According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the fiery crash happened around 7:15 a.m. in the area of 2500 Northwest 135th Street when the vehicle going at a high-rate of speed hit parked cars.

Opa-locka Police said the vehicle also hit a residence.

During the crash, the male driver was ejected and died at the scene, MDSO said. Two women who were passengers were flown to the hospital in critical condition.

Video at the scene showed people on a gurney being put in a helicopter, along with a vehicle that was severely damaged.

The identities of the deceased and the two women were not released.

NBC6 spoke to a man, Carlos Tapanes, who heard the crash outside his home.

“I was inside my house and I heard this gruesome, very terrifying noise,” he said. “As soon as I go outside, I wasn’t aware I was going to trip into this and there was a person [dead] on the floor bleeding.”

The man said that just steps from his home, he saw the crash.

“All of a sudden, poof, it starts going up in flames, talking about 10 feet high,” Tapanes said.

Another neighbor, James Moyer, said he and his wife pulled one woman away from the inferno. Others then also rushed in to help pull people away from the burning wreckage.

“I think it was about three other people — the whole neighborhood came to their rescue, picked them out, took them away from the harm of the fire,” Carlos said.

Moyer called the crash “horrific.”

“You see a beautiful, young woman on the floor, broken bones and barely even breathing and trying to fight for her life,” Moyer said. “And for my wife, she was crying like crazy trying to whisper into her ear saying, ‘Please, God is with you, stay alive,’ stuff like that and trying to reassure her.”

Video provided to NBC6 shows a car engulfed in flames.

Tapanes said the Lamborghini clipped a tree, before barreling down the road.

“The car lost control, tried to get it together, he almost got it together,” he said. “[It hit] five cars and six trees, and two mailboxes, and everything else in the path. Thank God there was no pedestrian on our sidewalk.”

An investigation into the crash remains active.

Editor’s note: OLPD initially reported the car as a Lamborghini; however, our reporter later clarified it was a Corvette.

Trump has made the argument in the hours after the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner that the nation needs a fortified ballroom on White House grounds so that the president and government officials are not in peril.

After laying out the security vulnerabilities of a busy hotel, Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday that the 90,000-square-foot ballroom he is building where the East Wing once stood is “really what you need.”

He added that the ballroom was “designed in conjunction with the military and in conjunction with the Secret Service. It’s got every single bell and whistle you can possibly have for security and safety.”

In a social media post Sunday morning, Trump added, “This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!”

A federal judge has issued repeated orders blocking construction of the ballroom, holding that Trump exceeded his authority in proceeding without congressional approval. On April 17, a federal appeals court allowed construction to continue while a suit contending that the work is unlawful winds through the courts.

Now, coming off the frightening episode at the Washington Hilton, Trump’s appointees and congressional allies are stepping in to eliminate judicial roadblocks and plump for Trump’s passion project.

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On Sunday, the Justice Department sent a letter to the plaintiffs in the case, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, calling on the group to drop its suit.

“The White House ballroom will ensure the safety and security of the president for decades to come and prevent future assassination attempts on the president at the Washington Hilton,” reads a letter from Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general in the civil division.

The letter assumes the WHCA would agree to hold its annual dinner in a future White House ballroom. But that’s not guaranteed.

The dinner is an occasion to celebrate the First Amendment and a free and independent press. That point may could get lost if the president becomes the host; the journalists, his guests.

Money raised at the event helps pay for scholarships awarded to promising college students. The Hilton holds 3,000 people, whereas the ballroom Trump envisions has a capacity of about 1,000 — meaning staging it there could raise less revenue for a WHCA that is hardly flush with cash.

In a statement Sunday, the WHCA board said that it “will be meeting to assess what happened and determined how to proceed.”

Separately, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told NBC News that he will introduce a bill Monday that would both authorize the ballroom and provide funds to pay for it. So far, Trump has relied on private donations to underwrite the project, which also includes underground medical facilities and a bomb shelter.

“Some people saw it [the ballroom] as a vanity project,” Graham told NBC News on Sunday. “I don’t think that’s true anymore. I just talked to the president and the first thing out of his mouth was, ‘We’ve got to get that ballroom, not for me but for future presidents.’”

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mt., also said Sunday that he would put forward legislation approving the ballroom, as did Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

“It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our president, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations,” Sheehy wrote on X.

Others questioned the sincerity of those who contend the answer to the terrifying incident at the hotel is a $400 million White House ballroom.

Ned Price, a State Department spokesman under former President Joe Biden, said, “The whole thing to me seems a manufactured argument that is cynically taking advantage of this moment to make that case” for the ballroom project.

A hot ticket on Washington’s social calendar, the WHCA dinner has long been an event that past presidents didn’t pass up. Trump was an exception. His appearance Saturday was his first as president. The night figured to be a riveting bit of theater.

Tradition holds that, in formal wear, the president and press corps toast and roast one another in a cocktail-infused spirit of camaraderie, however fleeting.

Not this time.

As Trump sat with his wife, Melania, on the dais at the Washington Hilton, shots rang out and he and othersenior government officials were quickly evacuated.

The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., exchanged gunfire with law enforcement and was tackled, authorities said. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that preliminary findings show the suspect was targeting Trump administration officials.

The incident has sparked fresh questions about continuity of government and the measures taken to ensure the president’s safety. A president can’t afford to be cocooned in the White House — a reality that Trump recognizes. White House aides have said that Trump needs a vigorous campaign schedule if Republicans are to retain control of Congress in the midterm elections in November.

Yet the more a president travels, the greater the risk of assassination. Four U.S. presidents were killed in office. As a candidate in 2024, Trump survived two attempts on his life.

After Trump, next in the line of presidential succession are Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Bothwere in the ballroom on Saturday. Had all been killed, the next in the line would be President Pro tempore of the Senate: Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Grassley, 92, was at home that night in New Hartford, Iowa, according to his spokesperson.

“We don’t want to change our ways too much, but you’ve got to be practical,” Graham said. “The venue matters a lot. Any time we’re having events that are not at the Capitol or at the White House, we should think about line of succession problems.”

“Listen, this could have been far worse,” he added. “This guy was a lone wolf and look at how he was able to come in, armed to the teeth. What if he had 10 people with him? What if he had 10 committed terrorists willing to die? It could have been carnage.”

Already, law enforcement officials are discussing stricter protocols for future events that the president might attend, a senior Trump administration official said. Following the episode at the Hilton, Trump said that he wanted to hold a make-up WHCA dinner some time in the next month.

“If it [the WHCA dinner] is rescheduled, I would imagine it would be moved to a different facility or look much different as far as the security protocol for getting in,” said the Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk freely.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, said in a prepared statement that “the key takeaway for future events is that enhancements should be expected at every level.”

The Hilton has been home to the WHCA dinner for the past 50 years. If that continues, law enforcement may put in place new procedures that might include inspection of luggage, tighter screening of hotel guests and new restrictions on their movements inside the hotel, the administration official said. Allen had traveled to Washington by train and had checked into the hotel as a guest, investigators believe.

William Barr, a former attorney general in Trump’s first term, contrasted the WHCA dinner with the president’s State of the Union address, held in the Capitol under the tightest security. Even then, a member of the president’s Cabinet traditionally stays away — the “designated survivor” in case of a massacre in the chamber.

“The State of the Union involves a risky concentration of leadership, but at least that take place within a government facility where more comprehensive security is possible — not a public hotel with hundreds of unvetted people in close proximity,” Barr, who has attended past WHCA dinners, told NBC News.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who also attended the dinner and was evacuated by security, said in an interview: “Probably can’t do stuff like that at an open venue like a hotel when you have so many people in the line of succession there.”

In a polarized political climate, Trump and future presidents may need to balance personal security with the need to travel and be accessible to everyday Americans. A ballroom may be safe and secure, but the argument that it’s necessary to keep a sitting president alive seems specious, critics argue.

Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group that sued for release of the ballroom funding agreement, said, “The argument is an absurdity. No one would expect the president to be locked in a bunker for all events.”

Melanie Zanona contributed.

According to the NWS, the severe thunderstorm warning ended at 6 p.m.

Aside from those thunderstorm warnings and rain, dark clouds were seen in the sky.

FHP said the crash happened in the eastbound lanes of I-75, also known as Alligator Alley, at mile marker 45 shortly before 7 p.m.

NBC6 cameras captured two motorcycles in the grass and debris in the roadway.

Authorities did not immediately say who was involved or what may have caused the crash.

Both lanes were closed, and drivers could be seen getting out of their vehicles to investigate the cause of the backup.

The road reopened before midnight.

Later tonight, more fog is likely as winds calm and temperatures fall into the low-70s. As the sun comes up, the fog quickly lifts and more sunshine returns.

Winds are calm, but a light breeze should pick up with gusts near 10 mph. Overall, another warm and slightly humid day is anticipated with lots of sunshine.

The heat and humidity may trigger a few spotty storms on Monday afternoon. Not everyone will get in on the action, but temperatures reach the mid- and upper-80s. The majority of the storms look to stay inland.

Tuesday, more hit-or-miss storms are anticipated, but overall, the majority of South Florida stays rain-free. High temps remain in the mid- and upper-80s.

Dry air works in, and overall, this week will be rain-free but hot. A dry pattern features temps in the upper-80 the and reaching near 90 degrees heading into the weekend.

Federal agents with the FBI’s Tampa Division are investigating the “suspicious disappearance” of a Cuban-born truck driver identified as Alejandro Jacomino González.

According to investigators, on April 16, the driver, who works for a transportation company, picked up multiple vehicles at the Port of Brunswick and set out for Miami, where he was scheduled to deliver the vehicles.

What we know so far

The agency said that around 1:21 a.m., González stopped in Brevard County, Florida, where he rested for several hours. The truck’s GPS later showed the truck “traveled one exit south and then turned north toward Jacksonville, Florida” at about 7:49 a.m.

He stopped responding

“Shortly after, González stopped responding and the truck was reported missing,” the FBI said.

Authorities later located the truck in Port Wentworth, Georgia, but the driver was not there — and neither were several of the vehicles, the agency said.

“Since the truck was found, three of the vehicles have been recovered in Florida. Others remain missing, along with González,” officials added.

Description of the missing driver

The FBI shared a flyer with González’s photo and physical description.

He is described as a white Hispanic man with brown eyes, bald, with a beard and mustache. He is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. Investigators said González has “a full sleeve tattoo on his left arm, another tattoo on his right forearm, and a tattoo of the word ‘Elisia’ on his right forearm.”

FBI asks public for help

The FBI is asking anyone with photos or video who may have been in or near the Brevard County rest area in Grant-Valkaria, Florida, between 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026 — especially in the southern part of the rest stop, near the ramp that reconnects to I-95 South — to share what they have.

Those with images can submit them directly to the FBI through an online form.

This story was translated from Spanish with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An NBC6 editor reviewed the translation.

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, also asked the artificial intelligence chatbot whether the vehicle identification number on his car could be changed and whether he could keep a gun at home without a license, according to the pretrial detention report filed Saturday. ChatGPT responded that Abugharbieh’s question sounded dangerous, according to the report.

An investigation that the office of Florida’s attorney general launched last week over whether ChatGPT offered advice to a gunman who killed two people last year at Florida State University will be expanded to include the killings of the USF students, Attorney General James Uthmeier said Monday on social media.

The remains of Abugharbieh’s roommate, Zamil Limon, were found on the Howard Frankland bridge Friday morning, but Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said later that day that they were still searching for Limon’s girlfriend, Nahida Bristy. On Sunday, the sheriff’s office announced that a body had been found in a waterway near the bridge but had not been identified.

Abugharbieh, was charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree with a weapon in the deaths of Limon and Bristy, the sheriff’s office announced Saturday. The former USF student was ordered held without bond. A hearing is set for Tuesday.

Limon and Bristy, both 27, were considering getting married, a relative said. They disappeared April 16. Limon was last seen at the off-campus apartment complex where he lived with Abugharbieh, and Bristy at a campus science building.

Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, and Bristy was studying chemical engineering. She was a graduate of Noakhali Science and Technology University. The school said in a statement Saturday that she was a Ph.D. candidate and described her as a talented and promising student.

A friend contacted police April 17 about being unable to reach both Bristy and Limon, despite repeated attempts by phone, according to the report. Police investigators searched Bristy’s campus office the next day and found her purse, lunchbox, MacBook and iPad.

At Limon’s off-campus apartment, detectives questioned Limon’s two roommates and noticed that Abugharbieh’s left pinky finger was bandaged. When confronted by detectives, Abugharbieh denied any involvement with Limon’s disappearance.

The third roommate told detectives that Abugharbieh had used a cart overnight on April 16 and April 17 to move cardboard boxes from his room to the trash compactor. In the trash compactor, detectives found Limon’s wallet and campus ID badge, credit card, eyeglasses and clothes that appeared to have blood on them.

Detectives found blood leading from the kitchen to Abugharbieh’s bedroom and more blood in his bedroom. In Limon’s bedroom, they found Bristy’s campus ID and credit cards, suggesting she had been at the apartment before she disappeared, according to the report.

Using cellphone location and license plate reader data, detectives concluded that Abugharbieh’s car and Limon’s phone had both been on the bridge and on Clearwater Beach, the report said. Based on location data from Abugharbieh’s phone, detectives searched around the bridge and found a trash bag containing Limon’s body. The medical examiner concluded that Limon had numerous stab wounds.

Three days after Limon and Bristy’s April 16 disappearance, Abugharbieh asked Chat GPT, “Has there been someone who survived a sniper bullet to the head” and “will my neighbors hear my gun,” according to the report. He also asked the chatbot four days after that, on April 23, “What does missing endangered adult mean.”

Abugharbieh, a native-born U.S. citizen, was initially arrested Friday at his family’s home on preliminary charges that include unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery. Reached by email on Monday, Jennifer Spradley, an attorney in the public defender’s office in Tampa, said the office wouldn’t comment on Abugharbieh’s case.

Officers encountered Abugharbieh as they responded to a report of domestic violence at his family’s home, just north of the campus, and were able to move his relatives to safety. But then he barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. A SWAT team responded — along with a drone, a robot and crisis negotiators — before Abugharbieh came out with his hands up, apparently wearing nothing but a blue towel.

Abugharbieh had been a USF student but was not currently enrolled. University records showed he had attended the school from spring 2021 through spring 2023 and had pursued a BS in management, a university spokesperson said. ___

Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social.

Jose Vidal was arrested Friday on two counts of second-degree murder with a weapon, Miami-Dade jail records showed.

According to an arrest report, Vidal showed up at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines on Friday after he rode his bicycle there from his apartment in the 17500 block of Northwest 67th Place, a ride of over six miles.

While he was there, Vidal gave differing accounts to people about what happened to him but claimed that on April 19 he went to his apartment and found the door open, the report said.

Vidal said he entered and was confronted by two males who engaged him in a fight and rendered him unconscious.

He said he was unconscious until the next day, when he discovered he’d been stabbed and he found his wife and stepson dead inside the apartment, the report said.

Vidal said he called 911 but chose not to wait for emergency crews to arrive and decided to ride his bicycle to the hospital, the report said.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded and found the two victims dead inside the apartment with apparent stab wounds.

Vidal was transferred to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood where he was found to have a superficial cut to his abdomen and no head injury, the report said.

Investigators later discovered Vidal and the stepson had been involved in a dispute about Vidal stealing a large amount of money and that on April 18, the stepson told family members that Vidal was getting kicked out of the apartment, the report said.

A search of the apartment revealed dried bloody shoe prints next to the victims’ bodies and throughout the apartment, and the shoe prints matched sandals found in the kitchen that had been cleaned but still had traces of blood, and that Vidal had been seen wearing in surveillance video, the report said.

Surveillance also showed Vidal making several trips to a dumpster near the apartment with full trash bags on April 18, but the video showed no people similar to the description of the males who Vidal said attacked him, the report said.

Other surveillance video showed Vidal stopping at a gas station to buy lottery tickets on his bicycle ride to the hospital on April 20, the report said.

Vidal spoke with detectives on Friday and admitted to getting into a fight with his stepson about stealing money and confirmed he was being kicked out of the apartment, the report said.

Vidal was booked into jail and appeared before a judge over the weekend, who ordered him held without bond.

Jamie Silvabel, 33, was charged with prisoner escape or attempt to escape, failure to register a motor vehicle, obstruction without violence and petit theft.

According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday, deputies were helping the Florida Highway Patrol after a trooper said they were fighting with a suspect who had an open warrant.

During the struggle, the trooper was able to put one handcuff on Silvabel, but he broke away and ran toward the Stuart West and Cobblestone communities.

Body camera footage shows the K-9 and the deputy in a wooded area searching for Silvabel. At one point, the K-9 led the deputy to an opening and was able to find Silvabel.

Silvable then fought with deputies before he was taken into custody,

He was seen with a bloodied arm while he was being led away in handcuffs.

But the rise of artificial intelligence has scrambled those calculations. The basic skills she was learning in things like statistical analysis and coding can now easily be automated. “Everyone has a fear that entry-level jobs will be taken by AI,” said the 20-year-old at Miami University in Ohio.

A few weeks ago, Timperman switched her major to marketing. Her new strategy is to use her undergraduate studies to build critical thinking and interpersonal skills — areas where humans still have an edge.

“You don’t just want to be able to code. You want to be able to have a conversation, form relationships and be able to think critically, because at the end of the day, that’s the thing that AI can’t replace,” said Timperman, who is keeping analytics as a minor and plans to dive deeper into the subject for a one-year master’s program.

Today’s college students say that picking a major that’s “AI-proof” feels like shooting at a moving target as they prepare for a job market that could be fundamentally different by the time they graduate.

As a result, many are reconsidering their career paths. About 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, while recent Gallup polling finds U.S. workers are increasingly concerned about being replaced by new technologies.

Students seeking majors that teach ‘human’ skills

The uncertainty appears most concentrated among those pursuing degrees in technology and vocational areas of study, where students feel a need to develop expertise in AI but also fear being replaced by it. A recent Quinnipiac poll found the vast majority of Americans believe it’s “very” or “somewhat” important for college and university students to be taught how to use AI, as Gallup Workforce polling finds AI is getting adopted in technology-related fields at higher rates. Meanwhile, students studying healthcare and natural sciences may be less impacted by AI overhauls, Gallup found.

“We see students all the time change majors. That’s not new or different. But it’s usually for a ton of different reasons,” said Courtney Brown, a vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit focused on increasing the number of students who seek education beyond high school. “The fact that so many students say it’s because of AI — that is startling.”

A recent Gallup poll of Generation Z youth and adults, between the ages of 14 and 29, found increasing skepticism and concerns about AI. Although half of Gen Z adults use AI at least “weekly,” and teenagers report higher use, many in this generation see drawbacks to the technology and worry about AI’s impact on their cognitive abilities and job prospects. About half — 48% — of Gen Z workers say the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh the possible benefits.

Part of the challenge for college students is that the experts they would typically turn to for advice, like advisers, professors and parents, don’t have any answers. “Students are having to navigate this on their own, without a GPS,” says Brown.

That uncertainty was evident last month at Stanford University, where the leaders of several prominent universities gathered for a wide-ranging panel discussion on the future of higher education. Topics of concern included the AI revolution that is transforming how students learn and forcing educators to rethink pedagogy.

“We need to think really hard about what students need to learn to be successful in the job market in 10, 20, 30 years,” said Brown University President Christina Paxson.

“And none of us know. We don’t know the answer to that,” Paxson said. “I think it’s communication, it’s critical thought. The fundamentals of a liberal education are probably more important than learning how to code in Java right now.”

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Anxiety also reaches computer science majors

Computer science major Ben Aybar, 22, graduated last spring from the University of Chicago and applied for about 50 jobs, mostly in software engineering, without getting a single interview. He pivoted to a master’s degree in computer science and meanwhile has found part-time work doing AI consulting for companies.

“People who know how to use AI will be very valuable,” said Aybar, who sees new jobs emerging that require AI skills, particularly for people who can explain the complexities in layman’s terms. “Being able to talk to people and interact with people in a very human way I think is more valuable than ever.”

At the University of Virginia, data science major Ava Lawless is wondering if her major is worthwhile but can’t get concrete answers. Some advisers feel that data scientists will be safe because they’re the ones building AI models, but she keeps seeing gloomy job reports that indicate the contrary.

“It makes me feel a bit hopeless for the future,” Lawless said. “What if by the time I graduate there’s not even a job market for this anymore?”

She is considering switching to studio art, which is her minor.

“I’m at a point where I’m thinking if I can’t get a job being a data scientist, I might as well pursue art,” she said. “Because if I’m going to be unemployed, I might as well do something I love.”

___

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

Antranard Womble, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison under the plea deal.

Womble had been arrested on attempted murder and other charges in the April 24, 2020 shooting involving Tactical Robbery Unit Officer Erica Socarras.

Court records showed Socarras was following a Nissan Sentra in her unmarked Dodge Charger when she said she had an exchange of gunfire near the 1800 block of Northwest 50th Street.

Officers responded to ShotSpotter gunshot detection alerts and found Womble shot in his earlobe and the back of his head.

Socarras’ Charger was hit multiple times and a round struck the Taser on her gun belt but she wasn’t injured in the gunfire, police said.

Womble was hospitalized and later arrested.

Socarras, who approved of the plea deal, spoke in court on Monday.

“I was a target that day, I was ambushed. I later learned the individuals involved had called ahead and set me up and were waiting for me,” she said. “Without hesitation, without regret for my life, he opened fire on me.”

Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales also attended Monday’s hearing and afterwards spoke with NBC6.

“I would love this to be a clear and distinct message to anyone out there who thinks that it’s okay to harm, hurt or harass an officer of the Miami Police Department or any law enforcement agency,” Morales said. “We are not society’s punching bags, we go out there doing our job, we go out there to protect our community but we will defend ourselves and we will make sure that our community is safe.”

Womble didn’t act alone that day, according to prosecutors. There are two more men also charged with attempted murder in the shooting, and their cases remain open.

The plan, submitted to lawmakers Monday ahead of a special legislative session, could significantly shift political power in the state—potentially handing Republicans up to four additional seats in the U.S. House and reshaping key districts in Central and South Florida.

What the New Map Would Do

If approved, the proposal would overhaul several congressional districts, tilting the map more heavily in favor of Republicans. Areas like Tampa could lose Democratic representation altogether, while South Florida districts would also see changes that reduce Democratic-leaning seats.

Florida currently has 28 congressional districts, with eight held by Democrats. The new map could shrink that number, strengthening the GOP’s position in a narrowly divided U.S. House, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority.

The proposal was first shared publicly on Fox News before being formally submitted to the Legislature. Lawmakers are expected to begin reviewing it in committee Tuesday, with a possible floor vote as soon as Wednesday.

A National Strategy

Florida is not alone. The move comes amid a broader push for mid-decade redistricting across the country—an uncommon step typically reserved for once-a-decade updates following the U.S. Census.

“We need clear representation of people when it comes to these congressional districts so we’re going to have that debate and we’re looking forward to working with the governor, working with the speaker of the house,” said State Rep. J.C. Porras, a Republican who represents District 119.

The effort gained momentum after President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to redraw maps ahead of the midterms. Texas has already done so, while states like California and Virginia have also taken action, setting off what some are calling a redistricting arms race.

With Republicans holding a narrow edge in Congress, Florida could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the House after November.

Legal Fight Brewing

The proposal is already drawing sharp criticism from Democrats, who call it unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering.

“It is virtually impossible to see this as anything except another thinly veiled attempt to subvert the will of the voters and rig the midterm elections,” said StateRep. Fentrice Driskell, the Florida House Democratic Leader.

Florida voters approved the “Fair Districts” amendments in 2010, which prohibit drawing maps that favor a political party or diminish minority voting power. However, recent legal developments have complicated that standard.

In 2025, the Florida Supreme Court struck down part of the amendment related to race-based districting. In a memo to lawmakers, the governor’s general counsel argued that ruling could invalidate the broader protections altogether—potentially opening the door to more partisan mapmaking.

Not everyone in Tallahassee agrees. Senate President Ben Albritton has reminded lawmakers that the state constitution still bans partisan gerrymandering and urged caution during the process.

Democrats, meanwhile, are preparing for a court challenge.

State and party leaders have blasted the proposal as a political power grab, arguing it was drawn behind closed doors and designed to predetermine election outcomes.

“Every single evidence that we have seen from Ron DeSantis and the Republicans that are pushing congressional maps here in Florida are proving the point that these were done purely on partisan lines and DeSantis is asking the legislature to violate the Florida Constitution,” said Nikki Fried, Florida Democratic Party Chair.

Risks and Unknowns

Even some analysts warn the strategy could backfire.

NBC6 political analyst Alex Penelas says shifting Republican voters into more competitive districts could weaken the party’s hold in traditionally safe areas, creating new vulnerabilities.

“There’s a big risk,” Penelas said. “You could end up making more districts competitive rather than securing them.”

There are also legal uncertainties. Courts have historically been reluctant to intervene in election laws close to an election—a concept known as the Purcell principle. Still, unlike after a census, Florida already has an existing, court-approved map in place, which could be reinstated if the new one is struck down.

What Happens Next

The Legislature now takes up the proposal during a special session beginning Tuesday. Lawmakers can amend the map before any final vote.

If approved and signed into law, the new districts are almost certain to face legal challenges—setting up a high-stakes showdown in the courts.

With the balance of power in Washington potentially on the line, what happens in Florida over the coming days could have ripple effects across the country.

Diamonique Patterson, 22, was charged with attempted murder.

During her court appearance, a judge denied Patterson’s bond.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, on April 9, deputies arrived at 2014 Northwest 69th Street after receiving reports of a shooting.

An arrest report said that deputies found a victim, rendered aid to him, and he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Surveillance video in the area captured a woman running eastbound along Northwest 58th Street and firing a gun several times, the report said

When detectives arrived at the scene, the report said, they found the victim’s vehicle and saw that there were three bullet holes on the right rear passenger door. A spent shell casing was found on the front passenger floorboard.

As detectives continued their investigation, they spoke to the residents at 2014 NW 69th St., who told them that the victim rang their doorbell and asked them to call 911, the report said.

At the hospital, the report said, the victim told detectives that an unknown man entered his barbershop and made threats. The victim noticed the man reaching towards his waistband, which he thought was for a gun.

After finishing work at the barbershop, the victim said he drove to a corner store where the unknown man usually was, and after meeting, the man told the victim to follow him in his car, the report said.

The victim then started following the man, and when his car stopped, the victim told detectives that something felt wrong, and then an unknown woman got out of the man’s car and got inside the victim’s car, and told him “He wants me to set you up,” the report said.

The woman, the report said, then left the victim’s car, brandished a gun and fired multiple times at the victim.

Five days after the victim was shot, he was able to identify the woman who shot him during a photographic line-up, the report said.

Detectives on Sunday were then dispatched to 545 NW. 56th Street after receiving reports of a suspicious woman who was wearing Islamic clothing, who was identified as Patterson, the report said.

During a search of abandoned apartments nearby, the report said, detectives found a firearm in the kitchen area. Two men were also found in the apartment with Patterson.

When Patterson was taken by detectives, she wanted to speak to them and said she wasn’t aware of the incident and told them she and the victim had sexual relations about three times, the report said.

Detectives then told Patterson that the victim identified her during a photo line-up, and she requested to have a lawyer, the report said.

She was then arrested and taken to the Turner Guilford Correctional Center.

Marsel Javaris Smith, 27, was arrested Friday on charges including an authority figure soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship with a student and sexual assault on a 16 or 17-year-old victim, records showed.

According to the report, Broward Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit investigators responded to Northeast High School in Oakland Park on Friday after a juvenile victim reported ongoing sexual conduct involving a Broward substitute teacher that began in October 2025.

The teacher was identified as Smith, who has worked for Broward Schools for about 3 years, the report said.

The student said on Oct. 1, she was walking on campus after dismissal when she was approached by Smith, who complimented her and asked for her phone number, the report said.

She said she gave him her number and they started exchanging text messages.

In one text Smith asked to see her and she declined, before he asked her to send him photos of herself, the report said.

“Dang you making wanna see more videos and pics but a lil more you know exclusive,” he texted her, according to the report.

Smith later texted her again to send him photos of herself and wrote “Trust me everything stays here between us,” the report said.

She declined and he responded, “But come on think of everything I be at your school. You can trust me,” the report said.

On Oct. 14, Smith texted her and she responded that she was at a fast food restaurant waiting for her grandma, and he went to the restaurant then asked her to perform a sex act on him but she declined, the report said.

After Smith left he texted her asking to see her and do sexual acts and told her they could have sex at the school, the report said.

Then, on Oct. 19, they were texting and Smith asked if he could pick her up, then picked her up and brought her to Oswald Park on Northwest 21st Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, the report said.

She said they were sitting in the back seat of his car when he requested she perform a sex act on him, and she said no but he pulled down his pants and grabbed the back of her head and had her perform a sex act on him, the report said.

The girl said she told him “no” multiple times but he wanted to have sex with her which they did before he dropped her back off at the home where she was staying, the report said.

She said Smith contacted her multiple times asking to see her but she avoided him at school, the report said.

Then, on Friday, the girl said she was walking in the hallway when she saw Smith, who approached her, asked to speak with her and made a comment about her hair, the report said.

She said Smith asked her to go with him to an empty classroom but she declined then reported him to a school security officer, the report said.

Investigators spoke with Smith who confirmed he exchanged contact information with the student and had seen her at a fast food restaurant, the report said.

When asked if he picked her up and brought her to a park Smith said he was “unable to remember” and ended the interview, the report said.

While investigating the allegations, detectives were made aware of a second juvenile victim who reported that in 2025, while Smith was a substitute for her class, he had asked for her number and texted her requesting she perform a sex act on him, the report said.

The investigation into that allegation is ongoing, the report said.

Smith, who lives in Pompano Beach, was booked into jail and on Saturday appeared before a judge, who set his bond at $30,000 and ordered him not to have contact with minors.

Northeast High School parents and families received a message on Friday informing them of the arrest.

“An individual who is not a Broward County Public Schools employee but worked as a substitute teacher through Kelly Education was arrested today, Friday, April 24, accused of sexual misconduct with a student. We are deeply disturbed by the allegations and are working closely with the Broward Sheriff’s Office regarding this matter,” the message read. “I am not able provide additional details due to the ongoing investigation. However, please be aware that this individual is no longer permitted to work as a substitute teacher anywhere in Broward County Public Schools.”

Verwayne Alexander was arrested by the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office back on April 2 on one count of kidnapping, one count of sexual assault and four counts of indecent exposure records showed.

Broward Sheriff’s Office officials said Monday that before his arrest, BSO detectives were investigating Alexander in an indecent exposure case in Broward.

During the investigation, BSO detectives learned Alexander was an unregistered sexual predator, and a warrant for one count each of failure to register, failure to report and indecent exposure was issued for his arrest on March 10, officials said.

He was arrested on the warrant that same day by Riviera Beach Police.

Investigators believe Alexander may have assaulted or exposed himself to other women in Broward and are asking potential victims to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call BSO at 954-321-4200.

The couple was greeted on the tarmac by United States’ military bands playing both the United States and the British national anthems, as well as dignitaries from both countries. Other local, state, and federal officials were also in attendance. Children of British military personnel handed out pansy flowers to the royal couple as they arrived.

The President and the First Lady greeted the royal couple at the South Portico of the White House Monday afternoon, where they went inside for tea and then visited the White House bee hives. The First Lady just added a new bee hive in the shape of the White House.

King Charles keeps bees on his estate as part of his interest in conservation. Queen Camilla is a patron of a charity called Bees for Development.

The palace discussed security concerns following the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday, but said the trip will go forward as planned.

“These are very special times for our special relationship, and I think that if there’s anyone who is suited to really approach the situation in a diplomatic manner it is King Charles 110 percent,” said Kathryn LaMontagne, a Royal Expert. “And there’s a lot of pressure on him from home on how he handles this, and everyone is certainly watching to see how he handles it.”

Security is tighter than usual for the visit, with fencing and jersey barriers put out on Pennsylvania Avenue overnight in addition to the already tight security around the White House.

There was some speculation the royals might stay at Blair House, the official residence for the royals’ level of visitors, but President Trump said they will be staying at the White House itself.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Trump answered questions about security concerns, saying the White House is as safe a place as can be.

The King and Queen will attend tea at the White House on Monday afternoon. King Charles will also address a joint session of Congress just as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did 45-years ago.

There will also be a State Dinner at the White House, and the King and Queen will visit New York City later this week to attend ceremonies at the 9-11 Memorial and meet first responders. They will also attend a King’s Trust Reception.

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted President Trump last year after Charles’ coronation.

This return visit has been planned for months, before recent tensions between Trump and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the war in Iran. President Trump told the BBC the King’s visit could help with that relationship.

The King traditionally stays out of politics, but is expected to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, talking about the common goals and common bonds the two nations share.

“In many ways, America to Americans seems like we were the biggest loss for them, but for the Brits we were just another one of the colonies,” said LaMontagne. “They controlled the earth’s surface. Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves, so, we’re not as big of a deal to them as they are to us. But the special relationship that we’ve had you, know, effectively since then, but then in 1946 with Winston’s Churchill’s speech in Fulton, Missouri, it became kind of cemented in our psyches that we have this kind of relation. So that relationship we want to continue, but it is trickier in certain time more than others to maintain it, and maintain the peace that goes with it.”

Janette MacAusland, 49, was arrested in Vermont Friday as a fugitive from justice after she showed up at her aunt’s home in Bennington, Vermont covered in blood following a failed suicide attempt, Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette said.

After speaking with MacAusland, Bennington police requested that the Wellesley Police Department conduct a wellfare check on her children. Wellesley police confirmed her six-year-old daughter Ella and seven-year-old son Kai were found dead at her home at approximately 9:50 p.m.

According to court documents, MacAusland admitted to Vermont police that she strangled her children in her bed before attempting to take her own life.

MacAusland’s aunt reported that MacAusland told her, “I wanted the three of us to go to God together, but it didn’t work.”

“I’ve not experienced a double homicide with two children in my tenure as the police chief,” Doucette said. “It’s almost something, like, surreal. You see that on Dateline or 20/20 or something, not something that you would normally suspect.”

“Very tragic. I mean, the little kids didn’t deserve that, other family members, I mean, they were little. Very little,” said a woman who lives in Vermont.

MacAusland and her husband were in the middle of getting a divorce, according to officials.

The motive for the murders is under investigation.

It’s not yet clear when MacAusland will be transported back to Massachusetts.

Former FBI Agent Geoffrey Kelley has a new tell-all book, “Thirteen Perfect Fugitives.”

“They took the Rembrandts – that’s the well-known artist when you go into a room like the Dutch Room, that’s filled with these old-world masters,” Kelley said.

The book details the lead investigators followed over the past 30 years. It happened when two men dressed as policemen convinced museum security guards to let them in.

They handcuffed the guards in the basement, took the security videotapes, and stole 13 artworks worth half a billion dollars. The FBI said their identities were discovered in 2013, but they could not be named due to definitive proof.

Kelley said the info came primarily from outside informants.

“One of them was an informant that we opened up down in Connecticut, who, his name was Meatball, and he really resembled a meatball,” Kelley said. “And he was a three-time killer who escaped the death penalty down in Florida and managed to come back to Connecticut and ended up working with us on this case.”

The two men have since died, along with others believed to be tied to the hesit. Kelley said he interviewed one suspect’s brother, who broke down when he recalled helping his late sibling hang up a stolen piece.

Richard Kielczweski, 41, is charged in Middleboro with one count of Witness Intimidation and Enticing a Child Under 16.

In Hanson, he is charged with three counts of Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18, two counts of Rape of a Child Aggravated by 10 Year Age Difference, one count each of Rape of a child with Force, Pose/Exhibit a Child in a Sexual Act, and Trafficking persons under 18 for sexual servitude.

In Halifax, he is charged with two counts each of Rape of a Child Aggravated by 10 Year Age Difference and Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18, and one count of Trafficking Persons under 18 for Sexual Servitude. 

Prosecutors say the victim is a 15-year-old boy Kielczweski met online, and the two met for sex on multiple occassions at a Walmart in Halifax beginning last Fall. Police said one of the sex acts was videotaped.

“He met the defendant on Grindr and used the application to communicate with him,” said Prosecutor Taramaria Pellerin. “The defendant paid the victim $200 for this sex act in cash, and drove the victim home.”

Prosecutors said while the boy did not know the defendant’s last name, he was able to describe Kielczweski and his home in Hanson. The victim reported he and Kielczweski would hang out there and have sex until March, when his parents discovered he had a new iPhone they did not recognize.

“The victim later disclosed that he received that iPhone from an individual identified as Ricky,” Pellerin said.

Investigators said the boy told them he was forcibly raped on one occassion, and that Kielczweski wanted to cut his pay in half because he had been seeing another teenager.

“The main victim disclosed he communicated with this other individual and discovered that person was also 15 or 16-years-old,” Pellerin said.

Neighbors said they never suspected this type of crime at Kielczweski’s home.

“I didn’t even know about it. I never saw anything, I only saw a couple kids once in a while, different kids that I didn’t recognize from the neighborhood, walking up the street,” one neighbor said.

“Today was not his day in court. He hasn’t had his day in court yet. We have not yet had an opportunity to review the police report, the investigation, so at this point in time we will have no further comment,” Michael Carroll, Kielczweski’s Defense Attorney, said outside court.

In a statement, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department wrote, “The charges against Officer Kielczweski are extremely serious and deeply disturbing. The Department has taken the swift and decisive action to indefinitely suspend Officer Kielczweski.”

The judge ordered Kielczweski held without bail for three days pending a dangerousness hearing later this week.

Jay Bryant pleaded guilty to a federal murder charge, telling a judge that he helped other people get into a recording studio to ambush the DJ, born Jason Mizell.

“I knew a gun was going to be used to shoot Jason Mizell,” Bryant told a federal magistrate. “I knew that what I was doing was wrong and a crime.”

Bryant’s admission brings some closure — but also adds complexity — to a knotty case.

Bryant didn’t name the other people with whom he acted. But a jury in 2024 convicted two other men, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, yet a judge subsequently cleared Jordan.

Washington has also challenged his conviction. His lawyer, Susan Kellman, noted Monday that evidence against Bryant included his DNA on a hat at the crime scene and witness testimony that Bryant once claimed he fired the gun himself. Jordan’s lawyers declined to comment.

Bryant, 52, is expected to face a sentence somewhere between 15 and 20 years in prison for killing plus unrelated drug and gun charges to which he pleaded guilty earlier. No sentencing date has been set.

He gave a thumbs-up to someone in the audience before leaving court. The person declined to comment afterward, as did Bryant’s attorneys.

Prosecutors had no immediate comment.

Mizell handled the turntables in Run-DMC, a pathbreaking trio he formed with friends Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Joseph Simmons, known as DJ Run and Rev. Run.

With such 1980s hits as “It’s Tricky,” “My Adidas,” and a version of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” they helped rap climb the ladder from an urban genre into mainstream popularity. Run-DMC was the first rap group with gold- and platinum-selling albums, a Rolling Stone cover, and a video on MTV. The trio was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Mizell also mentored other hip-hop artists, including a young 50 Cent.

At 37, Mizell was gunned down in his studio in the Queens neighborhood where he’d grown up. His October 2002 death followed the late 1990s killings of two other hip-hop greats, Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. Authorities struggled with all three cases for years.

Jordan and Washington — Mizell’s godson and old friend, respectively — were arrested in 2020. Prosecutors said the men were bitter about losing out on a piece of a failed cocaine deal that Mizell had tried to line up. Though Run-DMC was known for its anti-drug message, prosecutors and a trial witness said the DJ moonlighted in the cocaine trade in his later years to cover his bills and keep being generous to friends after music money dried up somewhat.

According to prosecutors and trial witnesses, Jordan shot Mizell while Washington blocked the door during the shooting and ordered one of Mizell’s aides to get on the ground. Both men denied the allegations. Jordan’s attorneys said he was at his girlfriend’s home when the DJ was shot, and Washington’s lawyers said he had no incentive to kill the famous friend who helped him financially.

Nearly three years after their arrests, prosecutors abruptly brought Bryant into their picture of the killing.

Saying that Bryant’s DNA had been found on a hat in the studio and that he’d been seen entering the building, prosecutors added him to the murder indictment. He was already jailed on the drug and gun case.

Bryant knew someone in common with Jordan and Washington, according to testimony at their trial. But unlike them, Bryant had little, if any, connection to Mizell.

Bryant said in court Monday that he was connected with people who were involved in a cocaine deal with the DJ and that he “helped them kill Jason Mizell by helping them gain entry to the recording studio.”

Bryant’s uncle has said his nephew told him he shot Mizell after the artist reached for a gun. But no one else testified that Bryant even entered the studio.

Instead, prosecutors contended that Bryant was enlisted to make his way into the studio building and open a back fire door, allowing Washington and Jordan to walk in without buzzing up and alerting Mizell they were coming.

While neither Jordan’s nor Washington’s DNA was on the cap, then-prosecutor Artie McConnell suggested one of them had accidentally left it behind, and that Bryant had simply touched it at some point beforehand.

The committee said the change is all about giving fans who may be traveling from around the globe the best experience possible. The decision comes weeks before the first matches are set to begin in June.

Gillette Stadium, which is being called Boston Stadium for the event, will host seven matches including a quarter-final game.

World Cup fans said they are excited to experience the lively tailgating tradition.

“It’s the experience. The barbeque, the good foods out in the parking lot. get pumped, you can come in watch them play,” said Jeffrey Dion, a sports fan. “Great experience. I am sure it will be the same for the soccer.”

“People…really come from all over the world and it’s really important to have a good time before and after the game with other people,” said Frederic Gan, another sports fan.

“That chance to come together with your family, with your frirends, spend time before the game and after the game as well, yeah it’s wonderful,” said Paul Drayton.

Officials said they expect approximately 2 million visitors in the Boston area during the World Cup.

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The additional rain we had overnight has moved out. We’ll be dry for at least the next couple of days before a slight shower chance later this week.

Temperatures will be a little cooler overnight with plenty of inland areas dipping into the mid 40s.  Tuesday will be mostly sunny. Daytime temperatures will be slightly warmer on Tuesday but remain near to slightly below normal through at least the middle part of the week.

A storm system passing to our south could bring another chance of rain Wednesday night, but for now confidence remains low and the forecast stays dry. If confidence increases, the forecast will be adjusted. Otherwise, expect a generally pleasant week, with warmer temperatures by Friday.

The weekend is looking warmer and drier.

Monday

• Coast: turning mostly sunny – upper 60s
• Inland: turning mostly sunny – low to mid 70s
• Mountains: sunny – mid 60s
• Deserts: Sunny – mid 80s

Matt Shupe, who attended the dinner and works in public relations for large-scale political gatherings, said the incident has shifted how organizers will approach future events, including those in California.

“It sounded like a ‘pop pop, pop, pop, pop.'”

Shupe said the initial confusion inside the venue quickly turned into alarm as guests tried to make sense of the noise.

“You’ve probably got 100 or 200 servers coming in and out with the giant trays with all the entree plates on them. And so at first, everybody kind of thought that maybe 1 or 2 people had collided and all of the plates had fallen over.”

He said it soon became clear the sounds were gunfire.

Shupe, who recently worked the California Republican Party convention in San Diego, said incidents like this will likely lead to increased security at similar events.

“You know, I was actually thinking about that this morning, that, you know, at the next California Republican Party convention, we probably need to have more security,” Shupe said.

A day after the shooting, Shupe said the mood in Washington remained uneasy, with some attendees and his PR clients opting out of planned events.

“You know, there were actually after parties scheduled for today [Sunday]. And I have clients that are not going to those anymore, and people that aren’t going to those. And so it definitely has a different feeling today,” he said.

Despite the incident, Shupe said he hopes to attend the event again in the future.

“I hope my ticket is still good. I do plan on going again.”

The shooting has also renewed scrutiny of the Washington Hilton, the venue where the dinner was held. The hotel is in the same location where President Ronald Reagan was shot during his presidency, adding to concerns about security at the site.

A spokesperson for the Washington Hilton said in a statement that, “The well-being, safety and security of our guests and team members remains our top priority and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. Additional questions should be directed to the U.S. Secret Service, which led security for the event.”

Elected leaders in San Diego are also reacting to Saturday night’s attack. City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, who represents District 5 and is also running for California’s 48th congressional district, said that now is the time for political leaders to come together to condemn political violence.

“We can’t demonize other people just because we don’t agree with them,” Von Wilpert said.

Von Wilpert’s comments came in response to a statement from California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin, who called the attack a “terrible act of violence” and went on to say, “This violence must stop now. Democrats must end their violent rhetoric; their words have consequences and are causing real harm.”

“Now is not the time to take more partisan sides and point fingers at each other. Now is the time for elected leaders on all sides of the aisle to bring Americans together and unite us,” Von Wilpert said.

Ammar Campa-Najjar is also vying for federal office in the race to replace Republican Congressman Darrell Issa.

In a statement to NBC 7, Campa-Najjar said, “Last night’s attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was an act of senseless violence, and I’m relieved that everyone, including the brave member of the U.S. Secret Service shot in the line of duty, is expected to recover. A free press is the lifeblood of our democracy, and no political or personal disagreement justifies violence.”

NBC 7 reached out to the campaign of County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who is also running for Representative Issa’s seat, but did not hear back in time for publication. NBC 7 also reached out to Congressman Mike Levin’s office and the San Diego County Democratic Party for comment, and is waiting to hear back.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.

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California voter registration records showed his parent’s house as his home address. Federal and local agencies worked through the night at the property, leaving it sometime around 7 a.m. on Sunday.

FBI agents were going door to door, talking to neighbors to gather information about the suspect.

“They came by and asked questions, if I knew him. I’m like, ‘Nope. I’ve seen him once, and that was probably about it,'” neighbor James Bolinas said. “Everybody says it doesn’t happen in your neighborhood, but it happens in everybody’s neighborhood. It’s going to happen no matter where you’re at.”

Paul Thompson, another one of Allen’s neighbors, told NBC News he was “not necessarily friendly,” but he hadn’t noticed anything off about him. He added that Allen’s “parents are nice, friendly people,” and the “father especially knows everybody.”

Students tutored by suspect call him ‘intelligent’ and ‘an average person’

He worked for C2 Education, a tutoring company that helps high schoolers get into college. In December 2024, C2 Education named him teacher of the month.

“We were shocked to hear the news of the horrifying incident that transpired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” C2 Education said in a statement. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement to assist them in their investigation. Violence of any kind is never the answer.”

Max Harris, who was tutored by the suspect, said he was stunned to learn of his arrest.

“I mean, my friend called me and said, ‘Check the news. The C2 guy just tried to, whatever he tried to do,’” Harris said. “And it’s like, it was unbelievable to me. I never would have expected that in my life.”

Harris said he didn’t notice any red flags concerning Allen.

“I mean, he seemed like a friendly enough guy,” Harris said. “I mean, he was just kind of a normal guy, you know what I mean? Just an average person, you wouldn’t expect anything of him.”

Dylan Wakayama, president of the Asian American Civic Trust, told NBC Los Angeles that Allen tutored a student who volunteers at his organization, as well as the brother of another student.

“They described him as someone who was very intelligent,” Wakayama said. “They never would have expected this.”

One of the students told Wakayama she received tutoring from Allen as recently as April 14 and said there weren’t any notable signs that something was wrong.

“She described the fact that she thought this individual was very intelligent, that it sounds like he was a proficient tutor,” Wakayama said.

His educational background in Los Angeles County

Allen’s LinkedIn profile indicates he earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017. The school confirmed it had record of a student with the same name who graduated in 2017, but said it does “not have details from the investigation to confirm that the suspect and our undergraduate alumnus are the same person.”

While he was a Caltech student, Allen was a member of the winning group of the 31st annual Mechanical Engineering 72 Design Competition, which involved building robots that could play soccer. In the 2016 competition, his five-person group “Blitzkrieg Bots” competed against four other teams for the “Tridroid Cup.”

Months later, Allen was featured in a local news report for developing a prototype emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Allen then obtained his master’s in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. His LinkedIn profile photo shows him wearing a cap and gown at graduation and appears to have been taken May 2025.

In a statement, Cal State Dominguez Hills said it had a student by the same name who graduated from the school last year. It said while it could not confirm he was the suspect in Saturday’s shooting, the school “unequivocally condemns this act of violence.”

“Such acts betray our values as a university and our commitment to fostering a safe environment for our campus communities,” it said.

Bin Tang, a computer science professor at the school, confirmed to NBC News that Allen took some of his classes and remembered him as being “a very good student” who paid attention and went to office hours.

“Soft spoken, very polite, a good fellow,” he said in a statement. “I am very shocked to see the news.

Allen attended Pacific Lutheran High School in Gardena, where he was known for his inquisitiveness and intellect, according to a former volleyball teammate. While he had not seen Allen recently, he remembered Allen as a “borderline genius” and “super stable.”

“He was probably the most gentle person on the team, which makes it even more shocking that he did this.”

Allen’s intellect landed him an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge in 2014, the agency confirmed to NBC Los Angeles.

Weapons were legally purchased at Torrence shop

Allen, who is believed to have acted alone, checked in as a guest at the Washington Hilton Hotel where the gala was being held. was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives when he breached a checkpoint in the hotel lobby about 8:36 p.m. and ran toward the ballroom where the event was being held.

Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect before tackling him to the ground. He was not shot, but was taken to a nearby hospital.

He was armed with a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun and an Armscor Precision .38 semi-automatic pistol, both of which were purchased legally, according to a senior law enforcement official and documents, NBC News reports. At least one of those weapons was purchased at CAP Tactical, a gun store near the home that was raided in Torrance, a senior administration official said.

A note allegedly written by the suspect gave insight into a possible motive for Saturday’s attack. A senior administration official provided a transcript of some of Allen’s writings to NBC News. In it, he expressed “rage” at the Trump administration’s leadership, criticized the president and wrote that administration officials were his targets.

“It wasn’t just a political statement,” Brian Levin, founder of the Center for Study of Hate and Extremism, said. “It was an apology to people who knew him. It was looking at who he’s targeting and why.”

Allen is facing charges that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday.

NBC4’s Keenan Willard and Karma Dickerson contributed to this report.

“There’s a lot that’s kind of happening in a matter of seconds in that video,” Michael de Geus said, referring to the surveillance video released. “Having done it, it’s not the easiest job in the world.”

As a former U.S. Secret Service agent himself, de Geus understands the security planning involved in preparing for big events involving the president.

“Security and protection for events like this, there’s kind of like a methodology that boils down to really three concentric circles, so it’s kind of an outer perimeter, a middle perimeter, and an inner perimeter,” de Geus said.

De Geus said that while the suspect was able to breach the outer perimeter by rushing past the metal detector, the security methodology proved successful because it kept him from reaching the ballroom and hurting anyone.

“While the uniform division secret service officer did get shot, he is alive, he is OK, and that’s why they wear the armor that they wear,” de Geus said. “No different than a police officer does that with the street every day.”

He said the agents worked well, given the limitations they likely had at the location where the event was taking place.

“When you’re inside like that at a hotel, there are certain things you can do and have to do, and then, there are certain things that you want to do that you’re going to try to get. I don’t want to give a law class right now, but trying to get access to that hotel room to search every room and identify every person within it. You start violating the Fourth Amendment and it gets into a whole weird thing that, rightfully so, is there. That’s why the service doesn’t go in and start drilling into all that stuff,” de Geus said.

That’s why he credits them for accomplishing the mission.

“They did the job. The shooter showed up. The shooter shot. He got put down. The President and First Lady extracted off. Nobody in that room was harmed,” de Geus said.

De Geus said that while Allen sent a note to family letting them know what he was going to do minutes before, there was not enough time for agents to act in response.  

He credits them for a quick response at the hotel that he said saved lives.

“Had they not done their job right, we could have had a much different conversation about how bad that was,” de Geus said.

De Geus said there’s always something that can be learned.

In this case, he said the Secret Service could re-evaluate how they could possibly control ingress through the metal detectors differently.

The drugs were concealed in a cargo trailer that was seized on April 14, but the shipment manifest had listed the commodity as corrugated cardboard boxes, according to CBP officials.

CBP officers referred a 2017 Freightliner Cascadia tractor, its trailer, and the 31-year-old male Mexican driver for secondary inspection. A non-intrusive inspection revealed anomalies in the trailer’s front wall, and a CBP canine alerted officers to the same area. authorities said.

A physical inspection allegedly uncovered 300 packages containing a crystal-like substance wrapped in clear plastic. The packages tested positive for methamphetamine, totaling 3,078.10 pounds, officials said.

“Our CBP officers at ports of entry are unwavering guardians,” Otay Mesa Port Director Rosa Hernandez said. “Their diligence prevented illegal narcotics from entering our country, so our communities are kept safe from dangerous drugs.”

The whale was floating about 400 yards off the coast of San Elijo State Beach in Encinitas. A team of lifeguards was called early Monday morning to tow the carcass out to sea with personnel from California State Parks, according to the city of Encinitas.

Officials advised beachgoers to exercise caution before getting into the water for several days because at least one shark was spotted following the whale’s carcass as it was being towed.

The whale was towed more than a mile from the coastline. Its cause of death was unclear.

Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, 61, also known as “Don Dario,” had at one time a $10 million reward offered by the U.S. Department of State for information leading to his capture and conviction.

Molina-Lopez, who was indicted in 2019, allegedly led a drug trafficking organization called Los Huistas based out of northwest Guatemala on the border of Mexico.

“Los Huistas is a drug trafficking organization primarily based in the Huehuetenango region of Northwest Guatemala that borders Mexico and is engaged in a massive cocaine trafficking operation,” prosecutors said in a news release.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Molina-Lopez and Los Huistas were the focus of a multi-year law enforcement investigation. Details on the circumstances leading to his arrest were not disclosed.

“Cartel leaders don’t get to write the end of their stories — we do,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon in the news release. “And once again, the final chapter for a man alleged to be one of the world’s most notorious and prolific cocaine traffickers is here in the Southern District of California.”

Molina-Lopez pleaded not guilty in San Diego federal court last Friday to charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine intended for unlawful importation and conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel.

Prosecutors say he faces  a sentence of up to life in prison and a $10 million fine

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber said Friday the initiative cleared the signature threshold needed to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The measure would require voters to present government-issued identification at the polls or provide identifying information when voting by mail. It would also require the state to issue voter identification cards upon request and mandate annual reports on voter citizenship verification rates.

To qualify, the initiative needed 874,641 valid signatures, equal to 8% of votes cast in the 2022 gubernatorial election. Officials said the measure exceeded that threshold through random sampling.

The proposal is scheduled to be formally certified for the ballot June 25 unless it is withdrawn by its proponents.

A fiscal analysis estimated one-time implementation costs in the tens of millions of dollars, with ongoing annual costs potentially reaching into the low hundreds of millions.

The initiative’s proponents include state Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R- San Diego County, state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, and Donald J. DiCostanzo, a business owner.

“The California Voter ID Initiative is a common-sense and bipartisan way to restore the trust and confidence all voters should have in our election system,” DeMaio said in a statement. “Our measure simply holds government officials accountable to maintain accurate voter lists and verify the identity of individuals casting ballots in our elections.”

Voting rights advocates have criticized the measure, saying it may make it harder for some people to cast ballots and could reduce overall participation.

A vehicle struck Aaron Keith, 24, on state Route 76 near Singh Way in Oceanside on Sunday morning, according to police. Following the deadly impact, the motorist continued driving and left the area. Keith died at the scene.

Investigators believe the fatality took place sometime between 1 and 8 a.m., according to police spokeswoman Gina Avalos.

“At this time, there is no suspect or vehicle description available,” Avalos said Monday afternoon. “The Oceanside Police Department Traffic Unit is actively investigating the incident in coordination with the Medical Examiner’s Office.”

Matvei Michkov skated with the team’s extra forwards Carl Grundstrom and Garrett Wilson in Sunday’s practice, an indication that the 21-year-old winger very well could be a healthy scratch Monday night.

Meanwhile, Alex Bump skated with Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster, a sign that he’s poised to enter the lineup.

After the Flyers’ regular-season finale, Tocchet noted how he wanted to play Bump at some point in the playoffs. And following the Flyers’ 4-2 loss Saturday night in Game 4, Tocchet mentioned the need for energy.

The head coach didn’t confirm any lineup changes after practice, but he did like how Bump performed.

“We just wanted to try some stuff today,” Tocchet said. “Whether he’s in tomorrow, we’ll find out. But he really looked good in practice today with his shot and energy. After last game, I think we need some energy. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”

Michkov has gone scoreless through four games of the Flyers’ best-of-seven first-round playoff matchup against the Penguins. The Flyers have a 3-1 series lead going into Game 5 at PPG Paints Arena (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). Tocchet went with the same 12 forwards in the first four games.

In 10:06 minutes per game, Michkov has recorded four shots, six penalty minutes and a minus-1 rating. He went into the playoffs with serious momentum, but his production and effectiveness just haven’t been there. When Michkov is at his best, you can see the jump in his legs and his activity around the net.

Tocchet said he evaluates Michkov along with the Flyers’ other young players like Bump and Denver Barkey. All three are playing in their first NHL playoffs.

“I just think he’s a part of the young group,” Tocchet said. “Barks went through it a little bit, Bump a little bit. Not hit the wall, but you kind of plateau. There’s a lot of pace in the playoffs, you’re looking for that sort of stuff from the young guys.

“Not just to pick on them, but I think it’s OK to evaluate them every once in a while, give them a rest and stuff — whether it’s Matvei, whether it’s Bumper, it doesn’t really matter. I think that’s the way you develop players.”

If Bump plays, he’ll be making his playoff debut.

“I’m stoked,” the 22-year-old winger said. “Just try to help the team any way I can, whether that’s blocking a shot, scoring a goal — whatever I can do to help is what I’m going to try to do.”

Bump opened eyes as a rookie down the stretch. He had five goals and four assists over 17 games after being called up for his NHL debut in March.

“I think he slows the game down a lot, he sees the ice really well and kind of hangs onto pucks a little bit, too, which is nice,” Owen Tippett said. “He settles things down a lot for us when he does have the puck on his stick.”

Here’s how the Flyers looked at practice:

Forwards

Denver Barkey-Trevor Zegras-Owen Tippett
Travis Konecny-Christian Dvorak-Porter Martone
Alex Bump-Noah Cates-Tyson Foerster
Luke Glendening-Sean Couturier-Garnet Hathaway

Defensemen

Travis Sanheim-Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York-Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler-Emil Andrae

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According to the Philadelphia Police Department, around 12:52 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, officers responded to an apartment on the 1100 block of North American Street.

When officers got to the residence, police said they found an unresponsive baby girl inside. She was pronounced dead at the scene by medics at 1:08 p.m.

Sources tell NBC10 that a teen girl had given birth to the baby that same day.

Police said preliminary information suggests the infant may have sustained puncture wounds; however, the official cause of death is pending a formal examination by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The investigation is active and ongoing, according to police.

According to the State of Delaware Administrative Office of the Courts, a bogus text being sent to residents is falsely informing them that they have an overdue parking or traffic toll.

“The text purports to be from the Justice of the Peace Court and urges victims to scan a QR code to immediately resolve a fictious overdue traffic/toll violation,” officials said. “We want to warn people NOT to download the full text or scan the QR code, and assure them this is not a legitimate text as the JP Court does not issue violation notices by text or email.”

The scam also mirrors a scam that went around Maryland last month, officials said.

If you see this message, do not scan the QR code or download the full message and contact local law enforcement:

For a moment, it felt like Zack Wheeler’s return might help them find some traction and take a series in Atlanta.

But by the end of the first inning Sunday, that felt unlikely. The Phillies’ worst habits were back out in the open, especially when Matt Olson turned on Aaron Nola’s fastball for a three-run homer.

The Phillies fell 6-2 to the Braves in the series finale at Truist Park, yet another series loss.

Nola did not have sharp location with his fastball or knuckle curve. That is not a good formula when overpowering velocity is not part of the profile.

Thomson kept his diagnosis simple.

“Fastball command,” Thomson said. “That’s what it comes down to. Curveball’s good, changeup’s good. It just is missing in the heart of the plate a little bit too much.”

Even on the Olson homer, Nola missed up and in, out of the zone, and still watched the Braves’ first baseman yank the 93.5 mph fastball into the Chop House seats in right.

The long ball remains Nola’s biggest problem. Since the start of 2023, he has allowed 86 home runs in 518 2/3 innings. That comes out to a 1.49 HR/9, the second-highest mark among starting pitchers with at least 500 innings in that span.

It is hard enough to win when the other team hits a three-run homer. It gets even harder when another two-run shot follows.

That happened in the second, when Atlanta’s No. 8 hitter, Eli White, crushed a middle-in sinker into the Phillies’ bullpen in left-center to make it 6-0.

Nola now carries a 6.03 ERA through six starts. He posted a career-high 6.01 ERA last season.

Nola did not pin it all on one thing. He felt his fastball location was “decent” overall, but the misses hurt him in the biggest spots.

“I didn’t give the guys too much help,” Nola said. “Put us down real quick there. I missed those couple pitches for those homers.”

At that point, any hope of meaningful run support was already on thin ice. And the damage also took a toll on Nola’s pitch count.

BIG INNINGS

Thomson mentioned before the game that one of the Phillies’ biggest issues has been long innings from their starters. Sunday was another example.

A 23-pitch first. A 27-pitch second. A 26-pitch fourth.

That has become a theme. Phillies starters entered the day leading the National League in pitches per inning at 17.7, a number reflected in their league-high 1.64 WHIP.

They also lead the Majors in 25-plus pitch innings.

It is not just a pitch-count issue. Phillies pitchers have allowed two or more runs in an inning 44 times, the most in baseball. The last Phillies team to allow that many so early in a season was the 1956 club.

Sunday’s early deficit was especially damaging because Chris Sale was on the other side.

“You’ve got to battle,” Thomson said. “You’re facing Sale, so you know you’ve got to keep the runs against limited. They just jumped on us.”

Nola knew the same.

“It’s hard for the offense to come back after I give up six in the first two innings,” Nola said. “Especially when you’re facing Chris Sale out there.”

LACKING LENGTH

All of that feeds into another problem: the Phillies are not getting enough length from their starters.

That is surprising, considering both the talent in the rotation and what this group has done the last two seasons.

The Phillies led the Majors in starts of seven innings or more in both 2024 and 2025. They had 37 in 2024 and 39 in 2025, 10 more than the next-closest team last season.

This year, 28 games in, they still do not have one.

That has put a real strain on the bullpen, which entered Sunday ranked third in the National League in relief innings. With Jonathan Bowlan, Zach Pop and Jhoan Duran on the injured list, the Phillies have had little choice but to lean on the same relievers again and again.

“I think we’re OK,” Thomson said. “I think that Luzardo’s going to come around. I think that Sánchez is going to pitch deep into games. Now we’ve got Wheeler back, we’re building his innings. Nola’s better than what he’s been in the last couple outings. I think that’ll all work itself out.”

LEFTY STRUGGLES PERSIST

At this point, the Phillies’ issues against left-handed starters are impossible to ignore.

Sale was the latest to exploit them Sunday. The future Hall of Famer went six innings, allowed one hit, gave up no runs and struck out nine.

The Phillies are now 0-10 in games started by lefties who are not openers. That is the longest such streak in the Majors since the 2007 Royals, who finished 69-93.

And the deeper numbers are even uglier.

Phillies right-handed hitters have produced a .501 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. Since those splits started being tracked in 1974, that is the worst mark in baseball. They have also posted the lowest batting average (.168), lowest slugging percentage (.249) and a .204 BABIP in those matchups.

That points to both a personnel issue and a performance issue.

Thomson acknowledged the Phillies may have to discuss bigger changes.

“We’ve got to fix that for sure,” Thomson said. “We’re 0-10 against left-hand starters that aren’t openers. That’s telling. We’ve got to fix that somehow.”

Schwarber pushed back against the idea that one ugly April split has to force a larger shakeup. He also did not deny how poor the results have been.

“It’s not like the record’s going to change overnight or our outings here against left-handed pitching are going to start overnight,” Schwarber said. “It’s going to be a continuous build to it, a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that.”

The Phillies have tried adjusting the lineup against southpaws. They have even hit Felix Reyes cleanup, and he still has not logged 20 big league at-bats.

Something has to change.

THE OUTSIDE NOISE GROWS

Asked about the outside noise that comes with a prolonged losing stretch, Thomson leaned on his time in the Yankees organization and made it clear he is not consumed by job-security speculation.

“It’s normal,” Thomson said. “I’ve never worried about that my entire career. I worked for [George Steinbrenner] for 28 years and it never bothered me. I don’t have time to think about it. I think about other people and what I can do to help them. It’s out of my control.”

Thomson was referring to George Steinbrenner, the late Yankees owner who was known for frequent managerial changes.

Dombrowski fired Joe Girardi on June 3, 2022, and Thomson took over a team that later reached the World Series. Earlier this week in Chicago, Dombrowski said the Phillies were not looking to fire their manager.

That does not mean the pressure around the staff has disappeared. The Phillies’ offense has been one of the worst in baseball and hitting coach Kevin Long is naturally part of that conversation.

Thomson defended Long, though.

“Absolutely,” Thomson said when asked if he trusts Long. “Kevin is one of the best in the game. There’s a couple of Hall of Famers out there that will tell you that.”

Schwarber also pushed back when asked if changes to the personnel or coaching staff were needed.

“No, I don’t think so,” Schwarber said.

With a travel day and an off day Monday, the conversation around the Phillies is unlikely to quiet down.

U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to accept the offer. The existing ceasefire keeps the U.S. and Iran in a fragile standoff over the strait.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Russia Monday for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin as part of a trip that included two stops in Pakistan, where leaders are scrambling to reignite stalled talks between Tehran and Washington.

Airlines worldwide have begun canceling flights as the war in the Middle East strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up oil prices. Here’s what to know if your flight is canceled.

Here is the latest:

Bessent says doing business with Iranian airlines risks exposure to sanctions

After Iran recently resumed commercial flights, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that nations should not provide jet fuel, catering, landing fees or maintenance to Iranian commercial jets, otherwise Treasury “will not hesitate to act against any third parties that facilitate or conduct business with Iranian entities.”

“Iran’s creaking oil industry is starting to shut in production thanks to the U.S. BLOCKADE,” Bessent said. “Pumping will soon collapse. GASOLINE SHORTAGES NEXT!”

Netanyahu says Hezbollah is down to about 10% of its arsenal

Meeting with army commanders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah’s ability to fire into Israel has been sharply degraded, estimating the group retains about 10% of its arsenal. He did not clarify whether that figure refers to the Lebanese militant group’s stockpile from before the current war, or since the Gaza war began back in 2023.

Iran-backed Hezbollah is believed to still have tens of thousands of rockets, missiles and drones despite decades of efforts by Israel, U.N. peacekeepers and Lebanon’s government to disarm it. Despite Israeli pressure, it’s unclear whether Lebanese authorities have the capacity or political will to disarm Hezbollah.

Netanyahu said Israeli forces’ occupation of parts of southern Lebanon — which he described as a “security zone” — has made northern Israel safer. He said deals brokered with the U.S. and Lebanon gave Israel a “freedom of action” to counter threats inside that country. Beirut has not acknowledged any such right, and Hezbollah says it will keep firing as long as Israel does.

Trump national security team met and discussed Iranian proposal on Strait of Hormuz

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s national security team met Monday and was discussing Iran’s proposal on reopening the key waterway. But she offered no detail on what came of the discussion and how the proposal was being received. She instead said that Trump would address it later.

Israel cancels major holiday gatherings over fears of a Hezbollah attack

Typically, around 100,000 mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews would gather next week on Mount Meron in northern Israel to celebrate the Lag BaOmer holiday.

However, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the large festival will replaced with a smaller symbolic ceremony, citing concerns about the gathering being attacked by Hezbollah. Similar restrictions were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous wars.

Mount Meron is only about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the border with Lebanon. People normally light bonfires, dance and have large meals there in honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage and mystic who is believed to be buried on the mountain.

Across Israel, even in secular areas, people often celebrate Lag BaOmer with barbecues and bonfires in parks and forests.

US and Iranian officials clash during a UN nuclear weapons conference

Officials from the United States and Iran clashed over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions at the opening of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review, a dispute almost certain to continue during the four-week meeting.

At issue was the election of Iran as one of 34 vice-presidents of the conference. Iran was a candidate of the Nonaligned Movement, comprising 121 mainly developing countries.

The United States was backed by Australia and the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, France and Germany also expressed “concern.” Russia objected to singling out Iran.

The U.S. representative, whose name was not immediately available, said the Trump administration was “deeply shocked” that a country that has demonstrated “contempt” for the treaty is now a vice-president.

Iran’s Ambassador to the U.N. in Vienna, Reza Najafi, categorically rejected the U.S. statement, calling the allegations “baseless and politically motivated.”

Iran’s top diplomat says the US wants to negotiate because it failed to achieve its war aims

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a Russian state TV reporter on Monday that despite the U.S. being a superpower, its leaders “have achieved none of their goals” in the war against his country.

“That’s why they ask for negotiation,” Iran’s top diplomat said. “We are now considering it.”

Araghchi was in St. Petersburg on Monday, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials.

Asked by another reporter about Russia’s support, the minister said only that “Iran and Russia are strategic partners,” and that the two counties “have always supported” each other. “Our cooperation would continue,” Araghchi said.

French FM says international waterways are ‘not for sale’ while blaming the US, Israel and Iran for Hormuz crisis

At a U.N. Security Council meeting on maritime security, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the energy and humanitarian crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz began after “operations launched by the United States and Israel without a clearly set of goal, which were conducted in a manner that flouts international law.”

But Barrot added that Iran now holds responsibility for what it is doing with the critical waterway.

“Straits are the arteries of the world. They are not the property of any individual. They are not for sale, therefore, they cannot be impeded by any obstacles, tolls, nor bribery, neither by Iran, nor by any other party, and under no pretext,” he said.

UN officials and dozens of countries call for immediate action in releasing Iran’s hold over the Strait of Hormuz

In a joint statement led by Bahrain, dozens of countries reiterated their weekslong “call for the urgent and unimpeded opening” of the critical waterway as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remain stalled.

Antonio Guterres, the U.N. secretary-general, told the Security Council on Monday that given the impasse in the negotiations, the world body should support an emergency framework in the meantime put forth by the International Maritime Organization.

The U.N. chief warned about the consequences of waiting to address the “worst supply chain disruption since COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.”

“These pressures are cascading into empty fuel tanks, empty shelves — and empty plates,” he told the 15-member council. “The humanitarian toll is mounting.”

UK doesn’t support US blockade of Iranian ports, deputy minister says

Stephen Doughty, minister of state for Europe and North America, said that while the U.K. doesn’t support the U.S. blockade, it supports working with the United States and others to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — where he said the Iran is holding “the rest of the world to ransom.”

Maritime traffic must flow safely and unimpeded through the strait, he said, “and that includes no tolls, no security risk and, of course, adherence to the international laws on freedom of navigation.”

Diplomacy is crucial, Doughty told a small group of U.N. reporters ahead of a Security Council meeting Monday on the safety of navigation in the critical waterway, through which around 20% of the world’s crude oil normally passes.

He said de-escalation and a ceasefire are also crucial, stressing that Iran can’t be allowed to block the strait, attack its Gulf neighbors and civilian infrastructure, and develop nuclear weapons.

Rubio says a purported Iranian offer on the Strait of Hormuz is not acceptable

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a purported offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions is not acceptable to the United States or others.

Speaking in a Monday interview with Fox News, Rubio said Iran has a different view of the strategic waterway than most of the rest of the world.

“What they mean by opening the straits is, yes, the straits are open, as long as you coordinate with Iran, get our permission, or we’ll blow you up and you pay us,” Rubio said.

“That’s not opening the straits. Those are international waterways. They cannot normalize, nor can we tolerate them trying to normalize, a system in which the Iranians decide who gets to use

Lebanon’s Health Ministry raises death toll there to 2,521

The ministry added Monday that 7,804 people were wounded since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war started March 2.

Despite a ceasefire that’s been in place since April 17, there have been repeated violations by both sides.

Merz says the American nation ‘is being humiliated’ by the Iranian leadership

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticized the U.S. for going into the Iran war without any strategy, saying this also makes it harder to end the conflict.

“The problem with conflicts like these is always the same: it’s not just about getting in; you also have to get out. We saw that all too painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq,” the chancellor said while speaking Monday to students in Marsberg in the Sauerland region of Germany.

The lack of U.S. strategy and the fact that the Iranians are stronger than previously thought made it hard to end the conflict now, he said.

“Especially since the Iranians are negotiating very skillfully — or rather, very skillfully not negotiating,” he added. “And then letting the Americans travel to Islamabad, only to send them back without any results. An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards.”

Germany, he said, maintains its offer to send minesweepers in order to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but only after the fighting is over.

Pakistan clears transit of third-country goods to Iran

Pakistan has cleared the way for Iran to import goods from third countries through its territory by opening new transit routes.

According to a government notification issued Saturday, six routes have been designated linking ports including Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar with key border crossings in southwestern Balochistan province.

The notification was issued during a visit to Islamabad by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who met Pakistani officials for talks amid tensions between the United States and Iran.

The order took immediate effect.

Analysts said Monday the new policy allows cargo bound for Iran to move across Pakistan swiftly without facing delays due to bureaucratic hurdles. They said it could also help Pakistan strengthen its role as a regional transit route and improve connectivity with Iran and beyond the region in future.

Iran turns to the Caspian Sea for food with Persian Gulf routes choked by the US blockade

With the United States trying to squeeze Iran by blockading goods from entering or exiting its ports, food suppliers are rerouting imports via the Caspian Sea to ensure food keeps getting into the country.

The head of the Association of Iran’s Food Industries said Monday that alternative import routes are being “incorporated into the supply chain for essential goods.”

“At present, there is no problem with the country’s food security, but maintaining this situation requires careful planning,” Mohammad Reza Mortazavi said, according to the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The Caspian is the world’s largest inland body of water and its southern coastline stretches more than 430 miles (700 kilometers) in northern Iran. Iran is a net importer of food staples like grain and cooking oil.

US stocks are mixed as their record-breaking rally slows, while oil prices rise

The U.S. stock market’s record-breaking rally is slowing Monday after uncertainty rose over the weekendabout what will happen next in the Iran war, while oil prices are rising.

The S&P 500 edged down by less than 0.1%, coming off its latest all-time highdriven by strong profit reportsfrom U.S. companies and hopes that the United States and Iran can avoid a worst-case scenario for the economy because of their war. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 86 points, or 0.2%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq was 0.3% lower after setting its own record.

The moves were stronger in the oil market, where prices climbed more than 1.5% as tankers still find the Strait of Hormuzeffectively closed. That’s keeping crude stuck in the Middle East and away from customers worldwide, including crude produced by Iran that’s being blockaded by the U.S. Navy.

Israeli military videos show weapons discovered and homes leveled as fighting in Lebanon grinds on

It released videos Monday showing troops operating in Lebanon, including coordinated explosions in unnamed villages, toppling homes it said were infrastructure used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Footage also showed a brigade discovering a cache of rifles and missile launchers stashed in a children’s room, which it said were hidden beneath toys, beds and elsewhere in kids’ rooms.

Despite a ceasefire nominally in place in Lebanon, both Israel and Hezbollah continue to strike each other, while Israeli forces occupy a buffer zone in Lebanon and have been demolishing neighborhoods in towns and villages in that area.

The military says it destroys buildings that were used as outposts by the Iran-backed militant group, but the wide scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents increasingly worried that displaced people will have nowhere to return.

Bahrain strips 69 people of citizenship

The island kingdom’s interior ministry said it revoked citizenship rights “of those who expressed sympathy and praise for Iran’s hostile and criminal acts.” It noted the move also applied to the families of individuals accused.

Bahrain is among several countries in the region that tightly controlled information about Iranian strikes during the war, arresting residents and foreigners who filmed them. The Sunni-ruled monarchy, like Iran, has a majority Shiite population and saw pro-Iran demonstrations early in the conflict. Authorities arrested protesters and those who filmed demonstrations en masse, charging dozens with misusing social media, inciting hatred or treason, an offense that can carry the death penalty.

The country is also one of several in the Gulf with laws allowing courts to strip citizenship from people convicted of certain crimes, potentially rendering them stateless. Such measures in Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have drawn criticism from rights groups, which say the laws are tools of repression, used to squash and punish dissent.

For ships stuck in the Gulf, crew changes are difficult

Fleet Management Limited usually communicates multiple times a day with dozens of stranded ships that are staffed by more than 400 seafarers, its CEO Capt. Rajalingam Subramaniam said.

Stock checks are regularly maintained for food supply, and pickups have been arranged to ensure availability by moving vessels to the nearest points where they can pick up fresh and dry provisions, he said.

Some crew changes were still happening, but in limited numbers. “Who wants to go on the ship?” Subramaniam said. “The inbound crew has the right to refuse and we respect (that).”

Most of the stranded mariners have been in the Gulf since the war began. “(For) mariners who did not sign up to be in warlike area, they also (need) to be respected so that they do not become the unintended collateral,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

The meeting happened Monday in Saint Petersburg, Russian state news agency Tass said.

Putin praised the Iranian people as bravely fighting for their sovereignty and said Russia would do everything possible in the interest of Iran and other countries in the region to bring peace to the Middle East, Tass reported.

Tired and worried, seafarers have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for weeks

Around 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels, including oil and gas tankers and cargo ships, have been stuck in the Gulf, unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Normally about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits the waterway.

Roughly 80 vessels passed through the strait in the week of April 13-19, according to the maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, compared to approximately 130 or more transits per day before the war. Dozens of ships have come under attack since the war started, and the U.N. says at least 10 seafarers were killed.

Even as U.S. President Donald Trump last week extended the ceasefire indefinitely, the U.S. kept the blockade of Iranian ports. In response, Iran fired on ships in the strait and seized two.

Israel and Iran spent less on defense in 2025 than 2024, tracker says

Military spending in the Middle East plateaued in 2025, even as it climbed in other parts of the world, according to a report released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The think tank, which goes by the acronym SIPRI, said regionwide spending increased 0.1% but actually fell in both Israel and Iran.

Israel’s military spending fell 4.9% to $48.3 billion, reflecting a less intense year of fighting than in 2024 after it entered ceasefires in Lebanon in November 2024 and in Gaza in October 2025. Even as large-scale combat subsided, Israel continued carrying out lethal strikes and maintained a ground presence in both. Spending remains sharply elevated — up 97% compared with 2022 — and the war has strained public finances, with Israel reporting wider deficits and increased borrowing since it began.

Iran’s spending fell 5.6% to $7.4 billion. SIPRI attributed that to inflation and broader economic strain, though researchers warned that government reports are likely understated.

“Iran also uses off-budget oil revenues to finance its military, including the production of missiles and drones,” SIPRI researcher Zubaida Karim said.

Lebanon president blasts Hezbollah for rejecting talks

Lebanon President Joseph Aoun blasted militant group Hezbollah on Monday over its rejection of direct talks with Israel.

Lebanon’s decision to hold negotiations with Israel is not “treason,” Aoun said in a statement, adding that treason is when “someone takes the country to war to achieve foreign interests.”

Harshly criticizing Hezbollah without naming it, Aoun asked whether there was a “national accord” when the Iran-backed group took Lebanon to war last month.

Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel on March 2, two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. The fighting has killed over 2,500 people, wounded more than 7,000 and displaced over 1 million people.

Aoun asked how long people in south Lebanon will pay for the wars of other nations or groups, “the latest of which was the war for backing up Gaza and the war for backing up Iran.”

“I totally reject this war” when the goal is to benefit others, he said.

Aoun said he wants to end the state of war with Israel in the manner of the 1949 Armistice Agreements that brought calm along the border for years without normalizing relations.

“Was the armistice agreement humiliation? I will not accept reaching a humiliating deal,” Aoun said.

The Sixers suffered a blowout Game 4 loss Sunday night in Embiid’s first action since undergoing an appendectomy on April 9. They fell to a 128-96 defeat at Xfinity Mobile Arena and now trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Embiid had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes.

Tyrese Maxey posted 22 points and six assists. Paul George scored 16 points.

Payton Pritchard torched the Sixers, scoring a playoff career-high 32 points. Jayson Tatum had 30 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 20 points and seven rebounds.

Game 5 will be Tuesday night in Boston. Here are observations on the Sixers’ 32-point Game 4 loss:

Embiid not a million miles from his norm  

Embiid drew two quick fouls on Neemias Queta. The Boston big man was whistled for his second personal on a swift Embiid drive from the right wing.

Embiid knocked down all four of his free throws off of Queta’s fouls. He also scored early on a fast-break dunk and a powerful post-up layup against Nikola Vucevic. Embiid didn’t look reluctant to invite contact, run the floor or do anything that’s normally part of his game. While he missed mid-range jumpers that he’s accustomed to hitting and showed other signs of rust here and there, he was relatively sharp out of the gates.

According to Embiid, he’d only had one full-court, “up-and-down” session since his appendectomy. He said he’s been dealing with “complications” after the procedure but didn’t dive into specifics.

“When it first started, I couldn’t walk, even getting to the hospital,” Embiid said. “And just dealing with some other stuff that came with me adjusting and getting through that. I don’t want to get into the details, but it’s been tough. That’s life.

“Even when it happens, you look at it like, ‘OK, playoffs are here.’ You feel pretty good going into the playoffs, then all of a sudden, this thing happens. Some things you can’t control. What am I going to do, cry about it? No. Just take it on, move on and try to do the best job possible to give yourself the best chance to come back at some point.”

Until a VJ Edgecombe mid-range jumper with 5:24 left in the first quarter, no Sixer scored besides Embiid. Both sides had cold jump shooting starts. The Sixers and Celtics each missed their first four three-point tries.

Embiid subbed out and Andre Drummond replaced him with 5:11 to go in the first. However, Embiid was back in soon. He re-entered with 2:49 left after a subpar Drummond stint that included two fouls. 

Drummond exited early in the second quarter after appearing to hurt his right hip, but he was able to return in the third. 

Boston’s bench dominant in first half 

The Celtics made an unsurprising run in the night’s first Embiid-less minutes. Pritchard nailed two three-pointers. Drummond fouled Tatum on a shot beyond the arc.  

Pritchard had a massive first quarter, tallying 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting. In Game 3, the Celtics’ bench outscored the Sixers’ by 21 points. Boston had the first 27 second-unit points Sunday. 

Pritchard ended the quarter with an exclamation point, sinking a long-range, one-legged runner to put the Celtics up 34-18. 

Offensive rebounds remained another giant problem in the first quarter for the Sixers, who struggled to close out good defensive possessions and were caught ball watching on several occasions. The Celtics grabbed six offensive boards in the first quarter and the Sixers had zero.

“They were more aggressive, quicker, wanted to chase ‘em down more than we did,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “We just didn’t seem like we could get bodies on them. Couldn’t run down any long ones. It was a huge problem.”

The start of a new quarter didn’t snap the Sixers into a higher gear. Pritchard swished a three over Quentin Grimes and Nurse called timeout with his team trailing by 21 points. 

Maxey was quiet in the first half, scoring seven points on 2-for-3 shooting. He’s faced strong defense in this series from Derrick White, Jordan Walsh and the Celtics, but Maxey was too deferential to teammates at times in the first half. His backcourt mate dealt with early foul trouble and Edgecombe posted just two points over the first two quarters. 

As for the Celtics’ stars, Tatum and Brown combined to shoot 4 for 17 from the field in the first half and were defended effectively by Kelly Oubre Jr. and George. The Celtics still held an 18-point lead at halftime. 

Celtics leave no doubt  

Maxey canned a three to open the scoring in the third quarter.

The Celtics kept snuffing out any hints of a Sixers push, though. Edgecombe stole the ball and threw it ahead to Maxey, but White sprinted back and blocked his layup. Brown drained a fadeaway, and-one jumper on George. Tatum hit a three to extend Boston’s lead to 69-43. 

Embiid eventually settled into a nice shooting rhythm starting around the midpoint of the third quarter. He wound up going 9 for 21 from the floor and 1 for 6 from three-point territory.

Boston tossed up threes all night, including during a brief third-quarter stretch when the Sixers turned to zone defense. The Celtics attempted 23 more threes than the Sixers (53-30) and made 15 more (24-9).

The Sixers could never contain Pritchard, who did even more damage late in the third quarter. Edgecombe fouled him with 0.9 seconds left in the third and the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year made both his foul shots. Before Sunday, Pritchard had played in 72 career postseason games and his scoring high was 23 points.

“We didn’t do a good enough job matchup-wise, I thought,” Nurse said. “We didn’t get the right guys on him enough. A lot of that stems from not scoring and they’re coming in transition, and sometimes the matchups get jumbled in transition.

“We just couldn’t quite keep him in front of us. We obviously over-helped off him on kick-outs. … We just weren’t moving great or making great decisions on defense, and then we didn’t guard him 1-on-1 at all.”

The Sixers were a thoroughly deflated, defeated team in the fourth quarter. A Tatum four-point play stretched the Celtics’ advantage to 30 points.

That’s two blowout losses now for the Sixers in the series. They were great in Game 2 and close in Game 3, but there’s no question the Celtics have been the better, deeper squad and deserve to be up 3-1. As they did in Game 2, the Sixers will need a serious bounce-back performance to keep their season ticking.

“Our m.o. all year has been to have a lot of things thrown at us and pick ourselves up and fight back,” Nurse said. “We’re just going to have to do it again.”

According to fire department officials, crews were called to put out flames at a business — which appeared to be a convenience store/smoke shop — located along Swede Street at East Main Street in Norristown at about 10:36 p.m. on Sunday.

Crews, officials said, had flames there under control by about 11:08 p.m.

No one was reported injured in this incident.

However, officials said, an investigation is still ongoing into the cause of the fire.

But then you actually watch him play.

And as Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said, Lemon’s competitiveness “just kind of oozed off of his tape.”

The Eagles on Thursday night, traded up three spots from 23 to 20 to draft the Biletnikoff Award winner and the first thing they talked about was his competitive nature. There’s a ton of other things the Eagles like about Lemon but there’s probably a reason this comes up a bunch. Sirianni said Lemon is “insanely competitive.”

“He plays the game with a chip on his shoulder,” USC WRs coach/co-OC Dennis Simmons said just after boarding his flight home from the draft in Pittsburgh. 

“I think that comes from his competitive edge. His motto is, ‘I’m going to make the throw right. I’m going to make the quarterback right.’ So when the ball is in the air, it’s my job to catch it no matter where he puts it. I think that’s one of those things, he becomes … very quarterback friendly. He becomes like the guy in the park throwing the stick out to his dog. That dog is always going to go up and get it and bring it back to you.”

And shortly after the Eagles drafted Lemon on Thursday night, Lemon in a national interview had a message for Eagles fans: “They’re gettin’ a dawg.”

The Eagles think so too. They’re banking on it.

What does it take to be an undersized receiver who plays bigger?

“I think it’s just the mentality and the heart that you play with,” Lemon said at his introductory press conference on Friday. “The body type, you can get fooled by that. Your heart and your mentality that you approach to the game can take you a lot farther than just your height and your size.”

On Thursday night, general manager Howie Roseman shared the details of a play that really caught their eyes. It came at the end of Lemon’s freshman season at USC in the Trojans’ Holiday Bowl win over Louisville.

The Trojans were already up two touchdowns and marched inside the 10-yard line when Miller Moss threw an interception. Lemon was on the other side of the field but ran down the defensive back for a tackle.

“Highly competitive,” Sirianni said. “And I think sometimes with wide receivers, you see clips like the one where he chases the guy down after an interception or the way that he blocks just for his teammates and to help his teammates. 

“A guy that is competitive is not only competitive when the ball is coming to him but he’s competitive in all situations. That’s hard to turn off. When there is an opportunity for him to go out there and get a block for his running back on a running play or chase a guy down after an interception, you can’t turn that off.”

Simmons remembers that play but brought up another element to highlight Lemon’s competitiveness. In his freshman season, Lemon began the year as a receiver but USC suffered several injuries in their secondary and Lemon flipped sides of the ball to defensive back for most of his first college season.

That bowl game was his first game back at receiver. In addition to that hustle play, Lemon also caught 2 passes for 75 yards in the 42-28 win.

The next season, Lemon led the Trojans with 764 yards in 2024 and then he had a huge 2025 season with 79 catches, for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also returned kicks and punts. He’s an all-around football player.

After drafting Lemon on Thursday night, Roseman and Sirianni rattled off a laundry list of the reasons they liked him so much:

Lemon didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the Combine and his time at the USC pro day wasn’t elite. He ran somewhere in the 4.48-5.3 range. But as Simmons pointed out, plenty of great receivers — including the GOAT, Jerry Rice — didn’t put up crazy 40s.

“A 40 time is great,” Simmons said, “but if you can get in and out of your cuts and you play at the same tempo in the fourth quarter and in overtime as you play in the beginning of the game, that 40 time kind of negates himself. That’s what ‘Kai is.”

Before joining the USC staff in 2022, Simmons spent seven seasons (2015-21) at Oklahoma, which means he was on the staff when Jalen Hurts played for the Sooners in 2019.

Simmonds on Friday compared Lemon’s seriousness about the game to what he witnessed from Hurts back then. He thinks Lemon is going to fit right in.

“They’re going to get a person that’s dedicated and is going to put 100 percent into everything that he’s doing,” Simmons said. “He’s going to be detailed in his craft and detailed in all his assignments. They’re getting a competitor.”

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The Eagles started the draft by trading up three spots to select Makai Lemon. They had to give up both of their fourth-round picks in that trade but eventually aded a couple more seventh-rounders with a trade-down in the sixth.

Here’s a look at their complete haul from 2026:

Round 1-20: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Round 2-54: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Round 3-68: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
Round 5-178: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Round 6-207: Micah Morris, OG, Georgia
Round 7-244: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
Round 7-251: Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
Round 7-252: Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico

In addition to those selections, the Eagles also used 2026 picks and 2027 picks to acquire edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and receiver Dontayvion Wicks.

Here’s a roundup of their instant grades for this year’s haul:

ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr.: A

What they said: “As draft week kicked off, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that A.J. Brown would very likely be in a Patriots uniform for 2026, though any trade would come after June 1, which means $43 million in dead cap money could be split between years. We’ve heard the Brown trade rumors for months, but this firmed things up a bit. So it was no surprise when Philadelphia moved up three spots to No. 20 to stop Makai Lemon’s mini slide. If you have any doubt a trade-up was needed to get him, look no further than the video circulating of Lemon on the phone with the Steelers, who had intended to take him at No. 21 before they learned the Eagles had jumped the line.

“Lemon (No. 11 on my board) is a tough, physical receiver despite his 5-11, 192-pound frame. He snags the ball on the run and turns upfield through traffic without fear, helping him to 1,156 yards in the 2025 season. He will match well with DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown.

“Eli Stowers is another playmaker for the Sean Mannion offense, and he can be Dallas Goedert’s future replacement. Goedert is back, but he’s 31 years old and on a one-year deal. Next up, offensive tackle support with Markel Bell. Remember, general manager Howie Roseman likes to draft for future needs. There’s no guarantee that Stowers takes over for Goedert or Bell develops enough to take one of the tackle spots when 35-year-old Lane Johnson retires, but putting resources into those positions on Day 2 is good work by the Eagles front office. Bell is still developing, but he did a good job manning left tackle at Miami. Philly went down the board for him, but the top OTs were gone.”

USA Today, Nate Davis: A-

What they said: “They jumped the Steelers for slot receiver extraordinaire Makai Lemon 20th overall. Second-round TE Eli Stowers projects as quite a weapon, even if he’s ultimately a plus-sized receiver. Mammoth fourth-round OT Markel Bell might inherit RT Lane Johnson’s job one day − soon. And leave it to EVP/GM Howie Roseman to also acquire a Pro Bowl pass rusher (Jonathan Greenard) at the cost of two third-rounders. WR A.J. Brown is almost certainly soon be a goner, while presumably fetching prized 2027 draft assets, but Philly seems pretty well positioned to evolve effectively without him.”

SI.com, Matt Verderame, Gilberto Manzano: A-

What they said: “The Eagles’ draft class is filled with intrigue. After doing dirty business with the hated Cowboys to trade up in the first round, the team finalized its post–A.J. Brown plans by selecting Lemon, the savvy playmaker with reliable hands. It’s going to be difficult to replace Brown’s production if he is traded after June 1, but the Eagles are in a good spot with the trio of Lemon, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks. Philadelphia also added Stowers to give Jalen Hurts another playmaker. After GM Howie Roseman delivered in the draft, it’s on Hurts (and new OC Sean Mannion) to take this offense to another level, with or without Brown. Adding some drama, Roseman took a flyer on Payton, a dual-threat quarterback with upside.”

NFL.com, Chad Reuter: B+

What they said: “The Eagles jumped ahead of the in-state rival Steelers for Lemon, sending two fourth-rounders to division foe Dallas to add the ultra-competitive receiver, giving up draft capital to secure a potential replacement for A.J. Brown despite Lemon’s average athleticism. Stowers was an excellent pick in the second round as a combo slot receiver/tight end, and the 6-9, 346-pound Bell should become at least a solid swing tackle. Their Day 2 grade also reflects their acquisition of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips in exchange for a third-round choice last season; he had two sacks in eight games with the Eagles before leaving as a free agent.

Even beyond the Lemon deal, Philly ended up dealing away a good chunk of its Day 3 capital, including a fifth-round pick sent to the Packers for receiver Dontayvion Wicks and fifth- and seventh-round picks given to the Vikings for Sam Howell last August. I projected the Eagles to take the left-handed Payton with the 178th overall pick in my seven-round mock as a long-term investment. Morris has starting potential, and Wisniewski’s nose for the ball and secure tackling could make him a similar late-round value as Reed Blankenship. Bernard’s a Nigerian prospect with little football experience but superior athleticism; the Eagles are surely hoping this international pick is as successful as the selection of left tackle Jordan Mailata back in 2018.”

ProFootballFocus: B+

What they said: “With the Steelers needing wide receiver, the Eagles jumped Pittsburgh to take the sliding Lemon. This is good value at a position of need for Philadelphia, as has often been the case in recent years. With a potential A.J. Brown trade looming, Lemon adds a player who can make tough catches over the middle of the field, as he recorded 10 receptions on 14 contested targets in 2025.Stowers is a natural, versatile athlete with a high usage rate over the past two seasons, projecting to a contributing NFL role. He is best utilized as a backfield or big-slot option rather than as an in-line blocker, where his impact is limited.”

Sporting News, Vinnie Iyer: B-

What they said: “Lemon comes with sudden bust potential as not the ideal type of target to replace A.J. Brown, but the combination of him and Stowers is good for the new offense of Sean Mannion. Bell and Payton, however, were big reaches. Bernard is the most intriguing pick after Stowers for GM Howie Roseman.”

According to officials, four Delaware residents — including the owners of spas in Wilmington and Newark — were arrested on Thursday, April 23, as part of a nationwide crackdown that involved 250 law enforcement agencies across 30 states.

In Delaware, officials arrested 44-year-old Mei Chen of Wilmington, Del. who was identified as the owner of TH Rainbow Spa, located along the 2300 block of Carpenter Station Road in Wilmington. Police also arrested Li Shi, 56, of Newark, who officials identified as the owner of Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, located on the 1900 block of Capitol Trail in Newark.

Both women have been charged with promoting prostitution, money laundering and related offenses.

Also, in a search of TH Rainbow Spa, officials said, police apprehended 36-year-old Matthew Tamayo of Aston, Pennsylvania. He has been charged with patronizing a prostitute, police said.

At Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, police said, officers arrested a 17-year-old boy. This teen has been charged with firearm offenses, police said.

During the search of these spas, officials seized jewelry, thousands in U.S. currency, three vehicles and — just from Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa — $42,000 in gold bars and coins along with $16,000 in silver bars and coins.

Officials said that, during this operation, potential victims of human trafficking were identified in Delaware:

• At TH Rainbow Spa, officials said a 37-year-old woman and a 49-year-old woman were located.
• At Relaxing Asian/Moon Spa, a 45-year-old woman was located.

Overall, through the course of the nationwide operation, officials said, 129 victims were located and identified, including 11 minors and one adult who was seven months pregnant.

Investigators also detained 86 men, arrested 53 sex buyers, and executed 108 search warrants, including 36 at illicit massage businesses, according to police.

In addition, officials said that police agencies nationwide seized more than $500,000 in criminal assets, including cash, gold, silver, and vehicles.

An investigation into these incidents, officials said, remains ongoing.

Fresh off of humiliating losses, they’ve shown the ability to respond with dramatic improvement. It was natural for Sixers head coach Nick Nurse to highlight that recent history with his team one game from first-round playoff elimination following a 128-96 home Game 4 defeat Sunday night to the Celtics.

“We’re going to have to dig into the film,” Nurse said. “Same as Game 1. I just told them again, way out of character. Played another about as bad as we can play game. That’s two out of four in this series. Played very well in the other two and we’ve got to go back to playing very well quickly. Got to go get one.”

Nurse’s point is valid, but the 2025-26 Sixers now have 87 games that count under their belt, including a play-in tournament win over the Magic. They’ve had stable themes in many of their losses. 

The Sixers have flashed alluring defensive potential late in close games but otherwise been mediocre on that end. The team’s offense has relied heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid’s individual shotmaking. Opponents regularly take and make more three-pointers. The Sixers concede heaps of demoralizing offensive rebounds. Their bench is often badly outscored by the other second unit. 

Some of the numbers are likely familiar to hardcore fans by now. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers ranked 27th during the regular season in defensive rebounding rate, 23rd in both three-point frequency and three-point accuracy outside of garbage time. The Sixers were 27th in bench points per game and in the middle of the NBA pack for both offensive rating and defensive rating. The team’s net rating was minus-0.1 during a season that wasn’t light on blowout losses.

All those flaws have popped up vs. the Celtics. And, beyond the details, nights with unsatisfactory effort and focus haven’t been rare this year.

“It just didn’t seem like any matchup could guard anybody 1-on-1 tonight,” Nurse said. “We had them pushed out, bottled up, physical and really off rhythm for a couple of games and there was none of that tonight. I’m just not sure. I don’t know why we couldn’t block out better or rebound better or move better on defense. We just seemed a half-step behind energy-wise. 

“Whatever it was, we were a half-step behind on everything. … It felt a little bit like Game 1. All of a sudden, we’d jump out of character really (quickly). That’s hard to watch and hard to explain, too.”

Embiid played Sunday, willing his way back on the court after undergoing an appendectomy on April 9. He was the Sixers’ most productive player, posting 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. The Celtics still might have won if Embiid scored 50. 

Maxey ended up with 22 points and six assists, but he only attempted three field goals in the first half and was oddly peripheral for much of the night. 

“That can’t happen,” Maxey said. “That’s on me. That absolutely can’t happen. That’s unacceptable by me. I was playing within the flow of the game and it kind of just happened that way. It wasn’t meant to happen that way, but that’s on me. … We can’t win basketball games with that happening and I take full responsibility on that one.”

Embiid certainly agreed with Maxey’s sentiment, saying the Sixers need their All-Star guard to be aggressive from the start of the game. VJ Edgecombe also acknowledged he “definitely turned some down I should’ve shot” after scoring six points on 2-for-9 shooting. 

Perhaps the most uncharacteristic aspect of the Sixers’ performance was just how extreme their problems were with Embiid.

Over the years, the seven-time All-Star big man has tended to cover up the Sixers’ issues simply by being on the court. The Sixers went 24-14 with Embiid available this regular season. 

Of course, the Embiid who played in Game 4 had protective wrapping under his jersey and around his abdomen. Outside of anything related to basketball, Embiid had a worrisome health ordeal. 

“It started in San Antonio,” he said. “Stomach started hurting. I’ve never had stomach pain before, but I thought I ate something bad. … I thought it was a stomach virus or something. I started feeling it during the game and that night. And then the next day, we had practice. … I was going to take it easy during practice because it was pretty bad, but we had a good conversation with the team about what we needed to do. I kind of wanted to send a message, go out there and practice really hard. 

“By the time I got back to the hotel, it just kept getting worse and worse and worse. That night before the (Rockets) game, I didn’t want to bother these guys because they were sleeping. But it got to the point where I couldn’t sleep. I was up until 4 in the morning.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I need help.’ … You can’t even walk. So that’s why I had to tell them, ‘Something is very wrong here.’ I don’t like the hospital and all those MRIs and CT scans, but it got to a point where it was really bad. … That’s when we had to go to the hospital and found out what was going on.”

Even though he sat for the final 5 minutes and 31 seconds of garbage time, Embiid logged 34 minutes.

The Sixers’ play was dismal for the majority of that time. 

“They just moved us around, pushed us around offensively and defensively,” Maxey said. “Guys got to whatever spot they wanted to get to, no resistance, and that’s absolutely unacceptable. That’s not our brand of basketball that we play. … I think they kind of just walked to their spots and got whatever they wanted. 

“Then we got put in a position where we thought we should over-help. This is not a team you can really over-help on, so you really have to guard your yard.”

Game 5 will be here soon enough. 

“I hate to say it, but we’ve got to wash it,” Maxey said. “We’ve got to let it go right now because it happened. We’re down 3-1 and we’ve got a game on Tuesday. Our season’s on the line, so we’ve got to play (desperately). If that doesn’t make you desperate …”

In some ways, the Sixers would love to stay true to character in Game 5. Their season is also in a dire spot because they’ve played a characteristic first four games against the Celtics. 

A Justice Department official told NBC News the number was in the hundreds.

NBC News previously reported that the Trump administration was dramatically expanding an effort to revoke U.S. citizenship for foreign-born Americans.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency within the Department of Homeland Security that’s responsible for legal immigration, sent experts to its offices around the country or reassigned staff members to look for possible cases where citizenship could be revoked. The goal was to supply between 100 and 200 potential cases per month to the Justice Department, which prosecutes them, NBC News reported.

Federal prosecutors in field offices across the country are working on the effort, the DOJ official said.

“The Department of Justice is laser-focused on rooting out criminal aliens defrauding the naturalization process,” a Justice Department spokesman said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department is pursuing the highest volume of denaturalization referrals in history. We are moving at warp speed to ensure fraudsters are held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent.”

Such cases of denaturalization have typically been very rare, involving people who concealed criminal histories or previous human rights violations during their application processes.

But throughout the four years of Trump’s first term, the administration filed a total of 102 such cases, according to the Justice Department.

The denaturalization push is part of an overall effort by the Trump administration to drastically curtail immigration and deliver on the president’s policy agenda. The push has included DHS sending scores of immigration enforcement officers into U.S. cities on deportation missions and purchasing mega warehouses to hold detainees.

It’s not clear why the Justice Department has singled out the roughly 300 foreign-born Americans. The New York Times first reported the tally.

The Justice Department had already told attorneys to focus on denaturalization cases, and it has offered possible case examples, from “individuals who pose a risk to national security” or who have engaged in war crimes or torture to people who have committed Medicaid or Medicare fraud or have otherwise defrauded the government.

Roughly 800,000 people become naturalized citizens every year, according to Homeland Security.

Ryan J. Reilly contributed.

Voters are choosing an increasing number of nonwhite Hispanic leaders to local elective office — and many of the leaders are the first Latinos to hold their seats. Some political science experts attribute the rise of Latino leadership to years of grassroots organizing, coupled with ongoing demonization of their communities by Trump administration officials and conservative activists.

“That’s the difference now, is that there’s this extra incentive of an unrelenting attack on Latinos across the country,” said Anna Sampaio, an ethnic studies professor at Santa Clara University who specializes in race and gender politics.

There are currently an estimated 7,700 Latino elected officials nationwide, according to data from the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. That’s up from 6,883 officials in 2020.

Estimated to number as many as 55 million people — 16% of the U.S. population — Latinos are the largest ethnic minority in the country, with politics, interests and priorities as diverse as the national origins represented within their population. But Latinos also are underrepresented as a demographic across elective offices.

Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, Latino communities have been a target of his hard-line immigration tactics. The feeling of attack doesn’t stop there. From memes shared from the official White House page perpetuating Hispanic stereotypes, a federally led English-only initiative and an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion push have painted a target on Latinos across the country.

It’s all led to more Latinos seeking office to defend their communities and give voice to those who may be afraid to speak out in the current political climate. As a result, legislators have proposed measures that include providing community members with protections against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, halting the approval of ICE detention centers in their cities, and calling for a stop to ICE funding, among other actions.

Pennsylvania Latino mayor makes history

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a roughly 40% Hispanic population, recently elected Jaime Arroyo their first Latino mayor. Arroyo took office in January, after being elected with 85% of the vote.

“I think being the first Latino to be in this role and the first person of color to be mayor of Lancaster City has been exciting,” Arroyo told The Associated Press, adding that he finds it “extremely exciting to lead and represent our community in this role.”

With rhetoric and national policies — such as heightened immigration enforcement — hurting the Latino communities, Arroyo said, diverse representation in government is more important than ever. He also believes that the rise of elected Latino officials over the last couple of years is the result of generations of Latinos being politically active fighting for civil rights.

“We’re starting to see a lot of the fruits of that labor come to fruition,” Arroyo said. “There’s never a perfect time to serve your community, there’s the right time. And I think right now is the right time for a lot of Latinos to step up into these roles, especially with everything that is going on.”

Latino representation expanding in city councils

Many more Latinos made history when they took office in earlier this year.

In Iowa, Rob Barron was sworn in Jan. 12 as the first Latino representative on the Des Moines City Council. Antonio Pacheco was sworn on Jan. 7 to be the first Latino member of the city council in Conyers, Georgia. In Ohio, Eileen Torres became the first Mexican American women to win a city council seat in Lorain. Sabrina Gonzalez also took office there as the first Puerto Rican women to serve.

And in Michigan, Clara Martinez and Deyanira Nevarez Martinez were sworn in Jan. 1 to the Lansing City Council, making the city the first in the U.S. to have a council with majority Latino representation.

Martinez said her election, and that of Nevarez Martinez, makes a bit statement about “what people are truly open to despite the national rhetoric.”

“I think because of the rhetoric that we are having to face and some of the backlash on the national stage, I think that’s just fueled the fire for so many people,” she said.

The Salt Lake City Council also has a Latino majority, with four of seven seats, after Erika Carlsen, the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, was sworn in on Jan. 5. Carlsen said her success is possible because of current and previous generations that put in the work to create spaces where Latinas were encouraged to take leadership positions.

“I feel like I’m building on early generations of leadership,” Carlsen said. “That’s both an honor and responsibility to improve Salt Lake City for the people who live here.”

Carlsen said even if representation at the federal level is not high or visible she said having representation at the local level can have a huge impact.

“I think that it’s critically important that we continue to build on this momentum,” Carlsen said. “The majority of change that can happen starts locally, it doesn’t start in Washington but in City Hall, school boards and neighborhoods conversations. That’s the kind of momentum I’d love to see all across the United States.”

Carolina Welles, executive director of The First Ask, an organization that supports first-time female candidates at the state level, said the reason why Latino representation is more visible at the local level is because those leaders are able to built trust with their community much easier given their proximity.

“They actually know what people care about,” Welles said. “They have a stake because they are facing similar things.”

Local level Latino leadership builds on state and federal representation

It’s not just at the local level. Latinos are making inroads at the federal level too.

The 119th Congress has 56 Hispanic or Latino members. That shakes out to 10.35% of total membership, according to the Congressional Research Service.

For comparison, there were only 14 Hispanic or Latino members and all were male in the 99th Congress, 40 years ago.

At the start of 2025, there were seven Hispanic U.S. senators. That number decreased to six when then Sen. Marco Rubio resigned to become the Secretary of State, the first Latino to hold the position.

Last year also marked a record for Latinas at the state level. Latinas held 214, or 2.9%, of seats in state legislatures, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. That was up from 192 seats in 2024.

Currently, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is the only active Latina governor in the U.S. Only two Latinas have been elected governor in U.S. history, and both were in New Mexico.

In March, Gina Hinojosa won the Democratic nomination for governor, making her the second Latina to win a major party gubernatorial nomination in Texas.

Latinos saw the biggest rise in elected officials during the Trump administration in response to attacks on their fundamental rights, said Sampaio, the Santa Clara University professor. She said that trend is likely to continue as the administration continues its attacks on immigrant communities.

“We’re likely to see more Latinos run for office at the local level, at the state level and even at the national level in response to the attack on simply their existence,” Sampaio said. “It is unwittingly both terrorizing the Latino community as well as mobilizing communities.”

SkyForce10 was above the scene where a heavy police presence could be seen on Bryn Mawr Avenue.

It is unclear at this time how the truck overturned, what the truck was carrying and if anyone is injured.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

According to police, the incident happened at about 4:40 a.m. on Saturday when six men — all believed to be in their late teens to early 20s — forced their way into a spa located along the 400 block of North 9th Street and then robbed and sexually assaulted several victims there.

Surveillance video provided to NBC10 showed three of the suspects. One of the men appears to try and force his way inside a room before another suspect stops him. The man then puts on a mask and the video ends.

When police arrived, officials said, the suspects fled to the roof of the property.

One man, Saidakhmad Bakiev, 18, of Northeast Philly, was apprehended on the rooftop as he attempted to flee the scene, officials said.

Bakiev has been charged with aggravated assault, rape, burglary, robbery, false imprisonment, sexual assault and related offenses. He is currently being represented by the public defender’s office. NBC10 reached out to the office and will include a response if we receive one.

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.

Police are on the lookout for five other individuals, who they believe are of Russian or Central Asian descent and they claim were also involved in this incident.

Law enforcement officials in Philadelphia are asking anyone who may have information on this incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit 215-685-3251/3252 or call or text the department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Cole Tomas Allen appeared in court Monday to face federal charges in a chaotic encounter that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being rushed off the stage and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables. He was taken into custody after the shooting on Saturday night and sat beside his lawyers in a brief appearance Monday in Washington’s federal court.

Besides being charged with attempting to assassinate the Republican president, Allen also faces two firearms charges. He did not enter a plea.

“He attempted to assassinate the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump,” Assistant U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jocelyn Ballantine said.

Allen was walked in by four U.S. marshals and sat in court wearing a blue jumpsuit. He appeared to scan the public gallery, where 40 to 50 members of the press and public were observing the proceedings. Allen was soft spoken in his brief responses to Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh’s questions. He nodded along as the judge explained aspects of his proceedings.

An FBI affidavit filed in the case revealed additional details about the planning behind the assault, with authorities alleging that Allen on April 6 reserved a room for himself at the Washington hotel where the event would be held weeks later under its typical tight security. He traveled by train cross-country from California last week, checking himself into the Washington Hilton one day before the dinner with a room reserved for the weekend. With him, authorities said, were a 12-gauge pump action shotgun he bought last year and a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol he purchased in 2023.

His attorney, a federal public defender, said he has no prior arrests or convictions.

“He is presumed innocent at this time,” Tezira Abe said.

Prosecutors say Allen traveled with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38 caliber pistol, three knives and other “dangerous paraphernalia.”

Allen was ordered to remain jailed pending additional court hearings, and faces up to life in prison if convicted of the attempted assassination count alone.

An FBI affidavit filed in the case revealed additional details about the planning behind the assault, with authorities alleging that Allen on April 6 reserved a room for himself at the Washington hotel where the event would be held weeks later under its typical tight security. He traveled by train cross-country from California last week, checking himself into the Washington Hilton one day before the dinner with a room reserved for the weekend. With him, authorities said, were a 12-gauge pump action shotgun he bought last year and a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol he purchased in 2023.

Authorities say an officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot in the vest but is expected to recover.

Donald Trump Apr 26

Suspected Correspondents' Dinner shooter was likely targeting Trump officials, Todd Blanche says

White House Apr 26

‘Unbelievable': Ex students shocked after teacher ID'd as Correspondents' dinner shooter

‘Law enforcement did not fail’

At a news conference after the hearing, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised law enforcement for stopping Allen and protecting the president. Hundreds of federal agents separated Allen and Trump, he said.

“Law enforcement did not fail,” he said.

Allen will face additional charges, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said at the news conference, alongside posters of what authorities say were Allen’s weapons.

Blanche said Allen left Los Angeles by train on April 21, arrived in Chicago and continued on to D.C. He checked in to the Washington Hilton on April 24, the night before the dinner.

Ten minutes before the shooting, Allen sent a long message to his family characterizing himself as a “friendly federal assassin,” investigators said. He described his targets as “administration officials” and alluded to grievances over a range of Trump administration actions.

His family said they alerted police when they saw his writings. They said Allen had a tendency to make radical statements and often referred to a plan to do something.

Video posted by Trump shows a man running past a security barricade as Secret Service agents run toward him.

Records show Allen is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A social media profile for a man with the same name and a photo that appears to match that of the suspect show he worked part-time for the last six years at a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students.

The guns Allen had were legally purchased a few years ago.

Allen is due in court again Thursday morning for a detention hearing.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

According to police, the incident happened at about 8:57 a.m., when first responders were called to a property along the 100 block of Somerset Lane in Ocean City, New Jersey, after two men were possibly electrocuted.

Officials said the incident happened when one of the workers contacted electrical supply lines with a metal ladder while working on the exterior of a property.

The initial worker was injured when they were likely electrocuted and fell from a ladder police said.

A second worker was likely electrocuted as well when, officials said, they grabbed the ladder in an effort to help the first worker.

Police said fire department personnel at the scene administered trauma assessment and initial treatment while paramedics administered advanced life support care for the pair of workers before they were taken to a nearby hospital by helicopter.

Officials did not immediately provide information on the victims’ conditions upon being admitted to the hospital.

An investigation into this incident, officials said, remains ongoing.

According to the Jacksonville Fire Company Station 212, the incident happened on April 22, 2026, in the area of Route 537 and Juliustown Road in Springville Township.

A Burlington County Institute of Technology bus was transporting BCIT Westampton’s softball team back from a game when it caught fire.

Images shared from the scene, showed the bus completed charred.

Everyone evacuated the bus safely; however, all the team’s gear and their personal belongings were left behind and destroyed.

The fire station, local residents, and even other softball teams have been spreading the word following the recent incident, aiming to support BCIT Westampton’s softball team as they work to replace all the items that were lost.

Jacksonville Fire Company Station 212 shared that they are accepting donations of softball gear, training gear, cleats and equipment bags in support of the team.

Mount Laurel Girls Softball is raising money to help via Venmo.

It is unclear at this time how the school bus caught fire.

The West Vincent Township Police Department in Chester County shared surveillance video of a black bear wandering through a resident’s backyard.

Léelo en español aquí.

In the video, the bear appears to grab a bag out of a trash can.

Police said while black bears are generally not aggressive, there are extra precautions that can help keep both residents and the “furry traveler safe”:

• Bring in or temporarily remove bird feeders

• Keep pet food indoors

• Secure garbage cans and place them at the road the morning of pickup, not the night before

• Clean grills and outdoor cooking areas

• Keep a close eye on pets, especially during dawn and dusk

• Give the bear plenty of space if spotted

“This bear is likely just passing through in search of snacks and a shortcut. Let’s not make your backyard the local buffet,” police wrote.

If you see a bear, have video footage, or have even witnessed behavior that could be cause for concern, you are urged to contact 911 immediately and notify the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

They were unable to sweep Pittsburgh two nights ago as they lost, 4-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Now the series has shifted back to PPG Paints Arena for Game 5.

“We knew we weren’t going to win them all,” Owen Tippett said Sunday. “That was our first chance to close them out. We’re still in a really good position. It’s good that we had that game, to kind of feel that pressure a little bit.”

The Penguins own a ton of experience. Five of their players have at least one Stanley Cup title. The Flyers came into the series with 13 first-timers in the playoffs on their roster.

“You can tell, experience means a lot in certain things,” Rick Tocchet said Sunday. “I think last game, we lacked a little bit of experience in certain situations. But that’s what you can learn from, that’s why you’re in the fight and you get to do it again and again. I think that playing those type of games and then learning from it is huge for our young guys.”

Tocchet’s club won Games 1 and 2 at PPG Paints Arena. It’ll try to win one more there in Game 5.

Puck drop is scheduled for around 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live.

Here is some recommended reading.

• Michkov may sit for Game 5 as Flyers’ practice shows Bump could enter lineup

• No sweep for Flyers as rally falls short, series shifts back to Pittsburgh

• Vladar good to go as Flyers’ starter vs. Penguins in Game 4

• Tocchet knows Flyers will have to ‘stick a fork’ in pedigree-laden Penguins

• ‘We had a lot of fun’ — Flyers make a playoff memory in ‘tight’ penalty box

• Playoffs return to Philly with a bang as Flyers take stranglehold of Penguins

• Banged up and bloodied, Tippett gives Flyers tough home run hitter in playoffs

• Flyers rip off two road wins to open playoffs, put Penguins on their heels

• Dvorak ‘fits in everywhere’ with Flyers, a team he believed could make playoffs

• Big third period, strong defensive effort propel Flyers to Game 1 win over Penguins

• Flyers start playoffs with sweet new shirt that ‘says a lot’

• Get Crosby ‘in the ditches,’ Michkov’s role and more Flyers vs. Penguins thoughts

• Outside doubt motivated Flyers, but so did Briere’s undisclosed message

• NHL announces Flyers vs. Penguins playoff schedule for first-round matchup

• Flyers are going back to playoffs in unforgettable fashion

Here are some updates and visuals from Monday and the last few days.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The boxes were made available on Monday, April 27. You can find the locations of all 33 of the boxes here.

Those who plan to vote in the primary by mail can drop off their ballots at the locations from now until Monday, May 18. Pennsylvania’s primary election takes place on Tuesday, May 19.

“All we want to do, and especially in a time where people try to make it harder for people to vote, here in Philadelphia, we are making it easy for everyone to vote,” Philadelphia City Commissioners Chairman Omar Sabir said. “Again, Philadelphia has the most voting access to any other city or county in the country. And I say on record that we have the best staff and you’re going to get greeted with great customer service.”

The deadline to request a mail ballot is May 12 at 5 p.m. ET.

The massive rooftop installation at Delmarva Corrugated Packaging in Kent County is expected to generate about 30% of the company’s daily power needs, reducing costs and easing demand on the regional power grid.

The project comes as solar energy continues to grow nationwide.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows solar generation increasing year over year while costs have dropped significantly over the past few decades.

Combined with improvements in battery storage, wind and solar now generate more than 17% of the country’s electricity.

In Dover, the nonprofit Energize Delaware is helping drive that momentum.

The group also operates solar-powered electric vehicle chargers that offer free and clean energy to drivers.

“It’s actually our largest investment in Kent County and it’s phenomenal work they’re doing,” Drew Slater of Energize Delaware said. “They built the building 30% more efficient than what a standard building would be and now they’ve added solar on top of it. It’s just furthering their own sustainability goals.”

The rooftop array itself spans about 10 acres — space that otherwise would have gone unused.

Advocates say rooftop solar offers an alternative to building arrays on open land, though challenges remain.

Large buildings often need to be constructed or retrofitted to support the weight of solar panels which has limited widespread adoption so far.

Still, as technology improves and costs continue to fall, more businesses and property owners may follow suit.

“I think it’s a great sign of things to come,” Slater said.

While projects like this won’t solve all of Delaware’s energy challenges, supporters say every addition helps — and this one is already making an impact.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.

The program, called “It’s a Summer Thing,” is designed to connect families with free camps and activities while linking teens to paid job opportunities across the city.

Léelo en español aquí.

“When it comes to our teens in particular we want to make sure we keep them occupied with something positive so nothing negative sneaks in the door right,” Chief Deputy Mayor Vanessa Garrett Harley said.

The School District of Philadelphia said it will have more than 100 buildings open and expects about 21,000 students to enroll in programs.

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation plans to host 163 day camps throughout the city.

“We’re about to meet together the two departments to make sure we have a plan for the summer so safety is on the top of our list,” Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Slawson said.

Keeping young people safe and out of trouble is a priority for the administration.

Police data shows the number of minors arrested in Philadelphia during the summer months has been trending downward in recent years, from 666 in 2023 to 590 last summer, but officials note that still amounts to hundreds of young people in trouble.

“You give me access to opportunities so I can make money to earn what I want in life it goes a long way in reducing violence,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said.

The city is aiming to connect young people to more than 10,000 jobs this summer, including roles as camp counselors and lifeguards. They said they have opportunities for anyone looking to work and grow.

“It’s a low barrier. It’s an amazing way to earn money over the summer, and it’s a résumé builder, but also can give you an opportunity to try something and be like, “Oh no, thank you, I’m not into that” or “Well. I didn’t know I was interested in this kind of work,'” said Cynthia Figueroa of JEVS Human Services.

The city has a list of camps and programs, as well as information on free food programs, job opportunities and application deadlines, on its website under “It’s a Summer Thing.”

The global pop superstar on Friday filed trademark applications for two audio clips of her voice. In one, she says: “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift, and you can listen to my new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ on demand on Amazon Music Unlimited.”

In the other, she says in a lower register: “Hey, it’s Taylor. My brand new album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is out on Oct. 3 and you can click to presave it so you can listen to it on Spotify.”

Swift also filed for a third trademark to protect an image of her onstage, wearing one of her signature sparkly bodysuits and strumming a pink guitar.

The Grammy winner has been the target of numerous deepfakes in recent years. Fake clips of her promoting a brand of cookware have tricked fans online, sexually suggestive deepfakes of her have gone viral on social media, and even President Donald Trump shared manipulated photos of her supporting his candidacy.

Swift is one of many celebrities confronting the issue as AI content generation tools become ever more sophisticated, even as AI companies add guardrails to prevent harmful uses of their models.

In January, Matthew McConaughey became the first A-lister to file a series of trademarks — including images, video and audio of himself — to protect his own likeness as AI-generated deepfakes become increasingly realistic and easy to create.

AI experts have suggested that individual trademarks from celebrities like Swift could become more common as stars attempt to attain stronger legal standing to sue if their likenesses were replicated without explicit permission.

Sound marks, or trademarks of distinctive audio cues, have historically been filed to protect iconic brand sounds such as MGM’s lion roar, NBC’s chimes or the Pillsbury Doughboy’s giggle.

But trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who first reported Swift’s new trademark applications, wrote in a blog post that “attempting to register a celebrity’s spoken voice is a new use of trademark registration that has not been tested in court before.”

“Historically, singers relied on copyright law to protect their recorded music. But AI technologies now allow users to generate entirely new content that mimics an artist’s voice without copying an existing recording, creating a gap that trademarks may help fill,” Gerben wrote. “By registering specific phrases tied to her voice, Swift could potentially challenge not only identical reproductions, but also imitations that are ‘confusingly similar,’ a key standard in trademark law.”

Swift has filed hundreds of trademarks throughout her career, but most have aimed to protect her name, lyrics, merchandise and other components of her brand identity. This appears to be the first instance Swift has pursued sound mark protection.

YouTube Mar 10

YouTube opens deepfake detection tool to politicians and journalists

Music & Musicians Apr 23

Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny lead Spotify's all-time most streamed artists list

The attorney listed on the applications, Rebecca Liebowitz, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Swift also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Celebrities continue to sound the alarm over AI misuse, with some calling for stronger protections.

In 2023, Scarlett Johansson’s attorney demanded that an AI app stop using her likeness in an advertisement. The actor also called out OpenAI in 2024 for using an “eerily similar” voice to hers for their GPT-4o chatbot despite having declined the company’s request to provide her voice. OpenAI subsequently announced it would no longer be using the voice, but did not indicate why.

In 2024, Tom Hanks called out the “multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness, and voice promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs.”

“Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston raised similar concerns last year about OpenAI’s Sora 2 product and its ability to replicate his and other celebrities’ likenesses without permission. (OpenAI announced last month that was shutting down its Sora video creation app).

In January, more than 700 creatives, including Johansson, Cate Blanchett and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, backed a campaign called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation.”

Organized by a coalition called The Human Artistry Campaign (composed of a mix of unions representing creators, artists’ rights groups and trade associations), the movement calls on tech companies to stop training their generative AI tools on copyrighted works without express permission from creatives.

As likeness protection becomes a growing concern for public figures, some companies appear eager to partner on the issue.

Last week, YouTube unveiled a deal with several talent agencies that would open up its proprietary deepfake detection tool to celebrities and entertainers, who can now more easily request their unauthorized likenesses be removed from the platform.

AI also appears to be making inroads with entertainers, with some cautiously leaning into the technology as it becomes more mainstream.

Meriam Bouarrouj contributed.

The incident unfolded on Friday, April 24, in Upper Providence Township, Pennsylvania. A police officer spotted an e-bike rider and a dirt bike rider along Route 113 near Paperbirch Drive. Investigators said neither vehicle had registration plates or rear lights.

“As he got closer to them, he realized it was a dirt bike and an e-bike riding alongside one another and it didn’t have any rear lighting on them,” Upper Providence Police Lieutenant Ryan Sheehan told NBC10.

When the officer activated their emergency lights, both riders switched off their headlights and tried to evade the officer, according to investigators.

The dirt bike rider continued south on Route 113 while the e-bike rider turned towards Arader’s Tree Farm, police said. The officer did not pursue either rider because it was too dangerous, according to officials.

The officer later spotted the dirt bike rider at a Wawa on Route 29 but the rider once again fled when the officer tried to stop them, according to investigators.

The dirt bike rider was wearing a white sweatshirt as well as a white helmet with the number 15 displayed on the number panel, police said. Police did not release a description of the e-bike rider.

As police continue to search for the two riders, they are urging parents of children who ride dirt bikes and e-bikes to speak with them about responsible and safe riding practices.

“A lot of kids have these e-bikes and I think there are a lot of parents that don’t realize that they’re not allowed to be out on the road if they’re less than 16 years of age,” Lt. Sheehan said.

Jeff Lorish, the owner of Bikesport, a bike shop based in Trappe, Pennsylvania, told NBC10 e-bikes account for 20 to 30% of the store’s overall sales.

With the recent rise in popularity, here are some guidelines to help riders stay safe and informed about e-bike regulations.

Know equipment and registration requirements

Officials shared that you should ensure your e-bikes meet the required equipment standards, including brakes, lights and reflectors.

Some e-bikes may even require registration. You can check with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to see if your bike needs to be registered.

Know where you can ride

It is important to know where it’s legal to operate your e-bike, according to police. Some trails and roads may have restrictions on e-bike use.

While these e-devices are advertised as transportation and “child-friendly,” the state of Pennsylvania treats them like motor vehicles on public roads, requiring helmets and the rider to be 16 years of age.

Officials said e-bikes should be used on private property, such as a driveway or yard.

Know the safety rules

When riding your e-bike on roads and trails, remember to always follow the rules and wear safety gear.

– Always wear a helmet

– Never ride with another person on the same bike or scooter.

E-bikes follow all the same traffic laws as drivers, including:

• Stopping at stop signs and red lights
• Riding in the same direction as traffic
• Yielding to pedestrians
• Using lights at night
• Not riding on sidewalks in business districts
• Not weaving between cars or cutting through parking lots
• Not riding against traffic
• Not using phones while riding

The launch’s liftoff is scheduled for 8:52 p.m. and will be on a launch path going southeast. You can watch the launch live here in this article.

The launch is carrying 29 Amazon Leo satellites and is being carried out by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

According to New Castle County Police, on Sunday, April 26, 2026, around 1:37 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Bunche Boulevard for a report of a vehicle crash involving a residence.

When officers arrived on scene, police said they found an unoccupied silver Dodge Charger that had struck a residence and a parked vehicle.

An investigation revealed that after the crash into the residence, police said the driver, 34-year-old Shayron Barksdale of Middletown, was approached by concerned citizens who attempted to check on his well-being. At that time, Barksdale produced a handgun and threatened to shoot them before fleeing the scene.

Due to the circumstances of the incident, police said Officers Currinder and his partner, K9 Indy, responded to assist with a search of the area. During the search, K9 Indy located a loaded handgun in the backyard of a residence in the 400 block of Carver Drive, in the area where Barksdale was last seen fleeing.

Police reported that officers eventually located Barksdale and arrested him on the 400 block of Carver Drive. After the arrest, police observed that Barksdale showed multiple signs of intoxication.

According to police, further investigation determined that the force of the crash caused bricks from the residence to dislodge and strike a sleeping person inside the home. They had minor injuries.

Bricks also narrowly missed a crib that had a sleeping baby, police shared.

Police said Barksdale was taken into custody, where he faces numerous charges, including reckless endangering, criminal mischief, terroristic threatening, second-degree vehicular assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, and more.

Isiah Jenifer, 29, was last seen during the afternoon of Aug. 28, 2025, when he entered a vehicle in Folcroft, Pennsylvania. Officials believe he traveled to Chester City, Pennsylvania, that day. He has not been seen or heard from since then. Investigators believe foul play may have been involved in his disappearance.

Officials said Jenifer has ties to Folcroft, Chester and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania as well as Wilmington, Delaware.

Jenifer is described as a Black man with brown eyes, weighing 160 pounds and standing between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 9 inches tall. Jenifer has multiple small tattoos on his right forearm including money symbols, a skull with a hat and open mouth with teeth, the word “rats,” and a star on his right hand between his thumb and pointer finger.

Jenifer also has multiple tattoos on his left forearm including initials, possibly “RMP,” a money symbol with fire and the letter Y.

If you have any information on Jenifer’s whereabouts or anyone involved in his disappearance, call the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office at 215-418-4000, your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Paganini Fleurantin was taken into custody April 23, 2026, and faces charges including attempted felony murder and battery against his sibling, as well as battery on an emergency medical care provider.

Authorities said the incident began at a Northwest Miami-Dade residence, where Fleurantin and his sibling got into a verbal dispute related to his mental health. Investigators said the argument escalated when Fleurantin allegedly punched and stabbed the sibling in the chest with a sharp object.

Police said the sibling sustained a superficial stab wound and was transported to a trauma center for evaluation.

According to the report, Fleurantin barricaded himself inside the home before being taken into custody by responding deputies.

Authorities said Fleurantin was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation, where he was involved in a second incident. Investigators said he became verbally aggressive and kicked a nurse in the lower abdomen as she attempted to administer medication. The nurse did not report visible injuries.

Fleurantin was arrested later that day at the hospital, according to the report.

The suspect, 58-year-old, Andre Demetrius Hudson, was arrested following the incident April 26 at a Wendy’s along Northwest Second Avenue in Miami Gardens, according to an arrest report.

Employees said Hudson entered the restaurant and demanded free food because he did not have money.

When workers refused, Hudson became agitated and began damaging point-of-sale touchscreen computers at the front counter, authorities said.

Police said Hudson left the restaurant but returned a short time later and escalated the situation.

Around 11:07 a.m., he grabbed a large metal cup display and threw it at employees behind the counter, then began throwing additional items, including display materials and computer equipment.

Two employees were struck by the objects and suffered minor injuries, according to the report.

Authorities said the damaged equipment included two touchscreen terminals valued at nearly $2,000 each.

Hudson fled the restaurant again, but employees followed him and directed officers to his location nearby, police said.

He was taken into custody in the area.

While in the back of a patrol vehicle, Hudson allegedly resisted and attempted to damage the car by kicking the rear window.

Officers used restraints and placed a spit mask on him after he began spitting, the affidavit states.

Hudson was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, battery and resisting an officer without violence. He was transported to jail, authorities said.

According to zoo, the 13 two-toed sloths face a long road ahead but are hanging on.

“Everyone sees an animal and wants to see a good outcome,” said Central Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover.

Many of the sloths are underweight and dehydrated after being placed in a 30-day quarantine when they moved in, Friday.

Veterinarians said they’ve already seen signs of improvement as they monitor the sloths around the clock and provide the animals with the hydration and proper nutrition they need.

“The first thing is, let’s get them hydrated, and let’s start getting them on the proper food and making sure that they have what they need, and so far, so good,” said Glover. “All of them have been responding well to the food and to the liquids, so right now, a little over 24 hours in, we still have all 13, and we’re hopeful that that will continue.”

According to Sloth World’s owner, he made the decision to donate the sloths one week ago.

Zoo staff spent all of last week building their habitat before they arrived on Friday afternoon.

This sloth transfer came after a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report found that 31 sloths died between December 2024 and February 2025.

“It’s really early to tell, and not knowing what may be happening inside their bodies, that we’ll learn once we get the results of different kinds of medical tests,” said Glover. “That will tell us a lot more what we’re dealing with and how our odds are, so right now we’re hopeful, but I mean, none of us are breathing easy, for sure.”

The sloths destined for Sloth World died before the Orlando attraction ever opened its doors.

According to the FWC report, some of the sloths were cold stunned, and others died from poor health issues.

The owner of Sloth World maintains the sloths died from an alleged virus.

Depending on the outcome of their treatment, a few of the sloths could remain at the Central Florida Zoo, and the others could be sent to different zoos.

“If we put them back in the wild, they could be taking diseases back to a wild population and actually creating a whole lot more harm, so the other thing is, they’ve become very dependent on humans at this point; they are used to being fed and handed everything, not having to fend for themselves,” said Glover.

The zoo is working closely with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to determine long-term placement for many of the sloths.

Cole Tomas Allen appeared in court Monday to face federal charges after the chaotic encounter Saturday that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being hurried off the stage unharmed and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables. He was ordered to remain jailed pending additional court hearings, and faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assassination count alone.

An FBI affidavit filed in the case reveals additional details about the planning behind the assault, with authorities alleging that Allen on April 6 reserved a room for himself at the Washington hotel where the event would be held weeks later under its typical tight security. He traveled by train cross-country from California last week, checking himself into the Washington Hilton one day before the dinner with a room reserved through the weekend.

The event had barely begun when officials say the 31-year-old Torrance, California, man, armed with a shotgun and pistol, tried to race past a security barricade near the cavernous ballroom holding hundreds of journalists and their guests, prompting an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents tasked with safeguarding the event.

“Violence has no place in civic life,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a news conference. “We will ensure accountability is swift and certain.”

Allen was injured but was not shot. A Secret Service officer was shot but was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and survived, officials say. The Justice Department charged Allen with two additional firearms counts, including discharging a weapon during a crime of violence, but the affidavit does not directly say that Allen was responsible for shooting the officer.

Suspect’s email sheds light on motive

The shooting resulted in the cancellation of the dinner, the first Trump had attended as president.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday said the night was supposed to be one of joy but instead was “hijacked by a crazed anti-Trump individual who traveled across the country to assassinate the president and as many administration officials as possible.”

Allen invoked his constitutional right to remain silent after his arrest, but authorities say an email he sent to family members and a former employer helps shed light on a motive.

In the message, a copy of which was included in the affidavit, Allen referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” alluded obliquely to grievances over a range of Trump administration actions. The rambling text moves between confession, grievance and farewell, with Allen apologizing to family members, co-workers and even strangers he feared could be caught in the violence while at the same time seeking to explain the attack.

A magistrate judge granted a prosecutor’s request to keep Allen locked up pending additional hearings, including a detention hearing set for Thursday.

Allen did not speak at length during the quick appearance, as is customary, though one of his lawyers, Texira Abe, noted that he has no criminal record.

“He also is presumed innocent at this time,” she said.

The Associated Press called multiple phone numbers listed for Allen and relatives in public records, and there was no answer when a reporter knocked on the door of his home.

Records reveal that Allen is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A social media profile for a man with the same name and a photo that appears to match that of the suspect show he worked part-time for the last six years at a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students.

Voter registration records from California lists Allen’s home address as his parent’s house on a tree-lined street in one of the most historic neighborhoods in Torrance, a city within the Los Angeles metro area. No one answered the door Sunday when an Associated Press reporter knocked. By the afternoon, several people who appeared to be law enforcement agents were canvassing the neighborhood, with one wearing an FBI sweatshirt.

A yard sign displayed at the family home supported a local candidate for judge who was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. Federal campaign finance records show Cole Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and listed his employer as C2 Education.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to his profile on the social networking site LinkedIn. The small university is academically prestigious with a very low acceptance rate. He also listed his involvement there in a campus group that battled with Nerf guns and a Christian student fellowship.

Allen’s profile photo on LinkedIn shows him wearing a cap and gown when graduating with a master’s degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. The photo appears to have been taken May 2025.

Thirty-year-old Antranard Womble pleaded guilty to a list of charges, including attempted murder, Monday morning.

The charges stem from a traffic stop in April of 2020 during which, investigators said, Womble fired several shots at detective Erica Socarras, who was in an unmarked unit.

Socarras appeared in court to speak about the incident.

“And I prayed in that moment for God to protect me from the people who were trying to kill me,” she said.

Socarras recounted the terror she experienced that day.

“In that moment, I was forced into the biggest fight of my life and while everything was happening, all I could think was: ‘I can’t die today,'” said Socarras.

Police said Soccaras wasn’t hit, but pieces of her uniform were. Several bullets also struck her vehicle.

Addressing the defendant directly, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Laura M. González-Marqués stressed this incident could have had a much different, tragic outcome.

“Mr. Womble, in the time that you are in state prison, I sincerely hope, sir, that you reflect on the actions that you took that day. An officer who was doing her job could have lost her life,” said González-Marqués.

Several police officers were in court to witness the plea.

“It’s a day we’ve been waiting for and I would love this to be a clear and distinct message. We are not society’s punching bags. We go out there doing our job, we go out there to protect our community, but we will defend ourselves and we will make sure that our community is safe,” said Miami Police Chief Manny Morales.

Womble is headed to state prison with a sentence of 15 years, but he will receive credit for time served.

His proposal, released one day before the Florida Legislature opens a special session, targets a Tampa-area district held by Rep. Kathy Castor as well as an Orlando-area district held by Rep. Darren Soto. It also redraws districts in South Florida for Republican advantage.

It’s the latest salvo in a coast-to-coast redistricting fight that President Donald Trump kicked off last year when Texas drew new lines at his behest. Just last week, Virginia voters approved a referendum that could give Democrats better chances at four US House seats in the state.

Members of the GOP supermajority in the Florida Legislature have made clear they will proceed with DeSantis’ map proposal rather than draw one of their own. They could move within days to enact it.

Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 US House seats. A proposed map published by Fox News and reposted by a DeSantis staffer suggests the GOP intends to leave Democrats with an advantage in just four seats, though House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats have suggested a redrawing could give them the chance to flip Republican-held seats instead.

In recent weeks, some Republican lawmakers have publicly expressed concern that an aggressive redraw could put at risk safe GOP seats.

State Sen. Don Gaetz, a Republican who is sponsoring the legislation to enact the DeSantis map in the Florida Senate, told CNN on Monday that it’s not his job “to be concerned about any member of Congress whose lines are being affected by the governor’s proposals.”

“Members of Congress who have concerns should contact the governor,” he added. “I’m not going to be negotiating with individual members of Congress.”

The Florida Constitution imposes restrictions on partisan gerrymandering. In a letter to lawmakers, DeSantis’ team argued that population changes in the state since the 2020 census and a pending Supreme Court decision in a redistricting case out of Louisiana justified the state redrawing its maps, although the high court has yet to render judgment in that case.

Jeffries referred to the “DeSantis Dummymander” – a pejorative term for a gerrymander that backfires on the party in control – in a post on X and argued the governor’s plan violated Florida law. “See you in Court,” he wrote.

Gaetz said he expected a key Senate committee to vote on the map Tuesday. Action on the Senate floor could come as early as Wednesday.

The measure will move to the Florida House once it clears the Senate. The special session is slated to end Friday.

Hours earlier, Melania Trump had implied Kimmel should lose his job over the same comments.

“Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the joke a “despicable call to violence.”

Kimmel’s monologue — which he made Thursday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” days before the alleged gunman attempted to enter the event where President Trump, Melania Trump and other top officials were evacuated — included a joke that the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow.”

“His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” Melania Trump said in a statement on X Monday morning.

“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community,” she continued.

The Trumps’ criticism sets up a major free speech stress test for ABC’s parent company, Disney, amid ongoing public scrutiny of how major corporations respond to presidential pressure. Representatives for ABC and Kimmel have not responded to CNN’s requests for comment.

Kimmel, speaking during a mock version of the annual dinner two nights before the official event, delivered a series of jokes aimed at the president and his family. Typically, a comedian headlines the dinner, and Kimmel’s skit involved him delivering remarks as though he were the comedian selected to roast the attendees.

“Our first lady is here. Mrs. Trump … you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said.

“By the way, in the unfortunate event that our president has a medical emergency tonight, do we have a doctor in the house — oh, I’m sorry. I mean, do we have a Jesus in the house? I always confuse them, too,” he added, referring to a meme President Trump had previously posted and then deleted on Truth Social that appeared to depict him as Jesus.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Kimmel’s comments “completely deranged” during a press briefing Monday, adding that type of rhetoric has “led crazy people to believe crazy things, and they are inspired to commit violence because of those words. It has to stop.”

Melania Trump, who like her husband was whisked offstage during the security incident, made an unexpected appearance at the White House briefing room while the president spoke to the press later that night. However, she has not publicly commented on the shooting, and her forceful criticism of Kimmel marks her first public remarks on the matter.

Saturday was the first time the first lady, who has closely guarded her privacy and independence in her second term, has been alongside her husband when he has been aggressively evacuated by the Secret Service.

The president, who had told reporters that it was “a rather traumatic experience” for his wife, was asked Sunday whether she had been scared.

“I don’t want to say, and people don’t like having it said that they were scared, but certainly, I mean, who wouldn’t be when you have a situation like that?” he told CBS.

The first lady’s social media post sets up another major free speech controversy over Kimmel, who was previously targeted by the Trump administration for a comment he made after conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The late-night host had mocked the president for talking about the White House East Wing renovation when a reporter asked him about Kirk’s death, and in the following night’s show said that “many in MAGA-land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.”

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr — the administration official responsible for licensing ABC’s local stations — publicly pressured the company to punish Kimmel at the time.

At least two major owners of ABC-affiliated stations subsequently said they would not air Kimmel’s show, sparking speculation that the owners were trying to curry favor with the administration and contributing to ABC’s decision to preempt the late-night show indefinitely.

Free speech groups immediately condemned ABC for appearing to cave to the government, and a public groundswell of support in Kimmel’s favor garnered national attention. ABC restored the show less than a week later, and Kimmel’s anti-Trump brand of comedy has been even more prominent since then.

Any response to the president and first lady’s criticism will involve Disney and will be an early test for new CEO Josh D’Amaro, who succeeded Bob Iger last month.

Over 100 community leaders gathered to mark the milestone on Thursday.

The six-story, 127,000 square foot facility will provide more out-patient and specialty services, which includes cardiovascular and neuroscience.

“We want to make sure that there is room for the community to see the doctors who will care for them the way that they need to be cared for,” said Stacy Anger, Vice Chair of North Broward Hospital District.

The new facility is set to open in 2027.

According to school officials, a female MAST Academy student suffered a sodium burn after mishandling materials during a science experiment.

The student was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Officials confirmed her injuries were not life-threatening and she has since been released from the hospital.

The 81-year-old Riley emphasized that he has his eyes set on bringing more championships to South Florida and has no plans of stepping down any time soon.

“I’m not gonna resign, I’m not gonna step aside. You know, I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard,” said Riley.

Despite the team reaching the playoffs in each year since 2019, the Heat have been forced to fight through the play-in tournament gauntlet in each of the last four seasons. The Heat were eliminated from contention in the 2026 playoffs after losing in their first play-in tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Riley downplayed criticism of the team’s struggles to avoid the play-in tournament in recent years, pointing to the franchise’s commitment to playing winning basketball at all costs.

“We’re always gonna try to win. We’re not gonna apologize for it. If we’re competing for the last spot in the play-in, we will fight to the very last breath,” said Riley.

Riley’s approach runs counter to many fans’ hopes that the team would embrace tanking to improve its draft lottery position. A philosophy that other teams have embraced at times in a race to the bottom.

“I’m not gonna change, I’m not gonna try to lose, I’m not gonna tank, and I can’t stand the word,” said Riley.

Riley then doubled down on his stance against having the team tank for better lottery odds.

“I’m not gonna tank, I’m not gonna lose, we’re not gonna go to the lottery and do that insanity because I will quit. If I ever get ordered to go down that road, OK, let’s go down, you know, I’m always thinking about ways to win,” said Riley.

Riley also addressed recent criticisms of the team’s lack of movement on big free-agent signings and major trades, saying those moves should not be considered acts of complacency by the franchise.

“Doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna be aggressive as hell or we’re not gonna be aggressive as hell to try to make the team better,” said Riley.

Riley acknowledged that the current iteration of the team isn’t meeting the standards he expects, and that the Heat faithful demand more, despite their improvement over last year’s performance.

“You know, winning six more games this year, that’s an improvement. I mean, you have to look at the little things, even though it’s not good enough for a lot of people,” said Riley.

Part of the frustration with the 2025-2026 Heat was a roster that struggled to stay healthy, with many of its key players forced to sit out most of the season.

“We need to make some changes roster-wise, you know, now when it comes to everything about things that I can’t control, I can’t control players who missed games. I can’t control the lack of continuity,” said Riley.

Riley assured Heat fans he will make any moves he believes are necessary to keep pushing the team forward.

King George III, of course, was the villain in our story of the American Revolution, and he was still in the picture during the War of 1812, in which British troops burned the White House to the ground.

In the middle of the 19th century, Queen Victoria became a heroine to some, but a villainess to others, when she read the anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" aloud to the royal family. Abolitionists may have liked this, but it was less favorably received in the slaveholding South.

Things began to change in the late 19th century due to both technological and diplomatic advancements. The United States and Britain began to recognize common interests, and transatlantic travel and communication became easier.

KING CHARLES URGES 'DIGITAL DETOX,' RECONCILIATION IN CHRISTMAS SPEECH AFTER YEAR OF ROYAL DRAMA

By 1903, when former President Theodore Roosevelt broadcast the first transatlantic message over the radio, he directed it to Britain's King Edward VII, saying:

"In taking advantage of the wonderful triumph of research and ingenuity which has been achieved in perfecting a system of wireless telegraphy, I extend on behalf of the American people most cordial greetings and good wishes to you and all the people of the British Empire."

In the 1910s, the U.S. and Britain grew closer as allies against Germany in World War I. In 1939, King George VI made the first visit of a British royal to the White House, visiting former President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

KING CHARLES, PRINCE HARRY AT POINT OF 'NO TURNING BACK' AS MONARCH REFUSES RECONCILIATION: EXPERT

The U.S. still had a bit of an anti-royal chip on its shoulder, though. Roosevelt famously served hot dogs to the king and queen to show his connection to the common man.

Our nations became even closer as a result of our alliance in both World War II and in the subsequent Cold War. Improvements in transatlantic travel meant that visits by presidents to London and royals to Washington became semiregular events.

In her 70-year reign from 1952 to 2022, Queen Elizabeth II met 13 of the 14 presidents who held office during that period. This included every sitting U.S. president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Joe Biden, with the sole exception of Lyndon B. Johnson.

‘GLADIATOR II’ STAR DENZEL WASHINGTON HAS AWKWARD ENCOUNTER WITH KING CHARLES

Although the queen’s role was now largely ceremonial, sometimes there was a diplomatic component to her visits as well. When she visited Eisenhower in 1957, she helped smooth over tensions that had emerged between Britain and the U.S. as a result of the Suez Crisis.

Sometimes there was a larger, more public element to her visits. In 1976, Queen Elizabeth spoke at the White House while visiting former President Gerald Ford during U.S. bicentennial celebrations, perhaps demonstrating that Britain had finally gotten over things from 1776.

In recent decades, nearly every president has had some interaction with the royal family: Prince Charles' wife, Lady Diana, famously danced with actor John Travolta at a White House event during the Reagan administration in 1985.

KING CHARLES HAUNTED BY PRINCE ANDREW AS 'GRUBBY' DUKE HUMILIATES MONARCHY IN 'YEAR FROM HELL': EXPERTS

Queen Elizabeth also granted former President Ronald Reagan an honorary knighthood in 1989, after he left office. Former President George H.W. Bush had the queen on his legendary 30,000-person Christmas card list.

In December 2000, with the presidential election to determine his successor still in doubt, former President Bill Clinton had tea with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

When I served in the George W. Bush White House, I remember Karl Rove telling a very funny story from his stay at Buckingham Palace with Bush and forgetting a pair of socks. At an early morning White House senior staff meeting, Rove did an uproarious imitation of a palace attendant presenting a new pair of socks to the "Right Honourable Mr. Rove" on a silver tray.

Sometimes there have been diplomatic snafus: former President Barack Obama got some pushback for gifting the queen an iPod in 2009. It turns out that she already had one. Biden got better grades for giving her a sterling silver box from Tiffany & Co. with personalized engravings.

And now, as King Charles embarks on his first visit to the U.S. in President Donald Trump's second term, the U.S. and Britain are in the midst of a disagreement over the war with Iran.

Charles is not a political ruler, but perhaps his visit, like his mother's in 1957, can smooth over tensions and help maintain the special relationship America has long had with the United Kingdom.

A big part of what allows for this unique discourse is that Maher is an unconventional Democrat. He's something of a dinosaur, with a political view that seems stuck in the tar pits of 1990s Bill Clintonism. He is in some ways the avatar of the Democratic Party that was.

Maher remains pro-Israel, regularly rolls his eyes at the excesses of wokism and the trans movement, has a friendly respect for President Donald Trump, with whom he has dined, and in general is a poster child of "I didn’t leave the party, the party left me." He's even friends with Kid Rock!

This has led many conservatives to suggest that Maher is a better fit in the Republican Party than the Democratic Party. Jump in, the water is fine, they say.

GREG GUTFELD: CONSTANT DEMONIZATION BACKFIRED AND MADE TRUMP APPEAR APPEALINGLY DANGEROUS

But this misses an essential point. Maher is not a Republican, he is a Democrat. Conservatives should be rooting for him to influence his party in positive ways, not to abandon it.

Maher always makes me think of my cousin Jimmy, who has been a big fan for decades. Jimmy is in many ways the quintessential Pennsylvania Democrat. He is successful, has a beautiful Catholic family, and like me, grew up believing in the Teamsters and the pope.

I asked Jimmy what he liked so much about Maher and he told me, "I like Bill Maher a lot because he calls a spade a spade, based on facts and science and not ideological craziness. He calls out the crazy for what it is. I like that he does it regardless of who he’s talking about, left or right."

BILL MAHER GRILLS GAVIN NEWSOM OVER CALIFORNIA'S REGULATIONS, TELLS HIM 'DOGE THE S---' OUT OF BUREAUCRACY

This is maybe a bit more of a glowing review than I would give to Maher, but it's not far off the mark. More importantly, based on conversations I have with Democrats around the country, more of them think like Maher, than think like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-NY, or commie podcaster Hasan Piker.

In this way, Maher is something like a focus group of one.

And it’s not just Maher clinging to the principles of the old Party of Jefferson and Jackson. Sen. John Fetterman D-Pa., also insists on being an old-school Democrat rather than changing sides and joining the GOP.

BILL MAHER HAS A BLUNT MESSAGE FOR DEMOCRATS IN WAKE OF ELECTION DISASTER: ‘LOSERS LOOK IN THE MIRROR’

But honestly, for all the attacks against Fetterman from the left of his party, there is no major policy issue that the senator supports that was not a mainstream Democratic position as recently as 2020.

The plain truth here is that Maher, my cousin Jimmy and Fetterman are never going to be Republicans. It's like asking Magic Johnson to play for the Celtics. But they may be the voices that bring their party, and our nation, back from the edge.

On Saturday night, at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, a third attempt was made on the life of President Trump. It almost feels normal at this point, but it is not normal, and while everyone for the next 12 hours will discuss taking down the temperature, Maher really does it.

MAHER URGES AMERICANS TO 'NOT LET POLITICS F--- UP THE HOLIDAYS': SHOULDN'T 'CUT PEOPLE OFF' FOR TRUMP WIN

Because of the power of the presidency under our Constitution, we will always have two parties, one that controls the White House, and another composed of everyone else. It behooves all of us for both to be measured, responsible and nonviolent.

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Maher does our nation inestimably more good as the reasonable, old-timey, joint-smoking Democrat than he does as a turncoat nouveau Trumper, and as beacon of sanity in a party flinging itself wildly to the left, he helps everyone.

So let’s stop trying to turn Maher into a Republican. We don’t need to chant "One of us!" because he is not one of us. He is a Democrat, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Perhaps the greatest testament to the importance of Maher is his remarkable staying power. In a media ecosystem in which political shows and anchors rise and fall like so many ships in a storm, he has been a Rock of Gibraltar.

Just as for decades "The McLaughlin Group" was the space for the right and left to respectfully cross rhetorical swords, today it is "Real Time" that fills this vital role, and for better or worse, it only really works, quite specifically, because Bill Maher is, and always will be, a Democrat.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS

Allen appeared to have had a simple plan. He checked into the Hilton and allegedly brought along a shotgun, handguns and knives. He went to his room and waited. Then, he took a stairwell down to the floor where the dinner was underway. Authorities say he charged at a Secret Service checkpoint near the ballroom where 3,000 people were jammed in like sardines. The checkpoint was the location of magnetometers designed to screen for guns and other weapons. Allen allegedly began firing, apparently intending to shoot his way through the checkpoint so that he could enter the ballroom and cause mass casualties. The courageous Secret Service agents stopped him, and one heroic agent was shot in his vest. That agent will recover and deserves the eternal gratitude of the American people for his sacrifice.

It is a miracle that other injuries did not occur. Aside from the gunfire, people could have been injured in the rush to flee the room. Law enforcement whisked dignitaries away when the shots began, and many people ducked under tables. With 3,000 people, however, it is easy to imagine how many could have run for safety, trampling each other in the process. Continuing these events at hotels is untenable, and Trump-deranged individuals must grasp this simple point before fatalities occur.

President Trump plainly understands the point. That is why he has begun construction on a ballroom at the White House, the most secure building in the world. Many events have occurred in White House tents, making attendees susceptible to sniper fire like that which occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania, during a Trump rally in July 2024. The proposed ballroom would have an underground bunker and bulletproof glass to add to the elaborate security measures that already are in place at the White House. There would be no risk of another murderous hotel guest’s barreling toward a checkpoint and shooting at Secret Service agents. If Allen had begun his alleged rampage earlier, he could have committed a mass murder by shooting attendees as they waited to go through the magnetometer. None of this lunacy would have occurred at a ballroom in the White House.

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Alison Hoagland is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a Trump-deranged individual who thinks that she can dictate White House construction procedures. The proposed ballroom is privately funded. Construction crews have already torn down the area where the ballroom will sit. Hoagland, however, has decided to attempt to stop the construction in court. She claims that she occasionally walks by the White House and that viewing the area harms her personally and professionally. This lawsuit should have been dismissed, but Judge Richard Leon, one of President George W. Bush’s worst appointees, shockingly let it proceed and issued an injunction against further construction.

Article III of the Constitution requires that a plaintiff have standing to bring a lawsuit. A plaintiff must show that she either has been injured or that she will be in a concrete way, that the defendant has caused or will cause the injury, and that a court can redress the injury. Hoagland’s only supposed injury is her displeasure at having to look at a construction site whenever she occasionally walks past the White House. Leon incredibly accepted this farcical claim as sufficient for standing. If Hoagland’s risible assertion suffices, we may as well get rid of standing because anyone can be offended over anything. Courts would be deluged with lawsuits from gadflies who want to whine over any perceived slight, no matter how petty, if Hoagland’s theory becomes the law of the land.

The Trump Justice Department appealed Leon’s laughable injunction to the D.C. Circuit. Two leftist judges asked Leon to clarify the scope of it. Judge Neomi Rao, a potential Supreme Court justice, correctly dissented, brilliantly articulating why the case should fail on standing grounds. After Leon’s clarification, the appellate court unanimously put his asinine injunction on hold pending a decision on the merits. The panel will hear oral argument in June, but Hoagland’s silly suit should stop now. To that end, the Justice Department has written to request that the National Trust for Historic Preservation drop the case. If it does not, the government will seek dismissal.

Especially after the horrific events of Saturday night, the Trump-deranged leftists should drop the suit. If they do not, Leon should dismiss it. Given how shameless these people are, however, the odds of either event occurring are slim. The D.C. Circuit should rule rapidly after oral argument that Hoagland’s claim falls far short of what is necessary to establish Article III standing. Judge Rao correctly opined that existing law authorizes the construction of the ballroom. Congress should leave no doubt. As Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman—seemingly the only Democrat left in Congress who possesses some common sense and decency—urged, it is time to build the ballroom. 

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Congress could authorize the construction explicitly in short order. Congress had no trouble acting swiftly to order the release of the Epstein files. Disgracefully, many Trump-deranged congressional Democrats likely will obstruct any effort to authorize the ballroom because they have no regard for the safety of President Trump and anyone in his orbit.

In not even two years, Trump has faced three assassination attempts: the Butler event; the attempted assassination at his Palm Beach golf club by Ryan Routh, who is now serving a life sentence thanks to brilliant Judge Aileen Cannon; and the near-massacre on Saturday night. Leftists have tried to imprison, bankrupt, de-bank, de-platform and murder Trump. Insane rhetoric, such as baseless and malicious allegations that Trump is a pedophile anda grave threat to democracy, has caused people to lose their minds. These radicals have caused a culture of assassination; no other president has been targeted in this way. It is time to stop the lunacy, and a good start would be to facilitate the building of the White House ballroom. Given their past disgraceful behavior, however, Democrats likely will continue their dangerous resistance. The task thus falls to constitutionalist judges like Judge Rao to stop this insanity. Failure to do so eventually will lead to fatalities perpetrated by future Democrat assassins in the mold of Allen, Routh, and Matthew Crooks, the Butler shooter.

Stop the insanity once and for all. Enough is enough. Build the damn ballroom.

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He hung on when he first got in the race and was mocked as a sideshow. When the "Access Hollywood" tape came out. When his supporters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6. 

He outlasted two impeachments and four criminal cases. He won re-election when that seemed like a long shot. He’s the Harry Houdini of Washington. 

And on Saturday night, he survived his third assassination attempt. At a dinner that was expected to feature the president mocking the media, his calm response to being targeted by a heavily armed shooter generated enormous sympathy for him. It’s a dangerous job, he said.

THE LEFT'S DEHUMANIZATION OF TRUMP IS PUSHING PEOPLE OVER THE EDGE – WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES

In fact, he "fought like hell" to continue with the Correspondents' Association Dinner, but the Secret Service – one of whose members was shot but saved by a protective vest – insisted on clearing the room. 

At the same time, Trump has such mounting political problems that it’s hard to avoid the conclusion he’s in a free fall. 

The president is bogged down in an unpopular war and canceled the latest talks. Rising gas prices are inflicting pain at home. He may be losing the redistricting wars. Some of his most prominent supporters in the conservative media have turned on him with a vengeance, even apologizing for having supported him.

That’s not all. The Democrats are virtually certain to win the House. They are talking about impeaching Trump the day they’re sworn in. Sure, he’d be acquitted in the Senate, but his last two years would be a blizzard of investigations and payback.

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What’s more, the president can’t run again. He’ll still have the power of incumbency, but the House can block most of what he wants to do (and this is beyond the media fantasy that the opposition party could take the Senate as well).

In the ever-present polls, Trump has dropped as low as 33% approval in an AP survey, his worst numbers ever.

More eye-popping is a new survey with a large sample, from Strength in Numbers/Verasight, which says 21% of Republicans support impeachment, with 72% opposed. Among independents, 50% back impeaching the president.   

And a Fox News poll found more respondents trusting the Democrats over the Republicans on the economy, by four points, for the first time in 15 years.

This comes against the backdrop of Trump having fired three women in his Cabinet, creating a sense of disorder, and his wife giving a televised speech to deny any involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

But let’s have a reality check.

Trump’s relentless attacks on the press have taken their toll, with many dismissing the coverage as fueled by personal hostility. And Democrats, with few exceptions, aren’t helping themselves by appearing to root for the Iranian terrorists when our service members are at risk.

By November, the Iran war could be a distant memory. The economy might enjoy an uptick. Even now, with the ceasefire collapsing over the Strait of Hormuz blockade, the stock market has hit record highs.

Trump will use his media mastery to dominate the news agenda. He already takes calls from reporters at all hours. 

SHOOTING SUSPECT'S MANIFESTO CLEARLY STATED WHO HE WANTED TO TARGET, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

The Democrats, meanwhile, are leaderless. Even if Hakeem Jeffries is speaker, the president will make far more news. That won’t change until the 2028 primaries, when a front-runner or two emerges.

Trump can make news with executive orders, such as moving marijuana to a lower classification and boosting research into psychedelic drugs.

The betrayal being voiced by his onetime allies on the right, who embraced his pledge of no new foreign wars, may be less important for those not immersed in the online world. But it is a bellwether for the splintering of the MAGA coalition.

Now some of its leading members are calling him erratic and reckless.

No one is loving this more than the Democrats and the Never Trumpers, who say wait, you’re just noticing this now? We’ve been telling you this for years.

"Trump looks desperate to run for the hills," says New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. "He constantly says he has defeated the mullahs and ‘obliterated’ their military power, and yet Iran refuses to be subdued."

SEE PHOTOS: BEFORE AND AFTER SHOOTING AT WH CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER

What’s obvious, says veteran columnist Andrew Sullivan: "Trump is completely out of his depth. He went to war impulsively. He never expected the Iranians to close the Strait of Hormuz; and then they did. And he can’t re-open it. In fact, he decided to close it again. Or something."

Throw in the AI image of Trump as Jesus, which offended many Catholics, and the list of unforced errors just grows. He’s even attacked the Supreme Court, a third of which he appointed.

And there is growing concern about the health of the president, who will soon turn 80, with television running footage every time he closes his eyes at a meeting.

Trump regularly talks about building his massive ballroom, which reminds people of his surprise demolition of the East Wing and plans for a monument that would dwarf the Arc de Triomphe. He brought it up after the gunfire on Saturday night, saying the ballroom would be bulletproof and extremely secure.

Trump also used the gunfire at the Washington Hilton to underscore his own importance. Having studied assassinations, he said, "the most impactful people, the people that do the most… they’re the ones they go after."

Politically speaking, Trump is clearly struggling. But anyone who rules out a rebound for this president is ignoring history.

There will be all kinds of twists and turns in the remaining six months before the midterms, and the Democrats are unpopular as well. 

But here’s a moment of rare consensus: We can all be grateful that the Secret Service did its job well.

The two U.S. senators from the Old Dominion aren’t just embracing gun control from Richmond — they’re trying to export it nationwide. Democrat Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have rolled out the so-called "Virginia Plan," a package that would take 13 of the most extreme gun restrictions in Virginia law and impose them on the entire country. 

In pushing this agenda, Kaine points to the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre as justification. But the facts tell a different story. A comprehensive analysis of mass shootings for more than 75 years demonstrates that 93% of mass public shootings occur in so-called Gun-Free Zones. That suggests the problem is not too many guns, but too many places where only the attacker is armed and victims are left defenseless. 

Nevertheless, Kaine and Warner want to expand those very zones — prohibiting firearms within 1,000 feet of most hospitals and mental health facilities. But does anyone seriously believe a sign will stop a criminal intent on murder? These attackers ignore such restrictions all the time. And given that most of them choose these disarmament zones, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that these policies don’t deter attacks — they invite them.

LOX & LOADED: JEWISH GUN GROUP PARTNERS WITH NRA AMID RISING ANTISEMITISM

Take a hospital in Darby, Penn. A deranged individual entered, intent on killing as many people as possible in 2014. By the logic of gun control advocates, that attack should never have happened. The shooter was prohibited from owning firearms — he couldn’t pass a background check. Yet he still obtained several guns illegally.

And the hospital was exactly what gun control proponents claim to want: a place where no one but law enforcement is allowed to carry. But, in practice, those restrictions did nothing to stop him. And as the saying goes, when seconds count, police are minutes away. 

The gunman walked right past a "no guns allowed" sign and opened fire. What he didn’t expect was resistance. His intended target, Dr. Lee Silverman, was a lawful permit holder who carried despite the hospital’s policy. When the shooting began, Silverman took cover and returned fire, striking the attacker multiple times and stopping the rampage. Tragically, one life was lost — but authorities credited him with preventing a much larger massacre.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON THE RISE. IS IT TIME FOR A NEW DOMESTIC TERRORISM LAW?

That’s not theory — that’s reality. And yet Virginia’s leaders are moving in the opposite direction. Among the 13 provisions in the Virginia Plan, the most egregious may be its ban on commonly owned firearms — a restriction that Virginia itself is now preparing to enforce. 

The term "assault weapon" is one of the most misleading labels in this debate. But any item used to kill could be labeled an "assault weapon." FBI data from the past five years shows knives are used in about 1,500 homicides annually — over three times more than all rifles combined. AR-15s are only a small subset of long guns. So why is policy fixated on one category that represents a tiny fraction of violent crime? 

These bans don’t just miss the mark — they come at a real cost. The firearms being targeted are among the most popular in the country for lawful purposes, including self-defense. Stripping law-abiding citizens of access to effective defensive tools doesn’t disarm criminals — it only tilts the balance against those who follow the law. If the goal is public safety, we should focus on violent offenders, not restrict responsible citizens. 

That’s something President Donald Trump has done well. Our country is enjoying unprecedented safety — and it didn’t come from new gun restrictions. It came from a shift in priorities. In the first month of his second administration, Trump implemented measures aimed at deporting violent gang members, ending catch-and-release policies for illegal aliens and getting repeat offenders off the streets. That’s what real public safety looks like.

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The results speak for themselves. We saw the largest single-year drop in murders ever recorded — without a single new federal gun control law. While some politicians insist more gun restrictions are the answer, the data shows otherwise: enforce the law, incarcerate violent offenders and crime falls. That should be a wake-up call for anti-gun Democrats like Kaine and Warner. But they’ll likely ignore it. 

In the end, this isn’t just a policy debate — it’s a real fight over whether this nation will respect the Constitution or bend the knee to tyranny. That’s why Gun Owners of America has been engaged in court battles across the country: challenging Illinois’ so-called assault weapons ban, pushing back against expanded Gun-Free Zones in New York, and preparing a challenge to Virginia’s new ban on commonly owned firearms.

At its core, the Virginia Plan is about exporting Virginia’s experiment to the nation. But if it becomes a national model, it will also meet a national response — in the courts, in the states and in defense of the Second Amendment. 

Colleges and universities will no longer escape with zero accountability.

Recently, the Department of Education under the Trump administration proposed a new accountability system. It is designed to eliminate the low return on investment that has burdened students and their parents for generations.

Under this new Student Tuition and Transparency System, institutions must pass a basic earnings premium test. Colleges and universities must prove that graduates from their undergraduate programs earn more money per year than a typical high school graduate. If they cannot meet this metric, the institution will lose access to federal student loans and potentially Pell Grants.

BILL MAHER CALLS UNIVERSITIES 'INDOCTRINATION FACTORIES,' PARTIALLY BACKS TRUMP EFFORTS TO REFORM THEM

This proposal is not a radical political idea. It is economic common sense. As Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent correctly noted, if postsecondary education programs do not leave graduates better off, taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize them. More importantly, parents should not have to empty their retirement accounts to pay for them.

Higher education has told high school seniors to blindly chase campus prestige for too long. We handed young adults tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to pursue degrees that the modern labor market simply does not value or need. The devastating result is a generation drowning in student loan debt, moving back into their childhood bedrooms, and holding diplomas that cannot secure a livable wage.

As the president of Southeastern University, I see this proposed regulation as the reset American higher education desperately needs.

WHY ELITE COLLEGES FEAR TRUMP AND MCMAHON'S NEW ACADEMIC COMPACT TYING FUNDING TO FREE SPEECH

This is a victory for the family sitting around the kitchen table trying to figure out how to afford college. It is a victory for the 18-year-old being told to borrow without being told the consequences. And it is a victory for the taxpayer who has been subsidizing broken institutions for too long.

A degree is only valuable if it equips a young adult to build a stable life, support a family, and contribute meaningfully to the economy. At Southeastern University, we understood this shift years ago. We did not wait for a federal mandate to hold ourselves accountable. We intentionally built an educational model designed for the modern workforce, partnering directly with employers, aligning academic programs with real economic demand, and ensuring students gain practical, career-ready experience long before they cross the graduation stage.

Education must function as a bridge to economic mobility. It should not be a trapdoor into years of insurmountable debt.

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The higher education establishment will fight this proposal. Count on it. The very institutions that fueled this crisis will be the loudest voices against this change. They will dress their opposition in the language of academic freedom and institutional independence. But protecting institutions that consistently fail their students is not academic freedom. It is institutional cowardice.

We cannot bend to that pressure. This policy is a direct defense of the American family and the American student. The federal government is finally demanding that colleges deliver on their expensive promises. For too long, institutions have been rewarded simply for existing rather than for producing results. That model is broken, and this proposal begins to fix it.

The future of American higher education belongs to the schools willing to be held accountable, the schools that offer affordable, practical degrees and actually prepare graduates to succeed in the workforce.

It is time to stop protecting broken institutions and start protecting the students they were built to serve.

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It’s a great headline. It’s also increasingly wrong. 

Let’s start with the stat that should make both sides very uncomfortable. Baby boomers still control over $85 to $88 trillion in wealth and that’s more than half of all U.S. household wealth. 

That’s the scoreboard.

JONATHAN TURLEY: SANDERS' WEALTH TAX DANGLES CHECKS WHILE TORCHING THE CONSTITUTION

But here’s the plot twist nobody wants to talk about in America. Millennials are quietly catching up faster than any generation in modern history.

According to Federal Reserve data, millennial wealth exploded from about $3.8 trillion in 2019 to over $18 trillion by 2025, which is a 374% surge.  We are going to have the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth over the next decade. 

Let me say that again: 374% growth in six years.

AMERICA HAS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROMISES PROBLEM — AND THE BILL IS COMING DUE

That’s not a struggling generation. That’s the Artemis II for money.

Even more controversial? Adjusted for inflation, Millennials now have more wealth than boomers and Gen X did at the same age by as much as 25% in some studies. 

So, what’s really going on here?

FOUR LESSONS WHY THE 'BOOM BELT' IS MAKING SUCH A BIG NOISE WITH MIGRATION

Millennials look richer on paper, but it doesn’t feel that way.

Why?

Because much of their wealth is tied up in two places right now.

In fact, housing appreciation alone added trillions of dollars to millennial balance sheets in recent years.  Especially since COVID-19. 

That’s great unless you’re trying to buy your next home or upgrade your home.

Boomers, on the other hand, built wealth in a completely different system.

LEE CARTER: 45% OF AMERICANS CALLING THEMSELVES 'INDEPENDENT' AREN'T INDEPENDENT AT ALL – THEY'RE JUST ANGRY

Millennials didn’t get that deal. They got the following.

And yet they’re still catching up.

TRUMP’S ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’ NEEDS A 'FAT SHOT' TO END OUR DANGEROUS DEBT ADDICTION

The real story isn’t boomers vs. millennials.

It’s winners vs. losers.

TIME FOR BUSINESSES TO RETURN TO THEIR ESSENTIAL PURPOSE

Because the data shows something far more uncomfortable:

Translation?

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEE RED WHEN THEY LEARN THE SIZE OF THE NATIONAL DEBT

If you picked the right career (tech, finance), bought assets early, and stayed invested, you’re crushing it.

If you didn’t do this, then you’re getting crushed.

That’s not a generational gap. That’s an education gap.

Now here’s where this gets really interesting and controversial.

Over the next 10–20 years, we’re about to witness the largest wealth transfer in history:

MIKE ROWE WARNS OF DECLINING WORK ETHIC PROBLEM AS YOUNGER GENERATION 'SNOWFLAKES' FACE FEWER CONSEQUENCES

That sounds like salvation for millennials. But don’t count on it.

Because many boomers aren’t passing it down. Instead, they’re spending it.

Travel. Healthcare. Longevity. Lifestyle.

The "inheritance bailout" millennials are counting on? It may be a mirage.

Did boomers and X’ers steal the economy and wreck it?

IT'S NOT JUST DEMOCRATS. SOCIALIST MAMDANI'S PLANS SHOULD WORRY REPUBLICANS NATIONWIDE

Boomers and X'ers didn’t "steal" the economy. Millennials aren’t "broke."

But here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud.

This is no longer a fair game. It’s a fast game. So, buckle up.

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If you own assets, you’re winning.

If you don’t, you’re falling further behind faster than ever before.

To fix it, everyone needs to really understand capitalism and get in the game. It’s why I talk about it every week on my show, "Red, White, and Green."

The real question is will you get in the game and be owner or just watch from the sidelines? It’s the two-minute drill, and you’ve got an opportunity now to understand it and build lifetime wealth.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM TED JENKIN

That scenario sounds like a conspiracy theory. It isn't. Retailers have been quietly using this kind of pricing for years, and now one state has finally had enough.

Maryland is set to become the first U.S. state to ban surveillance pricing in retail grocery stores and certain grocery delivery platforms. Governor Wes Moore has said he will sign the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act into law after the state legislature passed it, and the rule will take effect on October 1, 2026.

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WHAT HACKERS CAN LEARN ABOUT YOU FROM A DATA BROKER FILE

Surveillance pricing goes by a few names: dynamic pricing and personalized pricing are the common ones, but the concept is the same regardless of what you call it.

A store collects data on you as an individual shopper. It looks at how often you browse certain products, what neighborhood you live in and whether a competitor is nearby, what your income and family size appear to be, and your dietary habits. Then it uses all of that to decide how much you specifically are willing to pay and charges you accordingly.

One Kroger shopper in Oregon decided to find out exactly what her grocery store knew about her. She submitted a data request under a state privacy law and received a 62-page profile in return. Most of the inferences in that profile were wrong. That's the part that should make your stomach drop. Retailers are charging people based on guesses, and those guesses are frequently inaccurate. 

The timing here matters. Maryland didn't pass this bill in a vacuum. Major retailers, including Walmart, have been rolling out digital price tags on store shelves. Unlike paper tags, these electronic displays can update instantly. Pair that capability with predictive pricing software, and a store can change what you're charged in real-time based on whatever the algorithm decides at that moment.

Governor Moore pointed to the financial pressure already squeezing working families and argued that new technology should not become another tool for squeezing them harder. Consumer Reports actively lobbied for the bill, which speaks to how significant the consumer protection concern really is. Still, the organization was honest about the result: the final version of the law falls short of what advocates originally wanted.

The Protection from Predatory Pricing Act sets some clear ground rules for large grocery retailers. Stores must keep their prices fixed for at least one full business day. That eliminates the possibility of prices spiking by the hour based on demand signals or individual shopper data.

Retailers are also prohibited from using surveillance data, shopping history, ethnicity or income to set different prices for different customers at the same time.

Loyalty programs and promotional offers are still allowed. That exemption was a concession to the retail industry, and it's one of the places where critics say the law starts to lose its teeth.

RETAIL PRICES CAN JUMP IN SECONDS WITH HIGH-TECH STORE PRICE TAGS

Brick-and-mortar surveillance pricing gets most of the attention, but the same issue shows up in online grocery shopping.

Consumer Reports ran an investigation into Instacart's pricing practices last December. Nearly 400 shoppers purchased the same basket of groceries from the same stores at the same time. The price differences were striking. Depending on the product, shoppers were paying up to 23% more than other shoppers for identical items. Across a full year of shopping, those gaps could add up to more than $1,200 per household.

After the investigation went public, Instacart announced it was ending the program responsible for those discrepancies. That outcome matters. It shows that consumer pressure and public scrutiny can drive real changes, even before a law requires them.

Maryland may have moved first, but it won't be alone for long. California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and other states are exploring similar legislation, while New York has already enacted a related pricing transparency law.

What happens next in those states will be telling. Advocates are hoping they avoid the exemptions that weakened Maryland's version. Each new bill is an opportunity to close the loopholes the retail industry has worked hard to create.

Consumers have been subject to dynamic pricing in airlines, rideshares and e-commerce platforms for years. Grocery stores represent something different, a daily necessity where price manipulation hits people with the least financial flexibility the hardest.

No matter where you live, this law matters to your wallet. If you shop in Maryland, the change is immediate. Starting October 1, 2026, you have a legal right to the same shelf price as every other shopper who walks in that day, regardless of what data the store has collected on you. If you shop anywhere else in the country, pay attention because your state may not be far behind. California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and other states are exploring similar legislation, while New York has already taken steps toward pricing transparency. The momentum is real, and Maryland just handed those states a working template to build from.

10 THINGS TO STOP PAYING FOR TO SAVE MONEY NOW

That said, wherever you shop right now, the exemptions in Maryland's law are worth understanding. The Maryland Retail Alliance pushed hard against this bill and successfully carved out several exceptions during the legislative process. Consumer Reports flagged one irony in particular: loyalty program prices are exempt, which means stores could shift pricing in ways that favor members and potentially disadvantage non-members, effectively punishing non-members rather than rewarding members.

The enforcement side is also limited in ways that should concern any consumer. If a retailer violates the law, you cannot sue them yourself under these specific provisions of the law. Only the Maryland Attorney General has that authority. And before the AG can take action, the retailer gets a written notice and a 45-day window to correct the violation with no legal consequences. First-time violators face fines of up to $10,000. Repeat offenders face up to $25,000 in fines.

For a major grocery chain generating hundreds of millions in revenue, those fines barely register.

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Maryland's law is imperfect, and advocates said so publicly. But an imperfect first law still moves the needle. It establishes that surveillance pricing in grocery stores is a problem worth legislating, gives other states a legal framework to improve on, and puts retailers on notice that the political appetite for regulation is growing. The bill's weaknesses are actually useful in that way. They show exactly where the next round of advocacy needs to focus: stronger enforcement, consumer standing to sue, and tighter language around loyalty pricing exemptions. And if you live outside Maryland? Watch what your own state legislators do next. The grocery industry will lobby hard to add the same loopholes everywhere. Knowing what those loopholes look like is half the battle. Change tends to start in one place before it spreads. Maryland went first. Your state could be next.

If a retailer already holds a 62-page profile on you and most of what's in it is wrong, do you trust that the same technology is setting your prices fairly, and would you even know if it wasn't? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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The royal couple will visit Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia from April 27 through April 30, marking King Charles’ first official state visit to the United States as monarch, Buckingham Palace announced.

Queen Elizabeth II previously carried out four state visits to the U.S. in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007.

FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP PRAISED FOR 'UNWAVERING COMMITMENT' TO BATTLE-SCARRED VICTIMS

President Donald Trump, who will host the royal couple at the White House, said he is looking forward to the visit.

Speaking to Fox News anchor Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday," Trump said the royals' trip to the U.S. was moving forward as planned.

"King Charles is coming, and he's a great guy, and we look forward to it," Trump said. "He's really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative."

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Sunday, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed that the shooting over the weekend at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., has not derailed the royals' visit.

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"Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on [the] advice of [the] government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned," the spokesperson said, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

Their trip comes during a milestone year commemorating 250 years since the United States declared independence, during the reign of the king’s ancestor, King George III.

Here are some of the highly anticipated stops on King Charles III and Queen Camilla's historic visit this week.

The visit begins in the nation’s capital, where King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to be welcomed by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for a private tea, Reuters reported.

The pair will later attend a formal White House ceremony featuring a military review of troops, followed by a state dinner hosted by the president and first lady, the White House announced in a statement.

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King Charles is also scheduled to address Congress, marking only the second time a British monarch has delivered remarks to a joint meeting, after Queen Elizabeth II’s address in 1991, according to The Associated Press.

After Washington, the king and queen will travel to New York City, where they are expected to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary later this year, Fox News reported.

They will meet with first responders and families of victims, in addition to other engagements in the city.

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King Charles is set to visit a community organization focused on mentoring children through sustainable urban farming initiatives, while Queen Camilla will attend an event celebrating literature, including the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, People magazine reported.

The trip will wrap up in Virginia, where the royal couple will attend a community block party marking America 250, the nationwide celebration of the country’s 250th birthday, as Fox News has reported.

King Charles is also expected to visit a national park to meet with Indigenous communities involved in conservation efforts, while Queen Camilla will attend an event spotlighting U.S. horse racing, Fox13 reported.

"He's a friend of mine for a long time. So he's coming, and we're going to have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do," Trump said, praising King Charles on "Fox News Sunday,"

Ashley Hume, Michael Dorgan and Brie Stimson of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

A group of Chilean researchers recently announced the discovery of the exact location of Rey Don Felipe, later known as Port Famine, along the Strait of Magellan in Chilean Patagonia.

The colony was established by King Philip II of Spain in 1584 in an effort to control the strait, a critical passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

LONG-LOST SOLDIER'S GRAVE DISCOVERED AT REMOTE US NATIONAL PARK AFTER 150 YEARS

But within three years, the site was found abandoned and its colonists dead — earning the name Port Famine.

Using metal detection and high-precision geolocation, researchers tracked variations in signal strength across the ground to pinpoint where to dig.

There, they unearthed a coin — a significant find because it was recovered in situ, meaning exactly where it was originally placed.

The find was consistent with historical accounts describing a coin placed as part of a founding ritual.

"We initially detected a very strong signal, but we didn’t know what it was," Francisco Garrido, an archaeologist at Chile's National Museum of Natural History, said in a press release.

WARRIORS FOUND STACKED IN ANCIENT WELL REVEAL VIOLENT TALE OF BATTLEFIELD DEFEAT: ARCHAEOLOGISTS

"With the data we gathered, we selected the excavation point — and that's where we found the coin."

The silver coin is a real de a ocho, or "piece of eight" — commonly used across the Spanish Empire.

Pictures of the more than 400-year-old coin show it has an irregular, hand-cut shape, typical of early Spanish colonial minting.

In a press release, researchers called Port Famine "one of the most tragic and mysterious colonial experiments in the Americas."

They added, "The discovery highlights the fragility of early colonial ventures, showing how settlements like Rey Don Felipe and Roanoke were shaped by isolation, limited resources, and uncertain support from distant imperial centers."

LOST 18TH-CENTURY SPANISH MISSION UNEARTHED AFTER DECADES OF SEARCHING OFFERS 'RARE SNAPSHOT'

The site was discovered in the 1950s, but it hasn't been excavated in more than half a century, said Soledad González Díaz, a researcher at Bernardo O'Higgins University in Santiago.

González Díaz told Fox News Digital in a translated email that since then, historians have uncovered multiple historical documents, including a 16th-century map — and that survey and analysis technologies "have advanced greatly in precision."

She added, "This demonstrates the importance of returning to already known sites with new questions and tools."

She also noted that the coin indicates "the exact point where the colonizing project was materialized," referring to a ceremonial placement described in historical records.

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"Its discovery not only coincides with documentary descriptions, but it also has deep symbolic value, since it forms part of a foundational rite," added González Díaz.

"These ceremonies were solemn occasions through which the Spanish monarchy marked its presence and took possession of new territories."

The researcher hopes that the excavation will reveal more why the colony failed — and shed light on the lives of the colonists and Indigenous populations in Patagonia.

"The most widespread version of the story of Rey Don Felipe states that the colony failed due to hunger and desolation. …  While there is some truth to that, the reality was much more complex," she said.

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"What we see instead is a scenario also marked by tensions, conflict and violence — elements that must be incorporated into the analysis in order to understand the failure of the project."

Despite excavating in a remote environment, the historian noted that her team only faced "logistical challenges, nothing impossible to overcome."

González Díaz said the project has been documented in audiovisual format from the start — and that the team is working on a documentary set to be released next year.

"The research began in a very spectacular way. During our first campaign, in 2019, two bronze artillery pieces belonging to the expedition came to light," she added.

"This finding marked a very strong starting point for the work we have carried out since then."

"NFL RedZone" host Scott Hanson told Fox News Digital that ESPN does not want to see "any big material changes" to the program.

"I have good news on that front," Hanson told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

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"The folks at Disney and ESPN, they love RedZone, like we love RedZone. Like, they do not want to see it change. They realize - that all my friends at ESPN who aren't working on NFL Sundays are home watching NFL Red Zone. They know that we've served the audience for 17 seasons so far, and they don't want to see big material changes to it."

"Any changes that we make, at least from my end and the production end, will be things that we think will add value or get just a little bit better for the viewer, because we're football fans as well."

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Hanson said that when he is watching the game he wants to watch it in an informative and entertaining way, and he wants "NFL RedZone" to be just that.

"I believe in the Golden Rule. I want to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. So I would hope that all my broadcasting friends would present this great sport, this great game, in an informative and entertaining way when I'm watching on my couch, so I'm gonna give everything I've got, we're gonna give everything we've got on Red Zone. I do not think you will see massive, massive changes come September and week one of RedZone," Hanson said.

"NFL RedZone" will enter its 18th season this fall. When the acquisition was announced ESPN said the "NFL RedZone" channel will be distributed by ESPN to cable and satellite operators.

While ESPN acquired "NFL RedZone," the NFL will still own, operate, and produce the channel. As part of the deal, ESPN will get the rights to the RedZone brand, which could mean that college football, basketball, and other sports could have their own version of "NFL RedZone."

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Downs has had a wide range of comparisons, but on Friday morning, The Herd’s Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back, viewing the Cowboys as clear winners of the NFL Draft. It’s not just about Downs being a great player, but he believes he’s the steal of the draft.

Cowherd didn’t hold back on his show, even drawing a comparison between Downs and former Baltimore Ravens safety and Hall of Famer Ed Reed.

"You can not do better than what the Dallas Cowboys did with their first pick," Cowherd said. "I think he’s going to be the best Buckeye in the draft. … I thought last year, he was good enough to be a top-three pick in the draft. I think he’s an incredible Ed Reed-level player."

Downs is coming off a strong junior season with the Buckeyes, recording 68 total tackles, 45 of them solo, along with two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and added a sack, showcasing his versatility all over the field.

He didn’t test as athletically as many of his Buckeyes teammates, but Downs has built his reputation on instincts, anticipation, and elite football IQ. Despite playing a position that is often undervalued, he became one of the most versatile defenders in the sport.

That production and versatility have only reinforced the belief that he can immediately anchor a secondary at the next level.

"He got overshadowed because they [Ohio State] have a couple of freaks in Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and they’re just physical specimens," Cowherd said. "Best football player is Caleb Downs. He is a great, great player, so Dallas hit an absolute home run."

For Cowherd, Downs’ blend of production, instincts and versatility seems to make him a rare defensive addition capable of transforming a secondary from Day 1.

In a Cowboys defense that struggled last season without a consistent game-changing presence, Downs could step in as that difference-maker. If he lives up to the billing, Dallas may have landed one of the defining picks of the entire draft.

The selection of Downs wasn't the only way the Cowboys addressed their defense in the first round of the NFL Draft. They also selected UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick after trading down a few picks with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Lawrence had been viewed as a potential second-round pick by most draft analysts. FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang actually had Lawrence ranked 50th on his big board. But Cowherd understood why Dallas reached to get him. 

"Their next pick was a reach, but I'm going to defend the pick," Cowherd said. "[Lawrence] is not for next season. When they traded Micah Parsons, the entire reason they did it was so that they could get four or five guys. Well, they traded Micah Parsons and they now have Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. They still have DeMarvion Overshown, who I like, but he gets banged up but he's good. This kid is not going to play a ton next season. That's OK. I can live with that."

The Cowboys continued to add to their defense through much of the draft as well. They selected Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham in the third round before adding Florida cornerback Devin Moore and Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton with the two fourth-round picks they acquired from the Eagles. 

While initial tests have offered a glimmer of hope to the Bernabéu faithful, the Frenchman remains a major doubt for the season's defining fixtures and this summer's World Cup.

Mbappe and Real Madrid have received some tentatively positive news following the striker's withdrawal during his landmark 100th appearance for the club. 

The former Paris Saint-Germain star sent shock waves through the Bernabéu when he requested a substitution in the closing stages of the clash against Real Betis, sparking immediate fears over his availability for the season's climax.

However, early medical assessments suggest the damage might not be as severe as first feared. 

Kylian Mbappe visited the clinic Sunday morning for an ultrasound on his left leg. Though the initial assessment was "good," a definitive diagnosis won't arrive until after a second check-up via MRI on Monday, per DAZN's Sergio Quirante.

Despite the positive result from the scan, the Frenchman is by no means in the clear. 

Real Madrid are practically out of the title race, trailing Barcelona by 11 points with only five games remaining, but the timing of the injury is particularly cruel with El Clásico on May 10 just around the corner. 

Losing their talisman for such a high-profile fixture would be a bitter blow for manager Alvaro Arbeloa.

The concern extends far beyond the Spanish capital, with France fans holding their breath ahead of this summer's World Cup in North America. 

Mbappé, who has been in sensational form with 41 goals this term, is the linchpin of Didier Deschamps' side. Any long-term absence would be catastrophic for Les Bleus as they prepare to face Senegal in their opening group game on June 16.

Speaking after the frustrating 1-1 draw against Betis, which saw Madrid concede a 94th-minute equaliser to Hector Bellerin, Arbeloa was unable to provide a definitive timeline for his star man's return. The manager noted that the decision to substitute Mbappé was a reactive one based on the player's physical sensations on the pitch.

"I have no idea [what's wrong with Mbappé]," Arbeloa told reporters. "He felt some discomfort. We'll see how he evolves over the next few days." The player reportedly walked past the dugout and straight to the dressing room.

The potential loss of Mbappé adds to a growing list of headaches for the Madrid hierarchy. With Rodrygo already ruled out of the World Cup due to a serious knee injury, the Bernabeu outfit are seeing their attacking options depleted at a critical juncture.

While the MRI on Monday will provide the final verdict, it is highly likely that Mbappé will be rested for the upcoming match against Espanyol on May 3. 

The club's medical staff will be working around the clock to ensure he can at least play some part in the final weeks of the campaign without jeopardizing his chances of leading France on the world stage this summer.

While it may not necessarily be about Cora’s firing in general, shortstop Trevor Story reportedly didn’t like the answer the organization gave when addressing the vast change with lots of season left.

"Trevor Story said the Red Sox bosses’ explanation this morning was not sufficient and he intends to have more conversations with [general manager] Craig Breslow today," the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey tweeted.

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Furthermore, Story said, "It’s up in the air what the true direction of the franchise is.

"If this shows us anything, it’s we’re here to play baseball, and that’s it. We don’t make decisions. We don’t have any input on that," Story added.

BLUE JAYS MANAGER JOHN SCHNEIDER EJECTED AFTER FACE-TO-FACE, FIERY ARGUMENT WITH UMPIRE IN LOSS TO DODGERS

Breslow addressed reporters following the firings, alongside Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy before they continued their series with the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

"By acting today, it gives us 135 games ahead of us, so we’ve got almost a full season’s worth of run to take advantage of this fresh start and ultimately to compete for a division and deep postseason run in the way that we talked about it and envisioned and believed heading into spring training," Breslow said, per ESPN, looking optimistic despite his team sitting 10-17 entering Sunday.

The team parted ways with Cora, hitting coach Pete Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson and major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.

Jason Varitek, the World Series-winning catcher with the Red Sox during his playing days, has also been reassigned to an unspecified role within the organization. He will no longer be the game-planning and run-prevention coach.

Chad Tracy, who was managing Triple-A Worcester, takes over now as interim manager with the Red Sox.

"We believe in the group of players that we have in the clubhouse, down the hallway, and we believe that a new direction is warranted, new voices, and something that enables us to take a fresh start," Breslow added.

While trying to keep the view sunny, Story’s outlook is cloudy, at least for the moment, as Boston continues its season down a road they didn’t foresee entering the 2026 campaign.

Cora’s firing came after the Red Sox blew out the Orioles, 17-1, on Saturday afternoon — its largest win of the season.

In his eight years as the Red Sox’s manager, Cora earned a 620-541 record, while helping the team win a World Series title in his first season in 2018.

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The future University of Miami golfer traveled to Augusta National Golf Club to take in the first major of the year, but the trip to Georgia hit a speed bump after she had an allergic reaction to a hand soap she used on her face.

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"I was using hand soap on my face, when I was at Augusta, to wash off my makeup and I started getting these bumps on my neck," she said in the vlog.

The 18-year-old had to get medical attention, ultimately receiving a steroid shot to counteract the allergic reaction.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU HITS GOLF BALLS ON WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN DURING VISIT WITH TRUMP

"Now, I don’t have a rash anymore, but I had an allergic reaction to the hand soap on my face," she said.

"I have very sensitive skin. It was so, so scary."

Once the rash was put to rest, Kai appeared to enjoy her weekend at Augusta. She posed for a photo she shared on Instagram with Bryson DeChambeau, a supporter of her grandfather and fellow YouTuber, and his caddie, Greg Bodine.

It wasn’t the best week for DeChambeau, though, as he missed the cut at Augusta National after shooting 6-over in his first two days of the tournament.

In the end, Rory McIlroy, who finally completed the career Grand Slam last year at the Masters, retained the green jacket with a second-straight win. He finished one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler, who finished 11-under for the week after going 4-under in his final round on Sunday.

Russell Henley, Cam Young, Tyrell Hatton and Justin Rose, who lost to McIlroy in a playoff at last year’s Masters, all finished tied for third place at 10-under.

Kai is currently scheduled to enroll at the University of Miami later this fall, where she intends to play for the women’s golf team. She is a high school senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.. She discussed her upcoming senior prom in her latest vlog.

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Kevin Durant is not expected to suit up for the Rockets in Game 4 of the team’s first round series with the Lakers, according to ESPN.

Durant is sitting out his second straight game after suffering a sprained left ankle. He was also diagnosed with a bone bruise in his ankle, further testing revealed.

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This injury is usually a two-to-three-week recovery timeline, ESPN added after speaking with sources. Houston has tried "around-the-clock treatment" for Durant just to get him on the court, but doctors haven’t cleared him to play.

Durant’s injury occurred during the second half of the Game 2 loss Tuesday to the Lakers, 101-94. Durant was slow to get off the court, and swelling occurred in the following days, forcing him to miss Game 3.

NBA PLAYOFFS GAME 4 PREVIEW: WHY THE CAVS ARE FAVORED TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST TORONTO AFTER UGLY LOSS

After discovering the bone bruise, the Rockets understood why Durant had further swelling and stiffness in the ankle compared to a regular sprain, per ESPN.

Still, Durant is helping his teammates in the film room, as they reviewed their play against the Lakers ahead of a win-or-go-home scenario on Sunday night. Durant was also at the Rockets’ facility get his treatment done.

While Durant had been healthy throughout his first year with the Rockets, this postseason has been a disaster thus far. He missed Game 1 due to a right knee contusion suffered in practice. It was described as a "tender" bruise in an "awkward spot" above his knee, which severely limited his ability to move.

The Lakers went on to win Game 1, 107-98, but Durant was able to suit up for Game 2. However, after pouring in seven of his 12 jumpers and eight of his nine free throws for 23 points in 41 minutes, his injury came late in the second half, and he hasn’t seen the court since.

Meanwhile, LeBron James, playing without his key teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves thus far in this series, has been leading the way for Los Angeles to a stunning 3-0 start in this series.

The Lakers are hoping they won’t have to return to Los Angeles for a Game 5 in this series, which would allow everyone, including those injured on their bench, to get right for the next series if they can get the job done on Sunday night.

Houston will once again look to players like Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün to keep the season alive.

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It was just Bauer’s second start in the United States since 2021, and he faced just one batter over the minimum in a scheduled seven-inning game of a doubleheader against the Stormers.

Bauer threw 84 pitches, striking out seven hitters and walking just one to lose out on the perfect game.

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But Bauer unleashed a roar on the mound after a called strike three to notch the third no-hitter in Ducks history.

Combined with his first outing for the Ducks on April 21, Bauer has a strong 1.64 ERA to start the season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which is a "Professional Partner League" of MLB.

Fans might have been supporting the opposing Stormers, but they understood what was at stake as Bauer was mowing down hitters throughout his start. They were even heard chanting his name at one point, hoping he could keep his hitless streak alive.

After the game, Bauer returned the favor for those at the Pennsylvania ballpark, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans after entering his name into the Ducks’ record books.

TREVOR BAUER SIGNS WITH PRO BASEBALL TEAM IN UNITED STATES AMID MLB RETURN HOPES

"I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season," said Bauer when he signed with the Ducks earlier this month. "The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be part of that tradition."

Ex-MLB stars like Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne have played for the Ducks in the past. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, with the latter also being a part-owner.

Bauer’s first start for the Ducks impressed an AL team scout in attendance, saying he was pretty impressed by Bauer’s arsenal on the bump.

"He showed flashes of the guy he used to be and a guy who can help a club," the scout told the New York Post. "He went out and handled himself well. He showed flashes of the breaking ball he had in the past. Certainly the velocity is not what it once was, but it’s still solid, mostly 92-94. He didn’t throw the ball particularly well on the inside part of the plate with his fastball, but I think it was a really good first outing. You’d expected him to get sharper and probably tick up in velocity.

"You’re talking about a guy who was at the top of the game. Is he back there? No, but he looked like a guy who could go out and compete."

Bauer pitched in Japan in both 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico came in 2024. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico, those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, though, his ERA shot up to 4.41, and he struck out just 8.2 batters per nine innings.

This June will mark five years since Bauer, as the reigning Cy Young Award winner, last appeared in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he tossed six innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters, recording the win.

Two days later, Bauer was hit with sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to a 324-game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons). It was eventually reduced to 184 games for violating the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

Bauer has maintained his innocence, settling with one accuser while another is facing 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud for faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.

Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021, settled their case without any exchange of money in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said that Bauer would be her "next victim," among other damning messages. Hill has since said that MLB has more evidence of Bauer's alleged misconduct.

Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating settlement terms. Hill breached their settlement agreement with each other by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he "may have no other choice" but to sue Major League Baseball "if I continue being kept out" of the league. Bauer has said he'd "play for the league minimum," but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.

"Anyone that’s willing to sit down with me and listen: I’d like to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half," Bauer told Fox News Digital in January 2024. "I’d like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then be better in the future. I think that’s something us as humans have to do and should be doing constantly."

Bauer has since called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former players were taken off the league’s permanently ineligible list.

"So, since Pete is welcome back now, does that go for everyone who has been blackballed?" Bauer asked on X. "Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to qualify for that?"

Bauer was performing well for the Dodgers at the time of the allegations, pitching to a 2.59 ERA.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Pavia accepted an invitation to the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, per multiple reports. He doesn’t have a spot on the roster yet, but it’s a start as he looks to crack into the NFL with Baltimore.

Of course, Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP quarterback, is cemented as the team’s starting quarterback, but perhaps Pavia can stand out enough in rookie minicamp to earn an invitation to training camp this summer.

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Pavia was not expecting to be undrafted this weekend, but he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to not hear his name called through the seven rounds in Pittsburgh.

Pavia won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award for best upperclassman quarterback after throwing for 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, both of which are single-season school records, to give the Commodores its first-ever 10-win season.

Vanderbilt just missed out on the College Football Playoff after finishing 10-3.

POLARIZING COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR, HEISMAN TROPHY FINALIST GOES UNDRAFTED

Pavia ultimately finished second in Heisman voting to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza – the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. So, what ultimately led to Pavia not getting drafted?

While his personality may have factored in, Pavia’s official height at the NFL Scouting Combine turned some heads. Vanderbilt had him listed at 6-foot, but he measured at 5 feet, 9 7/8 inches, which would make him the shortest quarterback in the NFL if he were to step foot on the gridiron today. The average height is 6-foot-2 for an NFL quarterback.

However, those shorter than the average have seen success, including Minnesota Vikings newest member, Kyler Murray, who went first overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 coming out of Oklahoma. He’s listed at 5 feet, 10 inches.

Pavia barked back at critics during the Senior Bowl in January regarding his height.

"Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life," he said at the time, via AL.com. "I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is can you win, and I view myself as a winner. I’ve been fortunate with all these great teams that I’ve had — we’ve never had a losing season. So that’s something to look forward to, I hope, for the rest of my career, that’s how it’s going to be.

"I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers that I’ve got — I can connect. We unite, and then once you unite, you want to play for one another, and once you give 120% effort, there’s no one that can stop your team."

Pavia’s personality, viewed by some as more cocky than confident, may have played a factor as well. After finishing runner-up to Mendoza in Heisman voting, Pavia was spotted at a New York City nightclub next to a sign that read, "F--- Indiana." Then, he posted on social media a photo with friends and a caption that read, "F--- ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…FAMILY FOR LIFE."

Pavia later apologized for his decision to post that on his socials.

No matter the case, Pavia has a shot now with the Ravens and new head coach Jesse Minter, as he aims to show enough to join the quarterbacks group in training camp. Other than Jackson, the Ravens have Tyler "Snoop" Huntley on the roster to start the season.    

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Rodgers remains a free agent as he weighs whether to walk away from a 21-year career. The Steelers may be the most attractive destination for the four-time NFL MVP as the team hired Mike McCarthy to replace Tomlin, following the latter’s abrupt decision to step down.

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Tomlin joined NBC Sports as an analyst for the 2026 season and said in his debut that he believed Rodgers would end up back in Pittsburgh.

"I just think being around him for the 12 months that I’m around him, he got a love affair with the game of football," he said, via Pro Football Talk. "And not only the game, but the process. The informal moments, the development of younger guys, the interaction with teammates.

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"I think he has an addiction to that. And there’s only one way to feed it, and certainly, he is still capable and in really good shape, and so I think at the end of the day, he’ll play football."

Rodgers, presumably, would walk back onto the roster as the Week 1 starter barring an injury. The team only has Mason Rudolph and Will Howard on the depth chart and selected Drew Allar in the draft.

He played in 16 games for the Steelers in 2025, helping the team to an AFC North win and a playoff berth. He had 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes. However, they are some of his lowest totals when he plays at least 15 games in a season.

Rodgers will turn 43 by the end of the year. He hasn’t said one way or the other whether he will return.

Coleman was a standout at Central Arkansas before the Washington Redskins selected him in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.

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"Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history," Commanders owner Josh Harris said in a statement. "He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl-winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold."

He later joined Arkansas Pine-Bluff as a linebacker and took over as head coach in 2008. He was at the school for 10 years and helped the team to a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2012.

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"Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB," athletic director Chris Robinson said. "Excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes. His legacy is not only written in championships and honors, but in the lives he changed every single day."

Coleman played his entire 16-year career with Washington. He led the NFL in tackles once – in 1980 when he had 118 during the season.

In 215 games, he had 49.5 sacks, 1,002 total tackles, 17 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns.

He was on the Redskins’ Super Bowl teams in 1982, 1987 and 1991.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wembanyama said he was disappointed with the way concussion protocol was handled, but didn’t elaborate further.

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"The way the situation was handled was very disappointing," he told reporters. "I’m not saying that not playing was a good or bad decision. It was a decision, I’m not saying it was good or bad. But the way the situation was handled, very disappointing."

He sustained the injury in the first half of the Spurs’ 106-103 loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. He didn’t return to the game and traveled to Portland while continuing the steps in order to be cleared for Game 4.

"I won’t get into details. I don’t want it to become a distraction. Ask me again after the end of the season," Wembanyama said.

He scored 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and served up seven blocks in the Spurs’ 114-93 win on Sunday. The team announced that Wembanyama would be able to play about an hour before tip-off.

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The 7-foot-4 unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game during the regular season.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said the team was prepared to play without Wembanyama if he wasn’t cleared.

"Fortunately, we have a little experience preparing for a variety of lineups and rotations," Johnson said before the game. "I think the guys have really empowered us as a staff, I’d say, throughout the season, of being able to have a brand and identity regardless of availability."

Players like Wembanyama who are diagnosed with a concussion need to clear a series of benchmarks before they are allowed to play. The results are compared to baseline neurological evaluations players take at the start of the season.

Game 5 is set for Tuesday night back in San Antonio.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Beuerlein, 61, said that players anticipate the physical side of the game when they enter the NFL, but not all of what comes mentally.

"I think a lot of players anticipate the physical side of it. Understanding that things just happen a lot faster. The guys are a lot stronger. The mistakes are a lot fewer. The margin for error is much less," Beuerlein told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

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"Every mistake is magnified. I think players understand that. But I don't think they have any way to possibly understand the complexity of the game at this level and the time that goes into preparing yourself week after week."

Beuerlein said that for players to withstand the grind, they need to make strong decisions off the field to build strong habits.

"It's a long season, and I know the season's much longer now for college football players than it ever was. But the intensity and the magnitude of each game and the pressure that's on you to perform and produce at a high level each and every week is much greater at the NFL level," Beuerlein said.

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"And obviously, as you get a little bit older, the toll it takes on your body is much different too. So you've got to get yourself into good habits in terms of decisions, your life decisions off the football field, how you take care of yourself, your diet, your nutrition, your exercise routine."

Rookies would be wise to heed Beuerlein’s advice as he played 14 seasons in the NFL.

He played for the then-Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. He was a backup quarterback when the Cowboys won the Super Bowl in 1992.

He made the Pro Bowl with the Panthers in 1999. In 147 games (102 starts), he completed 56.9% of passes for 24,046 yards, with 147 touchdowns and 112 interceptions.

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WWE "Raw" and "SmackDown" both set for their next storylines after WrestleMania 42, seen some call-ups come through and neared some official matches for Backlash, which is set for May 9.

All Elite Wrestling continued to motor toward its Double or Nothing pay-per-view, which takes place on May 24. Darby Allin was in action while some championships were on the line through the week.

In case you missed anything, read the cliff notes below.

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==

Darby Allin stunned the pro wrestling world nearly two weeks ago when he defeated Maxwell Jacob Friedman to win the AEW World Championship. There were only a few days for celebration before Allin had to defend his title on "AEW Dynamite" on Wednesday.

Allin faced off against Tommaso Ciampa for the title. It was a brutal match that saw Ciampa get busted open and deliver a hard-hitting drop to Allin from the middle rope onto the floor. Allin used multiple submission maneuvers to eventually get Ciampa to tap out.

"Last night, I encountered my wrestling soulmate," Ciampa wrote on Instagram on Thursday. "I have a hunch we will be doing this many more times over the next decade.

"Mark my words: it might not be this month… it might not be this year… hell, it might not even be 2027…. but there will come a time when I hold that AEW World Title."

Allin didn’t have much time to celebrate as another challenge rose – Brody King.

King said he got it cleared by AEW co-founder Tony Khan and, if it was OK with him, he would like to be the next man up. Allin accepted, and the two will battle for the championship on this week’s edition of "Dynamite."

Fresh off a win over Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42, Jacob Fatu was the first person to step up to world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns on "Monday Night Raw." The show, in that spot, is used to create new storylines or shocking comebacks, and Fatu helped the cause.

Reigns, flanked by Jey and Jimmy Uso, told Fatu he would think about the challenge as he didn’t think Fatu was necessarily ready to take him on. Fatu did more than enough to prove himself on "Friday Night SmackDown" as he defeated Solo Sikoa and handled the MFT faction by himself.

Fatu’s endeavor left the Usos stunned as they watched him tear apart Tama Tonga, JC Mateo and Tonga Loa.

If Reigns accepts Fatu’s challenge, the World Heavyweight Championship bout will be set for Backlash in a few weeks.

Cody Rhodes’ promos in the midst of Pat McAfee’s insertion into his WrestleMania feud with Randy Orton blurred the line on what was real and what was kayfabe.

Over the last three WrestleManias, Rhodes has had to deal with The Rock, Travis Scott and McAfee as he tried to either win the Undisputed WWE Championship or retain it. He was able to get through Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, but he wasn’t finished sending pointed messages.

He said Friday on "SmackDown" he wanted to "send a message" at WrestleMania.

"And the most important message that I wanted to send is to those outside forces that kept interceding and kept interjecting into my WrestleMania plans, that want to get involved in this nightmare family party, I’ll make it simple, you guys are 0-3. Send your best or count your money and mind your damn business," he said.

It’s unclear who steps up to Rhodes’ title. But CM Punk seemingly had eyes for the belt on Monday.

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Tiffany Stratton defeated Giulia to win the Women’s United States Championship. It is Stratton’s first U.S. title reign. Giulia held the belt for 111 days.  Stratton is the sixth U.S. title winner since the championship made its debut in December 2024.

WWE NXT stars have gotten the call-up over the last week. Ethan Page, Sol Ruca, Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid appeared on the main roster last week. Ricky Saints, Joe Hendry and Blake Monroe were teased for this week.

Several WWE stars announced their departures this week.

Damian Priest and R-Truth kept their tag team titles on "SmackDown." They topped JC Mateo and Tama Tonga.

Seth Rollins made a surprise appearance at AAW Wrestling’s final show at the historic Berwyn Eagles Club in Illinois.

WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner’s son signed with the Tennessee Titans after going undrafted.

Kevin Knight will defend the AEW TNT Championship on Wednesday against MJF. While MJF is still peeved over losing the AEW World Championship, Knight and MJF traded barbs and the match was made for this week on "Dynamite."

Two title defenses were made on "Collision". Jack Perry defeated El Clon to retain the AEW National Championship, while Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong retained the AEW Trios Championship over Andrade El Idolo, Hechicero and Lance Archer.

FTR raised the stakes of Cope and Christian Cage’s challenge. Cope and Cage said they wanted to challenge FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championship at Double or Nothing in a New York Street Fight, and, if they lost, they would split as a team forever. FTR said on Collision that they would only do it if they accepted an I Quit match. The ball is now in Cope and Cage’s court.

In TNA, Mike Santana and Rich Swaan put on a show for the TNA World Championship. Santana nailed Swaan with Spin the Block and pinned him for the win. The two shook hands after the match.

Sayaka Kurara stunned pro wrestling fans on Sunday when she defeated Saya Kamitani for the World of Stardom Championship at All Star Grand Queendom. Kamitani’s reign lasted 483 days and she made nine title defenses.

Pro Wrestling REVOLVER held its first show on YouTube after breaking from Triller TV. At Revolver STRONG, Mance Warner defeated Krule to become the new world champion.

AAA announced there will be a new general manager announced next month.

"WWE Legends and Future Greats" Season 3 premiered on Sunday night. WWE Hall of Famer Booker T previewed what is to come on the show with Fox News Digital.

He made his debut at the Elimination Chamber, stepping out of the mystery box that left "Raw" general manager Adam Pearce and "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis befuddled for weeks. While his character didn’t exactly resonate with fans at first, he became uber popular as he "cursed" several of his pro wrestling colleagues.

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WWE Hall of Famer Booker T said he believed Danhausen would work no matter what.

"When Danhausen came in, everybody crapped on him," he recalled in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Everybody was like, ‘Man, what the heck is going on? This is not gonna work.’ Everybody except me. I’m literally the minority in this whole thing. I said, look guys, I don’t know what everybody is thinking about but when you take wrestlers and characters like Danhausen out of the wrestling business, you lose sight on what the wrestling business truly is.

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"We need the George ‘The Animal’ Steeles of this business. We need those characters that’s going to come out and bring the levity down and just make you feel a certain way and just fun for you. And I said this guy is going to be a merchandizing, you know, a marketing machine. And he’s proved to be everything that I said he was gonna be. So, for me, I love the Danhausen character being a part of WWE. I said, if I never did the spina-rooni, what would my career have been? If The Rock never did the People’s Elbow, where would have careers have gone without that? So, for me, I love having Danhausen as a part of WWE."

Danhausen has been featured on "Raw" and "SmackDown" since his debut with the company, but his feud with The Miz turned up a notch as he ruined The Miz’s WrestleMania moment and defeated him in a match on "SmackDown."

Danhausen has also laid a "curse" upon the New York Mets and ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith in recent weeks.

This has been a bit of a chippy series, but it almost feels like that is precisely what the Timberwolves wanted. Minnesota has been the team calling out Denver about its defense, and they are happily accepting any sort of confrontation. Any team with Anthony Edwards on it will have some swagger, but this almost feels like the T-Wolves are being disrespectful to this challenger. I suppose it is working, considering the team is up 3-1 in the series.

However, there is a major cause for concern. The Timberwolves took a big hit last game, and I'm not talking about the shoving between Jaden McDaniels and Nikola Jokic. Their sharpshooter, Dante DiVincenzo, who was cited as a major reason they won Game 2, was lost for the season (and probably next season) after he tore his Achilles. Significantly worse, the Timberwolves also lost Edwards for a few weeks after he hyperextended his knee. If Minnesota is going to get one more game in this series to close it out, they need to do it without Edwards.

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The Nuggets do not look like the one-time champion that you'd expect. They are proving the Timberwolves correct in the assessment that their defense is trash. In three consecutive games, they've allowed over 112 points to their opponent, which is about the season average. They also only scored 96 points in both of the games in Minnesota. Rudy Gobert, the much-maligned center for the Timberwolves, is doing a great job of limiting Jokic's success. We will have to see if Jokic can figure out Rudy's defensive efforts.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3 pick hinges on Jaden McDaniels calling out Denver's entire defense

Aaron Gordon has returned for Denver, but it does seem like he is still struggling. He only played 23 minutes and put in just nine points on 11 field goal attempts. Overall, the team shot just 21% from deep in this game. I have to imagine that improves. The team shot almost 40% from deep in the regular season, but they are shooting 28% overall in the series. That's still better than what they showed in Game 4.

A lot of the story in Game 4 was about the ending. It is a stupid narrative, but it pops up every now and then. The game was essentially over -- the Timberwolves had the ball with seconds remaining, tossed it down court, and rather than dribble it out, McDaniels went in for a layup. Jokic took exception to it, and there was some minor shoving. No one ended up getting suspended, but there were some fines.

Missed in that was the impressive game from Ayo Dosunmu of the Timberwolves. He was acquired at the trade deadline from the Bulls and gave Minnesota a career performance. Dosunmo scored 43 points in that game, but I wouldn't expect that success to continue. He is listed at 19.5 points tonight, and I like the under. He is still a bit of a role player, and even though he will have an increased role, there won't be home court or an element of surprise. Julius Randle will need to take over the bulk of the scoring duties, and I think he is more likely to go over 21.5 points. I'll play both of these options tonight as Denver looks to extend the series.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 

As Brookside climbs the ladder to get back into the TNA Knockouts World Championship, she appeared to make an enemy along the way. Brookside helped Arianna Grace retain the title over Lei Ying Lee at Rebellion when she put Grace’s foot on the rope to break up the pin attempt.

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Brookside was far from finished with Lee. Last week, Lee wanted answers from Brookside. The English wrestler gave Lee a hug in the middle of the ring, but assaulted her. Their feud is heating up.

Outside of the ring, Brookside revealed on Sunday she was starting "a new chapter." She posted a video of herself getting baptized.

"Something I’ve been considering for a very long time, after getting consistent in going to church weekly, reading daily and the incredible support from my man, it felt like the easiest decision I’ve ever made," she wrote on X. "Thank you to everyone that came to support me."

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Brookside, whose real name is Xia-Louise Brooks, is the daughter of retired pro wrestling star Robbie Brookside. He currently works as a trainer and producer for WWE NXT.

She started her pro wrestling career in the United Kingdom and worked her way through the independent scene, eventually joining WWE in 2018. She was featured in WWE NXT UK before she joined Stardom in Japan and eventually TNA.

She’s held championships in International Pro Wrestling United Kingdom and Rise Wrestling during her career. She was also ranked No. 91 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s list of top women’s wrestlers in 2019.

Brookside is back to making an impact on TNA again and is sure to be in line for the knockouts title down the line.

Gase, now the pass game coordinator under Jim Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers, didn’t fare well in New York, owning a 9-23 record before being fired after the 2020 season. Bell and Gase both joined the team in 2019, when they went 7-9, but flamed out the next year.

Bell made an appearance on the "Respectfully" podcast with Justin Laboy, where he blasted Gase, calling him the "dumbest coach ever." But that wasn’t the worst that was said.

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Bell accused Gase of using cocaine in his office.

Laboy asked Bell to go further after he said Gase "did a lot of s--- in that office that coaches ain’t supposed to be doing." Then, Bell said Gase was using "white girl," a slang term for cocaine, and then did a snorting gesture.

"I’m like, bro, I ain’t just walk in the office and see my coach [snorting cocaine]," Bell explained to Laboy. "We’re about to go to practice, bro. We got practice in 28 minutes. We got walkthrough, bro. This is what you’re doing in here?"

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Bell doubled down, saying he saw Gase do it himself.

"It wasn’t just one time. That’s what it did, though. Everybody knows that. That’s what he did. But it was just crazy to me to actually see him doing it. I heard all the stories and s---."

The Chargers did not immediately answer a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

Bell’s last words there imply he heard from others that Gase allegedly used the illegal substance, though he didn’t go into further detail on that front.

Before Gase was hired by the Jets to be their next head coach, he held the same position with the Miami Dolphins from 2016-18, where he went 23-25. His best year was 2016, when the Dolphins went 10-6.

Since being fired by the Jets, Gase wasn’t on any coaching staff in the NFL, rather consulting from time to time. His father-in-law, Joe Vitt, works as a defensive assistant for the Denver Broncos, who he visited during the 2023 and 2025 offseasons to provide insight. Gase also spent time with The 33rd Team as a strategic advisor with Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia in 2024.

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Gase’s time in the NFL began with the Detroit Lions in 2003, working as a scouting assistant before a promotion to offensive assistant in 2005. He eventually worked his way up to quarterbacks coach in 2007 before a quick stint with the San Francisco 49ers the next season.

Gase then spent a large chunk of his coaching history with the Broncos from 2009-14, the last three seasons serving as the team’s offensive coordinator before the Dolphins gave him a shot as head coach.

Meanwhile, Bell’s career didn’t pan out the way he hoped after his contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended with him missing the entire 2018 campaign. He eventually signed with the Jets, but after just two games into the 2020 season, he was released.

In 2019, his first season back in the NFL, he rushed for 789 yards with three touchdowns, while catching 66 passes for 461 yards and one score. Bell saw time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but never stuck with a team before leaving football in 2021.

Bell was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro with the Steelers, who took him 48th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Michigan State. He rushed for 5,336 yards with 42 total touchdowns across his five seasons in Pittsburgh.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, examined the gut microbiome in stool and the oral microbiome from saliva and the tongue.

The China-based researchers with BGI Genomics analyzed 404 samples from Chinese patients with gastric cancer in one group and chronic gastritis in another.

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Gut microbes were different in gastric cancer, the researchers found, unveiling 28 varying gut species. 

Most were oral bacteria, including Streptococcus — bacteria that can sometimes cause strep throat — lactobacillus and other lactic acid bacteria.

Twenty oral-gut species were found in both saliva and stool and were more common in the gut of gastric cancer patients.

The findings suggest the transmission of these bacteria from mouth to gut, after finding that the oral bacteria matched closely to the gut bacteria in the same person, according to genetic comparisons.

The researchers suggest that saliva and stool samples could help indicate patterns that are linked to stomach cancer, although more research is required before testing is ready for clinical use.

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"Collectively, these findings underscore the critical role of the oral-gut microbiome axis in [gastric cancer]," the researchers concluded in the study publication.

Since this is a cross-sectional analysis, the results cannot prove that these bacteria cause cancer, but they do suggest a strong association.

Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, talked about the "initiator-promoter" model of this study in an interview with Fox News Digital.

"[The study] demonstrates how the microbiome of one area of the body can migrate and affect the ability of cancers to develop in another part of the body," said Slomovitz, who was not involved in the new study. 

"The initiator in gastric cancers is usually inflammatory, such as H.pylori infection," he continued. 

"This inflammation leads to damaged mucosal cells where the lactic acid-producing bacteria can colonize. This helps to explain why cancers still develop even after treating H. pylori infection."

The new findings could be applied to using the saliva for early cancer detection, Slomovitz suggested, which may help identify the disease even in pre-cancer states.

"Perhaps we will learn that by altering the microbiome, we can help better treat cancers (in combination with immunotherapy or chemotherapy) or even prevent cancer," he said. 

"These results will build a foundation for future research. However, we are not ready to incorporate this into clinical practice."

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Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel also weighed in separately on the study, noting that awareness around the importance of the gut microbiome on overall health has been growing.

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"There is a correlation between the bacteria found in the gut and neurogenerative disease and increased cancer risk," he told Fox News Digital. 

"It is very important that we work toward a healthy microbiome in the gut to decrease the risk of inflammation and cancer."

The Minocqua Brewing Company is owned by Wisconsin Democrat Kirk Bangstad, a former state Assembly candidate who has repeatedly used the brewery’s brand to attack Trump and Republicans. The brewery's social media lamented Saturday night's foiled attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"Well, we almost got #freebeerday," the company's post read, although Fox News could not immediately identify the poster's tie to the owner. "Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We’ll never know."

"Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens," the post concluded.

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Bangstad was the Democrat nominee for Wisconsin’s 34th Assembly District in 2020, according to Ballotpedia, but lost the general election.

Minocqua Brewing sells politically themed merchandise, including shirts saying, "I wish it was free beer day," and pitches its progressive brand that pairs beer with activism and "snarky progressive merch."

Fox News Digital previously reported on the brewery’s "free beer day" vow. In January, Fox News highlighted a Minocqua Brewing message offering "free beer, all day long, the day he dies," and noted Bangstad’s comment that he would welcome people to celebrate Trump’s "impending death" with one caveat: "no red hats allowed."

Fox News also identified Bangstad as the founder of the Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC, which targets Trump and Republicans. Also, Bangstad once sued to keep Trump off the Wisconsin ballots before the 2024 presidential election.

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The fresh backlash followed Saturday night’s security scare at the WHCA dinner in Washington, where Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated after shots were fired outside the ballroom.

Fox News reached out Sunday to Bangstad, the brewery and the Wisconsin Democratic Party. 

In a January statement to Fox News, Bangstad welcomed the celebration of the "impending death" of Trump.

Bangstad and Minocqua Brewing have drawn repeated scrutiny beyond their anti-Trump messaging. Wisconsin Public Radio reported Bangstad was charged last year in a harassment case tied to a dispute with a local newspaper publisher, and Wisconsin newspaper reporting said he later entered a no-contest plea in a disorderly conduct case and was found guilty earlier this month.

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Trump-backed House candidate Michael Alfonso called out the normalization of Bangstad's rhetoric in the state.

"This brewery is owned by a man named Kirk Bangstad, and he’s not just some random crazy guy," Alfonso posted on X. "Kirk is friends with current Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong. He previously employed Rebecca Cooke, the Democrat currently running against Derrick Van Orden, and was himself the Democratic nominee against my father-in-law, Sean Duffy, in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District—where I am now running for office."

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Wisconsin Republicans and the Republican National Committee are calling out the ties to Bangstad.

"Wisconsin Democrats are so sick in the head that an attempted murder is funny to them," RNC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar told Fox News Digital on Sunday morning.

"All Wisconsin Democrats, including Rebecca Cooke, must immediately condemn this disgusting behavior."

Amid the criticism, both Cooke and Hong's campaign responded to Fox News' request for comments, but did so without mentioning ties to Bangstad by name.

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"This rhetoric is dangerous and unacceptable – showcasing just how broken our political system is," Cooke told Fox News via email from her campaign manager. "I denounce all forms of political violence. 

"We need to bring the temperature down, stop pitting working folks against each other, and come together to solve the very serious problems facing our communities."

Still, the National Republican Congressional Committee called on Cooke to call out her former employer "by name."

"Rebecca Cooke needs to stop hiding and immediately denounce her former employer, Kirk Bangstad’s dangerous and unhinged comments," NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon told Fox News in a statement Sunday afternoon. 

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"Cooke's previous employment by Bangstad makes her silence even more unacceptable. Voters deserve to know whether she stands with Wisconsinites who reject this rhetoric or with the same extremist voices pushing it. 

"If Cooke wants to be taken seriously, she should condemn Bangstad by name, and do it now."

Hong also posted a lengthy response in multiple X posts after being reached by Fox News on Sunday, but also did not mention Bangstad by name.

When asked about comments specifically mentioning the brewery or its owner, Becky Cooper, Hong's campaign manager pointed back to the X posts.

"That would fall under the ‘becoming numb’ portion," Cooper wrote to Fox News via email. "[Minocqua Brewing Company’s] tweet is intentionally inflammatory and a symptom of the normalization of political violence."

Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this story.

Obama’s statement on X focused first on the lack of confirmed details about what drove the attack before condemning violence more broadly and praising the Secret Service. 

"Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy," Obama wrote on X. "It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day.

"I’m grateful to them – and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay," he added.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Obama’s team for clarification on his comments.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen of California, who allegedly opened fire at the Washington Hilton during the annual event attended by Trump and senior administration officials.

Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that after Allen’s arrest, he said he intended to target Trump administration officials and had prepared a manifesto detailing his intent, while also sharing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media.

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The writings identified administration officials as potential targets and expressed grievances tied to the Trump administration, with investigators examining those statements as part of what may have driven the attack.

Law enforcement officials have not formally confirmed a definitive motive as the investigation remains ongoing.

During an interview with "60 Minutes" host Norah O’Donnell that aired Sunday evening, Trump took issue after she read a portion of the alleged manifesto.

ILHAN OMAR BLAMES TRUMP’S RHETORIC FOR SURGE IN DEATH THREATS, INCLUDING SPRAY ATTACK: 'SO OBSESSED WITH ME'

O’Donnell referenced passages in which the suspect appeared to outline a motive, writing that administration officials were "targets" and making inflammatory accusations against Trump before asking for the president’s reaction.

"I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would…you’re horrible people," Trump told O’Donnell.

"You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me," he continued, adding he was exonerated.

Trump then took direct aim at the host.

"I’m not any of those things," he said. "You should be ashamed of yourself reading that. You shouldn’t be reading that on ‘60 Minutes.’ You’re a disgrace, but, go ahead, let’s finish the interview."

The U.S. Southern Command said it conducted a "lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations" at the direction of the leader of the Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps.

"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the Southern Command claimed in a press release.

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Three men on the vessel were killed, but no U.S. forces were harmed in the attack on the ship, according to the Southern Command.

This was the 55th strike since the U.S. began targeting boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific in early September.

The latest strike brings the death toll in the Trump administration's attacks on ships carrying people it accuses of drug smuggling to at least 186.

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The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed in the strikes since last fall or provide evidence of drugs on board.

Last month, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth argued, "Going on offense with Operation Southern Spear has restored deterrence against the narco-terrorist cartels that profited from poisoning Americans."

The administration has been scrutinized in recent months over the strikes by Democrats and even some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has raised concerns about killing people without due process and the possibility of killing innocent people.

"I look at my colleagues who say they’re pro-life, and they value God's inspiration in life, but they don't give a s‑‑- about these people in the boats," Paul said in January. "Are they terrible people in the boats? I don't know. They're probably poor people in Venezuela and Colombia."

The senator previously cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded on suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Geoff Freeman, president of the U.S. Travel Association, called "questioning the safety of travelers" to the U.S. a "step too far." He also called discouraging international visitors from traveling to the U.S. to make a political point about the Trump administration the "height of absurdity."

"If we discourage these travelers from coming, travel businesses are going to pay a heavy price, and that's not just in the 11 [FIFA] host cities around the country, that's all around the country," he said.

"We all have policies we disagree with, and there's a way to express ourselves when we disagree with those policies. But holding the bellman, holding the waitress, holding the small travel business hostage in order to make your political point is extremely disrespectful."

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The New York Times-owned outlet The Athletic reported this week that 120 fan groups and civil society organizations published a travel advisory warning potential World Cup visitors to the U.S. about possible arbitrary detention and inhumane conditions. Groups that backed the warning included Amnesty International USA, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The groups warned that visitors could face human rights violations in the U.S., including arbitrary denial of entry, risk of detention, invasive social media screening, searches of electronic devices, racial profiling and suppression of free speech. The advisory also warned that immigrants, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals and others are "most vulnerable to serious harm" when traveling within the country due to the "Trump administration’s rising authoritarianism and increasing violence," according to the outlet.

The advisory called on travelers to the U.S. to "exercise caution and have an emergency contingency plan."

Though it noted concerns about previous World Cups in countries such as Russia and Qatar, The Athletic called it "highly unusual" for such warnings to come from so many civil rights organizations in a host country.

A FIFA spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "as per article 3 of the FIFA Statutes, FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognized human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights."

The spokesperson went on to say that "the development and publication of the FWC2026 Sustainability and Human Rights Strategy, the FWC2026 Human Rights Framework, and the recently updated FIFA Statement on Human Rights Defenders and Media Representatives as well as the establishment of an FWC2026 Human Rights Advisory Group comprised of independent experts and the wide advertisement of the FIFA Human Rights Grievance Mechanism, are all evidence of FIFA’s commitment to human rights across all key activities and actors connected to the tournament."

Fox News Digital reached out to FIFA for comment. The White House’s World Cup Task Force has staunchly denied any such risks to visitors to the U.S.

Davis Ingle, a spokesperson for the White House, emphasized to Fox News Digital that "international visitors who legally come to the United States for the World Cup have nothing to worry about."

While emphasizing that foreign visitors must be "proactive" in preparing their travel documents ahead of time, he dismissed the advisory as "ridiculous scare tactics driven by liberal activist groups and the left-wing media."

"What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S.— full stop," he explained. "Speculation to the contrary is ill-informed."

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"President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but also the safest and most secure in history," said Ingle. "Our mission is simple: ensure every fan – Americans and visitors alike – has a safe and unforgettable experience."

Ingle said that the Department of Homeland Security will be working with local and federal partners to secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup "in line with federal law [and] the U.S. Constitution — as we do with every major sporting event, while showcasing American greatness to the entire world."

"The FIFA 2026 World Cup will no doubt be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, attracting millions of fans from around the world to eleven host cities across America," Ingle went on. "This will be a monumental event that requires close coordination between the Trump Administration, FIFA, and all of our great federal, state, and local partners."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation ripped media outlets that it said are advancing the fearmongering campaign. The spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "The New York Times should be held equally responsible for platforming these baseless claims as the Far Left activist groups making them."

"Comparing tourists who legally enter our country to illegal aliens who circumvent the system is absurd," said the DOT spokesperson. "America is the greatest and freest country in the world. We have put millions of man-hours and billions of dollars into planning and facilitating a world-class event for millions of Americans and international visitors to enjoy this summer."

A spokesperson for The Athletic responded to this by telling Fox News Digital that "The Athletic's reporting is a fact-based account of a public advisory issued by more than 120 official globally recognized organizations, making clear the positions of these groups." 

The spokesperson added that "it is the role of news journalists to report on topics of broad public interest like this," saying, "Our article also makes clear criticisms of these groups' position, including responses from both FIFA and the White House." 

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Speaking with Fox News Digital on Friday, Freeman further backed the Trump administration’s preparations. He said the administration has "taken several important steps to welcome international travelers."

Steps the administration has already taken to prepare include reducing visa wait times by creating a fast pass for those who have tickets to games and the introduction of new technologies by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to speed the processing of travelers entering the country, Freeman said.

He emphasized that the economic impact of international travel for the World Cup "has an opportunity to permeate all aspects of the United States."

"International travelers are incredibly important in the United States," he explained, noting that these travelers "spend eight times more than the average American spends when they move around the country."

"The beauty of the international traveler is they're not using our services. They're not using healthcare. They're not using the education," he said. "They're coming here, they're spending their money, and they're going home, telling their friends and family, ‘Hey, you should go do the same thing.’"

"I think what the NAACP, the ACLU and other organizations are doing right now is trying to sabotage these games to make a political point," he went on, adding, "It's fearmongering to discourage tens of millions of people from coming to the United States to make a political point."

Fox News Digital reached out to Amnesty International USA, the ACLU and the NAACP for comment.

Mamdani released his "Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan" earlier this month, which quickly received pushback from President Donald Trump’s Justice Department as well as from the Manhattan Institute’s Santiago Vidal Calvo, who told Fox News Digital that when the report uses a "true cost of living" to claim 62% of New Yorkers can’t make ends meet in the city, it’s a ploy to declare a crisis that needs more government.

"What he’s essentially doing is moving the goalposts," Vidal Calvo explained. "He’s essentially saying that what the federal government qualifies as somebody below the poverty line — which is essentially like $34,000, $35,000 a year. Those might be like 2024 numbers, but it’s pretty close to that — we’re essentially moving the goalposts so anybody under $160,000 with children cannot afford to live in New York City."

"Those numbers, in reality, if you live in New York City, they don’t sound crazy, they don’t sound, you know, high. But in all of reality, for any single person across America, $160,000 is, you know, a breadwinner. It’s essentially enough money to raise a family and to have children and to have a good life. So when we move the goalposts into that direction, without actually recognizing what are the underlying issues of the disease, what are the actual problems that make New York City expensive, then we’re just attributing a problem and throwing a dart at the board and saying, 'This is it.'"

MAMDANI RIPPED AFTER CONCEDING KEY CAMPAIGN PLEDGE WON'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR

The "reality" of the situation, Vidal Calvo says, is that you "don’t make a place more affordable by making people earn more" but instead the city needs to "ask the right questions" about policies that drive wage growth and new housing development. 

"So the issue here is that we are focusing on a problem that the socialists in City Hall want to believe — that if you give people more money, they essentially can access more things," Vidal Calvo said. "But you’re not asking what is the tradeoff of giving people more money. And just by placing that the 'True Cost of Living' in New York City is $160,000 a year for people with children, that doesn’t necessarily mean that people, first, can afford that life or, second, they are able to get those salaries."

MAMDANI'S RESPONSE TO TRUMP'S IRAN STRIKE SPARKS CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH: 'ROOTING FOR THE AYATOLLAH'

The high cost of living in New York City is driven by several factors, including housing, which is an area where Vidal Calvo says City Hall needs to "encourage more housing being built around the city."

"That’s how you lower the price of housing," he said. "It’s not by freezing rent, it’s not by stabilizing markets—normally what that leads is to more and higher prices."

Rather than a giant administrative effort to grow government with more departments and staffers, Vidal Calvo explained that the city should instead be reforming zoning to build faster, slash permitting delays, make it easier to establish child care facilities, reduce administrative barriers, and create opportunities for employers to hire more people and recruit talent from across the United States.

Mamdani's racial equity plan has drawn intense scrutiny from conservatives over its conclusions on race and efforts to base government action to address racial disparities, including from DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon who said she will "review" the matter.

Vidal Calvo, who recently published a New York Post op-ed on Mamdani's plan, told Fox News Digital, "I feel like this is just another way to put DEI on the table without calling DEI."

"And we have now found that in academia, in many government programs, in many existing architectures of social structures, DEI does not work, and unfortunately, this might be just another case in which it fails, and not because of the well-intended reason of trying to make everybody earn a living, because I feel like that's a good intention that everybody can have," Vidal Calvo explained. "But it's about the solutions that they're trying to actually approach. It's about methodology of how they're actually trying to approach this method. You cannot argue that just because somebody is a different race, it's become insanely more unaffordable to make a living in New York City. That's not how it works."

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for comment.

In a Truth Social post, he shared a screenshot of a post on X in which someone had written, "I want Trump to change ICE to NICE (National Immigration and Customs Enforcement) so the media has to say NICE agents all day everyday."

"GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT. President DJT" Trump wrote on the Truth Social post.

ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF BITING 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL'S FACE AT TEXAS PARK; ICE LODGES DETAINER AFTER ARREST: DHS

A White House spokesperson responded to a comment request by referring Fox News Digital to the president's Truth Social post.

The official White House rapid response X account shared a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post.

ICE NABS ILLEGAL ALIENS CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX CRIMES AND METH TRAFFICKING IN NATIONWIDE ENFORCEMENT SWEEP

The Trump administration has been aiming to secure the border and crack down on illegal immigrants.

Some Democrats advocate for abolishing ICE.

ICE SAYS MORE CRIMINAL MIGRANTS ARRESTED ON 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PROGRAM TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF MIGRANT CRIME

For example, progressive Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington declared earlier this month in a post on X, "ICE is not keeping us safe. It's terrorizing our communities, detaining U.S. citizens, and letting people die in custody. Abolish ICE."

The scandal reportedly stemmed from the massive surge of immigrants, specifically unaccompanied minor children. Shelters became so full that these children were forced to stay in jail-like facilities run by federal immigration officials and eventually in massive tent cities set up in major metropolitan areas. 

The images of these children put pressure on the Biden administration to do something, so they reportedly began imposing demands on staffers to begin moving kids quickly out of the shelters and to their sponsors meant to protect the kids from human trafficking or other forms of exploitation, according to a scathing investigation by the New York Times published in Feb. 2023.

"If Henry Ford had seen this in his plants, he would have never become famous and rich. This is not the way you do an assembly line," Becerra told HHS staff, according to the Times, even as HHS was beginning to peel back longstanding protections that had been in place for years, such as certain background checks and reviews of children's files.

EXCLUSIVE: NEW ‘GAVIN NEWSOM FILES’ REVEAL CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S ‘EXTREME’ AGENDA

The comment from Becerra to ramp up the efficiency also came after nearly a dozen officials within the HHS division responsible for unaccompanied migrant children expressed concern that child labor trafficking was increasing, adding the system is "one that rewards individuals for making quick releases, and not one that rewards individuals for preventing unsafe releases," according to the Times.

Data the Times obtained showed, over a period of two years, more than 85,000 children became unable to be tracked by federal officials. 

However, Becerra contested that unaccompanied minors had been "lost," arguing they were in the custody of vetted sponsors, but just did not pick up the phone when officials made their follow-up calls. Becerra and his supporters also pointed out, amid push back over the matter, that HHS's legal authority over a child ends once they are placed with a sponsor.

A campaign staffer with Becerra's team added that the HHS Secretary worked diligently to fix a broken immigration system inherited by Trump, suggesting the blame did not fall at Becerra's feet.

Meanwhile, in February 2024, HHS's Office of Inspector General indicated it had indeed found gaps in sponsor screening and follow-up, including missing documentation for required safety checks in 16% of sampled case files and untimely or undocumented follow-up calls in many cases. 

At the time those findings were released, the HHS OIG already found in 2022 that guidance issued to speed releases had removed safeguards and may have increased the risk of releases to unsafe sponsors.

COULD RFK JR BE A DISRUPTOR AND REFORMER AT HHS?

"Xavier Becerra failed those kids, failed the country, and failed to do his job," a longtime Democratic Party campaign strategist told Fox News Digital.

"Becerra was horrible at HHS, and thinking he can become Governor of California after that record is delusional," the strategist continued. "Voters deserve better than a recycled cabinet secretary who couldn’t manage his own department."

A few months after the Times' reporting, Republicans in the House subpoenaed Becerra and HHS for records and documents related to the "vetting, screening and monitoring" of sponsors for migrant children. Republicans received hundreds of pages of documents, but argued none were responsive to their concerns before eventually hauling him to Capitol Hill for a hearing.

After House Republicans ordered HHS to produce records by Oct. 3, 2024, the dispute never culminated in a clean public resolution — committees kept complaining the production was incomplete, Becerra was called back to testify, and later watchdog reports — rather than Congress’ subpoena — became the clearest answer on whether the government was reliably tracking unaccompanied minors entering the United States.

"Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned," said a Buckingham Palace spokesperson on Sunday.

President Donald Trump, the first lady and administration officials were evacuated from the Washington Hilton ballroom shortly after the WCHD began when a suspect rushed a security checkpoint and opened fire on Secret Service agents. The investigation is ongoing, and the agent is expected to recover.

King Charles’ first U.S. visit remains on track, officials close to the matter told Fox News Digital.

PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE EXCLUDED FROM TROOPING THE COLOUR AS ROYALS PREPARE TO SHOW UNITED FRONT: EXPERT

Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi told Fox News Digital that "the protective model for [Saturday] night’s event proved effective. The key takeaway for future events is that enhancements should be expected at every level, as that is how the model is designed to function."

"Every protective decision is driven by intelligence amid a dynamic and currently elevated threat environment. We are actively focused on identifying the trigger for this incident and fully understanding the factors that led to it," he added when asked about security measures for the visit. 

The four-day trip aims to mark America’s 250th birthday — which celebrates the nation’s freedom from British rule. Charles’ visit comes against the backdrop of the war with Iran and criticism from Trump of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"It’s been 87 years since King George VI became the first king to ever step foot on American soil, and next week King Charles III will become the second British king to ever visit the Land of the Free," former advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson Thomas Corbett-Dillon told Fox News Digital.

The visit will kick off Monday morning with a formal ceremony at the White House and a ceremonial military review. The King and Queen will participate in several events, including a private tea.

"This is a monumental occasion, coming 250 years since the revolutionaries declared themselves free from the rule of the British crown. They now welcome that same crown with love, adoration, and open arms," said Corbett-Dillon.

Charles will deliver an address to Congress after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, first delivered a speech at the Capitol during a state visit to the U.S. in 1991.

The last king to visit the U.S. was King George VI in 1939, when he traveled with Queen Elizabeth to strengthen ties prior to World War II.

KING CHARLES URGES 'DIGITAL DETOX,' RECONCILIATION IN CHRISTMAS SPEECH AFTER YEAR OF ROYAL DRAMA

"The King is making one of the most politically sensitive trips of his life, visiting a White House that has publicly denounced his own Prime Minister on multiple occasions," said Corbett-Dillon.

While the visit will celebrate the U.S.-U.K. alliance, it also unfolds at a politically sensitive moment, with tensions lingering over Iran and Trump’s public criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"This is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with," said Trump on March 3. "By the way, I’m not happy with the U.K. either," the president continued, referring to Starmer blocking the United States’ use of U.K. bases to launch attacks on Iran. 

Trump’s frustration with Starmer stems from Britain’s refusal to fully join the U.S. campaign against Iran, and has urged U.S. allies to get involved militarily or operationally, particularly around protecting oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz.

KING CHARLES WON’T MEET PRINCE HARRY DURING MONARCH’S US STATE VISIT: EXPERTS

"The president may be tempted to push the king to back him in Iran," Corbett-Dillon said.

The monarch’s visit follows Trump’s state visit to the U.K. in September.

"The special relationship remains above the day-to-day politics of our two nations and is cemented in our shared heritage and history," said Corbett-Dillon.

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman, Stephanie Nolasco and Ashley Papa contributed to this report.

Rick Jackson has spent months trying to cast himself as the race’s most pro-Trump candidate who will be Trump's "favorite governor" despite Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. However, one of his companies has repeatedly criticized the OBBBA, a landmark GOP legislative package that Trump endorsed and signed into law last year.

Jackson Physician Search, a subsidiary of Jackson Healthcare, said on its website in September 2025 that the bill's "sweeping cuts to Medicaid and ACA programs raise serious concerns about access, equity, and sustainability," and warned that some hospitals may need to "adapt or close their doors."

In a February 2026 recruitment report, the company also said the law was projected to cause "between 10 and 15 million people" to lose health coverage, while Medicare and Medicaid cuts were creating "significant financial pressure" across healthcare organizations and considerable "fear and uncertainty" about what lies ahead.

EXPERT REVEALS HOW COMPANIES ARE REBRANDING 'TOXIC' DEI POLICIES TO SKIRT TRUMP-ERA BANS: 'NEW WRAPPER'

"Rick supports the Big Beautiful Bill. Period," Mike Schrimpf, a spokesperson for Jackson's campaign, told Fox News Digital. "Growing up in the projects, Rick believes in the dignity of work and is a strong proponent of work requirements for that reason. He has long opposed Obamacare and regularly touts President Trump’s healthcare policies, like TrumpRx, on the campaign trail. That’s why Rick Jackson will be Donald Trump’s favorite governor."

Schrimpf added that "for months" Democrats have been attacking Jackson for his support of the OBBBA, noting "this attack makes about as much sense as accusing a pilot of hating to fly."

At a campaign event last month in Thomasville, Georgia, Jackson told constituents that he thought there were "many parts" of the OBBBA that were "great," and said he would be paying "40 percent more in taxes" if it had not passed, and defended work requirements in the bill by saying they motivate people to be productive and get off Medicaid.

"The worst thing that we can do is tell people — is get people relying on government where they have no incentive to work," Jackson told constituents. 

"It’s the most dehumanizing thing that you can do," he continued. "God made us to be productive."

VULNERABLE DEM'S SUPPORT FOR ALEX PRETTI COLLIDES WITH LAKEN RILEY ACT ANNIVERSARY

Jackson has also drawn himself closer to Trump by praising his tariff policies. "I believe in fairness," Jackson said in March. "Don't want somebody to take advantage of us in a business transaction. That's what he's trying to do. So I support."

Meanwhile, Jackson, who reportedly modeled his campaign launch after Trump with a celebratory elevator descent, said he can't name a single White House policy he disagreed with, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

But, despite these assertions from Jackson on the campaign trail, his remarks stand at stark odds with his physician search firm warning in a February white paper about "considerable fear and uncertainty" for what is to come as the result of the OBBBA.

 "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is projected to cause between 10 and 15 million people to lose health coverage," the white paper notes, citing new public healthcare work requirements implemented by the OBBBA. "Medicare and Medicaid cuts are creating significant financial pressure across healthcare organizations," it continues.

The same report, which includes comments from the firm's senior leadership and other content on the search firm's website, also slammed H-1B visa provisions in the OBBBA aimed at restoring integrity to the immigration program that has reportedly been rife with fraud, arguing it would be a net negative for the healthcare industry.

GOP BILLIONAIRE TRYING TO WOO TRUMP'S SUPPORT IN KEY GEORGIA RACE BANKROLLED HIS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RIVALS

The materials and resources also said OBBBA would promote physician burnout, would likely force rural hospitals to shut down, would discourage hopeful physicians from going to school, thus exacerbating the existing doctor shortage, and briefly emphasized the negative impact of Trump's tariffs on physician recruitment.

"My team works with clients throughout the Midwest who are facing department closures if they can’t hire a physician or advanced practice provider. For proof, just look at the number of labor and delivery departments forced to close in the past few years," said Senior Vice President of Recruiting at Jackson Physician Search, Tara Osseck. "Now, recent policy changes — including provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and increased fees affecting international visas — are adding new layers of complexity to an already challenging physician recruitment environment."

"The implications are significant," Osseck adds. "Coverage losses can lead to increases in uncompensated care, placing additional strain on already thin operating margins. When financial pressure mounts, healthcare organizations may delay service expansions, reduce hiring plans, or freeze recruitment altogether."

The OBBBA, a wide-ranging bill, included reforms to the federal student loan program aimed at making education more affordable. However, Regional Vice President of Recruiting at Jackson Physician Search, Tonya Hamlin, warned the reforms will actually make it harder for hopeful physicians to get to college.

TRUMP ALLY CLAY FULLER ADVANCES IN GEORGIA FIGHT FOR MTG’S FORMER SEAT

"These reforms could force students to absorb the difference through private loans or personal resources," Hamlin wrote in a blog post on the search firm's website. "They could also cause lower-income students to reconsider attendance altogether."

Hamlin went on to warn that with fewer people able to go to medical school, the shortage of physicians will only get worse for hospitals and clinics.

"Despite these additional hurdles, clinicians and trainees must not be deterred," Hamlin encouraged. "Stay focused on the higher purpose of your calling while staying informed, planning ahead financially, and engaging in ongoing advocacy."

The Republican primary race for Georgia governor has been a messy one between Jackson and other frontrunner candidates, including Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In particular, Jones and Jackson have been sparring over who is more aligned with Trump.

"This Primary Election is very simple," Jones says on his campaign website. "There is one authentic conservative who has fought for President Trump."

Jackson, meanwhile, donated $1 million to the president's political action committee, MAGA Inc. less than two months before he jumped into the race in February and has faced backlash for cutting 6-figure checks to the presidential campaigns of Trump's former GOP rivals during the 2024 Republican primary. 

Jackson also reportedly ran an ad against Raffenspeger portraying him as the Biblical character Judas in an attempt to portray him as a traitor for defying Trump's efforts to challenge Georgia's 2020 election results.

The Republican primary to see who will move on to the general election in Georgia's gubernatorial fight will take place on May 19. The first and only debate between the candidates is scheduled for Monday.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson Physician Search.

"Almost every day now my US Senator comes on this site to attack his constituents and many people who worked hard to elect him. Suggesting that they have 'derangement syndrome' for opposing this administration. You’re a mess @JohnFetterman," Malcolm Kenyatta asserted in a post on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman's office on Monday.

FETTERMAN SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE FORGOTTEN IRAN IS 'THE REAL ENEMY' AS WAR POWERS DEADLINE APPROACHES

Kenyatta, a Pennsylvania state representative, unsuccessfully ran in the 2022 Democratic U.S. Senate primary that Fetterman won.

Fetterman attended the Saturday night White House Correspondents Association dinner event where a suspected shooter was apprehended.

SEN JOHN FETTERMAN PLEDGES TO BE 'LAST MAN STANDING' IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

"We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these," Fetterman declared in a post on X.

"TDS" is a term that stands for "Trump Derangement Syndrome," a phrase that is used to describe individuals who vehemently and irrationally oppose the president, no matter the situation.

FETTERMAN SAYS DEMOCRATS LACK LEADER, CLAIMS PARTY DRIVEN BY TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME

Fetterman has said that TDS drives the Democratic Party, rather than any particular political leader.

"[Y]our lawsuit puts the lives of the president, his family, and his staff at grave risk," Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general in DOJ's Civil Division, wrote in a Sunday letter to opposing counsel, shared on X by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

"Enough is enough," Shumate continued. "Your client should voluntarily dismiss this frivolous lawsuit today in light of last night's assassination attempt on President Trump."

Shumate vowed that if the NTHP did not move to dismiss by 9 a.m. Monday, he would move to dissolve the injunction against the ballroom's construction and to dismiss the case.

WALZ REPEATS DEBUNKED CLAIM THAT TRUMP CONSIDERS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM 'TOP PRIORITY'

"It’s time to build the ballroom," Blanche agreed, in his X post, echoing Trump's words during the impromptu White House briefing after dodging his third assassination attempt by a gunman who rushed the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on Saturday night.

"The shooter targeted President Trump at the Washington Hilton, the only ballroom in Washington, D.C., suitable to host large gatherings for the President, where another shooter targeted President Reagan 45 years ago," Shumate noted in his letter to Greg B. Craig of Foley Hoag LLP, pointing to the historical context of former President Ronald Reagan's near-assassination at the same location.

"As history proves, that venue is demonstrably unsafe for the President of the United States because its size presents extraordinary security challenges for the Secret Service.

"[Saturday’s] assassination attempt on President Trump proves, yet again, that the White House ballroom is essential for the safety and security of the President, his family, his cabinet, and his staff."

CHECKS AND BALANCES: TRUMP, SUPPORTERS SEEK TO PUSH BACK AGAINST 'ACTIVIST' JUDGES

"I hope [Saturday’s] narrow miss will help you finally realize that filing a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter the cost," Shumate wrote.

National Trust President and CEO Carol Quillen issued a response to Shumate's letter on Monday.

"We’re grateful to the Secret Service and DC law enforcement officers for keeping the President and all guests safe at this weekend’s White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law," Quillen said. "Ballroom construction is continuing unabated until June 5th at the earliest because the injunction is on hold. We have always acknowledged the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House. Building it lawfully requires the approval of Congress, which the Administration could seek at any time."

WHITE HOUSE TOUTS TRUMP’S ‘BOLD VISION’ FOR TOWERING INDEPENDENCE ARCH FOR AMERICA 250

The NTHP sued the National Park Service in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing for a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom.

The group claimed Trump exceeded his authority when he demolished the East Wing — built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency and expanded in 1942 — arguing the president needed congressional authorization to do so.

Trump has said the president has historically had say over the White House remodeling, and has long noted that Congress does not have to pay for the privately funded project.

A lower court had issued a March 31 injunction to halt ballroom construction, but it also paused that injunction to allow for an appeal.

The White House argued the obstruction left the White House "open and exposed," threatening security for the building, the president and his family and staff.

TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING SURVIVORS TURN ATTACK INTO MOTIVATION YEAR LATER: ‘GO OUT THERE AND LIVE LIFE’

"When the White House ballroom is complete, President Trump and his successors will no longer need to venture beyond the safety of the White House perimeter to attend large gatherings at the Washington Hilton ballroom," Shumate wrote.

Forcing the president and Cabinet to attend events outside the White House grounds is too dangerous in this political climate, Trump himself argued Sunday night on CBS' "60 Minutes."

"I'm building a safe ballroom," Trump said. "And one of the reasons I'm building it is exactly what happened last night.

DHS LOOKS TO DEMOLISH HISTORIC ST. ELIZABETHS BUILDINGS DUE TO 'UNACCEPTABLE' RISKS

"This is exactly why the military, and this is exactly why Secret Service and all law enforcement want it. Because you have maybe 1,000 hotel rooms above the ballroom we were in [Saturday] night. And I'm not knocking it. I'm just saying in terms of maximum security – it's not the best thing. You can do it, but you can have problems like this."

The obstruction by lawsuits is potentially delaying the project, Trump added.

"I wish it could be even sooner," Trump said. "We're months ahead of schedule, but it doesn't open till '28."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made the inflammatory remark while warning Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., against redrawing the state’s congressional map ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Jeffries said that if DeSantis attempted to counter Democratic gains in Virginia following the state’s aggressive gerrymander, Democrats would continue to ratchet up pressure on Republicans nationwide.

"We are in an era of maximum warfare. Everywhere, all the time," Jeffries said Wednesday at a news conference.

DALLAS MAYOR WARNS RISING POLITICAL VIOLENCE COULD MEAN ICE FACILITY ATTACK ‘WON’T BE THE LAST’

Three days later, a California man allegedly attempted to assassinate the president Saturday evening at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Cole Allen, 31, is accused of storming a Secret Service checkpoint while armed and intending to enter the hotel ballroom to kill Trump and administration officials. The alleged assassin was armed with a shotgun, handgun and several knives and opened fire on federal agents before being subdued.

A Secret Service officer wearing a ballistic vest, whom Allen allegedly shot at close range, was released from the hospital Sunday.

The gunman allegedly prepared a manifesto before the attack that included anti-Trump and anti-Christian messages, several law enforcement officials told Fox News. He is expected to be arraigned on several federal gun charges Monday.

After the shooting, Republicans called on Democratic lawmakers to refrain from using warlike rhetoric to criticize Trump that could incite violence. The GOP made similar pleas in 2024 after two attempts on the president’s life in Butler, Pa., and at his golf club in Doral, Fla.

But top Democrats have argued that Republicans, too, have used plenty of inflammatory statements to describe their opponents.

"America will not be lectured about civility by far-right extremists in Congress," Jeffries wrote on social media Sunday, adding that "now is a time to unify."

A White House aide notably used the same "maximum warfare" language toward Democrats during an interview with The New York Times last year.

When asked to describe the White House's midterms strategy, the anonymous staffer said, "Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time."

EXPERT WARNS DEMOCRATS RISK BACKLASH OVER FAILURE TO CONDEMN VIOLENT RHETORIC IN THEIR RANKS

Fox News Digital reached out to Jeffries' office before publication.

Jeffries’ defiant social media post came after he unequivocally denounced political violence during an interview with Fox News Sunday.

"It is certainly the case that violence is never the answer, whether it's targeted at the right, the left or the center," Jeffries told Fox News’ Shannon Bream.

When asked how leaders can combat increasing political violence, Jeffries said elected officials must "set the most appropriate example" in their rhetoric. 

"Whatever your ideological perspective is, we all love America, and we all want to make sure that this country is the best that it can possibly be," he added.

Some Democrats have issued clear appeals to the left to refrain from using violence to achieve their political aims.

"Please stop trying to murder the president," Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., wrote on social media.

It is the latest sign of Mamdani's growing clash with Council leadership, deepening an early power struggle with Council Speaker Julie Menin over policing, public safety and free speech.

"The problem is how widely this bill defines an educational institution and the constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest," Mamdani wrote in a statement. "As the bill is written, everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions."

"This could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights," he continued.

ISRAELI COMEDIAN DROPS OUT OF PASSOVER EVENT AFTER LEARNING OF MAMDANI'S ATTENDANCE

"Int. 175-B is not a narrow public safety measure; it is a piece of legislation that has alarmed much of the labor movement, reproductive rights groups, and immigration advocates, among others, across this City. Nearly a dozen unions have raised the alarm about its impact on their ability to organize," the mayor added.

Menin is going to work to whip up votes to override Mamdani on the bill, which finished just four votes shy of being veto-proof, passing last month 30-19.

"Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial," Menin wrote in a statement. "This bill simply requires the NYPD to clearly outline how it will ensure safe access when there are threats of obstruction or physical injury, while fully protecting First Amendment rights."

HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEMAND TRUMP ADMIN DENY MAMDANI FEDERAL SECURITY CLEARANCE

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Eric Dinowitz, would have required police to submit a protest-response plan to the mayor and speaker and post it online. It also would have required the police commissioner to provide a public point of contact for any effort to manage demonstrations near educational sites.

Dinowitz pushed back on claims that the bill threatened free speech.

"Should students be harassed on the way to school? I think the answer is no," he told The New York Times.

MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: 'YOU WON'T SUPPORT ISRAEL'

Opponents on the left said the measure would expand protest policing and chill protected speech.

The fight also exposed one of the biggest political fault lines at City Hall: how to respond to protests tied to Israel and the war in Gaza. The issue gained momentum after a heated protest outside a Manhattan synagogue last fall, where some demonstrators shouted, "Death to the IDF," and, "Globalize the intifada."

"Sending the message to New Yorkers that we have something to worry about with regard to protest by or near schools, libraries, teaching hospitals is absolutely the wrong message for these times, especially when the Trump regime is coming at protest with a sledgehammer," New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman told the Times.

Jewish groups, including UJA-Federation of New York, blasted the veto, rebuking the "profound failure of City Hall to demonstrate to all New Yorkers that our safety is a priority."

"At a time when Jewish and other communities across our city are facing heightened threats, this legislation represented a crucial step toward ensuring that every school and community institution can be better protected," the group wrote in a statement.

Mamdani and Menin — the city's first Jewish speaker — had shown signs this week of trying to cool things down, including a Thursday dinner to discuss the pending veto and other issues, the Times reported. Friday’s decision suggested the détente may not last.

Should the state legislature, which holds a Republican majority in both the state House and Senate, approve the redrawing, it would then return to DeSantis to be signed into law and would apply to the 2026 midterms.

"Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we’ve been fighting for fair representation ever since," DeSantis told Fox News Digital. "Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage. Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited."

"Our new map for 2026 makes good on my promise to conduct mid-decade redistricting, and it more fairly represents the makeup of Florida today," DeSantis added.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SIGNS INTO LAW TRUMP-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP

Currently, the Florida delegation to Congress is represented by 20 Republicans and seven Democrats, with an eighth Democratic seat vacant following the resignation of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

The redistricted map proposal comes after Virginia recently approved a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts and flip four GOP seats to the Democratic side. 

Virginia’s new proposed map was praised by Democrats, including Gov. Abigail Spanberger and former President Barack Obama.

GOP GOVERNOR NOMINEE PUSHES REDISTRICTING TO OUST STATE'S LONE HOUSE DEM

"Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress," Spanberger said in a statement. "Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input — and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box."

Ffity-one and a half percent of Virginia voters approved the amendment last week. Projections show 10 seats that likely will be won by Democrats, and just one by a Republican to represent the entirety of Virginia in Congress. 

Currently, Democrats hold six seats in Virginia while Republicans hold five.

NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA PROJECTED TO LOSE 6 HOUSE SEATS TO RED STATES AFTER 2030, CENSUS ANALYSIS SHOWS

A source familiar with DeSantis’ new map told Fox News Digital that the redistricting proposal isn’t as closely tied to Virginia’s recent sway toward Democratic seats, and that the decision is more related to the population increases.

"The governor has been planning this long before what took place in Virginia, and continues to be adamant that Floridians deserve fair representation that accurately reflects the state’s changing population and demographics," the source told Fox News Digital. 

California implemented a similar strategy with the implementation of Prop 50, which temporarily allows the far-left Democratic assembly in the state to draw new congressional maps.

MARYLAND HOUSE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS SENATE LEADERS WARN OF RISKS

The new California legislature-drawn maps show Democratic-leaning seats favoring four that were previously held by Republicans, with projections showing Democrats will hold as many as 48 seats in Congress while the GOP could have as few as four.

DeSantis faced opposition from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is the most likely pick to serve as speaker of the House should Democrats take back the majority in November.

"Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out," Jeffries said. "If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummymander, the Florida Republicans are gonna find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans, who are on the run right now.

VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS CHARGE 'POWER GRAB' AS DEMOCRAT WHO BACKED REDISTRICTING RUNS FOR CONGRESS

"Under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They'll be fortunate if they get two or three. While in California, we are going to get all five," Jeffries added.

During a news conference in Florida, DeSantis responded to Jeffries’ comments with an invitation to come down to the Sunshine State and campaign for Democratic congressional candidates, implying the state’s Republican majority would hold strong in the midterm.

"Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida to campaign," DeSantis said. "I’ll put you up in the Florida governor’s mansion. We will take you fishing."

REPUBLICANS APPEAL JUDGE'S DECISION REJECTING NEW YORK CITY GOP DISTRICT LINES

"We’ll do all this stuff. There’s nothing that could be better for Republicans in Florida than to see Jeffries, Hakeem Jeffries, everywhere around this state," DeSantis added.

The redistricting fight has been bolstered across red and blue states as both parties attempt to take control of a Congress led by very slim majorities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., encouraged Florida’s redistricting attempt, saying that the state "has the right to do so. 

"Florida has the right and the intention to do it. And my view is that they should," Johnson said last week. 

According to research from Defending Education, national teachers unions alone have directed roughly $669 million toward left-wing political groups, advocacy organizations and campaigns since 2015. When state and local affiliates are included, that figure balloons to more than $1 billion in total political spending.

The reports track spending from the two largest unions, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), as well as their state-level affiliates, using federal filings and campaign finance records.

"These entities are a political machine," Rhyen Staley, research director at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital.

NATION’S 2 LARGEST TEACHERS UNIONS FUNNELED NEARLY $50M TO LEFT-WING GROUPS, WATCHDOG REPORT SAYS

"Show me your budget and I will show you what you value; and what the teachers unions value is political power and advancing a left wing, social justice agenda. Parents, families, and communities have little to no counter to the influence that teachers union dollars have on state and local campaigns. Gone are the days of unions just advocating for higher wages, better working conditions, and good health insurance; they are a political machine focused on fomenting a ‘political revolution.’"

The Defending Education report found the unions’ political spending stretches across a vast network of progressive organizations and political committees, including the State Engagement Fund, which received more than $60 million, and For Our Future Action Fund and its affiliates, which pulled in more than $40 million.

Unions also directed tens of millions toward major Democratic-aligned political committees, including the Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC.

MOST RADICAL COURSES, CURRICULUM THAT RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDING IN 2025

In addition, the report found more than $85 million went directly to Democratic Party entities at the federal, state and local levels, not including individual candidate contributions.

At the same time, unions funded a wide range of progressive causes, from climate initiatives to ballot campaigns opposing school choice, often routing money through nonprofit groups and political action committees.

Some of the progressive groups in the report who took money from the nation’s most powerful teachers unions include: Color of Change + PAC, Indivisible, National Center for Transgender Equality, Planned Parenthood, Sixteen Thirty Fund, New Venture Fund and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Defending Education President Nicole Neily argued the findings challenge long-standing assumptions about how union dues are used.

"It's time to dispense with the myth that unions care whatsoever about teachers' best interests. Educators are victims of a bait-and-switch: instead of their dues going to advocate for increased pay or improved working environments, they're being spent advancing a hard-left political agenda, underwriting causes such as climate change, gender activism, and abortion (as well as supporting progressive politicians at all levels)," Neily said.

"Given the outsized role that unions have played in the education system over the past fifty years, greater transparency on union spending is absolutely critical so that policymakers and teachers themselves can make informed decisions about the role that these entities should — or should not — play in the future."

The spending revelations come as unions and allied organizations ramp up mobilization efforts ahead of May Day protests, which critics have previously warned could serve as a major political organizing push.

As Fox News Digital previously reported, teachers unions have played a role in preparing for large-scale demonstrations, with activists framing the events as part of a broader "political revolution."

"It’s very clear that teachers unions seek to destroy our country by turning our students against it," Teacher Freedom Alliance CEO Ryan Walters told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

Fox News Digital reached out to the NEA and AFT for comment.

"Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy," Obama posted on X on Sunday evening, roughly 24 hours after President Trump and top officials were whisked out of the Washington Hilton Hotel when shots rang out from a man who stormed security during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

"It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that the U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. I’m grateful to them — and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay."

Obama’s post has been viewed nearly 52 million times and sparked outrage from conservatives, who pointed to a manifesto left by the shooter and other details of the attack that they say show the motive was to harm Trump and his Cabinet.

WHCD SHOOTING SUSPECT PLANNED TO TARGET TRUMP OFFICIALS, MANIFESTO REVEALS

"Let’s not pretend to be this clueless about motive, @BarackObama," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin posted on X. "The attempted assassin put out an anti-Trump manifesto about wanting to kill Trump Admin officials, minutes before trying to storm a ballroom filled with the President, VP, Cabinet, and many others from his Admin."

Former FBI Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino simply replied, "Are you kidding?"

"There is a manifesto, and this is why you are the problem," Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., posted on X. 

"Oh come on," reacted former Department of Homeland Security press secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "There is no ambiguity. It was a politically motivated attack driven by anti-Trump and anti-Christian bile. It’s wrong to downplay or obscure the obvious motive."

Journalist Emma-Jo Morris posted on X, "It’s crazy how irrelevant Obama has become. Just reduced to posting bluesky-tier cope and meaningless cliches, ‘incumbent upon all’ etc."

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SUSPECT CHECKED INTO HILTON HOTEL ONE DAY BEFORE THE SHOOTING: SOURCES

The Republican National Committee commented, "You are so SICK! Law enforcement officers confirmed this radicalized Leftist was targeting President Trump and his administration last night. Why are you lying?"

Popular independent journalist Nick Shirley also joined in, urging Obama to "call it out for what it is."

"Wdym by 'although'? It’s obvious what the motive was," wrote Shirley.

Heritage Foundation media fellow Tim Young took a similar line, telling the former president, "Don’t pretend you don’t know."

"The details were out early this morning and it was clear he was a leftist trying to harm as many people in Trump’s cabinet as possible," Young wrote.

WHO IS COLE ALLEN? CALIFORNIA MAN NAMED AS SUSPECT IN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING

"Agreed on condemning political violence, but you know what his motives were," "Charlie Kirk Show" Executive Producer Andrew Kolvet posted on X.

"This is a lie—the gunman's manifesto was published six hours ago," political commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon posted on X. "But it's also a confession—an admission that the motive is damning to President Obama's side, hence the need to lie."

Authorities have identified Cole Allen, a 31-year-old California resident, as the suspect who allegedly opened fire during the annual event attended by Trump and senior administration officials. Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that after Allen’s arrest, he said he intended to target Trump administration officials and had prepared a manifesto detailing his intent, while also sharing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told reporters at a news conference after the shooting that Allen has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Pirro also said more charges are expected. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Obama’s office for comment.

The court hung its order on reasoning from a previous ruling in Abbott v. League of United Latin American Citizens but did not elaborate. The three liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court temporarily greenlit the state's map in December and California's map in February. Both states spearheaded the mid-cycle redistricting fights that have now been cropping up across the country. The high court's approval of both states' maps, giving Republicans and Democrats five-seat advantages, respectively, served to cancel each other's efforts out ahead of the 2026 midterms.

DOJ BACKS TEXAS IN SUPREME COURT FIGHT OVER REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAP

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, had asked the Supreme Court last year to pause a three-judge panel's ruling in the Western District of Texas that found 2-1 that race was too much of a factor in its redraw and that the state had improperly attempted to pack Latino and Black voters into new districts.

The Department of Justice also chimed in, telling the high court to intervene and reverse the lower court decision, saying Texas' choice to change its map was driven by purely "partisan objectives," not racial objectives, which could violate the Voting Rights Act.

The voting and immigrant rights groups who challenged Texas and Abbott claimed that the map was an illegal racial gerrymander.

The high court granted a 6-3 temporary stay in December, finding in an unsigned order that the groups had committed "at least two serious errors," including that they did not extend the Texas legislature the "presumption of legislative good faith." Monday's decision by the Supreme Court to summarily reverse the lower court decision keeps the new Texas map alive indefinitely.

REAGAN-APPOINTED JUDGE TORCHES COLLEAGUES IN TEXAS MAP FIGHT

The second error, the justices said, was that the groups did not offer an alternative map that served Texas’ stated political needs.

The high court said in the December order that the lower court should also not have "interfered with an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections." 

In the dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, criticized the conservative majority for its "eagerness to playact a district court." 

"This Court’s stay guarantees that Texas’s new map, with all its enhanced partisan advantage, will govern next year’s elections for the House of Representatives," Kagan wrote. "And this Court’s stay ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race. And that result, as this Court has pronounced year in and year out, is a violation of the Constitution."

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., has missed more than a month of votes due to an unspecified health issue. It remains to be seen whether the two-term lawmaker will be absent again this week as the House considers a budget blueprint to fund immigration enforcement and legislation reauthorizing the government’s warrantless surveillance powers.

Kean’s prolonged absence comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can afford to lose just a handful of votes on party-line legislation given House Republicans’ razor-thin majority.

"He’s expected to be totally fine and back to a full schedule soon," Harrison Neely, a spokesperson for Kean, told Fox News Digital. 

MEET ANALILIA MEJIA, THE SANDERS-AOC BACKED PROGRESSIVE WHO JUST WON ELECTION TO CONGRESS

Neely did not specify when Kean plans to resume work or the nature and extent of his illness.

Kean has missed 50 roll call votes since March 17, amounting to a 100% absence rate, according to GovTrack, a website that monitors congressional absences. He last voted on March 5 — nearly two months ago.

Johnson said Thursday that he spoke to Kean by phone and expects him to make a full recovery.

"He is attending to a personal health matter and expects to be back to 100% very soon," Johnson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, first obtained by The New York Times. "Tom is one of the most dedicated and hardest-working Members of Congress, and I am grateful for all he does and will continue to do to serve New Jerseyans and our country."

THESE HOUSE MAVERICKS DEFIED THEIR OWN PARTIES MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN 2025

The scrutiny over Kean’s extended absences comes as national Democrats are aggressively targeting his swing seat ahead of November’s midterm elections. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Kean’s re-election contest as a "toss-up."

Kean fended off Democratic candidate Sue Altman by five points in 2024. Four Democratic challengers are vying in a June primary to unseat him.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) sharply criticized Kean for not disclosing his specific health issue to his constituents.

"New Jersey voters deserve to know where Congressman Kean Jr. is and why he continues to play the stock market while in office," Eli Cousin, a DCCC spokesman, told Fox News Digital. 

Cousin alluded to a recent NOTUS report that found Kean has continued to make several personal stock trades during his absence from Washington, D.C.

A Kean spokesperson told The New Jersey Globe last year that the congressman’s investments are handled by financial advisors without his involvement. 

Kean’s office has notably continued to post on social media throughout his extended absence from Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, Kean’s office highlighted that two bills he introduced earlier in this Congress advanced out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 

The post did not mention that Kean was not present for the committee markup.

Lawmakers argue that Trump’s desire to build a ballroom at the White House — which ground to a halt after being snarled in litigation — would provide an ideal secure venue for future events following the shooting at the Washington Hilton on Saturday.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., announced he would try to fast-track a bill to give congressional approval for construction of the ballroom in the Senate when the upper chamber returns this week.

HOUSE GOP PUSHES BACK ON SENATE'S 'SKINNY' PLAN TO END RECORD-BREAKING DHS SHUTDOWN

He argued that "a president of any party should be able to host events in a secure area without attendees worrying about their safety."

"It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on Earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our president, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations," Sheehy said in a statement.

It’s an about-face on Capitol Hill for Republicans, who, since Trump first announced his plans to build a ballroom last year, have largely kept their distance from the issue.

And it's one spurred by the shooting on Saturday night, when Cole Allen was subdued by federal law enforcement after exchanging gunfire near the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where Trump and his Cabinet, along with hundreds of guests, were seated for the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

But a lawsuit and an ensuing court-ordered injunction against the 90,000-square-foot, $400 million gilded behemoth — which was being built where the White House’s East Wing once stood — have thrown the future of the project into question.

SENATE GOP RAMS THROUGH BLUEPRINT TO BANKROLL ICE, BORDER PATROL THROUGH END OF TRUMP ERA

A federal court ordered in March that the construction end without congressional approval. That ruling was later appealed to allow construction to continue below ground for what Trump previously described as a "shed" for a military complex.

After the shooting, Trump pushed for construction to continue.

"We need the ballroom," Trump said at a news conference Saturday night. "That’s why Secret Service, that’s why the military are demanding it."

TRUMP ADMIN URGES RESTORING BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION IN EMERGENCY MOTION: 'TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE'

Now Republicans are getting involved. Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Randy Fine, R-Fla., like Sheehy, are planning to introduce legislation that would give congressional approval to the project.

"I don’t believe congressional approval is required for the project, but if it’ll keep activist judges on the sideline, so be it," Boebert said on X.

The latest legislative push in the lower chamber comes during a week full of deadlines and must-do items for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Among them is consideration of the Senate’s budget blueprint to fund immigration operations for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.

At least one lawmaker, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wants any consideration of the blueprint to "provide for construction of a secure ballroom on White House grounds."

For now, it’s not entirely a partisan issue.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., one of the few Democrats at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, argued that rancor between the aisles should be put aside to support ballroom construction.

"That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government," Fetterman said on X. "After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these."

"The proposed amendment is invalid for several reasons, any one of which is sufficient to invalidate the proposed amendment and require invalidation of the vote," Thomas McCarthy, lawyer for the Republican challenge, concluded in the hour-long hearing on Monday.

The Republicans contend that the Democrat-led General Assembly violated procedural requirements by placing a constitutional amendment before voters to authorize mid-decade redistricting. If the court agrees that lawmakers broke the rules, it could invalidate the amendment and render last week’s statewide vote meaningless.

"It's often said ours is a government of laws, not of men," McCarthy continued. "Sadly, that's not the case if a bare partisan majority can circumvent the constitutional amendment process and undermine the rights of the people in whom all government power ultimately rests – also, that partisan majority can transform our system from a nonpartisan one where the voters elected representatives into a partisan one where the representatives select their voters."

GOP FRACTURES OVER VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING MAP HANDING DEMOCRATS 10-1 EDGE

"We ask that the court enforce the constitutional amendment process by affirming the decision below, declaring the proposed amendment invalid and enjoin certification of the election," he added.

Lawyers for Democratic legislative leaders urged the Virginia Supreme Court to uphold the amendment and clear the way for the new map, arguing voters and lawmakers followed every step required by the state Constitution. In rebuttal, attorney Matthew Seligman said, "The people did, in fact, validly ratify the proposed amendment last Tuesday," and argued challengers were trying to undo a democratic process that had already been completed through legislative approval and a statewide vote.

Notably, the justices acknowledged the courts in Virginia only permitted the vote to be held amid the legal challenge.

DEMOCRATS' CHAIR VOWS TO FIGHT 'TOOTH AND NAIL' TO STOP TRUMP, REPUBLICANS, IN REDISTRICTING BATTLE

Seligman also argued to the justices the challengers’ case depended on reading limits into the Constitution that are not actually there. He argued the General Assembly controls its own procedures, that nothing in the Constitution barred lawmakers from acting as they did in special session, and that the legal meaning of "election" supports the state’s position that the amendment was passed before the relevant November election.

He closed by saying that federal law and court precedent back the view that Election Day is a single day in November, defeating the challengers’ argument.

The Virginia court proceedings mark the latest twist in a national redistricting battle between Republicans and Democrats seeking an advantage in a November election that will determine whether Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the House.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fetterman, who has repeatedly shown he is willing to defy his party, posted on X that he was "there front and center" at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner when the shooting occurred Saturday night. The alleged shooter, 31-year-old California resident Cole Allen, broke through multiple layers of Secret Service security at the Washington Hilton and nearly opened fire in a room where the president, vice president and other key administration and federal officials were present.

"After witnessing last night," Fetterman called for people to "drop the TDS [Trump derangement syndrome] and build the White House ballroom."

He said the purpose of the ballroom would be to host events "exactly like these."

HOW DID SUSPECTED GUNMAN GET WEAPONS INTO CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER? EX-DETECTIVE QUESTIONS SECURITY FAILURES

"We were there front and center," he wrote. "That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government."

Though construction is continuing on the $400 million privately funded White House ballroom, the project is currently bogged down in a legal challenge by the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). After the shooting, the Justice Department pressed NTHP to drop its lawsuit, citing concerns about the safety and security of the president and other key personnel.

"[Y]our lawsuit puts the lives of the president, his family, and his staff at grave risk," Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general in DOJ's Civil Division, wrote in a Sunday letter to opposing counsel, shared on X by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

"Enough is enough," Shumate continued. "Your client should voluntarily dismiss this frivolous lawsuit today in light of last night's assassination attempt on President Trump."

"As history proves, that venue is demonstrably unsafe for the President of the United States because its size presents extraordinary security challenges for the Secret Service.

"[Saturday’s] assassination attempt on President Trump proves, yet again, that the White House ballroom is essential for the safety and security of the President, his family, his cabinet, and his staff."

SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS WHCD ATTENDEES CITE INCONSISTENT SCREENING BEFORE SHOOTING

Raquel Debono, a conservative influencer who attended the dinner, told Fox News Digital, "No ballroom no matter how grand, matters if we can't keep people safe first."

"Everyone's debating architecture while a shooter got into what should have been the most heavily secured event in America - it’s a ridiculous distraction," said Debono. "The security failures are the story. It was too easy to get in."

Debono shared on X that she left the dinner early prior to the shooting due to an "uneasy feeling." She noted that their bags were not checked and that people were "shoved through doors."

Trump himself pointed to the incident as evidence that the hotel venue was "not a particularly secure building," arguing that a new White House ballroom — equipped with features like bulletproof materials — would offer a safer alternative.

"It’s really what you need," Trump said on Fox News on Sunday. "You can’t have a thousand [hotel] rooms or whatever it is, I mean, it’s a very big hotel, on top of the ballroom. And people come down the elevator, and they’re right next to the ballroom."

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING: TIMELINE TRACES HOW SUSPECT’S ALLEGED CROSS-COUNTRY PLAN UNFOLDED

Though the shooting prompted widespread calls for a White House ballroom, Fetterman stood out as a lone Democrat willing to join in on the push.

On Sunday, Fetterman admitted on CNN, "I never really had a strong opinion on the ballroom to be honest, but this clearly demonstrated [the need]."

He emphasized the need to ensure not only the president’s protection but also that of those in the line of succession, should anything happen to the president.

"I just walked away from that still kind of stunned how lucky we were that no one was seriously hurt," said Fetterman. "And when we have the significant majority of our leadership in a very small, clustered area, it could have been much more catastrophic for our nation that day."

Fox News Digital's Eric Mack and Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow for talks with Putin as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Iran and Washington remain stalled.

"We see how courageously and heroically the people of Iran are fighting for their independence, for their sovereignty," Putin said at the meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, according to Russian state news agencies.

"The significance of this conversation is hard to overestimate in terms of how the situation around Iran and in the Middle East is developing," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier.

RUSSIA, CHINA VETO UN RESOLUTION AIMED AT REOPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ, HOURS BEFORE TRUMP DEADLINE

The visit comes just days after Araghchi held talks with Pakistani mediators, where he said Iran had shared its position on ending the war but questioned whether the U.S. was "truly serious about diplomacy."

President Donald Trump has pushed back sharply on that characterization, signaling Washington believes it holds the advantage.

The meeting comes at a pivotal moment, as tensions at sea intensify and scrutiny grows over Russia’s role following reports Moscow may have shared intelligence with Tehran during the conflict.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned in March that Russia "should not be involved" in the escalating war, as reports emerged suggesting Moscow may be providing intelligence to Iran on U.S. military positions in the region.

U.S. officials say they are closely tracking any potential intelligence-sharing between Russia and Iran, while downplaying the confirmed operational impact. Still, the possibility of Russian support — whether through intelligence, technology transfers or other assistance — has raised concerns that Moscow could indirectly influence the battlefield without committing forces.

Araghchi has acknowledged that Russia is assisting Iran "in many different directions," though he has not publicly detailed the scope of that cooperation.

Russia has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the conflict, offering to help restore calm following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — actions Moscow has publicly condemned.

The Kremlin also has proposed storing Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a potential effort to ease tensions, though the U.S. has not taken up the offer.

The outreach comes as ties between Moscow and Iran have deepened in recent years. Iran in 2025 finalized a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Russia, which is building two additional nuclear reactors at Iran’s Bushehr facility — the country’s only nuclear power plant.

At the same time, Iran has supported Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, supplying Shahed drones that Moscow has used in strikes against Ukrainian targets.

"If they want to talk, all they have to do is call," Trump said over the weekend, adding that the U.S. has "all the cards."

Trump also has pointed to what he described as "tremendous infighting and confusion" within Iran’s leadership, arguing Iran is under internal pressure as the conflict drags on.

The president canceled a planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Pakistan, where they had been expected to participate in mediated talks with Iranian officials.

Trump said the trip would have been a waste of time, arguing there was no reason for U.S. officials to make an 18-hour flight when negotiations could take place remotely.

Both sides have since traded blame for the breakdown in talks, with Iran accusing the U.S. of making "excessive demands," while the Trump administration has insisted Iran must return to negotiations on U.S. terms.

Attempts at mediation, including efforts in Pakistan, have failed to produce progress, with both sides refusing to compromise on core issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

As diplomacy falters, the confrontation has increasingly shifted to the water.

The U.S. has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping, while Iran has restricted and at times threatened traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a high-stakes standoff over one of the world’s most vital energy corridors.

Roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through the narrow waterway, making disruptions there a direct threat to global markets.

TRUMP SEEKS WARSHIPS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO HELP SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Oil prices already have risen as tensions escalate and shipping traffic declines amid uncertainty over whether the strait will remain fully open.

Iran has floated a potential off-ramp, proposing to reopen the strait if the U.S. lifts its blockade and agrees to defer nuclear negotiations — a framework the Trump administration has shown little willingness to accept.

At the same time, Iran’s outreach to Moscow is drawing renewed scrutiny over Russia’s role in the conflict.

Araghchi has acknowledged that Russia is assisting Iran "in many different directions," though he has not publicly detailed the scope of that cooperation.

The meeting with Putin now signals Iran may be seeking to deepen that relationship as leverage — or as an alternative diplomatic channel — as direct talks with Washington falter.

With both sides dug in and pressure building at sea, the conflict is increasingly defined by a three-way dynamic: stalled diplomacy, rising military risk in the Strait of Hormuz and the growing question of how far Russia is willing to align itself with Iran.

Analysts warn that without a breakthrough, the standoff risks sliding further toward a broader confrontation — with global economic consequences tied directly to the fate of the world’s most important oil transit route.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Iranian mission to the United Nations, the Russian embassy and the White House for comment.

Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, has centered his campaign and progressive policies — which include anti-ICE and open borders messaging — on his faith background. At the same time, he has railed against Christian nationalism and called for the separation of church and state.

"James Talarico claims to be campaigning on love and kindness, but his Pastor made light of an assassination attempt on the President of the United States in Washington, DC this weekend where a Secret Service officer was seriously injured," Cornyn posted on X. "All Texans should be outraged and Talarico must condemn it."

On Sunday, Talarico's minister, Dr. Jim Rigby, mentioned the assassination attempt during his sermon, saying that he knows "a lot of people have mixed feelings" about the third attempt on Trump's life. His comment garnered light laughter from the audience.

WATCH: DEMS AND REPUBLICANS CLASH ON HOUSE FLOOR FOLLOWING MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR CHARLIE KIRK

"But it's really important that if we're going to be the healing agents of the world to realize that violence is not going to get rid of the problem we have," Rigby said.

He went on to say that the Confederacy is the "heart of the MAGA movement" and that it's a "fascistic movement."

The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday was cut short after an armed gunman rushed the doors leading to the ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel. He fired several shots before being apprehended by law enforcement.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the alleged attempted assassin Cole Thomas Allen, 31, was "set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president," according to a preliminary review of evidence.

CROCKETT DISMISSES CRITICS WHO THINK 'HITLER' AND 'FASCIST' COMPARISONS CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Fox News Digital reached out to Rigby and Talarico for comment.

National Republican Senate Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell slammed Talarico's silence.

"It's hard to believe James Talarico is serious about condemning political violence while he stands by and helps his pastor radicalize an entire congregation," Cantrell said.

Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft called Talarico's "self-proclaimed mentor's" remark "disgusting."

DEMOCRAT RISING STAR CALLED OUT FOR ‘CREEPY’ COMMENT ABOUT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN

"But it is nothing new," Kraft said. "Democrats have fanned the flames of radical left-wing violence for years and gleefully put targets on the back of President Trump, Charlie Kirk and conservatives, and conservatives across America. To Talarico and Democrats, murder is simply the cost of doing business in their conquest for power." 

Rigby is a vocal supporter of leftist causes. The Washington Examiner reported in March that Rigby spoke at a pro-Palestinian protest in 2009.

"If there is to be hope for humankind, then we must all realize that the true jihad is the struggle for peace and justice," Rigby said during his speech.

In the Islamic faith, jihad is understood by some to be an inner struggle meant to bring an individual closer to God, but the term has been invoked by terrorists and Islamic extremists to commit acts of violence in broader political contexts.

Iran International reported April 24 that Saeed Jalili, 60 — who already leads what has been described as a "shadow government" — is expected to succeed Ghalibaf following his sudden departure amid internal disputes.

Jalili also heads Iran’s ultra-hardline faction known as the Stability Front (Paydari), which is known to be a "bastion of ultraconservatism in Iran," according to reports.

Ali Safavi, an official with the Iranian opposition coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told Fox News Digital that Jalili "has evolved from a nuclear negotiator to an influential actor within the regime."

TRUMP'S LATEST HIRES AND FIRES RANKLE IRAN HAWKS AS NEW PRESIDENT SUGGESTS NUCLEAR DEAL

Ghalibaf was reportedly forced to step down after attempting to bring the nuclear issue into talks with Washington, a move that triggered backlash within Iran’s political establishment.

President Donald Trump had called off plans for U.S. envoys to travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on April 25.

The rivalry between Jalili and Ghalibaf is said to span more than a decade and intensified during the 2024 elections, when Jalili refused to step aside, contributing to the victory of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Safavi said, "The increased visibility of latent divisions stems from recurring nationwide uprisings, deep economic crises and the pressures of war, all of which have intensified internal feuding.

"Far from signaling transformation, these developments reflect accelerating erosion and mounting pressure, deepening fractures and leaving the regime ever weaker and more vulnerable," he added.

EXILED PRINCE LOOKS TO LEAD IRANIAN PEOPLE IN ENDING ISLAMIC REPUBLIC: 'OUR BERLIN WALL MOMENT'

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also seeking a continued leading role in negotiations, highlighting competing centers of influence over Iran’s diplomatic strategy, sources said.

Araghchi is in Islamabad, Pakistan, after returning from a short trip to Muscat, Oman, where he is holding high-level diplomatic talks on the conflict. Reports indicate Araghchi will travel to Moscow.

Jalili’s potential appointment, however, signals a hardening of Iran’s stance, with more emphasis on resistance over compromise.

"Within this regime, there are a number of constants espoused by all factions," Safavi said before highlighting that these were "repression, the export of terrorism and the pursuit of nuclear weapons."

"The factions all ultimately move along a common path: the preservation of power. They differ in methods, not in objectives," Safavi cautioned.

IRANIAN-AMERICANS AND DISSIDENTS RALLIED AGAINST 'MURDEROUS REGIME AGENTS' AS IRAN'S PRESIDENT ADDRESSED UNGA

Jalili, meanwhile, served as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013 under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later ran for president three times. He also served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

A former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Jalili lost his right leg at 21 during the Iran-Iraq War, earning him the title of "Living Martyr".

The Paydari Front, which he is associated with, opposes engagement with the West — particularly the 2015 nuclear deal — and advocates a doctrine of "active resistance."

During Hassan Rouhani’s presidency, Jalili also established a "shadow government" to counter the administration’s policies, especially the nuclear deal.

On April 7, he wrote on X: "Yes — ‘infrastructure’ is on the verge of collapse; the infrastructure of domination and the American order. And after that, a better foundation will be built."

A day earlier, he posted: "‘Shut up’ is not the appropriate response to Trump’s ramblings; let him speak more. Nothing is more effective in laying bare the true nature of the United States than Trump’s outbursts."

"In dealing with this regime," Safavi said, "we must bear in mind that in the 45 years since the mullahs consolidated their rule in 1981 by crushing all peaceful political life, so-called reformists have governed for nearly half that time — presiding over some of its darkest crimes."

"These include the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, the assassination of dissidents abroad, the chain murders of intellectuals inside Iran and the relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons."

The route from Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to Turkey and on to Europe, is advancing "with discipline," Middle East Council on Global Affairs analyst Muhanad Seloom told Fox News Digital, calling it a "permanent" and "transformative" wartime shift.

Seloom’s comments came as President Donald Trump warned Tehran against further escalation in the Gulf and signaled the U.S. is prepared to act to keep the strait open.

Iranian forces have laid mines and threatened commercial traffic in the narrow waterway. As of Sunday, the shipping route remains effectively closed.

IRAN IS 'TRYING TO GIVE THE GLOBAL ECONOMY A HEART ATTACK' BY CLOSING STRAIT OF HORMUZ, UAE MINISTER SAYS

"Iraq’s Development Road means every container moving through Basra instead of Iranian-controlled waters is a reduction in Tehran’s leverage over Iraq," said Seloom.

"The real scale, independent estimates put the Development Road closer to $24 billion, and the project is now moving with discipline," he said.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani inaugurated the first 63-kilometer stretch of the Development Road in 2025. Phase 1 is due for completion by 2028.

"What was described by the Iraqi government as a flagship of Iraqi statecraft now has a regional rationale that governments and financiers treat as essential rather than aspirational," Seloom, an assistant professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, explained.

"Sudani seems to be positioning Iraq exactly where he thinks its geography always suggested, as a connecting state between the Gulf, Turkey and Europe," he said.

WATCH SHIPPING THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ GRIND TO A HALT AMID IRAN CONFLICT

But other regional infrastructure, Seloom says, is also being pushed forward in parallel.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West Petroline pipeline is operating near its 7 million-barrel-per-day capacity, with expansion plans under review.

The UAE’s ADCOP pipeline to Fujairah is also at maximum use, with a second line under discussion, he said. "Turkey’s Zangezur and Middle Corridors bypass Iran via the Caucasus and are four to five years out."

He added: "Six Gulf-backed overland fiber projects are also underway through Syria, Iraq and the Horn of Africa."

Iran reimposed closure measures on the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, reducing traffic to just a handful of vessels per day compared with a pre-war average of roughly 130 to 140.

The restrictions, including on ships, have come under fire in recent days, and interceptions trace back to the start of the war on Feb. 28, when Tehran first moved to block transit following U.S.-Israeli strikes.

IRAN WAR, 11 DAYS IN: US CONTROLS SKIES, OIL SURGES AND THE REGION BRACES FOR WHAT’S NEXT

"Hormuz remains indispensable for energy, but it is no longer treated as a default. That shift is permanent given the war," Seloom said.

For Iraq’s corridor, it is "potentially transformative," Seloom said, with $4 billion per year in projected transit revenue and a repositioning from an oil rentier state to a logistics state.

"Turkey will be the single largest beneficiary. Combined with the Zangezur and Middle Corridors, Ankara becomes the overland bridge between Asia and Europe," he said. "Europe will have an additional overland option on a 2028-plus timeline, but nothing for the current crisis. It marginally reduces structural dependence on the unreliable Suez–Red Sea axis."

The attack happened Saturday when an explosive device was detonated on a bus traveling along the Pan-American Highway in the municipality of Cajibio. So far, 15 women and five men are among the victims, according to Octavio Guzmán, governor of the region of Cauca.

US DESIGNATES COLOMBIA'S CLAN DEL GOLFO AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, CITING NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING

He wrote on X that the attack injured 36 others, three of whom are in intensive care. Guzmán noted that five of the injured are minors who are expected to recover.

Colombia’s Institute of Legal Medicine said that specialists including dentists, anthropologists and forensic doctors are identifying the victims.

AT LEAST 80 PEOPLE KILLED IN NORTHEAST COLOMBIA AS PEACE TALKS FAIL, OFFICIAL SAYS

The bombing is the latest attack in the region, with more than two dozen incidents reported in the past three days in southwestern Colombia. The region is home to illegal armed groups who vie for control of coca leaf cultivation areas and for sea and river access routes to run drug trafficking operations to Central America and Europe.

Gen. Hugo López, commander of Colombia’s armed forces, has described the incident as a "terrorist act." He blamed it on the network of a man known as "Iván Mordisco" — one of Colombia’s most wanted figures — and the Jaime Martínez faction. Both are dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the attacks against the civilian population and called on authorities to investigate the incidents and "guarantee justice for the victims."

Guzmán declared three days of mourning on Sunday in memory of the victims.

Amid a tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the administration tightened the screws on Iraq by stopping U.S. dollar shipments to Baghdad. The growing disagreements over policy between the U.S. and Iraq could lead to weakening Iran’s presence in the region and advance U.S. war aims against Tehran.

In a statement against Iraq’s government, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "The United States has consistently been clear we will take all measures to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities in Iraq, protect U.S. interests against Iran-aligned terrorist militias in Iraq, and make clear our concerns about the Iraqi government’s failure to prevent this terrorism."

US WARNS IRAQ MUST ACT AGAINST IRAN-BACKED MILITIA ATTACKS ON AMERICAN ASSETS

The spokesperson added, "While we acknowledge the efforts of Iraqi Security Forces to respond to terrorist attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups, we continue to emphasize the Iraqi government’s failure to prevent these attacks while some elements associated with the Iraqi government continue to actively provide political, financial, and operational cover for the militias adversely impacts the U.S.-Iraq relationship. The United States will not tolerate attacks on U.S. interests and expects the Iraqi government to immediately take all measures to dismantle the Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq."

The Wall Street Journal first reported last week about the security and financial penalties imposed on Iraq. According to the report, the U.S. halted security cooperation programs with Iraq’s military and stopped "a cargo-plane delivery of nearly $500 million in U.S. banknotes, the proceeds from Iraqi oil sales from Federal Reserve Bank of New York accounts."  

The newspaper said it was the second blocked delivery of dollars to the Central Bank of Iraq since the start of the U.S.-Israel war on Feb. 28 against Iran. 

The Treasury Department declined to comment on the blocked payments.

An Iraqi official told Fox News Digital, "With regard to relations with the United States, Iraq views them as an important partnership based on shared interests and cooperation. The two sides have fought together in a decisive battle against ISIS, reflecting the depth and significance of this relationship."

In reference to the pro-Iran militias, the Iraqi official said, "As for the issue of armed factions, it is important to note that the Iraqi reality is highly complex, with overlapping political, security and social dimensions. Some of these factions also possess political and popular influence. Accordingly, addressing this issue requires careful and gradual approaches grounded in a deep understanding of the domestic context, in a way that strengthens state authority and ensures that weapons are confined to the hands of the state while maintaining internal stability."

TRUMP THREATENS TO END IRAQ SUPPORT OVER AL-MALIKI COMEBACK BID TIED TO IRAN INFLUENCE

The official added, "External measures that fail to take into account the particularities of this reality may lead to counterproductive outcomes and negatively affect internal balances, which would not serve the stability efforts undertaken by Iraq and its partners, foremost among them Washington."

The PMF is an umbrella organization of militias largely loyal to the Islamic Republic of Iran — the world’s worst state-sponsor of terrorism, according to the State Department. Members of the PMF have launched attacks on U.S. assets in Iraqi Kurdistan and against Iraqi Kurds — a valuable U.S. ally in the Mideast.

A senior Kurdish official told Fox News Digital, "The dollar pause is part of the nuclear option in the Treasury Department, and the Americans have always been reluctant to leverage it. The Iraqis, meanwhile, have been cruel to their partners — Americans and the KRG [Kurdish Regional Government], as this war has shown — and now Washington is drawing a red line."

The Kurdish official said, "They’ve made it clear things will only get worse for Iraq if militias resume attacks against U.S. interests, including in the Kurdistan Region. It’s high time the Americans pulled this lever; for too long, it has allowed Iran to pick a premier and dictate the rules, despite repeated encouragement to veto Iran’s cut-outs in Iraq."

Both Iraqi and Kurdish officials said the government is in flux as the different sides position themselves to select a new Iraqi prime minister.

IRAQI STATE BANK ACCUSED OF PROCESSING PAYMENTS FOR HOUTHI TERRORISTS WHO DISRUPT RED SEA COMMERCE

The Trump administration opposes the return of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki because of his close ties to Iran. 

The Kurdish official stressed the role of the majority Shiite population in Iran: "In the end, though, it’s still the Shia house that chooses the premiership. They have some latitude, but ultimately, they will select a candidate acceptable to both Iran and the United States. That’s the game — and America has always reacted to Iran’s game. This time, however, Washington appears intent on influencing the outcome rather than just observing it."

The official added, "This matters especially because Iraq depends on oil, and its proceeds are deposited in the U.S. Federal Reserve and American banks. How Washington behaves vis-à-vis those deposits influences the process and reconfigures the balance within the Shia house. It matters enormously."

Entifadh Qanbar, a former spokesman for the deputy prime minister of Iraq, warned that there is a pressing need for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudan to swiftly dismantle the PMF because they represent a clear and present danger to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

He told Fox News Digital, "The Iraqi government also provides these groups with state identification cards, vehicles, and official government license plates under the cover of the PMF structure. This allows them to enter Baghdad’s high-security Green Zone at will and threaten the U.S. Embassy or any Iraqi state institution."

To underscore the dangers of the PMF, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday a $10 million bounty on the terrorist leader of the pro-Iranian militia Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA).
 

The U.S. embassy on Monday wrote on X that the pro-Iran militia "Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA) terrorists have launched attacks across Iraq and the region, including the April 8 ambush of U.S. diplomats near the Baghdad International Airport.  HAAA terrorists continue to undermine Iraqi sovereignty while threatening the safety and security of both Iraqi and U.S. civilians. We will not tolerate attacks on U.S. interests and expect all measures will be taken to dismantle Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups in Iraq."

Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, was taken into custody by police in Bennington, Vermont on Friday night after she arrived at a family home in that town "appearing highly distraught," and having a visible, bloody neck injury.

"Officers attempted to engage her in conversation and, during the interaction, became increasingly concerned for the welfare of her children," the Bennington Police Department said in a release.

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Police say they contacted Wellesley authorities for a welfare check at her Massachusetts home. When Wellesley police arrived on the scene, they made a grisly discovery. They say MacAusland's two children were found dead.

They took MacAusland into custody as a fugitive from justice, and said Massachusetts issued a criminal warrant for two counts of murder. She is being held in the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Vermont and will be arraigned Monday afternoon at Rutland Criminal Division court.

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The court said it did not know whether Rutland has an attorney.

MacAusland's husband, Samuel MacAusland, filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage, citing an "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage," court records show. Those documents also list their two children, seven-year-old Kai and six-year-old Ella. Samuel was seeking custody of the children.

The children attended Schofield Elementary School.

"We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of two of our WPS students, a second-grader and kindergartener at Schofield Elementary School," Wellesley Public schools said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

"This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community. Our crisis team is planning support for students, staff, and families as we prepare for the reopening of school on Monday. I ask that we all keep this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

She's right. This email tries hard to look like it came from the Social Security Administration, complete with official branding and a serious tone. But once you slow down, the warning signs start to show. Let's break it down so you know exactly what to watch for.

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SSA IMPERSONATION SCAMS ARE GETTING MORE PERSONAL

The message says there is a "Security Notice to Active Your Information" tied to a case number. It urges you to download a security update by a specific date to keep your account safe. There's a big "Download now" button front and center. That's the hook. This is a classic phishing setup designed to get you to click before you think.

Here are the warning signs that show this email is not what it claims to be.

The email comes from a random address that has nothing to do with the Social Security Administration. Official emails from government agencies come from .gov domains. This one does not.

The subject line says "Security Notice to Active Your Information." It should say "activate," not "active." Small errors like this are often a giveaway that something is not right and can signal a scam email.

The email warns, "You are required to download your updated statement by April 14, 2026." It pushes you to act quickly with a firm deadline. Scammers rely on that pressure, so you do not take the time to verify. Real government notices rarely demand immediate action through email.

The email urges you to click a "Download Now" button to get your "updated statement." This is a huge warning sign. The message is trying to get you to download and install a file which could contain malware that gives attackers access to your device or personal data.

The Social Security logo and layout are designed to build trust. Scammers copy these elements to make emails look legitimate. The message even includes a line that says, "This email was sent to you by the Social Security Administration and was produced and distributed at the expense of U.S. taxpayers." That kind of official-sounding language is meant to reassure you, but it does not mean the email is real.

The Social Security Administration has made this clear: They do not ask for sensitive information or send software downloads through email. That alone tells you this message is not legitimate.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PHISHING SCAM TARGETS RETIREES

If you click the "Download now" button, a few things could happen:

In many cases, you won't even realize it happened until later.

These emails work because they mix fear with familiarity. People trust names like Social Security. They worry about their accounts. That combination makes it easier to trick someone into clicking. The design looks polished. The message feels urgent. The goal is simple: get you to act before you think. 

These simple steps can help you avoid falling for this type of phishing email.

 1) Pause before you act

If an email asks you to download something or act fast, stop and take a breath. Urgency is one of the biggest scam tactics.

Look closely at the email domain. Government agencies use .gov addresses. Anything else is a red flag. 

If the email claims to be from a government agency, contact that agency through its official website or phone number to confirm. 

Do not click links or download attachments from unexpected emails. Instead, go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself.

BE AWARE OF EXTORTION SCAM EMAILS CLAIMING YOUR DATA IS STOLEN

Install strong antivirus software and keep it updated. It can help block malicious downloads and warn you before you open something dangerous. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

Consider using a data removal service to reduce how much of your personal information is exposed online. Less data available means less for scammers to exploit. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Make sure your phone and computer have the latest updates. Security patches fix vulnerabilities that scammers often target.

Enable alerts for important accounts so you can spot unusual activity quickly if something goes wrong.

Forward scam emails to the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or report them through the SSA fraud hotline. You can also mark the message as spam in your inbox. Reporting scams helps protect others and can assist investigators in stopping these attacks.

Candace trusted her instincts and flagged this email right away. That quick pause likely saved her from a bigger problem. Scammers are getting better at making messages look real. But the red flags are still there if you know where to look.

If a message looks real and feels urgent, would you pause or click first?  Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

The jury recommended a 60-year prison sentence last week for 41-year-old Lyndsay Spegal. If you're thinking that sounds like a long time behind bars for an attempted ear infection curing slap, you're right.

On top of the allegations of violence against her daughter, she was also growing psychedelic substances in her home, reports News On 6, which was located less than 300 feet from an elementary school.

Claremore woman found guilty for child abuse, drug charges near school

The case started last July when the Claremore Police received a tip about the teenager being slapped. Spegal's daughter told the investigators that her mother became violent when using drugs, including DMT.

After initially claiming she had slapped her daughter to clear an ear infection, Spegal told police that she did so because her daughter used profanity, but added that it had still helped with the ear infection.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

A warrant was served and officers reported that they found six jars of what they believed was DMT. They also found a grow box for psilocybin mushrooms, smoking devices, and seeds. Spegal, according to the arrest report the local outlet states, described DMT as "a gift from God and changes lives."

The daughter had testified during the trial about prior violent incidents with her mother, including one where her ear was bleeding because she was hit so hard. Spegal, who represented herself, tried to relay that her actions were out of love. The jury wasn’t buying it.

The multiple other witnesses who testified against her had made a strong enough case. She's not a doctor nor is she a lawyer. It's highly unlikely that you can slap an ear infection out of someone and I'd bet it's equally unlikely that representing herself helped her cause any.

Spegal was found guilty on one count each of child abuse, child neglect and endeavoring to manufacture a controlled substance. According to Law & Crime, sentencing in the case is scheduled for June 30.

I had anticipated a very long security line and about an hour wait to enter the hotel. I brought my paper ticket and my passport identification.

To my surprise, the security was lax to put it lightly. Wearing my tux, I walked in the front door by flashing the paper ticket. There was no code to be scanned, and I never once was asked for my ID. I could have given that ticket to anyone or xeroxed several copies for friends who wanted to attend the pre-event parties. That was odd to say the least.

The pre-parties hosted by Fox and CNN and Wall Street Journal, with ladies donned in beautiful gowns, lasted about an hour, and then we were ushered into the 2,500-seat ballroom for dinner. We entered through an airport-like scanner, but never asked for ID.

OBAMA SETS INTERNET ABLAZE WITH 'SICK' REACTION TO THE 'MOTIVE' OF WHCD SHOOTER

The room was packed tight and at 7 p.m. President Trump entered to shallow applause — after all, these were mostly journalists unfriendly to Trump. What shocked me was that after the National Anthem and military color guard, Trump and the first lady sat for dinner front and center in front of 2,500 people. That didn’t strike me as safe or advisable. For a sniper, God forbid, it seemed he was a sitting duck.

It also struck me that the president, the vice president and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson were all in attendance. I am told five of the six in succession to the presidency were there for this crazy party. That didn’t seem advisable either.

About 15 minutes into the dinner, I was chatting with the Wall Street Journal reporters at my table when all hell broke loose. The Secret Service suddenly charged in with pistols and machine guns, and all of a sudden, I heard two loud booms, like a bomb going off. There was screaming, and we all ducked down and many climbed under their tables.

I looked toward the president, and he was surrounded by Secret Service. They pulled him out of his seat and shoved him toward the exit. My heart sank, and I panicked when I saw Trump appear to stumble to the ground. You can see that on the video. Oh my God, I gasped, in horror. Trump has been hit.

Please NO! I frantically worried.

None of us knew what was going on.

The Secret Service agents stood on the tables. I was seated at the table next to Speaker Johnson and had just been chatting with him. The Secret Service began yelling: "Where is the speaker?" His seatmates had pulled him under the table evidently. He was ushered out.

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For about five minutes it was a frightening environment, although people stayed mostly calm. I was impressed with the reporters at our table who were instantly filing stories and taking cell phone photos of the pandemonium even as the safety of the situation was still unresolved.

The Secret Service was phenomenal in their instantaneous response. I was heartsick that Trump might have again been hit with a bullet.

TRUMP ATTRIBUTED SURVIVAL AT BUTLER RALLY TO 'HAND OF GOD': AUTHOR AND WITNESS REVEALS FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT

Everyone stood in mostly stunned silence, and we were told of a lone gunman who had been taken down and that one agent was shot.

We didn’t get the word that Trump was unharmed until about 20 minutes later.

This was clearly a major security breakdown on multiple levels. It was easier to get into the Hilton to see the president and to get 30 feet from him than to attend a sporting event at a Wizards basketball game down the street.

Anyone with a photo copy of the ticket could have entered. No one ever actually inspected my ticket to ensure it was authentic. I saw one person in line enter with a ticket and his date didn’t have one, but they waved her in.

Given the heightened threat to the president of late and the other highest ranking government officials packed in the room, none of this made any sense to me.

Obviously, these protocols need to be fixed.

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DeVito, who plays Frank Reynolds on the show, entered the squared circle as the "Trash Man." He explained in the episode that his gimmick was that he enters the ring with a trashcan, throws trash in the ring and eats garbage before bashing his opponent in the head with the can.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

There’s a slim possibility that the "Trash Man" could come to life.

Comedian Kevin Nealon challenged DeVito to a match in either WWE or All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

"I challenge Danny DeVito to a match in the WWE or AEW," Nealon wrote on X.

He followed up after a few hours, "I’m here. You’re quiet."

In the midst of the social media posts, AEW CEO Tony Khan appeared to have an interest in booking the match.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Do you guys own these outfits," Khan wrote on X with a photo of Nealon and DeVito in the "Hans and Franz" skit on "Saturday Night Live."

Nealon responded that he did have the outfits.

"Then you guys are in," Khan responded.

For what it’s worth, a Reddit user pointed out recently that AEW star Chris Jericho appeared to be using Nealon’s "Mr. Subliminal" character from the comedy sketch show in his own way. If a match is set up, everything will soon come full circle.

AEW has used celebrities in the past for some of their events. Comedian Wayne Brady got involved in a match at Revolution. Social media influencer "Big Boom" A.J. and his family have also been featured in matches on several occasions.

"Those who constantly falsely label and slander the president as a fascist, as a threat to democracy, and compare him to Hitler to score political points, are fueling this kind of violence," Leavitt told reporters Monday at the White House. 

"The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend."

Leavitt said the White House had expected to spend the evening discussing "speech and the First Amendment" with reporters before, but "the night was hijacked by a crazed anti-Trump individual who traveled across the country to assassinate the president and as many administration officials as possible."

FORMER SECRET SERVICE OFFICIALS WARN OF LOW-TECH THREATS FACING TRUMP AFTER LATEST MAR-A-LAGO BREACH

Leavitt thanked law enforcement and the Secret Service for rushing into action, singling out an agent who she said was struck in the chest but saved by a bulletproof vest.

She said Trump, after returning to the Oval Office, wanted to check on that agent personally and had tried to remain at the event Saturday night even after shots were fired.

Leavitt, seated next to Trump and first lady Melania Trump when the gunfire erupted, described the president as "calm amid the chaos."

BESSENT BLAMES LEFT'S POLITICAL 'VENOM' FOR VIOLENCE AFTER DEADLY MAR-A-LAGO INCIDENT

"President Trump is fearless because he loves this country, and he is willing to put his own life on the line to deliver on the promises that he made to the American public," she said.

"And while we are blessed to have a fearless president, we should not live in a country where such constant fear of political violence permeates our society every single day. We can and we should have fierce disagreement in this country. 

"As you all know, we disagree often – myself in this role and all of you in the news media – but those disagreements must remain peaceful. 

"Debating, peaceful protesting and voting are how we need to settle disagreements, not bullets."

She repeatedly blamed Democrats, media figures and online commentators for what she called a years-long effort to demonize Trump and his supporters, saying such rhetoric had helped create a climate that inspires violence.

"Nobody in recent years has faced more bullets and more violence than President Trump," Leavitt said. "This political violence stems from a systemic demonization of him and his supporters by commentators, yes, by elected members of the Democrat Party and even some in the media. 

WISCONSIN DEM'S BAR LAMENTS 'WE ALMOST GOT FREE BEER DAY' FOR TRUMP ASSASSINATION

"This hateful and constant and violent rhetoric directed at President Trump, day after day for 11 years, has helped to legitimize this violence and bring us to this dark moment."

Leavitt denounced the recent comment by ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about the first lady having the "glow of an expectant widow," calling it "completely deranged." 

TRUMP FACES UNPRECEDENTED THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Pressed by reporters on public fears about the president’s safety, Leavitt said Trump continues to trust the Secret Service and argued the security perimeter worked because the suspect was stopped before inflicting massive harm.

She added that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles would convene a meeting with Department of Homeland Security leaders, Secret Service officials and White House operations staff to review procedures and ensure Trump’s safety at future events.

Asked why she returned to the podium instead of taking maternity leave, Leavitt said that serving as Trump’s spokeswoman is a "public service," and that the president’s determination after the shooting inspired the White House staff to "keep going and keep fighting every day."

 Justice Department and FBI to counter online conspiracy theories that began spreading after the shooting.

Leavitt also used the briefing to press Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security, calling the prolonged lapse a "national scandal." She warned that continued obstruction could place more strain on the Secret Service ahead of major events and the next presidential election.

Leavitt said the administration’s immediate focus was getting facts out quickly and relying on what she described as transparency from the

"I hope and pray that this is the last time I speak to you, for some time, until after my maternity leave," Leavitt concluded at the end of a short briefing before the Justice Department's news conference announcing the charges for Saturday's shooting suspect.

The fast-casual chain's new Salad Stuffers, which launched April 8, are marketed as "a bread bowl for your salad." 

But workers posting on Reddit claim the offering requires throwing away significant portions of Italian bread — and in some cases, leftover salad — according to an article in Today.com.

VIRAL HACK COULD SAVE YOU FROM SPENDING ON 'INSANELY EXPENSIVE' AIRPORT FOOD

In Panera's announcement earlier this month about the new category, chief marketing officer Mark Shambura said guests in testing "couldn't get enough" of the new roll, and called the concept a fresh spin on the chain's signature bread bowl.

The reaction online, though, has been less enthusiastic.

"The core of the bread is thrown out, and a good chunk of the salad gets tossed in the trash, too," someone claiming to be an employee at the chain wrote on Reddit's Panera forum. 

"These are a huge waste of money and food. ... I wouldn't recommend spending your hard-earned cash on them."

Another poster shared a photo on the same Reddit community, showing a tray piled with hollowed-out bread pieces. 

RESTAURANT OWNER COULD 'GO BROKE' UNDER BLUE STATE'S PROPOSED TO-GO PACKAGING BAN, HE WARNS

The person wrote, "My manager went to a meeting about menu changes and was told these scraps cannot be given to customers or fed to birds."

Some commenters also questioned whether the item represents a true innovation — arguing it closely resembles a standard sandwich with minor changes.

"What's a Salad Stuffer roll? They shove a salad into a hollowed-out roll? Isn't that just a sandwich then?" one Reddit user wrote.

Another chimed in, "Why not just make a sandwich??"

DAIRY QUEEN'S NEW DRIVE-THRUS WITHOUT HUMANS SPARK BACKLASH FROM FRUSTRATED CUSTOMERS

Others suggested ways the leftover bread could be repurposed to reduce waste.

"We made croutons and had a snack," one commenter wrote — while another said, "I will be making French toast casserole with these scraps."

MCDONALD'S CEO DRAGGED AGAIN AFTER ANOTHER AWKWARD FOOD VIDEO: 'NUGGET BITE WAS WORSE'

Said yet another person, "If the CEO were a smart man, these would be the new croutons.

Someone else added, "They should bake the dough with a tinfoil thing inside so the bread is hollow and doesn't need to be wasted!!"

Others suggested a bread pudding dessert or stuffing.

One commenter simply exclaimed, "I want my bread guts!"

Outside reviewers have also raised questions about whether the product is worth the price, adding to criticism from some customers.

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In a review, Tasting Table said Panera's Salad Stuffers were "meh" as expected. The outlet praised a few heartier combinations, such as the Steakhouse Salad Stuffer, but argued against the value.

The review ultimately recommended that customers just order a half salad, take the free baguette on the side and make their own version.

Some critics have also pointed out that the item bears a resemblance to offerings from Bread Zeppelin, a Texas-based chain known for its salad-stuffed baguettes, Today.com reported.

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Bread Zeppelin also leaned into the comparison.

"Hey @PaneraBread, Zeppelin's walked, so Stuffers could ... try," the company posted on social media. 

It also promoted a limited-time deal encouraging customers to bring in a Panera receipt to receive a free salad-stuffed baguette to compare the two.

The chain has also emphasized that it repurposes leftover bread into items like croutons and bread pudding.

But not everyone was so quick to toss the Salad Stuffer. 

One Reddit commenter said the item was "delicious" and described it as "like a Panera version of a wrap."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Panera, which is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, for comment.

In its announcement about the new Salad Stuffer item, the brand said, "Panera chefs and bakers innovated the new Italian Stuffer Roll to deliver the ideal balance of fluffy, soft bread and a freshly prepared dressed salad in every bite. Guests can make any salad on the menu a Stuffer, from classics like the Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken or Caesar Salad to two bold, chef-crafted options created specifically for this new innovation, available at participating cafés."

Panera Bread first opened in 1987. As of March 31, 2026, there were 2,251 bakery-cafés in 48 states, in Washington, D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, the company said in its release. 

Last Thursday, minutes before the start of the NFL Draft, Russini deactivated her X account after users resurfaced old posts in which she joked about the name of her son, Michael. If she does not reactivate the account within 30 days, X will permanently delete the page along with all of her followers.

The absence of a social media following would make any return difficult.

A television network is not going to hire a reporter who resigned from The New York Times after reportedly asking her to provide proof that her relationship with Vrabel was appropriate. If she eventually returns to media, it will almost certainly be exclusively online, where a social following is paramount.

MIKE VRABEL ADMITTING TO "DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS" DIDN’T HELP HIM OR DIANNA RUSSI

Fortunately for Russini, there are digital platforms where ethics are not necessary. Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media is one. Russini has a pre-existing relationship with Le Batard, who has shown a willingness to work with controversial personalities if they align politically. He previously hired Howard Bryant after he was arrested for allegedly beating and choking his wife.

However, Russini built her career as a reporter. Sources are likely to be less inclined to work with her going forward, given her reputation and lack of a mainstream platform. If she cannot offer insight, viewers will have little reason to consume her content.

Likewise, Russini would have a hard time convincing readers to pay for her content on a platform like Substack.

PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL RESPONDS AFTER PHOTOS WITH NEW YORK TIMES NFL REPORTER LEAK

Consider that, in her initial denial, she issued a statement to the New York Post stating that it was merely professional. If she lied, she didn't just lie to her former employer. She also lied to her readers. The idea that those readers would then turn around and pay for her content seems unlikely.

Even at just 43 years old, Russini will always be known as the reporter caught hugging and holding hands with Mike Vrabel at an "adults-only" Arizona resort.

That is now her reputation, and one she will struggle to shed.

We don't see much of an audience for a scandal-plagued Dianna Russini, beyond the initial buzz over whether she addresses the photos.

The general public no longer trusts her. Nor should it. And, according to OutKick sources, her colleagues didn't trust her before the scandal.

For all intents and purposes, Russini’s career is over.

CNN has been in breaking news mode, focusing extensively on the assassination attempt at the WHCA Dinner attended by President Donald Trump on Saturday night. An episode of "Eva Longoria: Searching for France" was also preempted, but that didn’t stop critics from lampooning Zakaria.

"The Imperial Presidency," which was set to premiere on Sunday night, aimed to explore "how, over decades, presidential authority has steadily stretched beyond the limits envisioned by the Founders—evolving into a system increasingly vulnerable to abuse and capable of enabling an unscrupulous leader to edge toward autocracy," according to a CNN press release. 

MELANIA TRUMP CALLS FOR ABC TO FIRE JIMMY KIMMEL OVER ‘HATEFUL AND VIOLENT RHETORIC'

The CNN press release also claimed, "Trump has pushed the boundaries of presidential authority—defying Congress, ignoring the courts, denying due process, attacking free speech, prosecuting political opponents, launching a war unilaterally, and deploying troops domestically."

Zakaria took to X on Sunday to inform that his documentary would air at a later date, prompting one critic to respond, "They keep having to delay programming on right-wing fascism because of left-wing violence."

"Our latest screed against our evil emperor will be delayed until we return to our screechy normal," NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham joked. 

New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz asked, "Is it because your rhetoric is making people violent and crazy?"

WHO IS COLE ALLEN? CALIFORNIA MAN NAMED AS SUSPECT IN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING

Podcaster Jim Treacher mocked the notion of an "imperial presidency" when multiple CNN journalists were expected to dine with Trump on Saturday before gunfire brought the dinner to a sudden halt. 

"It's an ‘imperial presidency,’ yet a whole roomful of your highly principled colleagues voluntarily sat in the same room with him," Treacher wrote. "Oh, wait, I forgot: They wore First Amendment pocket squares! That's brave."

 WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING SHARPENS FOCUS ON TRUMP’S BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

Many others took to social media with thoughts: 

CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is common for major breaking news coverage on cable news to preempt pre-planned weekend and late-night programs.

Authorities have identified Cole Allen, 31, as the suspect arrested in the shooting that happened at the Washington Hilton hotel as President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior Cabinet officials were attending the media dinner.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

Analysts say this could be a turning point in Moscow’s influence in West Africa. Russia has been grabbing Mali’s precious minerals, including gold, in return for promising to protect the country against the rebels. Sunday, though, rebels reported that Russian mercenaries have been forced to retreat from their base in the northern city of Kidal.

"The attacks are a major blow to Russia", Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told the Associated Press. He added, "The (Russian) mercenaries had no intelligence about the attacks and were unable to protect major cities. They have unnecessarily worsened the conflict by not distinguishing between civilians and combatants."

Video of dead soldiers who appear with their features to be Russian, and of Russian military vehicles reportedly leaving Kidal, has been seen by Fox News Digital.

US ALLOWING SOME NIGERIA EMBASSY STAFF TO EVACUATE OVER 'DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION'

The Defense News Nigeria media site reported that Russia’s Africa Corps stated in Kidal "they were heavily outnumbered by a ratio of 6 to 1," adding "the Corps claimed that between 10,000 and 12,000 fighters were involved in yesterday’s attacks. There are 2,000 Russian mercenaries operating in Mali. The Malian government pays Wagner $10 million per month for security," according to the Nigerian publication.

A Russian blog on Telegram Monday, claiming to come from Kidal, stated "the units of the African Corps that were stationed and fought in Kidal left this settlement together with the military personnel of the Malian army. First of all, wounded servicemen and heavy equipment were evacuated. The personnel continues to carry out the assigned combat mission. The situation in the Republic of Mali remains difficult."

A spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, told the Associated Press that the Russian troops have withdrawn from the city after a "white" agreement was reached. This has not been confirmed by either Mali’s government or Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

TRUMP'S APPROACH TO AFRICA LAUDED BY TOP REPUBLICAN AS RECENT AIRSTRIKES SHOW 'OUTSIDE THE BOX' THINKING

Russia's ministry of foreign affairs said on its Telegram account that "two hundred and fifty militants attacked Bamako Senou International Airport and the military base located nearby. The Malian Armed Forces repelled the attack and are currently taking further steps to eliminate the militia that may have been, reportedly, trained by Western security agencies. Russia is deeply concerned about these developments. This terrorist activity poses a direct threat to the stability of friendly Mali and could have the most serious consequences for the entire region." 

Mali’s military junta, which first took power in a coup in 2020, Monday announced that both the chief of the armed forces’ general staff, Gen. Oumar Diarra, and the director of the national security agency, Gen. Modibo Koné, have been wounded in attacks.

The government confirmed earlier that Sadio Camara, said to be the second most important figure in Mali’s military junta, had been killed in the fighting. Camara was Mali’s defense minister, and is widely credited with bringing in Moscow’s mercenary Africa Corps to assist in battling the militia.

The rebels attempting to take over Mali are said to be jihadists from the Nusrat al-Islam (GSIM/JNIM) linked with the tribesmen of the FLA and other groups, including at least one linked with Islamic State. The GSIM’s declared aim is to turn Mali into an al Qaeda-linked Islamic caliphate with strict Sharia law.

"The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Mali," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital Monday, adding: "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected. We stand with the Malian people and government in the face of this violence. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to advance peace, stability, and security across Mali and the region."

The U.S. Embassy in Mali warned Sunday on its website that "U.S. citizens should continue to shelter in place, remain alert, follow local news for updates, and avoid areas where security operations may be underway."

On Monday, multiple reports said Malian troops and Russian mercenaries have also been forced by rebels to withdraw from the northern Malian city of Tessit. At the time of publication, this had not been confirmed by the Malian government.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Oklahoma City has utterly dominated Phoenix in this series: The Thunder have a +20.0 scoring margin and are winning all "four factors."

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The foul-merchant and reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has been tearing the Suns apart. Shai is averaging 34.7 points on 54.1% shooting and 8.0 assists in this series and has gotten to the foul line 38 times.

Yet, as we saw Sunday with the Kevin Durant-less Houston Rockets against the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s tough to sweep a team, regardless of how poorly they have played in the series or who is on their injury report.

Like Houston this past weekend, Phoenix will show professional pride and play OKC tough in Game 4. I’m not saying the Suns will prevent the sweep. But they will cover the spread. Or at least that’s how I’m betting it. 

It’s impossible to make a statistical argument for Phoenix here. Oklahoma City is outclassing the Suns in every way.

However, nearly 90% of the action is on the Thunder at the time of writing, per Pregame.com. While betting splits and "fading the market" can be an overrated handicapping angle, I’d rather be on the same side as the sportsbooks than the public.

AYO DOSUNMU'S 43-POINT EXPLOSION MAY NOT REPEAT AS TIMBERWOLVES TRY TO FINISH NUGGETS IN GAME 5

Also, OKC is missing its second-leading scorer, wing Jalen Williams, and Phoenix’s best scorers are healthy. Suns wing Dillon Brooks, SG Jalen Green and five-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker are all averaging 20+ points in this series. They just need a couple of the role players to step up, and they can steal a game.

Furthermore, if the refs swallow their whistles and don’t send Gilgeous-Alexander to the charity stripe every time he flops, it’ll be a lot harder for OKC to blow Phoenix out.

Again, most of this analysis is narrative-based because there just isn’t a basketball argument for betting the Suns Monday. But sometimes weird things happen in sports, especially in the playoffs, and I have a feeling Phoenix keeps Game 4 closer than the market does. 

_____________________________

Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.

Fifteen Ceres Air C31 drones were stolen from CAC International in Harrison, N.J., on March 24, according to The High Side Substack. The drones were allegedly stolen by a delivery driver who duped the company, the report said.

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In total, a Ceres Air C31 costs around $58,000, meaning that nearly $870,000 of equipment was allegedly stolen.

The report said that a fraudulent bill of lading was shown when picking up the drones, and CAC International allegedly considered them legitimate.

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The drones are equipped to hold and spray up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, reportedly causing concern inside the U.S. government.

"This was one of the most highly sophisticated thefts [the FBI] have seen in a long time, which is the main thing that has them so spooked," said an individual who was briefed on the situation, according to the report.

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Former FBI agent Steve Lazarus said the drones could be a danger to the public.

"Even common chemicals, used improperly, can be a public safety danger. Throw in the Internet recipes for biological and chemical weapons that anyone with a Tor browser has access to, and this is a potential nightmare scenario," Lazarus said in an interview with The High Side. "These aren’t hobby drones with cameras. They’re industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision."

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"The bureau is freaked out for a good reason," Lazarus said.

The U.S. Army raised concerns in a 2020 report, stating that such chemical-spraying drones could be used in attacks.

"Such drones are readily available and could be used as a delivery system for chemical or biological attacks," said the report.

"A UAS [chemical or biological warfare] delivery platform is a definite possibility, especially for developing nations," the report said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI, Harrison Police Department, Ceres and CAC International for comment.

Professional golfers constantly tinker with equipment and jump from one club manufacturer to another throughout their careers, but Rose mixing it up comes across as a very strange move for a number of different reasons.

LIBERALS MELT DOWN AFTER LEARNING PGA TOUR IS RETURNING TO TRUMP-OWNED GOLF COURSE

For starters, Rose is currently the No. 5 player in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and has been playing great in 2026 with a win at the Farmers Insurance Open in February and a T-3 finish at the Masters earlier this month. Those are mighty strong accolades for a player who will turn 46 in July.

Rose has also played, and lost handily, in the exclusive equipment game fairly recently.

In 2019, Rose signed a multiyear equipment deal with Japanese manufacturer Honma. He won with Honma clubs in the bag very early that season, but when 2020 rolled around the missed cuts starting piling up and Honma clubs disappeared from the bag completely.

The Honma experience quickly became a disastrous one for Rose, and while McLaren could end up being the next great golf brand, his taking another chance on a brand that has proven exactly nothing in the golf space is questionable, at best.

FITZPATRICK BROS FULFILL THEIR DREAMS, FURYK CAPTAINCY SENDS A MESSAGE, AND THE SCHEFFLER-KORDA COMPS GROW

Rose, who has earned over $77 million in his career, will be getting paid by McLaren to use its equipment and promote the brand. But, how big does the sponsorship check exactly have to be to force you to switch equipment in the middle of a season that you've been operating quite nicely in? We'll never know the answer to that question, but the money, combined with the input Rose has on the manufacturing side of McLaren Golf's operations, has to be quite impactful.

"From the beginning, this has been a passion project. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved from the outset – working with the team, testing the clubs and helping shape what they’ve become," Rose said while speaking of the move to McLaren.

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"That level of involvement, combined with the standards McLaren brings to everything they do, made this an easy decision for me. I’m excited to put the clubs in play and watch the brand flourish."

Rose has been using a mixed bag of equipment in 2026, but is throwing the McLaren sticks right into action at this week's Cadillac Championship, a signature event on the PGA Tour hosted at Trump Doral.

With McLaren being a British brand and organization, and Rose being English himself, it's a natural fit on paper. Whether it's a natural fit inside the ropes, which is all that matters, only time will tell.

Props are due for McLaren for acquiring Rose's signature, but getting into an already-crowded golf equipment world, the same one where Nike couldn't even survive, is quite a leap.

The vote is coming at a moment when food prices are still painfully high, farms are going bankrupt at an alarming rate, and Americans across political divides are waking up to the toll that toxic agrochemicals are taking on the nation’s health.

The problem is: the Republican farm bill would make all of those challenges worse.

LAWMAKERS PROBE NATIONAL FFA OVER CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY TIES AND DEI PROGRAMS

At its best, a farm bill is supposed to do something straightforward and practical. It is supposed to help keep farms financially solvent, lower costs for consumers, strengthen rural communities, and improve access to healthy and sustainable food. It is one of the main ways the federal government decides what kinds of farming it rewards, what kinds of food it makes easier to buy, and what kinds of risks it is willing to tolerate in the name of production.

This year’s Republican bill is, alas, all about giveaways to the biggest industrial producers and chemical companies, as well as cuts to key anti-hunger programs and healthy food-and-farming investments in order to pay for unpopular priorities like the war in Iran. The bill enshrines the GOP’s major cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs for hungry kids. It would reduce funding for federal conservation and healthy-soil programs. And it includes language that would reinforce legal immunity for chemical companies and undermine local standards, including around schools and parks. 

The legislation is especially reckless in the context of what’s happening right now. USDA says food prices in February were 3.1% higher than a year earlier. Farm bankruptcies rose 46% in 2025. USDA also forecasts that net farm income will fall again in 2026. This is the moment when Congress should be helping farmers get off the costly chemical treadmill and helping to make healthy food affordable.

This week’s vote coincides with oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Monsanto v. Durnell, where a major chemical company is seeking a ruling that could make it far harder for farmers and families to sue after documented evidence of cancer from chemical exposure.

The Trump Justice Department filed an amicus brief siding with Monsanto against American farmers. This isn’t a technical legal dispute. It’s the question of whether people who were harmed by toxic pesticides can still seek accountability. President Donald Trump is on the wrong side of that argument. 

This isn’t an isolated case. In February, the president signed an executive order expanding domestic supply of carcinogenic glyphosate-based herbicides. Around the same time, the EPA reapproved dicamba for over-the-top use on cotton and soybeans, despite years of controversy over its drift onto neighboring crops and wild plants. Meanwhile, the arm of USDA that farmers rely on for help adopting organic, lower-input and soil-building practices, has lost nearly one in four staff. 

That is why this farm bill debate is such an important test of whether Republicans are serious about making America healthy again. If they are, they should work across the aisle on a farm bill that makes healthy food more affordable for Americans.

What would that look like?

First, a responsible farm bill would take on corporate power rather than entrench it. No pesticide immunity shield. No special protections for companies that keep dangers off labels while families, farmers and farmworkers bear the costs. A serious MAHA farm bill would keep the courts open to allow farmers compensation for proven harms caused by toxic chemicals. 

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Second, it would help farmers get off the costly chemical treadmill. That means fully funding conservation, technical assistance and organic transition programs to adopt lower-cost, lower-input methods. It means supporting cover crops, crop rotations, buffer strips and other practices that improve soil health while reducing long-term expenses. It means strengthening local and regional markets so farmers can keep more of the food dollar instead of sending it up the chain to a handful of big companies.

Third, it would make healthy food more affordable for American families. That means restoring support for healthier school meals, expanding access to fresh, local and lower-toxin foods in public institutions, and aligning federal purchasing with the goal of making healthier food easier to buy. It also means looking seriously at concrete measures like restricting pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation and expanding pesticide-free food procurement.

If Republicans truly want to claim the mantle of MAHA, this is the moment to prove it. 

Justin Talbot Zorn is a senior advisor at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington.

The Red Raiders announced on Monday that the transfer QB, who signed a lucrative deal with the Red Raiders this past offseason, would be gone for an unknown period of time. 

According to sources, this trigger point came after Sorsby was being investigated by the NCAA for a number of bets through an online company. This could also open up the possibility that the organization could punish Sorsby for his gambling actions, given the NCAA has a very strict policy on betting. 

Pete Thamel was first to report the NCAA's investigation into Sorsby for gambling. 

The school released a statement, which came about 30 minutes after the team was informed of what was transpiring with their starting quarterback, and him seeking professional help for his gambling addiction. 

"Texas Tech’s primary focus remains on fostering an environment where student-athletes feel empowered to prioritize their mental health and seek professional assistance," the statement read. "To protect the integrity of the recovery process, Texas Tech will have no further comment on Brendan’s status or treatment progress at this time. We kindly ask the media and the public to respect the privacy of Brendan and his family."

Cincinnati sues former quarterback Brendan Sorsby over $1M NIL buyout after Texas Tech transfer

After playing for Cincinnati last season, Sorsby entered the transfer portal. He would sign with Texas Tech, with a deal that reached nearly $6 million for the upcoming season, according to sources. 

He placed bets during his time at Indiana in 2022, though they were not on any game he participated in.

He then transferred to Cincinnati, where he played last season. OutKick reached out to the NCAA for statement, and received the following 

Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current, pending or potential investigations. However, the NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition. The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever reports are received.

On Monday, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire also released a statement regarding his starting quarterback.

"We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help," McGuire said. "Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health."

FERNANDO MENDOZA'S BROTHER ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL AFTER INDIANA WINS NATIONAL TITLE

While it is unknown how long Sorsby will be housed at the residential treatment facility, his status as the quarterback at Texas Tech will not change, though the NCAA is looking into his past online gambling. 

Where things go from here with Texas Tech is uncertain. Would the school be on the hook for his revenue-share contract if he were to be punished for his gambling? What if he were to be suspended for a period of time, or if Texas Tech was caught off guard by this all?

These are questions that Texas Tech lawyers are currently looking into, as this story continues to play out over the next few months.

The blood spatter on Nancy Guthrie's front porch suggests a single abductor took her out of her home, according to a former FBI profiler.

"If there was no blood spatter pattern inside the house, then outside by the front door or while she was going through the door this is where she put up a fight or refused to go any further," retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jim Clemente told Fox News Digital Monday.

"This is where she was assaulted. Most likely struck in the nose or mouth. She fell to her knees or on the ground, aspirated, then coughed up blood, which also dripped around the same spot."

EMAILS REVEAL REALITY TV CREW'S BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS TOS HERIFF NOW LEADING NANCY GUTHRIE PROBE

Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie. She had lived in her home in Tucson's Catalina Foothills neighborhood for decades before vanishing under suspicious circumstances on Feb. 1.

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Sources with knowledge of the case previously told Fox News Digital there were no signs of a struggle inside. A masked intruder appeared on doorbell camera video taken at Guthrie's front porch, and her back door was found propped open. Authorities have said they have not ruled out the possibility that multiple people could have been involved in her suspected kidnapping.

DNA TESTING IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE COULD TAKE MONTHS BUT MAY BE FAST-TRACKED, EXPERT SAYS

Clemente said he believes her abductor then carried her away with her face up, which limited additional blood spatter. Video taken after local authorities released the crime scene shows a concentration of blood drops near the mat at her front door. The trail grows thin and ends where her front walkway meets the edge of the driveway.

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"It rules out more than one person because if two people had control of her as they were leaving the house she would never have fallen to the ground," he said. "They would have been in control of her body and prevented her from resisting and fighting and falling after she was struck in the face."

She likely had her face down near the front door where images show the most blood, he said.

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"The larger droplets are low-velocity blood spatter that fell directly out of her mouth," he said. "Her face was facing downward when she coughed up the medium velocity small droplets, and it was within inches of the ground facing straight down."

There's no indication of "cast off" blood spatter, he said, which appears when blood is flung off of a moving object.

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"The lack of directionality of the blood splatter says that those drops fell straight down, and she wasn’t moving fast," he said. "So there is a contradiction in the evidence. I believe this was caused by the fact that she was carried from that first location to the car with her face up so only a minimum amount of blood was deposited on the walkway."

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He said it doesn't look like she was dragged and believes she had been struck in the face with a fist or possibly the butt of the suspect's handgun.

"This was not done very quickly because if it had been, the blood should’ve had a tail moving the direction that she was traveling," he said.

Dr. Michael Baden, a famed forensic pathologist, previously told Fox News Digital he suspected the blood drops came from Guthrie's hands or face.

"The nature of the blood spots with little pale centers or donut shapes are typical for drops that come from the nose or mouth, because they're mixed with air," he said in February.

"These are not innocent droplets," he added. "From the shape, number of droplets and the place of the droplets outside the house on the porch, they are entirely consistent and indicative of occurring during an abduction." 

Anyone with information is asked to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million for information that cracks the case.

Fox News' Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.

The woman went into labor aboard Delta flight 478 from Atlanta to Portland on April 24, Delta told Fox News Digital on Monday about the event.

She delivered the baby about 30 minutes before the aircraft landed at Portland International Airport.

CHILD BORN DURING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO US SPARKS HEATED DEBATE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP, LEGAL IDENTITY

"We extend our sincere thanks to the crew and medical volunteers on board who stepped in to provide care to a customer onboard prior to landing in Portland," Delta said. 

"The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority, and we wish the new family all the best."

The airline said the flight, which was carrying 153 passengers along with two pilots and four flight attendants, declared an emergency to receive priority handling from air traffic control before landing safely and being met by emergency medical services.

Two emergency medical technicians who were on board as passengers volunteered to assist, working alongside flight attendants and crew members to deliver the baby mid-flight, news outlet KOIN 6 reported.

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The EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, told KOIN they were returning from vacation when a flight attendant made an announcement asking for medical personnel.

With limited supplies available, the pair improvised using items from passengers and crew — including blankets and a shoelace provided by a flight attendant, the outlet noted.

"Within three really good pushes, the baby was out and doing perfect," Fritz told KOIN 6. 

"Mom was a rock star."

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The plane landed shortly after the delivery — and both the mother and newborn were treated by emergency medical services on the ground.

Fox News Digital previously reported on another midair birth earlier this month involving a Caribbean Airlines flight.

A woman gave birth aboard a flight from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York City as the plane approached its destination, according to the airline.

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Pilots alerted air traffic control about the situation, and after learning the baby had been delivered, one controller jokingly suggested a fitting name.

"Tell her she’s got to name it Kennedy," the controller said, referencing John F. Kennedy International Airport, where the flight was landing.

The airline said both the mother and newborn received medical care after landing and were doing well.

Lorraine Taylor of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

Kerr and Green have gotten into their spats over the years, but four NBA titles together have also been the result.

During a recent, in-depth interview with The New Yorker, Kerr admitted that Green has pushed him to his limits. And while he would "do anything for him," Kerr also admitted that Green has crossed the line to the point of no return.

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"There’s things he’s done that I can never forgive him for, and yet I will do anything for him," Kerr said to the outlet.

It’s no secret that Kerr and Green have needed to be separated, whether it’s during a game or in a more private setting. In December 2025, Green was seen telling Kerr, "F--- you," ultimately leading to the star forward getting sent to the locker room in a game against the Orlando Magic.

STEPHEN A. SMITH MAKES BRUTAL GAFFE WHILE TALKING ABOUT THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

"Yeah. I mean, people pulling us apart. And in my first five years, we would get into three knockdown, dragouts a year," Kerr said about him and Green. "Part of it was, I just had to show the rest of the team that I’m in charge. You have to do things by a set of standards. It’s a community that you’re building, not just a team – a little society with values and standards and expectations. And then you’re a community that has to police itself. The coach has to demand certain behaviors, certain habits. So then, for a long time we had a truce. I understood him so well. He understood me. But this year, we had a major blowout in December."

Kerr called Green "such a unique person" who has quite the mind for basketball. He’s needed it to play his position at only 6-foot-6, when forwards are usually much taller in the league.

As Green, 36, is closer to retirement than he isn’t, coaching has been a speculation. He was usually not in that state of mind, but in recent discussion, he seemed open to the prospect after his playing days.

Kerr isn’t sure, though, if he’s temperament is fit for it.

"I don’t know that he’ll coach. He definitely has the brain for it. I don’t know if he has the patience," Kerr explained. "He’s an incredibly passionate, emotional guy, and that passion and energy has frequently gotten him in trouble. And I love him. I think he’s a really good-hearted person with an incredible brain, but if he wants to coach, he’s going to have to learn how to control some of that emotion, that desire, and that fire that burns within him, and it’s not an easy thing to do."

Green isn’t the most gifted NBA player in terms of physical stature, speed or strength. But Green knows how tenacious he can be as a defender, making the All-Defensive NBA team nine times in his career, while winning the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

In fact, Kerr, who played with the iconic Chicago Bulls dynasty during his time on the hardwood, said Green is the best defender he’s ever witnessed in the league.

DRAYMOND GREEN INSINUATES KNICKS STAR MISSED GAME DUE TO RIVALRY WITH TEAMMATE, NOT FAMILY FRIEND'S DEATH

"That’s saying a lot, given that I played with Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman," Kerr added. "The modern game demands so much more than it did in the 1990s. You have to be able to guard all five positions, because there’s so much pace and energy and crossmatches. You race back on defense, you’ve got to guard the guy in front of you. And then there’s the ‘pick-on’ game: the opposing team is going to bring the weakest defender into every pick-and-roll to gain an advantage.

"Draymond, he can guard any action, any position, any player. And he can also blow up the play behind the play if he’s not involved in the action because of his brain, his speed, his reach."

It’s one of those roller-coaster relationships, but one that Kerr will never regret with Green – even if he’s crossed the line a time or two.

While Green has a player option for next season with the Warriors, all eyes are on Kerr as he mulls whether to return as head coach. He told the outlet it would be an easy decision if Green and Steph Curry were to retire this year, but that’s not the case.

Kerr said the Warriors will discuss their vision for the future in the coming weeks, but he’s unsure right now if he will be a part of it.  

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Wilson appeared for the Savannah Bananas as fans packed Yankee Stadium to see "Banana Ball." The former New York Giants quarterback made a career in the NFL, but was an MLB prospect early in his career and even played in minor league games in the Colorado Rockies’ organization and appeared in a New York Yankees spring training game.

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The at-bat didn’t really go as planned for the Super Bowl champion.

He broke his bat as he hit a bouncer to the Party Animals’ first baseman. The infielder corralled the ball between his legs and got it to the pitcher who ran over to cover, and got Wilson out.

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"Fun Times with the Fans! My kids loved the day! Thanks Jesse Cole for the Call! I remember you were my GM when I was 19 years old! Proud of the movement you’ve built!" Wilson wrote on X.

Wilson played for Jesse Cole’s summer collegiate team before he was on the field slinging the pill for NFL teams. Now, Cole is the owner of the Bananas and has created a baseball entertainment behemoth that saw more than 40,000 in the Bronx.

It’s unclear what the future holds for Wilson.

He spent last season with the Giants and played in six games. He was benched for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

First lady Melania Trump had already called on Monday for Kimmel's firing over his "hateful" language after the liberal late-night host referred to her as "an expectant widow" days before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was interrupted by a suspected attempted assassin.

"Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America," Melania Trump posted on X.

President Trump agreed and followed with his own post, declaring, "Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking. He showed a fake video of the First Lady, Melania, and our son, Barron, like they were actually sitting in his studio, listening to him speak, which they weren’t, and never would be. He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’"

WHO IS COLE ALLEN? CALIFORNIA MAN NAMED AS SUSPECT IN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING

Trump continued, connecting it to the shooting at the White House correspondents dinner that happened shortly afterward.

"A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives," he wrote. "He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason. I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Leavitt also unloaded on Kimmel during her press briefing on Monday.

"Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?" she said. "And having experienced what I did with the first lady on Saturday night, I can tell you that she was anything but that. This kind of rhetoric about the president, the first lady, and his supporters is completely deranged, and it’s unbelievable that the American people are consuming it night after night."

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Kimmel faced similar backlash for his remarks last year, when he was suspended by ABC parent company, Disney, after remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk sparked outrage and a veiled threat from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and did not receive immediate reply.

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Nai Ping Hou, 74, vanished in March 2025 from his Rancho Cucamonga home and was reported missing weeks later on May 4.

Federal officials say possible foul play is suspected, noting Hou’s bank accounts were depleted before law enforcement was even notified of his disappearance.

Investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initially described the case as a suspicious disappearance but now say evidence points to a possible abduction.

NANCY GUTHRIE'S DISAPPEARANCE DEFIES FBI KIDNAPPING TRENDS INVOLVING ELDERLY VICTIMS

Hou’s son Wen Hou said the last time he saw his father was during a fishing trip in March, just days before he disappeared.

"He was in a very good mood," Wen Hou told KTLA. "He caught a lot of fish. His friends were there, too. He was very happy."

'AMERICA’S MOST WANTED' CO-HOST CALLAHAN WALSH REVEALS WHAT 'STICKS OUT' TO HIM IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE

But weeks later, subtle changes raised alarm.

"[Always saying] he’s tired or he’ll call me later, just reasons that were strange," he said. "He had very short responses and didn’t share photos anymore."

Wen Hou said the moment it truly set in came when his father stopped answering calls altogether and sent an unusually cold message on his birthday.

MAN WHO PUT UP $100K TO FIND NANCY GUTHRIE SAYS TIPSTERS SHOULD SKIP THE SHERIFF AND CALL CRIME STOPPERS

"It’s surreal to think someone could be impersonating my dad through text," he previously told KABC.

The family said that’s when they realized something was seriously wrong and grew deeply concerned for his safety.

When friends went to check on Hou’s home in early May, they found it had been completely cleared out.

BORDER PROTOCOLS AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERED IN SEARCH FOR NANCY GUTHRIE, RETIRED AGENT SAYS

"Something really bizarre is going on," Wen Hou said. "The place was completely cleared out. No people, no vehicles, not even garbage left behind."

Investigators later confirmed "extensive fraudulent activity" in Hou’s bank accounts around the time of his disappearance. More than $1 million was drained through unauthorized transactions, including purchases of gold and cryptocurrency.

"His money was also gone," Wen Hou said. "Funds were being transferred out to purchase gold online. He’s not tech-savvy at all, so I don’t know how he could’ve done any of that himself."

GOT A TIP?

Authorities say Hou’s vehicles were also sold and there was an apparent attempt to rent out his home.

Hou’s wife was out of the country visiting family in China at the time he vanished and received unusual messages from his phone, including one suggesting she delay returning home.

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While investigators have not confirmed a motive, the family has told KABC they fear Hou may have been targeted because of their financial success in cryptocurrency. Wen Hou is a hedge fund executive who has invested heavily in the space.

"I miss him dearly," Wen Hou said. "He’s always been a guiding presence in my life."

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"We’re really worried, and we really want my dad back," he added.

Hou is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 170 pounds, with dark hair and a birthmark on his upper left shoulder. He also has a surgery scar on his lower back. He has not been seen or heard from since March 2025.

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Investigators are also seeking information about a silver Toyota Yaris believed to be connected to the case.

The Hou family has launched a dedicated website to raise awareness, share photos and collect tips. The site includes a video message in which Wen Hou makes an emotional plea for his father’s safe return.

A reward of up to $250,000 is being offered for information leading to Hou’s safe return or the arrest of those responsible.

Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department or the FBI.

Cole Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, is accused of storming the Washington Hilton while armed with multiple weapons, and attempting to penetrate the ballroom in which President Donald Trump sat amongst Cabinet officials and hundreds of journalists Saturday night. 

Allen appeared in federal court Monday wearing a blue prison jumpsuit to face charges of attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and transporting a firearm across state lines, according to the Department of Justice. 

He has not yet entered a plea and will remain in custody.

WHO IS COLE ALLEN? CALIFORNIA MAN NAMED AS SUSPECT IN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING

Monday’s court appearance is separate from Cole’s arraignment, with the judge scheduling a detention hearing for April 30 and a preliminary hearing for May 11. 

Allen is accused of traveling by train from California to Washington, D.C., while making one stop in Chicago, and checking into the hotel just one day before the planned event.

GOT A TIP?

Shortly before the alleged shooting, authorities said Allen sent a written manifesto to members of his family, outlining his intent to target Trump and other Cabinet officials. 

Within 30 minutes of the gala starting, Allen allegedly stormed the hotel lobby, equipped with a shotgun, handgun and knives, and breached security barricades that had been erected just one floor above the VIP-filled International Ballroom.

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One Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire in a ballistic vest, and Allen was subsequently tackled by officers and taken into custody. 

Allen was not injured, but was transported to a hospital to be evaluated. The Secret Service agent was also taken to receive medical treatment and is recovering.

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The chaos was heard from inside the packed ballroom, with the 2,300 attendees taking cover under their tables as Trump and Vice President JD Vance were whisked away by security. 

Approximately one hour later, Trump announced that law enforcement had asked attendees to evacuate the building, which was consistent with protocol, adding the event would be rescheduled within 30 days.

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After the shooting, Allen’s brother contacted the New London Police Department in Connecticut to report receiving his brother’s alleged manifesto. 

The police said in a statement they were contacted at 10:49 p.m. by someone who wanted to share information related to it, and the department said it then immediately alerted federal law enforcement, the Associated Press reported.

Allen faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted on the attempted assassination charge, with the two firearms charges carrying a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Allen’s defense team and federal prosecutors for comment.

"Instead of student aid and education grants going to students who deserve it, corrupt Democrats and the inept bureaucrat class of the Biden Administration allowed it to flow straight into the pockets of fraudsters for years," a spokesperson for Vice President JD Vance, who President Donald Trump recently tapped as the administration's fraud czar, told Fox News Digital.

The Department of Education launched a screening tool Monday morning directly into the FAFSA process that flags potentially high-risk applicants, requiring them to provide government-issued identification before accessing federal student aid, including Pell Grants and loans. 

The Education Department estimates its efforts to identify and deny aid to fraudulent students will save taxpayers over $1 billion during this year’s FAFSA cycle, with the tool already screening 50,000 applications as of Monday afternoon. 

READ: DR. OZ PUTS ALL 50 GOVERNORS ON NOTICE OVER BILLIONS LOST TO MEDICAID FRAUD

The new fraud detection efforts follow a surge in "ghost student" scams tied to loosened verification requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Education.

Ghost students are a growing trend involving fabricated or stolen identities, often powered by AI bots or criminal networks using real Americans’ personal information, used to enroll in programs, trigger financial aid disbursements, and then disappear.

SBA FREEZES OVER 100,000 CALIFORNIA BORROWERS IN SWEEPING $9B PANDEMIC FRAUD CRACKDOWN

"Americans deserve education. Fraudsters deserve nothing," a senior White House official told Fox News Digital.

Key verification safeguards were removed during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Biden administration, the Education Department reported, when less than 1% of students were required to verify their identity following their FAFSA submission.

"This new fraud detection tool will stop fraud at the start of the process, before money goes out the door, strengthening the integrity of our programs and expanding opportunity for students who depend on these resources to finance their postsecondary education," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told Fox News Digital.

The announcement comes as Trump established the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by Vance, to combat fraud across federal programs.

UNDERPERFORMING DC SCHOOLS' STAFF HAS GROWN 7 TIMES FASTER THAN ENROLLMENT: AUDIT

"Under the Vice President's task force, student aid will go to students and students only," the vice president's spokesperson added.

The increased verification process follows the Trump administration uncovering more than $1 billion in student aid fraud last year, including stopping suspected bots and ghost students from obtaining taxpayer-funded loans.

The administration also previously uncovered $90 million that was disbursed to suspected scammers in 2024, including $30 million in loans to dead people and more than $40 million disbursed to companies using bots disguised as fake students.

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.

The 25-year-old Pennsylvania native, whose real name is Roman Macek, wrote on social media that he was leaving professional wrestling for good.

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"After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this chapter of my life," he wrote on X. "Being a part of the WWE has been a dream ever since I was a child. Getting the chance to live out my dream in front of the world is something I’ll never take for granted. To the fans … thank you for every cheer, every boo, every moment of support. You made this journey unforgettable.

"I am forever grateful for the friendships that I made along the way. From talent, to coaches, to the creative team, to every single person I came in contact with at the performance center … thank you! Thank you for pushing me, believing in me, and sharing the ring with me. I’ve learned more than I can ever put into words and met some of the greatest people that will be friends for life."

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He wrote that the decision wasn’t an easy one.

"As of today, I’m officially stepping away and retiring from professional wrestling. It’s not an easy decision, but it’s the right one for me," he added. "This isn’t goodbye, just the end of one incredible chapter.

"Again, I cannot say this enough … Thank you! What an amazing last 4 years and don’t worry about me … I’ll figure it out."

And don’t worry, Crusifino made clear he wasn’t about to make an OnlyFans.

Crusifino was a college football player at Duquesne before he joined WWE. He entered with a lawyer gimmick and would later join The D’Angelo Family as their consigliere.

In 2025, he would attack his family members Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo and ended up leaving the family. He was reintroduced into WWE Evolve with a new raver gimmick. But it didn’t last as he departed the company last week.

"Good luck with President Vance," Maher told Cross on the latest episode of the "Club Random" podcast that turned into a tequila-fueled war of words on a topic that is credited with getting President Trump elected. 

"As I always say to my woke friends, we voted for the same person. You're just why she lost," Maher told Cross on the defeat Kamala Harris suffered in 2024. 

What started as a discussion on trans in sports eventually turned into a war of words with Cross acting as an elitist expert on this subject because his 8-year-old daughter has two trans friends at school, including one who turned trans at age 3. "Three? Well, sure...who can believe a three-year-old? Kids are confused," Maher fired back.

It is this mindset, Maher contends, that develops inside the "Brooklyn bubble" where Cross lives. "I want to be in that bubble. I pay for it and I want my daughter to be in that bubble. It's a good bubble," Cross fired back at Maher over the label. 

"It's—a bubble is protection from the s–t that's going on outside of the bubble that I don't—the—the awfulness... and there's no s--t inside the bubble. Uh, no. I mean, there's some s--t but less.

"The bubble is not for me or my wife. It's for a daughter. And uh—the more I can keep her from the uh things that I and my wife think are bad."

CHRIS MATTHEWS TELLS DEMS TO ABANDON 'ALL THIS OTHER CRAP' ON OPEN BORDERS AND TRANS ISSUES, FOCUS ON ECONOMY

Ah, yes, the Brooklyn bubble is utopia where 3-year-olds turn trans. That mindset, as Maher argues firmly, is why the Democrats are in big trouble in the next election – the looniest of the lefties refuses to understand how insane it sounds for kids to be trans at 3. 

Equally insane, Maher notes, is that Cross and his fellow nutjobs continue to act like trans in sports isn’t a problem. When Maher described Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif as "a man beating the dog s–t out of a woman," to win an Olympic gold medal, Cross acted like wasn’t aware of this topic. 

However, Cross was quick to point out he’s seen pre-pubescent girls "kick the s–t out of boys."

MAHER CALLS OUT KIMMEL FOR NOT THANKING HIM FOR SUPPORT AMID SUSPENSION, ACCUSES KIMMEL OF LIBERAL BIAS

This is where the American Left is at in 2026. The unhinged left is still in its bubble and as crazy as ever while there are Maher types who now see how this ultimately will turn out at the polls. 

"Democrats lost voters on transgender rights. Winning them back won’t be easy," The New York Times warned last summer. Polling group Blueprint found that a whopping 67% of swing voters thought Democrats became "too focused on identity politics" during the last voting cycle.

Despite the many chances Maher provided to Cross to come down off his trans hill, the ultra-lib wasn’t willing to bend. 

The two agreed they didn’t want "beef" between each other and hugged it out as the podcast ended. 

A contrast between President Donald Trump's war with Iran and a previous conflict has been flagged by a war scholar.

Trump's military conflict with Iran has emerged as one of the most consequential failures of his second term. The war, launched without congressional authorization, has devastated regional stability and undermined American credibility with traditional allies.

Domestically, the conflict has fractured the MAGA movement, with prominent figures like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly opposing the war as a betrayal of "America First" principles.

Historian Hai Nguyen believes there are parallels between how Iran has reacted to US strikes and how Vietnam responded to a boots-on-the-ground deployment in the 1960s.

Salon columnist Andrew O'Hehir wrote, "From the beginning of this conflict, the Iranians identified the fundamental weakness of U.S. strategy, which was based on a litany of false assumptions, starting with the premise that total victory could be achieved with air power (something that has never happened in the history of warfare) and that killing Iran’s senior leaders would cause the regime to surrender or collapse.

"Trump and Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio and whoever else somehow persuaded themselves — or allowed Netanyahu to persuade them — to ignore the obvious Heffalump trap that was right in front of them, that being yet another protracted, expensive and massively unpopular foreign war likely to crater or destroy a presidency.

"Hai Nguyen, a Vietnam War scholar at the Harvard Kennedy School, told [Foreign Policy columnist Michael] Hirsh that he saw history literally repeating itself. Like the Viet Cong of 50-odd years ago, the Iranians have perceived the American superpower’s Achilles heel: 'They understand that the U.S. could drop thousands of tons of bombs, but it does not possess the patience to withstand a prolonged war.'

"In refusing to negotiate despite the risk of further devastation and the immense hardship inflicted on its own people, the Iranian regime is observing a time-honored principle attributed to Napoleon: Never interrupt your opponent when he’s making a mistake."

President Donald Trump's administration has been criticized for a mistake made over King Charles III's visit to the United States.

Black lampposts outside of the White House were adorned with flags representing Australia, not the United Kingdom.

Political analysts were left astonished by the mix-up, which Trump's admin apologized for at the time. The i Paper opinion editor, Victoria Richards, suggested this was an awkward moment during a strained time for the US and UK's relationship.

Richards wrote, "The blunder happened on Friday, when hundreds of national banners were installed across the capital to welcome the King and Queen Camilla, who are making a four-day state visit to Washington, New York and Virginia to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The error was 'quickly corrected', a DC Department of Transportation official said on Friday."

Richards went on to suggest the flag change may have been more than just a simple slip-up. She added, "But given how much the UK Government is hoping the state visit will heal the rift between the US and the UK – and between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer – the slip-up serves as a pretty good summation of how much attention America as a whole is paying. Namely: not a lot.

"So, this gaffe, now, when relations between our two nations are at perhaps their lowest ebb in 70 years, feels – accidental as it may be – like a power move.

"Britain is sharply divided as to whether the King should be meeting Trump and touring the US, worried our honor and dignity is being traduced. The US, meanwhile, can’t even remember what our flag looks like. And, in the end, what we’re left with is the message that there’s only “king” who matters in Washington – and his name is Donald Trump."

Further analysis from political commentator Art Candee suggested the Trump admin should be embarrassed by the flag mix-up. Candee wrote, "Trump’s administration put up some Australian flags instead of British flags ahead of King Charles’ visit? Embarrassing and beyond symbolic of this dumpster fire presidency."

The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society said Saturday that his organization has submitted evidence of US-Israeli war crimes to the International Criminal Court and other global bodies, seeking accountability for massive attacks on civilian infrastructure and other violations.

“The ICC prosecutor announced that the documents provided by the IRCS are accepted as official evidence,” said Pir-Hossein Koulivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. “All cases of attacks on civilians are being legally pursued based on the Geneva Conventions.”

The IRCS estimates that US and Israeli airstrikes have destroyed more than 132,000 civilian structures throughout Iran, including hospitals, apartment buildings, universities, research facilities, and bridges. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and power plants if the country’s leadership does not succumb to his administration’s demands in negotiations to end the war.

Luis Moreno Ocampo, the founding chief prosecutor of the ICC, said earlier this month that Trump could be indicted if he follows through on his threats.

“My suggestion: You read the indictment of the Russians, change the name, and it is very similar,” said Ocampo, referring to ICC arrest warrants issued against senior Russian officials in 2024 for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

In a series of social media posts on Saturday, the IRCS provided video footage and photographic evidence of what the group described as war crimes committed by the US and Israeli militaries.

“Among the most bitter war crimes of America and Israel in Iran is the attack on the home of 19-month-old Helma in Tabriz, in which four members of her family were martyred,” the IRCS wrote Saturday. “The only survivor of this family is Helma.”

The ICC is tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other grave violations of international law. Iran is not currently a party to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC—so the court does not have jurisdiction over war crimes committed on Iranian territory.

Human rights organizations and advocates have implored Iran to grant the ICC jurisdiction to pursue justice for war crimes committed during the illegal US-Israeli assault that began on February 28. On the first day of the war, the US bombed an elementary school in southern Iran.

“From the killing of over 150 students and teachers to strikes on hospitals full of newborns, every day more and more evidence emerges pointing to the commission of grave war crimes in Iran since the start of the war,” said Omar Shakir, executive director of DAWN. “Victims deserve justice. The mechanisms exist, and the US has no veto over them.”

Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, wrote earlier this month that “the Iranian government could join the court now and grant it retroactive jurisdiction, similar to what Ukraine did to allow prosecution of Russian war crimes.”

Last month, the IRCS formally requested that the ICC initiate “an investigation into war crimes arising from attacks by the United States of America and the Israeli regime against civilian objects.”

“According to field reports from relief workers, operational documentation, and data recorded by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, a wide range of residential areas, medical facilities, schools, humanitarian facilities, vital urban infrastructure, and public places were directly or indiscriminately targeted during the recent military attacks,” the group wrote in a letter to the ICC’s top prosecutor.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s recent diplomatic activity in the Middle East is an attempt to find new political and financial oxygen at a moment when his usual supporters are becoming less reliable. For several years, the Ukrainian leadership built its strategy on the assumption that the US and Europe would continue to provide weapons, money, intelligence, and diplomatic protection for as long as necessary. But now, American support is increasingly politicized, European societies are visibly tired of the Ukraine issue, and the situation on the battlefield continues to demand more soldiers and equipment.

A defenseless ‘defense provider’

The Ukrainian authorities are trying to present their military experience as a product that can be sold to wealthy Middle Eastern actors. Kiev is trying to turn the destruction it has experienced, and the lessons it has learned on the battlefield, into a diplomatic and commercial asset.

At first glance, this makes perfect sense – defending themselves against missiles, drones and attacks on drones, and attacks on energy infrastructure is exactly what the oil-rich Middle East nations are concerned about right now. Ukraine has faced Iranian-made drones and Russian missile attacks and is now peddling itself as a laboratory of modern war, a country that has supposedly learned how to resist the very threats that now worry parts of the region.

This is where the obvious contradiction comes in: Ukraine presents itself as a provider of security expertise while it remains dependent on foreign systems for its own defense. Kiev talks about protecting others, yet it continues to ask the West for air defense systems, interceptors, artillery shells, financing, and technical assistance. A state that cannot fully protect its own skies without outside help will struggle to convince wealthy regional powers that it can become a serious security provider for them.

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The Middle East doesn’t work on Western ideology

The deeper problem for Zelensky is political. Wherever Ukraine goes in the Middle East, it will not be able to force the region to worsen its attitude toward Russia. Not by ten percent, not even by one percent in any meaningful strategic sense. The countries of the region do not view Moscow through the emotional and ideological lens promoted by Kiev and many Western capitals. For them, Russia is one of the predictable and important centers of power in the international system, with which many of them have developed long-standing strategic, energy, military, and diplomatic relations.

This is especially true for the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other regional actors will not sacrifice their partnerships with Russia to fulfill Ukraine’s demands. They see Moscow as a vital partner in energy markets, security balances, diplomatic mediation, and global multipolar politics. Russia is also important because it is not perceived in the region as a power that constantly lectures others about internal affairs while imposing political conditions. Many Middle Eastern states remember the Western pressure, interventions, regime-change experiments, sanctions, occupations, and destructive political engineering they have experienced over the past decades, and in a broader historical sense, over centuries.

Zelensky and his team appear to believe that the Middle East can be approached in the same way as the US and EU. They seem to expect that emotional appeals to ‘values’, coupled with promises of future partnership, will produce large-scale political and financial support. But this is a serious misunderstanding of the region. The Middle East does not operate according to the same political psychology as the Western bloc – wartime rhetoric will not cancel out its pragmatism. They will listen, bargain, sign limited agreements when useful, and take advantage of opportunities, but they will not transform themselves into a new rear base for Ukraine.

Contrast this with Europe, where many elites have tied their own political survival to the Ukrainian project and declared that Ukraine’s struggle is also Europe’s struggle. Trapped by this rhetoric, they have little choice but to prolong the conflict with Russia at Ukraine’s expense. To this end, the Europeans are willing to supply Kiev with weapons, money, and intelligence – in effect, to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian.

That won’t fly in the Middle East. Regional states do not want to pay for a war that does not serve their core national priorities. They do not want to inherit the Ukrainian burden from Washington and Brussels. They are not keen to become instruments of another geopolitical campaign designed elsewhere.

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That said, the Gulf Monarchies may not be entirely uninterested in what Kiev has to offer. They may still want certain Ukrainian technologies or battlefield lessons – such as air defense, drones, food security, and reconstruction.

Zelensky tried – and failed – before

Kiev was already disappointed after 2022 when the Middle East refused to follow the Western sanctions campaign against Russia. Ukrainian officials expected the world to divide neatly into supporters and opponents of Moscow. The Middle East refused this binary choice. It maintained diplomatic flexibility, preserving relations with Russia and pursuing its own energy and trade interests.

Now Kiev comes asking for money and cooperation from the same countries that turned it down back then. It will criticize regional actors when they refuse to support Western sanctions, but court them when it needs financing. It wants to be treated as a strategic partner, yet its main argument is that it needs support because its current supporters are no longer enough.

The March and April visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Türkiye, and Syria therefore look like a tour of necessity. Zelensky is trying to collect political points and convince wealthy states that Ukraine can be useful. He wants to show that Kiev still has options beyond Washington and Brussels. But in reality, Ukraine is looking for money because the war is consuming resources faster than its traditional sponsors can comfortably provide them.

Kiev needs funding not only for weapons, but also for salaries, pensions, logistics, energy repairs, reconstruction, and the basic functioning of the state. The longer the war continues, the more dependent Ukraine becomes on outside support. At the same time, losses at the front and pressure on manpower make the conflict even more expensive. The Ukrainian authorities cannot openly admit that their previous support model is weakening, because this would damage morale and bargaining power. But the turn to the Middle Eastern for replacement, or at least supplementary, resources is a clear indication of where things stand.

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Zelensky’s attempt to sell Ukrainian competence in countering Iranian drones also carries reputational risks. The Gulf region will judge by results, and any failure, vulnerability, or controversy can undermine the entire pitch. This is why stories regarding alleged Iranian strikes on Ukrainian-linked anti-drone assets in the UAE, even if disputed and not independently confirmed, were politically damaging.

The Gulf states are not naive. They will not buy Ukrainian offers without calculating the strategic costs. And if the cost is additional exposure to Iran, complicated relations with Russia, or getting dragged into a Western-designed confrontation, the cost might be too high.

This is not how Zelensky is used to being treated in Western capitals. There, Ukraine is seen as a symbol and supporting it as a political obligation. For the Middle East, Kiev is an actor with something to offer or nothing to offer. Utility will always supersede sympathy. If Kiev can provide a useful service, it may receive a deal. If not, it will receive polite words and little more.

In the end, the most Ukraine can hope for is selective cooperation. It may receive contracts, consultations, limited investments, participation in discussions on food security, drones, infrastructure, and reconstruction. But the Gulf will never become a new financial engine for the war.

Incoming Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has appointed the country’s “first LGBT activist” as education minister, according to local media.

The Tisza Party leader, who defeated Viktor Orban’s Fidesz earlier this month, unveiled 12 cabinet ministers in a Facebook post on Friday as he prepares to form a new government.

Judit Lannert was named minister of education and child care affairs, despite expectations that Rita Rubovszky, the headmistress of a Cistercian Catholic school, would take the role. Lannert is known as a critic of the previous government, with the media noting her use of LGBTQ-themed colors on social media during debates over constitutional amendments under Orban.

The move came a day after a proposal to launch an LGBTQ-themed TV channel was submitted to Hungary’s media regulator, according to Magyar Nemzet.

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Under Orban, Hungary introduced limits on LGBTQ-related content for minors. A 2021 child protection law, adopted alongside measures against pedophilia, restricted how gender and sexuality topics can be presented in schools and media.

At the time, Orban said the legislation ensured that parents retain authority over their children’s sexual education, calling it a defense of national sovereignty against Western liberal influence.

Nine days after Orban’s election defeat, the European Court of Justice ruled that the reforms violate EU law, ordering Hungary to roll back the restrictions on promoting homosexuality and gender transition in the media for minors. The court said the measures “stigmatize and marginalize LGBTQ individuals” and violate human dignity and freedom of expression.

READ MORE: Orban steps down from Hungarian parliament

”The Brusselian steamroller is already in motion,” Orban wrote on X, arguing that the law was meant to protect Hungarian children from “aggressive LGBTQ propaganda.”

“Now the Brusselian empire strikes back,” he added, vowing that his party would not “give up the fight for the soul of Europe.”

Finnish Finance Minister Riikka Purra has warned of growing pressure on the country’s public finances. The warning comes just days after the government unveiled a multi-year fiscal plan that combines increased military aid to Ukraine with domestic spending cuts.

The government’s fiscal plan for 2027–2030 was presented earlier this week. It includes cuts of €240 million to social and healthcare spending but €300 million in increased military support for Ukraine.

“The state of public finances is extremely difficult, and the debt-to-GDP ratio is approaching 90%,” Purra said in an interview with the outlet Yle on Saturday.

“We’ve been hit not only by external shocks,” she highlighted, adding that the nation struggles with high unemployment, near-zero economic growth and an aging population.”

The fiscal plan agreed by the government sets out public spending cuts and changes to household costs in welfare and healthcare. Planned savings include higher customer fees across the healthcare system, covering specialist examinations, surgeries, outpatient visits, health center and dental care services, as well as charges for storing deceased persons and determining cause of death.

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Apart from providing increased military support for Ukraine, the plan also allocates additional funding to strengthen drone defense capabilities. It further sets out an ambition to gradually raise defense spending toward the NATO-agreed target.

Finland joined NATO in April 2023, following escalation of the Ukraine conflict. According to World Bank data, the country spent around 1.3–1.7% of GDP on defense prior to accession. Helsinki has since increased its defense budget, with plans to raise spending to 3.2% by 2030, bringing the nation closer to NATO’s target of 3.5% by 2035.

Finnish officials have repeatedly echoed other NATO members in claiming that Moscow remains a “permanent threat” to EU members, while increasing defense spending to counter it. Finland shares a 1,300km (800-mile) border with Russia.

The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected the claims, accusing the West of fueling Russophobia to justify a military buildup and also to divert attention from domestic problems.

Wounded Lebanese journalist Zeinab Faraj has described the Israeli strike that killed her colleague Amal Khalil, prompting Beirut to accuse West Jerusalem of war crimes.

In an interview filmed from her hospital bed, Faraj broke down in tears as she recounted the ordeal and her final moments with Khalil.

On Wednesday, Khalil and Faraj were driving through the southern village of al-Tiri when an Israeli drone struck a car ahead of them.

“Completely silently, a missile hit that car. Amal screamed and abruptly turned to the side of the road. We got out of the car and covered under an entrance of some garage,” Faraj told Lebanese Al-Afdal News. Adding that Israeli aircraft were circling overhead along with drones before another missile struck Khalil’s car. Khalil was wounded by shrapnel, and as the vehicle caught fire, her back began burning as she shielded Faraj.

“She told me: ‘Zeinab, I’m burning!’ I grabbed her by her jacket and pulled her toward me,” she recalled. “I couldn’t endure it anymore, I was starting to burn too… I broke the garage door, and Amal and I started crawling inside.”

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The pair later hid in a bathroom. Faraj said time passed before she nodded off, with Khalil beside her. “We both lost hope... I woke up just as a missile was coming straight down at us and all I remember is the last moment I saw Amal – when I realized Amal was gone,” she said.

Colleagues said both were wearing gear clearly marked as press. Emergency workers pulled Faraj, who was seriously wounded, from the rubble, but efforts to reach Khalil were delayed after Israeli forces reportedly fired on rescue teams. Her body was recovered hours later.

The strike came despite a ceasefire reached earlier this month, with Israeli military still operating in occupied parts of southern Lebanon and reserving the right to attack what it labels threats.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of the “deliberate and consistent targeting of journalists” to “conceal the truth of its aggressive acts against Lebanon,” while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the attack a “war crime.”

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Khalil’s death also drew condemnation abroad. Spanish authorities slammed the attack; Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said killing journalists was “part of a ruthless campaign to eradicate populations and seize land in pursuit of a colonial agenda” by Israel. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it a “brutal killing” with “no justification.”

The Israel Defense Forces denied targeting journalists or rescue workers and said that the incident was under review.

Khalil is the ninth journalist killed by Israel in Lebanon since US-Israeli strikes on Iran reignited the conflict, according to Lebanese authorities. Previously, a March 28 IDF strike on a marked press car killed Al-Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib, whom Israel claimed was a Hezbollah operative without evidence. RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida Sbeity were also targeted on March 19, but survived with minor injuries.

US green card applicants could be rejected for criticizing Israel and taking part in pro-Palestinian protests, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing internal Department of Homeland Security training materials. The guidance is reportedly part of the administration’s broader effort to vet applicants for ‘anti-American’ and ‘anti-Semitic’ views.

In instructions to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviewed by the newspaper, the administration treats participation in pro-Palestinian protests and public criticism of Israel as “overwhelmingly negative” factors when deciding on permanent residency applications.

According to the document, immigration officers have been instructed to deny applicants found to have a history of “endorsing, promoting or supporting anti-American views” or “antisemitic terrorism, ideologies or groups.”

The materials include criticism of Israel as a potentially disqualifying factor, citing social media posts declaring “Stop Israeli terror in Palestine” and showing the Israeli flag crossed out as examples of questionable speech. They also reference images depicting a map of Israel with the country’s name crossed out and replaced with ‘Palestine’ as anti-Semitic.

Immigration officers are also instructed to “focus particularly on aliens who engaged in on-campus anti-American and antisemitic activities,” including those who took part in pro-Palestinian protests at universities following the 2023 Hamas attack against Israel.

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Desecration of the US flag is also listed as a negative factor, despite the Supreme Court ruling that flag burning is protected under the First Amendment.

According to the White House spokeswoman, as cited by the NYT, the policies have “nothing to do with free speech” but are meant to protect “American institutions, the safety of citizens, national security and the freedoms of the US.”

Last August, the USCIS said immigrants applying for benefits such as green cards would be screened for “anti-American” behavior, including whether they have supported or expressed views linked to anti-American or terrorist groups, including those tied to anti-Semitic terrorism.

CNN reported at the time, citing a State Department official, that over 6,000 student visas had been revoked since the beginning of 2025. Earlier this year, the WSJ reported that in 2025, the number of people leaving the US exceeded those entering, marking the first net outflow since 1935.

A large fire broke out at a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in west England on Sunday morning. In recent months, it was used by the US to launch operations against Iran, and was recently the target of anti-war protests.

According to the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, crews were called to RAF Fairford shortly after midnight on Sunday.

“The fire involved a single-story industrial storage building. It was brought under control safely and there were no casualties,” the service said in a statement.

Videos circulating on social media show a large blaze above warehouse buildings visible from the street, with an enormous plume of smoke rising up into the night sky.

Major fire reported at RAF Fairford overnight, a British airbase hosting a sizeable forward-deployed contingent of USAF bombers for Iran strikes.

The fire reportedly gutted a commissary building. pic.twitter.com/cveufpjC1t

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 26, 2026

RAF Fairford houses USAF B52 and B1 bombers, and serves as a key European operations center for Washington. Hundreds of anti-war protesters rallied outside the base on Saturday, demanding that the UK shut down military facilities used in the war on Iran.

? BREAKING: Major Fire at RAF Fairford No Link to Protest
A large fire broke out early Sunday morning April 26 2026 in the Fairford area. Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue crews are at the scene of a commercial building blaze with heavy smoke reported.
Social media images suggest… pic.twitter.com/sjnFs7EQl6

— Cat Brown ??????????????????? (@MrsBr0wn_82) April 26, 2026

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Authorities said preliminary data suggests the blaze was accidental.

However, last week, a deliberate attack on a US military plane took place in neighboring Ireland.

A man was arrested after he intruded into Shannon Airport and damaged a US Air Force C-130 Hercules with a hatchet. He was arrested and charged with criminal damage, according to local law enforcement. No motive has yet been announced.

The midterms are still seven months away, and the Republicans must contend with an American voter whose mood has noticeably changed.

After regaining the White House in 2024, President Donald Trump – seeking revenge after being “cheated” of the presidency in the 2020 election – confidently declared victory. His approval numbers never looked better and the Republicans controlled Congress. Meanwhile, the Democrats looked dazed and confused as they struggled to make sense of their loss. Yes, Trump appeared invincible. But that was yesterday.

Trump is certainly aware of the curse that has haunted incumbent leaders for decades which says that they have a high chance of losing the midterms (for the uninitiated, midterm elections are the general elections that are held near the midpoint of a president’s four-year term of office). This curse has held true for even popular two-term leaders like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. To put it bluntly, the numbers do not look very promising for the Republicans at this stage of the game.

According to the latest data, Donald Trump’s approval rating is 33%, which is the lowest in his second term. This drop is due to several factors, including fears over the Iran war, immigration, inflation and his handling of other various issues, with 62% of Americans reporting disapproval of his job performance. This lack of enthusiasm for the US leader will have a knock-on effect in the midterm elections.

More vexing for Republicans, the latest polls indicate they could lose not just the House but the Senate as well – a scenario that seemed virtually impossible just months ago. Presently, almost 40 House seats are considered to be ‘up in the air.’ Democrats need a net gain of just three seats to regain control of the House. As for the Senate, states once considered solidly Republican – like Iowa, Ohio and Texas – are now too close to call. Historically, the party controlling the White House loses an average of 22 House seats in the midterms.

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Immigration, the singular issue that helped boost Trump into the Oval Office, is beginning to falter. After controlling the political agenda for years, it has dropped behind civil rights and civil liberties concerns in late January, according to YouGov and The Economist tracking – to its lowest standing since Trump entered office. The change occurred in sync with the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two Minneapolis residents fatally shot by ICE agents during operations.

Up next was the Iran war, a foreign policy flop that flies in the face of the ‘America First’ credo that has animated Trump’s rise to power. Not only does the war contradict Republican ideology, it has alienated many NATO allies in the process. Back home, while many Americans would be hard-pressed to locate Iran on a map, they need no special guidance to tell them where gasoline prices stand – at about $3.45 per gallon on average.

As far as the distracted and overworked American is concerned, Washington can continue to wage wars wherever and whenever it wants, just so it does not put a dent in their wallet. Trump clearly understands this and that is why he is desperate to get out of Iran as soon as possible. Meanwhile, while Trump has focused his attention overseas in Iran and Ukraine, MAGA ideologues are frustrated as the unemployment rate has climbed to 4.7% over the past 12 months.

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And then there are the Epstein files, which Trump while on the campaign trail promised to release to public scrutiny. Once in office, however, the tune changed as the US leader dismissed the documents as yet another Democrat conspiracy. It required a bipartisan congressional shove in the form of a discharge petition to force his hand. In November 2025, Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The releases finally began in December, albeit heavily redacted. When investigators examined the files, they discovered the Department of Justice had selectively withdrawn materials related to charges against the president. That secrecy over the most explosive scandal to rock Washington in decades did little to help Trump and the Republican Party in the polls.

It’s important to note that the political reversal being experienced by the Republicans has little to do with Democratic strength. It’s easy to forget that Democrats remain deeply unpopular with the American voter – their net favorability stands at -20 points, according to surveys.

The simple explanation to understand the crisis at this juncture is that voters are penalizing the Republicans. They are furious about rising prices, the faltering on the Epstein files, the harsh anti-migrant tactics and the foreign misadventures.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has awarded North Korean troops, who helped liberate Russia’s Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces, with the Order of Courage during his visit to Pyongyang.

Last year, North Korean soldiers, acting under the June 2024 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, joined the Russian operation to repel a large-scale Ukrainian incursion into the border region. They also participated in mine-clearing activities in the area.

During a ceremony on Sunday, Belousov said that it was “a truly special day in the record of the Russian-Korean military brotherhood.”

The North Korean troops who fought in Kursk Region are “the true heroes of our time, the elite of the Korean armed forces, their pride and their tower of strength,” he stressed.

“I express my deepest gratitude on behalf of the entire Russian people and personally for the assistance that they had provided,” the minister added.