The U.S. and Iran each fired barrages of missiles Thursday, as the pattern of back-and-forth strikes took hold again and hope dimmed for any quick resolution. After a brief respite, the risk of a return to all-out war emerged once more, with the fighting threatening to engulf even more countries. Jordan said Thursday it intercepted Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day, while Kuwait said a strike in the northern part of the country killed one person.

Most Americans say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting, and Trump’s approval rating on Iran has fallen slightly since last month, according to a new AP-NORC poll. The results are a stark repudiation of Trump’s approach to the conflict, which has dragged on far longer than he originally predicted.

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The Trump administration is ending a Medicare drug subsidy program. Here’s how it could affect costs

Millions of older adults on Medicare prescription drug coverage could face higher monthly costs in 2027.

The Trump administration said this week it has decided to end a temporary subsidy program that helped offset premiums for the past two years.

The program was initially implemented by former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2024 to lower Medicare Part D prescription drug costs in response to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

While federal officials say the financial impact will be minimal, the decision opens the administration to potential political consequences in a high-stakes midterm election year.

Democrats have criticized the move, calling it an attack on healthcare affordability.

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RFK Jr. launches an HHS cooking show

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is known for eating a “carnivore” diet of red meat and fermented foods – but he’s broadening those horizons for a new online cooking show.

He and celebrity chef Andrew Gruel prepared crispy salmon cakes and an arugula, apple and white bean salad in the first episode of “The Real Food Show,” posted Thursday with the branding of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The department says the show will provide examples of nutritious and affordable meals for Americans who want to eat healthier. It comes months after the Trump administration released new dietary guidelines at the start of this year.

Along with Kennedy’s recently launched podcast series, the show promotes some of the more popular aspects of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative at a time when many have criticized his agenda in other areas, such as vaccines.

Bessent says US expects China to meet rare earth and agriculture commitments

After meeting on Thursday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on social media that the Trump administration expects Beijing “to fully meet its commitments on rare earths and U.S. agricultural products.” Trade representative Greer also attended, Bessent said.

The meeting between finance and trade officials sets the stage for Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected meeting face to face in September.

Bessent said the group also discussed implementation of the Trade and Investment Boards as a way to build more “balanced, fair, and constructive U.S.-China economic relationship.”

What to know about Trump’s nearly $1.8B fund to compensate allies claiming political targeting

Back in May, the Justice Department announced that allies of the president who believe they have been wrongly investigated and prosecuted could soon have access to a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement that the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” would represent “a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.” Blanche’s statement made no mention of how investigations and prosecutions of Trump’s political opponents under his watch have exposed the Justice Department to the same claims of politicized law enforcement that he has said he opposed.

The fund was announced as part of a deal to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns, but was subsequently scrapped and a federal judge blocked the fund’s creation.

Trump-branded commemorative USA 250 passports to become more widely available

The State Department says its limited-edition Trump-branded commemorative USA 250 passports will soon become available to Americans outside the greater Washington, D.C., area.

Beginning next month, the department’s 27 passport agencies around the nation will start one-day events, offering the so-called “Patriot Passports” that feature a page emblazoned with a stern portrait of Trump. Previously, the commemorative passports were only available at the Washington, D.C., passport office for in-person applicants.

Starting on Aug. 8, passport offices in seven cities including Chicago, New York City and Dallas will offer the Trump passports. More passport offices will be included throughout August. Applicants wanting the special passport must apply to the selected offices in person on the day specified. Those wanting a traditional passport must apply on different days.

A total of 250,000 of the commemorative passports will be available.

Bessent says US expects China to meet rare earth and agriculture commitments

After meeting on Thursday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on social media that the Trump administration expects Beijing “to fully meet its commitments on rare earths and U.S. agricultural products.” Trade representative Greer also attended, Bessent said.

The meeting between finance and trade officials sets the stage for Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected meeting face to face in September.

Bessent said the group also discussed implementation of the Trade and Investment Boards as a way to build more “balanced, fair, and constructive U.S.-China economic relationship.”

Trump wants more military veterans to become commercial truckers

The president hosted an event on the White House campus where he said America’s roads had been “terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving big rigs” and that he would replace these immigrants with “highly qualified American veterans.”

The Trump administration has dubbed this program the “Freedom Haulers Initiative,” under which anyone who has driven a heavy truck for the military would automatically be eligible for a commercial drivers license.

Trump said that 34 states are part of the initiative.

Immigrants account for about 20% of all truck drivers, but all of these non-domiciled licenses for immigrants represent only about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses, or about 200,000 drivers.

State Department says ‘unfortunate error’ led to badly mislabeled map of Africa at AIDS conference

The State Department is taking full responsibility for a badly mislabeled map of Africa that was presented at a global AIDS conference last week in Brazil.

It called it an “unfortunate error” that should not take away from the Trump administration’s commitment to fighting the deadly virus.

“This was an unfortunate error caused by a team member who hastily altered the slide deck immediately before the presentation at the AIDS 2026 Conference,” the State Department said Thursday after photos of the map were posted online by conference participants.

A photo of the map was shared by AIDS activist Emily Bass in a Substack post on Sunday showing six countries mislabeled. Among them, Nigeria was placed in roughly the same location as Niger; Ivory Coast, placed in southern Africa; Mozambique, placed in the Horn of Africa; and Cameroon, placed in what appeared to be the location of Ghana. The State Department confirmed that six countries had been misidentified.

Senate rejects another war powers resolution to halt Iran war

Most Senate Republicans voted against advancing the measure in the Democrats’ latest effort to end Trump’s engagement in military action without congressional approval.

“We were told this president would bring peace and lower prices,” said Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New Year, who sponsored the resolution. “What is President Trump doing? Pouring bills of tax dollars into an open-ended war with Iran.”

The tally was 49-50. Three Republicans, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, joined most Democrats to advance the measure. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined Republicans to oppose.

Since the war began earlier this year, House and Senate Democrats have introduced more than a dozen war powers resolutions, but none has passed both chambers.

Trump administration wants veterans to replace immigrant truck drivers who lost licenses

The White House is encouraging veterans who drove large military vehicles to consider a career in trucking.

Attracting more veterans to trucking will help replace immigrant drivers who lost their commercial driver’s licenses during the crackdown over the past year. The administration enforced English-proficiency requirements and worked to ensure drivers were qualified to pilot 80,000-pound trucks.

Veterans who drove trucks or other large vehicles in the military recently will be eligible to skip the skills test when they apply for a commercial driver’s license. Trump plans to highlight the campaign Thursday afternoon at the White House.

Trucking groups like the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association support getting more veterans into trucking. Roughly 40% of that group’s 150,000 members are veterans.

“Military veterans have the skills to succeed in trucking, and that’s what makes them the safest operators of the 80,000-pound commercial vehicles that traverse America’s roadways,” said Todd Spencer, who is president of that trucking trade group.

Democratic senators call on Treasury to move forward with new Tubman $20 bill

Ten Democratic senators are calling on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to provide more details about whether a longtime effort to place Harriet Tubman’s likeness on the $20 bill has been canceled or merely delayed.

The senators are following up on comments Bessent made to Spectrum News, saying Treasury was “not at present” planning to put Tubman on the $20 bill.

The senators in their letter are calling on Bessent to immediately reconsider and resume plans to create the new bill. They are also asking for a briefing on the matter. Meanwhile, the senators noted that Treasury has prepared the design for a $250 bill featuring Trump.

The effort to place the 19th-century abolitionist leader on the $20 bill began more than a decade ago, was delayed during Trump’s first term and restarted during former President Joe Biden’s presidency.

Trump says he may delay Blanche nomination until dissenting senators leave office

Trump says he may withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general until Republican senators who are seeking concessions from the top prosecutor leave office next year.

Trump doubled down Thursday on choosing his former personal lawyer as the nation’s top lawman, calling him “a STAR.” He said he’ll keep Blanche as acting attorney general until Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are gone.

Cornyn and Tillis have demanded additional assurances in writing that the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is dead and have pressed for clarification on the scope of a tax immunity deal Trump secured by suing the Internal Revenue Service. Cornyn has said he wants the administration to modify that piece of the settlement to make clear that it covers only existing audits and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.

Trump’s comments came after the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a planned vote on Thursday to advance Blanche’s nomination.

Senate committee advances nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to be Trump’s CDC director

A Senate committee on Thursday advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz’s nomination to be director of the nation’s top public health agency, setting aside concerns that she won’t stand up to political meddling.

If confirmed by the full Senate, the 54-year-old would become the 22nd director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats. Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S. Coast Guard.

Schwartz appeared to be on shaky ground after Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and others questioned whether she would be willing to stand up to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., if the health secretary ordered CDC to do something unsupported by science and good public health practice. But Cassidy later expressed confidence that “she knows what she’s doing.”

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US-Iran conflict enters new phase as Saudi Arabia helps hit proxies and diplomacy stalls again

The stop-start fighting between the United States and Iran appears to have entered a new phase with Saudi Arabia publicly joining military escalations against Tehran-backed proxies and an already untenable diplomatic effort to end the war faltering once again.

Little is clear about what strategy, if any, American or Iranian officials have for a path forward. The Republican president has vacillated for months between insisting a deal was near to end the war and Tehran’s nuclear program, and using vulgarities and threats to try to get Iran to capitulate.

The stakes for continued U.S. military action have never been higher for Trump and his party as the conflict, unpopular among many Americans, has jolted the world economy months before voters get their say in November. The renewed fighting has killed and injured more American troops and raised concerns about drawing down the stockpiles of key U.S. air defense systems.

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Trump touted his tariffs in Michigan despite rising costs. Even some of his supporters are worried

Flying to a rally at General Motors this week, the president declared that “car companies are doing better than they’ve ever done” thanks to his tariffs, “all because of Trump.”

“It’s amazing what tariffs will do for General Motors,” the Republican leader said before autographing a white Corvette. “Michigan is thriving,” he told cheering supporters.

That’s not exactly true, according to many metrics. Tariffs have cost businesses in Michigan and across the country billions of dollars while stoking inflation that continues to run hot. Many Americans believe tariffs have pushed prices higher and the war in Iran has increased gasoline prices, hurting consumer confidence in the economy while keeping Trump’s approval ratings low.

There are few places where Trump’s boasts and economic reality are more likely to collide ahead of November’s midterm elections than in battleground Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

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Opposition to FIFA’s World Cup private equity plan grows

Global opposition is growing to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan for selling a stake in World Cup revenue to private investors.

The FIFA project would be underwritten by a New York investment vehicle, Thrive Eternal, created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Infantino has had close ties to Jared Kushner and held secret talks with potential backers in the U.S. about creating the $20 billion FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary with $4.2 billion of private equity.

“FIFA’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football,” the Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned in a letter Thursday to member federations that was seen by The Associated Press.

It circulated as the 55-nation European soccer body UEFA prepared to meet Thursday to shape a resistance strategy. The 35-member North American soccer body CONCACAF, meanwhile, said it is “deeply concerned by the lack of due process” in Infantino’s project.

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US economy turns in sluggish 1.5% second-quarter growth and inflation remains above Fed target

The U.S. economy expanded at a sluggish 1.5% pace from April through June as rising imports weighed on growth. But consumer spending rose. And the Federal Reserve’s favored measure of inflation grew more slowly last month, by 3.7%, but remained above the central bank’s 2% target.

The Commerce Department reported Thursday that growth in U.S. gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — decelerated from 2.1% in the first three months of 2026 and came in below economists’ expectations.

The Fed on Wednesday chose to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the fifth straight meeting. But three regional Fed presidents dissented, saying they wanted to raise rates to combat elevated inflation.

Higher costs have frustrated Americans ahead of November’s midterm elections, which will determine whether Trump’s Republicans keep full control of Congress.

US filings for jobless benefits rise to 197,000 last week, but layoffs remain historically low

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years.

U.S. filings for jobless aid in the week ending July 25 rose by 9,000 to 197,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week’s figure was revised up by 1,000 to 188,000 but remains the lowest in more than 50 years.

Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 207,000 new applications.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market.

Urban League report says Trump harms Black Americans’ chances at American Dream

The American Dream may not be dead for many Black Americans, but a National Urban League report warns that it’s further away than at any point since the Civil Rights Movement.

The 50th annual “State of Black America” report released Thursday grimly describes Black Americans ’ economic and political prospects as having worsened due to Trump’s policies. A copy obtained by The Associated Press says all Americans should be concerned.

“While they have targeted and focused on Black Americans, these attacks are going to impact broadly working Americans, poor Americans, aspirational middle-class Americans, and this is what this report points to,” said Marc Morial, the league’s president and CEO.

Morial urged concerned Americans to respond at the ballot box and with their pocketbooks. “We cannot be dejected. We cannot be cynical. We must act,” Morial said.

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Most say it’s important to keep gas prices down: AP-NORC poll

Many Americans continue to be concerned about the pocketbook impact of the Iran war, the new poll shows.

About 7 in 10 U.S. adults — 72% — say it’s “extremely” or “very” important for the U.S. to prevent domestic oil and gas prices from rising, up slightly from 67% in March.

A similar share, 70%, say it’s highly important for the U.S. to reach a ceasefire agreement with Iran.

Americans’ goals for the Iran war may not be fully aligned with Trump, who has repeatedly said the war was launched to keep a nuclear weapon out of Iran’s hands.

While about two-thirds of U.S. adults say it’s “extremely” or “very” important to keep Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon — with Republicans especially likely to say this — Americans are more likely to prioritize low gas prices and a permanent ceasefire with Iran.

About two-thirds say the Iran war is not worth fighting: AP-NORC poll

Most U.S. adults say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting, according to a new AP-NORC poll. About two-thirds of U.S. adults say the war with Iran, which began Feb. 28, has not been worthwhile. That includes the vast majority of Democrats and independents, as well as about 37% of Republicans.

The poll shows little appetite among Americans for a prolonged conflict.

Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults want to continue military action in Iran, while about 3 in 10 say the U.S. should pause military action and seek a renewed ceasefire through negotiations. About 2 in 10 want to completely stop military action in Iran and roughly one-quarter don’t know enough to say.

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

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

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

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

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The S&P 500 rallied 1.7% and more than recovered its drop from the day before, which was its worst in seven weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 613 points, or 1.2%. The Nasdaq composite, which is full of artificial-intelligence stocks, rallied 2.8% a day after it fell 9.8% below its record set last month.

Microsoft led the way and leaped 15.5% for its best day in nearly 18 years after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Growth was strong for its Azure cloud business, and CEO Satya Nadella said it reflects how customers are using Microsoft to move into AI.

Perhaps just as importantly for Wall Street, Microsoft did not announce a big increase in how much it plans to spend on AI investments, something that several other Big Tech rivals have done. Worries are high that such spending is eating into companies’ cash flows and may not ultimately be worth it if AI does not produce as much productivity and profits as promised.

Meta Platforms helped demonstrate such fears after falling 8%. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram reported a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, even though it made slightly more in revenue than expected. It also raised the lower end of its forecasted range for spending on investments this year.

Companies involved in the making of the computer memory and processors that such “hyperscalers” are buying to power their AI efforts rose Thursday, recovering some of the big losses they’ve taken on worries their stock prices shot too high in the euphoria around AI.

Micron Technology jumped 18.4%, for example, to trim its loss for the week to 5%. It was the strongest force lifting the S&P 500 after Microsoft.

Lam Research, a supplier to the semiconductor industry, soared 18% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Chip giant Advanced Micro Devices rallied 13%.

On the losing end of Wall Street was Jersey Mike’s Subs. The sandwich chain’s stock fell 6% in its first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 121.48 to 7,437.63. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 613.92 to 52,208.06, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 679.24 to 25,122.18.

In the bond market, longer-term Treasury yields held steadier following their sharp accelerations Wednesday. They had jumped after the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, gave few clues about what the central bank will do with interest rates to combat the painfully high inflation that continues to hurt the country.

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

The yield on the 10-year Treasury was 4.67%, the same as late Wednesday. The 30-year Treasury yield ticked up to 5.22% from 5.20%, a day after it shot up from 5.09%. Those yields move with investors’ expectations for inflation and economic growth in upcoming years.

Warsh reaffirmed on Wednesday the Fed wants to get inflation back to 2%, even though the central bank decided not to raise interest rates despite inflation remaining higher than that. He also implied the bond market may already be doing some of the Fed’s work to restrain inflation, and he pointed to how yields have climbed since the central bank’s last meeting six weeks earlier.

That leaves investors questioning whether the Fed is prepared to act if inflation worsens, or whether it is relying on financial markets to achieve the same outcome, according to Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.

“If investors conclude that the latter is true, the credibility of the Fed’s inflation-fighting commitment could come under increasing scrutiny. Arguably, it already is.”

President Donald Trump, who nominated Warsh to lead the Fed, has lobbied for lower interest rates even though they could cause inflation to accelerate.

Reports released Thursday suggested the U.S. economy’s growth slowed by more during the spring than economists expected. A measure of Inflation, meanwhile, remained worse last month than the Federal Reserve’s target, but it slowed from May’s level.

In the oil market, prices eased. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.4% to settle at $86.88 per barrel.

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

In stock markets worldwide, indexes were mixed in Europe and Asia. South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.2%, and France’s CAC 40 rose 0.9% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

Seoul’s market has been at the center of AI’s huge swings because it’s dominated by two tech titans, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. After more than doubling through this year’s first six months, the Kospi has plunged 34% so far in July.

Its drop on Thursday came as Samsung Electronics dipped 0.7%. The tech giant reported a record profit for the spring and said demand for its chips continues to outpace supply, but its earnings nevertheless fell shy of analysts’ high expectations.

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

At least six city vehicles and a couple of JFRD units were in the parking lot, as officials fanned out across the Volare Apartments on Ricker Road.

A statement from the city’s communications team confirmed the purpose of the visit.

“Building code, municipal code and JFRD conducted a multi-agency inspection at this complex today to investigate the unpermitted subdividing of units at the site. We should have more updates soon,” the statement read.

A JFRD spokesperson explained the department’s involvement, saying, “Our Prevention Division was following up on a complaint,” a spokesperson said.

Residents didn’t hold back when discussing conditions at the complex. One resident said he is living in a former three-bedroom unit that had been split into separate units.

“They’ve got a three-bedroom. There were three bedrooms and they split them and one side’s paying the other person’s electric bill without them knowing it,” resident Sam Young said. “He’s been paying my light bill for a year.”

Another resident also noted ongoing management instability at the property.

“They have had six managers in the last year,” he said.

A visit to the leasing office resulted in a phone number being passed along to another leasing office member, but no immediate response was received.

News4JAX reached out to the registered agent on the LLC linked to the deed. We were forwarded to a voicemail, and no return call had been received at the time of publication.

A separate call to the owner of the LLC drew a “no comment” response.

News4JAX is continuing to work to learn more about the permits and what the city found.

News4JAX is still trying to determine what the next steps are and if the complex will face any consequences or need to make changes.

No one has left the apartments, and no residents have been asked to leave, to our knowledge.

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The changes at the National Jamboree, which ends Friday, reflect shifts made by Scouting America since the organization became a target of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over what he calls “woke” policies. Some scouts who had planned to attend the event in West Virginia said they backed out because Scouting America scrapped the inclusion initiatives it previously celebrated.

Hegseth threatened to end the Pentagon's century-old partnership with Scouting America if it did not make changes including refocusing away from diversity initiatives. The organization, previously known as Boy Scouts of America, rebranded in 2024 to emphasize inclusion and the growing number of girls in the scouting ranks.

“Scouting fundamentally is a safe place for young people to have fun,” said Samuel J. Aronson, an assistant scoutmaster who has organized inclusive events at previous national events. “In the absence of these spaces, we’re denying all that, both the safety and the fun, to thousands of young people.”

Thousands attend the National Jamboree

This year, about 15,000 scouts, leaders and volunteers from across the country are attending the 10-day event in the mountains of West Virginia. In addition to activities including mountain biking and kayaking, the gathering hosts leadership programs and educational sessions.

A Scouting America spokesperson said the organization remains “fully committed to welcoming and serving all youth,” but did not address questions about the changes to the jamboree.

The Pentagon made a deal with Scouting America in February but the two sides have given conflicting accounts of that agreement. This month, a gay rights activist obtained the memo outlining the agreement from the Defense Department after filing a lawsuit, arguing that clarity was of public importance.

The six-page document spells out ways the Pentagon will monitor compliance, including that officials from each organization would have “periodic touchpoints and meet” as needed. It was obtained by James Dale, who was expelled from the Boy Scouts in the early 1990s for being gay and later sued over discrimination. He equated the Pentagon's tactics to the actions of a bully.

“They basically have their thumb on the organization, threatening them under constant pressure,” Dale said.

Deal preserves ties between Scouting America and Pentagon

The scouts and the military have long held close ties; The military provides logistical support for the jamboree and some scout troops meet on or near bases.

Asked about the implementation and monitoring of the deal, a Pentagon spokesperson referred to previous comments by Hegseth.

In February, Hegseth posted a video that said his department would “vigorously review” changes made by Scouting America and would cease the military’s longtime support of the organization if it failed to comply by late August.

Some scouts disappointed by changes to inclusion efforts

John Andrew Segebarth, a 21-year-old college student and Eagle Scout, has been disheartened by the agreement. He joined the scout ranks in first grade and said he had been looking forward to staffing the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts at this year’s Jamboree.

Segebarth, who is gay and was elected by peers as a national officer for scouts in 2024, said the removal of inclusive spaces is a sharp reversal for Scouting America. National scouting events in recent years included community spaces for girls, scouts of color, LGBTQ+ scouts and persons with disabilities, according to Aronson.

“Scouting’s kind of walking back on its values that they told me they believed in,” said Segebarth who, along with Aronson, decided not to attend the jamboree this year.

It was at a community tent that Layla Grace found the first place where she could talk openly about being a transgender female. Now a 21-year-old assistant scoutmaster, Grace had also planned to staff the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts in West Virginia this year.

When the spaces were canceled, Grace said she almost didn't go to the jamboree but decided she wanted to be there to help those in need. She wound up volunteering at an area dedicated to addressing issues that include mental health, food security and education.

And she's trying to fill the gap left by the removal of inclusive areas.

“I am wearing so many rainbows on me, my right hand has my nails painted in the lesbian flag and my left hand has my nails painted in the transgender flag,” she said. “I am being as loud as I can to do my best to hopefully make up for the lack of community spaces.”

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Associated Press reporter Ben Finley contributed to this report from Washington.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback didn’t get the contract extension he sought and plans to play out the final season of his three-year, $100 million deal.

“I’ve been pretty up front and honest about my feelings about Tampa, it being home for our family, raising kids here,” Mayfield said Thursday. “We love it here. I wanted a deal done and set the deadline and told them it was going to be all ball after that, and I did mean that. I don’t know if they thought I was gonna take some of the offers that they gave.

“I’m at the point in my career, understanding what I’ve brought to this franchise. One, I’m very thankful for the chance they gave me — do not get me wrong on that. But I also know, I really know what I’ve brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and even play-wise. It’s been some of the best years of my career, and I think it’s only going to trend upwards.”

Mayfield, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by Cleveland, revived his career in Tampa Bay after replacing Tom Brady in 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons while leading the Bucs to consecutive NFC South titles. He was an MVP candidate through the first half of last season when the team started 6-2 but struggled with injuries and tailed off.

“It’s disappointing in that regard, to feel disrespected a little bit,” he said. “That’s really the disappointing part to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it. This is not a ‘poor me’ thing. There’s a lot of other people who have it way worse off. But I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and peers and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories that I deserved to be compensated for that.

“I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback. It’s been said publicly from ownership down here and to not have a deal done is very disappointing.”

Mayfield had set a deadline on getting a new contract by the start of training camp. He said he addressed his teammates to let them know he won’t let the issue become a distraction. He also doesn’t need it to motivate him.

“Money should never be the motivation in football,” he said. “It’s how do I help this team win? It’s never going to be the motivation for me. When it comes to having a chip on your shoulder and all that, for me it just puts me in the mindset of betting on myself. That’s something I’m pretty familiar with, and it’s a good place to be. As a highly competitive guy, sometimes you have to put yourself backed into a corner and fight your way out. I have a lot of guys and a lot of staff around me that are with me, so I’m not alone in it. We’re fighting for the same goal, and that’s to be playing in February.”

If Mayfield plays like he did in 2024 — 4,500 yards passing, 41 touchdown passes, 71.4% completion rate, 106.8 passer rating — the Buccaneers likely will have to pay him even more than he commands now. A contract that averages between $50-55 million is considered to be Mayfield’s current range.

“Baker hasn’t missed a beat or changed one bit through anything that’s going on,” offensive lineman Ben Bredeson said. “He’s still our quarterback, he’s still the same leader, friend, guy that we all love. When he says it’s all about ball, he means it. He’s probably one of the most consistent and locked in individuals I’ve ever had the chance to play with. It’s an honor going to work with him every day and no matter what’s happening outside of the building, he has not changed one bit and is ready to go at all times.”

Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea also is unhappy with his contract situation as he enters the final year of his deal. He has missed the first two days of practice with a back injury.

“It’s all about winning here now and what we’re going to do and hopefully gets his back fixed and gets his deal done,” Mayfield said. “Vita deserves that. He’s the anchor of our defense. I hope they take care of him.”

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

Fernandina Beach voters will also choose a new mayor, between two current commissioners: Genece Minshew and Timothy Poynter. With only two candidates qualified, that race will only appear on the general election ballot in November.

In addition, Fernandina Beach voters will see a ballot question on the Aug. 18 primary ballot, regarding paid parking in the city. The paid parking program, which started in February, charges drivers $2 per hour in some parts of downtown Fernandina Beach. The citizen initiative ordinance seeks to block paid parking, but even if it’s approved, city commissioners could potentially overturn it with a supermajority vote of four out of five commissioners.

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

SEAT 4 CANDIDATES

Scott Inglis

Occupation: Recently Retired as a electric bike mechanic. Served 20 years in the US Navy.

Age: 58

Family: My Wife of 33 years, Lisa Inglis

Education: A. S. Degree, Radiology with Honors, Florida State College at Jacksonville 2017

Political experience: None

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

The three things I hear about over and over are trust in City Hall, growth and infrastructure, and how we’re spending taxpayer money.

A lot of people feel like they’re not being heard. Whether it’s paid parking, development, traffic, or major city projects, too many residents believe the decision has already been made before they ever get a chance to speak. That’s got to change.

Growth is coming whether we like it or not, but we can decide whether we stay ahead of it or let it run us over. Roads, drainage, flooding, and public safety have to come first. If we don’t keep up with infrastructure, we’re just handing the next generation a bigger bill.

And finally, I think we owe it to taxpayers to spend their money like it’s our own. Before we talk about raising taxes, we need to know where every dollar is going and whether we’re getting our money’s worth.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I’m not going to tell you I’m the only person who cares about this city, because I think everybody running does.

What I bring is a lifetime of solving problems.

I spent 20 years in the Navy fixing equipment that couldn’t afford to fail. Since then I’ve worked as a mechanic, managed volunteers, chaired the Shrimp Festival for the past 3 years, and spent years working with people from every walk of life.

I’ve learned that the best decisions come from asking questions, listening, and doing your homework—not pretending you’re the smartest person in the room.

I’m not looking for a political career. I’m looking for an opportunity to serve the city that’s been home to my wife and me for over 24 years, In fact we met and got married here 33 years ago.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

Honestly, I hope people remember that I did exactly what I told them I was going to do.

I’d like people to say I listened, I was accessible, I returned phone calls, and I made decisions based on what was best for Fernandina Beach—not politics and not special interests.

If we leave our infrastructure in better shape, improve trust in City Hall, protect the character of our community, and make government a little more open than when I got there, I’ll feel like I did my job.

Campaign website: www.votescottinglis.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

Len Kreger

Occupation: Retired.

Currently serving on the Non-Profit Organization Boards of First Affordable Housing, Community Land Trust of Nassau County and America’s Youth

Age: 84

Family: Widower

3 Sons, 1 Daughter, 74 Grandchildren, 3 Great Grandchildren

Education: AA Palomar College San Marcos California

Psychology, Chapman College, Orange California

Political experience: 7 Years Fernandina Beach City Commissioner, Termed Out 2022

6 Years Fernandina Beach Planning Advisory Board

5 Years Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council

Served on Nassau County Code Enforcement Board, Affordable Housing Committee, Fernandina Beach Sustainable Fernandina Committee, currently serving on the Fernandina Beach Board of Adjustments

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

A major issued in this election is the Paid Parking issue in downtown Fernandina. This has resulted in dividing the Community. The paid parking referendum will not require roll back of the plan but prohibit future paid parking without passage of a referendum.

The real issue which is related to paid parking is the ability and requirement of the city to continue to provide both operations, police, fire and infrastructure along with required capital improvements necessary to provide a safe environment and meet our established ”Quality of Life.“

This is a Leadership, management and Funding issue

Related is the potential passage of the Homestead tax referendum in November. If pass this will result in a 16% reduction in the city revenue.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

Significant experience with a proven record along with a understanding of how to effectively work effectively with both sides of an issue.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

Providing the Leadership to keep Fernandina Beach a Quality Community.

Campaign website: lenkreger.com

Campaign social media: None

Staci McMonagle

Occupation: Home health business owner.

CNA Care Service LLC

Age: 65

Family: I have two daughters, one son, and two grandchildren. We’re fortunate that they all still call Nassau County home.

Education: Montreat-Anderson College, North Carolina

Florida Community College at Jacksonville

Political experience: Ran four years ago here in Fernandina for City Commissioner Seat 5

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

My top three priorities are infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and responsible growth. We need to maintain the infrastructure we already have, spend taxpayer dollars wisely, and ensure growth keeps pace with our roads, utilities, and public services while protecting the quality of life that makes Fernandina Beach a great place to live.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I’ve managed a law office, spent many years working in hospitality and tourism, and now own a small business. Those experiences taught me how to listen, balance competing interests, solve problems, and treat people with respect. I think those experiences have prepared me well for this job.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I hope people would say I kept my promises, treated everyone with respect, and made decisions based on what was best for Fernandina Beach. If, after my time on the commission, our city is on firmer financial footing, we’re making progress on our infrastructure, and people feel they can trust their local government again, I would consider that a job well done.

Campaign website: www.fernandinafirst.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

News4JAX will be gathering questionnaire answers from candidates Genece Minshew and Timothy Poynter at a later time, and add their responses here, before voting begins for the general election.

CITIZEN INITIATIVE ORDINANCE - PAID PARKING

In 2025, Fernandina Beach city commissioners began discussing a proposal to implement paid parking in the historic downtown district. Members of the community pushed back on the idea, with some gathering signatures to support a ballot initiative on the idea as far back as August of last year. In October, the commission rejected an ordinance that aimed to ban the parking fees, even though it was brought to them through a petition signed by more than 1,700 people. Since the ordinance to ban paid parking did not pass, the parking fees began in February, and the ballot question was placed on the August primary ballot. It will appear for all Fernandina Beach voters.

Ballot question (yes or no vote):

The City of Fernandina Beach shall not implement paid parking in any designated area, defined as all areas within the City, without majority approval (50% plus one) vote from a public referendum of registered City voters. This ordinance does not prohibit the City from implementing temporary parking measures during special events. Such measures require public notice at such time a special permit is issued and not last longer than 30 days.

“UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions,” the European soccer body said after an urgent online meeting of its 55 member nations.

The next scheduled FIFA tournament is within weeks in Europe — the Women’s Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland from Sept. 5 — and the four British federations comprise FIFA’s only bidder to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup. That decision is due Nov. 23.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

The strategy meeting was called to counter FIFA President Infantino’s offer of $20 million to each of FIFA’s 211 global members that has to be accepted by mid-September.

Later Thursday, the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) met and announced it rejected Infantino's plan.

In a statement, CONCACAF said members “expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies.” It also questioned the need for outside investment "following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history.”

Infantino’s secret project was revealed Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a new $20 billion subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) 20% owned by private investors. The core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Infantino wrote Tuesday to the 211 members — already the effective owners of FIFA as a non-profit association under Swiss law — that if they approve FFE their promised $10 million basic funding for the next four years will double to $20 million. He projected their FIFA funding through 2038 would be $86 million each, instead of about $36 million.

“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football,” said UEFA, where Infantino was a long-time staffer and its CEO-like general secretary when he was first elected to lead FIFA in 2016.

Infantino’s presidency at risk?

Infantino’s high-stakes financial gambit now could threaten his previously secure 11-year presidency of FIFA as anger and frustration with him rises among soccer stakeholders including three of the six continental bodies.

FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for potential candidates to declare in a presidential vote of the 211 members scheduled next March in Rabat, Morocco.

Infantino had seemed — 11 days ago after the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey — to have a clear path to being re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term in office through 2031, despite a furor over letting United States forward Folarin Balogun play against Belgium despite a red card in his previous game.

Soccer officials have said privately Infantino has eyed a lucrative commissioner-like role at the FFE spinoff beyond 2031.

“Game over, Gianni #InfantinOUT,” the Football Supporters Europe group, which advises UEFA on fan issues such as ticket prices, posted after the boycott threat.

Soccer’s concern at investor pressure

UEFA detailed Thursday why soccer officials fear external investors owning a stake of the global game’s biggest events, including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women.

“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever,” UEFA said. “Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.”

Infantino has presented the private equity offer as a chance to “turbocharge” funding development of soccer across the world, where a majority of the 211 FIFA members rely on its funding.

Officials from about 40 UEFA member spoke at the urgent meeting, with anger expressed that FIFA is not using some of its multi-billion reserves to fund extra development programs.

“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive,” the European soccer body said, “unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.”

Asia adds rare criticism of Infantino

On a seismic day in soccer politics, a traditional bedrock of support in Asia for FIFA and Infantino had earlier Thursday been shaken.

“FIFA’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football,” the Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said in a letter to its 46 members of FIFA, warning of risks to their own competitions.

Sheikh Salman, an ally to Infantino since losing the FIFA presidential election to him in 2016, wrote “such an initiative will not succeed without the support of all the confederations, which is not the case now.”

In a video message published Wednesday by FIFA, Infantino insisted spinning off its money-making operations was “an offer, not an obligation.”

A FIFA presentation for its members, co-written with its banking advisors from J.P. Morgan and seen by the AP, set a goal for FFE as “commercial rigor and expertise to better capitalize on broadcast rights, sponsorships and a growing tournament portfolio.”

FIFA squeeze on continental games

That growing portfolio likely would include adding more teams to FIFA competitions like the World Cup and Club World Cup for men and women, and potentially staging them more often than every four years, including in the U.S.

FIFA adding teams, games and competitions would squeeze the value, status and space in the congested global fixture calendar for those that fund and are organized by the six continental soccer bodies like UEFA and the AFC. Those include World Cup qualifying games, continental tournaments and Champions Leagues.

“It is important that the AFC family has a complete understanding,” Sheikh Salman wrote, “of how such an initiative may affect key areas of global and Asian football, including the sustainability of confederation and (domestic) competitions, as well as the organization and commercial landscape surrounding the AFC’s activities.”

UEFA’s previous boycott threat

A threatened World Cup boycott from Europe helped derail Infantino’s plan in 2021 to play World Cups every two years instead of four.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

After failed negotiations forced the delay of a committee vote to advance Blanche's nomination, Trump suggested he was holding firm against pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. They have expressed concerns about the controversial settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which a judge denounced as an exercise in self-dealing.

The senators said the Justice Department seemed interested in reaching an agreement with them, but the White House wouldn't budge to aid the confirmation of Trump's loyal former personal attorney, who has aggressively pursued the administration's priorities as acting attorney general. Instead, Trump said in a social media post that he might pull Blanche's nomination and resubmit it after Cornyn and Tillis leave office next year.

“I think as far as Blanche and the Department of Justice, we were pretty much on the same page,” Cornyn said Thursday. “But then when the president got wind of it, he wasn’t willing to go along with it.”

Hours after Trump's post, however, Blanche held a meeting with Cornyn and Tillis and the two sides were back to working collaboratively, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations around Blanche’s confirmation.

Cornyn and Tillis have said they won't back Blanche's nomination without additional assurances in writing about the settlement, which included a deal to drop tax claims against the president and a now-scrapped plan to create a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” meant to compensate Trump allies.

With all Democratic senators opposed, just one Republican holdout on the Senate Judiciary Committee could sink Blanche’s chances for confirmation. And even if Blanche makes it through the Senate Judiciary Committee, it’s unclear if he has enough Republican support to be confirmed by the full chamber.

Cornyn wrote in a social media post Thursday that the president is “mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis.”

While the Justice Department dropped plans for the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” after bipartisan outrage about the potential of payouts going to violent Jan. 6 rioters, officials have said that another piece of the settlement — granting Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits — remains in place.

Though Blanche has repeatedly insisted that the “Anti-Weaponization fund” is dead, skeptical lawmakers have pushed for a commitment in writing — especially since Trump has expressed continued support for the idea. But the senators suggested the White House is resisting putting it in writing.

“The president’s getting bad advice. He should listen to Blanche and others who think if it’s dead, it should be rendered completely dead,” Tillis told reporters about the fund.

Another sticking point was the settlement's audit immunity provision that said the U.S. government is “forever barred and precluded” from scrutinizing or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization’s current and past tax examinations. Cornyn and Tillis have pressed the administration to modify the agreement to make clear that it covers only existing audits and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings.

While the majority of Republican senators oppose the settlement, the main pushback to Blanche has come from Cornyn, who lost his seat earlier this year when Trump opposed him in a GOP primary. Trump has also frequently targeted Tillis, who announced last year that he would not run for re-election and has criticized the administration over the pardons of Jan. 6 rioters and other matters.

Though it would be politically embarrassing for the Trump administration, pulling Blanche’s nomination would likely have little practical impact on the management of the Justice Department.

Blanche, who took the reins of the department after Pam Bondi's firing in April, can still lead the agency as either acting attorney general or deputy attorney general, the No. 2 post to which he was confirmed last year. The deputy attorney general, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the law enforcement agency, can perform the duties of the attorney general if that post is vacant.

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Associated Press reporter Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

The former lieutenant governor made the announcement in a video posted on his Facebook page as democratic socialist Francesca Hong has garnered strong support from the liberal wing of the party.

Barnes’ decision to drop out came a day after the release of a Marquette Law School poll of Wisconsin Democratic primary voters that found Hong leading Barnes and the other candidates by a significant margin, although about one-third of primary voters remained undecided.

“It's become very clear who our nominee is going to be,” Barnes said.

Barnes is the third Democrat to withdraw from the race. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her run amid a campaign finance scandal two weeks ago and former state economic development director Missy Hughes dropped out in June.

After Rodriguez ended her campaign, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley rejoined the race with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers.

Crowley made a direct plea to Barnes' supporters to back him.

“There's a place for you in what we're building,” he posted on social media.

Evers told reporters Thursday that he was surprised by Barnes’ move.

“But he needs to do what he needs to do,” Evers said. “I don’t know why he’s getting out. I have to believe it’s something relatively important.”

Evers said he stuck by his endorsement of Crowley, who worked closely with Evers and Republican lawmakers on a deal to increase funding for local communities. Evers chose to endorse him over Barnes, who served as his lieutenant governor in his first term.

Evers said Crowley was the best candidate “even if Mandela was in.”

Hong did not immediately return a text message seeking comment.

Joel Brennan, a longshot candidate in the race, said “It’s unfortunate for voters that this primary has gotten more attention for chaos than the stakes of this election."

The shakeup comes after nearly 128,000 voters have already returned absentee ballots and on the third day of in-person early voting. On Wednesday, a judge rejected a lawsuit supported by the Democratic Party seeking to allow voters who have already returned their absentee ballots to cancel them and vote again.

The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to face U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who faces only nominal opposition in the Republican primary. Tiffany, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Barnes ending his campaign comes after he benefitted from other candidates dropping out in the Democratic primary race for Senate in 2022 to clear the field for him. He ended up losing by under 27,000 votes that year to Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

One of his former teammates is expecting it, too.

Hines-Allen, one of Jacksonville’s longest-tenured players behind punter Logan Cooke, is unquestionably a cornerstone player for the Jaguars. He broke the franchise’s all-time sack record last year and came in ranked as the league’s No. 48 player in the NFL 100 this season.

Hines-Allen expects quite a bit from himself. Opposing players are on board with a big season from Hines-Allen, too.  

“I actually got, surprisingly, great text this morning from [Ravens DL] Calais Campbell,” Hines-Allen said. “Right before I went out to practice, man, he said, ‘I love you, Josh. You’re going to lead the league in sacks this year.’ For me, it’s just even more validation that I’m on the right path mentally.”

Hines-Allen had 17.5 sacks in a contract year in 2023. His sack totals dipped to eight the following two seasons. But sack totals don’t tell the full picture of Hines-Allen’s effectiveness. His 80 quarterback pressures last year were tied for fourth in the NFL last season. This year, it’s all about finishing those pressures with sacks.

“I always tell the guys, man, football, when you get to a point, pass rushing becomes reactionary,” Hines-Allen said.

“You come in with a plan, you rush with a plan, but if your plan doesn’t work, what is your reaction to it? Because everybody loses, but when that person stops you, what does it look like? How do you respond to that? And I think that’s what kind of makes those split-second decisions a lot faster, so do what you have to do.”

Hines-Allen said that he’s appreciative of his peers from around the league recognizing how much he works on his craft, but that he’s not done ascending just yet.

“I’m appreciative, but I play the game to be the best in the world, so it’s just a step closer I would say. But it’s motivating and I just have to keep it up,” he said.

QB tracker

Trevor Lawrence: 7 for 13, interception.

Nick Mullens: 8 for 12, interception.

Carter Bradley: 1 for 2.

Joey Aguilar: 0 for 2.

RB tracker

Bhayshul Tuten: Seven carries, all with Trevor Lawrence.

LeQuint Allen Jr.: Two carries, both with Lawrence.

Ameer Abdullah: Five carries, all from Nick Mullens.

DeeJay Dallas: Three carries, all from Mullens.

J’Mari Taylor: Two carries; 1 from Carter Bradley and 1 from Joey Aguilar.

Kick tracker

Cam Little: 4-4.

Play of the day

• Offensive standout: Parker Washington was on one. No. 11 was up to his normal antics at this point. Just making big plays. Washington and Lawrence just have a different level of connection. Washington’s best play came on a back shoulder throw from Lawrence that saw Buster Brown all over him in coverage. Washington was able to get back around and make the play.
• Defensive standout: Rayuan Lane came up with an interception off Lawrence. That is an interception on both days of camp so far for QB1. But more importantly for Lane, it was a really nice play. Lane had crazy turnover production in college. Last season, he was a standout on special teams. Now, could he find a way to force his name into the competition at safety? Maybe. If he keeps making plays like that, I wouldn’t sleep on it.
• Injury update: Jack Kiser has a right knee injury, and he will return before the end of camp.
• Worth watching: Ventrell Miller and Caleb Ransaw both got checked on by the trainers at points during practice. Both were able to return to the field, but it is something worth keeping an eye on.
• Ventrell Miller came up with an interception during practice off Nick Mullens. Making plays like that will be huge for Miller. When he has had opportunities to play, it was routine to see him knife into the backfield to make stops in the running game. If he can show he can make plays against the pass as well, that will lock him in as a starter.
• Another day, another Travon Walker sack. Coen challenged Walker to wreck his practice. He hasn’t quite wrecked it, but I would say for sure that he has caused problems.
• One of the biggest unknowns in the Jaguars draft class is Zach Durfee. He was ESPN’s Prospect X. Well, he flashed some pass rush juice. Getting a quick win that would have let him sack Lawrence.

The 2-1 decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with a judge appointed by President Donald Trump in the majority, deepened a split between federal appeals courts over the administration's mandatory detention policy.

Four other appeals courts have also rejected it, while the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans and Eighth Circuit in St. Louis have sided with the Trump administration.

The expanding circuit split increases the likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will eventually take up the issue. The administration last month asked the high court to consider it.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement it “strongly disagrees with the Ninth Circuit panel and is confident in its legal position regarding mandatory detention.”

“President Donald Trump and Secretary Mullin are now enforcing the law as it was actually written to keep America safe,” the statement said.

Under previous administrations, most noncitizens without a criminal record who were arrested inside the U.S. were allowed to seek a bond hearing while their immigration cases were pending. Mandatory detention was generally reserved for people arrested at the border.

Last July, immigration officials issued guidance expanding mandatory detention to immigrants in the U.S. interior. The move — part of the administration's mass deportation campaign — prompted a deluge of federal lawsuits by immigrants seeking release from custody.

Some federal judges who ordered bond hearings blasted the administration for repeatedly violating their orders.

The Trump administration has argued that Congress changed immigration law in 1996 to allow mandatory detention beyond the border, but previous administrations didn't enforce that provision.

Writing for the majority in Thursday's ruling, 9th U.S. Circuit Judge Daniel Bress rejected that argument.

“Although no reading of the complicated and interrelated textual provisions at issue here is without some shortcomings, the historical understanding of the statute is the better one,” Bress, a Trump appointee, wrote.

He was joined by Judge M. Margaret McKeown, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

Judge Carlos Bea, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, dissented, saying the text and purpose of an amendment Congress approved in 1996 support the Trump administration's reading.

Sophia’s first story spotlighted concerns along Moncrief Road after viewers told her the corridor deserves attention when it comes to safety, infrastructure and quality-of-life issues.

After that report, Sophia said her follow-up video drew hundreds of comments, including dozens supporting an idea that popped up repeatedly: take a guided tour of the neighborhood with “Chef Fatty” (Instagram: RichOffReviewz) and “Chef Skinny” (Instagram: IAmChefSkinny).

“My last video sparked hundreds of comments from you guys. 85 of you agree, apparently, that I should take a tour with RichOffReviewz and IAmChefSkinny,” Sophia said in the Instagram video.

‘Good and bad no matter where you are’

Sophia met up with Chef Fatty, Lady (Fatty’s wife) and Chef Skinny to hear what they say is often missed when people only see Moncrief through the lens of crime coverage.

“Within the area, you’re gonna have good and bad no matter where you are,” Lady said. “No offense to the news, most of the time the news project negatively.”

Sophia told the group she wanted to focus on something different.

“We were thinking about when was the last time that a reporter has come out here and not ask you guys about a shooting or about a crime that happened,” she said.

First stop: Holley’s Bar B Q

The tour included a stop at Holley’s Bar B Q, which Fatty described as a neighborhood staple.

“Miss Holley really takes care of the community with like giving away free food to the homeless or just having good prices on food,” he said.

Chef Skinny pointed out that community spaces matter — and said the area needs more of them.

“It really need more stuff like in the community to do,” he said.

Sophia echoed what she heard: more places for neighbors to gather and more options for young people.

“They were talking to me about how they feel like there needs to be more programs or more activities for youth … to keep them away from maybe being bored and getting into the wrong stuff,” she said.

Holly, a park program manager, said there are already services trying to provide pathways.

“We bring in different like culinary programs. They can get a ServSafe manager certification. We do the beauty program. We teach them skillsets,” Holly said. “I definitely believe in more programming. We’ll keep them preoccupied, get into less trouble.”

‘You look good, you feel good, you do good’

During the tour, another man praised recent improvements in the area but said he wants to see more.

“They made the park beautiful now. That wasn’t there a few years ago,” he said, adding that continued upgrades can build pride and momentum. “You look good. You feel good. You do good.”

The group also pointed out long-standing issues they say don’t get addressed quickly enough, including an abandoned property Fatty said has been sitting for years.

“I feel like any other side of town, they would have been had to handle. It would have had to be handled first year,” he said. “But since it’s on Moncrief, it’s going to sit there.”

A push to keep the focus on Moncrief

Sophia noted that beyond the challenges, the tour highlighted residents and businesses trying to support kids and families.

“It’s such proof that there’s so many people here who just need help,” she said.

Fatty said that’s part of why he and others stay involved.

“Y’all like kids down here that got dreams to like make it out of here. So we try to do what we can to make sure they got a positive image of what … where to go,” he said.

Sophia ended the video by asking viewers whether the Moncrief coverage should continue.

“Do you guys think we should make this a series … where we come back into Moncrief and we show the love, we show the positivity?” she said, encouraging people to weigh in.

Background: what Sophia found on Moncrief Road last week

Sophia’s follow-up comes after her previous story on Moncrief Road, sparked by viewer feedback after she posted a video about road problems on 103rd Street.

In that report, residents told her Moncrief has a reputation that can overshadow day-to-day needs — including concerns about crime, pedestrian safety and infrastructure.

Sophia also reported the city is looking at corridor improvements, including roundabouts — one at 45th Street and another planned at New Kings Road — while residents raised concerns about basic safety features like crosswalks.

The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has completed a study on the Moncrief Road corridor.

The blast apparently was triggered by a buildup of methane gas and occurred on the outskirts of the Baluchistan provincial capital of Quetta, government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said.

The bodies of the seven miners initially were recovered hours after the deadly blast, and emergency responders later found 11 more bodies, officials and a provincial disaster management agency said in a statement.

Baloch said rescue operations would continue until all the trapped miners were found, but he indicated that officials believed the death toll likely would rise further.

“The chances of finding anyone alive diminish after methane gas explosions because oxygen levels drop to zero, and rescuers are also proceeding cautiously inside the mine,” Baloch said.

Authorities were handing over the bodies to their families for burial, while relatives of those still trapped waited anxiously for news, Baloch said.

Baluchistan’s Minister for Mines and Minerals Shoaib Nosherwani said the rescue teams were working under extremely difficult conditions. He pledged that the provincial government would go all-out in the continuing response.

Nosherwani expressed condolences to relatives of the victims and said the provincial government would pay compensation of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (about $1,800) to the family of each miner killed in the blast.

He said authorities would conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion, and would review mining safety measures to help prevent similar accidents.

A coal miners’ labor union said it suspected negligence led to the explosion and called for action against those responsible. In a statement, the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation urged the government to strictly enforce safety regulations and take tough action against companies that violate mine safety laws.

Deadly accidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mining industry, particularly in Baluchistan, where many mines lack adequate ventilation, gas monitoring systems and other basic safety measures.

Mine workers and labor groups have long accused mine owners of failing to enforce safety regulations or provide adequate protective equipment.

Despite the risks and low wages, thousands of miners depend on the coal industry for their livelihoods in Baluchistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, where unemployment and poverty remain widespread.

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Ahmed reported from Islamabad.

The blitz expanded Russia’s almost daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including the capital of Kyiv where tens of thousands spent the night sheltering in subway stations, as Moscow apparently looked to exploit Kyiv’s critical shortage of Western-supplied anti-ballistic missile defenses.

NATO said a Russian missile entered Polish airspace during the onslaught and landed in a rural area. It caused no injuries or damage but could deepen tensions between the military alliance and Moscow, as wary European countries fear the 4-year-old war could spill into their territory.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called it “yet another reckless act by Russia and a dangerous consequence of its war against Ukraine.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was “a very serious incident,” but added: “There are absolutely no reasons to believe that Poland was the target.”

Russia's barrage struck areas of Ukraine where weapons are believed to be stored and manufactured. Ukrainian long-range drones and missiles have battered Russia's oil sector, causing a fuel crisis.

The attack came two days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump and representatives of American defense companies as he pleads for swifter and bigger deliveries of Patriot air defense systems to stop Russia’s ballistic missiles.

The Iran war has drained stockpiles of the U.S.-made interceptors. Trump has promised to grant Ukraine licenses to build its own Patriots, but production could take many months.

“Given the critical shortage of air defense missiles from our partners, our warriors are accomplishing truly incredible things, demonstrating a very high level of professionalism,” Zelenskyy said on social media.

“This Russian terror once again proves that protection against the Russian missile threat is the most important task when it comes to saving the lives of our people,” he said.

Russia says it targeted military sites

Zelenskyy said at least 10 Ukrainian regions were attacked, with dozens of homes, businesses and infrastructure facilities destroyed or damaged.

Russia launched more than 70 missiles, a significant number of them ballistic missiles, he said, and over 280 attack drones, of which more than 260 were intercepted.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it targeted Ukrainian air bases, arms factories and military telecommunications and logistics facilities, including drone factories and storage depots, as well as plants for missiles, aircraft repairs, electronics and chemicals.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Russian attack killed six people and wounded 10, said Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the regional military administration, in a post on Telegram. Children were among the dead — a 6-year-old girl and boys aged 11 and 17 in the area of Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's hometown, Hanzha added.

The children’s parents were killed in the same attack, but two more children were pulled alive from the rubble, Zelenskyy said.

“It was an ordinary home, blown (to) smithereens by a ballistic missile,” he said on X.

In Kyiv, Russian forces struck the capital with ballistic missiles, killing a 31-year-old man and wounding two others, the National Police press service said.

More than 56,000 people sheltered in Kyiv’s subway stations overnight, according to the Facebook post from the metro system.

A cruise missile attack struck the western city of Lviv, killing one person and wounding over 30, including children aged 6, 13 and 15, said Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv regional military administration.

In the Poltava region, a drone hit warehouses, killing one person, said regional military head Vitalii Diakivnych.

Closer to the front line, which comes under almost daily attack, Russian forces dropped three glide bombs on an industrial zone in the southern city of Kherson, killing a 56-year-old man, local officials said.

Poland says fragments indicated a Russian cruise missile

A Russian Kh-101 cruise missile crossed into Poland overnight, violating NATO airspace, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X, calling it a clear demonstration that strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses would also guarantee wider European security.

Responding to the missile alert, NATO forces in Poland scrambled two fighter jets, an attack helicopter and two other aircraft, and activated ground defenses, said Col. Michael O’Donnell, the spokesperson for the alliance’s military command in Belgium.

The missile quickly disappeared from radar, the Polish Armed Forces said. A helicopter flew to its last known location, where the crew discovered a probable impact site in a farming area in Lublin province, the command said.

Investigators found fragments indicating that the object was a Kh-101 missile, Polish news agency PAP reported.

Tusk had met with Zelenskyy in Lublin on Wednesday to discuss defense issues.

NATO military commander Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich told Poland’s Defense Chief Gen. Wiesław Kukułan the military alliance “will continue to take all necessary measures to defend NATO territory,” O’Donnell said.

Ukr

aine hits more depots of major Russian online retailer

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 258 Ukrainian drones overnight.

A depot belonging to Wildberries online retailer was set ablaze in Russia's Penza region southeast of Moscow, in the latest strike on the company's warehouses, Penza Gov. Oleg Melnichenko said.

Four people were injured and 200 workers were evacuated, he said, adding that about 100 firefighters were deployed.

Wildberries also reported its warehouse in Sarapul in the Udmurtia region, more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Ukraine, was struck by a Ukrainian drone and set ablaze. It said the workers had been safely evacuated.

The Russian online news outlet Astra reported that another Wildberries depot in the Perm region in the Urals was also set ablaze by a Ukrainian drone strike. Regional authorities reported a Ukrainian drone attack but didn’t give information about the damage.

Thursday’s attacks on Wildberries warehouses brought to 14 the number of the retailer’s depots struck by Ukrainian drones in under two weeks. Ukraine accuses Wildberries of supplying goods that can be used by the Russian military.

Ukrainian drone units destroyed four more vessels belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” of sanctions-busting tankers, bringing the total to 205 since the operation began July 6, Robert Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, said on his Telegram channel.

___

An earlier version of this story had the incorrect name for the spokesperson for NATO’s military command in Belgium. He is Col. Michael O’Donnell, not O'Connell.

AP reporter Stefanie Dazio in Berlin; Rafal Niedzielski in Warsaw, Poland; and Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed.

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

Time was running out to find survivors, as rescuers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Japan ’s southern main island of Kyushu, where the magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Tuesday. The number of people missing was unclear.

Of the deaths given in the latest tally, 25 have been confirmed as related to the disaster, but there were nine more deaths under investigation as likely to be connected, the Kumamoto prefectural government said. The quake left at least 86 people injured, five of them seriously, it said.

Survivors spoke about desperately pulling family members out of the wreckage. Some had suffered injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

Thousands of people spent another night at evacuation centers set up throughout the area at schools and other big spaces. Some homes were still without water or electricity, while others were simply afraid to go back.

Nearly 19,000 homes were still without electricity and more than 9,000 people were staying in the roughly 400 shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning.

Concerns were growing about illness, including from the sweltering heat. The Ministry of Environment sent out a heatstroke alert for the Kumamoto area, with temperatures rising above 33 C (91 F) Thursday.

Some evacuees sleep in cars

In the town of Hikawa, one of the hardest-hit areas in Kumamoto, many residents are without water or electricity, or both, and some were staying inside their vehicles in parks, at the town hall parking lot, or outside their homes. More than 800 of the town of about 4,500 households were destroyed or damaged, officials said.

At the front entrance of the town hall, officials delivered bottled water and packaged instant rice, while the Ground Self-Defense Force service members came with a trolley to provide fresh water.

Hirokazu Sato, a nurse, whose house was destroyed, is staying in his passenger car at the town hall parking lot with his wife and three children, because he worries that his 1-year-old baby could be a nuisance to others if they take shelter at an evacuation center.

“I can't sleep sitting in the car, so sometimes I go out for a walk during the night,” Sato says. “I hope the town will provide temporary housing soon.”

Yoshiaki Nakashima, a 66-year-old resident who came with two bottles and his beloved pet dog to get water, said he is staying in a car because of his reluctance to stay at one of the three evacuation centers in the area. He also said he doesn’t want to sleep at home because aftershocks made him feel uneasy.

“It’s difficult to turn over while sleeping in a car,” he said, but added that living at a shelter is even more difficult.

Akiko Inazaki, another resident in her 30s, is living in a tent set up in the yard of her home, which has been without water and electricity since the quake. Inazaki, who also came to get water, said she will use it little by little.

“Fresh water is so valuable,” she said. Inazaki said she drank so little that she almost had a heatstroke.

Risks of heatstroke are a major concern among officials.

Yutaka Kobayashi, a doctor dispatched from central Japan's Aichi prefecture, said he was touring evacuation centers Thursday to assess the condition of evacuees, especially elderly people and those with injuries as they cope with a harsh environment.

“We have to make sure elderly people are not developing heatstrokes or dehydration,” he said in Hikawa.

While the town parking lot was nearly packed the first night, some residents have moved to three public schools where air-conditioning is running, Hikawa officials said.

A town official, Yuzuru Tamura, said they are starting to run out of emergency food supply, such as canned bread and instant rice.

Emergency personnel search for missing people

The most serious damage was at the Aeon Mall shopping center in the town of Kashima, which was bustling with thousands of people when the quake struck in the late afternoon.

The company said some 3,000 customers were evacuated to a parking lot before the explosion happened in another part of the mall, where some people were still working. The mall’s second floor collapsed, trapping people.

On Thursday, seven people were confirmed to have died at the mall site among the 12 people pulled out of the wreckage, according to Kumamoto authorities.

In the Yatsushiro area, where a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory, 10 people were rescued, but eight others died, and one remained missing, the Kumamoto prefectural disaster team said.

Footage provided by the Japanese government and military showed rescue workers drilling through the collapsed parts of the building in an attempt to get to anyone who may still be trapped inside.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters the central government will take a lead role in coordinating the various rescue efforts. Restoring electricity, gas and water to stricken areas, while providing a supply of fresh water is key, she said.

“The needs on the ground are constantly changing. To put to rest the people's feelings of uncertainty, we will do all that needs to be done,” she said.

___

Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to this report.

The announcement comes after local authorities in Ceuta had asked the central government in Madrid for reinforcements to manage a border crisis that had been building up before boiling over on Thursday with large crowds of people breeching the border fence.

Spain’s government said Thursday evening it would send the Armed Forces to help the Civil Guard “to maintain security in the city of Ceuta.” It also announced that Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez would join Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and visit Ceuta Friday.

“The situation is absolute chaos,” Rachid Sbihi, head of the association that represents Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, who police the border told The Associated Press. “It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,” he said, adding that the border had “totally collapsed.”

Achraf Maimouni, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the situation as ’’exceptional.″

“The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning and people crossed,″ he said.

Video footage showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach onto local roads. While the majority appeared to be young men, there were also families with women and small children.

“Viva España!” some shouted to a freelance photographer working for the AP. It was not immediately clear what prompted so many migrants to cross to Ceuta.

Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta said at least nine people died Thursday during the chaos. It did not provide details on the circumstances of the deaths but bodies could be seen floating in the water. Dozens have died this year trying to reach Ceuta, according to local authorities.

Arrivals had been increasing, but reasons still unclear

The escalation at the frontier between Spain and Morocco comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, on Wednesday.

Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the crossings, and the interior ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said the Moroccan government was “closely cooperating” with Spain to handle the situation and that Moroccan police are stopping “numerous people” who are trying to cross the border. Both countries agreed to work together “for the return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally.”

Spain’s interior ministry earlier said it would guarantee the safety of citizens and the integrity of the nation’s border but that the government could not declare a national emergency - as local authorities had asked - over migration concerns.

Ceuta authorities had previously linked the spike to a Spanish Supreme Court decision earlier this month that migrants who arrive by sea cannot be immediately pushed back across the border without due process, unlike those who cross into Spain by land — by climbing over the border fence, for example.

But some activists in Morocco expressed doubt that the ruling was behind the surge, arguing most migrants would have been unaware of such legal decisions.

Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.

To reach Ceuta, located on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

The scenes of people streaming across the frontier recall the border crisis of May 2021 when more than 8,000 migrants poured into Ceuta in just two days.

At the time, Morocco was accused of easing border controls and allowing migrants to cross into the Ceuta after Spain allowed Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to receive treatment at a Spanish hospital, triggering a diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid. The pro-independence Polisario Front for decades has claimed to be the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people of the Western Sahara, disputed with Morocco.

Ceuta authorities ask Madrid to declare emergency, send army

Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of Ceuta’s regional government, called for the national government to declare an emergency on grounds of national security, asking for more police and for the army to be deployed on the border “to guarantee the inviolability of the frontier and citizen safety.”

He had warned Wednesday that migrant reception centers were overwhelmed with hundreds of people sleeping on the streets after more than 1,500 migrants entered the territory in the past week. But thousands more crossed overnight and Thursday.

Spain’s Interior Ministry, which tracks irregular migration, would not confirm the number of migrants who had made it to Ceuta in the last few days but said it would publish its next migration report on Aug. 3. As of July 15, nearly 3,000 migrants had entered Ceuta by land or sea this year, according to ministry figures.

Legislation covering a declaration of national emergencies does not consider migration flows as a risk to national security, according to the ministry, which said government administrations are “coordinating to respond with speed and efficacy to the situation in Ceuta.”

Ceuta, which is perched on a historical isthmus, has been a Spanish possession since 1580. Its mixed population of Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers, live in relative harmony behind a border fence that many desperate migrants from across Africa attempt to cross for a better life in Europe.

—

Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain. AP journalists Joseph Wilson in Barcelona and Akram Oubachir in Casablanca, Morocco, contributed to this report.

Cameron threw only 72 pitches through six innings with two walks and five strikeouts, with little solid contact by the Twins. Catcher Salvador Perez sprang forward to pick up Ryan Kreidler’s dribbler in front of the plate and make an on-target underhand toss to first base for the second out of the sixth as the 36-year-old tumbled to the grass to keep the feat alive.

But Jeffers delivered a clean single to right-center field on an 0-2 changeup from Cameron.

Cameron still stretched his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 15 by getting the next three outs to match his career-long outing with seven innings. He threw seven shutout frames in relief on Friday after the Royals used an opener in a 2-1 loss at Detroit.

Former Twins right-hander Randy Dobnak pitched seven scoreless innings for the Royals on Wednesday night in a 4-0 victory.

Cameron went 9-7 with a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts last season and finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year award voting. The 27-year-old threw 6 1/3 no-hit innings in his major league debut on April 30, 2025, for a 3-0 win at Tampa Bay.

___

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

A fire crew was on the scene around 11:30 a.m. and found a slow-moving brush fire burning in the wooded area.

Due to the fire’s size, the Florida Forest Service was also called out to help contain the fire.

The department warned that smoke may remain visible in the area, so motorists should use caution while traveling through the CR-13 corridor.

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Michele Hanson

Occupation: I have dedicated myself to the field of education, serving as a teacher in Clay County Schools for 19 years and as a School Board member for the last 3.5 years.

Age: 64

Family: I have been married to my husband John, a 24-year veteran of the United States Army, for 43 years and I am the proud mother of three Ridgeview High School graduates. Additionally, my two granddaughters are currently enrolled in Clay County Schools. One of my greatest joys as a mother is seeing my daughter become a master teacher, following in my footsteps.​

Education: I have dedicated myself to the field of education, serving as a teacher in Clay County Schools for 19 years and as a School Board member for the last 2.5 years. In my role as a school board member, I achieved Master Board Certification through the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) and completed the Master School Board training with my fellow board members.

Political experience: For the past three and a half years, I have proudly served our community on the Clay County School Board. In addition to my local leadership, I am an active member of the Florida School Boards Association’s State Advocacy Committee, fighting for our district’s needs at the state level.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

While Clay County celebrates high levels of student achievement and has one of the most robust Career and Technical Education programs in the state, we cannot lose sight of the foundational gaps that remain. Right now, approximately 1/3 of our students continue to struggle with essential reading and critical thinking skills, a reality that demands a renewed, urgency. To close this gap we must operate with a modern, business-minded approach. Public education can’t afford to be complacent; we must view families as our customers and continuously earn their trust. By embracing innovation, stream-lining operations, and adapting quickly to new challenges, we will ensure that Clay County District Schools remains the number one choice of parents.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I am uniquely qualified to serve the voters of Clay County because I spent19 years of my life in the trenches of a classroom serving parents, teachers, and students. I believe it is vitally important that at least one board member have experience in the classroom because the classroom has dramatically changed over the years. My background helps me understand the concerns of voters and as a school board member I listen to voters and fight for solutions that better serve the educational community. I am also solutions forward thinker willing to look outside of the box to solve today’s challenges. As a military wife for 43 years, I am keenly aware of what it means to be a team. The Clay County School Board needs to work together as nonpartisan elected officials to improve the quality of student education, write new policies and procedures, and create new solutions to challenging issues.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I hope to leave behind a district where our teachers are no longer bogged down by administrative red tape, but are supported with competitive salaries through our 1-millage advocacy and protected by universal discipline policies. I want to be remembered for ensuring that our classrooms are safe, focused environments where the 32 percent of students struggling with reading get the urgent attention they need. Above all, I want my legacy to be that we drove innovation, respected the parent-school partnership, and cemented Clay County as a leader in state education.

Campaign website: michelehanson4ccsb.wixsite.com/mysite

Campaign social media: Facebook

Michael Rathjen

Occupation: Vice President of School Programs - VyStar Credit Union

Age: 45

Family: Married 20+ Years, three daughters ages 23, 20, 15

Education: Various trainings, courses, and certifications: Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, Common Sense Economic Course (Florida State University), Personal Finance Certificate (Texas Tech).

Political experience: Although than advocacy over the years to our State and Federal legislators on behalf of Boards I serve on (Clay Education Foundation and Clay County Farm Bureau) and as a business partner to multiple career and technical education programs for public schools...I have no official political experience. This is the first time seeking an elected office.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Budget. Budget. Budget. We are in the battle of the budget. Lack of proactive advocacy and management of our School District’s budget has created a deficiency in responsible leadership. All but one school board member accepted the state offered paise raise as a board member while failing to allocate sufficient fund to provide a pay raise to nearly 45% of our District’s teachers. We have a bloated vehicle fleet, and the excessive switching of technology/programs has created confusion and frustration for our educators and additional cost to our District.

School Safety - We must find an additional funding sources or reallocate funds to keep the contract between our county’s Sheriff’s Office and municipal law enforcement officers. The 1 mil tax referendum is also necessary but will be a temporary solution that must be voted on periodically to maintain. We must do whatever is necessary to protect the high safety standards our students/families deserve and our community has come to expect.

Results for students...we must keep the focus on our early literacy initiatives and intervention as well as protect our District’s robust career and technical education/trades programs.

All of the above-mentioned issues, and more, are directly impacted by the health of our budget. HB 1 from a couple years ago has fundamentally changed the financial landscape of our public school systems across Florida. I will work to protect the many programs that are driving results for students and respect for educators and parents, while using my business acumen to thoughtfully and collaboratively make improvements in areas where we can do better.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I am the only candidate with my unique professional background that is also super specific to creating/leading a complex outcome-based internship and financial education program for students and an income source for our school partners; while maintaining fiscal oversight of a multimillion-dollar budget. In summary, I have the right experience in the right time, and I am the right choice to lead our District through these unique budgetary challenges.

More Information:

As the Vice President of School Programs, I work in close partnership with nine different school districts across Northeast and Central Florida - Saint Johns, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, Flagler, Bradford, Marion, and Brevard. Under my leadership, our VyStar Academy of Business High School Program has delivered financial education training to over 180,000 students and has provided over 2,200 paid yearlong internship opportunities through nineteen high school branch programs. We are in the process of building our 20th high school program with our newest school district partners in Brevard County, Florida. This summer/school year, we have provided a paid yearlong internship/career-readiness opportunity to 223 high school students from across these 20 high schools and nine school districts.

In February of 2020, the school program I lead was recognized as the number one program in the nation (per asset size) and awarded the prestigious Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). VyStar Credit Union recently received the 2025 Ragan Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the Education or Scholarship Program category, recognizing its innovative and impactful efforts to empower youth through financial education and scholarships through the VyStar Academy of Business High School Program, which again is led by me and my team of exceptionally talented school program advisors.

At the time of announcing my candidacy for school board, I served as Chair for the Clay Education Foundation, as the state delegate of Florida for the Credit Union Financial Education Network, as a board member for the Economic Development Corporation for Clay County, the Clay County Fair Association, Clay County Farm Bureau, CareerSource Northeast Florida, and as a business partner on multiple Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Boards across Northeast Florida.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

Restoring responsible leadership to our School Board by proactively advocating for our public school’s budget, creating new public/private partnership to offset cost and create opportunity for students, providing support/respect for educators, and protecting/strengthen the programs that drive results and truly benefit our students.

I am committed to protecting the high quality of education provided within Clay County District Schools by collaborating with all levels of district personnel to shape policy, working with state legislators and key stakeholders to create an accountable and transparent budget process, and strengthening our overall public school system. I understand that parents and students deserve access and options, and that public school districts require support. Public school systems serve as the largest segment of our citizenship, impact the most students, typically serve as the largest employer for most counties, are one of the top economic drivers for growth (influencing tax revenue for school districts), and contribute to the overall prosperity of a community.

Campaign website: rathjen4clayschools.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Lara Libretto

Occupation: Educator of 27 years

Age: (No answer)

Family: I am married to Charlie Libretto, we have four sons and three grandchildren.

Education: Bachelor Degree from UNF in Elementary Education and a Masters of Educational Leadership from American College of Education

Political experience: (No answer)

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

First, I am passionate about public education and academic excellence. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success, whether they choose college, career and technical education, military service, or the workforce. I believe we must maintain high academic standards while providing the support students and teachers need to achieve them.

Second, I am passionate about school safety and student well-being. Safe schools are the foundation for learning. That includes strong campus security, School Resource Officers who build positive relationships with students, and a commitment to prevention through mental health services, counseling, and positive school culture.

Third, I am passionate about transparency and accountability in public education. Parents are their children’s first teachers and deserve to be true partners in education. That means open communication, curriculum clarity, and ensuring there are no surprises. It also means being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars by carefully reviewing expenditures and making decisions that are transparent and fiscally responsible.

Finally, I am passionate about supporting teachers and developing future leaders. After 27 years in education, I know that great schools are built by great educators. When we recruit, retain, and support high-quality teachers and school leaders, students benefit.

Everything I care about comes back to one question: Will this help students succeed? If the answer is yes, then it’s worth pursuing.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I bring both professional experience and personal investment in Clay County Schools.

For 27 years, I have served our district as a teacher, instructional leader, assistant principal, and now as a support facilitator. I’ve worked with students of all abilities, supported teachers, partnered with parents, managed school budgets, and helped implement district initiatives. I understand how School Board decisions affect classrooms because I have lived those decisions every day.

Just as importantly, I have experienced Clay County Schools as a student and as a parent. My four siblings and I attended Clay County schools. I graduated from Middleburg High School, and my husband and I raised our four sons here, all of whom graduated from Clay County schools. My commitment isn’t temporary—this is my home, and I have a lifelong investment in the success of our schools.

I also believe effective leadership starts with listening. I won’t come to the board with predetermined answers or personal agendas. I will listen to parents, teachers, students, staff, and community members, study the facts, ask thoughtful questions, and make decisions based on what is best for students and our community.

My goal is not simply to serve on the School Board—it is to help build trust between our schools and our community. I believe my experience, my relationships, and my understanding of public education uniquely position me to do that.

I am asking for your vote because I have the experience to lead, the integrity to serve, and the commitment to keep students at the center of every decision.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I would hope to be remembered for leaving our schools stronger than I found them--academically stronger, safer, more transparent, and more connected to parents and the community.

Campaign website: (None given)

Campaign social media: Facebook

Erin Skipper

Occupation: Clay County School Board Member District 1

Registered Nurse

Age: 36

Family: Married my high school sweetheart and Navy veteran, Joshua Skipper. I have two little girls, Kannyn and Ansleigh.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Political experience: School Board

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Education is changing faster than ever. The classroom of yesterday is not the classroom of today, and it certainly won’t be the classroom of tomorrow. Florida continues to lead the nation with new education policies, expanded school choice, technology, and higher expectations for student achievement. Change can be challenging, but it is not something to fear, it is something to lead.

Our district’s greatest challenge is navigating that change while keeping students at the center of every decision. We must continue recruiting and retaining great teachers, maintaining safe schools, preparing students for an evolving workforce, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

While others are quick to declare a crisis, I believe leadership is measured by the ability to bring solutions. My record demonstrates that I don’t simply identify problems, I work collaboratively to solve them. Strong leadership means embracing change, listening to our community, making informed decisions, and ensuring Clay County Schools remain a place where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I bring a proven record of leadership, accountability, and delivering results. As the Chair, I have worked to strengthen parental rights, improve transparency, support our teachers, and prioritize the safety and success of every student. Clay County is an A rated district, highest academic success in Clay County history, and highest graduation rates in Clay County history.

I understand that education is constantly evolving, and I believe change is an opportunity, not a crisis when guided by strong, principled leadership.

My perspective as a registered nurse, mother, and community leader allows me to evaluate decisions through the lens of safety, fiscal responsibility, and what is best for children. I believe in listening to parents, respecting our educators, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

Most importantly, I bring solutions. While some focus on problems, I focus on building relationships, making data informed decisions, and preparing students for success in an ever changing world. My commitment is to keep students first, empower parents, support our employees, and continue moving our district forward with integrity and accountability.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I wanna be remembered as the leader who put students first, protected parental rights, strengthen school safety, and led with integrity. Above all, I want my legacy to be leaving our schools stronger, safer, and better prepared for future generations.

Campaign website: Voteskipper.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

Leroy Edwards

Occupation: UPS

Age: 63

Family: marred

Education: Miami Technical

Political experience: Community engagement

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Managing Growth, Our road, public safety, Infrastructure

I plan to address these challenges by putting responsible ahead of rapid growth

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

What I can offer voters is a commitment to being present, accessible, and accountable, I believe County Commissioners should be visible in the community

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

If I’m fortunate enough to serve, I hope people remember me as a commissioner who always put Clay County first

Campaign website: leroyedwardsfordistrict2.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

Lolita Smoak

Occupation: Retired

Age: 67

Family: Mother, Cruz Mancheno; Brother, Jose Mancheno; Sister-in-law, Rosemarie Mancheno

Education: BS Engineering; MS Engineering; Doctorate Business

Political experience: Current Clay County, FL: Republican Executive Committee Member.

Past Fairfax County, VA: Virginia Co-Chair RNC Virginia Hispanic Advisory Council; Virginia Chapter Republican National Hispanic Assembly; Past Springfield District Appointee FCPS Adult & Community Education Committee; Past Vice Chairman Fairfax County Republican Committee; 2011 Candidate for Fairfax County School Board At-Large; 2017 Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates, District 42.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Infrastructure: Growth and infrastructure have a symbiotic relationship that requires a strategic stance on what development is best for our community’s needs both in the near term and long term. Growth should benefit Clay County holistically and not burden existing taxpayers - needs to be done responsibly. I will ensure development serves the interests of our community by requiring new projects to be consistent with our comprehensive plan and by holding developers accountable for paying their fair share of the infrastructure improvements their projects require, including roads, utilities, and public safety.

Business Development: As Clay County grows, it needs to expand its commercial tax base and provide higher earning employment opportunities for future generations. I will engage in efforts to attract quality long-term employers via responsible investment in infrastructure and strengthening public/private partnerships with schools and local businesses to expand workforce training and skilled trades opportunities.

Fiscal Responsibility: In light of upcoming budgetary challenges, protecting taxpayers by demanding accountability for every dollar spent is simply good governance. Drawing on my experience as an engineer, certified project manager, and Six Sigma Master, I will focus on measurable results, eliminate waste, and ensure county programs deliver real value.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

My experience leading complex projects in both the private sector and federal government gives me the ability to solve problems strategically and efficiently. Combined with decades of community service, I bring a results-driven approach focused on accountability, collaboration, and delivering practical solutions for Clay County.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I hope to be remembered as a servant leader who strengthened Clay County’s quality of life through responsible growth, fiscal discipline, and transparent, accountable leadership that always put residents first.

Campaign website: www.smoak4commissioner.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

Colin Gray’s sentencing comes days after his son, Colt Gray, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. Colt Gray, 16, had pleaded guilty to murder and other charges.

Judge Nicholas Primm, who also sentenced Colt Gray, was blunt in addressing the elder Gray: “It is clear you failed as a parent.” But he said punishing crimes of negligence is particularly difficult because there was no intent to commit a crime.

“My heart aches for everyone that was there that day, for all of you that have been impacted by it. But the law requires that I set aside emotion. I don’t get to sentence with passion. I have the nearly impossible task of sentencing you without passion despite the immeasurable heartache that you caused,” Primm said.

Gray, 55, is one of a handful of American parents who have been criminally charged after their children were accused in shootings.

A jury in March found Colin Gray guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. Gray was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Another teacher and eight other students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire.

Families speak their pain

Family members of those who died and victims of the shooting, many of whom also spoke during Colt Gray's sentencing, condemned what they said were Colin Gray's failures as a parent and urged the judge to give him the maximum sentence.

“This wasn’t unavoidable. This was preventable. Because of the choices made inside the Gray household, four families were handed life sentences of grief,” said Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son was killed.

“He did not pull the trigger but purchased and left a firearm accessible to a minor," said Shayna Aspinwall, whose husband was killed. She said the sentence must take into account "the families left behind who must carry the grief and trauma for the rest of our lives.”

The judge addressed those in the courtroom after announcing the sentence: “This only closes the legal chapter for this horror. The pain, the heartache, they continue. I understand that. I hope all of you know this community loves you, and I ask that God gives you peace.”

Prosecutors said Colin Gray missed red flags

Prosecutors said Colin Gray gave his son the rifle as a Christmas gift along with ammunition, a gun sight and other shooting accessories.

An investigator testified that Colt Gray carried the semiautomatic rifle onto the school bus with the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board. The teenager left his second-period class and went to a bathroom, emerged with the rifle and shot people in the hallway and a classroom, the investigator said.

Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, had shown signs of deteriorating mental health in the weeks leading up to the killings, according to testimony. He belonged to a “true crime community” online where he and other young people discussed their obsession with mass shooters, an investigator testified.

The teen's mother, Marcee Gray, who was separated from Colin Gray, told investigators she had argued with her estranged husband weeks before the shooting, asking him to secure his guns and restrict their son's access.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 80 years

Defense attorney Brian Hobbs asked the judge for a sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said Gray deserved a sentence of 80 years in prison.

Hobbs argued that Colt Gray “actively hid the depth of his involvement” in the online community obsessed with mass shooters, and the red flags enumerated by prosecutors were outliers among happier moments.

Smith countered that Colin Gray ignored “a substantial and unjustifiable risk."

“This was the risk that he was ignoring, that there would be a mass shooting of children at a school, and he gave his son the exact tool he would need to accomplish this," Smith said.

Colin Gray is not the first parent to face such charges

Prosecutors have in recent years held parents responsible when they believe they can prove a parent contributed to a killing.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were the first U.S. parents to face such charges after their son, Ethan, killed four students and wounded others at Michigan’s Oxford High School in 2021. Like Colin Gray, they were unaware of their son’s plans but had gifted him a gun before the shooting. They are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter. Hobbs, the defense attorney, urged the judge to use that sentence as a guide.

The judge called these cases “divisive.” There would have been no crime by the father if the son hadn't brought a gun to school and shot people, he noted. But he said Colin Gray could have locked up the guns, kept ammunition out of the house, had someone else keep the guns and gotten his son counseling.

“You were convicted because the warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter and you didn’t get him help and you didn’t remove his access to the guns,” Primm said.

___

This story has been corrected to show the school is called Apalachee High School, not Appalachee.

Colin Gray’s sentencing comes days after his son, Colt Gray, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. Colt Gray, 16, had pleaded guilty to murder and other charges.

Judge Nicholas Primm, who also sentenced Colt Gray, was blunt in addressing the elder Gray: “It is clear you failed as a parent.” But he said punishing crimes of negligence is particularly difficult because there was no intent to commit a crime.

“My heart aches for everyone that was there that day, for all of you that have been impacted by it. But the law requires that I set aside emotion. I don’t get to sentence with passion. I have the nearly impossible task of sentencing you without passion despite the immeasurable heartache that you caused,” Primm said.

Gray, 55, is one of a handful of American parents who have been criminally charged after their children were accused in shootings.

A jury in March found Colin Gray guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. Gray was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Another teacher and eight other students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire.

Families speak their pain

Family members of those who died and victims of the shooting, many of whom also spoke during Colt Gray's sentencing, condemned what they said were Colin Gray's failures as a parent and urged the judge to give him the maximum sentence.

“This wasn’t unavoidable. This was preventable. Because of the choices made inside the Gray household, four families were handed life sentences of grief,” said Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son was killed.

“He did not pull the trigger but purchased and left a firearm accessible to a minor," said Shayna Aspinwall, whose husband was killed. She said the sentence must take into account "the families left behind who must carry the grief and trauma for the rest of our lives.”

The judge addressed those in the courtroom after announcing the sentence: “This only closes the legal chapter for this horror. The pain, the heartache, they continue. I understand that. I hope all of you know this community loves you, and I ask that God gives you peace.”

Prosecutors said Colin Gray missed red flags

Prosecutors said Colin Gray gave his son the rifle as a Christmas gift along with ammunition, a gun sight and other shooting accessories.

An investigator testified that Colt Gray carried the semiautomatic rifle onto the school bus with the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board. The teenager left his second-period class and went to a bathroom, emerged with the rifle and shot people in the hallway and a classroom, the investigator said.

Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, had shown signs of deteriorating mental health in the weeks leading up to the killings, according to testimony. He belonged to a “true crime community” online where he and other young people discussed their obsession with mass shooters, an investigator testified.

The teen's mother, Marcee Gray, who was separated from Colin Gray, told investigators she had argued with her estranged husband weeks before the shooting, asking him to secure his guns and restrict their son's access.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 80 years

Defense attorney Brian Hobbs asked the judge for a sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said Gray deserved a sentence of 80 years in prison.

Hobbs argued that Colt Gray “actively hid the depth of his involvement” in the online community obsessed with mass shooters, and the red flags enumerated by prosecutors were outliers among happier moments.

Smith countered that Colin Gray ignored “a substantial and unjustifiable risk."

“This was the risk that he was ignoring, that there would be a mass shooting of children at a school, and he gave his son the exact tool he would need to accomplish this," Smith said.

Colin Gray is not the first parent to face such charges

Prosecutors have in recent years held parents responsible when they believe they can prove a parent contributed to a killing.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were the first U.S. parents to face such charges after their son, Ethan, killed four students and wounded others at Michigan’s Oxford High School in 2021. Like Colin Gray, they were unaware of their son’s plans but had gifted him a gun before the shooting. They are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter. Hobbs, the defense attorney, urged the judge to use that sentence as a guide.

The judge called these cases “divisive.” There would have been no crime by the father if the son hadn't brought a gun to school and shot people, he noted. But he said Colin Gray could have locked up the guns, kept ammunition out of the house, had someone else keep the guns and gotten his son counseling.

“You were convicted because the warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter and you didn’t get him help and you didn’t remove his access to the guns,” Primm said.

___

This story has been corrected to show the school is called Apalachee High School, not Appalachee.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week announced it would wrap up the program, which was initially implemented by the Biden administration in 2024 to lower patients' Medicare Part D prescription drug costs in response to effects of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

While federal officials insist the financial impact on Medicare beneficiaries will be minimal, the decision opens the Republican-led administration to potential political consequences in a high-stakes midterm election year. Voters have identified cost of living as a top concern, and many older adults, who tend to vote in high numbers, are on fixed incomes where every dollar counts. The roughly 25 million Americans with Medicare Part D plans will find out about their 2027 rates in the fall, when they are casting ballots in November's elections.

Democrats slammed CMS's move as part of a pattern of federal attacks on healthcare affordability, alongside federal Medicaid cuts and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies that had reduced premium costs for working-age Americans in that program.

“The Trump administration is actively raising prescription drug costs for 25 million seniors,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X in response to the news, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. “Heartless, cruel, and completely by choice.”

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday said ending the subsidy program would prevent billions of taxpayer dollars from being funneled to insurance companies. It cost the agency an estimated $3.6 billion in 2026.

He said most Medicare beneficiaries would see less than a $10-per-month increase, and some would even see lower premiums than beforehand.

“Every Medicare beneficiary still has access to low-cost plans, and we will continue to lower prescription drug prices for every American patient, from more MFN deals to our policy giving seniors access to GLP-1s for $50 a month,” he wrote on social media.

The federal government also negotiates directly with pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of some of the most expensive drugs in Medicare, through a program created by Congress in 2022.

This week's decision has no impact on the out-of-pocket cap that limits the amount that older adults with standalone Medicare drug coverage spend on their prescription drugs over the course of a year. That was set at $2,100 in 2026 and is projected to rise to $2,400 for 2027.

Part D beneficiaries paid an average of $36 a month this year for their prescription drug premiums with the subsidies in place, according to the healthcare research nonprofit KFF. The subsidies offset the average premium by $16 in 2026, according to the federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

It's not yet known how many Americans the change will effect, or how much more they'll pay. Older Americans have the opportunity to shop for plans each year, and prices vary widely between them. CMS has said it will release information about next year's premiums in September.

Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, said the price increases may be marginal for some consumers but impactful for others when combined with higher prices in other areas, like groceries, gas and housing.

“What's going to matter most for consumers is how much more or less they have to pay at the end of a month, and how much they have left after the bills are paid,” she said. “This could just make it more challenging for some people to make that math work.”

But it’s not actually as complicated as it sounds, and it’s all related to the broader war between the United States and Iran, currently focused on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran supports armed groups across the Middle East that allow it to project power far beyond its borders. The U.S. has thousands of troops based in allied Arab countries that have been targets of Iran's retaliation.

Here’s a look at why so many fronts seem to be heating up at once.

A struggle over the strait

The epicenter of the latest violence is the Strait of Hormuz, an elbow-shaped passage running between Iran and Oman that carried a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas before the war.

Iran says it controls the waterway and has attacked ships attempting to use an alternative route overseen by the U.S. military along the coast of Oman.

The U.S. has struck Iran in response, saying the strait should be open to all international traffic, as it was before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. When the U.S. strikes Iran, Iran retaliates by firing missiles and drones against Arab countries hosting U.S. forces, like Jordan and Kuwait.

The exchanges of fire in recent weeks led to the collapse of an interim agreement aimed at winding down the war. That has deepened mistrust on both sides. At this point, Iran appears to be more interested in cementing its control over the strait than in making a deal with the U.S. to lift international sanctions.

Yemen's Houthis are wading in

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, who stayed on the sidelines during the initial phase of the war, have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening shipping through another major trade route leading through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea up to Egypt's Suez Canal.

The Houthis also claim to have attacked Saudi oil infrastructure near an East-West pipeline that the kingdom has used to ship millions of barrels of oil since the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed.

The Houthi-Saudi tensions are rooted in a separate but related conflict going back more than a decade that seems to be reigniting. But it also presents a new front on which Iran could pressure a key U.S. ally and potentially choke off more of the world's energy supplies, with effects far beyond the region.

Ambrey, a maritime security firm, has recorded over 10 transits that U-turned in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Houthi naval blockade against Saudi Arabia was announced. Bab al-Mandeb transits have been down 30% since July 21 compared to June, according to the latest Ambrey data.

The Saudis take aim at Iran-backed groups in Iraq

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of launching drone attacks on its oil facilities for two straight days. In response, U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft bombed militia sites in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.

Iraq has close ties to both the U.S. and Iran and has long struggled to balance them. Since the start of the war, it has been in a literal crossfire. The government condemned the U.S.-Saudi strikes, saying they came as it was trying to investigate what had happened.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, a collection of armed groups close to Iran, are officially part of Iraq's security forces but often act autonomously, including by attacking U.S. forces stationed in Iraq.

American forces are due to finish their withdrawal from the country at the end of September, and the Iraqi government has vowed to disarm nonstate actors or incorporate them into the military. But those efforts could stall as the wider war rages.

The remaining U.S. forces are based in Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region, which is also home to armed Iranian Kurdish dissident groups. Iran has attacked both over the course of the war.

Drone attack on Egypt signals a possible widening of the war

On Wednesday, a drone attack on Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta set two natural gas vessels ablaze, including a U.S.-owned floating storage facility.

No one has claimed the attack, and the Houthis have denied responsibility.

Egypt, a close U.S. ally and regional mediator, is one of the only countries in the Middle East to have avoided military involvement in the war.

Israel is on the sidelines, for now

Israel, which took part in the initial weekslong bombardment of Iran and was repeatedly targeted by Iranian missiles earlier in the conflict, has remained on the sidelines since the interim peace deal.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group fired rockets into northern Israel shortly after the outbreak of the war. Israel responded with aerial bombardment and a ground invasion. It has since occupied, depopulated and destroyed large parts of southern Lebanon, saying such measures are necessary to root out militants.

A June 20 truce has largely held. Israel and Lebanon's government are currently implementing the initial stages of an agreement in which Israeli forces would withdraw and Lebanon's army would move in. The deal also states that Hezbollah must be disarmed. The group has rejected the deal and could violently resist any attempt to forcibly disarm it.

Any attack by Iran, Hezbollah or Israel could reignite those hostilities, reopening yet another front.

___

Krauss reported from Ottawa, Ontario.

“We’re working through some things,” Belichick said before the morning’s first official practice. “We’re at a particular time of year now where there are certain things that are in play and certain things that aren’t in play that won’t happen until later in the calendar year at some other point.

“Again, we’re taking it day to day, and working through the things that are on the table now.”

The school announced Monday that Lombardi had been placed on leave but didn’t provide details as to the reason, noting that employees and athletes aren’t permitted to address the topic “as is standard procedure with personnel matters.” On Thursday morning, about 30 minutes before Belichick spoke to reporters, UNC released another statement that said its Office of University Counsel was conducting an investigation — an announcement coming just shy of a month from kickoff to Year 2 of the Belichick era in Chapel Hill.

Two people with knowledge of the situation said a human resources complaint from a former employee is involved with Lombardi’s leave. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school isn’t commenting publicly about the specific reasons of the case.

According to university policy, the length of an administrative leave shouldn't exceed 30 days but can vary based on issues under review.

“We're going to let that process play out,” athletic director Steve Newmark said Thursday morning of the investigation while declining to discuss specific details. “It's paramount for us to do what's right to make sure it's a full and fair review, and that we don't do anything to compromise the integrity of the process.”

Speaking later after a regularly scheduled morning meeting of the UNC trustees, chancellor Lee Roberts said Thursday that the school learned of “some concerns” last week.

“If something has gone wrong, we want to know about it,” Roberts said. “If something needs to be fixed, we will be sure to fix it. There’s a standard of excellence here that all of us are entrusted with adhering to.”

Roberts added later: "It’s distressing to me and everyone else in the administration entrusted with leadership at this remarkable university that this is something that we have to have to spend time on.”

Belichick didn’t specify exactly how Lombardi’s duties have been divided among the staff, including referencing “a few adjustments” when asked about his own daily tasks.

At the college level, GMs across sports generally work what amounts to front-office roles dealing with roster construction and negotiations over player compensation, with the heaviest work coming in the offseason. In that sense, the football focus centers now more on the on-field work for a roster Lombardi helped put together ahead of the Aug. 29 opener against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.

UNC hired Belichick in December 2024, hoping the man who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles could thrive as a first-time college coach.

Belichick immediately hired Lombardi, who was in attendance for Belichick's introductory news conference. Lombardi’s career as an NFL executive had included being the GM of the Cleveland Browns in 2013. And he secured a three-year deal paying him $1.5 million in base salary through the 2027 season, making him the country's highest-paid GM, according to a USA Today salary database.

A few months into Belichick’s tenure, Lombardi said the goal was running a college program in a way similar to the NFL, saying the Tar Heels “consider ourselves the 33rd (NFL) team” because of the staff connections to the pros. That confident statement didn't align with the on-field results, with the Tar Heels having more more double-digit losses (five) than total wins (four) in Belichick's debut season.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

READ MORE: Who’s running for Duval County School Board District 4? Meet the candidates

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Alfreda Denson Butler

Occupation: Educator, currently at Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative School and Executive Director of the Al Denson Foundation, Inc. named in honor of my father. The foundation provides students and families information on enriching educational and vocational programs focused on academic preparedness, financial literacy, and mental health. We serve under-resourced youth through mentorship, enrichment activities, and college enrollment support—with a special emphasis on recognizing senior scholar-athletes through academic scholarships. For the past 20 years, I have consistently served Duval County Public Schools students as a classroom teacher, helping students discover their strengths, set goals, and prepare for life after graduation.

Age: 58

Family: I am the daughter of public-school graduates and educators whose marriage has lasted more than 60 years. My husband is also an educator, and our daughter is a Duval County Public Schools graduate who is now attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University. Public education has been a blessing to my family for generations. It opened doors for my parents, for my husband and I, and now for our daughter.

Education: William Marion Raines Senior High School, 1986

Florida A & M University, Fall 1990

Political experience: “My experience is rooted in service, not politics. For over 20 years, I have worked directly with students, families, teachers, and school staff in Duval County Public Schools. I have learned that the best decisions come from listening, building trust, and staying focused on what is best for students.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

The top three issues are student achievement, teacher recruit and retention, and safe learning environments. No matter a students’ zip code, families want strong schools and opportunities for their children. I will focus on reviewing and discussing evidence-based programs to address reading and math literacy, supporting our educators and staff, the people who make our schools work, and collaborating with school officials in monitoring our school safety plan. In addition, advocating for stronger pathways to college, careers, military service, skilled trades, and entrepreneurship.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I am the only candidate in this race who has consistently served Duval County students as a classroom teacher for the past 20 years. I have taught in a dedicated magnet school and currently serve students in an alternative school. That experience has given me firsthand knowledge of the opportunities and challenges students face across our district. I do not have to guess what is happening in our schools because I am living it. Experience matters, and trust is earned. After 20 years in Duval County classrooms, I believe that I have earned both.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I hope people will say that I listened, worked hard, treated people fairly, helped leave our schools in a stronger, positive learning environment than I found them, and initiated a safe haven for our homeless students’ population and their families. I want students to have more opportunities, families to have confidence in their public schools, and for teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and administrators to know they were respected, valued, and supported. If I can help create a school system that opens doors for more children and families, I will consider that meaningful public service.

Campaign website: None

Campaign social media: Facebook

Rhodesia Butler

Occupation: I am a lifelong educator, educational leader, business owner, and community advocate. I have served Duval County Public Schools for more than 21 years in roles including teacher, specialist, Early College coordinator, dean, assistant principal, principal, and area director for after-school programs.

In addition to my work in education, I have been a business owner for more than 36 years, operating a performing arts school and nonprofit organization that have served children, families, and the Jacksonville community. My career has been centered on creating opportunities for young people, supporting educators, strengthening families, and helping students succeed academically, socially, and personally.

Age: I am 55 years of age

Family: I am the proud mother of three adult daughters and the grandmother of three wonderful grandchildren. My family has always been one of my greatest sources of strength and motivation, and they continue to inspire my commitment to building a stronger educational system for every child and family in our community.

Education: I was educated in Jacksonville from elementary school through high school, graduating from Stanton College Preparatory School. After graduation, I attended Florida State University and Jacksonville University, ultimately earning my master’s degree in Educational Leadership. My education, combined with more than 21 years of experience serving Duval County Public Schools, has prepared me to understand the needs of students, families, teachers, staff, and school leaders from multiple perspectives.

Political experience: I have worked on several political campaigns over the years and served as a campaign manager for a Jacksonville City Council race in 2015. These experiences taught me the importance of community engagement, organization, transparency, effective communication, and building relationships with residents. Although my professional background is primarily in education and business leadership, my campaign experience has helped prepare me to advocate effectively for the families of District 4.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

The top three issues in this race are school safety and student behavior, teacher and staff retention, and preparing students for college, careers, and the workforce.

1. School Safety and Student Behavior

Students and employees must feel safe in order for meaningful learning to take place. I will advocate for stronger behavior-intervention systems, increased access to mentoring and student-support programs, and appropriate safety personnel and resources in every school. I also believe schools must work closely with parents, community organizations, law enforcement, and mental-health professionals to address behavioral concerns before they escalate. Discipline should be consistent, fair, transparent, and focused on accountability while also providing students with the support they need to improve.

2. Teacher and Staff Retention

Our schools cannot succeed without qualified, supported, and respected educators and employees. I will advocate for competitive salaries, meaningful professional development for all school employees, stronger mentorship for new teachers, and improved working conditions. We must also listen to employees, recognize their contributions, reduce unnecessary burdens, and create a positive school climate where teachers and staff feel valued. Retaining experienced employees provides stability for students and strengthens the entire school system.

3. College Readiness, Career Education, and Workforce Partnerships

Every student should graduate with a clear and realistic pathway to college, technical education, military service, entrepreneurship, or the workforce. I will work to expand early-college opportunities, career and technical education programs, internships, apprenticeships, industry certifications, mentorship programs, and partnerships with local businesses, colleges, universities, and community organizations. Students and families must also receive earlier and clearer information about graduation requirements, scholarships, financial aid, career options, and postsecondary opportunities.

Across all three areas, I will prioritize transparency, accountability, community involvement, and regular school visits. I believe School Board members should remain visible, listen directly to students, families, teachers, staff, and administrators, and make decisions based on the actual needs of our schools.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I bring a unique combination of experience as an educator, administrator, business owner, nonprofit leader, and longtime community advocate. I have served Duval County Public Schools for more than 20 years in multiple roles, including teacher, specialist, Early College coordinator, dean, assistant principal, principal, and area director. Because I have worked at nearly every level of the school system, I understand the challenges facing our students, teachers, staff, families, and administrators from both a classroom and leadership perspective.

I do not have to guess what our schools need because I have spent many years working directly with students, parents, educators, and community partners. I know how policies made at the district level affect what happens inside the classroom. I also understand the importance of building partnerships between schools, families, businesses, colleges, nonprofits, and neighborhood organizations.

What separates me is my ability to listen, bring people together, and turn concerns into practical solutions. I will be visible, accessible, and accountable to the people of District 4. I will visit schools, communicate regularly with families and employees, and ensure that the community has a meaningful voice in decisions that affect our children.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I would hope to be remembered as a School Board member who placed students first, supported educators, listened to families, and helped restore trust between the community and the school district.

I want my service to result in safer schools, stronger behavior-intervention programs, improved teacher retention, meaningful professional development for all employees, and expanded opportunities for students to become college-, career-, and workforce-ready. I would also like to strengthen partnerships that provide students with mentorship, internships, career training, scholarships, and exposure to opportunities beyond the classroom.

Most importantly, I want to be remembered for helping create a school system where every child feels safe, supported, challenged, and prepared for the future. After serving in office, I hope people can say that I was present, transparent, responsive, and willing to do the work necessary to improve educational outcomes for all students.

Campaign website: www.rho4education.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

James “Coach” Jacobs

Occupation: Dean of Students and Athletic Director and Coach

Age: 44

Family: Strong family values and deep faith in God.

Education: Florida State College

- Associate of Arts degree: May 9, 2014

- Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Safety Management: April 29, 2016

Nova Southeastern University

- Master’s Degree in Management and Administration, Educational Leadership Programs: July 31, 2022

- Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Currently Enrolled

Political experience: I previously ran for office for both the Jacksonville City Council At-Large seat and the School Board.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

1.Teacher pay

2.Teacher retention

3. Academic Excellence.

Teacher pay, teacher retention, and academic excellence are all connected. We cannot expect outstanding student outcomes without supporting the educators who make them possible. I will advocate for competitive teacher salaries and work to ensure available funding is prioritized to recruit and retain high quality teachers. Retention also means creating a culture and as a current dean of students I know full well the importance of teachers feeling respected, supported, and heard, with access to meaningful professional development, strong leadership, and the resources they need to succeed.

Academic excellence begins with high expectations for every student, while recognizing and understanding that each student learns differently. I support using data to drive instructional decisions, investing in proven educational programs, promoting career and technical education alongside college readiness, and maintaining strong partnerships with parents and the community. My goal is to help create schools where teachers want to work, students are challenged to succeed, and families have confidence in the quality of education our district provides to all students.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I believe I can help Duval County voters in a way that others can’t because I’ve spent more than 26 years serving our schools ,not from the outside looking in, but working and volunteering with students, teachers, families, and school staff every day. I’ve experienced the successes, the challenges, and the tough decisions that come with educating children.

I’m not running because I have all the answers. I’m running because I know how important it is to listen, bring people together, and make decisions that put students first. I want parents to know they’ll have someone they can call, teachers to know they’ll have someone who understands what they’re facing, and our community to know they’ll have a representative who is visible, approachable, and accountable.

Duval County deserves a school board member who leads with experience, integrity, and common sense. My commitment is simple: to support our educators, strengthen student achievement, and make decisions that reflect the values and priorities of the families we serve. As a Coach I know the importance of teamwork and knowing we can do so much together than not together.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

When my time on the school board is over, I hope everyone remember that I made decisions with one goal in mind: doing what was always best for students. I want to be remembered as someone who listened, treated people with respect, and brought people together to solve problems and encouraged people to be themselves no matter the circumstances.

I hope teachers feel they had someone who understood and supported them, parents feel they had a voice, and students leave our schools better prepared for college, careers, and life. If I can help strengthen trust between our schools and the community while improving opportunities and outcomes for our students, I’ll consider my service a success.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to be remembered for a single vote or headline or a photo opt. I want to be remembered for making a positive difference in the lives of students, families, and educators throughout Duval County. As a Coach I’ve always lived by this quote

“Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Campaign website: votecoachjamesjacobs.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

A write-in candidate, Gracie Bell Kearse-McCastler, also qualified for the election. The names of write-in candidates do not appear on the ballot, though there will be a line for a write-in.

The department’s 27 passport agencies nationwide will start offering the special travel documents next month. They previously had only been available at the Washington, D.C., passport office for in-person applicants.

Trump, whose stern portrait is emblazoned on an inside page, is the first living president featured in the travel document.

The passports are the latest instance of Trump having his name and likeness added to buildings, documents and other highly visible tributes. His image is on a gold-finished commemorative coin celebrating the country’s founding that the U.S. Mint has begun producing, and there are efforts to put Trump’s signature on all new U.S. paper currency, also a first for a sitting president.

“In response to overwhelming demand, the Department of State is making an additional 250,000 of the special commemorative passports available to the public,” it said in a statement. “Americans all across the country will now have the opportunity to apply for one of these additional special passports, known as the ‘Patriot Passport.’”

Passport offices in Centennial, Colorado; Chicago; Dallas; Detroit; New Orleans; New York; and Stamford, Connecticut, will offer the Trump passports at one-day special events starting Aug. 8. The list will grow to include other passport offices throughout August.

Those who want the special passport must apply in-person on the day specified on the department’s passport website. Those wanting a traditional passport must apply on different days.

The commemorative passport features Trump’s picture over a gold imprimatur of his signature to an interior page, while the cover carries the words “United States of America” in bold gold print at the top and “Passport” at the bottom — a reversal of the current standard cover.

In addition, a small gold laminate American flag, with the number 250 encircled by stars, is at the bottom of the back cover.

The only presidents featured in current U.S. passports are in a double-page depiction of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Other depictions include the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and scenes of the Great Plains, mountains and islands. Current passports also contain quotations from Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower.

The addition of Trump’s picture and signature to the passport book is the newest step his aides have taken to increase the president’s visibility, including adding his name to the U.S. Institute of Peace building and the Kennedy Center performing arts venue, although that signage was later removed on a court order.

Trump also has made waves with his plans for a new White House ballroom and a massive arch to be built at one of the entrances to Washington from Virginia.

Amazon’s fully autonomous Zoox vehicles got approval Thursday to begin charging customers for rides in the specially designed boxy cars that feature four inward-facing seats once they secure state and local approval. Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, but that proposal is still pending. Administrator Jonathan Morrison said his agency wants to clear the way for the safe development of autonomous vehicles.

"By removing unnecessary barriers to innovation, developing industry guidance, and providing strong enforcement oversight while we create performance requirements, NHTSA is taking a balanced approach to AV regulation,” Morrison said in a statement. “These advancements will ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in AV technology in a safe and responsible manner.”

The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety group raised concerns about Zoox’s plan to operate without a steering wheel or other standard controls because the company didn’t provide detailed evidence to show that its vehicles could operate safely on public roads.

“Lots of promises, lots of glossy language, lots of ‘We believe, we think we’ll do this.’ Yet there really was no data behind the promises, and that’s really concerning to us,” said Peter Kurdock, who is general counsel for the Advocates group.

Zoox and Tesla are working to catch up to the industry-leading Waymo that already operates in multiple cities. Waymo is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet.

Zoox CEO Aicha Evans said this approval is an important milestone for autonomous vehicles.

“This achievement reflects a shared commitment to enabling innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety,” Evans said.

Amazon hopes to eventually produce as many as 10,000 robotaxis a year at a plant near Silicon Valley as it works to challenge Waymo. Amazon paid $1.2 billion to acquire self-driving startup Zoox. Initially, Zoox will only be allowed to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years as it works to prove the technology is safe. The company said that more than half a million people have already ridden in its vehicles.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.66% from 6.58% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.72%.

Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales have been sluggish this year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing a home loan, also rose this week. That average rate increased to 6.04% from 5.96% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.85%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Rates have been mostly rising this year as the Iran war has driven crude oil prices sharply higher, fueling expectations of hotter inflation. That’s pushed up long-term bond yields relative to where they were before the conflict began in late February, causing mortgage rates to trend higher.

The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.66% at midday Thursday on the bond market. It was just 3.97% in late February, before the war broke out.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since July 31, 2025, when it was at 6.72%. As recently as late February, the average rate dropped slightly below 6% for the first time since late 2022.

The latest increase in mortgage rates comes a day after the Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged as it wrestles with how to tame stubbornly high inflation, which has been stuck above the central bank's 2% target for more than five years.

During the central bank's two-day monetary policy meeting this week, three regional Fed bank presidents dissented in favor of higher rates to combat high prices.

That's a signal that Fed members are no longer in lockstep on inflation and that their next move is not going to be a rate cut, said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

“With the Fed signaling that its next move is more likely a hike than a cut, near-term rate relief looks unlikely,” Smith said. “Because oil remains the primary channel through which the Iran conflict feeds inflation, a de-escalation and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains the clearest path back toward lower rates.”

The central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, but its decisions to raise or lower its short-term rate are watched closely by bond investors and can ultimately affect the yield on 10-year Treasurys.

While average long-term mortgage rates remain lower than they were at this time last year, their upward trajectory has weighed on home sales this year. Seasonally adjusted sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were up 0.7% from January to June compared with the same period last year, but they’re still hovering close to a 4-million annual pace far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.

The trend has extended the national housing market slump that began in 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low.

The latest data on mortgage applications show that the upward trend in mortgage rates has given some would-be homebuyers reason to pause.

Mortgage applications, which include loans to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage, fell 6.4% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

"While incoming economic data will continue to shape the outlook for interest rates, elevated borrowing costs remain a challenge this summer for many prospective homebuyers,” said MBA CEO Bob Broeksmit.

Brian Moore, 37, Joshua “Risky” Teel, 36, and Ashley Crockett, 35, have each been charged in connection with the theft.

The investigation began Jan. 3, after deputies responded to a reported burglary at the baseball field at West Nassau High School. The team reported a dump trailer parked near the field had been stolen, along with player equipment — including bats, cleats and gloves — as well as construction equipment.

Surveillance cameras captured a suspect vehicle leaving school grounds while towing the stolen trailer. Using Flock Safety camera technology and other investigative techniques, detectives identified the vehicle as belonging to Teel’s fiancée.

The following day, Jan. 4, deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity on school grounds. Deputies observed a van backed up to the baseball field dugout area and found Moore and another individual nearby. Both were arrested for trespassing on school property.

Text messages reveal coordination

During the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Moore’s cellphone. Text messages recovered from the device revealed Moore and Teel coordinated and planned to commit various thefts. Messages exchanged with Crockett, a West Nassau alumna, showed she helped facilitate the burglary.

According to the arrest report, Crockett previously attended West Nassau High School and informed others of where additional cameras were located. During the Jan. 4 burglary, the sheriff’s office said she actively communicated with Moore in real time, relaying directions and providing updates on the movements of another individual involved.

On July 1, investigators learned the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office had been alerted by Flock Safety cameras to the stolen trailer in the area. The individuals found with the trailer told investigators that Teel asked them to sell it for cash.

“These thieves didn’t just steal baseball equipment, they stole from young athletes who poured their time, effort, and passion into the game,” Sheriff Bill Leeper said. “I’m proud of the dedication and persistence our detectives showed throughout this investigation. Their hard work ensured those responsible are being held accountable.”

Moore was booked into the Nassau County Jail & Detention Center on Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit grand theft and misuse of a two-way communications device. He is being held on a bond exceeding $100,000.

Crockett was also booked on charges of burglary of a structure and misuse of a two-way communications device and is being held on a bond exceeding $20,000.

Teel was already incarcerated in another county. He faces charges in Nassau County of burglary, grand Theft, dealing in stolen property, and misuse of a two-way communications device, with a bond exceeding $275,000.

We’ll start the day with a mix of sun and clouds and a hot, humid afternoon, with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s.

Most locations stay dry through much of the day, but scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop after 5 p.m. as the sea breeze moves inland.

Some storms could produce frequent lightning, torrential downpours, and gusty winds before gradually winding down overnight.

Looking ahead, the pattern remains typical for late July into the weekend, with highs in the lower to middle 90s, muggy mornings, and daily afternoon and evening thunderstorms becoming increasingly widespread Saturday and Sunday.

Students return to class on Aug. 4, the earliest start of any of our local school districts.

Nothing is normal about what students and families are dealing with in Brantley County — but a return to school could be a chance to bring back a little normalcy.

A community shaken, a girl who brought joy

It was the end of the school year in April when students and families helplessly watched as parts of their community burned.

“We’re Brantley Strong,” said Aleahaa Croft, a young student whose spirit stood out even in the most uncertain moments.

Brantley County School District’s new superintendent, Walker Todd, saw the toll firsthand.

“There were over a hundred something kids displaced at one time,” Todd said.

More than 100 homes burned. Thankfully, Croft’s was not one of them — but we met her family in a raw moment on Highway 82 and State Road 110 West as the area was being evacuated while first responders and planes rushed in.

Back together, months later

Things have changed since the fire. Aleaha and her family met with us in the parking lot of a Family Dollar, where flames once burned not far on Browntown Road. She and her brother had a pretty good summer.

“It was really fun. We’ve been going to daycare Thursdays and Fridays, and they have like water slides there sometimes,” she said.

The last time News4JAX saw Aleaha, she was heading home after her first day back to school before the year ended.

Now, she and her brother, Jason, are heading back for the new school year — Aleaha moving up to a new school, Jason staying where he is.

Aleaha and her brother still have their house, but they know other students were not so lucky.

“Yeah, my friend, his house burnt down,” she said.

When asked what she would say to other kids heading back to school after going through something so hard, Aleaha didn’t hesitate.

“I tell them to just keep praying and everything, and maybe you’ll get a new house and something and just try helping out your parents because you know it’s hard for them too because they’ve probably been to that house their whole life and now, they’ve got to get new money for it and everything, and that’s really hard,” she said.

New superintendent, same mission

Perhaps no one understands the weight of this new school year more than Todd, who is stepping into the role of superintendent for the first time.

“It’s just not knowing if every student is going to be able to make it back into Brantley County,” Todd said.

When asked whether the school district would be ready for families whenever they are ready to return, Todd was direct. He said the doors are open whenever families are ready to walk through them.

“It’s exciting; for 29 years, my 30th year, this is what I’ve been doing. It’s what I love, and I’m just ready to get another year started,” Todd said.

With students set to return Aug. 4, it is a new day, a new year and a new leader — but the same familiar smiles.

“I just want to make sure that our kids know that we’re here for them, we have empathy definitely for what happened but also knowing that school and public education is extremely important and just giving them that opportunity to learn, to do new things, and just to be able to have what they need in order to be successful in life,” Todd said.

And in classic Brantley County fashion, Aleaha and Jason closed it out together.

“We are Brantley Strong!” they said.

Resources for Brantley County families

For those needing help with food, clothing or toiletries, Brantley County Georgia Family Connection has assisted dozens of families in the aftermath of the fire. The organization recently reported that most people who were without homes or displaced are now in campers.

Services include access to toiletries, food, and washer and dryer facilities. Resources and donation information are available on this website.

Released on Thursday, the annual “State of Black America” report grimly describes Black Americans ' economic and political prospects as having worsened due to policy changes from President Donald Trump's administration, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press.

The report contends that the challenges it highlights for Black communities are warning signs for the prosperity of all Americans.

“It may be the focus is us, but the impact is not just us,” said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. “While they have targeted and focused on Black Americans, these attacks are going to impact broadly working Americans, poor Americans, aspirational middle-class Americans, and this is what this report points to.”

Tracing the arc of American history, the Urban League describes Black Americans' struggle for emancipation from slavery and equal economic and political rights as a gruesome but optimistic part of the American story.

Now, the report says, the Trump administration is at odds with the goals and achievements of the Civil Rights Movement, citing the overhaul of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as the president’s focus on overhauling voting laws through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, as examples of rollbacks of long-sought civil rights policies.

The report's authors offer policy and strategy recommendations for civil rights groups aiming to combat the Trump administration.

“The civil rights community must consolidate its legal resistance and turn courtroom wins into durable policy,” the report says. “The movement must build economic infrastructure that doesn’t depend on the goodwill of any one administration.”

Reached for comment on Thursday, White House spokesperson Allison Schuster said Trump was elected with a mandate to change the very policies that the Urban League contends are eroding real opportunity for Black Americans.

“(Diversity, equity and inclusion) ran rampant during the Biden administration, and Americans ultimately paid the price for these destructive policies with a restricted labor pool, higher operational costs, and workforce inefficiencies," Schuster said. "The Trump administration will always promote equal treatment under the law for every American.”

Report contributors include a potential Democratic presidential contender

This year’s report includes contributions from members of Congress, and policy and legal experts, as well as some media personalities.

U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Raphael Warnock all contributed to the report, as well as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey contributed a video message to the report.

Moore, who is widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, submitted an essay focused on closing the racial wealth gap and Black Americans' history of economic advancement in the face of adversity.

“With wisdom and grit, my mom was able to lift me and my family to a higher rung on the economic ladder. But too often wisdom and grit aren't enough,” Moore wrote.

He later called closing the racial wealth gap “a matter of moral clarity” but cautioned that “government alone cannot close the racial wealth gap. It's going to take all of us,” referencing the private sector and civil society.

Report blasts 'economic assault' on Black Americans

Whether corporate America and major nonprofits are still willing to participate is an open question. The report condemns the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back diversity initiatives and economic advancement projects in the private sector, and expresses frustration with companies that cooperated with an “economic assault” on Americans, especially Black Americans.

“This has been a campaign of coercion and oppression directed at these institutions who have been out here working hard to, if you will, change America,” Morial said. “The important thing about companies is that every company has not bent the knee. Some may have done some cosmetic changes. Some have been in full and complete retreat.”

The DEI rollbacks are a jarring reversal for the Urban League, which held sway in the Biden White House on economic and social policies. The report lauds President Joe Biden's administration for signing a sweeping COVID-19 stimulus package, as well as laws supporting minority small businesses and a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

“Not every promise was kept, and the current administration is pushing to roll our wins back, but these wins serve as a blueprint for what is possible through sustained advocacy and a clear vision,” the authors write. The agenda, the Urban League declares, was “the most consequential federal investments in Black America since the Great Society.”

The organization and its civil rights allies now find themselves in a strikingly different political environment under the Trump administration.

“Looking at our current political landscape, the calls for racial healing and righting of this nation’s wrongs in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd feel like a fever dream,” the report reads.

But the study also acknowledges that Black Americans have overcome more dire and discriminatory moments.

Latest Black America report is the Urban League's 50th edition

The Urban League's inaugural 1976 report on the state of Black America was described by the New York Times at the time as “a profoundly depressing document” that laid out the persistent disparities between the economic outlooks of Black and white Americans, a decade after the Civil Rights Movement's crowning achievements were signed into law.

The report was established as a response to that year's State of the Union address by President Gerald R. Ford and the Democratic response, neither of which mentioned the economic outlooks for Black Americans. The report offered policy recommendations on crime, education, housing, social services and general economic policy.

“It is a document that does not attempt to cover up the seriousness of the situation black people find themselves in,” the authors wrote at the time. Several of its recommendations were later taken up by President Jimmy Carter, who was elected to the White House months after the report’s release.

This year's 50th anniversary document echoes the frustration found in the inaugural report. While Morial acknowledged that the Urban League's assessments may lead to pessimism, he urged Americans concerned about civil rights and economic progress to respond at the ballot box and with their pocketbooks.

“We cannot be dejected. We cannot be cynical. We must act,” Morial said. “We have to fight to make sure that those that are really trying to kill the essence of the American dream don’t win.”

Atlantic Beach police said it will cost $800 to replace the three cameras the man is accused of damaging in that city, for a total of $2,400. They charged him with three counts of criminal mischief over $200, but less than $1,000.

MORE | Here’s where Flock cameras have been deployed across Northeast Florida |

Detectives said the man also admitted during an interview to vandalizing two cameras in Neptune Beach, two in Jacksonville Beach and one in Bullock County, Georgia.

The brazen allegations follow a national trend, as the controversial cameras have become targets of criticism, paint and saws.

According to CNN, someone cut down surveillance cameras owned by the company Flock Safety with an electric saw in New York, threw paint on them in California, and rammed a truck into them in Idaho.

According to his arrest report from the Atlantic Beach Police Department, the teen used silver and gold spray paint on the three Flock cameras in Atlantic Beach.

Officers discovered the damage on June 28, after realizing that the three cameras had not issued an alert in several days.

Investigators said that after checking the area around the Flock cameras, they found surveillance video nearby that showed a red Mazda 5-door car parking in a lot near the camera and a man getting out with a ladder before running toward the Flock camera.

Once they identified the car, Atlantic Beach investigators reviewed earlier footage from the Flock cameras that were later vandalized and spotted the same car in the area of the other cameras as well.

They used state records to identify the car’s owner, who was later pulled over by Jacksonville Beach police on July 4.

Jacksonville Beach police booked the man on two counts of felony vandalism for the damage to the Jacksonville Beach cameras, and the Jacksonville Beach investigator said the man “made statements about disliking Flock cameras and (that he) doesn’t trust license plate readers.”

Neptune Beach police interviewed the man when he was in the Duval County jail on the Jacksonville Beach charges, and after he was released, he turned himself in to Atlantic Beach police on the charges there.

Law enforcement agencies have defended the use of the cameras and say they are important investigative tools.

Data from the last two years showed that LPRs had helped find 151 missing persons, recover 597 stolen vehicles, track down 220 wanted people and charge 782 people in St. Johns County.

One notable case involved a Texas man with five warrants who was found in Durbin Village with a missing teen. Thanks to the license plate reader, the teen was saved, and the man was arrested.

In Central Florida, when 13-year-old Madeline Soto was first reported missing in 2024, Kissimmee Police used LPRs to prove her mother’s boyfriend lied about driving the teen to school that morning.

Instead, the LPR data revealed that Stephan Sterns, who was later convicted of raping and murdering Soto, drove his car in the opposite direction of the school.

Information from LPRs and other traffic cameras helped search teams successfully narrow down the location where Soto’s body was found, court records show.

But in one case that highlighted concerns, a Central Florida sheriff suspended Flock cameras after scandal involving a detective who improperly accessed multiple law enforcement databases for personal reasons.

Last week, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office released a video addressing the topic, saying Flock cameras do not identify who’s driving a vehicle.

“They capture a vehicle’s license plate along with characteristics like its make, model and color. That information is available only to authorized personnel for legitimate law enforcement purposes and is governed by agency policy and state law,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Danube River, which runs through 10 countries from southwestern Germany to the Black Sea, has receded to never-before-seen lows along much of its course, exposing rocks, sand bars and old shipwrecks that have rarely been seen before.

In Budapest, Hungary's capital, the national water authority measured the Danube's water level at 23 centimeters (9 inches) on Wednesday morning, well below the previous all-time low of 33 centimeters (13 inches) set in 2018.

The river is expected to further ebb in the coming days with no significant rain in the forecast and temperatures expected to rise to over 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) across the region.

Drought upends boat traffic

As Danube levels sank to a new low on Tuesday, photographer Gábor Kertész went to the base of Budapest’s Margaret Bridge — typically underwater but now an exposed shoal — to document the sight.

“The bare rocks, the dry sand bars around the bridge pillars ... it’s all shocking to see how things were before and how they are now,” he said. “Where will this lead, what will happen? We don’t know that yet, but this must be the result of climate change.”

Much of Central Europe has been under a prolonged drought for most of the year, and successive heat waves have accelerated evaporation and caused waterways to dry out.

According to the Hungarian Meteorological Service, 90-day precipitation totals are between 80-130 millimeters (3.1-5.1 inches) lower across nearly the entire country compared to multi-year averages.

The low water level has forced popular cruise ships, where passengers usually disembark for sightseeing in Budapest, to dock far upriver, while cargo ships have stopped operating nearly entirely, according to Hungary’s Ministry of Transport and Investment.

In Bulgaria, where the Danube forms a border with Romania, police on Tuesday evacuated 186 tourists from a cruise ship that had run aground near the port city of Vidin.

Passengers of the Viking Ullur ran out of food and water after the vessel, which had been scheduled to take on supplies in Vidin, was unable to reach the port after running into a shallow shoal, according to Bulgaria’s state news agency BTA. The ship's 52 crew members could have to remain onboard for an extended period depending on navigation conditions and refloating options, police said.

In Serbia, hundreds of small boats and dozens of cargo ships were marooned on the dried out river bank near the northern city of Novi Sad.

One house boat owner, Radovan Segrt, who runs river excursions on his vessel, told The Associated Press that the water in the Danube had withdrawn “some 15 to 20 meters (50 to 65 feet) from it's shore.”

“The summer season is over now, as far as boat riding is concerned,” he said.

Low water levels force nuclear plant shut downs

The receding waters are also affecting nuclear energy production in numerous countries where water from the Danube is typically used to cool reactors.

In Romania, where Danube water flow had fallen to 1,630 cubic meters per second, around a third of a typical July average, authorities shut down a reactor unit at the Cernavoda power plant on Tuesday for safety reasons and announced another would be shut down soon after.

Similarly, Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant, which supplies nearly half of the country's electricity, began powering down a reactor on Wednesday due to restricted cooling-water supplies. That came after two successive reductions in power output in two reactors over the previous two days.

Drought exposes treasures and dangers

The exposed river bed can also pose dangers. Last week, authorities in Budapest closed the Margaret Bridge after a bomb dating from World War II was exposed at its base by the receding water levels.

Treasure hunter Zsolt Horváth was using the extreme conditions to fish metal objects from the exposed bank with a powerful magnet on Tuesday. He said he got a lot of pleasure from finding things like an old radio amplifier or bullet casings from the World Wars.

Horváth said that while "having so little water in the Danube is a blessing for this kind of activity, otherwise, it’s a curse.”

___

Associated Press writers Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England, Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, Béla Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary and Radul Radovanovic in Novi Sad, Serbia contributed.

The Cyclospora parasite causes extreme diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite, according to the CDC.

The Florida Department of Health’s Reportable Diseases Frequency Report showed 167 cases from Jan. 1 to July 18, but one week later, that number jumped to 264 on July 25, the last date that data is available.

That includes 22 cases in Northeast Florida counties:

• St. Johns: 7
• Duval: 6
• Alachua: 4
• Flagler: 3
• Nassau: 1
• Columbia: 1

Other counties outside Northeast Florida with cases include: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Collier, Escambia, Gadsden, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia, Wakulla and Walton.

In most scenarios, people who get cyclosporiasis will recover on their own. But in some cases, people can have persistent symptoms and relapsing infections over time, so any suspected cases should be tested, officials urge.

Once a case is confirmed through testing, a report is sent to the state department of health.

Direct human-to-human transmission is rare, officials say, but if infected, people could shed the parasite into the environment, where it could become infectious again within a week or two, contributing to another outbreak.

The outbreak was first reported in Michigan on July 1, with other outbreaks later reported in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, according to the CDC.

While all 50 states have now reported cases, the source of the outbreak is still unknown.

But the CDC is investigating multiple clusters of Cyclospora cases, including one multistate outbreak affecting nine states linked to iceberg lettuce.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, admitted to licking the straw and returning it to the vending machine while recording the act for his online followers. It happened at a shopping mall in March and he was charged in April after his video spread rapidly.

Another charge of mischief was taken into consideration during sentencing. The court imposed the fine and did not order any community-based sentence after considering mitigating factors.

The public nuisance charge carries a penalty of up to three months in prison. Prosecutors sought only the maximum fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,551), saying the staged act was intended for social media and risked undermining confidence in the hygiene of a commonly used vending machine.

They noted Maximilien retrieved the straw himself, no member of the public used it, there was no evidence of harm, he was young and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Maximilien studies in a business school in Singapore, but prosecutors told the court he would also be in France from September to December as part of his studies.

Prosecutors said immigration authorities will decide if Maximilien can keep his student pass in Singapore after considering all relevant factors.

Defense counsel Kalidass Murugayan said the student has been living in Singapore without family support and expressed deep remorse for his actions. He said the video was a stunt for social media followers and that Maximilien later removed the contaminated straw from the machine to use for his own drink, meaning it was never intended for anyone else.

“He is truly sorry for having caused all this trouble,” the lawyer said. His parents will ensure that he paid the fine himself, the counsel added. The student left the court without speaking to reporters.

IJooz, the company operating the juice vending machine, filed a police report over the stunt and sanitized the dispenser while replacing all 500 straws in the machine. It has said it would upgrade its machines to include measures such as individually packaged straws and compartments that unlock only after the transaction is completed.

Singapore, a densely populated city-state, tightly regulates public behavior and cleanliness and has strong penalties for littering and vandalism.

Daniel Liburdi, 37, entered the guilty plea to one count of filing a false tax return. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18.

In addition to the $34,846,381 in restitution, Liburdi has agreed to the civil forfeiture of three real properties in Miami Beach and the U.S. Virgin Islands valued at approximately $37.5 million, two Ferraris and one Land Rover Range Rover valued at approximately $1.1 million, and the contents of several financial accounts totaling $414,508. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Scheme stretched over three tax years

According to court documents, Liburdi misreported his income on his 2021, 2022 and 2023 tax returns. On his 2023 return, Liburdi falsely attributed business income to a U.S. Virgin Islands-based entity rather than U.S.-based entities that had actually generated the income.

That false claim allowed Liburdi to take Economic Development Commission, or EDC, Beneficiary exclusions on income that was not eligible for the exclusion — resulting in nearly $10 million in underreported taxes for 2023 alone.

Liburdi also misreported income on his 2021 and 2022 returns, resulting in an additional tax loss to the government of more than $24 million.

What prosecutors are saying

“Liburdi’s actions represent a flagrant disregard for our nation’s tax laws as he engaged in a deliberate scheme to evade taxes, defraud the U.S. Treasury, and exploit public coffers for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.

“Our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat fraud and ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Kehoe added.

Ron Loecker, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office, said the case sends a clear message to high-income earners.

“This defendant earned tens of millions of dollars in income and then devised an elaborate scheme to not pay taxes,” Loecker said. “This case demonstrates that high net-worth individuals, like all Americans, are held accountable for filing false documents with the IRS, and IRS Special Agents will join forces with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who choose similar paths.”

“I can’t wake them up — I can’t get them up!” he frantically told the officers who, along with firefighters and paramedics, gave jurors firsthand accounts on Thursday of the aftermath.

The murder trial has centered on Clancy’s mental state at the time. Her lawyers do not dispute that she strangled the children with exercise bands. But they say she was in the grip of postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness linked to the stress, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes that follow childbirth.

Prosecutors say Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, acted intentionally and is criminally responsible for the deaths in January 2023.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

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The testimony came after jurors spent two days listening to testimony from Patrick Clancy and his anguished 911 call. He was still on the phone when he discovered the bodies of 3-year-old Dawson, 5-year-old Cora, and 8-month-old Callan, minutes after returning home from an errand his wife asked him to run.

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

She remains paralyzed from the waist down after using multiple methods to try to end her life that night. She says a voice told her, “This is your last chance. Kill the children so you can kill yourself,” according to her lawyer.

Officers Stephen Hall and Brian Josephine testified Thursday that they were each dispatched separately to the house in Duxbury, a coastal town south of Boston. Hall said they arrived to find Patrick Clancy yelling for help from behind the home.

Patrick Clancy testified earlier this week that his injured wife told him the kids were in the basement, but she didn't say they were dead.

When the officers followed the sound of his screams downstairs, only 8-month-old Callan had a faint pulse, Josephine testified.

“Based on my training experience from previous incidents, I knew it wasn’t going to be good,” Josephine said. They began rendering aid with help from firefighters.

PJ Hussey, a fire department supervisor, arrived in time to glimpse through a basement window as Patrick Clancy unwrapped an exercise band from his child's neck.

“It turned very chaotic very quickly” as more ambulances rushed to the house, Hussey testified. Duxbury firefighter and paramedic Jennifer Stratton said the infant never regained a pulse.

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

In opening arguments Monday, her attorney said she had bipolar disorder, and that antidepressants prescribed after the birth of her third child worsened her condition.

Patrick Clancy testified about his wife’s deteriorating mental health in the months leading up to the killings. He said she told him about intrusive thoughts of harming the children, as well as thoughts of suicide.

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

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

The woman's attorney, Matthew Farley, urged the chief judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to dismiss the case against Nazira Haji Zada and immediately release his client, who the government alleges is an Islamic State supporter. Judge Joan Ericksen denied Farley’s requests but said Zada's lawyers can renew them as the case proceeds in the nation's capital.

“This entire scheme is in violation of due process and unconstitutional,” said Farley, an assistant federal public defender.

The case against Zada opens a new, untested front for President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign, which has flooded the nation’s federal court system with immigration proceedings, sometimes based on novel or shaky legal foundations.

The court, established in 1996, had never received a petition until this month, when the Justice Department filed an application seeking Zada's removal. The court has a specific authority to conduct deportation proceedings for individuals whom the Department of Justice classifies as “alien terrorists.”

FBI agents arrested her Tuesday at her Fort Worth, Texas, home. She is not charged with any crimes.

“This is a runaround for bringing a criminal case,” Farley said during the court's first-ever public hearing.

Ericksen, a senior judge who sits in Minnesota and was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, acknowledged that the court was operating without a clear blueprint.

“We probably read the same law review articles. There aren't that many,” the judge told Farley.

An FBI memo dated July 15 said it “developed information” that Zada is an IS supporter who had her children pledge their loyalty to the terrorist group. The memo says she “supported” a plot by relatives to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack in the United States.

Zada is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. Court filings identify her as the mother and mother-in-law of two Afghan men who were convicted in Oklahoma for their roles in the 2024 Election Day plot. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, was sentenced in November to 15 years in prison and court records show he previously agreed to be removed from the U.S. after his release.

Her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, previously worked as a security guard for an American military installation in Afghanistan. He pleaded guilty to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to IS. Prosecutors have said he took steps to advance his attack plans by ordering AK-47 rifles, liquidating his family’s assets and buying one-way tickets for his wife and child to travel home to Afghanistan.

Zada was led into the courtroom by U.S. Marshals Service deputies. Interpreters translated the proceedings for Zada, who answered the judge's questions with head nods instead of words. The judge cautioned that the court was still in the process of building up its “infrastructure.”

“This is not a criminal matter,” the judge told her. “This is a civil matter that arises under the immigration code.”

Justice Department attorney Hayden O'Byrne read aloud a brief summary of the case but noted that the FBI's investigation of Zada involves classified information that cannot be made public. The judge assured Zada that the federal courts routinely handle cases involving classified information, even though her case is the first of its kind.

Eriksen one of five federal judges from different districts across the country who are appointed to the court by the chief justice of the United States.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement that Congress created the court to deport “alien terrorists who never should have been here in the first place.”

“The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day. The Department’s application in this court makes clear that terrorists have no place in the United States of America,” Blanche added.

Popcorn can smell either good or bad depending on the space you’re in. Just for the record, burnt popcorn is the worst no matter where you are.

“Smell can instantly trigger an emotional response along with a memory, and our emotional states have a very strong effect on our physical well-being,” says Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist at Brown University who studies the psychological science of smell, from a study in the Harvard Medicine: The Magazine for Harvard Medical School article from Spring 2024 about how our emotions are linked to smells.

So when my 24-year-old daughter asked me “why does rain smell?” during an afternoon storm, I answered her as honestly as I could: soil is the main source.

That got me thinking, certainly there’s a scientific reason to this phenomenon that I must’ve learned during my weather education.

Today, I went back to the books to find answers. And what I found out is much deeper than just surface dirt.

The connection between earth and air

The smell of rain actually has a name - Petrichor.

From Merriam-Webster, Petrichor is: a distinctive, earthy, usually pleasant odor that is associated with rainfall especially when following a warm, dry period and that arises from a combination of volatile plant oils and geosmin released from the soil into the air and by ozone carried by downdrafts.

In 1964, two Australian scientists, Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Grenfell Thomas, combined two Greek words to form the word Petrichor. “Petros” means stone, and “ichor”, in Greek mythology refers to the fluid that flowed in the veins of the gods.

Basically, they identified two compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) in soil that causes the earthy smell that occurs when rain falls on dry soil. While this wasn’t a new discovery, they were the first to define, name and publish their findings.

Read the original published article (FYI - there’s a fee to continue reading beyond the Abstract).

Strongest smell after a rinsing rain

Our region has been in a historic drought for almost a year. When the weather is dry, dead leaves and other materials settle on the ground where they become part of the soil. This layer suppresses growth along with the lack of water. Oils are then produced that stop additional growth of seeds and root systems.

According to the Farmers Almanac, actinobacteria grows on moist soil, but as the soil dries out, so does the bacteria causing spores that reproduce as a good rain falls. After they die, geosmin is created: geosim is the earthy smell that rises as the spores are released into the air.

Finding comfort in the smell of rain

I asked around and most of my co-workers find the smell of rain comforting. From the How Stuff Works website, those who like the smell of rain associate it “with positive experiences and emotions, such as relief from hot weather, the nourishment of crops and the soothing sound of rainfall.”

Do you like the smell of rain?

What smell brings back a good memory?

READ MORE: Meet the three candidates vying for Duval County School Board District 2 seat

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Donovan Bradley

Occupation: Policy Analyst.

Age: 26

Family: I am the oldest of my two siblings and come from a family of public servants. My mother has been a teacher in Duval County for more than 30 years, and I am happily married to my wonderful wife, Noelle Bradley.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, University of North Florida.

Political experience: I have never run for political office before, and I have no interest in being a “career politician.” As a proud Jacksonville native and graduate of Duval County Public Schools, I want to give back to the school district that helped shape my future. I also want to ensure today’s students have even more opportunities than I did. One area where we can do better is expanding awareness of skilled trades, apprenticeships, and career and technical education programs. Not every student will choose a four-year college, and that’s okay. By strengthening classroom-to-career pipelines through partnerships with local businesses and industry, we can better prepare students for high-paying, in-demand careers while meeting the workforce needs of our community.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

I believe the three most pressing challenges are student achievement, teacher retention, and school safety.

To improve student achievement, we must ensure students are not only prepared to pass assessments, but are retaining and applying what they learn. This includes strengthening core instruction in reading, math, and science, expanding access to career and technical education pathways through public-private partnerships, and reducing overreliance on standardized, computer-based testing to better support deeper learning and real-world application.

To improve teacher retention, Duval County must remain competitive in compensation and benefits, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and ensure teachers have the support and respect needed to be successful in the classroom. This includes streamlining lesson planning requirements, reducing duplicative reporting, and increasing instructional autonomy so educators can focus on teaching.

Maintaining a safe learning environment is essential to the success of our students and teachers. We must continue investing in school police officers, strengthen campus security measures, and regularly update emergency response plans and training so our schools are prepared to respond to potential threats and parents can have confidence that their children are safe.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I believe I bring a unique combination of experiences that no other candidate in this race can offer. As the son of a longtime Duval County teacher and a graduate of Duval County Public Schools, I understand our classrooms firsthand. Growing up, I spent time volunteering in my mother’s classroom, which gave me an early appreciation for the dedication of our teachers and the challenges they face every day.

I also bring a unique background in policy work as the only candidate with legislative experience. Professionally, I served as a Legislative Aide in the Florida Legislature and as a Policy Analyst for local nonprofits, where I worked on policy research, budgeting issues, and drafting legislation that later became law. Additionally, my experience recruiting students for jobs and internships has given me firsthand insight into workforce readiness and the importance of creating stronger classroom-to-career pathways.

These experiences have prepared me to make informed decisions on educational policy, budgeting, and ensuring every student has the tools, opportunities, and support needed to succeed after graduation — whether that path leads to college or directly into the workforce.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I believe leadership is about serving others, solving problems, and leaving things better than you found them. If I have the privilege of serving on the Duval County School Board, I hope to be remembered as someone who always put students first and worked to make a meaningful difference in their lives. I want to help create a school system where every child has the opportunity to succeed, where teachers feel supported and valued, and where families have confidence in the education their children are receiving. Most importantly, I want my children to grow up in Jacksonville with access to a high-quality education and a school system that prepares them to thrive. If, at the end of my service, I can look back and know that I helped improve opportunities for the next generation of students, that would be the greatest accomplishment I could hope for.`

Campaign website: DonovanBradley.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | X | Instagram

Terence Myers

Occupation: Dean of Students, Kernan Middle School

Age: 47

Family: Married, 2 children

Education: Associate Degree Business Administration

Bachelor of Criminal Justice

Masters of Education

Political experience: None

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Declining Enrollment: Enrollment impacts funding, staffing, and educational opportunities. We must make our schools the first choice for families by strengthening academic programs, supporting teachers, and communicating the value of our schools while listening to the needs of parents and the community.

Student Support: Every student deserves the resources to succeed. I support expanding academic interventions, mental health resources, and other support services while ensuring teachers have the tools they need to help every student reach their potential.

Student Discipline: Safe, orderly classrooms are essential for learning. I support fair, consistent discipline policies that hold students accountable, support positive behavior, and give teachers the authority and resources to maintain productive learning environments.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

What sets me apart is the breadth of my experience serving students and families. I have worked as a teacher, truancy officer, staff member, and dean, giving me firsthand knowledge of the challenges our schools face from multiple perspectives. As a retired Army Reservist, I also bring a strong commitment to service, leadership, accountability, and teamwork.

These experiences allow me to make informed decisions, work collaboratively to solve problems, and keep the focus where it belongs, on student success. I will be an accessible, transparent, and accountable school board member who listens to the community and works to strengthen our schools for every student.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I hope to be remembered as a school board member who put students first, listened to the community, and made thoughtful decisions that strengthened our school system. I want to leave our schools stronger than I found them by helping improve student achievement, increasing enrollment, supporting teachers and staff, promoting safe and disciplined learning environments, and rebuilding trust between the school district and our community. If my service results in better opportunities for students and a stronger foundation for future generations, I will consider that a success.

Campaign website: www.terencemyers.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

Donna Westrich

Occupation: Marine Science Teacher at Fletcher High School, most recently. Previously, I taught at Seaside Community Charter School. Prior to that, I was a middle school science teacher in Logan, Utah. I also taught science at Sandia Preparatory School, a private 6th through 12th grade school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Age: 53

Family: I have a husband who is a professor at UNF and two children who attend public school in District 2.

Education:

-Graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and an Environmental Science Certificate.

-Graduated from Fort Lewis College Education Fellowship Program in 2000 with an Education Degree.

-Attended Graduate-level education classes through Adam’s State College in Alamosa, Colorado.

-Attended Graduate-level education classes at UNF during the summer of 2019.

Political experience:

I do not have any political experience. However, I have experience volunteering in my community as a teacher-sponsor of Beaches Go Green, as a running coach at Seaside Community School, as a children’s swim instructor at the YMCA, as a CPR instructor and as an instructor trainer at the Red Cross in Durango, Colorado, and as a volunteer paramedic and firefighter at Hermosa Cliff Fire Department in Durango, Colorado.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

The three most pressing issues facing Duval County Public Schools are closely connected: budget shortfalls, declining enrollment, and the loss of experienced teachers. As schools lose funding and educators, more families choose alternatives to their neighborhood public schools. Declining enrollment then leads to additional funding losses, teacher reassignments, and, in some cases, school closures or consolidations. At the center of these challenges is inadequate and inconsistent funding.

Florida invests approximately $9,000 to $11,500 per public school student, ranking among the lowest states in per-pupil funding. At the same time, the state has expanded school choice programs without ensuring that public schools are adequately funded or that taxpayer dollars are fully accounted for. Recent state audits have identified approximately $270 million in scholarship funds that could not be properly tracked, raising serious concerns about financial oversight. Additionally, the state extended vouchers to many students who had never attended public schools, increasing costs without providing additional funding to offset the impact on public school districts.

As a School Board member, I will advocate for greater fiscal accountability and transparency. Every student should be accurately counted, every taxpayer dollar should be traceable, and every funding decision should prioritize the success of all students while protecting the long-term stability of Duval County Public Schools.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

With more than 20 years of teaching experience, I understand firsthand how decisions made at the district level affect teachers, students, schools, and our community. As the parent of two children attending Duval County Public Schools, I also understand the choices families face and the importance of maintaining strong, high-quality neighborhood public schools.

My commitment to education has always been rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to safe, equitable, and academically excellent schools. Throughout my career, I have worked to create opportunities for student success, and I am ready to bring that same dedication to the Duval County School Board.

As the District 2 representative, I will advocate for policies that put students first, support and retain outstanding teachers and staff, and work collaboratively with my fellow School Board members to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars through a transparent and fiscally sound budget. My experience, commitment, and passion for public education will guide every decision I make on behalf of the families of District 2 and Duval County.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

As part of my campaign, I have committed to holding monthly meetings that are open to the public because I want our community to know that I am accessible, engaged, and accountable. I encourage residents to bring not only their concerns, but also their ideas and possible solutions. The best decisions are made when we work together.

When my time in office is over, I hope to be remembered as someone who truly represented the community, listened to every voice with respect, communicated openly and transparently, and made thoughtful, well-informed decisions that always put students’ success, safety, and well-being first.

Campaign website: donnawestrich.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

After seven years of saving through her 401(k), an unexpected opportunity allowed her to buy her first home this spring. Even then, she says she never imagined buying a home at her age.

“Insane. Insane, especially at my age,” Gil said. “I don’t feel like many people are here yet, which is sad.”

Her experience is becoming increasingly uncommon.

Click here for more Addressing A4dability coverage.

A Realtor.com analysis found the median age of a first-time homebuyer has climbed to 40, up from 30 in 1990, as rising home prices, larger down payments and higher costs of living make homeownership more difficult for younger Americans.

The report found affordability is no longer just about home prices. It’s about how those prices compare with incomes, how long it takes to save for a down payment and how much longer buyers must wait before they can begin building equity.

Home prices have outpaced incomes

According to Realtor.com, the median U.S. home price has increased from $96,800 in 1990 to $418,000 today, a 332% increase.

During that same period, median household income grew from $31,000 to $85,000, an increase of about 174%.

As a result, the typical home now costs nearly five times a household’s annual income, compared with just over three times annual income in 1990. The price-to-income ratio has increased from 3.1 to 4.9.

Gil said she always expected to buy a home later in life.

“I fully expected to buy a house much later in life when I had settled down a bit,” she said. “Definitely not at 26.”

First-time buyers stretching to qualify

Jason Kindler, president of First Coast Mortgage Funding, said many first-time buyers are finding ways to get into the market with smaller down payments because saving larger amounts has become increasingly difficult.

“What we’re seeing is a huge gap between either someone that’s putting down the 20% and that first-time home buyer,” Kindler said. “First-time homebuyers are either using down payment assistance or they’re putting less than 10% down.”

He said buyers today are taking on significantly more debt than previous generations.

“Our first-time homebuyers are right at about a 49% average debt-to-income ratio,” Kindler said. “Back in 1990, that average was about 30% or 31%. That’s way up.”

Gil purchased her home for $285,000 and put 10% down. Even so, she said she had to bring about $32,000 to the closing table after accounting for taxes and closing costs.

“Closing costs and taxes are so expensive, and I only put 10% down,” she said.

Nationally, Realtor.com found the typical first-time buyer now puts down about $41,800, which is more than five times the typical $8,200 down payment in 1990.

The report also found it now takes an estimated 9.7 years to save for a typical down payment at today’s savings rate. In 1990, it took about 3.2 years.

Young buyers feel priced out

Gil said younger generations are often criticized for not saving enough, but she believes the financial realities they face today are fundamentally different.

“I don’t want to say we work harder, but I think we have to work really hard to make less than what people were making then,” she said. “Everything is more expensive now than it was then.”

When shown that home prices have increased by more than 300% since 1990, Gil said the numbers reflect what many young buyers already feel.

“That’s insane when you look at it that way,” she said. “It’s completely unrealistic for people my age to be able to buy a house at all or even save to buy a house because of the cost of living right now.”

Gil considers herself fortunate to have become a homeowner at 26 but said she doesn’t think it would have been possible without years of saving and the opportunity to use those funds for a down payment.

“I don’t think I would have ever been able to buy this house,” she said. “I was in a super fortunate circumstance.”

Smallpox was one of the deadliest diseases in human history before it was eradicated in 1980, largely thanks to vaccination. For centuries, the virus had killed about one-third of the people it infected and left most survivors with deep and sometimes disfiguring scars.

Outbreaks struck Asia and Europe and eventually spread to the Americas, where colonial writings, administrative records and missionary reports documented how it killed millions and devastated Indigenous populations who had never been exposed to the virus.

Now there's scientific evidence for the spread: An analysis of Chilean mummies provides the strongest genetic link yet to the virus as it existed outside of the Americas, and provides a better picture of how it reached remote populations through colonization, said geneticist Shigeki Nakagome with Trinity College Dublin.

In the new study, Nakagome and colleagues examined 13 bone samples previously collected from an archaeological site at Camarones, in northern Chile.

Researchers found evidence of two smallpox infections in ancient DNA from the leg bone fragments of an adult man and woman.

From dating the remains and peeking at the genes, scientists concluded the two likely died between 1492 and 1631. Scientists also compared the genes in this version of smallpox to other versions and fit it neatly between European strains from medieval times and later versions. This was important molecular evidence, suggesting that the strains of smallpox infecting people in the Americas evolved first from Europe.

“Nobody would ever question that smallpox came to this hemisphere from colonization, but this proves it,” said Patricia Foster, a biologist at Indiana University. She had no role in the new research, which was published Thursday in the journal Science.

Exactly which population brought smallpox to the Americas from the Old World remains unclear, said the study authors. European settlers came in different waves to the Americas following the explorations of Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean in 1492 and Amerigo Vespucci along the South American coast about a decade later. The disease also could have passed through Africa as part of the introduction and expansion of the slave trade.

These smallpox infections in South America were identified in an area with no previous record of the disease, opening new questions about how the virus got so far south — possibly spreading along Indigenous trading networks that had long pre-existed the arrival of Europeans.

Studying various strains of the virus also allowed scientists to pinpoint how it evolved over time, turning off certain genes to become more effective at its deadly mission.

In addition to confirming the history of smallpox, the research also shines a light on the human cost. The two sick individuals studied were between 18 and 35 years old, and the disease is likely what killed them.

The findings point to how devastating the disease was across the Americas, wiping out entire populations and leaving them vulnerable to European conquest, said study coauthor Constanza de la Fuente Castro, a biological anthropologist at the University of Chile.

“It wasn't just cultural or demographic. It's literally written into biological evidence that we can still recover and read today,” de la Fuente Castro said.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Current At-Large Group 1 councilman Terrance Freeman is running for Florida House District 12. As a result, the state’s resign-to-run law requires him to leave his City Council position on November 2, the day before the general election, or by the date in which his successor is required to take office.

The special election will operate like Jacksonville’s other unitary elections, where all candidates appear on the ballot together, regardless of party affiliation, and the race is open to all voters. Three candidates will appear on the August 18 primary ballot, and if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election.

The winner of the election will serve out the remainder of Freeman’s term, which expires June 30, 2027.

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

AT-LARGE GROUP 1 CANDIDATES

Mone’ Holder

Party affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Chief Advocacy & Political Officer

Age: 39

Family: Mom of two children

Education: Bachelor of Science, Political Science-Florida A&M University

Master of Public Administration-Florida A & M University

Political experience: I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Master’s Degree in Public Administration, both from Florida A&M University.

I worked five years in the Florida Legislature as a staffer in the House Minority Office and for members of the House and Senate.

For nearly two decades I have been in nonprofit executive leadership at Florida Rising where I serve as the Chief Advocacy and Political Officer. I lead the legislative, policy, and electoral departments.

I was appointed to the Jacksonville Planning Commission in 2023 and currently serve as the Chair. In 2025, the City Council unanimously approved my reappointment to the Commission.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Affordability- The cost of living is the number one pressure on Jacksonville families. Housing, insurance, utilities, and groceries continue to strain household budgets. I will fight to keep Jacksonville affordable by supporting policies that protect housing affordability and make sure city dollars are invested back into our neighborhoods instead of special-interest pet projects.

Public Safety- Every resident of Jacksonville deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. Public safety requires investment in both our first responders and in our communities. I will support continued investment in our police and fire departments. Additionally, I will support investments in our parks, youth programs, job development, and senior services. By preventing crime, expanding opportunity, and having well equipped police officers and firefighters, we can make Jacksonville safer for everyone.

Ethical Leadership and Integrity- Jacksonville families deserve leaders who put the citizens of Jacksonville first. They are tired of watching political insiders enriching each other and city council members engaging in frivolous political fights. The politics of Washington and Tallahassee have no place in the day-to-day workings of City Hall. I plan to be an ethical compass on the Council and serve as a check and balance on special interests.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

My combination of community leadership, government experience, and executive management is unique among the candidates.

I have a clear understanding on how to leverage community assets to better educate people about local issues and connect communities to resources.

As the Chair of the Planning Commission, I have a deep understanding of city hall’s practices and capabilities that allows me to be effective in office on day one.

As an executive non-profit leader, I’ve managed multi-million dollar budgets and managed staffing of community programs that have directly impacted many citizens.

It would be an honor to use my skillset on City Council to serve the people of Jacksonville.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

After service as an At-Large City Council member, I hope to be remembered as a champion for quality of life for all Jacksonville residents with a special emphasis on reinvigorating and realizing the potential of our extensive park system. I want our park system to be well utilized, well tended, and a source of pride for every Jacksonville resident.

Campaign website: www.holderforjax.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

Addison Liberty Patrick

Party affiliation: Libertarian

Occupation: Independent Consultant to small businesses and non-profits. I am currently consulting part-time in order to dedicate my full energy, time, and focus to this grassroots campaign for City Council.

Age: 41

Family: I prefer to keep the focus of this campaign entirely on the voters and the issues facing the Jacksonville community.

Education: B.A. Communication Studies, Christopher Newport University and various fellowships.

Political experience: I serve as the Region 5 Representative on the Executive Committee for the Libertarian Party of Florida, representing five counties. I was a delegate to the 2026 Libertarian Party National Convention and the former Chairwoman and Vice Chairwoman of the Libertarian Party of Duval County. My political background includes serving as Public Relations Director for a Florida State Senate campaign and five years of grassroots party organizing. Balanced with my political work, I spent another five years working in and leading operations and boards for 501(c)(3) politically adjacent organizations in Washington, D.C. and Florida. Most recently, I successfully defeated a lawsuit brought by the Duval County Republican Executive Committee that attempted to remove me from the ballot by misapplying a newly enacted statute, securing a court victory that protected voter choice for all of Jacksonville and will serve as persuasive case precedent.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

My primary reason for joining this race is to purge corruption in our local government. Grounded in that mission, the top three local policy issues I will address are:

1. Public Safety and Transparency: Real public safety requires community trust, humane treatment, and an end to power abuses. I will use the Council’s power of the purse to prioritize funding for mental health initiatives within our emergency response models and demand strict officer vetting, training, and ongoing evaluations. Transparency shouldn’t be optional—city departments must fulfill public records requests in a timely manner to properly serve the public, not stall them. Finally, public safety includes our physical environment; I will prioritize funding to repair the hazardous local roads and sidewalks that endanger our neighborhoods daily.

2. Housing Affordability and Creative Ownership Solutions: We must stop city permitting bottlenecks from needlessly holding up developers, which directly drives up construction costs and rents. Jacksonville needs creative housing alternatives to bridge the gap between massive apartment complexes and traditional single-family homes; I will advocate for expanding options like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), triplexes, and quadplexes. We must also stop sitting on money and ensure any state funds earmarked for affordable housing are allocated in a timely manner. Furthermore, we can drastically reduce neighborhood blight by getting city-owned real properties off the books—selling blighted structures directly to individuals who will fix them up, live there, and put them back on the property tax rolls.

3. Simplifying Zoning Laws and Honoring Neighborhoods: The City Council currently spends the vast majority of its meeting times bogged down in endless discussions over zoning changes, exceptions, and amendments. This over-regulated process is deeply confusing and frustrating to our residents. I will spearhead an overhaul to simplify our outdated local zoning codes, eliminating this bureaucratic bottleneck. Additionally, I will protect our communities by revitalizing and enforcing the Neighborhood Bill of Rights, ensuring growth involves the voices of actual neighbors rather than backroom political deals.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I am already doing the work of a council member. I am the only candidate in this race who consistently attends City Council meetings, and because I am visible and accessible, constituents are already reaching out to me for help with local issues before I am even elected. I am prepared to sponsor a particular bill on day one.

To maintain complete independence, I refused large industry political endorsements this cycle. People are ready for something different, and I want to serve Jacksonville without baggage. Because I don’t answer to special interest groups, I can easily put the needs of our neighbors first.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I hope to be remembered for having the political courage to stand up and make sure everyday voters are genuinely represented at City Hall. In local government, political courage is everything—without it, the insiders win and the public gets ignored. Drawing on my career directing community programming, my focus has been on helping neighbors stay informed, step up, and have a clear say in their local government. I want to leave behind a more transparent and accountable Jacksonville.

Campaign website: addisonlibertypatrick.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube

Deborah Wesley

Party affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Retired Commander with The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

Age: 55

Family: The youngest of 10 and mother of 3

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Supervision and Management

Political experience: None

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

First, public safety. After 35 years with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, I know that safe neighborhoods are the foundation of a strong city. While homicides have trended downward over the past few years, reducing violent crime remains a top priority. Neighborhood safety and quality of life issues are also a concern. In addition to crime, these concerns include homelessness, blight, traffic safety, and infrastructure. It is important that every citizen, especially our children and senior citizens, have a safe community in which they may live and thrive.

I will address these issues through accountability and prevention with a special focus on our youth, by advocating for more workforce development and afterschool programs, our homeless population, by advocating for more mental health services, and increased awareness and attention to overall neighborhood safety by every citizen in Jacksonville. Public safety is not just responding to crime, but it is also preventing it. The foundation of safe neighborhoods is strong law enforcement, engagement by community residents, opportunities for our youth, and accountability at every level.

Second, housing affordability and basic cost of living expenses. Families are feeling the strain of rising housing costs, insurance, and everyday expenses. Affordable housing shortages and low wages are a few reasons citizens are struggling financially.

I will address this issue by supporting the expansion of workforce housing so working professionals may be able to afford to live here. I would also work to make the processes of permitting, zoning, and inspections more efficient to prevent delays and lower construction costs while ensuring taxpayers receive value for every dollar the city spends.

Third, responsible growth and infrastructure. Jacksonville is growing rapidly, but our roads, drainage, parks, and public services must keep pace. I’ll advocate for smart growth where infrastructure needs are met during new development, while also protecting the character of our neighborhoods.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I can help voters by bringing 35 years of proven leadership, including executive-level experience, crisis management, and accountability to City Hall. I’ve spent my career leading large departments, managing hundreds of people, working with budgets, managing multi-million dollar contracts, making difficult decisions that affected people’s lives every day, and being accountable for results. My focus will be on solving problems, protecting taxpayers’ money, and making sure our city government works for every neighborhood.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

When my time on the City Council is over, I hope people remember that Jacksonville is safer, more affordable, and better prepared for the future because I served. I want people to say I listened, kept my promises to serve with integrity, and always put the people of Jacksonville ahead of politics. If families feel safer in their neighborhood, if businesses find City Hall easier to work with, and if taxpayers know their money was spent responsibly, then I will consider my service a success.

Campaign website: deborahwesley.com

Campaign social media: None

County court judges oversee a wide range of cases, including criminal cases (misdemeanor, county and municipal ordinances, traffic), civil cases (disputes over $8,000 to $50,000), landlord-tenant cases, small claims cases (disputes up to $8,000), and non-criminal traffic cases.

Of note, judicial candidates in Florida are bound by Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which does place some limits on what they can say during a campaign, as compared to candidates for other offices.

News4JAX sent questionnaires to each candidate asking about their background and views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Melina Buncome

Occupation: Assistant Public Defender 4th judicial circuit. Director of Problem Solving Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit/ Attorney

Age: N/A

Family: Extended family

Education: Education:

* Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law – Juris Doctor (JD)

* University of the Virgin Islands – Bachelor of Arts (BA)

* El Centro College – Associate of Arts (AA)

Political experience: N/A

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

The top three issues I aim to address are:

1. Judicial Efficiency and Fiscal Responsibility: I am committed to streamlining the judicial system to ensure cases move through the courts promptly. By increasing efficiency, we can better protect our community while reducing the burden on taxpayer resources.

2. Restoring Public Trust Through Active Engagement: A core priority of my campaign is ensuring that the community feels truly heard. I believe that an accessible and transparent court system is essential for maintaining public confidence in the rule of law.

3. Equitable and Individualized Justice: Every case that comes before the court involves unique circumstances. My approach is to meticulously evaluate the law, the specific facts of each case, and the individual appearing before me to ensure that every decision rendered is balanced, fair, and impartial.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

As the Director of Problem Solving Courts, I offer a unique perspective on justice that my opponents may lack. I understand firsthand how specialized programs can provide critical support for individuals struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, and challenges related to military service. By effectively utilizing and expanding these problem-solving courts, we can address the root causes of recidivism, decrease crime rates, and significantly reduce the financial burden on our community. My goal is to transform our approach to public safety by prioritizing rehabilitation alongside accountability.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

My primary goal is to ensure true justice for all members of our community. By implementing a more equitable and transparent approach, I intend to strengthen the integrity of our judiciary, restore public trust, and ensure that every citizen is treated with fairness and impartiality under the law.

Campaign website: buncomeforjudge.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

Marquita H. Green

Occupation: Attorney since 2009

Age: (No answer)

Family: Married 19 years and raised three daughters

Education: B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia

M.S. in Community Psychology from Springfield College

J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law

Political experience: N/A

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

The biggest issue in this race is ensuring that voters elect a judge who is best qualified to serve the community in a judicial capacity. There is a difference between leading people and serving people. Judicial leadership is about more than making decisions. Judges serve the community by properly governing the courtroom and all partners within the court process. Judges serve by effectively guiding attorneys and litigants through transitions and rule changes. Judges serve by being good listeners, respectful, patient, prepared, independent thinkers, and tempered. Judicial leadership maintains the heart of people while still following the law. Candidate Green embodies these sentiments and will uphold them if elected to serve as Duval County Court Judge in Group 13.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

Candidate Green served for more than four years as a General Magistrate in Duval County, where she has managed a courtroom, conducted hearings, evaluated evidence, made findings of fact, and prepared reports and recommended orders across a broad docket. Her quasi-judicial work has included family law matters, dissolution of marriage, timesharing and child support, dependency and juvenile diversion, domestic violence compliance, mental health and substance-use issues, consumer matters, and municipal ordinance violations. She brings a variety of experience and consistency that our community can trust.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

Candidate Green desires to increase the community’s public trust and confidence in the judicial system, and hopes that all individuals who appear before her feels seen, heard, and respected regardless of the outcome.

Campaign website: vote.greenforjudge.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Octavius A. Holliday, Jr.

Occupation: Assistant State Attorney, State Attorney’s Office, Director of the Human Rights Division (Elder Abuse & Hate Crimes Prosecution)

Age: 54

Family: Married to Hui Min Holliday, a Duval County Schools Assistant Principal.

Biological Father of two sets of twins

(32 year old Darius Holliday, Houston, TX Attorney, 32″2002, University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, FL, Juris Doctor

1995, Duke University, Durham, NC, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

1990 Lyman High School, Longwood, FL" year old Courtney Holliday Boyd, Chicago, IL Social Worker, 26 year old Olivia Holliday, Jacksonville, FL future pharmacist, and 26 year old Madison Holliday, Tallahassee, FL medical tech.)

Father of three bonus children who attend Duval County Public Schools and one granddaughter.

Education: 2002, University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, FL, Juris Doctor

1995, Duke University, Durham, NC, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

1990 Lyman High School, Longwood, FL

Political experience: None

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

1. Being fair and balanced. I am the only candidate with experience as both a prosecutor and as a criminal defense attorney. I have a stellar reputation of being a firm, but fair prosecutor and that will continue when I am elected to the bench.

2. Familiarity with the type of cases over which this position will preside. I have extensive experience in criminal law and when I was the sole proprietor of a law firm for five years, I handled small claims and landlord tenant actions. The people deserve a judge that has experience prior to taking the bench.

3. Commitment to the community. County Court Judge is nicknamed ”The People’s Judge.“ I have shown my commitment to mentoring and volunteering in Jacksonville for over twenty years through serving on the Jacksonville Journey Board, serving on the Elder Abuse Fatality Review Team, serving on the Jacksonville Urban League Youth Crime Reduction Initiative, by volunteering at the Police Athletic League, and committing time and effort into several more non-profits throughout the city. My commitment to Jacksonville will continue with the same energetic devotion after taking the bench.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I can help voters by being being experienced in criminal law on day one (jury selection, jury trials, criminal rules of procedure, rules of evidence, and post conviction matters) as well as having vast experience in prosecution and criminal defense which brings immediate balance and fairness to the bench.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I would like to be remembered for continuing the high level of ethics and standards for which the 4th Judicial Circuit Bench is known and for never letting outside influences or politics interfere with my steadfast commitment to always strive to do what is fair and just in every case.

Campaign website: www.votehollidayforjudge.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

County court judges oversee a wide range of cases, including criminal cases (misdemeanor, county and municipal ordinances, traffic), civil cases (disputes over $8,000 to $50,000), landlord-tenant cases, small claims cases (disputes up to $8,000), and non-criminal traffic cases.

Of note, judicial candidates in Florida are bound by Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which does place some limits on what they can say during a campaign, as compared to candidates for other offices.

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Matt Lufrano

Occupation: Presently I am an attorney licensed to practice by the Florida Bar. I have practiced law since I was sworn in as a member of the Bar on September 24, 2009. Since that time I worked for four and a half years at the Duval County Public Defender’s Office. During my time as a Public Defender I represented indigent clients in first appearance court, misdemeanor court, criminal traffic court, and repeat offender court. In 2014, I left the Public Defender’s Office and went into private practice, opening my own law firm. Since that time I have continued to practice criminal law and I have also expanded my practice to include civil matters, injunctions, administrative issues, traffic cases, as well as sealings and expungements.

Age: 42

Family: My wife Lauren and I were married in June of 2024. Lauren is a clinical health psychologist who works at the Mayo Clinic assisting patients with chronic conditions. I also happen to be the oldest of four siblings and the proud uncle to two nephews and a niece. My parents are wonderful people who taught all of us the importance of hard work and of service to our community. They still reside in Duval County.

Education: I graduated from High School in 2002 from Jacksonville Episcopal High School. Then in 2006 I graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a BS in Psychology and a BA in Political Science. After graduation I continued my education enrolling in the University of Florida Levin College of Law. In 2009 I graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Political experience: I am not a politician, but rather an attorney committed to serving our community. As such, I have never previously held public office. However, I firmly believe that as a result of my years of legal practice, my legal expertise recognized by the Florida Bar, and my temperament, I am qualified to serve as Duval County’s next County Court Judge.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

While this is an intriguing question, the canons of judicial ethics do not allow candidates to establish platforms or offer personal opinions on issues. The rationale behind this is that neither judicial candidates nor elected judges decide policy. Rather it is incumbent on judicial candidates and judges to follow the law. As such, I remain duty bound to adhere to the canons of judicial ethics and cannot provide a more detailed answer.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

As mentioned above, the canons of judicial ethics limit what answers judicial candidates can provide. As part of those limitations judicial candidates may not make campaign promises or pledges to potential voters. However, I can provide those interested in this race with my qualifications to serve as Duval County’s next County Court Judge. To begin, I have spent my entire career in the courtroom, observing our judges, learning the evidence code, and practicing law. To date I have represented thousands of clients and tried over 80 cases to verdict before juries. I have also been recognized by the Florida Bar as an expert in Criminal Trial Law by earning Board Certification. This is particularly noteworthy because County Court Judges practice criminal law when presiding over misdemeanor court, criminal traffic court, and first appearance court. I also happen to be the only candidate running for this seat who is Board Certified in an area of law by the Florida Bar. Beyond this, I was raised to believe that community service wasn’t an optional pursuit, but rather it was a responsibility. In college my primary extracurricular activities were focused on a co-ed community service organization. Today I continue to provide pro bono legal services and volunteer my time on the boards of various non-profits. But as noteworthy as those endeavors may be I also know that I could do even more to serve our community if elected as Duval County’s next County Court Judge. As a County Court Judge I would ensure that matters that come before me are decided fairly and impartially. Such a position would also afford me the ability to serve the community by mentoring the next generation of young attorneys who would come before me. Such mentoring was pivotal to my legal career and I am committed to pass on my legal knowledge to others within our community. Additionally, working as a member of the judiciary and serving the people of Duval County has been an aspiration of mine for years. Now here in the State of Florida there are two avenues through which someone can become a judge, and these avenues are election and judicial appointment. While in this specific instance I am seeking to become a judge through election, over the past five years or so I have previously applied for multiple judicial appointments and gone through the intense vetting of our local Judicial Nominating Commission. As such, I am also proud to report that on each of those prior instances when I applied, our local Judicial Nominating Commission advanced my name for possible judicial appointment. But ultimately I believe that my experience, expertise, temperament, and commitment to service make me an outstanding candidate to serve as Duval’s next County Court Judge and I would be honored to have your vote in August.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I should start by saying that I don’t aspire to this position for personal gain or notoriety. As any public servant, my primary goal would be to serve our community well in the areas over which I am tasked with presiding. This means ensuring that litigants before me are afforded a fair opportunity to be heard and that the laws of our state are followed. A secondary personal goal would be to endeavor to encourage professionalism and collegiality within our legal profession. I say this because I firmly believe that these two goals would not only be tremendous feats, but would also help ensure public confidence in our judicial system.

Campaign website: mattlufrano.com

Campaign social media: (None given)

Latoya Williams Shelton

Occupation: (No response)

Age: (No response)

Family: (No response)

Education: (No response)

Political experience: (No response)

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them? (No response)

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot? (No response)

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office? (No response)

Campaign website: lwsheltonforjudge.com

Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram

Of note, judicial candidates in Florida are bound by Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which does place some limits on what they can say during a campaign, as compared to candidates for other offices.

News4JAX sent questionnaires to each candidate asking about their background and views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Carleen Leffler

Occupation: Attorney at ShuffieldLowman

Age: 38

Family: (No response)

Education: Webber International University- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration- 2008

Jacksonville University- Master in Business Administration- 2011

Florida Coastal School of Law- Juris Doctor- 2011

Political experience: None

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

From my perspective, the three most important issues in this race are ensuring our judiciary continues to benefit from broad legal experience, maintaining public confidence in our courts, and ensuring our courts continue to be served by judges who are thoroughly prepared for the diverse matters that come before them.

First, the majority of circuit court cases in the Seventh Circuit are civil matters. Circuit judges preside over family law, probate, guardianship, business disputes, real estate matters, and other complex civil cases. Throughout my career, I have represented individuals, families, and businesses in corporate law, probate, estate planning, and real estate. That experience has given me valuable perspective on many of the legal issues that come before our circuit courts and an appreciation for the real-world impact judicial decisions have on the people they affect. If elected, I will draw on that experience to carefully and impartially analyze each case and faithfully apply the law.

Second, public confidence in our judiciary depends on judges who are professional, impartial, and committed to applying the law. Every person who enters a courtroom should know their case will be decided solely on the facts presented and the governing law. I will approach every case with an open mind, treat every person who appears before the court with respect, and decide each matter based solely on the facts presented and the governing law.

Finally, preparation is essential to the work of a circuit judge. Careful preparation, thoughtful legal analysis, and clear, well-reasoned decisions help ensure every case receives the attention it deserves. If elected, I will be diligent in preparing for every matter, attentive to the facts and arguments presented, and committed to issuing well-reasoned decisions grounded in the law.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I believe my broad civil law experience allows me to bring a perspective to the bench that reflects many of the matters the circuit court decides every day.

Throughout my career, I have practiced in small and large law firms, served as in-house counsel, and operated my own solo practice. Those experiences have given me an appreciation for the different perspectives attorneys, individuals, families, and businesses bring to the courtroom.

My practice has focused on probate, estate planning, corporate, and real estate law, representing individuals, families, and businesses through significant legal matters. Because the majority of cases heard in circuit court are civil in nature, my experience reflects many of the types of cases that come before the court. That background has prepared me to thoughtfully analyze complex legal issues, carefully apply the law, and appreciate the real-world impact judicial decisions have on the people they affect.

For voters, that means having a judge whose experience reflects the broad range of matters the circuit court decides every day. I believe a judiciary composed of judges with diverse legal backgrounds brings valuable perspectives to the bench, strengthening the court’s ability to fairly and thoughtfully serve the public.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

If I am fortunate enough to serve as Circuit Judge, I would hope to be remembered as a judge who faithfully applied the law, treated every person with dignity and respect, and approached every case with preparation, professionalism, and an open mind. I hope those who appear before me will know they were heard, that their cases were carefully considered, and that every decision was based solely on the facts presented and the law.

Campaign website: www.lefflerforjudge.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

Jeanne Stratis

Occupation: Assistant State Attorney

Age: 51

Family: (No response)

Education: JD from Florida Coastal School of Law

BS from University of South Florida

Political experience: None

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

I will follow the law, as it is written.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

I have 25 years of courtroom/trial experience.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

Following the law, and treating everyone with respect.

Campaign website: stratis4judge.com

Campaign social media: Facebook

Trail cameras installed by the Florida Department of Transportation captured the striking sighting, offering a glimpse into the wildlife that quietly moves through one of the region’s most carefully designed roadways.

What is a Southern fox squirrel?

Southern fox squirrels are notably larger than the gray squirrels most Floridians see in their backyards, and they’re far less common. Their presence at the wildlife crossing underscores just how important these conservation features can be for local ecosystems.

The trail camera footage is a reminder that even in a region defined by its roadways and urban growth, nature finds a way — especially when given a little help.

Wekiva Parkway built with wildlife in mind

Completed in 2024, the Wekiva Parkway was the final piece of Central Florida’s beltway system. But FDOT didn’t just build a road — it built a road designed to coexist with the natural world around it.

The project included the purchase of 3,400 acres of conservation land and the construction of 1.5 miles of wildlife bridges, along with special fencing engineered to protect animals and natural resources within the Wekiva River Basin.

“He ran into that water despite those conditions that are deadly. You have 10 foot waves; you have riptides and currents coming in,” Sumit Rai told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It is not safe for him to go into that water. So he’s risking his own safety.”

Rai’s son Nathaniel was standing in shallow water when he lost his footing and was pulled into the ocean Saturday by powerful swells that suddenly came ashore at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, about 60 miles (about 100 kilometers) down the coast from San Francisco. Rai, who was in his home city of Dallas, said he heard about what happened when he spoke to his kids on the phone that evening.

“My son told me that he drowned and my son told me that he went unconscious,” he said. “He was very subdued, still in a state of shock.”

By the next morning, Rai had watched the video of the rescue that has since caught the attention of President Donald Trump.

Ryder Williams, 16, the lifeguard who saved Nathaniel, said he saw the boy lose his footing in ankle-deep water. He radioed in and then raced toward Nathaniel.

“After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard,” he said in a statement.

California State Parks, which employs the lifeguards at that beach, said the boy was swept about 15 yards (13.7 meters) into the ocean before the lifeguard made contact with him.

In the video, Williams can be seen diving into a coming wave while holding tight to the boy.

Another lifeguard jumped in to help, along with some bystanders, who Williams said he warned to go back to the shore.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely,” he said. “This is my job and I love what I do. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day.”

The boy had no serious injuries, and after an medical evaluation he was released to his family, the California State Parks said in an emailed statement.

Rai said his son told him that he got sand in his lungs and was coughing it out after getting to the shore. Now his son, who is expected back from California in a few days, is dealing with the psychological effects of what happened.

“He’s still been thinking about it a lot. It’s on his mind,” he said. “It bothers him when he’s sleeping. So it’s obviously traumatizing.”

Rai has reached out to Williams and said he hopes to be able to thank him directly.

“What he did, I can never ever repay," he said. "I'm forever grateful.”

The players won't be punished for the bet, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The league posted the initial video from All-Star Weekend, days before Bueckers’ Dallas Wings and Reese’s Atlanta Dream were set to play Wednesday night. The clip featured Bueckers and Reese placing what appeared to be a personal wager on the game. It was presented with the caption, “We did?” with a laughing emoji followed by, “Paige Bueckers on the bet she made with Angel Reese at All-Star Weekend on tonight’s matchup.”

The WNBA moved quickly to delete the message, but not before it was shared on social media.

“While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the league’s policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training every year reinforcing those policies,” a league spokesperson said Thursday. “We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally.

“We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize with the players involved that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences.”

The Wings and the Dream both deferred to the league statement when asked for comment.

The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that any kind of wagering is strictly prohibited and that players can be fined, suspended or even disqualified from the WNBA at the sole discretion of the commissioner.

The Dream rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Wings 82-81 on Wednesday, with Reese notching 22 points and 12 rebounds and Bueckers finishing with 16 points and six assists.

___

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

Giorgio Mucelli, 66, a lawful permanent resident and Canadian citizen, is charged with Voting by a Non-Citizen Elector and False Affirmation. An arrest warrant was issued following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Election Crime Unit.

“Florida will not allow non-citizens to steal the vote of Americans at the ballot box,” Uthmeier said.

“This individual knowingly registered and voted while ineligible, lied about it when confronted, and undermined the integrity of our elections. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of FDLE’s Election Crime Unit and our Statewide Prosecutors, he is being held accountable.”

Registration, decades of illegal voting

According to investigators, Mucelli registered to vote in Brevard County on April 9, 2004, falsely affirming under oath that he was a United States citizen. Records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirm he has held lawful permanent resident status and is not a U.S. citizen — last renewing that status in April 2023.

Despite his ineligibility, Mucelli allegedly cast ballots in the general elections of 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2020, 2022 and 2024. In the three most recent elections — 2020, 2022 and 2024 — he voted early and presented photo identification. None of the ballots were flagged as provisional. Each time he voted, investigators say he acknowledged an oath affirming he was a qualified elector.

Discovery, confrontation, admission

The case came to light in January 2026, when the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections determined Mucelli was ineligible based on his lawful permanent resident status and the SAVE database — a federal tool used to verify immigration status.

After being notified of the finding, Mucelli contacted the elections office and falsely claimed he had not voted. However, in a subsequent post-Miranda interview, he admitted to voting in all seven elections, admitted lying to election officials, and acknowledged he knew he was ineligible.

Mucelli also acknowledged possessing a lawful permanent resident card and a Canadian passport, and told investigators he knew he was not supposed to vote but felt it was the “right thing to do.”

If convicted on both counts, he faces up to 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

A new campaign launched Friday will promote programs that let veterans who recently drove large military vehicles skip the required skills test for a commercial driver’s license. Other soldiers can attend a commercial driving school during their last six months of active duty. The GI Bill will also pay for 100% of commercial driver’s license training and for some people even pay a housing allowance while they are in school.

The campaign will be part of a broader interagency effort to help veterans find good civilian jobs that the White House plans to announce on Monday.

The Transportation Department began enforcing existing English language requirements for truckers last summer. Concerns about truck driver qualifications then took on more urgency after an August crash in Florida, when a truck driver performed an illegal U-turn that killed three people. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that driver, who is from India, should never have been licensed in the first place.

Audits conducted in every state uncovered numerous non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses that remained valid long after an immigrant’s work permits had expired or were issued without properly verifying their citizenship status.

Since then, about 26,000 drivers have been pulled off the road for failing to demonstrate English proficiency, and the Transportation Department said 30,000 commercial licenses were canceled because they were issued illegally. The federal government has tried to withhold millions of dollars of highway funds from California and New York for failing to comply and revoke thousands more licenses, but that has wound up in court. Several other states — including Pennsylvania, Minnesota and North Carolina — have been warned they are at risk of losing funding.

“We are removing more and more dangerous foreign drivers off our roads every day and restoring the integrity of America’s trucking industry,” Duffy said. “Our new Freedom Haulers campaign will help build on these successes and get the word out that there’s never been a better time for America’s former service members to get behind the wheel of a big rig.”

The federal government has been actively enforcing CDL rules

The trucking industry has applauded the administration’s effort to get unqualified drivers off the road and close down sham CDL schools, and companies praised this new effort to get more veterans behind the wheel.

“Veterans make up 15% of our workforce and bring the highest levels of leadership, discipline and technical skills that are essential to our success. We are dedicated to providing them with meaningful careers and a supportive environment where they can thrive,” said Derek Leathers, who is chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises.

Cole Stevens, who is chief strategy officer at the trucking company that bears his last name, said veterans’ backgrounds make them great drivers.

“Some of the best drivers and industry leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with are military veterans,” Stevens said. “Their integrity, accountability, and mission-first mindset make them an incredible asset.”

In addition to enforcing existing restrictions, the government announced plans to restrict which immigrants can qualify for a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license and require them to take the test in English, but those rules are being challenged in court.

The only immigrant drivers who can get a license under the new rules are holders of an H-2A, H-2A or E-2 visa. H-2A is for temporary agricultural workers while H-2B is for temporary nonagricultural workers, and E-2 is for people who make substantial investments in a U.S. business.

Immigrants account for about 20% of all truck drivers, but all of these non-domiciled licenses for immigrants represent only about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses, or about 200,000 drivers.

Some immigrant groups have said they believe that many drivers are being unfairly targeted. The spotlight has been on Sikh truckers because the driver in the Florida crash and the driver in another fatal crash in California in October are both Sikh.

Truck driving may appeal to veterans

The Transportation Department plans to work with the Pentagon and Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor to promote the career field as a good job that offers independence to veterans who don’t want a desk job in civilian life.

Veterans still have to study the rules and pass the written test for a commercial driver’s license, but soldiers who recently drove big military vehicles over 2.5 tons (2.25 metric tons) can skip the skills test. The government said more than 40,000 veterans have already used that program, which can enable them to get on the road within a few weeks.

The Transportation Department said that truck drivers currently make an average of $70,000 a year, as the truck market has tightened up and rates have increased.

Veterans who served for at least three years can also use the money from the GI Bill program to pay for CDL training, and they might even qualify for a housing stipend.

Durham School Services and DCPS celebrated the rollout of 26 new electric school buses and 26 charging stations on Thursday at the Durham transportation facility.

The buses were funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, with representatives saying the investment will provide students and drivers with a quieter ride while reducing emissions.

Paul Talarico, senior vice president of operations with Durham School Services, said the buses are designed to meet the needs of daily school routes.

Talarico said the buses can travel about 130 miles, while the average route is under 100 miles.

District leaders also pointed to potential savings over time, including lower fuel and maintenance costs compared with traditional diesel buses.

“A lot of the funding came from the EPA. They gave us a project at just over $7.7 million to cover funding for it,” Talarico said. “So that helps with cost on both sides. And long-term cost, cost to service the bus… right now with the fuel cost, electric, they are generally cheaper to repair.”

The electric buses will begin serving DCPS students during the upcoming school year.

The district currently plans to begin with the 26 buses unveiled Thursday. Officials said they are not able to share additional details at this time about whether more electric buses will be added in the future.

The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. at the intersection of Cassat Avenue and Edgewood Avenue S in Jacksonville.

What happened

A 2017 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling north on Cassat Avenue at an estimated 45 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. The driver attempted to turn left from Cassat Avenue onto northbound Edgewood Avenue S, according to the report.

A 2021 Ford Explorer — a JSO patrol vehicle — was traveling south on Edgewood Avenue S at an estimated 50 mph, also in a posted 35 mph zone. The officer behind the wheel told investigators he was responding to assist another officer on a traffic stop with his emergency lights and sirens activated. He slowed to clear the intersection before continuing through, though he was uncertain whether he had a green or red light at the time, according to the report.

The Jetta struck the front passenger corner of the patrol vehicle. The force of the impact sent the SUV across all lanes of Edgewood Avenue S, where it collided with a second JSO patrol vehicle — also a 2021 Ford Explorer. The second officer was traveling northbound on Edgewood Avenue S at a reduced speed, preparing to turn into a nearby parking lot as part of his regular patrol duties, according to the report.

Witness account

A witness traveling southbound on Edgewood Avenue S in the left turn lane onto Dignan Street told investigators the traffic signal displayed a flashing left turn arrow as he made his turn. He heard a loud bang and observed the first patrol vehicle strike the second. The witness believed that southbound and northbound traffic on Edgewood Ave S had green lights from the traffic light at Edgewood Ave S and Dignan St due to his lane having a flashing yellow turn arrow.

The witness also said the first patrol vehicle had its emergency lights activated.

The Jetta driver was taken to the hospital with a possible left ankle injury. His airbag deployed during the crash. The officer driving the first patrol vehicle sustained what the report described as “non-incapacitating” injuries and was not transported. The second officer reported no injuries.

The reporting officer noted that conflicting statements among those involved prevented a full determination of fault at the time the report was filed.

The emergency appeal comes after a lower court reinstated the damages in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that followed more than two decades of litigation.

The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority said in court documents that paying the hefty judgment now would “destabilize critical government services Petitioners provide in the West Bank, injure innocent citizens, and jeopardize regional security.”

They asked the justices to pause payment as they appeal the reinstatement of the verdict.

The lawsuit was filed by victims of attacks in Jerusalem in the early 2000s that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds more. Families brought their lawsuit under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a law aimed at opening U.S. courts to victims of international terror attacks.

A federal court in New York tossed the original verdict on appeal and continued to rule in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority as Congress revised the law to allow suits to go forward. In 2025, the Supreme Court sided with the families and revived the lawsuits.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to reinstate the verdict in March. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said at the time that the families were pleased and relieved by the decision, saying it would allow “justice to be done.”

They declined to comment on Thursday's petition.

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• Provide urgent, immediate weather information from the studio and in the field.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology.

• Prior years on-air experience, including severe weather coverage experience.

• Proficient in WSI and Barons weather systems.

• Proven track record of accuracy in weather forecasting.

• Strong on-air presence with an engaging personality and conversational weather presentation.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and willingness to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Knowledge of newsroom computer systems, smartphone technology, and social media platforms.

• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to represent the station positively in the community.

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• Master’s degree in Meteorology

• CBM seal

• Bilingual abilities, especially in Spanish, are considered a strong asset

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CONTACT

Interested candidates, please submit your resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience to Robert Brown rbrown@wjxt.com.

News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.

Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

Jamaad C. Batts, Sr.

Occupation: I am a business owner I own my own monument company

Celebration By:Jamaad C.Batts Sr LLC also I’m Florida Licensed Funeral Director

Im the manager D.A .Boyd & Boyd Funeral home

Lead Pastor of Victory Worship Center

Age: 31

Family: Entire family is a part of the democratic party

Education: Crescent city high school

Florida State College of Jacksonville

associates in science

Florida State College of Jacksonville bachelors sciencein progress

Political experience: My experience comes from serving this community every day. As a local business owner, licensed funeral director, and community leader, I’ve worked with families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Running a business requires balancing budgets, managing employees, complying with regulations, and earning the trust of the people you serve. Those are the same leadership qualities I will bring to the City

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

Affordability

You can talk about concerns many residents recognize:

* Rising utility bills

* Higher grocery prices

* Housing that is becoming harder to afford

* Property taxes and city fees affecting homeowners and seniors

* Small businesses struggling with operating costs

* Young families finding it difficult to get ahead

As a city commissioner, focus on what the city can realistically influence.

Lower the Cost of Government

* Review city spending for waste.

* Prioritize responsible budgeting.

* Avoid unnecessary fee increases whenever possible.

Transparency

Open Communication

Hold regular community meetings where residents can ask questions and receive updates.

“Your voice deserves a seat at the table before decisions are made—not after.”

Financial Transparency

Support making budgets, major expenditures, and city projects easy for residents to understand.

Message:

“Taxpayer dollars belong to the people, and the people deserve to know how every dollar is being spent.” Accessible Leadership

Be available through town halls, community events, social media, and neighborhood meetings.

YOUTH AND RECREATION

Our children deserve safe places to play. Our families deserve places to gather. Our seniors deserve opportunities to stay active. Recreation isn’t a luxury—it’s an investment in our community.”

How We’ll Get It Done

1. Improve Existing Parks

* Upgrade playgrounds and equipment.

* Improve lighting for safety.

* Repair basketball courts, walking trails, and picnic areas.

* Keep parks clean and well maintained.

Instead of relying only on local tax dollars:

* Seek state and federal recreation grants.

* Partner with nonprofits and local businesses.

* Work with civic organizations to improve parks and facilities.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

What sets me apart is that I already serve this community every day in multiple capacities. As a local business owner, I understand the challenges of creating jobs, managing budgets, and making responsible financial decisions. As a licensed funeral director, I’ve walked alongside families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, giving me a deep understanding of compassion, service, and the needs of our community. As a pastor, I’ve spent years listening to people, bringing different viewpoints together, and serving without regard to politics.

I don’t want to be a commissioner who only shows up at election time. I want to be accessible, accountable, and present in every neighborhood. My commitment is to listen first, communicate openly, and make decisions based on what’s best for the people of Palatka. My goal isn’t simply to hold office—it’s to deliver results that improve affordability, strengthen public safety, expand recreation, and earn the public’s trust through transparent leadership.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

e.

“I hope to be remembered as a commissioner who kept his promises and always put the people of Palatka first. I want people to say that our city became more affordable for working families, safer for our neighborhoods, and more connected through improved parks and recreation. I want to be known for leading with transparency, listening to residents, and making decisions that were thoughtful, responsible, and in the best interest of the community.

Most of all, I want future generations to look at Palatka and say it became a stronger, more united city because we worked together. If, at the end of my service, the people can say they trusted their government, felt heard, and saw real progress in their everyday lives, then I will consider my time in office a success.”

Campaign website: (None given)

Campaign social media: Facebook

James Norwood, Jr.

Occupation: Retired

Age: 68

Family: Married to the former Regina Wright, four children Chrislena, Mary, Nayilah and Jonathan

Education: High school graduate

Political experience: Former Palatka City Commissioner for 1 years.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?

1.Public Safety: Addressing this begins with the budgeting process ensuring the Police and Firefighters have the adequate resources to do their jobs. Supporting them as they build relationships with all our citizens. Holding them accountable for their performance as they work to protect the lives of our citizens and the protection of property.

2.Jobs : Encourage more small business development by creating incentives when possible. Expansion of job opportunities by continuing to develop the Palatka Business Park to show those potential employers that are interested in relocating their business; we want you here in Palatka. Seek more partnerships with the county, with the business community, and with developers. We have to be serious about moving developments and projects through our building process in a timely manner.

3. Infrastructure: We must ensure our infrastructure is adequate to support the potential growth in our city. That includes our drinking water plant and pipes, our wastewater treatment facility and pipes, fiber optics to support the ever changing technology that we have grown so dependent on.

4. Entertainment and recreation for our children, adults and seniors.

How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?

Through my experience in building a consensus with the commission, the community and our business partners. Getting all of our partners to work together to address other potential challenges (property taxes reduction and other issues).

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

I was fair, honest and I did things with integrity. We made a difference.

Campaign website: (None given)

Campaign social media: (None found)

The suspension came a day after the team apologized for an exchange that took place between one of its co-owners and two fans during the team’s 105-95 loss Tuesday night to the Indiana Fever. The Storm didn’t elaborate on the nature of the incident and didn’t say which Storm co-owner was involved.

But on Thursday the team said it respects the league’s decision to fine and suspend Keaton.

“We remain committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for anyone who attends a Storm game,” the team said.

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

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

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

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

Cunningham was not made available to answer postgame questions.

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

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

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

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

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

“From what I understand, that was successful.”

___

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

Europe is sweltering under an exceptionally hot and arid summer, creating tinderbox conditions for unprecedented fires that have flared from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean and forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate homes and vacation spots.

Firefighters battled flames in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Greece and Turkey on Thursday and were tamping down smoldering forests in southwest France where 224,000 people had been forced to flee. Romania shut down both reactors at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant due to low water levels in the Danube River used to cool them.

Hollywood star George Clooney wrote to his local mayor that his family evacuated the southeastern French town where they've settled and that “we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment.” Clooney's publicist Guido Gotz shared the message to Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond with The Associated Press.

Clooney wrote that he and his wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, were committed to the town and that, whatever happens, “we’ll be part of making it whole.”

The fire near Brignoles, in the Var region, flared Wednesday, forcing 700 people to evacuate, the mayor's office said. It said they were allowed back Thursday once the fire was tamed.

Returnees in France clear away ash

In the Bordeaux region of southwest France, wildfire evacuees streamed back to nine localities that authorities now deem safe after round-the-clock combat with the huge fire that ignited last week. Returnees included 50-year-old Sanachit Pho Ne Keo and his wife, relieved to discover that apart from black ash on an outside terrace, their home in Martignas-sur-Jalle wasn't damaged.

“Everything seems OK and it’s a good feeling!” he said.

“The fire was pretty close, the last smoking embers are still close,” he added. “But we could’ve expected worse.”

Regional health authorities recommended that returnees wear gloves and face masks as they clean up and wash children’s toys and pets’ feeding bowls and paws. France’s public health agency reported that call-out doctors and hospital emergency wards in Bordeaux had seen a spike in cases involving asthma sufferers last weekend when the raging wildfire was still spewing choking smoke clouds.

“It's the first somewhat optimistic day,” said Sophie Brocas, prefect of Bordeaux's Gironde region who gave the go-ahead for nearly two-thirds of the 224,000 evacuees to go home, including 60,000 allowed back to three Bordeaux suburbs on Tuesday.

Still, returnees were told to keep phones on and pack bags in case they have to be evacuated again.

The A63 highway south of Bordeaux also was reopened, clearing a major artery for road traffic with Spain and vacationers as France enters its peak August holiday period.

“Our feeling is that we’re getting back to the path of a normal life,” Brocas said Thursday evening.

Fire still smoking but not spreading

Gironde authorities said the blaze is no longer growing beyond the 420 square kilometers (about 162 square miles) already affected — an area four times that of Paris.

Capitalizing on the shift of momentum, police water cannons usually used for riot control are being added to the effort to extinguish embers and flare-ups, involving 3,300 firefighters and two dozen planes and helicopters dumping water and retardants, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.

More aid came from other countries, with Luxembourg, Slovakia, Latvia, Germany and Serbia sending fire crews, adding to aircraft and other assistance provided by other countries, and Ukraine also offering help, Nuñez said.

Crews using heavy diggers continued ripping up trees and bushes to carve barriers of land between woodlands that burned and those that didn't, boxing in the blaze with firebreaks — now exceeding a total of 130 kilometers (80 miles) through the forests.

Emergency crews also set fires deliberately to burn away scrub that could fuel the wildfire.

“If we light a fire here, we know that our fire will move toward the incoming fire. So we’re not taking much of a risk,” said Lt. Col. Jérôme Jallet, overseeing a burn.

A heat wave — France's fourth of the year — gave way Thursday to cooler weather, higher humidity and even a little rain, helping the effort.

Tinderbox conditions across southern Europe

Successive heatwaves have created tinder-dry conditions across swaths of southern Europe and whack-a-mole emergencies for fire crews, with blazes flaring as others are extinguished.

Greece was tackling large fires on the islands of Crete, Paros and Andros, a day after three firefighters died.

In Spain, firefighters fought blazes in northwestern Zamora and eastern Castellón, after making progress against infernos in the Madrid region and Ávila that prompted the government to declare a national fire emergency for the first time.

At the peak of evacuations, a third of a million people were driven from homes and vacation sites in France and Spain.

In France, two firefighters suffered light injuries battling a woodlands blaze in the eastern Burgundy region and four were injured in the southern Var region on a fire brought under control with a dozen planes and helicopters dropping water and retardant, authorities said.

In Germany, firefighters using drones and helicopters battled an Alpine forest fire near the Austrian border, the dpa news agency reported.

On a heath of birch trees, heather and wildlife in Suffolk, east England, wind-whipped flames burned across an area the size of 140 soccer pitches and forced hundreds of people to evacuate homes, vacation cottages and a mobile home park, fire services said. New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called it “a very serious incident.” The southern half of the U.K. is suffering drought.

In Turkey, firefighters and aircraft battled forest fires in four western provinces, including tourist areas Mugla and Antalya.

___

Turnbull reported from Martignas-sur-Jalle, France, and Leicester reported from Paris. Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Jill Lawless and Samuel Petrequin in London, Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Stefanie Dazio in Berlin, Andrew Wilks in Ankara, Turkey, and Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England contributed to this report.

U.S. filings for jobless aid in the week ending July 25 rose by 9,000 to 197,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week's figure was revised up by 1,000 to 188,000 but remains the lowest in more than 50 years.

Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 207,000 new applications.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market.

Despite surging oil prices resulting from the U.S.-Iran war, the American job market remains healthy. However, analysts say a prolonged war and higher than normal energy costs may eventually upend that, forcing companies to trim their costs by reducing head counts.

Following a 6.6% rise a day earlier, the price for a barrel of U.S. crude fell slightly more than 1% Thursday to $83.36 a barrel. Gas prices in the U.S. are also back up above $4 a gallon on average. Besides squeezing consumers’ budgets, it also hits businesses hard, especially those which are heavily dependent on fuel.

Also Thursday, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric, PCE, came in at 3.7%, still well above its 2% target. On top of that, the government reported Thursday that the U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly sluggish 1.5% pace in the April-June quarter.

If inflation remains elevated, Fed officials say they are ready to raise interest rates to combat higher prices, raising costs for businesses and making them less likely to hire.

In its expansive June jobs report earlier this month, the government reported that employers pulled back on hiring, adding only 57,000 jobs. That’s less than half the previous month’s total and a sign that companies remain cautious about adding to their head counts. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, though that decline is mostly because many out-of-work people gave up looking for jobs and were no longer counted as unemployed.

June’s tepid hiring comes after a relative surge in job gains the previous three months, countering concerns that the war in Iran could trip up an already wobbly labor market.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

Among the companies that have trimmed their workforce recently are Verizon, UPS, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks, Walmart and Microsoft.

The Labor Department's report Thursday also showed that the four-week moving average of weekly jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, fell by 5,000 to 202,750.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending July 18 was 1.78 million, a decline of 7,000 from the previous week.

The Mary C. Brown Public Library, located in Lake Butler, has grown from a 1,400 square-foot building in 1990 to the current 9,000 square-foot facility that was completed in 2009. The library currently houses about 40,000 books and materials and offers access to thousands more e-book titles. There are 15 public access computers at UCPL, as well as free wifi. The library hosts a wide array of programming, including weekly preschool storytime programs, summer events for children of all ages, and teen and adult programs.

The following question will appear on the ballots of all Union County voters in the August primary:

“For/Against the continued funding of the Union County Special Library District by taxation of up to one half (1/2) mill of ad valorem taxes.”

The Hollywood star behind the “Ocean’s Eleven” franchise and other films made the statement in a letter to Didier Bremond, the mayor of the town of Brignoles, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Marseille, publicist Guido Gotz told The Associated Press in an email.

Addressed “Dear Didier,” the letter said Clooney and his wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, had “no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment." But as they evacuate Brignoles they wanted to assure Bremond that, whatever happens to the community, “we’ll be part of making it whole,” the letter said.

The fire near Brignoles broke out Wednesday afternoon and burned some 100 hectares (250 acres), local officials said. The blaze was far smaller than a vast inferno that has swept up the region around Bordeaux in southwestern France in recent days.

About 700 residents were evacuated and were allowed to return to their homes on Thursday after the fire was brought under control, they added.

Water-bombing helicopters remained deployed over the area after the evacuation order was lifted, the regional administration said. It said weather conditions remained unfavorable, with high temperatures and winds expected to pick up again in the afternoon.

The French government in December announced that the Clooneys along with their twins Ella and Alexander were awarded French citizenship.

The couple purchased their estate in France in 2021, and have been living there with their children. In an interview with Esquire last October, Clooney described their “farm in France” as their primary residence.

Lettuce prices rose sharply in the first half of 2026 due to hot weather in Arizona, where about one-third of America’s lettuce is grown. Now, restaurants are dealing with the fallout from a cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce that has sickened thousands of Americans.

Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, said Thursday that Taco Bell's U.S. same-store sales are down 2% so far in the July-September period due to customers' concerns over the outbreak. That compares to a 7% same-store sales increase in the April-June period.

Federal health officials first tied the diarrhea-causing outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said customers in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were also affected.

Taco Bell removed shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from its U.S. restaurants on July 17. The following day, Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

Taco Bell's sales bottomed out the weekend of July 18-19 but have been steadily improving since then, Yum Brands Chief Financial Officer Ranjith Roy said Thursday in a conference call with investors. Over the last four days, Taco Bell's U.S. sales have climbed halfway back to their year-ago level, he said.

Yum Brands CEO Chris Turner said Taco Bell's quick action to contain the issue and its clear communication on social media helped bring diners back. The brand also enticed fans with daily specials like $1 Mexican pizza.

“With respect to the consumer sentiment, we’ve seen real improvement as consumers have understood better the nature of the issue,” Turner said. “They understand that it is not a Taco Bell specific issue.”

Yum Brands shares rose 3% in midday trading Thursday.

Other chains are also feeling some impact from the outbreak even though they haven't been named in government investigations. Chipotle Mexican Grill said Wednesday that it expects its same-store sales to rise only 1% in the July-September period because of lower traffic due to the outbreak. It had previously expected same-store sales to rise 3% in that period.

Foot traffic at Chopt, a salad-focused chain with 105 locations, plunged 24% on July 18 compared to the normal average for a Saturday, according to Placer.ai, a market research company. M Science, another market research firm, found that weekly spending at the salad chain Sweetgreen dropped 10 percentage points compared to last year during the first half of July.

Chopt didn't respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Sweetgreen, which has 285 U.S. locations, did not confirm a drop in sales and said in a statement that its food hasn’t been connected to the current cyclospora outbreak.

“We follow rigorous food safety standards and can trace our ingredients from restaurant to farm,” the company said.

Cyclospora cases have continued to grow. As of July 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has received received reports of 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases. It's investigating multiple clusters, including a new outbreak involving 72 people that was announced last week. As the FDA investigation progresses, officials should get a better understanding of which illnesses are connected and “how complex this outbreak actually has become," said Craig Hedberg, a food safety researcher at the University of Minnesota.

The outbreak came on top of an already difficult year for the lettuce industry and people who love eating salads. The retail price of a pound of iceberg lettuce jumped nearly 20% between January and June of this year, according to government data. Consumers paid an average of 33% more last month for all fresh lettuce compared to a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

Lettuce prices advertised by major grocery stores last week averaged $1.86 for a head of iceberg, 25 cents more than the same week a year earlier, according to the USDA. A head of red leaf lettuce cost 52 cents more at $1.66, and a bunch of romaine had an advertised price of $2.49, which was $1.55 higher, the department reported.

Shoppers caught a break with some types of salad mixes, though, which stores advertised at prices 7 to 24 cents cheaper than a year prior, the USDA said.

Elizabeth Canales, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Mississippi State University, said unusually hot weather in Arizona early in the year caused crops to mature too early. That caused big supply gaps until California production began in late April.

Fuel costs, which increased after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran and Iran blocked most oil tankers from leaving the Persian Gulf, have also been an issue, according to Canales. Lettuce is especially perishable and requires energy for cooling from the time it's picked to the time it's sold, Canales said.

“The cold chain needs to be maintained. Cooling and transporting it is very important,” Canales said.

Lettuce has been linked to multiple food poisoning outbreaks in the past, including two in 2018 involving E. coli linked to romaine lettuce grown in Arizona and California.

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Associated Press Writer Mike Stobbe contributed from New York.

The Oakland hip-hop pioneer is still recording, touring and talking slick more than four decades after he began selling homemade tapes on the streets of the Bay Area. While the genre has long treated aging like an unwritten career-ending offense, Too $hort is breaking the rule and challenging the culture’s elder statesmen to keep going with him.

His latest proof is “Sir Too $hort Vol. 2: Drink & Smoke,” his 23rd studio album, produced entirely by longtime collaborator Lil Jon. It arrives Friday, exactly 20 years after the release of his enduring hit “Blow the Whistle.”

Too $hort, whose catalog also includes classics like “The Ghetto” and “Shake That Monkey,” says he isn’t interested in slowing down anytime soon. That was certainly evident when he and E-40 performed at the NFL Honors in February.

In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Too $hort reflected on turning 60, challenging hip-hop’s age limits, preserving the legacy of Lil Jon’s late son, DJ Young Slade, the staying power of “Blow the Whistle” and why he has no plans to stop until “the wheels fall off.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

AP: You recently turned 60, but you’re still releasing albums, touring and influencing the culture. When you first started selling homemade tapes on the streets of Oakland, did you ever imagine you’d still be doing this more than four decades later?

TOO $HORT: At the age of 14 or 15, my mentality was, “Let people hear this music. We’re going to rock some house parties and high school dances and sell some tapes to fans in the streets.” When I got my foot in the door, I knew this was going to be my job. It was always “till the wheels fall off.” It was never, “Let’s do this for 30 or 40 years.”

I’ve always said the day hip-hop is no longer my job is probably the day I’ll stop. But the love I have for hip-hop won’t allow me to stop recording. I’ve never taken a long break. I’ve continuously been in the studio, continuously doing shows. I just keep it going because it’s my job.

AP: Why do you think you’ve remained relevant when so many careers have come and gone?

TOO $HORT: I truly love making music. It’s never felt like work. I could have stopped after “Blow the Whistle” and been like, “Story told.” But somebody’s got to go out into these uncharted waters and blaze the trail. Look at E-40,Snoop Dogg,Fat Joe and the other guys who kept going after the kids were grown and the grandkids were on the way.

Who laid the rule down that in hip-hop you gotta stop at 40? Every milestone they said was old. First it was 30, then it was 40, then it was 50. Now we got senior citizen rappers, and this ... is real. Hip-hop is entering the place where jazz, blues and R&B have older artists who are still performing and recording. We should too.

AP: Twenty years after its release, “Blow the Whistle” is still played everywhere from NBA arenas to the Olympics. Why do you think that record has endured?

TOO $HORT: I don’t know if you could give me the ingredients and tell me how to do it again; I don’t think I could. It had to happen organically. I give Lil Jon a lot of credit because he’s made a lot of songs we’ve loved since the day they came out. We make good music together, and that’s why I’m excited for people to hear what we’re still doing 30 years after we first worked together.

AP: This album reunites you with Lil Jon, but it also features work from his late son, Slade, who died in February. What did that collaboration mean to you?

TOO $HORT: His son passed away after we finished recording. We had actually done about twice as many songs as ended up on this project. I saw how it affected Jon, and I had recently lost my brother, so I knew that feeling of loss. The whole time, Slade was producing or co-producing a lot of the tracks I was working on. The first thing that came to me was that I’d be more than proud to be part of his son’s legacy and give something to the world that would help him live forever. Jon keeps saying, “Slade’s legacy,” and I’m just trying to be a part of that and show the world we lost another good, talented person.

AP: You and E-40 celebrated Bay Area hip-hop together during your 2020 Verzuz appearance. Fans still love seeing you two together. Would you ever team up again, whether for another Verzuz, a tour or something else?

TOO $HORT: We did one in 2020, but it wasn’t a battle. We had a good time. We did a lot of laughing, a lot of togetherness. I didn’t want to battle 40 then, and I don’t want to battle him now. That’s my best friend in hip-hop. I’d sign up for me and 40 against anybody. That’d be fun. They haven’t had two groups. … I put that out there: Who wants to battle Too $hort and E-40 in Verzuz?

The indictment alleges that between July 13 and July 15, William Lintag Upham posted videos in which he wore a military uniform, called the postings a “call to arms” and urged an overthrow of the administration.

Upham pleaded not guilty to the charge of threatening to kill the president during a 5-minute hearing in federal court on Thursday.

His trial is set for Oct. 5, and the federal offense carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, if he’s convicted.

According to the indictment, in one video, Upham described a method of shooting that included “two shots to the chest and one shot to the head.”

In a second video, prosecutors say, Upham called the president the “Antichrist” and a “false Messiah” and said he “must be killed.”

The indictment also says Upham sent an email to a third party stating he “will kill President Trump at the time that God chooses, not when I choose,” with the intent to communicate a true threat and with recklessness as to whether others would view the statement as a real threat of violence.

Upham was arrested July 16 and has been ordered detained, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

The U.S. Secret Service received reports about the posts and reviewed the videos, the criminal complaint and the indictment said. Investigators also allege Upham had access to firearms and made concerning statements to law enforcement as recently as July.

The Marine Corps said in a social media post that it was aware of Upham’s statements and noted he had been medically discharged on May 30, 2025. The service called the comments “disturbing” and said they violated the oath Upham had sworn.

The Thunderstorm Watch will expire at 10 p.m.

A Heat Advisory will be possible Thursday.

Speaking of the heat, it’s been hot, but not as hot as it has been in the past. https://www.news4jax.com/weather/2026/07/29/yes-its-hot-just-not-as-hot-as-last-year-in-northeast-florida-southeast-georgia/

The unsettled pattern continues Thursday afternoon with wind and flooding remaining as the main hazards. Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will develop daily through Sunday as temperatures return to near normal.

Tonight: Storms weaken. Showers, isolated storms possible overnight and early Thursday morning.

Thursday: A Heat Advisory will be possible. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop along the stalled cold front, mainly across northeast Florida.. Strong to severe storms will be possible. Lows in the upper 70s to low 80s. Afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90s. Feels Like temperatures 104 - 110 degrees.

Friday: Becoming cloudy and hazy with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly across NE FL, 50-60 percent. Southeast Georgia will see partly cloudy skies with a 30 percent chance of showers. Lows in the 70s to low 80s. Highs in the low to mid 90s.

Looking ahead: Rain chances continue through the weekend. The heat will return to near normal as the waves of showers and storms move through.

Tropics: It’s quiet across the Atlantic basin.

Sunrise: 6:44 p.m.

Sunset: 8:22 p.m.

Following a few days of respite, fears of a wider war have grown, with renewed fighting threatening to engulf even more countries: Jordan said Thursday it intercepted Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day, while Kuwait said a strike in the northern part of the country killed one person. Also this week, drones caused fires on ships at an Egyptian port, and Saudi Arabia said it came under fire from Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

The war — which in its early days President Donald Trump said would last four to five weeks, although he warned it could take longer — has caused the price of fuel to spike and roiled the global economy. As months have passed, concerns have deepened about using up the stockpile of weapons the U.S. needs to defend its bases and allies.

Meanwhile, the war is unpopular among Americans, and a new AP-NORC poll says Trump’s approval rating on Iran has dipped slightly since last month.

The recent pause in fighting, which began over the weekend and spurred hopes among mediators of diplomatic progress, ended with increasing missile and drone attacks across many countries in the Middle East.

“We note with concern that the security situation remains precarious,” said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, whose country has been a key mediator.

Talks “are ongoing to normalize the situation, particularly the situation in the Strait of Hormuz,” he told reporters.

The US and Iran trade strikes

An Iranian strike hit a Chinese firm’s building in Kuwait on Thursday, severely damaging the structure and killing a worker, Kuwait’s military said, hours after Jordan’s air defenses shot down five missiles launched from Iran.

No injuries were reported from Jordan’s interception, Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency said, quoting the spokesman for the country’s armed forces. Both countries are U.S. allies and host American troops.

The attacks came after the U.S. military said it completed “a heavy wave of strikes against Iran,” conducted in response to an earlier Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan.

The military's Central Command said in a social media post that the U.S. struck dozens of targets belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance and defense sites.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said three people were killed and two were wounded in a strike on the island of Qeshm, which lies just off the Iranian mainland in the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial waterway for the world's energy supplies that has been at the center of the conflict.

The latest barrage came after the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.

Fires were reported on two natural gas vessels at an Egyptian port

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

The office of the Egyptian prime minister said initial investigations showed the fires on the two vessels had been caused by a drone.

Egypt, a close U.S. ally and regional mediator, is one of the only countries in the Middle East to have been spared direct military action during the war. A strike by Iran or its allies, if confirmed, would mark a significant widening of the conflict. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have denied they were behind the attack.

The war has wreaked havoc on the global economy

Since Iran began threatening and firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz early in the war, the conflict has wreaked havoc on the global economy as energy shipments through the waterway ground to a near halt. Much of the diplomacy around ending the war has focused on reopening the strait, through which 20% of oil and natural gas shipments passed in peacetime.

The already limited ship traffic through the strait has plunged to wartime lows during the recent exchange of strikes, from 82 ships during the week of July 13-19 to just 39 from July 20-26, Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a shipping data and analysis firm, said in an webinar.

Fighting elsewhere has squeezed energy supplies further.

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

The Houthis have also declared a blockade of Saudi shipping and threatened to choke off another crucial Middle East trade route, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden. That route became even more important during the war, as Saudi Arabia used it to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

While some Saudi oil exports are continuing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait despite the blockade, Lloyd’s List Intelligence said much of that oil now follows an expensive and time-consuming workaround: It travels from Saudi Arabia on tankers to the Egyptian city of Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast before being pumped overland through a pipeline to the Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir. Then it's loaded on tankers again.

The Suez Canal is not deep enough to handle the largest and most economical tankers when they are full loaded with oil.

On Monday, the Houthis said they had launched drones targeting facilities used to transport oil across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The rebels said the attack was in response to a Saudi drone they said breached Yemen’s airspace.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met Wednesday with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly about the private meetings.

They said the Saudi decision to join the U.S. attacks against the Iraqi militias was meant to send a message to Iran that the kingdom would not tolerate Iran or its proxies targeting the Saudi oil industry and other critical infrastructure. At the same time, the defense minister underscored to Trump and Vance that the Saudis want to see a de-escalation in the war and for Washington and Tehran to return to negotiations.

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Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece. Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Aamer Madhani in Washington, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad and Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed.

Varsity 4 top 25 player countdown

12. JC Wessel

Position/school: TE/Bolles.

Class: Jr.

Height/weight: 6-6, 227.

Recruiting: Uncommitted.

Why here’s here: A bit of a projection here. Wessel transferred to Bolles from Frederica Academy in Saint Simons Island. Had 18 catches for 338 yards, three touchdowns last year. Made 16 tackles on defense and picked up a sack. Consensus four-star prospect by the major recruiting services. In top seven consensus of national tight end rankings. As Bolles breaks in a largely new offensive line, Wessel will lend some much-needed size and blocking in the ground game. Former first-round pick Hayden Hurst is coaching tight ends at Bolles now, so expect Wessel to take a major step forward at the position.

13. Terrell Pinkney II

Position/school: ATH/Trinity Christian.

Class: Sr.

Height/weight: 6-4, 196.

Recruiting: Committed to USF.

Why here’s here: A three-star prospect by Rivals and 247 Sports, Pinkney’s recruiting picked up major steam after the 2025 season. He’s a safety/linebacker/corner hybrid for the Conquerors but can line up anywhere, even on offense, if needed. Pinkney showcased in a playoff win over University Christian last year that he can play corner very well, too. Pinkney intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart a UC drive and added a pick-six in that game as well.

14. Zion Green

Position/school: ATH/Raines.

Class: Jr.

Height/weight: 6-4, 170.

Recruiting: Uncommitted.

Why here’s here: A major recruit in the Class of 2028 who has excellent size for a player in the secondary. Likely a cornerback or safety at the next level. He’s an On3 and 247 Sports four-star recruit and a three-star by ESPN and Rivals. Green is a top 160 national recruit by 247 Sports. He was a spot receiver last year and produced. Had just 12 catches for 269 yards and turned four of those grabs into TDs. Had four tackles last year. Really picked up recruiting steam after the Vikings’ 14-0 season that ended with a Class 3A state championship. Will be counted on to deliver far greater on both sides of the ball as a junior.

15. Knox Annis

Position/school: QB/Mandarin.

Class: Jr.

Height/weight: 6-3/210.

Recruiting: Committed to Miami.

Why he’s here: Annis was thrown to the fire as he unexpectedly began his varsity career just six quarters into his freshman season due to an injury to starter Tramell Jones Jr. The results were difficult. But Annis took a greater step forward last season, boosting his completion percentage by nearly 20 points. He’s coming off a 22-TD passing season. This is a huge growing season for Annis. He committed to Miami, and a school like that creates its own set of expectations. But he is poised to take another step in his journey.

16. Marcus Small

Position/school: OL/First Coast.

Class: Sr.

Height/weight: 6-7, 290.

Recruiting: Committed to Syracuse.

Why here’s here: A consensus three-star recruit, Small is ranked between the 51st (ESPN) and 120th (Rivals/On3) player in Florida this year. He’s not only big but he’s very versatile for the Buccaneers and head coach Jarvis Parker. Small can flip to left or right tackle and earned All-Gateway and first-team All-News4JAX honors last year. As Small goes, so will the First Coast offense.

17. Omari Lawson

Position/school: Zarephath Academy.

Class: Jr.

Height/weight: 6-6, 260.

Recruiting: Committed to Syracuse.

Why he’s here: Zarephath is a younger program, so seeing a player listed may be a bit of a shock. But Lawson is a talent who can’t be looked over just because of school size. Power Four programs across the country have zeroed in on Lawson. He’s a four-star prospect at tackle and may wind up being the area’s fifth-best recruit in a blockbuster 2028 class. Come next year, this ranking could seem laughably low.

18. Camden Tietze

Position/school: WR/Bolles.

Class: Sr.

Height/weight: 6-1, 180.

Recruiting: Committed to Marshall.

Why he’s here: A Rivals/On3 three-star prospect who came on strong during his first season with the Bulldogs. Had 35 catches for 689 yards and 11 TDs playing alongside electric playmaker Naeem Burroughs. Will open this season as the No. 1 target for QB Luke Toland. As a sophomore at Ponte Vedra, had 599 yards receiving and seven TDs.

19. Aiden Phifer

Position/school: QB/Nease.

Class: Jr.

Height/weight: 6-0, 190.

Recruiting: Committed to Northwestern.

Why here’s here: Phifer burst on the scene last year by passing for 2,003 yards and 20 TDs. He was a threat to break off a run, too. Phifer scored nine rushing TDs. He did it by going 9-3 against a tough schedule that included powerhouse Buchholz (twice), St. Augustine and Oakleaf. A Rivals/On3 three-star recruit, Phifer should continue to ascend as a dual-threat QB.

19. Julius LaRosa III

Position/school: DL/ University Christian.

Class: Sr.

Height/weight: 6-2, 260.

Recruiting: Committed to NC State.

Why here’s here: A multiyear force on the defensive line for the Christians, he’s got 24 career sacks and 43.5 tackles for loss. Recovered two fumbles and blocked a punt last year. Had 59 tackles last season and is up to 171 for his career. A consensus three-star recruit by the four major recruiting services and a top 140 player in Florida by those outlets.

21. Kindrid Outland

Position/school: DL/Mandarin.

Class: Sr.

Height/weight: 6-2, 270.

Recruiting: Committed to USF.

Why here’s here: He was all over the field last year for the Mustangs, earning a second-team All-News4JAX selection after racking up 62 tackles, 21 for loss, and 5.5 sacks. A three-star recruit by 247 Sports and Rivals/On3, Outland has serious muscle and pocket-busting interior presence.

22. Kyree Wilson

Position/school: ATH/University Christian.

Class: Senior.

Height/weight: 6-0, 190.

Recruiting: Committed to Toledo.

Why he’s here: Wilson has thrived as the No. 1 player at a small school (Christ’s Church) where he racked up 3,019 rushing yards and 32 TDs and added 74 combined tackles during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Wilson, a Rivals three-star prospect, spent his junior year at Mandarin in a two-back system and absolutely scorched teams when given the opportunity (9.1 yards per carry). He’s got 3,807 career rushing yards and 38 rushing TDs, and could join the exclusive 5,000-yard rushing club with a strong season. Factor in his work on defense in the secondary and he’s going to put up numbers all over the field for the Christians.

23. Kash Kolbow

Position/school: S/WR/Nease.

Class: Senior.

Height/weight: 6-1, 180.

Recruiting: Committed to UCF.

Why he’s here: He was a little bit of a do-it-all player on Nease’s defense in 2025. Kolbow had 68 total tackles and a couple of interceptions. He was sticky in coverage (23 passes defensed) and forced two fumbles. With as big graduation losses as the Panthers had on defense, Kolbow’s production is no doubt bound to keep ticking up.

24. King Boylston

Position/school: QB/Ed White.

Class: Sr.

Height/weight: 6-1, 195.

Recruiting: Uncommitted.

Why he’s here: Boylston isn’t rated by any of the major recruiting services, but he’s a player who should see his stock rise over the course of the year. He accounted for 38 TDs last season, passing for 25 and scampering for 13 more. Boylston passed for 2,091 yards and rushed for 712 more to help lead the Commanders to the mantle as the highest-scoring regular season team in state history.

25. Noah Ash

Position/school: Kicker, Ponte Vedra.

Class: Senior.

Height/weight: 5-11, 190.

Recruiting: Committed to Auburn.

Why he’s here: A placekicker among the area’s top players? You got that right. Ash is the area’s best player at his position, and one of the top recruits in the nation. He booted 11 field goals for the state semifinalist Sharks last year and had 74 touchbacks in 85 chances. Depending on the recruiting outlet, Ash ranks between fourth (247 Sports Composite) to sixth (Rivals/On3).

Elijah Bieniemy was arrested Monday in connection with the late-Sunday shooting. He has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling.

Bieniemy remained in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on Thursday. He had a court date to hear motions scheduled for later in the day, and a preliminary hearing date had been set for Aug. 31. But both appearances have been continued pending a mental health evaluation, according to records available from the Virginia judiciary system.

The sheriff's office in Loudoun County, Virginia, has said the investigation is ongoing. No motive has been provided.

Eric Bieniemy remained away from the Chiefs on Thursday as they continued with their second full-squad workout of training camp. Pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier and offensive line coach Andy Heck have assumed most of his responsibilities, while coach Andy Reid continues to have a significant role overseeing the offensive system.

“Eric's a big part of this, and so I love having him here,” Reid said, “but right now it's important that he takes care of business, and everybody knows that. So everybody's game is picked up, and they're working hard, and Eric will be back soon enough to jump in there and do his thing. But he's got to take care of that first.”

Reid declined to provide a timetable for Bieniemy's return to the team.

Mia Bieniemy, the coach's 57-year-old wife, has been released from the intensive care unit, where she was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds. Reid said that she was “doing better, and great from where she was.”

Eric Bieniemy helped the Chiefs reach three Super Bowls and win two of them, then left to become the offensive coordinator with the Washington Commanders — the reason the Bieniemy family still has a home in Virginia. The staff there was fired after one season, though, and Bieniemy spent a season apiece at UCLA and coaching running backs with the Chicago Bears.

He was hired to replace Matt Nagy as the offensive coordinator in Kansas City earlier this year.

“We stay in touch with him and keep him abreast of everything that's going on,” Reid said. “He's got the tape (of camp practices). He can watch with whatever spare time he's got there.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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This story has been corrected to show the name of the center's president is Trey Devey, not Trey Davey.

If confirmed by the full Senate, the 54-year-old would become the 22nd director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats. Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S. Coast Guard.

Schwartz appeared to be on shaky ground after a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee this month. The chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and others questioned whether she would be willing to stand up to Republican President Donald Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., if he ordered CDC to do something that was unsupported by science and good public health practice.

But when the committee met last week, Cassidy said he had spoken with Schwartz after that hearing and to others who knew her.

“I’m confident that she knows what she is doing and will stand against those who do not,” said Cassidy, whose support was necessary for the nomination to go forward.

The committee's near party-line vote Thursday moved Schwartz’s nomination ahead.

Among those who opposed her was Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent.

“The issue at hand is not complicated," Sanders said last week. "Will we have people in the Trump administration who have the guts to stand up to people who are anti-science and into conspiracy theories?”

The CDC has faced more than a year of unrest

The CDC has been in turmoil since Trump returned to office last year.

Largely due to layoffs and resignations, the agency has lost 3,000-plus employees, more than one-quarter of its workforce. Morale has plummeted as a succession of mostly temporary leaders have come and gone. The front office has been staffed by political appointees with little or no training in medicine or public health.

When Schwartz was nominated in April, public health experts were cautiously optimistic, citing her background. They also noted she was the choice of Trump and not Kennedy, a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement before he was tapped to oversee the CDC and other federal health agencies.

Kennedy had promised not to change the nation’s vaccination schedule but later attempted a substantial rewrite of vaccine recommendations for kids. Some of those efforts were put on hold this year by a federal judge.

Kennedy’s actions have rankled Cassidy, a physician who initially expressed doubts about Kennedy as Trump's pick to be health secretary. Cassidy ultimately signed off on Kennedy after the nominee promised not to change the nation’s childhood vaccine recommendations.

Public health groups seek reassurance

At Schwartz’s hearing, Cassidy and some other senators asked her what she would do if Kennedy or other political appointees instructed the CDC to make changes that were not supported by science. Schwartz pledged to “never betray the science,” but she repeatedly declined to dissent from some of the actions Kennedy has taken.

The National Public Health Coalition, an organization of former and current CDC workers, was not reassured by her responses and said senators should require specific written commitments from Schwartz on scientific independence, evidence-based vaccine policy, conflicts of interest and other issues.

“The public needed to hear clear commitments about how she would protect CDC guidance from political pressure," the group said in a statement. “Too often, her stated commitments were incomplete, vague, or missing.”

At the hearing, Schwartz said she was unaware that CDC programs that worked to prevent smoking and promote vaccinations had been curtailed. She declined to commit to taking down a CDC website that suggests a link between childhood vaccines and autism. She said she had not seen it, though she agreed existing medical evidence has not found a link.

Last week, Cassidy said that “as a sign of good faith” officials at the Department of Health and Human Services had modified the page. But this week, it continued to argue that “vaccines do not cause autism” is not an evidence-based claim, despite numerous studies that have found no such link.

Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, interpreted Schwartz's performance as someone trying to please different factions. He disagreed with how she answered several questions, but continued to support her nomination.

Schwartz is qualified, might be able to rebuild the CDC’s depleted command structure and could start to rebuild public trust in the agency by focusing on bipartisan concerns such as foodborne disease outbreaks, he said in a recent interview.

Dr. Daniel Jernigan, a former top CDC official who resigned in August, echoed that.

If Schwartz is not confirmed, “it will mean a continued rudderless journey for CDC," he said.

For Kennedy, "having to start over is probably what he wants — many more months with no one stopping him from pursuing the same anti-science and anti-vaccine efforts he has been pursuing,” Jernigan said.

The CDC has had several leaders under Trump

Schwartz was the third Trump nominee for the office in the past 18 months.

The first was a former Florida congressman, Dr. David Weldon. His Senate hearing in March 2025 was canceled an hour before it was to begin. Weldon said at the time that he had been told not enough senators were willing to vote for him.

The White House then moved on to Susan Monarez, who had been serving as the CDC’s acting director. Monarez was confirmed by the Senate, but she was ousted in less than a month. Trump administration officials said she was not aligned with the president's agenda so they terminated her.

Since then there have been a series of HHS officials as acting CDC director.

The committee also advanced a controversial health nominee

The CDC position is one of a number of leadership vacancies among federal health agencies, including surgeon general and commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Also unfilled is the job of assistant health secretary for preparedness and response. That official oversees preparations and response to public health emergencies and disasters and is involved in decisions about funding next-generation vaccines against pandemic flu or other infectious disease threats.

Trump wants Sean Kaufman in that post, and the Senate committee on Thursday approved the nomination by a party-line vote.

In LinkedIn postings, Kaufman has made comments cheered by vaccine skeptics, arguing against hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns and saying he served as an expert witness to advocate for people who refused the COVID-19 vaccine. He also supported a Trump administration decision last year to cancel projects to develop vaccines using mRNA technology.

“Mr. Kaufman has said some pretty stupid things and irresponsible things regarding immunization,” Cassidy said.

But Cassidy said he spoke to HHS officials and was assured that personnel changes are being made at the department to provide “better oversight to ensure that science, not ideology, is driving decision-making.”

Cassidy also said he has been assured that if Kaufman is confirmed, "he will not be involved in vaccine policy and nor will he be the ultimate decision-maker on certain issues.”

Sanders, who voted against Kaufman, said: “I think the American people are owed better than what President Trump has nominated.”

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Growth in U.S. gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — decelerated from 2.1% in the first three months of 2026, the Commerce Department reported Thursday, coming in below economists' expectations. But consumer spending — which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity — increased at a 3.2% annual clip, up from 0.5% in the January-March period.

A measure of the economy’s underlying strength – which strips out volatile government spending and trade numbers – looked good, expanding at a 3.9% annual pace, up from 1.7% from January through March.

Business investment, excluding housing, rose at an 8.4% pace, down from 10.6% from January through March but strong, reflecting a surge in investment in artificial intelligence.

Imports are subtracted from the economic figures because GDP is only supposed to count what is produced in the United States. Imports rose at an 11.5% pace, partly on a surge in shipments of computer chips and other products that support AI investment. The imports shaved 1.5 percentage off second-quarter GDP growth.

"The consumer rescued the quarter,'' said Olu Sonola, head of U.S. economics at Fitch Ratings. “AI investment remains a powerful growth story, but the import surge underpinning the buildout is a reminder that an AI boom does not automatically translate into an equally large boost to U.S. GDP.”

The Commerce Department also said Thursday that its personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the one favored by the Fed, rose 3.7% last month from June 2025 , down from a 4.1% year-over-year increase in May. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core consumer prices were up 3.3% from a year earlier, little-changed from 3.4% increase in May. Prices actually fell 0.1% from May to June on a 9.2% drop in the price of gasoline and other energy products.

The PCE prices were about in line with economists' expectations. But the year-over-year increase in prices has been stuck above the Fed's 2% target for more than five years, and some Fed officials are getting impatient with progress against inflation.

The Fed on Wednesday chose to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the fifth straight meeting. But three regional Fed presidents dissented, saying they wanted to raise rates to combat elevated inflation.

The American economy has been surprisingly resilient in the face of the Iran war and the spike in energy prices it caused. The job market has bounced back this year from a lackluster 2025, giving consumers the wherewithal to spend. Employers are adding an average 92,000 jobs a month this year, compared with fewer than 10,000 a month in 2025 when high interest rates and President Donald Trump’s erratic use of tariffs discouraged businesses from hiring.

Higher costs have frustrated Americans ahead of November’s midterm elections, which will determine whether President Donald Trump’s Republicans keep full control of Congress

A new AP-NORC poll found that the public is souring on the Iran war. And about 7 in 10 U.S. adults — 72% — say it’s “extremely” or “very” important for the U.S. to prevent domestic oil and gas prices from rising, up from 67% in March.

The 49-year-old Green discussed his diagnosis this week on Tyler Dunne’s “Go Long” podcast.

“I know unfortunately there’s a day we eventually, where our clock stops ticking,” Green said. “The way I look at it, my clock is going to stop ticking when I want it to stop ticking.”

Green said it’s similar to the approach he took while running the ball during a 12-year NFL career in which he rushed for 9,205 yards and 60 touchdowns. His last season was 2009.

Green said his symptoms began when his feet started twitching in his sleep.

“I knew something was going on long before that,” he said.

Parkinson’s is a neurologic disease that robs people of control over their movements. It typically starts with tremors and is characterized by slow movement, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, balance problems and slurred speech.

Green said he sometimes sleepwalks and has no recollection of it afterward. He called his short-term memory “trash,” but said his long-term memory is better.

He expressed optimism about his long-term outlook while pointing out he exercises regularly and has a “super clean” diet.

Green rushed for at least 1,163 yards each season from 2000-04 while playing for the Packers. He earned four straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2001-04.

He rushed for 8,322 yards as a Packers player, the highest total in the franchise’s storied history. He set a Packers single-season record by rushing for 1,883 yards in 2003.

Green’s NFL career began with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him out of Nebraska in the third round of the 1998 draft. He spent two seasons with Seattle before getting traded to Green Bay in April 2000.

He played for the Packers from 2000-06, spent 2007-08 with the Houston Texans and returned to Green Bay for one last season.

Green’s announcement comes two years after former Packers teammate Brett Favre disclosed that he has Parkinson’s disease. Green said he spoke with Favre a couple of weeks ago to catch up but added that he planned to call the Hall of Fame quarterback to let him know “he has a brother right behind him.”

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

As of Tuesday, 3,442 cases had been recorded, with 1,521 deaths, according to the latest government update. The sharp rise since last week partly reflects a backlog of cases and deaths that had not yet been confirmed or recorded, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Delays in contact tracing, difficulties accessing affected areas, mistrust from communities and violence by armed groups and some residents have hampered the response, the Africa CDC said.

The outbreak is mostly concentrated in eastern Congo’s remote Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90% of cases, but there have been others confirmed in five provinces, including one of the country’s largest cities, Kisangani.

Neighboring Uganda declared itself free of Ebola on Tuesday following the discharge of the country’s last patient in mid-June.

Ebola is rare, but highly contagious and can be contracted via bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. The disease it causes is severe and often fatal.

Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya said Thursday that 63% of confirmed deaths in the last two weeks occurred outside of treatment centers.

Kaseya said this is largely due to the “unsafe handling of infected bodies” by residents. Traditional burial practices in some communities involve touching the bodies of the deceased, which can be highly contagious.

The restrictions that health authorities have placed on such funerals, along with widespread misinformation asserting that the deadly virus isn’t real, have angered some residents and led to attacks on health facilities.

In Ituri’s Nyakunde health zone, international partners supporting the Ebola response had to temporarily relocate after a July 15 attack on a hospital and a treatment center, sparked by a patient’s death.

Officials say the relocation of these partners, including Africa CDC and Mercy Corps, has disrupted surveillance, contact tracing and supplies.

Dr. Désiré Duabo, chief medical officer for the health zone, said foreign aid groups and agencies had provided much of the supplies, equipment and operational support, and warned that the small stocks left are “almost depleted.”

Attacks such as the one in Nyakunde are causing anxiety among health workers and making it difficult for them to carry out their duties, said Pierre Akilimali, the Ebola response incident manager at the National Public Health Institute of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“They are working amidst risks of infection as well as risks to their personal safety,” he said.

Local health officials say security has since stabilized and are urging partners to return, with Africa CDC saying teams could redeploy as soon as next week.

The latest outbreak has killed more people at a quicker rate than any previous outbreak, including in 2014-2016 when 28,000 cases were reported, of which over 11,000 people died. That outbreak took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.

The World Health Organization says the global risk of spread remains low because Ebola does not travel through the air, making it much harder to spread than respiratory viruses. Cases detected outside the affected region have so far been quickly identified and contained without leading to sustained transmission, the agency said.

In Congo, however, the risk of the spread remains “very high,” according to the WHO.

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Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal.

Doug Kantor, general counsel for the National Association of Convenience Stores, explained that credit card companies charge merchants these processing fees, which can range anywhere from 1.5% to as much as 4%.

And they’re costing businesses and consumers more money every year.

“These ‘swipe fees’ are set by the major credit card companies. What they do is tell the banks that issue your cards how much to charge the store where you shop,” Kantor said. “Those fees have grown out of control.”

Credit card companies make billions of dollars a year charging these fees.

Last year, U.S. businesses paid $198.25 billion in credit and debit card fees, and merchants are often forced to pass that cost onto consumers, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition.

The average U.S. household paid roughly $1,200 more because of such fees last year.

“Consumers are completely in the dark and don’t have any way to say, ‘Gee, that fee seems like too much.’ Or, ‘I’d rather make a different choice,’” Kantor said.

Some states have tried to pass legislation to cap these processing fees, and there is congressional support for a bipartisan bill to help lower these fees.

One important note: The swipe fees for a debit card are less than a credit card but retailers and restaurants are still forced to pay a processing fee, so some merchants will offer discounts to consumers who pay with cash.

Gilbert police had recommended negligence charges. But Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt was unlikely.

“The family had multiple childproof locks and safety measures in place, and multiple adults were present in the home, all of whom believed someone was watching the child,” Mitchell said Wednesday. “Additionally, the investigation found no evidence that the parents exhibited any obvious signs of impairment.”

First responders were dispatched to the home on Feb. 8 in response to a reported drowning. They performed life-saving measures on the 18-month-old child before taking him to a hospital where the boy was pronounced dead about an hour later.

But about five hours later, police were notified that the child was breathing, and he was flown to another hospital. The boy survived.

Earlier this month, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where the child was initially taken, called it “a heartbreaking situation” but declined to release further details.

The hospital said it conducted a "thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care.”

Gilbert police officers who were at the hospital said they saw possible signs of life multiple times, but the child was still taken to a “cold room,” which serves as a morgue, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The records also indicated tension between officers and a doctor who reportedly told one, “Please do your thing and let me do my thing. I went to medical school for a reason.”

It comes at a time Americans are already struggling under the weight of rising prices.

Leslie Dach, Executive Chair of Protect Our Care, a leading health care policy and advocacy organization, joined us on The Morning Show to discuss the issue and the potential impact.

During River City Live, Vegan Chef Challenge co-organizer Raquel Little and Bang’n Bagel Company owner Augie DeBiase will prepare one of this year’s featured dishes while sharing how the challenge invites the community to explore new flavors, support local restaurants, and vote for their favorites.

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or simply love trying great local food, the challenge offers a fun way to discover Jacksonville’s diverse dining scene. Diners who visit participating restaurants can vote for their favorite dishes and earn entries to win raffle prizes throughout the month.

To view the full restaurant lineup and learn how to participate, visit https://veganchefchallenge.org/jacksonville/ and follow @veganchefchallengese on Instagram.

Bang’n Bagel Company

IG: @bangnbagelco

My Vegan Lady

IG: @myveganlady

Before buying a policy, it’s important to understand what’s covered — and what isn’t.

Imagine your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of summer. You have a home warranty, so you assume the repair is covered. Not necessarily.

Consumer Reports says home warranties can provide peace of mind, but the companies that sell them often include exclusions that can make it easier to deny claims.

CONSUMER REPORTS: Is Buying a Home Warranty Worth It?

These service contracts are designed to help pay for the repair or replacement of covered appliances and home systems, including plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. But the coverage isn’t always as comprehensive as it appears.

Consumer Reports found that claims may be denied because of poor maintenance, improper installation, or preexisting problems.

Even when an appliance is covered, specific components may not be. For example, a refrigerator may be covered while the ice maker is excluded, or a water heater may be covered but not the tank itself.

RELATED: So what’s the deal with “home warranties”?

Before purchasing a home warranty, Consumer Reports recommends checking whether you already have protection.

Appliances in newly built homes may still be covered by the builder or manufacturer. And if you purchased an appliance with a credit card, your card may provide an extended warranty beyond the manufacturer’s original coverage.

If you’re still considering a home warranty plan, ask detailed questions before signing up.

Find out:

• The total cost, including service-call fees
• Exactly what is and isn’t covered
• How much the plan will pay toward repairs
• Whether the company will repair or replace a covered item

Even when a replacement is approved, some companies pay only the depreciated value, leaving you responsible for the remaining cost.

Consumer Reports also warns homeowners to be on the lookout for home warranty scams.

Some consumers receive official-looking letters claiming their home warranty is about to expire—even if they never purchased one. These mailers may include your mortgage lender’s name to appear legitimate.

If you receive one of these notices, don’t call the phone number listed in the letter. Instead, contact your mortgage lender or warranty provider using a phone number you know is legitimate, and never share personal or financial information with an unsolicited caller.

If you’d rather skip a home warranty altogether, Consumer Reports recommends another approach: self-insuring.

Instead of paying annual warranty premiums, consider setting aside that money in a dedicated savings account to help cover future appliance repairs and replacements.