the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series.

“The adrenaline kind of took over, and I tensed up and threw it hard,” said Misiorowski, who earned the win. “Then I settled down, and that was the game plan, to settle in and do me. Don’t try and overdo it.”

Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio and William Contreras each had two hits, including an RBI single. Contreras also threw out two runners trying to steal.

Tampa Bay managed to hang around thanks in part to Martinez, who gave up those two runs in the first but held Milwaukee scoreless through the rest of his five-inning stint. The Brewers added an insurance run in the seventh when Chourio singled home Pratt.

Then came all the action in the ninth, with the Brewers' premature celebration followed by a team-wide sigh of relief as Pratt offered some parting words to Megill.

“I just said, ‘Thank you, man. Thanks for picking me up,’” Pratt said. “That’s what this game is. It's a game of pick-me-up. He picked me up today.”

Up next

Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) pitches for Tampa Bay and Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47) starts for Milwaukee in Game 2 on Saturday night. In this postseason, Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and Henderson is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

“I had so much adrenaline built up,” he said.

He threw a pitch the likes of which had never been seen in the Fall Classic.

The Miz broke the World Series velocity record with his very first delivery, a 103.5 mph fastball to the Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz that was taken high out of the strike zone for a ball. He allowed one run over five innings to get his first postseason win as a starter, helping the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory in Friday night’s opener.

“I don’t even know how to tell you how I felt,” the 24-year-old right-hander said a half-hour after the end of a crazy ninth inning, prolonged by a game-extending video review. “I still don’t know how I felt. I feel like I’m still trying to take everything in and understand what happened.”

Misiorowski gave up four hits and one walk, striking out a season-low three.

Aroldis Chapman of the Chicago Cubs had the previous mark for fastest Series pitch at 103.2 mph in the ninth inning of Game 2 in 2016, an offering that resulted in a groundout to second by Cleveland’s Coco Crisp. The previous high by a Series starting pitcher since tracking began in 2008 was 101.1 mph by the New York Mets’ Noah Syndergaard to Kansas City’s Ben Zobrist that was taken for a ball in the first inning of Game 3 in 2015.

Miz reached 100 mph with 38 pitches, topping the previous Series high of 24 by Chapman in Game 5 of 2016. The most by a starting pitcher in the Series had been six by Tampa Bay’s Tyler Glasnow in the 2020 opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tampa Bay scored in the fourth when Jonathan Aranda walked, took third on Junior Caminero’s double over center fielder Garrett Mitchell and came around on Liam Hicks’ grounder to first baseman Jake Bauers.

Nearing the end of his first full major league season, Misiorowski has reached 100 mph with 134 of 260 postseason pitches. But his spin rate was down, a sign of a season in which he has pitched 188 innings — up from 141 1/3 innings last year. And he got just seven swings and misses, five on his fastball.

Tampa Bay batters fouled off 20 of his 78 pitches and tipped another.

During the regular season, Misiorowski reached 100 mph with 1,115 pitches, including a high of 105.5 mph to the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong on June 27.

“What we’re used to seeing in the regular season was Miz just mow through people and have two strikeouts an inning. That’s unrealistic,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “This is the best team in the American League.”

Miz's first pitch was so fast the scoreboard at American Family Field couldn't keep up, flashing 103.4 mph — one-tenth of a mile less than it registered on MLB’s Statcast system.

“He’s such a special pitcher,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I felt like for him to be out of the game at five innings, there’s a small win in that.”

Misiorowski threw fastballs on 10 of his first 12 pitches, then mixed in more offspeed stuff. In all he tossed 48 fastballs, 17 cutters, seven sliders and six curveballs.

Miz finished with 30 pitches at 101 mph or higher, 11 of 102 mph or more and three at 103-plus mph.

Warming up in the bullpen, he couldn't take in the introductions before Milwaukee's first World Series game in 44 years. He thought about how far he had come, how he was at Double-A Biloxi two years ago.

“It was crazy," he said. “It’s everything I dreamed of.”

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Now it's unclear whether the Dallas star will miss any more time.

Last season's NBA Rookie of the Year did not play in the second half of Dallas' 121-105 victory Friday night over the Indiana Pacers after landing hard on his left shoulder after Aaron Nesmith tried to block his shot from behind to prevent a breakaway dunk.

Instead, Flagg landed hard on his shoulder.

“Cooper has left shoulder soreness, he'll be evaluated in the next couple of days,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said before addressing whether Flagg needed an MRI. “I really don't know. I saw him in the locker room, he's in good spirits. We'll know in the next couple days what's next.”

Flagg did not speak to reporters following the game.

He was off to a fast start in his second pro season. Two days after scoring 32 points to become the highest scoring teenager in a season opener in league history, Flagg was on pace for his first triple double of the season. He finished with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes.

But it was how he left that had everyone talking and scuffling as Mavericks players came to the defense of their hurting teammate.

Forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith under the basket, drawing players from both teams into a brief fray. After a replay review, the refs assessed double technical fouls to Nesmith and Marshall. Flagg then made 1 of 2 free throws and continued to rub his shoulder as he walked toward the locker room.

Two Mavericks players also appeared to leave the bench though May said he thought both went to check on Flagg, perhaps avoiding any disciplinary action from the league.

“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I've known him since he was in high school," said May, who reached two NCAA Final Fours and won last year's national championship just a few blocks away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop's fine.”

Another brief scuffle broke out between the teams near midcourt in the second half though it led to technicals or flagrant fouls. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle noted that Indiana has now played two games that have resulted in multiple scuffles.

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See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Vance had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (177 kph) as it churned about 385 miles (620 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco, according to an advisory from the Miami-based hurricane center.

The storm was nearing major hurricane strength, the center said, though gradual weakening was expected to start by Saturday.

The hurricane's outer bands were already funneling gale-force winds and rough seas into Mexico's Gulf of Tehuantepec, the center said.

It’s been an intense hurricane season in the Pacific Ocean, with storms spawning in assembly-line fashion near Hawaii and Mexico as El Niño conditions worsened by global warming create unusual weather, like this week's severe flooding and tornadoes hitting the southwestern United States and the prolonged drought in Central America's Dry Corridor.

Vance would be the seventh major hurricane in a row this year in the Pacific, following Nolo, Odalys, Polo, Rachel, Simon and Trudy. The World Meteorological Organization's Hurricane Committee doesn't use less common names beginning with Q and U.

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This story has been corrected to remove an erroneous reference to storm names beginning with X, Y and Z.

The force of the helicopter blades pummeled the water, whipping up spray and turbulence. The Coast Guard rescue swimmer couldn’t hear anything over the noise or see anything in the darkness. Waves of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) hit him.

All he could do was follow the searchlight from the helicopter with the hope it would lead him to the more than two dozen people flung into the cold waters some 140 miles (225 kilometers) off the coast of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. He would personally rescue 16 of them.

“I was experiencing exhaustion at that point," Law, 24, told The Associated Press in his first interview since the rescue. "We had very little sleep. But what I was experiencing was nothing compared to what they were at that point ... I just had to keep that in mind.”

Over the next two hours in the predawn hours of Oct. 16, Law was the sole person in the water who would get the people whose boat had capsized to safety. Eleven others were never found. The Coast Guard called off its search late Sunday.

Law described the dramatic operation to save lives along a remote route frequented by migrant smuggling boats. What the boat was doing out there and where it originated from are part of a federal investigation. It was unclear if the vessel got lost, had engine failure, was swept out to sea or meant to go that far. Only pieces of the boat were found. All who were rescued are Mexican, the Mexican consulate said.

The Coast Guard said U.S. Customs and Border Protection was investigating and interviewing the survivors, but the agency did not respond to multiple inquiries on whether the vessel was a migrant smuggling boat.

The alarm sounded, awakening the Coast Guard crew

The mayday call came in around 1 a.m.

Someone said their boat was sinking in the middle of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico.

Within minutes, the alarm sounded at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Ventura, northwest of Los Angeles, rousing Law and his colleagues from their sleep.

Helicopter pilot Lt. Miyako Miller checked flying conditions and planned the flight route that would take the crew of four over the vast ocean south of the U.S. border.

Law prepared his dry suit, fins and medical items, then put on a harness that would be hooked onto a cable to lower him down from the aircraft into the ocean.

By 2 a.m., they were taking off from the Coast Guard station in Ventura.

Pilot says she was guided by the stars

Miller wore night vision goggles to help her fly in the dark. She said she relied on the stars, with no moonlight that night.

As the crew approached the reported location of the sinking, Miller spotted a tiny flicker of light in the distance.

Then she spotted what looked like debris floating in the water, but it was difficult to distinguish what it was. Miller carefully navigated the helicopter over the area, lowering the aircraft until it was hovering about 40 feet (12 meters) above the water.

“I’m doing my best to maintain my references externally by looking outside through the night vision goggles," Miller said, adding that meanwhile “the flight mechanic is telling me where to position the helicopter.”

Some 250 miles (400 kilometers) southwest of Ensenada, Mexico, is Guadalupe Island, a biosphere reserve that is well known as a place brimming with great white sharks.

Law said he didn’t think about what was in the water as he hooked himself to a cable and zipped into the ocean, strapped in a harness.

There was no time to waste. While Law’s dry suit provided some warmth, he knew the others had already spent hours in hypothermic temperature waters.

Law said he was guided by a searchlight from the crew, which allowed him to catch a glimpse of the people in the water.

They were scattered across a wide area. Some were wearing life vests that had tiny lights that produced the flicker first spotted by Miller. Others clung onto one another, buoys and pieces of wreckage, shivering and treading water to stay afloat.

Law said he swam to them, flipped them on their backs, put his arm over them and pulled them up using the “buddy tow” technique. Kicking his legs to swim, he carried them to the spot where he could signal the flight mechanic to lower a basket for them to be picked up.

“With one hand, I’m holding the survivor. With the other, I am signaling to the helicopter and working with the device,” he said.

He placed them into the basket, one by one. Then it was hoisted up repeatedly to the helicopter where the crew got each person into the aircraft before lowering the basket again.

Law’s dry suit slowly filled up to his knees with water, feeling like weights pulling on him as he battled heavy waves while swimming back and forth.

With little fuel, the crew flew to San Diego where ambulances waited

With a packed helicopter and dwindling fuel, the crew decided to head to the Coast Guard station in San Diego where ambulances were waiting.

On the flight, Law treated three people with what he described as “bad” wounds, staunching the bleeding. Several of the injuries were “consistent with shark bites" and the Coast Guard provided life-saving first aid, the agency said in a statement Saturday.

Customs and Border Protection officers went to a hospital and said they would process the survivors according to immigration laws after they were medically cleared. Nearly half of those rescued have since been returned to Mexico, U.S. officials said.

Law and his crew returned to Ventura that morning — it was by far the longest rescue operation he had ever done, he said.

The search for the 11 others continued for another two days to no avail. The Coast Guard, alongside Mexico and the U.S. Navy, searched more than 2,441 square miles (6,322 square kilometers) for a combined 89 hours.

Migrants are increasingly turning to the risky alternative offered by smugglers to travel by sea to avoid heavily guarded land borders. Small boats called pangas leave Baja at night and sometimes travel hundreds of miles (kilometers) north.

The suspect was arrested soon after the shooting, and France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office took charge of the case. President Emmanuel Macron said it was “a racist terror attack“ and that the suspect's statements suggested it was premeditated.

"These people were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion, and for no other reason," Macron said following a meeting with officials and residents in the suburb of Trappes, west of Paris. “There is no place for this in France."

The shootings took place over the course of about 15 minutes at three separate locations in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière, a suburban area about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Paris, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. One person died and five were wounded, three of them with life-threatening injuries, he said.

“A deadly rampage took place this morning,” Nuñez told reporters in Trappes.

The suspect, who was arrested by police less than 20 minutes after he first started shooting, has been identified only as Kévin T., born in 1987, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office said. Authorities did not disclose the man's last name.

His criminal record shows four previous convictions that had been automatically expunged under French law, the statement said.

A search of his car uncovered a Sten-type submachine gun and a canister of tear gas, and investigators found his apartment had been booby-trapped with three gas cylinders and electrical wires connected to a timer, according to the Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office.

Another person, a member of the suspect’s immediate family, also was taken into police custody during the afternoon, it said.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's office said the person who died was a French man born in 2000. The medical condition of the people injured had not yet stabilized on Friday evening, it said.

Nuñez praised the five officers from the anti-crime brigade who stopped the suspect. “I commend them for their swift response,” he said.

Aurore Bergé, the minister for gender equality and the fight against discrimination, said the 12-year-old girl was very seriously injured.

"If a racist motive is established, I hope that the whole nation will stand alongside the residents of Trappes, La Verrière, and the victims. We cannot tolerate even the slightest racist remark in the French Republic,” she said.

Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman appeared to have fired relatively randomly, targeting passersby at several locations including a playground, possibly because of their apparent African origin.

“This is probably one of the first attempted mass killings motivated by Islamophobia and racism,” he told reporters.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s office said it opened a criminal investigation into several offenses, including “murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise with the aggravating circumstance that the act was committed on account of the victim’s actual or perceived membership of a particular race, ethnic group, nationality or religion.”

The shooting happened as France braces for another day of protests against the high cost of living on Saturday, with major museums closing their doors and the government deploying a significantly larger security presence to prevent a repeat of last week’s violent unrest, which shocked the country.

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Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.

“I'm the one that said do it,” Trump told reporters as he landed for a campaign rally in Florida.

The lawsuit, filed late Thursday, centers on one of the president's longstanding complaints in the Senate race — the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, who Republicans fear could siphon away votes from the incumbent in what's likely to be a photo-finish contest with Democrat Mary Peltola, the state's former congresswoman.

The second Sullivan, who is Daniel J. Sullivan from the tiny fishing community of Petersburg, has said he decided to run on his own, but Republicans have contended he is a Democratic plant to siphon votes away from their candidate.

The lawsuit by the Republican president's Department of Justice in federal court in Alaska demands that the state be blocked from certifying a Peltola win if Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot. “The United States accordingly brings this lawsuit to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska,” the lawsuit says.

The legal challenge came 11 days before the Nov. 3 election and months after the final ballot was set. It is the latest example of the Department of Justice bolstering Trump's political operation, targeting his enemies and suing Democratic-controlled states before the election.

At a forum in Anchorage Friday night, Peltola called the lawsuit “just flagrant, flagrant corruption in my opinion." She told reporters that the legal fight was “another diversion from the issue that Alaskans want to talk about, which is affordability” and an example of how her Republican opponent was "using his connections in Washington, D.C., to manipulate the situation.”

“I am very concerned about Alaskans' voices not being heard,” Peltola said.

Democrats and many voting rights advocates have long feared that the administration will try to block certification of elections that Trump’s party loses, much as he unsuccessfully tried to do when he lost the 2020 White House race to Democrat Joe Biden.

The Alaska Supreme Court rejected a previous Republican effort to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot, and the state's Republican officials made the decisions about how to list him on the ballot. He will appear without a party designation next to his name, while the senator will be listed as the Republican incumbent. Alaska's ranked choice voting system also will allow voters to select both of the men if confused.

Alaska’s other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, alluded to that in a social media post criticizing the lawsuit. “Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot,” wrote Murkowski, who has endorsed the incumbent Sullivan. “The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit.”

Peltola and Sen. Sullivan were top vote-getters in nonpartisan primary

The senator received more than 68,000 votes in the August primary, while the challenging Sullivan got 4,107, about 2% of the total vote. Peltola, who had previously served one term in the House, was the top vote-getter in the nonpartisan primary. Both parties expect that whoever wins in November will do so by a tight margin in a state of 738,000 people.

The campaign for Sen. Dan Sullivan did not address whether the senator supports the Department of Justice's intervention. “We'll let the DOJ complaint run its course,” campaign spokesman Nate Adams said in a text message. “Alaskans can tell the difference between a Democrat sideshow and Senator Sullivan's strong record of delivering for Alaska.”

Daniel J. Sullivan, whose presence on the ballot is at issue in the lawsuit, did not respond to a request for comment.

“Donald Trump knows that Dan Sullivan is going to lose the election, so now his Department of Justice is filing a sham lawsuit to overturn the will of Alaska voters and steal an election when he loses,” said Devan Barber, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

In a statement Friday, the Department of Justice noted that Alaska's election officials, who are Republicans, determined the other Sullivan's campaign was an attempt to “mislead” voters and wanted him removed from the ballot. Both a state court and Alaska's Supreme Court disagreed and kept the second Sullivan on the ballot.

"The Justice Department, consistent with the National Voter Registration Act enacted by Congress, is taking the necessary steps to ensure that this frivolous candidacy does not undermine the integrity of Alaska’s election or the will of its voters,” the department's statement said.

Concerns about the Department of Justice's role in the election had already reached a fever pitch this month after it filed an unusual, last-minute lawsuit demanding California segregate ballots from 20,000 voters who the Trump administration believed could be noncitizens. California said that it appeared many of those identified were indeed citizens and that they had no time to carefully investigate, as the administration threatened to prosecute the state's election workers if there was illegal voting.

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche denied the action was a prelude to challenging certification of the midterm results in that state, adding that such a move may happen under a “doomsday” scenario but was unlikely.

“It is not DOJ’s intention to, and it’s never our intention to, improperly interfere with elections or the state certification process," he told reporters Thursday in Virginia before the Alaska lawsuit was filed.

The lawsuit was signed by Associate U.S. Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who represented Trump allies and Jan. 6 defendants before becoming one of the top appointees at the department.

Constitution gives states the power to run elections

Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, said the lawsuit would likely only kick in if Republicans narrowly lose the Alaska Senate race and that it probably would not survive long. “The statute simply doesn't let the Department of Justice enjoin certification,” Muller said. “The lawsuit could well be mooted by a wide Democratic victory or a narrow Republican one, and if not, the court will likely dismiss it next month.”

The U.S. Constitution grants states the power to run their own elections. Elections for federal office like the Senate must comply with standards set by Congress. That division of power has frustrated Trump, who repeatedly has tried to seize control of election procedures through executive orders that courts have blocked.

The final step for a state election is formally certifying the winner, the act that the administration's lawsuit seeks to prevent, it requests, “pending an investigation to determine whether votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant to be cast for Senator Sullivan."

The process in Alaska is complicated by the state's ranked choice voting system, which Trump opposes, and many expect it to take weeks before a winner is known. Also on the state's ballot is an initiative to repeal that system.

Trump has stepped up complaints about a ballot with dueling Sullivans

Trump has complained about Daniel J. Sullivan's presence on the ballot, making reference to it during a rally in Alaska this month and in repeated social media posts, including one this week where he called it “CHEATING.”

“We are looking at powerful legal options to remove the fraudulent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the Ballot, and holding the Democrats accountable for their Election Interference, in the pursuit of Justice and Fairness,” the president wrote on Wednesday.

Clogging a ballot with third-party candidates to siphon off votes from the other major party is a long-standing tactic in the country's two-party system. Republicans have been linked to an effort to persuade Ohio voters to support a socialist in that state's Senate race, which could help Republican Sen. Jon Husted fend off a challenge from former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

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Associated Press writers Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, Haven Daley in Anchorage, Alaska, Ali Swenson in New York and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

With the backing of Vice President JD Vance and at President Donald Trump's urging, Ramaswamy has continued a $4 million campaign to air the ad on streaming platforms and TV. During stops on the tour Friday, he defended it against criticism that he characterized as concocted by Democrats and the news media.

“The irony is they’re lying about an ad that is about lying,” he told a crowd in suburban Cleveland Friday morning. “They’re changing the subject because they don’t want to answer for their own failures.”

The 60-second spot features Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter “a liar” who “needs help” due to a “a serious problem” being honest about her past. But Arthur hasn't seen her daughter in nearly 50 years. She lost custody of her children after her husband, the children’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12. Acton, Ohio's former state health director, says she hasn't seen her mother since 1978.

By Friday, every living full-term governor of Ohio — two Democrats and three Republicans — had spoken out against the ad. GOP former Gov. Bob Taft told Marion radio show host Scott Spears that his great-grandfather, President William Howard Taft, “is probably rolling over in his grave” at the negativity of this year's elections.

He urged Ramaswamy to cease airing the ad, as another fellow Republican, Gov. Mike DeWine, had done a day earlier. “It really exceeds the bounds of human decency,” he said.

Sen. Husted forced to navigate GOP feuding

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted — who, like Ramaswamy, is locked in an unexpectedly tight race against his Democratic opponent, former Sen. Sherrod Brown — shared a stage with Vance on Wednesday without mentioning the controversial ad, and then issued a statement shortly afterward saying he would not have run it. Other statewide candidates have drawn the same careful line, without raising the issue when on the same stage with Ramaswamy.

Husted, whose name is emblazoned on the side of the bus along with all the other statewide candidates, did not participate in the first two stops of the tour Friday. His campaign said he had scheduling conflicts.

The difference of opinion with Ramaswamy over the ad is not the first awkward Republican family feud Husted has had to navigate this cycle, as he works to retain the seat won by Vance in 2022.

In August, Husted called on GOP U.S. Rep. Max Miller to resign and drop out as the northeast Ohio congressman faces a congressional ethics investigation related to domestic abuse allegations leveled against him by his ex-wife. Husted's decision came after Miller's former father-in-law, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, also a Republican, said his daughter's former husband was not fit to hold elected office.

Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker and local councilman seeking to unseat Miller, has used Moreno's interview about Miller in attack ads against his Republican opponent. Meanwhile, Miller was quoted in The Wall Street Journal blasting Husted — fighting for one of the GOP's most critical Senate seats of the cycle — as “as smart as a box of rocks” and “as entertaining as a two-by-four.”

At a campaign rally in Iowa on Thursday, Trump told the crowd Ramaswamy called him to ask for advice about the ad.

“You’ve got to ride with it,” Trump recalled telling Ramaswamy, a former 2024 presidential candidate. Trump expressed jealousy that he didn’t have such a strong ad to run during his own campaigns. He said it was like “hitting pay dirt.”

Acton has made no secret of facing homelessness and abuse as a child. She has condemned Ramaswamy for the ad.

“I won’t normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is just something I’m complaining about.” she told Spectrum News, a cable news outlet in Ohio.

According to police and court documents obtained by The Associated Press, Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged with the rape of his stepdaughter, then 12, in July 1978, after Acton’s biological father reported him to authorities. The abuse allegedly happened from December 1976 to April 1978.

Cledith Arthur pleaded not guilty. He was indicted by a grand jury that September, but failed to show at a court hearing and remained a fugitive until at least 1981. He has since died.

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Catalini reported from Morrisville, Pa.

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An earlier version of this story said Max Miller is the former husband of Bernie Moreno’s wife. Miller is the former husband of Moreno’s daughter.

In Jordan, gunmen opened fire inside a church, killing seven people and wounding 40.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Friday. Read our full coverage here.

Israel conducts searches in Hebron area where gunmen had operated

Israel’s military said that, in response to the killing of two soldiers and wounding of others in the West Bank earlier that day, its forces had begun “conducting precise, targeted and thorough searches” in the area of Hebron from which the two gunmen had operated.

It added in a statement late Friday that this operation was expected to continue for several days, and all residents living in the area will only be able to leave through three designated exit points following “questioning and security screening.”

The army said it has started demolishing infrastructure that poses a “threat” and that its soldiers continue operating across the West Bank.

Earlier Friday, Israel’s prime minister’s office said it had ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank. The prime minister’s office said it had instructed the army to close off the occupied West Bank, where the shooting occurred.

Israel's army says it killed 2 gunmen who killed soldiers

Israel’s military said its soldiers shot and killed two men who had launched an attack near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning. Two soldiers were killed and three others lightly wounded in the attack.

The army said it prevented a “terror attack against Israeli civilians” and that the gunmen had an M16 rifle and a handgun.

Following the attack, Israel's prime minister's office said it had ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank.

The prime minister’s office said it had instructed the army to close off the occupied West Bank, where the shooting occurred.

US to reduce staffing at four Mideast embassies as fears of Houthi attacks rise

The State Department is reducing staff at four U.S. embassies in the Middle East after receiving intelligence that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel in the region and elsewhere.

In a memo sent Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton said his teams “have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel.”

“The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries,” Clayton wrote.

The memo was obtained by The Associated Press and reported earlier by Axios. Three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the memo was sent to Rubio in his capacity as secretary of state and national security adviser.

The memo emerged shortly after the State Department announced it is reducing staff at the U.S. embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The three officials said the threats from Iran and Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are related to the staffing changes.

— By Matthew Lee

Churchgoers in Jordan attacked during funeral

In Jordan, gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40 others, authorities said.

The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, home to a minority Christian population, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of the capital Amman.

Jordan’s Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said that two of those wounded are in critical condition.

Images being broadcast on Jordanian state television show two gunmen who appear to be holding pistols approaching the church and firing shots. A third man who appears to be holding a semiautomatic rifle then approaches and opens fire, and all three then run toward the church.

A government statement said that the attack was “carried out by unknown assailants,” but didn’t say whether any gunmen were captured or killed. It said that “investigations are underway at full speed.”

In 2016, Islamic State militants launched an attack on the Karak Castle, a popular tourist site, killing 14 people, including a Canadian tourist. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Friday's attack.

Arab parties ask Israel’s top court to bar armed poll observers

Arab political parties running in Israel’s national election have asked the Supreme Court to ban partisan election observers from carrying guns at polling stations.

The petition, filed Thursday with the Israel-based legal group Adalah, said the ban was essential to protecting public safety and ensuring a free and fair election on Tuesday.

It followed announcements by Jewish parties led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that they planned to send about 2,000 election observers to Arab neighborhoods, citing allegations of voter fraud.

Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel’s population. Arab-led parties could prove decisive in the upcoming election, the first since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, if Jewish parties are willing to join them in a governing coalition.

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 3

Strikes by Israel’s army killed three people on Friday in southern Gaza and Gaza City, according to local health officials.

The first strike in southern Gaza killed one person. Israel’s military said it targeted a Hamas militant.

The second strike killed two people in Gaza City, but Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the strike.

Grieving relatives of the two people killed in Gaza City gathered in the courtyard of the Shifa hospital, where the casualties were taken.

More than 1,500 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli military since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October 2025, according to the territory’s health ministry. The ministry maintains detailed records and is regarded as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Part of the Hamas-run government, the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up nearly half of those killed.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

In a memo sent Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton said his teams “have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel.”

“The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries,” Clayton wrote.

The memo was obtained by The Associated Press and reported earlier by Axios. Three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the memo was sent to Rubio in his capacity as secretary of state and national security adviser.

The memo emerged shortly after the State Department announced it is reducing staff at the U.S. embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The three officials said the threats from Iran and Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are related to the staffing changes.

The embassies involved are all under what is known as “restricted operations” status that has already reduced the size of their personnel footprints. The embassies will remain open.

However, unlike in Saudi Arabia, where nonessential U.S. personnel and their families were ordered Wednesday to leave the country, staff in the other four countries are not compelled to depart.

In announcing the staffing drawdowns this week, the State Department pointed specifically to increased threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels and did not mention threats to U.S. personnel directly from Iran. There has been a resurgence of fighting between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, with the militant group launching missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia.

U.S. officials have adamantly denied the drawdowns are tied to any potential new U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The unpopular war has spiked energy costs for Americans and posed political problems for President Donald Trump and Republicans, who are trying to keep control of Congress in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Trump, speaking at a rally Friday in Florida, touted the U.S. military operations in Iran, which were dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” and said that “we may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree. If they’re smart, they’ll just say, ‘Let’s get down to business.’”

Mediators have been trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to formal talks as the war has reached a stalemate.

According to Iranian state television, the Revolutionary Guard navy this week again threatened to strike U.S. military bases in the region if the United States keeps helping guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the global energy trade.

“Any further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz or elsewhere in the region will put civilian lives and the well-being of all regional states and the global economy at great risk,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an opinion column in the Financial Times this week.

The woman began showing symptoms 10 days ago and began receiving supportive care at an infectious disease unit in the capital, Nairobi.

The ministry said medical personnel “did everything possible to save her life,” but she died Friday evening.

Her family was notified, and the ministry said it would arrange a safe and dignified burial in consultation with relatives.

The remaining seven Ebola patients were receiving treatment at two isolation facilities. No new infections were reported.

Kenya announced its first ever Ebola case on Oct. 6 after a 40-year-old Kenyan man who was living in Congo travelled to Kenya via Uganda, arriving on Oct. 3. He was driven by a relative to Nairobi Hospital, where he tested positive for Ebola on Oct. 5 and died the same day.

Authorities have identified some 135 contacts of the first patient, placing 118 in quarantine. Eight tested positive while in quarantine, including four health workers and four close family members.

The health ministry said some contacts who completed the 21-day quarantine period without developing symptoms would be released starting Saturday.

'Nigerian patient did not travel to Congo'

In Nigeria, authorities said Friday that they were yet to verify how the country’s first Ebola patient contracted the disease. The woman tested positive for the virus upon her return to Nigeria's capital of Abuja from Uganda.

The woman — married to a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria whom she had been traveling with — did not visit Congo and “is believed to have contracted the virus whilst travelling to Uganda,” Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, or FDFA, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Her husband has not shown any symptoms and remains in isolation, the FDFA added.

Nigeria's Health Minister Muhammad Pate told reporters on Friday that the Nigerian patient “appears to be closely related" to the first case in Kenya in terms of the nature of their infection. "That may or may not change the understanding of the route of transmission given that the virus itself takes time to change,” Pate said.

The Africa CDC earlier said the first patients in Nigeria and Kenya had traveled through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on Oct. 3.

US introduces new protocol for all travelers

United States health officials this week said that all passengers boarding an international flight to the U.S. — no matter from where — must sign a statement attesting that they've not been in Congo in the previous 21 days. The U.S. has been screening travelers from Ebola-affected countries during the current outbreak.

Travelers who were in Congo in the three weeks leading to their trip will not be allowed to board flights with U.S. destinations, including Americans, the U.S. CDC said Thursday.

Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood and vomit, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces, such as bedding and clothing. Congo is experiencing its deadliest outbreak, with at least 4,000 deaths since May.

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Dyepkazah Shibayan in Abuja, Nigeria and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.

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AP’s Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

The district has launched a School Optimization initiative to evaluate how its schools, programs, staffing and facilities are organized. The process could result in changes to attendance boundaries, the expansion of academic programs or the repurposing of existing campuses.

However, district officials emphasize that no decisions have been made about closing schools or implementing other major changes.

The district is currently gathering feedback from parents, employees and community members before developing recommendations for the school board.

Why is Alief ISD considering changes?

Alief ISD says its enrollment peaked during the 2015–16 school year, when the district served 47,613 students.

Enrollment has declined since then, with the district reporting that the decreases have accelerated in recent years.

Because Texas public school funding is tied in part to student enrollment and attendance, fewer students can mean less money available for school operations, staffing and educational programs.

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According to the district, more than 10,000 students living within Alief ISD boundaries chose alternative education options during the 2025–26 school year. Citing Texas Education Agency data, Alief ISD estimates those enrollment decisions represent more than $67 million in annual funding the district otherwise could have received.

Kristyn Cathey, Alief ISD’s chief of communications, says the district is being upfront with the community about the challenges ahead.

“We’re trying to get ahead of the story and try to get our community in with us very early on. We’re just being honest — listen, we are going to have to close some schools, we may have to consolidate some schools,” Cathey said.

Cathey says 11 elementary campuses are currently below 50% capacity, while three intermediate and three middle school campuses are under 60% capacity.

“If you’re thinking about that as a taxpayer, would that make sense to you to keep a school open that’s not necessarily at full capacity?” Cathey said.

The figure represents an estimated funding impact associated with students attending other educational options, rather than a newly announced budget deficit.

District officials say much of their operating funding goes toward employee salaries and benefits, making declining revenue a challenge for maintaining existing operations.

Could Alief ISD close or consolidate schools?

School closures and consolidations are among the possibilities being evaluated, but the district says no decisions have been made.

According to Alief ISD’s School Optimization website, potential changes could include:

• Expanding or replicating successful academic programs.
• Redesigning or reconfiguring existing campuses.
• Rezoning school attendance boundaries.
• Consolidating or repurposing schools.
• Exploring new or alternative instructional models.

The district is conducting facility assessments to examine enrollment trends, campus usage and other factors that could influence future decisions.

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That means some schools could eventually serve different grade levels, offer different programs or be combined with other campuses, depending on the recommendations developed.

However, the district has not identified specific schools for closure in the public information reviewed for this article.

Community voices concerns over school vouchers, impact on students

Not everyone is waiting on the school board to weigh in. Boris Falls, whose grandchild attends Chancellor Elementary, is partly blaming school voucher programs for the district’s funding challenges. Voucher programs redirect tax dollars away from public school districts toward private or alternative education options.

“Before, nothing like this happened before. Now everything has changed. To me, it’s not the right thing to do,” Falls said.

Cathey echoed the concern about the broader pressures facing public education.

“We all are here for the children. And it hurts us deeply to know that public education has been under attack for quite some time,” Cathey said.

Didn’t Alief ISD voters already approve additional school funding?

In 2024, Alief ISD voters approved a Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, providing additional funding for daily district operations.

However, the district says that funding has not eliminated the financial challenges associated with declining enrollment.

While the voter-approved measure provided additional operational funding, the district continues to face reduced revenue as fewer students attend its schools.

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Alief ISD says the School Optimization process is intended to ensure available funding is used efficiently while maintaining academic programs, extracurricular activities and student support services.

The district is also exploring new and specialized educational opportunities to remain competitive as families consider different schooling options.

How can parents weigh in on the proposed changes?

Alief ISD is holding a series of community meetings throughout October and November to explain the School Optimization process and gather feedback.

Two meetings have already taken place, on Oct. 15 at Alief Middle School and Oct. 22 at Olle Middle School.

Four additional meetings are scheduled:

• Thursday, Oct. 29: Killough Middle School
• Thursday, Nov. 5: Holub Middle School
• Thursday, Nov. 12: Albright Middle School
• Thursday, Nov. 19: O’Donnell Middle School

All meetings are scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The district says attendees will have opportunities to ask questions, share concerns and provide input about possible changes.

Meetings will be recorded, and translators will be available.

Families can also submit questions through the district’s School Optimization webpage, where answers will be added as the process continues.

When will Alief ISD make a decision?

Alief ISD says it has not yet established priorities for the School Optimization process.

Instead, district officials plan to use feedback from parents, teachers, staff, students and community members to help develop recommendations for consideration by the school board.

Those recommendations could involve changes to facilities, attendance boundaries, educational programs or campus operations.

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The district has not provided a final implementation timeline in the public information reviewed for this article.

For now, officials say the goal is to develop a long-term plan that addresses enrollment declines while maintaining educational opportunities for students.

Additional information, community meeting materials and updates are available on the Alief ISD School Optimization page.

The localized ceasefire is set to begin next week.

Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. negotiators reached a deal Friday to provide humanitarian relief to the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the war-divided region of Kherson in southern Ukraine.

Melania Trump, who worked with officials from both countries on a separate matter, initiated talks about Oleshky after learning about the situation at one of her events during the U.N. General Assembly session in September, the White House said in announcing her involvement.

She and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire, the White House said.

Ukraine’s top negotiator in the effort told The Associated Press that a local ceasefire with Russia will start Tuesday — two days before the mission begins — and last several days.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman and his country’s chief negotiator in the talks, said the ceasefire would take effect across the Kherson region and neighboring areas essential to the operation. He added the initiative could act as a model for future humanitarian missions.

Russian officials also confirmed the agreement.

Lubinets earlier Friday thanked Melania Trump and said the deal would be tough to accomplish. He said the agreement calls for a ceasefire, followed by the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. Lastly, civilians will be allowed to leave Oleshky, he said in a video message posted online.

“The operation will be carried out gradually and is extremely challenging to implement," Lubinets said.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the first lady's announcement. Through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres said he hopes the local pause in fighting can become a step toward “an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire" leading to “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law.”

The removal of mines comes first

Lubinets said the operation would involve removing mines on the way to Oleshky before the physical delivery of humanitarian supplies and the arranging of evacuations.

He gave no further details on how the ceasefire or the aid mission would be monitored or implemented, citing the sensitivity of the negotiations. He declined to comment when asked if Melania Trump would travel to Ukraine.

“When Melania Trump learned about the situation in Oleshky, the negotiation process began under her coordination,” he said. “For several weeks, we discussed many questions, initiatives and ideas. We established new approaches, mechanisms and tools to do everything possible to help civilians in Oleshky survive.”

Russia’s chief of the general staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said Russian forces “will cease fire on the Kherson axis” starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday in Moscow — or late Monday in the United States — "in connection with the humanitarian operation near Oleshky.”

Russian forces will also carry out “engineering reconnaissance” and ensure “safe movement of the humanitarian convoy” into the city, Gerasimov said.

Russia’s human rights ombudswoman, Yana Lantratova, confirmed that Melania Trump had brokered an agreement on “organizing a humanitarian mission” in Oleshky. Lantratova, who said she participated in negotiations, said providing such assistance is Russia's priority.

The first step will be to clarify what people need and organize the delivery of food, medicine, hygiene products and other essentials, Lantratova said in an online statement. Safe passage will be guaranteed for anyone who wants to leave the combat zone, she said, adding that it will require abiding by the ceasefire and creating safe conditions for humanitarian vehicles.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was grateful to the first lady. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump had recently discussed the effort.

Peskov said "those who want to leave it would be able to do so.” He would not say whether they would be taken to Russia- or Ukraine-held territory. He also demurred when asked how long the evacuation will last, saying only it would most likely take several days.

Saving children is the first lady's focus, president says

Melania Trump has made helping children in conflict zones one of her signature issues in her husband's second term. She hosted a U.N. Security Council meeting on the issue earlier this year, and last year wrote to Putin about efforts to reunite families with children who have been displaced by the war. She has helped reunite nearly three dozen children, according to her senior adviser, Marc Beckman.

“What she wants to do is save children, and that’s her focus,” the president told reporters at the White House.

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv are rising

The development comes as tensions have increased to new highs between the Trump administration and Ukraine’s government. Kyiv has faced restrictions on the satellite internet system it relies on to knock down Russian attacks, with Trump and other top U.S. officials sending mixed messages about who was responsible for throttling the Elon Musk-made Starshield system.

Trump also recently waived new Russia sanctions, reached an agreement with Russia to import diesel fuel and pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal to end the war that Russia began in February 2022. In renewed efforts to revive the peace process, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Norway this week for talks with Zelenskyy before meeting Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Zelenskyy did not mention the ceasefire in Oleshky during a remote appearance at the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank. He did note that American Patriot missile interceptors were still on hold and Starshield and Starlink speed limits were still in place.

He also spoke of the importance of the United States to renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war, including a possible joint meeting with Trump and Putin.

The situation in Oleshky is dire

Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers. There is no electricity, heat or running water. Roads leading from town are mined and dotted with burned-out cars. Drones buzz overhead.

Once a city of about 24,000 residents, Oleshky was captured by Moscow’s forces on the first day of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its buildings were shelled and burned, and its infrastructure damaged. In June 2023, floodwaters inundated the city after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed from an explosion that an Associated Press investigation found was likely caused by the Russian military. Hundreds of residents were killed.

Those left in the city along Ukraine’s southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms. Ukraine has appealed repeatedly for a local ceasefire to organize evacuations. Russia, as the occupying power, is obligated by international law to ensure civilians under its control have what they need to survive.

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Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Darlene Superville in Washington, Volodymyr Yurchuk, Derek Gatopoulos and Susie Blann in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Edith Lederer in New York contributed to this report.

“The first oil tanker has sailed off to customers, and regular supplies will continue,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said without elaborating.

The diesel deal was seen as an attempt by Trump to address high fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections.

It caused alarm and dismay in Ukraine, which has pleaded with foreign countries to tighten sanctions on Moscow and deny it revenue for the invasion launched in February 2022. In the U.S., the agreement was also criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for violating American laws and drawing the country closer to Russia. The deal joins a growing list of actions in which the Republican president has sided with Putin, often at Ukraine’s expense.

Marine intelligence firm Kpler said the vessel signaled that it was headed to New York to arrive Nov. 7 and would be the first Russian diesel delivery to the United States since July 2023.

The import agreement, which Trump says foresees millions more tons of Russian diesel reaching the U.S. in the coming months, is unlikely to make a dent in painfully high prices at the pump or elsewhere, energy policy experts say.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier this week that the first shipment would amount to 40,000 tons of diesel, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency. That’s around 300,000 barrels, or about 7% of the roughly 4 million barrels of diesel the U.S. economy consumes in a single day.

Russia’s diesel production has come under strain from repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on its oil refineries. The attacks caused fuel shortages, which now have eased. Trump last month asked Kyiv to stop the attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump’s deal “a weak decision by strong partners.”

The diesel agreement was a sudden policy reversal, coming just weeks after Trump signed into law a sweeping sanctions package that called for up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas. He later put the measures on hold.

The development is the latest twist in the at times volatile relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy, which in recent weeks has sunk to a new low.

Starlink still isn't back to normal despite US promises, Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy said he spoke Friday with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, after they consulted with Putin in St. Petersburg. They also spoke with the Ukrainian leader earlier this week in Norway.

Kyiv is keen to add momentum to peace efforts in a planned three-way meeting between Ukraine, Russia and the United States that may take place next month at a venue to be decided, Zelenskyy said in comments via video link to the Hudson Institute research organization in Washington.

"We need diplomacy to move forward,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine's pressing issues are protecting its power grid from Russian attacks ahead of winter, getting more U.S.-made Patriot air-defense interceptors to counter Russia's ballistic missiles and finding more financial support from foreign countries, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine is still experiencing Starlink and Starshield speed limits that are choking its drone operations, Zelenskyy said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the satellite internet service would be fully restored within 72 hours, according to the Ukrainian leader.

Moscow airports temporarily close for security reasons

Meanwhile, Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said Friday afternoon that all four Moscow airports — Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky — stopped flights arriving and departing for security reasons.

At Sheremetyevo airport, passengers were told to take shelter, Russian news agency Interfax reported. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that air defenses downed 21 Ukrainian drones targeting the Russian capital in the afternoon.

The airport restrictions were lifted three hours later.

In other developments, the White House announced that first lady Melania Trump brokered an upcoming ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the war-ravaged Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians.

The first lady said in a news release that the situation there is “on the brink of disaster.”

Ukraine’s top negotiator involved in the humanitarian mission told The Associated Press that the local ceasefire would start Tuesday — two days before the mission begins — and last several days.

Also Friday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war for the first time since August.

The Russian Defense Ministry said each side released 270 prisoners. Ukraine said 270 of its soldiers and civilians were freed, most of them held in captivity since 2022.

Elsewhere, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said a Russian embassy staff member has been declared persona non grata after a Russian drone violated the country's airspace and crashed near homes.

Police said a local resident discovered a drone in the village of Chistelnita in Telenesti District, less than 100 meters (330 feet) from a home. Specialists were sent to investigate. No one was reported hurt.

“Russia’s war keeps putting Moldovan lives at risk," Sandu wrote on X. "Today, a Russian Geran attack drone violated our airspace and fell near family homes and an energy facility.”

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Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England, contributed.

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

The bank is located at 14213 Cypress Rose Hill Road.

According to Detective Ryan Hilz with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, it happened around 2 p.m. when a man, described as a white male in his late 50s, entered the bank and demanded cash from a teller.

Hilz says the suspect did not brandish a weapon, but threatened the teller and said he had one and if she did not comply he would brandish it.

The teller gave an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect, who then fled on foot in an unknown direction.

Authorities describe him as approximately 5′8 to 5′10 with a heavy-set build. He was unshaven and may have a slight goatee. He was wearing a black baseball cap with an olive shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.