The district says the decision was made to ensure the safety of students, families and employees, and to give families time to respond to the fire’s impact. Some community members have lost their homes.

“We know that many in our community have been directly affected, including some who have experienced the loss of their homes,” the district said in a statement. “Our hearts are with all those impacted.”

Officials said they will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on next steps as information becomes available.

Mandatory Evacuations

The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office says mandatory evacuations have been issued for the following neighborhoods:

• Happy Hollow
• Drury Lane
• Drury Court
• Coffee Co. Club Road
• Warners Landing
• Oak Woodlands
• Atkinson Road
• Godberry Lane
• Brushing Creek
• Fort Mcintosh to Highway 520 on both sides of the road
• Browntown Rd and Hawks Landing neighborhood

Shelters open for displaced residents

As of 4:30 p.m. April 21, the following shelters are open and available to Brantley County residents:

• Brantley County Library
• Methodist Church — Nahunta
• Little Memorial — Brown Town & Highway 32
• Hortense Church of God of Prophecy — Highway 32 East, Hortense

A relief station offering water and restrooms is also available at Nahunta First Baptist Church.

Residents are encouraged to head to the nearest shelter if they need to evacuate. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.

For a full list of current shelters and updates, residents can visit the Brantley County Government Facebook page.

Schools Evacuated

The wildfire prompted students from two schools Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

Students from Waynesville Primary and Atkinson Elementary were relocated to the Brantley County Middle School gym in Nahunta, where they were supervised by school staff.

Brantley County Schools issued a statement to parents Tuesday morning addressing the situation.

“All students are safe and are being relocated to the BCMS gym, where they are supervised by school staff,” the statement said.

Parents who wished to pick up their children were directed to the Brantley County Middle School gym and asked to bring a photo ID for student release. The district also outlined its transportation plan, noting that normal bus routes would resume if road conditions allowed.

“If road conditions are safe later today, we will proceed with normal bus transportation at dismissal time,” the district said.

Road Closures

The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office and Glynn County Sheriff’s Office have closed the road at Highway 520/82 and Browntown Road. Drivers are urged to avoid the area if at all possible.

More than 1,500 acres burned

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Brantley County Highway 82 Fire was 1,500 acres and 0% contained.

Fire officials are also urging people who see flames in new areas or outside the visible fire lines to call 911, with smoky conditions expected over the next few days.

You can find a map showing the active wildfires here.

Trump made the announcement as ceasefire talks looked increasingly uncertain with a two-week truce set to expire on Wednesday. Both countries had said they were prepared to resume fighting if no deal is reached.

Trump said he would "extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

Iran has yet to decide whether to join the negotiations in Pakistan, a foreign ministry spokesman said earlier Tuesday, and will only take part if Tehran believes the discussions would yield results.

Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

Here is the latest:

UN chief calls US announcement `an important step toward de-escalation’

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.S. announcement that it is extending the ceasefire will create “critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States,” according to his spokesman.

“We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the cease-fire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Tuesday.

The secretary-general “fully supports” Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate U.S.-Iran talks and hopes its efforts “will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,” Dujarric said.

UN nuclear watchdog chief welcomes ceasefire extension between Iran and US

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters late Tuesday that the effort to end the war between Tehran and Washington is a “complex process” and that it’s important to allow “continuity” for that process to play out.

“I think it’s very important that an opportunity for peace is given,” he said.

Grossi, who is currently running to become the next U.N. secretary-general, also warned both sides that any peace deal must include the IAEA from the start to enforce oversight over Iran’s nuclear program.

Otherwise, he added, “you will have an illusion of an agreement.”

Talks to end the war present a new test for Iran’s leadership

U.S.-Israeli bombardment eliminated Iran’s supreme leader and much of the nation’s top echelons, but the Islamic Republic’s leadership didn’t fall apart. Negotiations to end the war offer it a new test.

For decades, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei managed several powerful factions, bringing to heel those who challenged his authority.

It’s now unclear who wields that kind of authority over the civilian figures and powerful generals from the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who appear to be in charge.

They have found unity — for now — by taking a tough line. But disagreements over how much to concede in negotiations with the U.S. could reveal fault lines as Pakistani mediators try to host a new round of talks.

After Israeli strikes killed Khamenei the first day of the war, his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded him. But doubts persist over the younger Khamenei’s role after reports he was wounded in the strikes. He has not appeared in public since.

At the center of power now is a politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council, which includes Iran’s top civilian and military officials.

▶ Read more

Vance will not be traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday

The White House said in a statement that in light of the president’s announcement that he was extending the ceasefire and awaiting a proposal from Iran, Vance and the U.S. negotiating delegation would not be traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday.

The White House did not offer any additional updates on the possibility of in-person meetings.

Pakistan’s prime minister thanks Trump

Shehbaz Sharif thanked the U.S. president for extending the ceasefire with Iran, saying it would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to proceed.

In a post on X, Sharif said he was expressing gratitude “on my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir” for Trump’s “gracious acceptance” of Pakistan’s request to extend the ceasefire.

Sharif said he hoped both sides would continue observing the ceasefire and reach a comprehensive peace deal during a second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad.

Stocks slip and oil prices rise on uncertainty about US-Iran ceasefire talks

The S&P 500 erased an early rise to fall 0.6% after the U.S. vice president called off his trip to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 293 points, or 0.6%, after erasing an earlier gain of 400 points, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.6%. Less than 10 minutes after the U.S. stock market finished trading for the day, Trump said he would extend the ceasefire to give Iran time to submit a proposal to end the war.

Oil prices also wavered before Trump announced the extension, and the price for a barrel of Brent crude went from less than $95 to roughly $100 during the day. It settled at $98.48, up 3.1%.

The moves were mostly more modest than the vicious swings that rocked Wall Street earlier in the war.

Trump says a ceasefire extension was needed because Iranian leadership is ‘seriously fractured’

The president, in his social media post, also alluded to reported divisions within the Islamic Republic, saying they have come “not unexpectedly.”

Trump has repeatedly said over the course of the ceasefire that began on April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging his decision to kill several top leaders has come with some complications.

“We’ve taken out their leaders, frankly, which does complicate things in one way, but these leaders are much more rational,” Trump said earlier Tuesday during an interview on CNBC.

Iran calls for the United Nations to condemn US seizures of its ships

The Iranian mission to the U.N. sent a letter Tuesday asking for the world body and the Security Council to issue a “firm and unequivocal” condemnation of the U.S. decision Sunday to attack and seize an Iranian-flagged cargo ship.

“This constitutes a grave breach of international law, a clear violation of the ceasefire, and an act of aggression marked by the hallmarks of piracy,” the mission posted on X. “Such reckless conduct directly endangers international navigation and undermines maritime safety and security.”

Washington had said the ship tried to evade the U.S. naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump says US will extend ceasefire but continue its blockade of Iranian ports

The president said he’s extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request as he waits for a “unified proposal” from the Islamic Republic, but that the U.S. military will continue its blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump added that “he’s directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

The president made the move even as the White House has put on hold Vice President JD Vance’s expected trip to Islamabad for a second round of talks as Tehran, at least for time being, is balking at further talks.

Israel and Hezbollah trade fire with talks expected this week

Israel and the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah traded some fire on Tuesday, even as more talks are expected in Washington this week after a 10-day ceasefire went into effect last Friday.

Hezbollah said it had fired rockets and drones at Israeli forces maintaining a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, accusing Israel of breaching the truce with “attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages.”

In response, Israel said it had struck the launcher, calling Hezbollah’s strikes a blatant violation of the ceasefire.

Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, particularly its northern border communities, shortly after the Iran war started. Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with the militants in southern Lebanon as they pushed to create what officials have called a “security zone.”

A senior Iranian commander threatens to destroy the region’s oil industry if war resumes

Gen. Majid Mousavi, the aerospace chief for the Revolutionary Guard, said in comments on Iranian media that it would be a mistake to carry out “aggression” against Iran. He also said the region’s oil facilities would be harmed if neighboring countries allow the U.S. to carry out attacks.

“If southern neighbors allow the enemy to use their facilities to attack Iran, they should say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East region,” he said.

The U.S. has bases and troops in several countries across the region.

Iranian foreign minister says US blockade of its ports is violation of ceasefire

As news came that the U.S. delegation was pausing its travel to Islamabad, Iran’s top diplomat posted on X saying that American forces boarding an Iranian oil tanker earlier Tuesday was an act of war.

“Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation,” Abbas Araghchi said in a post. “Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.”

Iran’s UN envoy says his government has ‘received some sign’ the US is ready to stop the blockade

Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Tuesday that as soon as Washington ends the blockade, “I think the next round of the negotiations will take place in Islamabad.”

He called the U.S. naval blockade a violation of the ceasefire, and reiterated that lifting it is a condition for new negotiations to take place. The United States has not publicly indicated that it will lift the blockade.

The U.S. started the war against Iran, Iravani said, and if they want to return to the negotiating table “and find a political solution, they will find us ready.”

“If they want to go to the war, in this case also Iran is ready for that,” he told a small group of reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.

Iran’s state TV denies 8 women are at risk of execution

State TV quoted the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency denying Trump’s claims that the women are facing execution. It said some have already been released, while others face charges that — if upheld by the courts — would ultimately result in prison sentences rather than execution.

It didn’t name which women were allegedly released.

Human rights centers have reported that at least two of the women were facing charges that carry a death sentence.

Pakistani officials race to salvage ceasefire talks

Two officials say Pakistani leaders were engaged in intensive mediation efforts late Tuesday to ensure the second round of ceasefire talks takes place.

The officials said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and the prime minister’s national security adviser were involved in the push.

Despite a delay by Iran in sending its delegation to Islamabad, “overall optimism endures among decision makers in Pakistan,” the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

— By Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.

6 Iranian women and 2 teenagers, mostly detained during January protests, are on Trump’s appeal for release

Bita Hemmati was sentenced to death in Tehran after taking part in the protests, according to the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran.

Mahboubeh Shabani was arrested in the city of Mashhad during the protests. She’s charged with “enmity of God,” which carries the death sentence, according to human rights monitor Hengaw.

Diana Taher Abadi and Ghazal Ghalandari are both 16, and were arrested separately in Karaj, west of Tehran, and Yasuj in southwestern Iran during the protests, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Venus Hossein Nejad, from the Bahai faith, was arrested in January from her workplace in southeast Iran. She was forced to confess on state TV and was accused with others of organizing protests and being members of a “satanic network and under the influence of Israel,” the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights said.

Golnar Naraqi, a 37-year-old emergency physician, was arrested in Tehran during the protests, according to a state-affiliated newspaper.

Two women were identified by Iranian social media as Ensieh Nejati and Panah Movahhedi Salamat. There was no immediate confirmed reports about their whereabouts.

Trump calls on Iran to release 8 women ahead of potential truce talks

The president reposted a photo of six women and two teen girls on social media Tuesday morning that a conservative activist noted are facing prosecution by the Iranian government.

“I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm!” Trump posted. “Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”

Five of those in the photo flagged by Trump were arrested during widespread anti-government protests earlier this year, according to human rights groups.

One of the women, from Iran’s minority Bahai faith, is accused of being part of a network described as “satanic and under the influence of Israel.”

Iranian media sites identified two others in Trump’s posting but did not offer details on why they were detained.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says his government has not yet decided whether to join ceasefire negotiations

Esmail Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday that Iran was upset about what he called mixed messages from the Americans.

“It is not out of indecisiveness, it is because we are facing contradictory messages and behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American counterpart,” he said.

US military seeks to boost spending on drones, air defenses and fighter jets

As part of Trump’s push to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon wants to triple spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion and invest over $30 billion into more critical munitions.

That includes missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war.

Military officials said the spending blueprint was developed ahead of the conflict in the Middle East. They also did not discuss how much they will request in additional funds for the war.

Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a key weapon in the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and top Pentagon officials say the U.S. must significantly increase its funding of both drones and counter-drone systems.

▶ Read more

Israel’s military says it has replaced a crucifix in southern Lebanon after a soldier smashed it down

The Israeli military posted a photo on social media of the replacement crucifix, which appeared smaller but more ornate than the original statue that a soldier was photographed destroying in southern Lebanon. Israel says two soldiers involved in the episode will be held for a month in military detention.

Tuesday’s post on X said troops worked with the community in the Lebanese village of Debel to coordinate the replacement, which includes a metallic-sheened Jesus figure and four paintings of saints, one on each arm of the cross.

Christians are estimated to make up around a third of Lebanon’s population of roughly 5.5 million people. Thousands of Christians were displaced from their homes in the country’s south during the war.

EU diplomats agree to new sanctions targeting Iranians obstructing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

“Today we also reach the political agreement to widen our sanctions regime, to also target those responsible for breaches to freedom of navigation,” said the 27-nation European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, after a Tuesday gathering in Luxembourg.

“Freedom of navigation is non-negotiable. Daily U-turns where the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, are reckless. Transit through the strait must remain free of charge,” she said, referring to Iran’s charging for safe passage on the Strait of Hormuz.

Kallas said the EU’s maritime security mission would be “the quickest way” to ensure safe transit in the Persian Gulf after peace is settled.

Iran-allied Yemeni rebels warn against escalation in the region

Even if the U.S.-Iran ceasefire holds and the current war ends, the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebel group said “there is no doubt that further rounds of fighting are coming, as it is merely a truce within a continuous conflict with the enemy.”

In a televised speech Tuesday, Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned that escalation in the region is “possibly high” as the “fragile” ceasefire is nearing an end.

A Houthi missile attack on Israel last month raised concern that Iran’s ally in Yemen may again try to block Red Sea shipping routes, as it did during the war in Gaza.

Gulf shipping crews are stranded amid maritime attacks, UN agency warns

At least 10 seafarers have been killed and several more severely injured in a series of attacks on commercial vessels around the Persian Gulf since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, according to the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating global shipping.

IMO spokesperson Natasha Brown said the agency has confirmed 25 attacks on commercial shipping since Feb. 28. Hundreds of ships have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since.

“Around 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, facing dwindling supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress,” Brown added.

Following an extraordinary council session in March, the IMO said it is working with “relevant states on the development of a safe passage framework” to evacuate stranded crews, while coordinating access to supplies.

A new budget request from the Pentagon would triple spending on drone technology

The $1.5 trillion budget proposal detailed Tuesday by defense officials would allocate nearly $54 billion for military drones and related technology, as well as $21 billion for weapons systems designed to take down enemy drones.

“Drone warfare is rapidly reshaping the modern battlefield,” Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of defense, comptroller, told reporters during a budget briefing at the Pentagon.

Israel disciplines 2 soldiers for destruction of Jesus statue

One of the soldiers photographed the other using what appears to be a sledgehammer to hack down the crucifix during military operations in the Lebanese village. The two will be held in military detention for 30 days.

“The soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values,” said a military statement, using the acronym for the Israeli military.

The disciplinary measures come after the photo of the incident attracted worldwide attention and condemnations from Christian religious leaders. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have also denounced the incident.

The military said that six other soldiers who stood by without intervening would be summoned for conversations with higher-ups and that military protocol for dealing with religious buildings and artifacts were reemphasized to troops in the area.

Pakistan calls for Iran ceasefire extension in meeting with US diplomat

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister met U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker on Tuesday, urging that Washington and Iran extend the ceasefire and pursue diplomacy, the Foreign Ministry said.

In a statement, it said Ishaq Dar “underscored Pakistan’s consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability.”

Baker, in response, conveyed Washington’s appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting regional peace and facilitating dialogue, the statement said.

A proposed constitutional amendment backed by Democratic officials would bypass the state's bipartisan redistricting commission to allow use of new congressional districts approved by state lawmakers in this year's midterm elections.

The referendum, which needs a simple majority to pass, tests Democrats' ability to push back against President Donald Trump, who started the gerrymandering competition between states after successfully urging Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts in their favor last year. Virginia is the second state, after California last fall, to put the question to voters.

It also tests voters' willingness to accept districts gerrymandered for political advantage — coming just six years after Virginia voters approved an amendment meant to diminish such partisan gamesmanship by shifting redistricting away from the legislature.

Though polling places have closed, ballots mailed by Tuesday can still be counted if they arrive in the next few days. But even if the referendum is successful, the public vote may not be the final word. The state Supreme Court is considering whether the redistricting plan is illegal in a case that could make the referendum results meaningless.

Virginia Democrats are following California's lead

Congressional redistricting typically is done once a decade after each U.S. census. But Trump urged Texas Republicans to redistrict ahead of the November elections in hopes of winning several additional seats and maintaining the GOP's narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party that is out of power during midterms.

The Texas gambit led to a burst of redistricting nationwide. So far, Republicans believe they can win up to nine more House seats in newly redrawn districts in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.

Democrats think they can win up to five more seats in California, where voters approved a mid-decade redistricting effort last November, and one more seat under new court-imposed districts in Utah. Democrats hope to offset the rest of that gap in Virginia, where they decisively flipped 13 seats in the state House and won back the governor’s office last year.

Voters focus on fairness, with different perspectives

The stream of voters was steady Tuesday at a recreation center in the Old Town area of Alexandria, Virginia.

Matt Wallace, 31, said he votes regularly but this election has additional emphasis.

“I think the redistricting issue across the country is unfortunate, that we’ve had to resort to temporary redistricting in order to sort of alter our elections across the country," he said. Wallace said he voted for the Democratic redistricting amendment "to help balance the scales a bit until things get back to normal.”

Katie Reusch, 35, said she thought the amendment was necessary to respond to the Republicans' redrawing of congressional districts in Texas last year: “You can’t just say we’re in power so we’re changing things so we stay in power,” she said.

But Joanna Miller, 29, said she voted against the redistricting measure, “because I want my vote to count in a fair way.” Miller said she was more concerned about representation in Virginia than trying to offset actions in other states.

“I want my vote and my representation to matter this fall,” she said.

That concern is particularly acute among conservative voters in the state's rural areas, many of which would be drawn into congressional districts that will be dominated by Democratic-leaning cities and suburbs.

Ruth Ann McCartney, voting in the town of South Hill, a few miles north of the North Carolina border, said she cast her ballot against the amendment.

“I look at it more, not really in terms of Republican versus Democrat,” she said. “I look at it more as we don’t have the population as northern Virginia. And as a rural area, we just need to be heard.”

Political parties made a big push in Virginia

Leaders of both major parties see Tuesday’s vote as crucial to their chances to win a House majority in the fall. Trump weighed in via social media Tuesday morning, telling Virginians to “vote ‘no’ to save your country!”

Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, rallied with opponents of the measure Monday night, calling the redistricting plan “dishonest” and “brazenly deceptive.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol earlier in the day that a vote to approve the redraw “will serve as a check and balance on this out-of-control Trump administration.”

A committee supporting the Democratic redistricting effort had raised more than $64 million — three times as much as the roughly $20 million raised by opponents, according to finance reports filed less than two weeks before the election.

The back-and-forth battle over congressional districts is expected to continue in Florida, where the Republican-led legislature is scheduled to convene April 28 for a special session that could result in a more favorable map for Republicans.

A lobster-like district could aid Democratic efforts

In Virginia, Democrats currently hold six of the 11 U.S. House seats under districts that were imposed by the state Supreme Court in 2021 after a bipartisan commission failed to agree on a map based on the latest census data.

The new plan could help Democrats win as many as 10 seats. Five are anchored in Democratic-heavy northern Virginia, including one shaped like a lobster that stretches into Republican-leaning rural areas.

Revisions to four other districts across Richmond, southern Virginia and Hampton Roads dilute the voting power of conservative blocs in those areas. And a reshaped district in parts of western Virginia lumps together three Democratic-leaning college towns to offset other Republican voters.

The Virginia redistricting plan is "pushing back against what other states have done in trying to stack the deck for Donald Trump in those congressional elections,” Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger said during an online rally last week.

Ads for the “yes to redistricting” campaign featuring former President Barack Obama have flooded the airwaves.

Opponents have distributed campaign materials citing past statements from Obama and Spanberger criticizing gerrymandering, but those were before Trump pushed Republican states to redraw their congressional maps in advance of this year's midterms.

Democrats “were all against gerrymandering before they were for it,” Virginia Republican Party Chairman Jeff Ryer said.

Virginia court weighs whether lawmakers acted illegally

Virginia lawmakers endorsed a constitutional amendment allowing their mid-decade redistricting last fall, then passed it again in January as part of a two-step process that requires an intervening election for an amendment to be placed on the ballot. The measure allows lawmakers to redistrict until returning the task to a bipartisan commission after the 2030 census.

In February, they passed a new U.S. House map to take effect pending the outcome of the redistricting referendum. Republicans have filed multiple legal challenges against the effort.

A Tazewell County judge ruled that the redistricting push was illegal for several reasons. Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. said lawmakers failed to follow their own rules for adding the redistricting amendment to a special session.

He ruled that their initial vote failed to occur before the public began casting ballots in last year’s general election and thus didn’t count toward the two-step process. He also ruled that the state failed to publish the amendment three months before that election, as required by law.

If the state Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, the results from Tuesday's vote could be rendered moot.

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Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed in South Hill, Virginia, Gary Fields in Alexandria, Virginia, and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

It has long been quoted and promoted by those who believe America was founded as a Christian nation and should be one. It's from the seventh chapter of 2 Chronicles, a book in the Hebrew (Old Testament) portion of the Bible.

The 14th verse — the one most often quoted — says:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Trump is among hundreds who are taking turns reading the entire Bible aloud over the course of a week. Most of the readings are taking place at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, though Trump's is coming by video from the Oval Office.

A passage often quoted at National Day of Prayer events

The Chronicles passage has for decades been a major theme at annual National Day of Prayer events. Organizers of the America Reads the Bible marathon invited Trump to read from it. “It’s a powerful statement that he decided to read that passage,” said Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged, which organized the project.

The passage has been recited over the decades at countless rallies, services and events, often organized around the disputed belief that America was created as a Christian nation and needs to repent of its sins and return to God. The passage has particularly been associated with annual events commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which has taken various forms since the mid-20th century and became fixed by law on the first Thursday in May since the 1980s.

The verse is set in a context far from modern America — during the reign of King Solomon in ancient Israel some 3,000 years ago. Solomon is presiding over the dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem, and in a lengthy prayer he asks for divine mercy if a future generation sins, is punished with military or natural disaster and then repents. In the key passage, God replies with a promise of restoration.

Critics say the passage is used out of context

But the use of the passage in modern settings has its critics.

The Chronicles passage is “a popular verse among Christian nationalists and has been for quite some time,” said Brian Kaylor, a Baptist pastor and president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, a progressive site covering faith and politics.

He said its use has taken on a partisan and polarizing tone, often used in tandem with a promotion of a belief in a Christian America in an increasingly diverse country.

“This verse is not about the United States,” said Kaylor, author of “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power.” It is “a promise made to one particular person in one particular moment. It doesn’t really work to pull it out of context and apply it to whatever you want to.”

But many have done so recently and in decades past, either saying America has a divinely ordained destiny similar to ancient Israel's or simply that they believe every nation has a duty to follow God and repent when needed.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower took the oath of office in 1953 with his hand on a Bible opened to the 2 Chronicles passage. President Ronald Reagan quoted the passage in a proclamation declaring 1984's National Day of Prayer. A speaker at the 2024 Republican National Convention also quoted it.

The National Day of Prayer, while officially nonsectarian, has long been drawn particular promotion and participation from evangelical Christians. Readings of the “If my people” passage has been a staple of such events.

Politicians, others joining in the Bible-reading marathon

Evangelicals — a loyal Republican voting bloc for decades — have formed a crucial part of Trump's electoral base. His rallies have featured a fusion of Christian and national symbols and rhetoric, featuring songs like “God Bless USA” and T-shirts with slogans like “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president.”

Many other Republican politicians are taking part in the Bible reading, along with celebrities, pastors and others. And Trump isn't the only one reading a passage significant to his office or mission.

Mike Huckabee, a Baptist pastor and U.S. ambassador to Israel, is reading from a Genesis passage in which God says he will bless those who bless Abraham — a passage popular with many evangelicals who believe they have a biblical mandate to support Israel.

David Barton, whose Wallbuilders promotes belief in America as a Christian nation, will read from a passage that gave his organization its name, in which Nehemiah rebuilds the broken walls of Jerusalem.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, received a three-drug injection and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke for the 1990 killing of Marlys Sather. It was Florida's fifth execution this year.

The curtain to the execution chamber went up promptly at the scheduled 6:00 p.m. time, and the lethal injection got underway 2 minutes later, after Willacy made a brief statement.

He apologized to his own family and friends and urged his ” brothers on the row” to stay strong. He maintained his innocence, saying that he would never kill his friend.

“To the victim’s family, I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that's good, ” Willacy said. “But this is not right.”

Shortly after the lethal injection began, a warden shook Willacy and shouted his name, but there was no response. His skin began to turn gray, and a medic eventually entered the chamber to examine Willacy, declaring him dead.

Court records indicate Sather, 56, had returned to her Palm Bay on her lunch break from work on Sept. 5, 1990, and discovered Willacy burglarizing her home. He struck her in the head with a blunt object, fracturing her skull, and then bound her hands and ankles with wire and tape, according to investigators.

Willacy attempted to strangle Sather with a telephone cord, and when that didn’t work, he doused her in gasoline and set her on fire, records show. An autopsy determined that Sather had died from smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when she was set on fire.

Willacy also stole Sather’s car and other items from her home, and used the woman’s ATM card to steal cash, officials said. When Sather failed to return from her break, her employer caller her family. Her son-in-law went to check on her and found her body.

Willacy was sentenced to death a year later upon a 9-3 jury recommendation after being convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson.

Then in 1994 the Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing because the trial judge failed to allow defense attorneys a chance to rehabilitate a potential juror who indicated she could not recommend the death penalty. Willacy again drew the death penalty in 1995 on the 11-1 recommendation of a new jury.

Florida's fifth execution of 2026 followed a record 19 executions in the state last year. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

On Tuesday, Willacy had woken up at 5 a.m. and remained compliant as the execution hour approached, Department of Corrections spokesman Jordan Kirkland said earlier. The inmate received visits during the day from his mother, two sisters and a cousin, but did not meet with a spiritual adviser prior to the lethal injection.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon denied Willacy’s final appeal without comment. Last week the Florida Supreme Court also denied appeals filed by Willacy. He had made claims based on the state's refusal to grant public records requests about executions and lethal injection.

None of Sather's relatives spoke at a news briefing that followed the execution, but the family released a statement thanking DeSantis and others.

“We have waited 36.5 years for justice for our mom. Our mother, Marlys Mae Sather should be remembered as a beautiful and loving daughter, wife, mother of 3, grandmother of 5, great grandmother of 5, aunt, cousin and friend,” it said in part. It noted the victim had lost her husband to cancer in July 1990, “just weeks before she was murdered.”

“She was a new widow trying to take one day at a time,” it said, concluding, “We miss her so much every day.”

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a long line of death warrants signed by DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina and Texas tied for second with five executions each.

Another execution is planned in Florida later this month: James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, is scheduled to received a lethal injection on April 30. He was convicted of beating and choking his 13-year-old niece to death.

All Florida executions are carried out by injecting a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

Trump's remarks came at a White House event honoring some 100 athletes from seven teams that won NCAA championships in 2025.

Trump this month signed an executive order that would limit eligibility to five years, allow one transfer without penalty for undergraduates, stop pay-for-play schemes and build in protections for women's and Olympic sports.

Aspects of the executive order might not withstand legal scrutiny, which is why Trump and some college sports stakeholders are asking for federal legislation that would codify restrictions and grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption to enforce rules.

Dozens of athletes have challenged NCAA eligibility rules with the hope of extending their college careers and, in turn, their ability to earn money through name, image and likeness deals. He said it's unfair for athletes right out of high school to compete against 28- or 29-year-olds.

“It’s a very precarious position the courts have left us in," Trump said, adding that the 2025 settlement of House v. the NCAA created a professional model that has led to financial instability for colleges. “And now it’s a total and complete mess. But we’re going to get it fixed up and we’ve got fantastic people doing it. So we need now Congress to act to clear up the confusion created by the courts and institute permanent reforms to protect college sports at every level, especially some sports.”

The national championship teams honored were Oklahoma State in men's golf, Texas A&M in women's volleyball, Wake Forest in men's tennis, Georgia in women's tennis, Youngstown State in women's bowling, Florida State in women's soccer and West Virginia in mixed rifle.

“Seventy-five percent of Olympians competing for Team USA played as college athletes," Trump said. “If we don’t straighten out this, we’re not going to have much of an Olympic team because you have so many of these sports, especially certain sports where it’s like the minor leagues, call it the major leagues, whatever you want. But we've trained unbelievable athletes to go in and win the gold medal. Without college sports and without your ability to go into college sports and compete and learn how to play and get better, we’re not going to have much of an Olympic team anymore.”

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

The America Reads the Bible event — with each participant reading a passage aloud — is being livestreamed from the Museum of the Bible in Washington and other locations. It featured a video of Trump from the Oval Office on Tuesday evening reading an Old Testament passage that called for national repentance in ancient Israel — words that have been used prominently for decades by those promoting the belief that America has been and should be a Christian nation.

Trump recited the passage from his desk with his hands folded on an open Bible in front of him, though he was looking straight into the camera. The video cut back and forth between two camera angles.

The Bible is “indelibly woven into our national identity and way of life,” Trump said in a statement commemorating the event. The statement cited historical figures such as the Puritan leader John Winthrop as “imploring his fellow Christian settlers to stand as a beacon of faith for all the world to see.”

Critics say the event has a highly partisan list of participants and is part of a larger project to connect America's upcoming 250th birthday with a Christian nationalist vision that portrays the nation's founding as essentially Christian, something many historians dispute. White Christians, particularly evangelicals, have been crucial to Trump's electoral base.

The list of participants — which overwhelmingly includes Republican politicians and Christian supporters of Trump — shows it to be “very much a right-wing MAGA, Christian nationalist effort,” said Brian Kaylor, author of “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power,” referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.

“If they wanted this to be a unifying American project, there would have been a whole lot more attention to getting political diversity and ideological diversity,” added Kaylor, president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, a progressive site covering faith and politics.

Historian Jemar Tisby, whose books have challenged what he says is enduring Christian complicity in racism, criticized the event on Facebook: “You cannot quote the Bible while justifying violence, war and exclusion.” Pastor Doug Pagitt, executive director of the progressive group Vote Common Good, echoed the comment in a statement: “If you like reading the Bible, try living it.”

Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged, organizer of the event, said that reading the Bible alone isn't enough. “Faith without works is dead,” she said, adding: “We need the word first to bring faith into our life.”

Trump's latest faith-related tensions

The Bible event comes just a week after Trump drew rare criticism from his evangelical supporters for circulating a social media meme in which a white-robed Trump appeared as a Jesus-like healer surrounded by patriotic symbols. Trump removed the image from his Truth Social site while insisting he was depicted as a doctor, not Jesus.

It also comes shortly after Trump's high-profile clash with the U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.

Other high-ranking officials have been or will be reading biblical passages in person or by video in the event, which began Sunday and concludes Saturday. They include Cabinet officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson and several other Republican members of Congress. Prominent evangelical supporters of Trump who are participating include evangelist Franklin Graham, pastor Jack Graham and pastor Paula White-Cain, who heads Trump's White House Faith Office.

Pounds said that the organization invited Democratic members of Congress as well as leaders of some denominations that might be considered progressive but that they didn’t accept.

Each speaker is taking a turn in the ongoing reading of the 66 books of the Bible as recognized by Protestants. Jews recognize the Hebrew portion of the Bible that Christians call the Old Testament but not the New Testament books centered on Jesus, while Catholics and Orthodox recognize additional books of the Bible that are not included in this reading. The event does include some Catholic representation, including the president of CatholicVote, which endorsed Trump in 2024.

The event involves a comprehensive reading of the entire Bible, from the famous verses (“Let my people go,” “The Lord is my shepherd”) to the obscure. Passages range from the creation of the world to bloody battles and apocalyptic destruction, from exhortations to love of God, neighbor and the needy to passages telling of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

Trump will read from 2 Chronicles

Christians Engaged, the organizer, is a nonprofit whose stated mission includes “discipling Americans on biblical worldview and their responsibilities to pray, vote and engage.”

Trump read from the seventh chapter of 2 Chronicles, set during King Solomon's dedication of the temple in ancient Jerusalem. In it, God promises forgiveness if a future generation rebels then repents: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The verse has long been quoted at many conservative Christian rallies and political events, such as the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Pounds noted that the Chronicles passage has for decades been a major theme at annual National Day of Prayer events and that organizers invited Trump to read from it. “It’s a powerful statement that he decided to read that passage,” she said.

The Bible-reading marathon comes just weeks before a May 17 event called a “National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving,” to be held on the National Mall. It's the climactic event of “America Prays,” a project Trump announced last year in conjunction with America 250, calling for prayer for the country and to “rededicate ourselves to one nation under God.”

Several of the groups and individuals involved in America Prays are also participating in this week’s Bible reading event.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Pakistan had planned to host a second round of talks, but the White House put on hold Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad as Iran rebuffed efforts to restart negotiations.

Iran has not yet responded to Trump's announcement of the ceasefire extension. Both countries have warned that, without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting.

Pakistan scrambles to get US and Iran to negotiate

Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, worked intensively to get both sides to agree to a second round of ceasefire talks, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Sharif later thanked Trump for his “gracious acceptance” of Pakistan’s request, saying the ceasefire extension would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to proceed.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iran’s state TV there has been “no final decision” on whether to agree to more talks because of “unacceptable actions" by the U.S., apparently referring to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

In a Truth Social post announcing the ceasefire extension, Trump said the U.S. would continue the blockade.

As Vance put on hold a return trip to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected in Washington on Tuesday afternoon for consultations about how to proceed, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations.

The official cautioned that Trump could change his mind on negotiating with Iran at any time, and declined to predict what would happen. The official said Trump has options short of restarting airstrikes.

Both sides remain dug in rhetorically

Before announcing the ceasefire extension, Trump had warned that “lots of bombs” will “start going off” if there’s no agreement before the Wednesday deadline, while Iran’s chief negotiator said that Tehran has “new cards on the battlefield” that haven't yet been revealed.

A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to destroy the region's oil industry if war with the U.S. resumes. “If southern neighbors allow the enemy to use their facilities to attack Iran, they should say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East region,” Gen. Majid Mousavi told an Iranian news site.

Strait of Hormuz control key to negotiations

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday that Tehran has “received some sign” that the U.S. is ready to stop its blockade of Iranian ports.

Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said ending the blockade remains a condition for Iran to rejoin peace talks. When that happens, he said, “I think the next round of the negotiations will take place.”

The U.S. imposed the blockade to pressure Tehran into ending its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane through which 20% of the world’s natural gas and crude oil transits in peacetime.

Iran’s grip on the strait has sent oil prices soaring. Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at close to $95 per barrel on Tuesday, up more than 30% from Feb. 28, the day that Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran to start the war.

Before the war began, the Strait of Hormuz had been fully open to international shipping. Trump has demanded that vessels again be allowed to transit unimpeded.

Over the weekend, Iran said that it had received new proposals from Washington, but also suggested that a wide gap remains between the sides. Issues that derailed the previous round of negotiations included Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the strait.

The US says its forces board sanctioned oil tanker

On Tuesday, the U.S. said its forces boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia. The Pentagon said in a social media post that U.S. forces boarded the M/T Tifani “without incident.”

The U.S. military did not say where the vessel had been boarded, though ship-tracking data showed the Tifani in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia on Tuesday. The Pentagon statement added that “international waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.”

The U.S. military on Sunday seized an Iranian container ship, the first interception under the blockade. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a violation of the ceasefire.

Pakistan hopeful talks will proceed

Pakistani officials have expressed confidence that Iran will also send a delegation to resume the talks — the highest-level negotiations between the U.S. and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The first round April 11 and 12 ended without an agreement.

Pakistan said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Tuesday separately with the U.S. and China's top diplomats in Islamabad. China is a key trading partner of Iran.

Security has been tightened across Islamabad, where authorities have deployed thousands of personnel and increased patrols along routes leading to the airport.

Talks between Israel and Lebanon are to resume

In Lebanon, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said in a statement it had fired rockets and drones at Israeli forces for the first time since 10-day truce took effect last Friday “in response to the blatant and documented violations” by Israel.

Those violations, it said, included “attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages in southern Lebanon.”

The Israeli army said it responded by striking the group's rocket launcher. Israeli officials have said they intend to maintain a buffer zone in southern Lebanon — an area that includes dozens of villages whose residents have not been allowed to return.

Historic diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon are to resume on Thursday in Washington, an Israeli, a Lebanese and a U.S. official said. All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met last week for the first direct diplomatic talks in decades. Israel says the talks are aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon.

Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah broke out two days after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran to start the war. In Lebanon, the fighting has killed more than 2,290 people.

Since the war started, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, according to authorities. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Lee from Washington. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Aamer Madhani and Darlene Superville in Washington; Samy Magdy in Cairo; David Rising and Huizhong Wu in Bangkok; Julia Frankel in New York; Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Edith M. Lederer and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations; Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.

Charles Ford told investigators he suspected Elkins, who was the father of seven of the children killed, because he was one of the few people to ride with him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Louisiana federal court. Ford allegedly said it was around March 9 when he noticed the gun was missing.

Ford said he confronted Elkins about the missing weapon. But when Elikns became “offensive," Ford "let it go," according to a court affidavit filed Tuesday.

The affidavit is in support of federal charges that accuse Ford of being a felon in possession of a firearm and making a false statement to federal agents. He originally denied having the gun when first approached by investigators after the shooting Sunday, according court records.

“Elkins’ death means that our community will never see him face justice,” U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said in a statement. “Our hope, as we continue to investigate and prosecute this case alongside our law enforcement partners, is that holding the person whose gun Elkins used to perpetrate the crime accountable will give some small bit of solace to our Shreveport community.”

Ford does not currently have an appointed legal representative and is expected to receive a federal public defender, according to federal court records.

An attorney who previously represented Ford could not immediately be reached for comment. Efforts to reach family members of Ford could not be immediately contacted at other phone numbers associated with him.

Elkins died after fleeing and a police pursuit. It was not clear whether he was killed by officers who fired or from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to police.

Elkins' wife and another woman were also shot and wounded in the rampage, which unfolded across two houses before dawn.

Officials said the children who died — three boys and five girls — ranged in age from 3 to 11 years old.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City guard who is the reigning MVP and NBA Finals MVP, was the overwhelming and nearly unanimous pick as the Clutch Player of the Year for this season, the NBA announced Tuesday.

It’s the first of what could be several awards for Gilgeous-Alexander in the coming weeks. He's the heavy favorite to win a second straight MVP trophy — and because he's a finalist there, he's also a lock to make the All-NBA team for a fourth straight year.

“This award means a lot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said on NBC Sports, which aired the award announcement. “To get this award, you have to help your team win games late and what I'm about more than anything is winning games.”

Gilgeous-Alexander got 96 of a possible 100 first-place votes. Jamal Murray of Denver was second, one point ahead of Anthony Edwards of Minnesota.

Edwards didn’t reach the 65-game eligibility standard for most league awards like MVP and the All-NBA team — and unsuccessfully appealed for a waiver that would have put him on those ballots — but his candidacy for the clutch award wasn’t affected by that rule.

Instead, the finalists for the clutch award were decided by a survey of the league’s coaches. That whittled the group down to 14 names, which were then placed onto the ballot that a panel of 100 reporters and broadcasters who cover the league filled out last week to decide the various awards.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been a contender for the clutch award since it was added to the league's slate of trophies; he was third last season, eighth in 2024 and seventh in 2023.

And now, it's his.

“I'm proud I get to hoist it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It means I'm effective out there.”

Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the fourth player to win the clutch award, which was added in tribute to Jerry West — the inspiration for the NBA’s logo and the player long known as “Mr. Clutch” as a nod to his exploits when the outcome of games was on the line.

De’Aaron Fox (then of Sacramento, now of San Antonio) was the first clutch award recipient in 2023, followed by Golden State’s Stephen Curry in 2024 and New York’s Jalen Brunson last season. Brunson was a nominee again this year, finishing fifth.

Detroit's Cade Cunningham was fourth, followed by Brunson, Denver's Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey, the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Houston's Kevin Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Brunson and Jokic are now the only players to get votes in the clutch balloting in all four seasons of the award’s existence.

Curry, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving saw their three-year streaks as clutch vote-getters end because of injuries; Curry missed about half the season, Tatum missed most of the season and Irving was sidelined for the entire season.

For a play to be considered clutch, by the NBA’s definition, these are the criteria: The score differential has to be five points or less, and the game has to be in either the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.

All three of the leading vote-getters had compelling statistical arguments for the award:

— Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 175 points in clutch times, plus was ninth with 21 assists in those situations. The Thunder went 20-7 in the 27 clutch games in which he played, and outscored opponents by 93 points in those clutch situations with him on the floor.

— Edwards shot 56.5% from the field in clutch moments, the best of any of the league's 19 players that had at least 85 clutch-time points this season.

— Murray was second in clutch points with 166 plus led the league with 30 clutch-time assists.

The clutch award was the second to be handed out this season. San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama was the unanimous winner of Defensive Player of the Year, which was announced Monday.

“It's just very meaningful to me,” Wembanyama said Tuesday about being the first unanimous winner of the DPOY trophy. “It means that's there no place for debate. It means that everybody agrees upon something.”

On Wednesday, the Sixth Man of the Year winner — either the Spurs' Keldon Johnson, the Nuggets' Tim Hardaway Jr. or Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. — will be revealed. The league's Sportsmanship Award winner will be announced Thursday, followed by Most Improved Player on Friday.

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

For some residents, the decision isn’t just about their homes. It’s about the animals and land they’ve spent decades caring for.

The Daniels family said they have no plans to leave, in part, because of their small farm.

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“You see, we have a little farm here,” a family member said. “So somebody’s gonna be here to take care of the animals.”

The family said they have one pig, about 20 to 21 chickens, and a puppy dog on the property.

When asked what they would do if the fire moved closer, their answer was direct: “We put it out.”

People in the area say they have lived there for more than 25 years and have seen fires in the area before.

Another resident, named Scott, said he was not afraid the fire would reach his home, pointing to the work of crews on the ground.

“Not with all this, but all those bulldozers and then guys there risking their lives. They got some big old wide spots in that forest,” Scott said.

Scott’s approach to protecting his property included mowing around his home, keeping the area clear, and trying to keep things watered down.

For now, residents said they are staying put but monitoring conditions closely as firefighting efforts continue in the area.

HealthLink Jax is a program designed to help Duval County residents without health insurance access medical care and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits.

City Councilman Rory Diamond said Tuesday that attorneys reviewing the program have begun providing draft findings, though he expressed frustration with the pace of the process. He said he expects the investigation to be completed and publicly released within two weeks.

RELATED: Jacksonville councilman alleges fraud, conflicts in city’s telehealth contracts |

Diamond first called for an emergency meeting in November, citing numerous complaints he said he received about the program. At the time, he alleged possible wrongdoing tied to the city’s telehealth contracts, including potential conflicts of interest and fraud.

“My phone is like the bat phone, and when it starts to ring over and over again about the same thing, it usually means it’s a big problem,” Diamond said in a prior interview. “That means we’ve got to look at the documents and figure out what happened.”

Among the concerns raised were allegations that patients may have been directed to emergency rooms unnecessarily, potentially increasing costs billed to government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

More than 30,000 documents have been turned over to attorneys as part of the review, including contracts, financial records and performance data. The materials also include information examining whether another telehealth provider, RightSite Health, could meet the city’s needs.

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During a city council committee meeting Tuesday, Diamond and fellow Councilman Ron Salem said the review is progressing and should be finalized soon.

“I think it will be wrapped up very soon, and clearly by the meeting two weeks from now, we’ll have it done,” Diamond said.

HealthLink Jax’s provider, Telescope Health, and the Jacksonville mayor’s office have denied the allegations of any fraud, misconduct or misuse of taxpayer funds, calling Diamond’s allegation unsubstantiated and without merit.

A small handful of subpoenas were known to have been issued over the weekend for witnesses to appear before a grand jury in Washington. But investigators on Monday evening informed lawyers that the subpoenas were being withdrawn in favor of requests for voluntary interviews, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss developments in an ongoing investigation.

The reason for the reversal in course was not immediately known.

The months-old Brennan investigation is one of several criminal probes the Justice Department has opened over the last year against President Donald Trump’s perceived adversaries. It centers on one of the Republican president’s chief grievances — a U.S. intelligence community finding that Russia interfered on his behalf during his successful 2016 presidential campaign.

The subpoenas were issued after a shake-up in the Justice Department team leading the investigation. A career national security prosecutor in Florida who had been handling the inquiry recently left the case after expressing doubt about the legal viability of a potential criminal prosecution, according to another person familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department on Monday installed a Trump loyalist, Joe diGenova, who served as U.S. attorney in Washington during the Reagan administration, as a counselor to the attorney general who will now work on the Brennan investigation. DiGenova supported Trump's failed legal campaign to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election and has also been an outspoken critic of Trump foes like Brennan, saying in a television interview years ago that the former CIA director was “at the head” of a conspiracy to falsely link Trump to Russia.

At an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche brushed aside questions about whether diGenova's past comments could create a conflict of interest and leave him susceptible to claims of bias.

“The mere fact that he has spoken about his perception — he didn’t have access to grand jury information, he didn’t have access to witnesses. And so, like any prosecutor, I expect that he will follow the facts. And those facts come from witnesses and grand jury information,” Blanche said.

Brennan served as CIA director under President Barack Obama and was in that role when the intelligence community in January 2017 published an assessment detailing Russian interference aimed at helping Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. An investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russia meddled on Trump’s behalf and that his campaign welcomed the assistance, but it did not find sufficient evidence to prove a criminal conspiracy.

The Justice Department last year received a criminal referral from Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, alleging that Brennan made false statements in 2023 about the preparation of the intelligence community assessment. Brennan and his lawyers have vigorously denied any wrongdoing and have called the investigation politically motivated.

The investigation has been led by prosecutors in Florida, with investigators lining up interviews and issuing subpoenas for records. The latest subpoenas seek grand jury testimony in Washington, an indication that prosecutors expect they would have to bring any criminal case in Washington since that is where Brennan’s testimony took place.

Aside from a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this weekend, the forecast trend is warming as dry conditions persist. Dry weather and moderating temperatures will continue, with elevated fire weather conditions on Wednesday and Thursday.

Near-seasonal temperatures will give way to another warming trend on Friday and this weekend. Dry weather will persist as Exceptional and Extreme Drought continue. Models suggest a slight chance of sea-breeze showers on Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight: Mostly clear with lighter winds. Smoke could reduce visibility near ongoing fires.

Wednesday: Possible smoke and visibility issues early. Becoming partly cloudy with near-seasonal temperatures. Morning lows in the 50s inland, 60s along the beaches. Afternoon highs in the 80s inland, 70s along the beaches. Wind: NE 10-15 mph.

Thursday - Friday: A warming trend will develop by the end of the week. Morning lows in the 50s inland, 60s along the beaches. Afternoon highs in the 80s inland, 70s along the beaches. Wind: ESE 5-10 mph. Mostly clear overnight.

Looking ahead: Near-record highs with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this weekend.

Jacksonville’s driest weather since the 1800s: www.news4jax.com/weather/2026/04/21/jacksonville-faces-driest-stretch-on-record-since-1871/

Sunrise: 6:52 a.m.

Sunset: 7:59 p.m.

The Justice Department alleges the civil rights group defrauded donors by using their money to fund the very extremism it claimed to be fighting, with payments of at least $3 million between 2014 and 2023 to people affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, the United Klans of America, the National Socialist Party of America and other extremist groups.

“The SPLC was not dismantling these groups. It was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred,” Blanche said.

The civil rights group faces charges including wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in the case brought by the Justice Department in Alabama, where the organization is based.

The indictment came shortly after SPLC revealed the existence of a criminal investigation into its program to pay informants to infiltrate extremist groups and gather information on their activities. The group said the program was used to monitor threats of violence and the information was often shared with local and federal law enforcement.

SPLC CEO Bryan Fair said the organization “will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff, and our work."

Blanche said the money was passed from the center through two different bank accounts before being loaded onto prepaid cards to give to the members of the extremist groups, which also included the National Socialist Movement and the Aryan Nations-affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club. The group never disclosed to donors details of the informant program, he said.

“They’re required to under the laws associated with a nonprofit to have certain transparency and honesty in what they’re telling donors they’re going to spend money on and what their mission statement is and what they’re raising money doing,” he said.

The indictment includes details on at least nine unnamed informants were paid by the SPLC through a secret program that prosecutors say began in the 1980s. Within the SPLC, they were known as field sources or “the Fs,” according to the indictment. One informant was paid more than $1 million between 2014 and 2023 while affiliated with the neo-Nazi National Alliance, the indictment said. Another was the Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America.

The SPLC said the program was kept quiet to protect the safety of informants.

“When we began working with informants, we were living in the shadow of the height of the Civil Rights Movement, which had seen bombings at churches, state-sponsored violence against demonstrators, and the murders of activists that went unanswered by the justice system,” Fair said. “There is no question that what we learned from informants saved lives.”

The center has been targeted by Republicans

The SPLC, which is based in Montgomery, Alabama, was founded in 1971 and used civil litigation to fight white supremacist groups. The nonprofit has become a popular target among Republicans who see it as overly leftist and partisan.

The investigation could add to concerns that Trump's Republican administration is using the Justice Department to go after conservative opponents and his critics. It follows a number of other investigations into Trump foes that have raised questions about whether the law enforcement agency has been turned into a political weapon.

The SPLC has faced intense criticism from conservatives, who have accused it of unfairly maligning right-wing organizations as extremist groups because of their viewpoints. The center regularly condemns Trump’s rhetoric and policies around voting rights, immigration and other issues.

The center came under fresh scrutiny after the assassination last year of conservative activist Charlie Kirk brought renewed attention to its characterization of the group that Kirk founded and led. The center included a section on that group, Turning Point USA, in a report titled “The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024” that described the group as “A Case Study of the Hard Right in 2024.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said last year that the agency was severing its relationship with the center, which had long provided law enforcement with research on hate crime and domestic extremism. Patel said the center had been turned into a “partisan smear machine,” and he accused it of defaming “mainstream Americans” with its “hate map” that documents alleged anti-government and hate groups inside the United States.

House Republicans hosted a hearing centered on the SPLC in December, saying it coordinated efforts with President Joe Biden's Democratic administration "to target Christian and conservative Americans and deprive them of their constitutional rights to free speech and free association.”

Navy Secretary John Phelan told reporters Tuesday that the review, which should be complete next month, was “a prudent and practical" move aimed at examining “the costs of the designs and the systems to make sure that they make sense and they have all the systems and requirements that we want going forward.”

The review of the design comes after years of criticism from President Donald Trump, who has taken issue with some of the technology on this type of aircraft carrier, including its magnetic catapults, which he claimed “didn't work” during remarks in the Oval Office last year.

When Phelan was asked if the review could lead to the cancellation of future Ford-class aircraft carriers, he told reporters only that “it’s too early to say, but we will have carriers.”

The USS Gerald R. Ford has been on a record-setting deployment of more than 300 days — since June 2025 — that has seen the world’s largest aircraft carrier participate in two key military actions by the Trump administration: the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the war against Iran.

Navy budget documents made public Tuesday did not list Ford-class aircraft carriers among the ships that the Navy planned to buy. The documents instead simply said “aircraft carrier.” Meanwhile, other ships — such as the Columbia-class submarines and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers — were described by class name.

A Navy statement provided Tuesday praised the Ford-class carrier as “a battle-proven design” that has been able to launch aircraft at a faster rate than the older Nimitz-class carriers and offers increased “combat power and ability to maintain high-tempo global strike operations" in three parts of the world.

Phelan, however, told reporters that he wanted to review that data.

“I go to the Ronald Reagan school of ‘trust and verify,’” Phelan said, before adding that the review would look into the carrier's ability to launch and retrieve aircraft.

The ship's magnetic catapults are a key component in giving the Ford a leg up from the older Nimitz ships in launching aircraft. They also put less stress on planes, require less maintenance and reduce the ship's need for fresh water compared with the older steam-powered variants.

The Navy has three other Ford-class carriers under construction: the USS John F. Kennedy, the USS Enterprise and the USS Dorie Millier.

Phelan said the review will examine the next two carriers — named USS William Jefferson Clinton and USS George W. Bush by the Biden administration — which have been planned but not contracted.

Trump, meanwhile, has rolled out a new warship design dubbed the Trump-class battleship, estimated to cost more than $17 billion — or $4 billion more than the Ford-class carriers. The Navy does not plan to pay for the first ship in the new class, the USS Defiant, until the 2028 budget year.

Phelan told reporters the current cost for the Trump-class ship is an “early initial estimate” and he expected the cost to fall as the design is refined and further ships are built. He also didn't rule out the ship being powered by a nuclear reactor, which would significantly drive up its costs.

For Darryl Hunter, who lives near the intersection of White Tail Trail and Guthrie Road, the danger wasn’t far away — it reached the edge of his property.

“We were very shocked — it was that big and that fast,” he said.

Hunter, who moved to the area about a year ago with his wife, told News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson the fire’s rapid spread turned an ordinary evening into a tense wait.

“Monday evening around 5:30 is when things got interesting,” he said. “It was burning east of our property, and by the next morning, it got more aggressive — burning right up to our property line.”

The fire he watched is now part of what officials are calling the Railroad Fire, a blaze that formed after two wildfires merged near the Clay–Putnam county line. As of the latest update, the fire has burned about 4,112 acres and is about 50% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Voluntary evacuation advisories remain in place in both Clay and Putnam counties.

In Clay County, that includes areas near Varney Road and Woodward Lane south of Green Cove Springs.

One neighbor told News4AX that he and his family wre taking turns staying up at night to keep watch.

“Sunday and Monday was a lot Ash and a lot of Amber, but these planes have helped a bunch,” he said. “Just trying to get the leaves away from the side of the house and just keeping sprinklers going. Keep everything watered down.“

In Putnam County, advisories are in place north of Bostwick, including along Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail, where Darryl lives.

Officials say the advisories are meant to give residents time to prepare and to ensure emergency crews have clear access to respond as conditions change.

Emergency management leaders are urging residents in those areas to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, warning that voluntary evacuations could quickly become mandatory if the fire shifts.

They are also encouraging people to prepare now by keeping gas tanks at least half full and having a plan in place ahead of time.

The fire has been fueled by dry conditions and wind, and officials say it could continue burning for days or even weeks without significant rainfall.

Even as the flames moved closer, Hunter said crews worked to protect homes in the area.

“It was scary, very scary. We had some moments there, we weren’t sure our property was going to make it,” Hunter said. “Like I said, all of the hard work of the firefighters, they did an outstanding job. We just want to say thank you.”

For now, many residents remain in place but are closely watching conditions, knowing the situation could change quickly.

Officials say the message is simple: be prepared, stay alert, and be ready to act if conditions worsen.

Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit, filed Tuesday in state court in Manhattan, seeks to bar the companies' platforms from operating in the state unless and until they obtain licenses from the state Gaming Commission.

“Gambling by another name is still gambling, and it is not exempt from regulation under our state laws and Constitution,” James said in a statement. “Gemini and Coinbase’s so-called prediction markets are just illegal gambling operations, exposing young people to addictive platforms that lack the necessary guardrails.”

Messages seeking comment were left for Coinbase and Gemini. Both companies began as cryptocurrency trading platforms before branching into the prediction space, which has been dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket.

Gemini, founded by brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, launched Gemini Predictions in December. Coinbase started its prediction markets service in January.

“Crypto was just the beginning,” Gemini’s website said Tuesday, next to a prediction box offering bets on such things as the winner of that day's Chelsea-Brighton Premier League soccer match, when Kevin Warsh will be confirmed as the chairman of the Federal Reserve, and what the price of oil will be Friday.

New York's lawsuit alleges that the Coinbase and Gemini are seeking “to avoid the legal and financial consequences" of the state's close regulation of gambling “by offering what is quintessentially wagering under the guise of offering ‘event contracts’ on a ‘prediction market.’”

By operating without licenses, the lawsuit says, Coinbase's and Gemini's prediction market businesses aren't paying the same taxes as licensed casinos and mobile sportsbooks, which are taxed by the state at a rate of approximately 51% of gross revenues. In addition, the lawsuit says, Coinbase and Gemini allow users as young as 18, while state law prohibits wagering by anyone under 21.

Kalshi sued the state Gaming Commission in October after the commission sought to bar the company's prediction market business from operating in the state. In the case, which is ongoing, Kalshi argues that, as a federally designated derivatives exchange, it is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Coinbase made the same argument in December when it sued Connecticut, Michigan and Illinois to block those states from attempting to regulate its prediction business. Earlier this month, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois to block them from policing prediction markets.

Last week, a federal judge halted Arizona’s regulatory efforts — which have included criminal charges against Kalshi — finding that the federal commission had demonstrated a reasonable chance of success in showing that the act preempts Arizona law.

In February, James issued what her office described as a consumer alert warning, saying that prediction markets operating without the supervision of the state Gaming Commission were putting New Yorkers “at significant financial risk.” Some users who say they've lost money on the sites have filed lawsuits against them.

James herself has been the subject of prediction market wagering.

Last year, as the Trump administration was scrutinizing the Democrat's real estate transactions, Polymarket saw $18,700 in trades on the question: “Will Letitia James be charged with a crime by December 31?”

James was indicted in October, but a judge dismissed the case a month later, concluding that the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. James had denied wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Kalshi has seen $12,660 in trades on the outcome of this year's election for New York attorney general. As of Tuesday, 93% of users were predicting James to win a third term.

His ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, said in a teaser for the episode airing Thursday on NBC’s streaming service Peacock that Rex Heuermann also told her that the eight women he has admitted to killing were his only victims.

Ellerup says later in the teaser that he told her that he killed seven of them in the basement of the family's house in Massapequa Park on Long Island while she was away.

“I said to him, ‘So Mr. Heuermann, I understand that you are confessing to me on these murders. Can you please tell me how many of these women did you kill’?,” she said in the 90-second clip. “He said, ‘Eight’.”

Ellerup said she intentionally didn’t use her former husband’s first name as a way to “put a wall up” between the two.

“When he started talking, it started feeling like that’s the Rex I know,” she said. “But I didn’t want to see that one. I wanted to see the one I needed to see.”

The latest and last installment of “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets” follows the release of the series' first three episodes last June. Another documentary, “Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders,” also comes out Wednesday on Amazon's streaming service, Prime Video.

Ellerup's attorney, Robert Macedonio, declined to discuss what other new details are revealed in the new episode of the Peacock documentary.

“This has been an extremely emotional and painful process for the family to endure and come to terms with the allegations that Rex Heuermann was the Gilgo Beach serial killer,” he said in an email. “Ms. Ellerup would like the focus to remain where it belongs — on the victims and their families, who have suffered immeasurable and lasting losses.”

Vess Mitev, a lawyer for the couple's two grown children, Victoria and Chris, said the two “echo the sentiments of their mother, and wish only to move forward as best they can, given this remarkably dark chapter in their lives.”

Heuermann’s lawyers didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

Earlier episodes of the documentary showed the family struggling to reconcile their memories of the architect, who had an office in Manhattan, with the portrait of the killer described by authorities.

Ellerup, who divorced Heuermann after his arrest in 2023, steadfastly defended her ex-husband’s innocence during those earlier episodes. But her daughter eventually conceded her father “most likely” committed the brutal killings that bedeviled investigators and drew intense interest from true-crime watchers for years.

The saga came to a close earlier this month when Heuermann, 62, of Massapequa Park, admitted in Riverhead court to murdering seven women and also killing an eighth he had not yet been charged with over a 17-year span.

Heuermann said in court he strangled the women, many of them sex workers, and dismembered some of their bodies before dumping them on a desolate parkway not far from Long Island's Gilgo Beach, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Manhattan.

He’ll be sentenced in June to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo on X: @philmarcelo.

Cherfilus-McCormick was the subject of a more than two-year investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which had determined recently that she had violated multiple federal laws and House rules. Support from her own party was increasingly in doubt.

It's the third resignation in a little more than a week from a House lawmaker. Reps. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, announced within hours of each other that they were leaving Congress. Both men were facing sexual misconduct allegations and possible expulsion.

In a statement, Cherfilus-McCormick said the House committee denied her new attorney's request for more time to prepare a defense. She also said she would not pretend that the investigation had been anything other than a “witch hunt,” and rather than play political games, she would resign, effective immediately.

“But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting in this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete," she said. "We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people. That is a dangerous patch, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party.”

Cherfilus-McCormick is also facing federal criminal charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using the money to buy items such as a 3-carat yellow diamond ring.

She has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and says she is not guilty of ethics violations, either.

The allegations against the congresswoman center on how she received millions of dollars from her family’s health care business after Florida mistakenly overpaid the business by roughly $5 million with COVID-19 disaster relief funds. She is accused of using that money to fund her 2022 congressional campaign through a network of businesses and family members.

Cherfilus-McCormick declined to testify during a previous Ethics Committee hearing, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Her attorney, William Barzee, sparred with some of the lawmakers and argued that they should have allowed a thorough ethics trial, at which he could present witnesses and evidence to counter the conclusions of House investigators.

Some supporters weighed in against expulsion

A group of supporters in Cherfilus-McCormick's congressional district had weighed in on her behalf with the lawmakers who lead the Ethics Committee, urging committee leaders to proceed with caution in sanctioning her.

“Our communities deserve stability. Our voices deserve to be heard. And our right to representation must be protected,” said one of the letters signed by about a dozen local faith leaders, union officials and others.

Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with other members of the caucus, issued a statement that praised Cherfilus-McCormick's time in Congress. They said Cherfilus-McCormick “worked to uplift her constituents and elevate issues impacting underserved communities at home and abroad.”

“We extend our appreciation for her service and offer our prayers for her and her family," the caucus members said.

In all, the Ethics panel's more than two-year investigation led to the issuance of 59 subpoenas, 28 witness interviews and a review of more than 33,000 pages of documents.

House Democratic leaders had declined to condemn Cherfilus-McCormick, saying they wanted to see the ethics process play out.

Still, leadership had been in conversations with her for weeks, ever since the Ethics committee released its findings, about the situation and the likelihood of an expulsion vote.

A high threshold for expulsion

The House has historically been reluctant to serve as the final arbiter of a lawmaker’s career, preferring to give that final say to the voters.

Of the six House members expelled, the first three fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and were expelled for disloyalty. The next two had been convicted of crimes. The final one was George Santos, the scandal-plagued freshman who was the subject of a blistering ethics report on his conduct as well as a federal indictment.

Santos, a New York Republican, served time in prison for ripping off his campaign donors before President Donald Trump granted him clemency, and he has apologized to his former constituents.

Under the Constitution, at least two-thirds of the House has to vote for expulsion for it to occur, a high threshold that requires enormous bipartisan support.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters last week he believed the House would move to expel Cherfilus-McCormick.

“The facts are indisputable at this point," Johnson said.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., took exception to Cherfilus-McCormick's characterization of the Ethics Committee's investigation.

“Well, if you steal money, it's called theft. It's not called a witch hunt, and stealing taxpayer money is not going to be tolerated,” Scalise said.

___

Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed.

The “unpredictable” Railroad Fire — created when the Crews Road Fire in Clay County and the Railroad Complex Fire in Putnam County merged — had grown to about 4,112 acres and was roughly 50% contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Florida Forest Service.

The blaze is burning through a mix of wooded land and recently clear-cut areas thick with underbrush.

In addition to the Railroad Complex Fire, Putnam County fire crews are also working on two other fires in the area.

One on State Road 19 South (Mondex), where crews have been assisting the Florida Forest Service with mop-up and containment operations on a fire that has been burning for several weeks.

The Pace Court fire originally started on Jan. 31 in the Interlachen area, where crews are working a flare-up that is endangering a structure.

Smoke from all of the fires is reducing visibility and may impact air quality.

WATCH: Press play below to watch state, local officials give update on Railroad Fire

At a news conference in Clay County, Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan said the state is experiencing some of the driest conditions in a quarter-century, with drought conditions statewide that he said are unlike anything he has seen in his career.

With little rain expected and the traditional peak of Florida’s fire season still ahead, Dolan said agencies are bracing for eight to 10 more weeks of high fire activity.

“The peak fire season is not here yet,” Dolan said, noting that lightning — a frequent ignition source later in the season — has not arrived.

Protect your home

He urged homeowners to create defensible space around their properties so firefighters have a better chance to protect structures when fires spread quickly.

“The fire service cannot be everywhere,” Dolan warned. “It’s a landowner and a homeowner’s responsibility to take care of themselves and protect themselves. Give firefighters a chance to save your property, because without that defensible space, we don’t have much of a chance.”

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said creating that space starts by cleaning your roof and gutters and making sure you don’t have clutter around your home that could catch fire and burn your property.

“The most important thing we’re going to do in any of these fires is save lives. The second most important thing we’re going to do is save property, and that’s the way we look at it. We’ve done our part,” Simpson said. “We’ve got two more months of this fire season, and we’re asking everyone to do their part here in the State of Florida to make sure that this doesn’t get out of control.”

Simpson said the state has positioned wildfire-fighting equipment in Tallahassee, Coral City, Cecil Field in Jacksonville and Lake City to shorten response times in “physically constrained” counties.

Clay County Emergency Management Director Tim Devin urged residents to plan for rapid evacuations if conditions shift. He said if the winds shift, families could have only minutes to evacuate.

“If you only have 5 minutes to leave your home, what would you take?” Devin asked. “Do you have your kids ready? Do you have your medications ready? Do you have everything ready that you can hop in the car and leave?”

He also reminded residents of something that Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said on Monday: Keep your car fueled up and ready to go.

“Right now, half is the new empty. If you are at half, go ahead and fill that tank up so you are ready,” Guthrie said.

Don’t spark a new fire

Simpson also urged residents across the state to be extremely careful as the drought continues over the next two months.

“If you are listening to this, we need everyone to know: If you see a fire, please say something. If you’re mowing your lawn, make sure that it doesn’t spark and catch a fire behind you,” Simpson said.

The following Northeast Florida counties are under a burn ban: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union. Duval County has a permanent ban on burning debris.

But Simpson said even those living in counties without a burn ban should use extreme caution.

“If you’re going to risk doing a fire in your backyard, make sure you put that fire thoroughly out,” Simpson said. “Do not throw cigarettes out your windows.”

Florida Forest Service spokesperson Dr. Ludie Bond said on The Morning Show on Monday that many types of outdoor activities could spark a fire.

“We actually had a fire being started by a pig roast,” she said. “There are things that people are doing with their outdoor activities that they may not realize could actually throw a spark and start a fire.”

She also warned that mowing can be dangerous if the lawnmower strikes a rock and sparks a fire, dragging chains from trailer hitches could spark grass along the road and parking on dry grass should be avoided.

“With conditions so dry and extreme and the fire behavior that we’re seeing, people need to use extreme caution,” Bond said. “We are seeing extremely unusual but very erratic fire behavior right now.”

A call center has been set up in Clay County at the Emergency Operations Center. The number is 1-877-CLAY-EOC.

Devin also urged residents to download the Safer Watch App and to monitor alert.claycountygov.com for the latest updates and evacuation orders.

How you can help

Anyone who would like to donate food and drinks to working firefighters may do so from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Clay County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall 2, 2463 FL-16 in Green Cove Springs.

Devin said the donation drop will reopen again on Wednesday.

Items like water, sports drinks and prepackaged snacks are most needed.

Evacuations, closures

Voluntary evacuations are in effect north of Bostwick for residents along Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail.

The Bostwick Community Center, located at 125 Tillman St. in Palatka, has been set up as a shelter for evacuees.

In Clay County, Shiloh Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs is the host shelter, Devin said.

“If we do have to evacuate anybody, we have an immediate partnership where we can send them to,” he said.

The Coast Guard issued a Marine Advisory on Tuesday morning because of zero visibility on the St. Johns River near Bostwick and north into Clay.

Decoy Road in Clay County remains closed except to residents, and as of 8:40 a.m., West Tocoi Road from Eagle Creek into Clay County was closed.

“Unfortunately, until we get a change in either the weather conditions or we get some rain, which doesn’t seem likely, we have to keep those advisories in place to make sure we have comfortable areas for our trucks to get into and also for people not to be in danger,” said Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock.

The Jacksonville Equestrian Center has offered to take in animals needing to evacuate because of the fires for $25 a night to cover the cost of stripping the stalls and two bags of shavings.

The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is also offering a safe place for horses in their paddocks, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, contact Barn Manager Crystal at 386-336-3435.

Deden Loop (SW CR 231) is shut down on both ends of CR 18.

Homes along Deden Loop between SW 136th Avenue and SW 147th Avenue are directed to evacuate as winds are pushing the fire, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office said.

Multiple resources are being requested and responding.

Officials are asking people to avoid the area.

This is a developing story.

Timothy Hudson has received the indictment and is waiving his appearance at an arraignment scheduled for Wednesday, defense attorney Eric Cohen said in a court filing. The 16-year-old also signed the one-page document.

Cohen didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking further comment

Hudson is being prosecuted as an adult in the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, whose body was found under a bed in a Carnival Horizon room that she was sharing with him and another teen during a family trip in November.

Hudson is charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse. He has been free in the care of an uncle since his arrest in February, though prosecutors now want a judge to lock him up while the case unfolds. That issue is unsettled.

Kepner was a high school cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Orlando. The cause of her Nov. 6 death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia, which is when an object or force stops someone from breathing.

Records and hearings in the case were closed to the public for weeks because Hudson was initially charged as a minor. But U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom granted the government’s request to have him prosecuted as an adult. The case was unsealed on April 10.

The fire is the result of two wildfires—the Crews Road Fire in Clay County and the Railroad Complex Fire in Putnam County—merging into an “unpredictable” blaze, according to the Florida Forest Service.

The burning acreage is a mix of wooded land and recently clear-cut land that has massive amounts of underbrush, which can feed fires.

Evacuations, closures, cancellations

The fire started spotting on the west side of U.S. Highway 17 at Guthrie Road, prompting voluntary evacuations north of Bostwick for residents along Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail.

The Bostwick Community Center, located at 125 Tillman St. in Palatka, has been set up as a shelter for evacuees.

The Coast Guard issued a Marine Advisory on Tuesday morning because of zero visibility on the St. Johns River near Bostwick and north into Clay.

In a 1:45 p.m. update, Clay County Fire Rescue confirmed that Decoy Road in Clay County reopened, and U.S. 17 also reopened.

U.S. 17 remains open in Putnam County, for now.

Authorities say smoke from the Railroad Fire is affecting Palatka, East Palatka and even south Putnam.

Hilliard Elementary School messaged parents on Tuesday that because of conditions, testing for students in kindergarten through second grade that was set for Tuesday will be rescheduled for a later date. Families will be notified once new dates are confirmed. If conditions permit, Math testing will resume on Thursday, April 23.

we have made the decision to postpone testing for students in kindergarten through second grade today. Testing will be rescheduled for a later date, and families will be notified once new dates are confirmed. If conditions permit, Math testing will resume on Thursday, 4/23/26.

In Putnam County, the Law Enforcement Memorial that was scheduled for Tuesday night has been canceled because of an increase in smoke, visibility and respiratory concerns from the fire.

News4JAX spoke with a resident whose family was displaced by the voluntary evacuations.

“It was scary, very scary. We had some moments there we weren’t sure our property was going to make it,” Darryl Hunter said. “Like I said all of the hard work of the firefighters, they did an outstanding job. We just want to say thank you.”

Hunter, who has lived in his home for only a year, said his family is being put up at a local hotel.

“Unfortunately, until we get a change in either the weather conditions or we get some rain, which doesn’t seem likely, we have to keep those advisories in place to make sure we have comfortable areas for our trucks to get into and also for people not to be in danger,” said Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock.

Because of the fire’s erratic behavior, officials are urging residents to prepare now for the possibility of mandatory evacuations, although those have not yet been ordered.

They warn that if conditions worsen, those evacuations could become mandatory, and residents need to be prepared to move quickly.

“You are going to want to make sure you keep your gas tanks no less than half full, your electric vehicles no less than half full. Because when we call for that evacuation, it’s not going to be time to go to the gas station, it’s going to be time to get the heck out of dodge and move very quickly,” said Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Right now, half is the new empty. If you are at half, go ahead and fill that tank up so you are ready.”

The Jacksonville Equestrian Center has offered to take in animals needing to evacuate because of the fires for $25 a night to cover the cost of stripping the stalls and two bags of shavings.

The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is also offering a safe place for horses in their paddocks, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, contact Barn Manager Crystal at 386-336-3435.

24/7 resources

Crews are working around the clock to try to contain the fire, but most of Northeast Florida is under a red flag warning as strong winds, warm temperatures and dry conditions are fueling the flames.

“We are going to have extensive fire conditions throughout the woods for days and potentially weeks ahead until we get either substantial rainfall or we can work it and get it to darken down,” Mock said. “Given these dry conditions - the heat and the fire within the ground can actually come up for days or weeks beyond this event.”

Guthrie said on Monday that the Florida National Guard Aviation unit will be involved in the firefight beginning Tuesday and that he is in talks with Gov. Ron DeSantis to bring in more state resources as needed.

On Tuesday, News4JAX learned that the Florida National Guard is mobilizing six rotary wing helicopters and associated aircrews/personnel to support the Florida Forest Service in north and central Florida.

Meanwhile, the Florida Forest Service has deployed a significant number of resources to fight the blaze. Earlier, the agency had 63 personnel, 36 dozers, 10 engines and two fixed-wing aircraft on scene.

Federal resources also responded, including three VLATs — Very Large Air Tankers — scoopers, a helicopter and air attack support. Officials note those numbers are fluid as conditions on the fire continue to change rapidly.

Clay County Fire Rescue and Putnam County Fire Rescue also have multiple resources on scene, coordinating structure protection and assisting the Florida Forest Service with wildfire suppression.

Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook says anyone who would like to donate food and drinks to working firefighters may do so Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Items like water, sports drinks and prepackaged snacks can be dropped off at the Clay County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall 2, 2463 FL-16 in Green Cove Springs.

Crews are working day and night shifts in an effort to contain the fire. Updated information is available through the Florida Forest Service’s Fire Response Public Viewer here.

Don’t spark a new fire

Florida Forestry Service spokesperson Dr. Ludie Bond said it will be difficult for firefighters to keep the fires in the containment lines, and she expects to see growth on the fires because of the windy conditions.

“There are so many different types of outdoor activities that are starting fires right now,” she said.

Bond said cooking outdoors with charcoal could throw a spark.

“We actually had a fire being started by a pig roast,” she said. “There are things that people are doing with their outdoor activities that they may not realize could actually throw a spark and start a fire.”

She also warned that mowing can be dangerous if the lawnmower strikes a rock and sparks a fire, dragging chains from trailer hitches could spark grass along the road and parking on dry grass should be avoided.

“With conditions so dry and extreme and the fire behavior that we’re seeing, people need to use extreme caution,” Bond said. “We are seeing extremely unusual but very erratic fire behavior right now.”

Officials reminded residents to also avoid burning any debris or disposing of cigarettes on the ground.

The following Northeast Florida counties are under a burn ban: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union. Dul County has a permanent ban on burning debris.

The 52-46 vote was the first step in a budget process that Republicans hope will unlock the funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Senate Democrats have blocked money for those agencies since mid-February, demanding policy changes after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents.

Republicans are now trying to fund the two agencies through a complicated, time-consuming process called budget reconciliation, a maneuver that they also used to pass President Donald Trump’s package of tax and spending cuts last year with no Democratic votes. The Senate has already voted on a bipartisan basis to reopen the rest of the department, but Republican leaders in the House say they won't take that bill up until the Senate shows progress toward funding ICE and Border Patrol, as well.

The budget process only requires a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing filibuster rules that require Republicans to find 60 votes on most bills when they only hold 53 seats. But it also comes with increased scrutiny from the Senate parliamentarian and an open-ended series of amendment votes that could potentially alter the bill.

“It’s not my preference, but it is reality,” Thune said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the budget workaround a “partisan sideshow” and said the resolution will pour money into immigration enforcement “without putting any restraints on these rogue agencies’ rampant violence in our streets.”

Senate leaders try to keep bill focused on ICE, border patrol

The Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday released the estimated $70 billion resolution to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years, through the rest of Trump’s term. Thune and other GOP leaders say they hope to keep the bill narrowly focused and pass it by the end of the month.

But that could prove difficult as many in the party see it as the last real chance this year to enact their priorities. Republicans in both the Senate and House have pushed to add other items, including money for farmers and Trump’s proof of citizenship voting bill, called the SAVE America Act.

Republican leaders say they would try to do a second partisan budget reconciliation bill to deal with some of those issues. But many of their colleagues are skeptical, especially with thin GOP margins in both chambers of Congress and an election approaching.

Senators who have been pushing for more to be included in the original resolution say they are preparing amendments to try and add them on the Senate floor. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he’ll try to add parts of the SAVE America Act and proposals related to the economy.

“A lot of Americans are very worried about the cost of living and we need to address it,” Kennedy said Monday.

But at a lunch meeting on Tuesday, Republican senators were mostly united around Thune's plan.

“I think people recognize that we have to act quickly,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “The more you add the more that slows the process down.”

Democrats say reforms still needed at ICE

Democrats say any funding bill should place restraints on federal immigration authorities, including better identification for federal officers and more use of judicial warrants, among other asks.

“After the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, people across the country demanded ICE be reined in," said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “But instead of working with Democrats to enact real reform, Republicans rejected the most basic accountability measures, and now they’re rushing to give ICE billions of dollars more.”

After federal agents shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January, Trump agreed to a Democratic request that the Homeland Security bill be separated from a larger spending measure that became law. But bipartisan negotiations went nowhere, and the DHS funding lapsed with no agreement on changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

In March, the Senate passed legislation by voice vote that would separate out ICE and Border Patrol and fund the rest of the department, including the Transportation Security Administration as security lines grew long at some airports. But Republicans in the House refused to vote for it, saying they wouldn’t support any bill that didn’t include money for immigration enforcement.

Congress then left town for a two-week recess, leaving the issue unresolved. Trump has used executive orders to pay some department salaries in the meantime, but the future of those paychecks is uncertain.

During the recess, Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that they would pursue a two-track approach — pass the Senate bill that includes most of the department’s funding through regular order and use the party-line bill to pass ICE and CBP funding.

Weeks later, though, Johnson has still not said when the House will take up the Senate's legislation funding the rest of the department. And it is unclear if members of his GOP conference will unite behind the narrowed budget bill.

“We’ll figure this out,” Johnson said ahead of the Senate vote on Tuesday. “We’ve got lots of discussion today and in the coming days to make sure we can get that through and I think we will.”

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Associated Press writers Steven Sloan and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

“The notion that a flu vaccine must be mandatory for every service member, everywhere, in every circumstance at all times is just overly broad and not rational,” Hegseth said in a video posted on social media.

He said American service members are free to get the flu vaccine but will not be forced to “because your body, your faith and your convictions are not negotiable.”

Hegseth’s directive does allow for the military services to request to keep the vaccine requirement in place, according to a memo enacting the policy posted online. It says the services have 15 days to make those requests.

Vaccination programs in the U.S. military date back to the American Revolution. But they became a contentious political issue during the coronavirus pandemic, when more than 8,400 troops were forced out of the military for refusing to obey the 2021 mandate for the COVID-19 vaccine. Thousands of others sought religious and medical exemptions.

Congress agreed to rescind the mandate, which the Pentagon dropped in January 2023, after roughly 99% of active duty troops in the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps had gotten the vaccine, and 98% of those in the Army. The Guard and Reserve rates are lower but generally are more than 90%.

The Trump administration then spent months crafting a policy to allow service members who refused to take the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine to reenter service with back pay. While only a tiny fraction have taken the Pentagon up on the new policy, Hegseth’s team has spent the past several months personally highlighting them.

The Pentagon stated in March that 153 service members who were separated under the COVID-19 mandate had been reinstated or "re-accessed."

The dropping of the flu vaccine mandate follows what health officials said was a particularly severe flu season when U.S. infections surged. Public health experts recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual influenza vaccine.

The Trump administration has been working to dial back vaccine recommendations. It stated earlier this year that it will no longer recommend flu shots and some other types of vaccines for all children, saying it’s a decision parents and patients should make in consultation with their doctors. A federal judge has temporarily blocked that effort as a lawsuit plays out.

The Congressional Research Service listed eight mandatory vaccines for service members in a 2021 report. They included vaccines for the flu, polio and tetanus as well as the measles and hepatitis A and B.

Service members could request to opt out of a vaccine requirement for religious reasons, the report stated. But the unit commander was required to seek input from medical and religious representatives, while also counseling the service member on the potential impact on their ability to deploy. A military physician also had to counsel the service member on the benefits and risks of forgoing a required vaccination.

The Congressional Research Service noted that the military instituted its first vaccination program in 1777 when Gen. George Washington directed the inoculation of the Continental Army to protect personnel from smallpox.

According to a family spokesperson, Alan's wife, Suzanne Osmond, and their eight sons were with him at his home in Lehi, Utah, at the time of his death. Prior to his passing, Alan used a wheelchair and spent a week in intensive care before returning home Thursday on hospice.

A talented songwriter and performer, Alan Osmond helped write some of the Osmond Brothers' biggest hits, including “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses” and “Are You Up There?”

Born in Ogden, Utah, on June 22, 1949 and raised in a Mormon household, Alan Osmond's storied musical career began in the 1950s, when he and his brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay formed a barbershop quartet. He was the oldest of the performing group and the third oldest of his siblings.

The brothers worked the state fair circuit in Utah until a visit to Disneyland led to a television debut on “Disney After Dark” in 1962.

The group became regulars on “The Andy Williams Show,” where they made their name and forged their wholesome and peppy image, peaking as a quintet in the early 1970s, as younger brother Donny Osmond became the breakout star. In 1971, the Osmonds tallied nine gold records, surpassing single-year bests by Elvis and the Beatles.

In the mid-to-late 1970s, Alan became a principal producer on ABC’s hit television show “The Donny and Marie Show,” starring his brother and sister.

The original Osmond Brothers — Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay — returned to the stage in 1982 as a country group and had a handful of hits, including “I Think About Your Lovin.’” At the time, Alan told The Associated Press he switched from recording rock to country music because it better fit their wholesome image.

“Country music really is the backbone of America,” he said. “It doesn’t just come and go. And we’re kind of flag-wavers. You find that in the country area, too.”

In 1987, Alan Osmond was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). It caused him to retire from performing with his family.

His brother Wayne Osmond died at the age of 73 in 2025 after having a stroke.

“He is my hero,” Doug Osmond, one of Alan's sons, told The Associated Press over the phone Tuesday. “I’ve never met anyone more positive in my life. I never once heard him complain, not once. He would say, ‘I may have MS, but MS does not have me.’ That was his motto and he always was worried about everyone else. ... Family always took priority and his faith was in everything he did.”

In terms of his musical accomplishments, Doug recalled witnessing other famous musicians gush over his father. “I saw that with Steven Tyler, I saw that with Brad Paisley. I saw that with Justin Timberlake and Donnie Wahlberg," he said. “They all knew of his genius and ability."

In a statement on social media Tuesday, Donny Osmond called Alan Osmond his “protector” and “guide,” saying he was “the one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine.”

Merrill Osmond also paid tribute in a social media post, explaining that he saw his ailing brother two days prior.

“We talked as brothers do, heart to heart. He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle … and then he smiled,” he wrote on Facebook. “I need you to know this … he has not left me. I have felt him. I have felt his quiet encouragement telling me to keep going … to keep building faith … to keep sharing light.”

Alan is survived by his wife, Suzanne; his eight sons, Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex, and Tyler; 30 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers Virl, Tom, Merrill, Jay, Donny and Jimmy; and sister Marie.

Service plans are forthcoming.

Although officials did not mention Columbine by name, they referred to several books and handwritten notes that belonged to the gunman and referenced attacks in the United States in April 1999. Monday marked the 27th anniversary of the massacre in Colorado.

Among the gunman's belongings was a photo modified by artificial intelligence showing him alongside the Columbine attackers, according to a state official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to address the media.

Seven people were wounded by gunshots at the archaeological site north of the Mexican capital, the local government said. The nature of the other injuries was not disclosed, but some people fell when the shooting started, including some who were climbing on the pyramids.

The assailant, who acted alone, shot and killed himself, authorities said, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition at the scene.

Attack came before World Cup tournament

The attack happened less than two months before Mexico co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. Mexico's security secretary, Omar García Harfuch, said major tourist destinations would see a heightened presence of both ground forces and digital “cyber patrols” to prevent threats.

“Yesterday’s attack highlights the urgent need to strengthen our security protocols,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She also noted the importance of analyzing “external influences” that may provoke such violence within the country.

While such attacks are uncommon in Latin America, they are not unheard of. Earlier this month, Argentine authorities linked a teenager to the “true crime community” after the teen killed one student and wounded eight others at a school in the central province of Santa Fe. The community is an online subculture that emerged from forums established after the Columbine massacre to discuss and, in some cases, glorify such violence.

Taken to hospitals after the Mexico attack were six people from the U.S., three from Colombia, one from Russia, one from Brazil, one from the Netherlands and one from Canada, the local government said. The youngest person who was hurt was 6; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities said.

Shooter scouted tourist site ahead of attack

Authorities identified the attacker as 27-year-old Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a native of Guerrero, Mexico, who, they said, arrived in Teotihuacan a day earlier in an Uber and stayed in a hotel.

Then on Monday shortly before noon, while atop the Pyramid of the Moon, he began firing at tourists with an old revolver while holding a plastic bag containing 52 .38-caliber cartridges in his other hand, said José Luis Cervantes Martínez, the attorney general of the state of Mexico, which includes Teotihuacan.

From the summit of the pyramid, the attacker opened fire on tourists and targeted approaching security forces. Some people threw themselves to the ground and lay motionless to avoid detection. Others fled down the structure as gunshots echoed, Cervantes Martínez said.

National Guard members eventually scaled the pyramid and wounded the attacker in the leg. Witnesses said the gunman shot and killed himself once he felt cornered, according to Cervantes Martínez.

The assailant carried a tactical-style backpack containing an analog cellphone and bus tickets, Cervantes Martínez said.

The attorney general also noted the presence of “literature, images and manuscripts" that related to "violent incidents known to have occurred in the United States in April 1999,” a likely reference to the Columbine attack in which 12 students and a teacher were killed.

Investigators built "a psychopathic profile" of the suspect that was "characterized by a tendency to copy situations that occurred in other places, at other times and involving other figures,’” he added.

Greg Magadini, of Boise, Idaho, was with a tour group on top of the pyramid when he heard a loud crack followed by screaming. The gunman was about 40 feet (12 meters) away on the same platform with roughly 60 tourists, he said.

Magadini jumped down a ledge and scrambled for cover while two of his friends stayed on the platform above trying to hide.

Witnesses said everyone was a target

Shots seemed to ring out every five seconds, Magadini said, as he and the others jumped down more ledges to reach the ground. Then they ran through a field behind the pyramid, carrying one of his friends who badly injured her ankle on one of the jumps.

Magadini, who came away with scrapes and cuts, said he did not see the shooter, but his friends said the gunman seemed to fire randomly in all directions. “Everyone was a target,” he said.

Later at the hospital, they talked with other tourists, who said the shooter at one point played strange music and taunted them, saying he hated tourists, Magadini said.

The Teotihuacan pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a series of ancient structures on the outskirts of Mexico City. As one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations, the site drew more than 1.8 million international visitors last year, according to government figures.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered condolences to the family and friends of the Canadian tourist who was killed. He said Canadian authorities were working with those in Mexico.

“It’s a terrible circumstance,” Carney said.

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Associated Press writers Megan Janetsky and and Fabiola Sánchez in Mexico City and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.

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

The findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans’ patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected.

Trump’s approval rating on the economy dropped to 30% in April from 38% in a March AP-NORC poll. A similarly low share of U.S. adults, 32%, approve of the president’s leadership on Iran, which is unchanged since last month.

The poll was conducted April 16-20, during which time the Strait of Hormuz was reopened by Iran, then closed again, an example of the whiplash that has characterized the conflict.

The president’s policies and pronouncements have often been at odds with each other. Gasoline prices — which he promised to slash — jumped after the U.S. attacked Iran in February. His tariffs have kept much of the economy in limbo and hiring has slowed despite his boasts of a “golden age.”

Only 33% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s overall job performance, down slightly from 38% last month.

Trump’s falling approval ratings could create problems for his party as it tries to defend House and Senate majorities in the midterm elections. The poll finds that Trump is especially weak on cost of living, and enthusiasm about Trump’s performance has waned over the past year among his own supporters.

Kathryn Bright, 60, a retired captain in the U.S. Air Force, regrets that she supported Trump in the last election.

“I feel disgusted with myself, I feel betrayed, like he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said.

Bright lives in a small town far out on Colorado’s prairie and has several disabling medical conditions. She was initially drawn to Trump because of his vows to support veterans, avoid foreign wars and lower costs.

“It’s like high school class president: ‘I’m gonna promise we are going to get pizza every single day,’” Bright said. “Then as soon as they get elected they are like, ‘Oh, I lied.’”

The vast majority of Americans disapprove of Trump on cost of living

In a sign of just how unpopular Trump’s approach on prices has become, the poll found that only about one-quarter of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the cost of living.

The consumer price index climbed 3.3% in March from a year ago, and inflation is slightly higher than the 3% that Trump inherited upon returning to the White House last year. Yet Trump has shown little interest in inflation and played down the rising energy costs caused by the war prompting Iran to effectively shutter the Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers.

Trump on Tuesday dismissed the war as a “little journey” and portrayed the roughly 35% jump in oil prices as a positive compared to what he thought would happen.

He told CNBC in an interview that he was “surprised” that oil prices were only around $90 a barrel, compared to the $200 that he claimed to have expected.

Public disenchantment with that attitude is visible among his own supporters. Only about half of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living.

Younger Republicans are particularly unhappy. About 6 in 10 Republicans under 45 disapprove of how Trump is handling costs, compared to about 4 in 10 older Republicans.

Most Republicans who identify as supporters of the Make America Great Again movement are still largely behind the president. About 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance, compared to 44% of non-MAGA Republicans, although only about 7 in 10 MAGA Republicans approve of him on cost of living.

Miguel Cortes, a 67-year-old retired aircraft mechanic in South Carolina, believes the increase in prices from tariffs and the Iran war is simply a temporary price to pay. As for gasoline costs rising, “it is what it is, I’m not going to complain,” he said. “People are just going to have to deal with it.”

“From deep in my soul, I believe God put him there for a reason,” said Cortes, who has a tin sign of “Make America Great” in his garage near a National Rifle Association plaque.

Americans are gloomier about the U.S. economy

About three-quarters of U.S. adults described the U.S. economy as “very” or “somewhat” poor in April, up from about two-thirds in February.

The drop in confidence comes as the economy remains unsettled, with gasoline prices higher than they were, as the financial markets for stocks, bonds and oil continues on a rollercoaster ride that veers wildly based on Trump’s claims of a coming peace with Iran one day and a threat to destroy the entire civilization the next.

Americans such as Heidi Bunting, 35, a student with two children, see an economy in which basic needs such as health care and transportation are unaffordable.

“It’s awful, and not just for me,” said Bunting, who lives in Bowling Green, Ohio. “I’m sure the only people doing well in this economy are those who started with a lot of money.”

Falling approval on the economy among independents and Republicans

Despite efforts to tout last year’s tax cuts and brush off economic concerns, Trump’s economic approval remains low among independents and has even eroded among Republicans.

About 2 in 10 independents approve of Trump’s performance on the economy in the new poll, down slightly from about 3 in 10 in March. Far more Republicans, 62%, have a positive view of the way Trump is handling the economy, but that’s also down from 74% last month.

In general, Republicans are less enthusiastic about Trump’s overall performance than they were shortly after he took office. In March 2025, 51% of Republicans “strongly” approved of the way he was handling the presidency, a figure that has dropped to 38% now.

Immigration, another signature issue of Trump’s, is a relative bright spot for the president. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of his performance on that issue, which is unchanged from last month and higher than his overall approval.

Trump’s approval ratings are in line with his predecessor Joe Biden’s lowest approval rating in AP-NORC polling — 36% — which came during July 2022 after inflation spiked to a four-decade high. Biden’s approval ratings recovered slightly as inflation eased, raising a question as to whether Trump can quickly regroup to show tangible progress.

Trump came into office last year with relatively low approval — 42% in March 2025 — which has until now remained fairly stable.

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Bedayn reported from Austin.

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The AP-NORC poll of 2,596 adults was conducted April 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

The Outpost, located at 2025 Old Moultrie Road, had been a gathering spot for families and local entrepreneurs — hosting food trucks, small vendors and an airbrush art studio. Now, it’s closed.

“They’re saying that we no longer have retained our vested rights as a commercial property in St. Johns County,” said owner Justin Tahilramani.

According to court records, the county says improvements are needed before food trucks and other vendors can operate on the property again.

“They’re saying, hey, you have to redevelop — if you want to do this, you need to bring us full engineering designs to redevelop your parking lot, to connect to utilities you’re talking about,” Tahilramani said. “They want us to spend millions of dollars to activate this in the interim as a food truck park.”

Court records show that in August 2025, Tahilramani was told by county planners he could not move forward until the site was properly developed. The property previously had a structure on it that Tahilramani demolished. Records show that by March 2026, the building was gone, and food trucks were operating without paved parking or restroom facilities on site.

Records also note that an airbrush artist on the property operates out of a shipping container, which the magistrate ruled is an unpermitted use without a main structure present.

Tyler Melfi, who runs an airbrush studio at The Outpost, says the closure has a direct financial impact on him.

“Well, you know, I spend almost all the money I make, aside from my bills, on these — the food vendors,” Melfi said.

Even though Tahilramani says he plans to eventually develop the property into a container-style venue and bring it up to code, he says right now he is fighting to keep the food truck vendors operating in the meantime.

“The whole purpose of this was a place where families and communities can gather,” he said. “The whole purpose of The Outpost was to provide a platform for small businesses to be able to grow and thrive. And I’m not going to abandon the vendors that are out here right now.”

According to the court record, it is scheduled to be reheard on May 13, 2026.

The record says failure to comply with the order could result in fines and liens against the property.

News4JAX reached out to St. Johns County for comment. The county acknowledged it was working on a response but did not provide one before publication.

Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II invoked his authority under Jacksonville Municipal Code Section 420.202(e) to prohibit all bonfires and open burning in Duval County effective April 21. The ban remains in effect until further notice.

“JFRD is ready,” said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “Our crews are trained, our equipment is staged, and we are monitoring conditions closely. What we need right now is for our community to do its part. One spark in this environment can become a crisis very quickly.”

Mayor Donna Deegan reinforced the message with a direct plea to residents. “This is a straightforward ask. Don’t burn. It’s the best thing residents can do right now to protect their family, their neighbors, and the firefighters who are working hard to keep Jacksonville safe.”

Drought conditions reach historic levels

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the Duval County area Tuesday. Jacksonville is also in the midst of what officials describe as its driest period on record since 1872.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) — a measure of how dry vegetation and soil have become — currently reads 594 out of a possible 800. At that level, fuels across the landscape are critically dry and can ignite easily.

Emergency Operations Center activates partial response

In response to the worsening drought, the Duval County Emergency Operations Center has moved to a Level 2 partial activation, allowing personnel to focus on fire danger and coordinate resources as needed.

“We’re not waiting for a large fire. We’ve been taking this seriously,” said Andre Ayoub, chief of the City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division. “We are coordinating with stakeholders to ensure everyone is prepared. Now we need the public to understand the significance of this situation.”

The burn ban prohibits all open burning within Duval County limits until further notice. Updates will be posted to JaxReady.com as well as the City of Jacksonville and JFRD’s official channels.

Deputies say the incident happened as school let out at Palatka Junior-Senior High School on Friday.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a group of students was fighting when a Good Samaritan stepped in to help separate them. Once the fight was broken up, the group of teens turned on the man, knocked him to the ground and stomped and struck him repeatedly, video showed. The attack continued until school administrators arrived.

(Warning: The video linked here shows graphic content that some may find disturbing)

The victim suffered a broken rib.

“This incident is not only deeply disturbing, but it is troubling that a group of teenagers feel so empowered to disregard human life and viciously attack a fellow student first, but then turn on a Good Samaritan and parent who was trying to help,” Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said.

“This mob mentality will not be tolerated as the safety of our community is my top priority. My prayers are with the victim, who I hope is able to make a full recovery of his injuries, as well as his student who had to witness,” DeLoach added.

On Monday, deputies interviewed suspects and made 10 arrests. Those arrested range in age from 13 to 17 years old.

All 10 were charged with inciting a riot, a third-degree felony, and battery.

The Sheriff’s Office said the victim is fortunate his injuries were not more severe.

U.S. forces “conducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction” of the M/T Tifani “without incident,” the Pentagon said on social media.

The tanker was captured in the Bay of Bengal — between India and Southeast Asia — and it was carrying Iranian oil, according to a U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing military operation. The military will decide in the next four days what to do with the vessel, such as tow it back to the U.S. or turn it over to another country, the official said.

It's the latest move by the U.S. to stop any ship tied to Iran or those suspected of carrying supplies that could help its government, from weapons and oil to metals and electronics. The tanker was seized before President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was extending a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war at mediator Pakistan’s request but was keeping the blockade in place.

The tanker is the second vessel linked to Iran that has been interdicted by the U.S. military. The U.S. Navy attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday that it said had tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports, with Trump saying an American destroyer blew a hole in the ship’s engine room.

Targeting Iran-linked ships in international waters

The Pentagon on social media described the Tifani as “stateless” despite it being a Botswana-flagged vessel.

“As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran — anywhere they operate,” the Pentagon announcement said, echoing previous statements from Trump administration officials. “International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.”

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last week that the enforcement actions would extend beyond Iranian waters and the area under control of U.S. Central Command.

U.S. forces in other areas of responsibility, he told reporters at the Pentagon, “will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran.” He specifically pointed to operations in the Pacific and said the U.S. would target vessels that left before the blockade began outside the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for energy and other shipments.

The military also detailed an expansive list of goods that it considers contraband, declaring that it will board, search and seize them from merchant vessels “regardless of location.” A notice published Thursday says any “goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict” are “subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory.”

Blockades can be lawful in wartime, expert says

The U.S. military’s actions against Iranian-linked vessels, namely the attack over the weekend on the cargo ship named the Touska, have raised questions about the two-week ceasefire.

The U.S. and Iran are operating in “an awkward space where the law doesn’t give you a clean yes-or-no answer” on whether the ceasefire was violated, said Jason Chuah, a law professor at the City University of London and the Maritime Institute of Malaysia.

“The United States seems to take the line that the conflict never fully switched off — that is there is still a state of armed conflict,” Chuah said. “By saying that, it can keep doing things like enforcing a blockade and even using limited force at sea.”

Iran is treating the ceasefire as a pause on all hostile acts, Chuah said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday called the U.S. blockade a breach of the ceasefire and said “striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation.” In a letter, Iran's U.N. Mission asked the U.N. Security Council and U.N. chief António Guterres to condemn the U.S. for seizing the Touska and its crew.

The U.S. earlier had instituted a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela but had never fired on those vessels.

Blockades and even limited attacks on vessels can be lawful in wartime, with merchant vessels becoming legitimate targets if they contribute to military actions, carry contraband or are incorporated into enemy logistics, Chuah said.

It's harder to prove that a ship such as the Touska is realistically contributing to military action against the U.S., Chuah said.

“The whole dispute really turns on a deceptively simple question: Did the ceasefire actually suspend the right to use force?” Chuah said. “If it did, then firing on vessels or seizing them is very hard to square with the United Nations Charter.”

Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and a senior defense adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said a violation of the ceasefire is up for interpretation because there were no defined terms.

“Trump announced it. The Iranians agreed. But there’s no formal agreement,” Cancian said. “So whether it broke the ceasefire or not depends on your perspective. ... Nothing was written down.”

Michael O’Hanlon, a defense and foreign policy analyst at the Brookings Institution, said the U.S. did not violate the ceasefire because it was limited to bombing Iran, not the blockade.

“We agreed to stop dropping bombs on them, and that’s the basic thing they wanted,” O’Hanlon said, adding that the U.S. still had to enforce the blockade “if you’re going to make it mean anything.”

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AP writer Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report.

As part of President Donald Trump’s push to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon wants to triple spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion and invest over $30 billion into more critical munitions, including missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war.

Military officials said the spending blueprint was developed before the conflict in the Middle East. They also did not discuss how much they will request in additional funds for the war, which would be on top of what the White House is seeking to boost defense spending in the next budget year.

“The overlap, you’ll see, is the request for munitions, which is something we always need," Jules Hurst III, acting undersecretary of defense and the Pentagon's comptroller, told reporters at a briefing. "We always need to increase our magazine depth. But outside of that, there aren’t any operational costs in here from Iran.”

Heavy investment in drone warfare

The missile interceptors whose numbers are under the most strain are the Patriot and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, air defense systems. The THAAD system is designed for defeating medium-range ballistic missiles, while the Patriot system is for taking down short-range ballistic missiles and crewed aircraft. However, they both also were used to shoot down cheap Iranian drones.

The $30 billion budget item also would aim to purchase long-range Precision Strike Missiles and Mid-Range Capability missile systems used by the U.S. Army.

The budget proposal would allocate nearly $54 billion for military drones and related technology, as well as $21 billion for weapons systems designed to take down enemy drones.

Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a key weapon in the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and top Pentagon officials say the U.S. must significantly increase its funding of both drones and counter-drone systems.

“Drone warfare is rapidly reshaping the modern battlefield,” Hurst said. “This budget is the largest investment in drone warfare and counter drone technology in U.S. history.”

As part of the 2027 budget, the Pentagon also intends to grow the military by 44,500 troops, or more than 2%, spend more than $2 billion on operations on the U.S.-Mexico border and make the largest shipbuilding request since 1962.

Dramatic increase in the Navy's Tomahawk missiles

While officials said the budget was developed before operations began in Iran, it featured major jumps in many of the missiles that have been used in the conflict. One of the most dramatic increases was in the choice for the Navy to increase of its purchase of the Tomahawk cruise missile from 55 missiles last year to 785 in this year’s budget.

The long-range cruise missile was heavily used in Iran and led to concerns from experts that the military was using it much faster than it could replenish its stocks.

Vice Adm. Ben Reynolds, the Navy’s budget boss, wouldn’t say if he expected all 785 Tomahawk missiles to be delivered within the year. He acknowledged that weapons production capacity “is absolutely the challenge” and, in the case of the Tomahawk, he said the Navy expects Raytheon — the company that makes it — “to invest very heavily now to be able to ramp up production.”

The services also are addressing the difficulty in producing the advanced munitions favored by the military by slowly shifting toward more basic weapons.

Major Gen. Frank Verdugo, the Air Force’s budget chief, said the Air Force wants to invest $600 million to develop “affordable” munitions as part of an effort to move away from “small numbers of exquisite weapons toward a future where we can overwhelm an adversary with sheer volume.”

Trump-endorsed battleship is missing

The Navy said it would be buying 18 more warships using more than $65 billion — a 46% increase from the previous year.

However, the Trump-endorsed battleship that was announced to great fanfare last year is not in this year’s budget, according to the briefing. Instead, the Navy is planning to pay for the first battleship in next year’s budget.

The military's spending proposal also lacked money for repairing U.S. bases in the Middle East, which Hurst said would be part of a future request.

“Part of it is we would assess what our posture should be in the Middle East,” Hurst told reporters. “We have to make sure we understand what we want to construct in the future. We might change how we build bases in the Middle East based on this conflict.”

Budget echoes Biden-era priorities, expert says

If approved by Congress, the budget would provide the largest level of defense funding in inflation-adjusted dollars in U.S. history, said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

Harrison said the spending appears more aligned with former President Joe Biden’s national defense strategy than Trump’s.

“This is a budget that is trying to build a force capable of sustaining U.S. presence and security commitments around the world — a force that’s capable of fighting major wars against countries like Russia and China,” Harrison said.

The Trump administration’s strategy document put the priority on homeland defense and was largely silent on Russia and did not say much about China, Harrison said.

The cellular companies appealed to the justices after the Federal Communications Commission found they sold customers’ location data without proper safeguards. The FCC slapped the companies with hefty penalties totaling over $100 million.

The telecom companies challenged the process as unconstitutional because it gives them little opportunity to tell their side of the story in court. Key justices seemed skeptical, however. “I wonder if, at the end of the day, you're really just talking about a PR problem,” Chief Justice John Roberts said during arguments Tuesday.

The Trump administration defended the process as an essential regulatory tool and argued that it does leave a path to court. But the government also said companies don’t have to pay penalties right away, a concession that amounts to a win for the companies, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said. “It seems like you’ve won on the law going forward one way or the other,” Kavanaugh told an attorney for AT&T and Verizon.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority has limited the power of federal agencies before, including overturning a decades-old decision that had given regulators an advantage in court and stripping another agency of a major tool in fighting securities fraud. A victory for AT&T and Verizon in this case could have widespread effects for other agencies who use similar enforcement mechanisms, advocates said.

Companies who get notices that they’ve run afoul of FCC regulations now have two options: pay the penalty and then contest it before an appeals court or refuse to pay and wait for a federal lawsuit that could eventually go before a jury. Doug Orvis, a veteran telecom attorney, said neither option is viable, so most companies pay up.

A ruling is expected by late June.

Many advocates in the aftermath of the headline-grabbing shootings have said the tragedies pointedly highlight troubling trends in which Black women are more likely to experience domestic violence — and they see the killings as an opportunity to confront how disparities in access to care and resources make some women and children more vulnerable to violence in the home.

On Sunday morning, a man police identified as Shamar Elkins fatally shot seven of his children and another child in Shreveport, Louisiana. A relative has said Elkins was in the midst of separating from his wife, who was wounded in the attack.

And last Thursday, police found the bodies of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, in their suburban Washington, D.C., home. Justin Fairfax shot his estranged wife and then himself, and their two children in the home at the time were unhurt, police said. Like Elkins, Fairfax was in the process of separating from his wife and had faced a judge's upcoming deadline to move from the house.

While it's not clear what prompted the Shreveport killings or the apparent murder-suicide in Annandale, Virginia, experts say that the harrowing details of the killings echo familiar patterns that play out in homes across the country — and underscore the need for solutions that address the root causes of the disparate violence.

A ‘silent epidemic’

Sunday wasn’t the first time that Elkins’ family had suffered from gender-based gun violence: Shaneiqua Elkins was shot and her sister, Keosha Pugh, was injured while escaping, according to authorities and family. Elkins and Pugh lost their mother to gun violence when they were under age 10, according to their uncle Lionel Pugh. Another woman who authorities have not identified also was shot.

“It’s sad. It just breaks you down," Pugh said.

Shreveport Councilman Grayson Boucher said at a news conference Monday that the Louisiana killings were emblematic of “a true epidemic of domestic violence" across the small southern city of roughly 180,000 people.

Those trends go well beyond Shreveport as experts have pointed out how both race and gender make Black women in particular more vulnerable to domestic violence.

More than 4 in 10 Black women experience physical violence from an intimate partner during their lifetimes — a much higher rate than women who are white, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander — according to a 2014 study by the Centers for Disease Control.

Pamela Tate is the executive director of Black Women Revolt, which runs programs to prevent abuse and offers survivors' resources. She said a logical skepticism about police and government child services agencies based on a history of institutionalized racism makes Black women reluctant to seek help — and especially vulnerable to domestic violence.

Additionally, Black women are two times more likely to be murdered by men than their white counterparts, according to a 2025 study published by the Violence Policy Center, based on federal government data from 2023. Those men are more often than not familiar to their victims, according to the study, which found that more than 9 in 10 Black female victims knew their killers, with the majority of those killings being carried out with guns.

Ultimately, Tate said, “domestic violence doesn't see color," and is primarily driven by the prevalent belief among men — across racial demographics — that women are subjects or property.

“Domestic violence is about exerting power over someone that you profess to love and controlling their behavior,” Tate said.

Lack of resources for Black men

There has been intense speculation about the role that mental health crises might have played in both shootings.

A relative of Elkins' wife told The Associated Press that Elkins had voluntarily checked into a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in January for about a week and a half for mental health help.

In Virginia, Justin Fairfax was a rising star in the Democratic Party until two women accused him of sexual assault, casting doubt on his trustworthiness as a political leader. The former lieutenant governor's “mental and emotional health” suffered before he killed his wife and himself, according to court documents, which say he drank heavily and withdrew from his family after the allegations were made public in 2019.

Dr. Christine Crawford, an adult and child psychiatrist, hasn’t examined the killings in Shreveport or Annandale, but said financial troubles, marital issues and problems at work — in addition to underlying mental health vulnerabilities — can lead someone to “crack."

“It makes some think about the amount of pain, distress and hopelessness they found themselves in at that time,” said Crawford, who practices at the Webster Clinic in Boston and is interim chief medical officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

She noted many Black people find themselves priced out of programs and care for mental health for such reasons as private care costs and a lack of insurance.

That level of desperation can make some people feel “completely out of options on how to deal with the pain he was in at that moment," Crawford said.

Some have said that there are social dimensions to these economic trends, too.

“Mental health disparities in the Black community is not accidental,” said University of Michigan Social Work Professor Daphne C. Watkins. “They are the predictable result of structural racism” in schools, employment and other aspects of society.

Watkins, founder of the YBMen Project which provides young Black men with a safe place to discuss their mental health, manhood and social support, said studies show that 10% of Black adults experience moderate to severe depression, while 18% experience anxiety disorders.

But Black men tend to forego mental health treatment due to cultural expectations, in addition to costs, said Watkins. Without an outlet, stressors from family, work and relationships can pile up.

“For a long time, in the Black community, we didn’t talk about anxiety. Now, you have to talk about it hand in hand along with depression.”

Mental health not an excuse, some say

Others have emphatically said that mental health is not an excuse for domestic violence.

“To say they’re mentally ill, that doesn’t cut it,” Tate said. “There are people who are depressed or people who have schizophrenia and don’t harm the their partners, much less kill them.”

Shaneiqua Elkins and Cerina Fairfax could have been struggling with mental health challenges too, Tate added, and they both “had the same access or ability to go and purchase a gun” but chose not to.

“The mental illness is not what we’re talking about here,” she said.

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This story has been updated to correct that Shaneiqua Elkins’ sister Keosha Pugh was not shot; Pugh was injured escaping, and a second woman who authorities have not identified was also shot.

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Associated Press writer Sophie Bates contributed in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The S&P 500 erased an early rise to fall 0.6% after U.S. Vice President JD Vance called off a trip to Pakistan, where he was expected to lead U.S. negotiators in talks with Iran to extend the ceasefire.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 293 points, or 0.6%, after erasing an earlier gain of 400 points, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.6%. Less than 10 minutes after the U.S. stock market finished trading for the day President Donald Trump said he would extend the ceasefire to give Iran time to submit a proposal to end the war.

Oil prices also wavered before Trump announced the extension, and the price for a barrel of Brent crude went from less than $95 to roughly $100 during the day. It settled at $98.48, up 3.1%.

The moves were mostly more modest than the vicious swings that rocked Wall Street earlier in the war, when the price for a barrel of Brent crude briefly topped $119 and the S&P 500 dropped nearly 10% below its prior all-time high. The U.S. stock market remains near its most recent record, which was set Friday, indicating optimism still remains in financial markets that the United States and Iran will avoid a worst-case scenario for the economy.

“It’s become cliched to say that the economic hit will depend on the duration of the Middle East conflict, but that cliché does ring true,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management.

Much of the tension in financial markets has focused on what will happen to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran’s coast that oil tankers use to exit the Persian Gulf. A long-term closure would keep crude oil pent up in the gulf and away from customers worldwide.

Helping to limit Wall Street’s losses were UnitedHealth Group and other big companies that reported bigger profits for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

UnitedHealth jumped 7% after also raising its forecast for profit over the full year of 2026. That’s big because stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate profits over the long term, and it’s a double-plus when companies not only top earnings estimates but also forecast better growth ahead.

Quest Diagnostics rose 4.4% after likewise reporting fatter profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected while also raising its profit forecast for the full year.

Amazon added 0.7% after Anthropic said it signed a new agreement and is committing more than $100 billion over the next 10 years to AWS technologies to train and run its Claude chatbot.

But they were all nevertheless overshadowed by a 2.5% drop for Apple, which was the day’s heaviest weight on the S&P 500. It fell in its first trading after Tim Cook said he’ll step down as CEO on Sept. 1 and become the iPhone maker’s executive chairman.

Cook is handing control over to John Ternus, a company veteran who rose through Apple’s hardware engineering ranks.

Tractor Supply, meanwhile, dropped 11.7% after reporting profit and revenue for the latest quarter that fell short of expectations.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 45.13 points to 7,064.01. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 293.18 to 49,149.38, and the Nasdaq composite sank 144.43 to 24,259.96.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell in Europe following a stronger finish in Asia. South Korea’s Kospi rallied 2.7% for one of the world’s biggest moves.

In the bond market, Treasury yields rose after a report on Tuesday morning showed that U.S. retailers made more money in March, the first full month of the war, than analysts expected. Growth was even relatively stable for retail sales when not including those from gasoline stations.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.31% from 4.26% late Monday, and the gains accelerated late in the day with oil prices.

Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, said that he never promised Trump he would cut interest rates, even though Trump has angrily been calling for the central bank to do so. Warsh is facing a tightrope walk as U.S. senators consider his nomination because investors want him to maintain the Fed’s independence from political meddling.

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AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

If confirmed by the Senate, Phelan would succeed Stephen Miran, a Harvard University-trained economist who worked at investment funds and joined the Federal Reserve Board of Governors last September. The council's vice chairman, Pierre Yared, had served as acting leader after Trump shifted Miran to the Fed.

Phelan's resume suggests a keen interest in the operations of central banks, a major interest of Trump, who has pressured the Fed to dramatically cut its benchmark interest rates to drive stronger growth, even though doing so could risk higher inflation.

Phelan has worked as a consultant with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and obtained his doctorate from the University of Chicago.

“President Trump has assembled the best and most experienced economic team in modern history,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai, who called Phelan “a key addition.”

Desai said that Yared, the current acting chairman, is returning to his professorship at Columbia University's business school.

Gianinna Maradona, in a court in the Buenos Aires town of San Isidro, testified in the trial of seven medical professionals accused of negligence her father's death in 2020.

“I heard on television that he said he wasn’t his doctor, and it makes me very angry that he won’t take responsibility,” Gianinna Maradona said.

Luque and six others are standing a new trial because last May the court declared a mistrial after Julieta Makintach, one of the original three presiding judges, stepped down over criticism about her participation in a documentary on the case.

The negligence case accuses Maradona’s medical team of failing to provide adequate care in the weeks leading up to his death at a home outside Buenos Aires. Maradona died at age 60 from cardiac arrest while recovering from surgery for a blood clot on the brain.

The defendants, who deny all accusations, were charged with culpable homicide, a charge similar to involuntary manslaughter in that it implies the accused were aware of the risk caused by their alleged reckless conduct and ignored it.

Maradona’s daughter said that Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Díaz were responsible for Maradona’s health and the home confinement where, she said, the star’s health deteriorated day by day without anyone apparently remedying it.

Luque’s defense alleges that Gianinna Maradona and her sister Dalma — the former soccer star's eldest daughters from his relationship with Claudia Villafañe — were responsible for not acting with the necessary speed to care for their father during a long process of declining health.

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

Despite the ongoing conditions, schools will operate on their scheduled half-day for students Wednesday, April 22, 2026. District officials say all operations are being evaluated day-to-day as conditions may change.

Bus service, road closures

Families relying on transportation should be aware that bus service will not be available in areas affected by road closures. The district has not specified which routes or areas may be impacted, but officials say updates will be provided as conditions evolve.

Absences excused for fire-related conditions

Students who are absent due to fire-related conditions — including smoke, road closures or other safety concerns — will have their absences excused. Families are asked to provide a note to the school upon the student’s return to document the absence.

The district said it will continue to provide updates as conditions change.

Chief Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the administration's actions violate federal statute and will cause irreparable harm if the court did not intervene.

She issued a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from implementing the policies, which clean energy advocates said would hamstring projects that need to get underway quickly to qualify for expiring federal tax credits.

The Interior Department in July said that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Burgum, a layer of enhanced oversight that officials said was needed to end what they said was preferential treatment for these technologies under the Biden administration. Burgum's order authorized him to conduct “elevated review” of renewable projects, from proposed leases to rights of way, construction and operational plans, grants and biological opinions.

A coalition of regional wind and solar developers sued Burgum and other federal officials in December, saying his actions had the “goal and effect of destroying solar and wind energy” proposals in the United States. They accused Burgum of favoring fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas and said he had intentionally changed longstanding agency processes and legal determinations to delay and prevent the permitting and construction of wind and solar facilities. The lawsuit challenged six final agency actions that it says place wind and solar technologies into “second-class status.”

An Interior spokesperson said Tuesday the department does not comment on litigation, but added: “America sets the global standard for energy production. We do it cleaner, safer, and more reliably than anywhere in the world.”

In his second term, President Donald Trump has focused U.S. energy production on fossil fuels, which he says will lower costs for families, increase reliability and help the U.S. maintain global leadership in artificial intelligence. Critics say that change continues U.S. dependence on more polluting energy sources and sets the country apart from a world transitioning toward cleaner energy.

A law approved last year by the Republican-controlled Congress phases out tax credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy while enhancing federal support for coal, oil and natural gas. Three days after signing the law, Trump issued an executive order that further restricts subsidies for what he called “expensive and unreliable energy policies from the Green New Scam.”

The plaintiffs said in a joint statement Tuesday that the ruling is the first of many steps to bring more affordable energy options to people across the country.

“Clean energy is fast, affordable and here to stay,” the statement said. “We look forward to getting back to work and restarting the impacted wind and solar projects nationwide.”

The plaintiffs are: the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, MAREC Action, Southern Renewable Energy Association, Clean Grid Alliance, Interwest Energy Alliance, Renewable Northwest, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, RENEW Northeast and Green Energy Consumers Alliance.

Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the Trump administration keeps trying new ways to block the clean energy projects needed to power the grid, and the courts keep striking them down.

“The administration should take the hint and stop these illegal attacks on projects that will help meet surging electricity demand and bring down costs for consumers,” Kennedy said in a statement.

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McDermott reported from Providence, R.I.

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

“Spirit’s in trouble and I’d love somebody to buy Spirit. It’s 14,000 jobs,” Trump said in a CNBC interview. “And maybe the federal government should help that one out.”

The ultra low-cost carrier filed for bankruptcy protection in August for the second time in less than a year and was aiming to exit in late spring or early summer after striking a preliminary deal with lenders. That plan was quickly disrupted when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran sent oil prices soaring above $100 a barrel, with jet fuel costs doubling in some markets as the fighting in the Middle East continues to disrupt global oil supplies.

Spirit’s relatively young fleet has made it an attractive acquisition target. But previous buyout attempts from budget rivals like JetBlue and Frontier were unsuccessful both before and during Spirit’s first bankruptcy.

Trump did not offer details on what type of government aid could be provided. But asked separately on Tuesday about potential government relief, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters that the president had directed the department to review possible options.

“He’s directed us to take a look. I’ll have a conversation with the president later today,” Duffy said, adding that he was also meeting with some of the budget carriers later Tuesday.

The Associated Press sent emailed requests for comment to Spirit.

Congress has stepped in to authorize federal support for airlines before, most notably after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Already weakened by soft domestic demand and persistent losses, especially since the pandemic, Spirit has come under growing financial strain as the higher fuel costs have added fresh uncertainty about its ability to continue operating.

Against that backdrop, the union representing Spirit flight attendants sought to address growing concerns in a memo sent last Thursday to members.

“There have been speculative reports of liquidation. While we want to make it clear that conditions have worsened, at this time there are ongoing efforts to keep Spirit operating," the Association of Flight Attendants said. "We know you need the best possible information on this and we will keep you closely advised. But to be clear, at this time there is no definitive decision to halt operations.”

Budget carriers like Spirit — known for its bright yellow planes and no-frills service — have been under pressure by bigger airlines, which have rolled out their own low-cost offerings. By the time of its first Chapter 11 filing in November 2024, the Florida company had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020.

Two Mexican investigators also were killed in the crash, which Mexican authorities said occurred while the convoy was returning from an operation to destroy drug labs of criminal groups. There have been discrepancies in the public accounts of what happened from U.S. and Mexican officials, which experts say underscores heightened American involvement in security operations in Mexico and across the region.

The CIA's involvement was confirmed Tuesday by the three with knowledge of the crash, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters. That the U.S. officials worked for the CIA was reported earlier by The Washington Post.

It comes after days of contradictions from Mexican and U.S. authorities about the role that American officials played in an operation to bust a narco-laboratory in northern Chihuahua state.

The lack of clarity from authorities reignited a debate over the extent of U.S. involvement in Mexico's security operations as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum faces extreme pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to crack down on cartels. Trump has taken a more aggressive stance toward Latin America than any leader in recent U.S. history, capturing Venezuela's president, blockading oil shipments to Cuba and launching joint military operations in Ecuador, a country also marked by criminal violence.

Trump has repeatedly offered to take action on Mexican cartels, an intervention that Sheinbaum has said was “unnecessary.”

The CIA officers were initially identified as U.S. embassy personnel by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson, who is himself a former CIA employee.

The U.S. Embassy declined Monday to identify the individuals or which entity of the U.S. government they worked for, but said the officials were “supporting Chihuahua state authorities’ efforts to combat cartel operations.” The embassy, State Department and CIA declined to comment on the identities of reports of CIA involvement in the operation.

Local Mexican officials originally claimed they were working with the U.S. on an operation, but later walked those comments back after the effort came under scrutiny from Sheinbaum.

Sheinbaum said she knew nothing of a joint operation between Chihuahua’s government and the U.S. despite reports that the Mexican army was also involved in the raid on the lab.

She maintained in a Tuesday press briefing that she didn’t know if the officials were part of the CIA but acknowledged that state officials and the U.S. “were working together.”

It’s a sensitive issue for the Mexican leader as she walks a careful line with the Trump administration, working to maintain a strong relationship to offset threats of U.S. intervention on cartels and tariffs while also underscoring Mexico’s sovereignty.

The CIA has recently expanded its collaboration with Mexican authorities, part of the Trump administration’s effort to stop the flow of illicit drugs.

The presence of U.S. intelligence officials in Mexican territory has been the subject of ongoing debate, which has only intensified after Trump’s military actions in Venezuela and Iran.

Last year, Sheinbaum said the U.S. had conducted surveillance drone flights at Mexico’s request after a series of conflicting public statements.

The most recent controversy surfaced in January over the detention in Mexico of former Canadian athlete Ryan Wedding, one of the United States’ most wanted fugitives. While Mexican officials claim he surrendered at the U.S. Embassy, U.S. authorities have described his capture as the result of a binational operation.

“There is a rise of hidden operations by the United States in Mexico under Trump,” said David Saucedo, a Mexican security analyst. “They're hidden because … the Mexican government has a discourse that they can't permit the presence of armed U.S. agents — it's a kind of violation of sovereignty. The Mexican government has always tried to hide this collaboration.”

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Janetsky reported from Mexico City. AP writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator said during a Politico health care summit that his agency plans to ask states to “own” the problem of health care fraud this week with requests for states to share their strategies within 30 days.

“It's an example of what we'd like them to do to prove that they're serious about this,” Oz said onstage Tuesday. “And if you don't take it seriously, it indicates to us that we might have to take the audits that we're doing to the different states more aggressively,” he said, without elaborating.

Tuesday's announcement is part of a federal campaign to tackle waste, fraud and abuse in federal Medicaid and Medicare programs that so far has mostly targeted Democratic states — and at least once has erred in its accusations.

Earlier this month, The Associated Press reported that CMS made a significant error in figures it used to help justify a fraud probe in New York. The acknowledgment deepened doubts in the administration's methods and raised a common criticism that has been made about the second Trump administration — that it tends to attack first and confirm the facts later.

In addition to New York, CMS has approached at least four other states with investigations into potential health care fraud and halted some $243 million in Medicaid payments to one of them, Minnesota, over fraud concerns. It also is blocking for six months any new Medicare enrollments for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics or certain other supplies around the country to address the potential for fraud. In addition, federal officials made several arrests earlier this month related to alleged hospice fraud schemes in the Los Angeles area.

Last month, Trump signed an executive order to create an anti-fraud task force across federal benefit programs led by Vice President JD Vance. It's unclear whether Tuesday's move is part of that effort, though Oz has been working closely with Vance on other investigations related to the task force. Asked for details on the new audit, a spokesperson for CMS said the agency was researching the AP's inquiry.

Oz justified Tuesday's move by saying federal health programs in some states have enrolled large numbers of providers who aren't providing real care to patients, but instead profiting from fraud. He said the requests for states to verify the legitimacy of Medicaid providers will be focused on “high risk areas,” but didn’t explain what those entail.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have blamed for allowing fraud to happen in federally funded programs including Medicaid, welcomed Oz’s announcement.

Walz told reporters Tuesday that Minnesota hadn’t received the request yet, but the Democratic governor said his state is already moving ahead with the revalidation process and has made significant improvements. Minnesota sued CMS in February in an attempt to stop it from withholding Medicaid funds. That case is still ongoing, and the money has not yet been released, but CMS wrote to state officials last month that the agency had approved the state’s corrective action plan.

Asked during the Politico interview whether there was a risk that Trump administration initiatives could eliminate, slow down or harm essential health care programs, Oz said he expects the opposite. He said Medicaid and Medicare are the “crown jewels” of our nation.

“I believe this audit and others like it will save the programs we care most about,” he said.

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Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed to this report.

“The president never once asked me to commit to any particular interest rate decision, period,” Kevin Warsh, a former top Fed official, said under questioning by the Senate Banking Committee. “Nor would I ever agree to do so if he had. ... I will be an independent actor if confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve.”

Warsh’s comments came just hours after Trump, in an interview on CNBC, was asked if he would be disappointed if Warsh didn’t immediately cut rates and responded, “I would.”

The comments underscore the challenge faced by Warsh, 56, a financier and former member of the Fed's board of governors whom Trump named in January to replace the current Fed chair, Jerome Powell. Democrats on the committee accused Warsh of flip-flopping on interest rates over the years, supporting higher interest rates under Democratic presidents and advocating rate cuts during Trump's time in office. Investors are watching the hearing closely to see how Warsh balances Trump’s demands with worsening inflation, as the war in Iran pushes up the price of gasoline.

Higher inflation typically leads the Fed to raise rates, or at least keep them unchanged, rather than cut them. When the Fed changes its key rate, it can affect mortgages, auto loans, and business borrowing.

Yet Warsh's account was challenged by Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, who said that Wall Street Journal reporting last year found that Trump had urged Warsh to reduce borrowing costs.

“Who's lying here? Is it you or the president?” Gallego asked.

“I think those reporters need better sources,” Warsh responded.

For all the back and forth, the hearing didn't appear to advance Warsh's nomination, which has been delayed by a Justice Department investigation into the Fed and Powell, over brief testimony Powell gave last June before the same panel about a building renovation.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican on the committee, reiterated Tuesday he wouldn't vote for Warsh until the investigation is dropped. With the committee closely divided and all Democrats opposed to his nomination, Tillis' opposition is enough to bottle it up in committee.

“We have got to get rid of this investigation,” Tillis said, “so I can support your nomination.”

Tillis has previously said that all seven Republicans on the committee have signed a letter stating that Powell did not commit a crime when he testified before the panel last June. Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannine Pirro, are investigating his testimony for potential perjury, though a judge said last month they offered no evidence to support the charge when he threw out subpoenas Pirro had issued.

Prosecutors from her office as recently as last week sought access to the Fed’s building project but were turned away, revealing that the Trump administration has not reversed course despite opposition from members of his own party that are essential to Warsh’s confirmation.

In his opening remarks, Warsh told the Senate Banking Committee that one of his top goals would be to fight inflation, which remains elevated at 3.3% annually.

“Congress tasked the Fed with the mission to ensure price stability, without excuse or equivocation, argument or anguish,” Warsh said. “Inflation is a choice, and the Fed must take responsibility for it.”

Warsh would be in a tough spot if confirmed. Inflation is worsening, making it much harder for the Fed to implement the interest rate cuts Trump so desperately seeks. The conflict could also slow the economy, as well as hiring. And if Warsh ultimately becomes chair, he may very well find his predecessor, Powell, still sitting on the Fed’s governing board, an uncomfortable arrangement that hasn’t occurred since the late 1940s.

Warsh said the Fed's political independence is “essential,” and that the central bank wasn't threatened when “elected officials — presidents, senators, or members of the House — state their views on interest rates." Trump has repeatedly urged Powell to cut the Fed's key rate from its current level of about 3.6% to as low as 1%, a view almost no economist shares.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said that Trump has not just stated his opinions on rates, but has sought to fire a Fed governor and is investigating Powell.

“The Senate should not be aiding and abetting Donald Trump’s illegal takeover of the Fed by installing his chosen sock puppet as chair,” she said Tuesday.

Warren also noted that Warsh has not disclosed all of his financial holdings, which include investments in start-ups and private companies, or the size of those financial stakes. For example, Warsh has said he has holdings in SpaceX and Polymarket, but has not said how large those investments are.

Warren charged that Warsh is not in compliance with ethics requirements. Warsh argued that the Office of Government Ethics has signed off on his plan to sell all his assets within 90 days of his confirmation.

The turmoil could make a potential transition from Powell to Warsh an unusually turbulent one for the world’s most pivotal central bank, which has historically experienced smooth transfers of power. Should the change in leadership prove particularly bumpy, it could unnerve markets and lift longer-term interest rates.

Powell's term as chair ends May 15. He said last month that he would remain as chair until a successor is named. Powell also is serving a separate term as a member of the Fed's governing board that lasts until January 2028. Fed chairs typically leave the board when their terms as chair end, but Powell said last month he would remain on the board, even if a new chair is approved, until the investigation is dropped.

Trump said he would fire Powell if he attempted to remain at the Fed. Yet Trump's previous attempt to remove a Fed governor, Lisa Cook, has been tied up in court. During oral arguments in January, a majority of justices on the Supreme Court appeared to lean toward leaving Cook at the Fed.

On April 6, the sheriff’s office and Clay County Fire Rescue responded to a vehicle fire near County Road 218 and N. Mimosa Ave.

Once the flames were extinguished, the body of an unidentified man was discovered in the vehicle.

The medical examiner’s office determined that the manner of death was a homicide.

Investigators said that the vehicle had possibly been parked in the same location since the morning of Sunday, April 5. However, it is believed that the fire did not start until that Monday afternoon.

This is an ongoing investigation. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information or video surveillance to call 904-264-6512 and ask for Det. Nicole Mosley or remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.

Former Democratic Rep. Wiley Price of St. Louis was accused in 2020 of having sex with an intern, threatening a staffer to keep quiet and then lying while under investigation. An attempt to expel Price from the House failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority in January 2021. Colleagues instead voted overwhelmingly to censure him and deduct about $22,500 from his paychecks to cover the costs of the investigation.

Price did not contest the allegations in his 2024 lawsuit against the Missouri House of Representatives and the state Office of Administration. Rather, he contended that the legislature lacked the authority to take his salary, and did so too late.

Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe agreed with Price in a ruling late last week. The judge said that House rules made no mention of potential fines or cost recoupments when an ethics committee recommended in December 2020 that Price be punished. After a new two-year session of the legislature began in 2021, the House could not legally continue the case nor retroactively change its rules to allow the financial penalties, the judge wrote.

“Even grade-school children recognize that you can’t change the rules after the fact," Richard Callahan, a former U.S. attorney who represented Price, said Tuesday. He added: "You don’t have to know Latin to know that there’s an unfairness about that.”

A spokesperson for the Missouri House said that chamber officials are reviewing the court order and evaluating their next steps.

Price lost in the Democratic primary in 2022 and now works on the staff of Democratic state Sen. Karla May. He is one of at least 158 lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct in state capitols since 2017, the year the #MeToo movement gained momentum, according to a tally by The Associated Press. More than one-third resigned or were expelled from office and roughly another third faced repercussions, such as losing party or committee leadership positions or being formally censured.

A dozen top state executive officials, including governors and attorneys general, also faced sexual misconduct allegations during that time, and most resigned.

A report released Tuesday by the National Women's Defense League also cataloged 30 members of U.S. Congress who faced publicly reported workplace sexual harassment or misconduct accusations since 2006. Those include Reps. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, who announced last week that they were leaving Congress. Their decisions came as both faced the prospect of being expelled from the chamber by their colleagues.

Advocates for those subjected to harassment say resignations provide accountability only if they are followed by substantive changes to the way allegations are handled and better policies for deterring such actions.

“It is an ongoing problem that there is kind of a get-out-of-jail-free card, where you can resign with dignity and we stop a political tsunami, we don’t have to keep talking about this, and we can move on to the politics of the day,” said Emma Davidson Tribbs, founding director of the National Women’s Defense League. "That is not enough.“

She said actual instances of sexual harassment and misconduct by federal and state lawmakers likely are several times higher than what's publicly reported because many people who targeted are reluctant to go public over fear of retaliation.

The crash occurred at around 7:20 a.m. on State Road 24 at SW 122nd Street in Alachua County.

According to FHP, a 17-year-old girl was driving a sport utility vehicle north on State Road 24 in the left turn lane, attempting to turn onto SW 122nd Street. FHP said her traffic signal displayed a flashing yellow left turn arrow.

Troopers said the teen entered the intersection and made a left turn, failing to yield to a southbound sedan and entering its path. The sedan was driven by a 38-year-old woman, who had an 8-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy as passengers.

The front right of the SUV struck the front right of the sedan. All occupants were transported to local hospitals, FHP said.

The two children in the sedan suffered critical injuries. Both children did not have on a seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to the report.

The two drivers each sustained minor injuries. The teen was wearing a seatbelt, the report said, but the other driver was not.

Ternus will take over as chief executive in September for Tim Cook, who turned Apple into a $4 trillion tech colossus during his 15-year run after the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.

Ternus faces challenges that will force him to step out of his comfort zone in hardware engineering. Beyond finding ways to keep Apple competitive in the artificial intelligence race, he will need to navigate supply chain questions and relationships with figures like President Donald Trump, who offered public praise for his predecessor on Tuesday.

Although Cook is handing over the CEO reins at Apple, he is widely expected to help the Cupertino, California, company maintain a good relationship with Trump after he shifts over to his new role as executive chairman.

Ternus, 50, has spent almost his entire career with Apple. He joined the company 25 years ago and has spent the past five years overseeing the engineering that underlies the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

It made him the prime contender to succeed Cook who on Monday, when Apple announced the change in leadership, hailed Ternus as “without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”

Ternus worked on some of Apple's signature products under Cook, including the Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. He was also involved in the MacBook Neo, "arguably one of the most disruptive products” that Apple has released in a while, said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.

“This mentorship will undoubtedly ensure a smooth transition, and initially, I expect very few changes to the company’s strategy,” Wood said.

The appointment appeared to be carefully timed, following Apple's 50th anniversary celebrations and ahead of its annual WWDC developers conference in June.

The change also arrives at a pivotal time for the company. While Cook led Apple through an iPhone-fueled era of prosperity, Apple has fallen behind in the AI race. Apple has stumbled in its efforts to deliver new features built on AI, as was promised nearly two years ago.

“The challenge for the new CEO is really to make sure Apple is able to crack AI as the new user interface and reinvent human machine interaction," Forrester Research analyst Thomas Husson said.

Wood says attention at WWDC will be on the new CEO's AI strategy, and what the company will do next after turning earlier this year to Google — an early leader in the AI race — to help make the iPhone’s virtual assistant Siri more conversational and versatile.

“A big strategic question is how far Apple will invest in building its own AI platform versus relying on other companies’ models and platforms,” Wood said.

Apples shares fell more than 2% during Tuesday's trading, signaling some investors may have doubts about whether Ternus's focus on hardware products has prepared him for the AI challenges he will confront as the company's next CEO.

But building a device well-suited for the AI age is among the most critical missions as technology makes its most significant pivot since Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007. That's why some analysts believe Apple's board saw Ternus' hardware background as a key advantage as it tries to develop an AI-powered device that could eventually supplant the iPhone as its top-selling product.

That is something that Jony Ive, the former Apple design guru, who shaped the look of the iPhone, is trying to do after his startup, io Products , was acquired last year for $6.5 billion by ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

Apple also faces a turbulent market amid geopolitical uncertainty, Wood said.

"The consumer electronics industry faces a perfect storm, with memory chip shortages and the war in the Middle East having widespread implications for consumer confidence. Apple will also need to decide how much it wants to continue its deep reliance on China for manufacturing,” he said.

Being Apple CEO will also require soft skills including developing relationships with important figures. Cook cultivated ties with Trump as he navigated the company through business challenges including Trump's trade and tariff war targeting countries in Asia, where Apple has extensive manufacturing supply chains.

Trump noted his relationship with Cook in a social media post on Tuesday morning, writing that “it began with a phone call” at the beginning of his first term, when Cook asked for help with “a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could fix.”

“That was the beginning of a long and very nice relationship,” Trump said.

Ternus is not well known outside of the Apple universe. He joined the company in July 2001, according to his LinkedIn profile, which does not have any posts.

Before joining Apple, he spent four years as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He graduated in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the swim team and for his senior project developed a mechanical feeding arm for quadriplegics controlled by head movements.

In a 2024 commencement speech to the university's engineering school, Ternus said he was intimidated when he first started working at Apple and wasn't sure he belonged. He learned to “always assume you’re as smart as anyone else in the room but never assume you know as much as they do.”

“There will always be new skills to master and new people to learn from,” he said.

Ternus said in Apple's announcement that he was "humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”

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AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke contributed to this story from Berkeley, California.

Hours later, the anonymous author launched a fresh round of attacks against the city’s mayor.

The News4JAX I-TEAM has tracked the messages for three weeks, as hundreds, if not potentially thousands of residents, have reported receiving mass texts targeting public figures.

The latest wave, sent on Friday, criticized Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and included a link to a newly formed political action committee.

Shortly after News4JAX published a story on the issue on Friday, noting that the messages could be considered protected speech under the First Amendment, Minor received a text from a spoofed number addressing him by name.

“Congrats on discovering the First Amendment, Tarik. Only 234 years later,” the message read.

Hours later, additional mass messages were sent to the public, again targeting Deegan and referencing controversy at JEA under CEO Vickie Cavey.

The anonymous campaign has also targeted JEA leadership and the Jacksonville business community, including Chamber of Commerce President Daniel Davis. The timing and content of the messages suggest the sender is monitoring local news coverage.

News4JAX political analyst Rick Mullaney said the situation has raised widespread questions across the community.

“It’s something the whole community is asking — who’s doing it and why,” Mullaney said. “And it appears from the attack on Donna Deegan that part of it’s political.”

RELATED: Anonymous mass text smear campaign targeting Jacksonville leaders likely considered ‘protected speech’

Mullaney said the focus on the mayor could signal early activity ahead of Jacksonville’s next mayoral election in March. However, he added that the broader scope of the messages, including references to JEA and business leadership, suggests other financial motivations.

“There’s an ongoing investigation on multiple fronts as to what’s going on at JEA,” Mullaney said. “Some of that could involve lobbying contracts and political influence. The most logical suggestion is that there’s potentially a political motive as well as a financial motive — and maybe something else.”

The investigation Mullaney referenced involves scrutiny of communications tied to JEA, including those involving CEO Vickie Cavey, City Council President Kevin Carrico and lobbying firm Ballard Partners. The probe is examining potential political influence and misconduct.

RELATED: News4JAX asked for public records related to council president’s JEA subpoena. Council said it would cost us nearly $4K

Jacksonville City Council member Matt Carlucci described the anonymous texts as a coordinated effort.

“I think it’s a group of persons working together toward a political end,” Carlucci said, calling the campaign “cowardly.”

Carlucci urged residents to research issues independently and not rely on anonymous claims.

“Don’t believe them and opt out,” he advised.

Questions have also emerged about whether political operatives could be connected to the messages. Former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, now a lobbyist with Ballard Partners, denied any involvement through a spokesperson.

“Whoever is behind this has a lot of money to spend on phone number lists,” a Curry spokesperson said. “Lenny Curry has never lobbied JEA. He has never been on an email or a call on JEA. Curry is not responsible for the text messages.”

Ballard lobbyist Jordan Elsbury, Curry’s former chief of staff, spoke with Minor and did not want to comment.

The identity of the sender and the motive behind the messages remain unknown.

The Alco Halfway House, a nonprofit in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood that has helped people recover from drug and alcohol addiction for nearly 60 years, was at risk of closing after a recent inspection revealed the residential building on its property had never been inspected by the fire department.

RELATED: JFRD didn’t inspect a halfway house for 59 years. Inspectors then found costly issues that could put it out of business

That discovery meant the facility needed significant upgrades to meet code compliance. Records obtained by the News4JAX I-TEAM confirm there were no previous inspections for the residential portion of the property for the last 59 years.

Executive Director Doug Jones said that since our initial report aired, the response has been overwhelming.

“Since we last spoke, the community has really rallied in an incredible way,” Jones said.

Jones previously told News4JAX the organization did not know how it would move forward. Now, he said that roughly $30,000 in donations has come in from the community.

The facility still needs about $175,000 in repairs to meet a September deadline set by the fire department in order to continue operating and providing sober living housing.

Jones said public awareness played a critical role.

“Until the story came out and the public was aware of what we were going through, we did not know what we were going to do,” he said.

In addition to monetary donations, local businesses have stepped in to help offset the cost of required upgrades. Double S Mechanical is donating a fire suppression system valued at $100,000, while Emergency Systems Inc. is offering discounted installation of fire sprinklers.

City Councilman Jimmy Peluso, who represents District 7, said the situation highlights challenges common in historic areas like Springfield.

“We have a lot of properties where back in the day it was very common for there to be a business and a residential property in the same building,” Peluso said. “JFRD and others probably didn’t realize it was operating as a halfway house to the level that it was.”

Peluso said progress is being made, with permits already pulled for the installation of a new sprinkler system.

Once the fire suppression system is installed, the facility will be able to reopen 13 beds for people in recovery.

While the organization is not yet fully in the clear, Jones said the support has given him hope.

“We’re not out of the woods, but I can see the clearing,” he said. “I want to thank all of the donors and the businesses that have stepped up to keep Alco House alive and operating, and hopefully we can continue operating for another 60 years to provide the recovery in Jacksonville that is so desperately needed.”

Jones said there’s still work to be done, and they are continuing to raise money to get the halfway house back into compliance. The Alco Halfway House continues to operate 100% on private donations.

If you’d like to make a donation, they can be dropped off in person at 1120 Hubbard St. or made online via GoFundMe or Venmo.

Through his long months in captivity, family and friends hoped that, like Frankl, he would come back with a message of hope. Then, in August 2024, after nearly a year in captivity, he and five other hostages were shot dead by their captors deep underground, likely as Israeli forces were closing in.

The quest for his why has fallen to his family, who led a high-profile campaign for his release. His mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, has a new book released Tuesday.

“When We See You Again” has no narrative arc, no tidy uplifting message, no score settling with the Hamas militants who killed her son or the Israeli leaders who many blamed for his death — only a searing account of her grief.

She hasn’t yet decided whether the book is an exceptionally painful love story, or a love-filled pain story.

“I’m still trying to figure out with clarity what is my why, but it’s clear to me that my why is not done,” Goldberg-Polin said, a photo of a smiling Hersh behind her. “I just really wanted to tell the truth. It’s very ugly.”

A face of the hostage crisis

Hersh was among the 251 people abducted by Hamas in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack. His hand was blown off by a grenade before he was dragged into Gaza and eventually into the militant group’s labyrinth of tunnels.

The war sparked by the attack led to the killing of over 70,000 Palestinians and the destruction of much of Gaza before a ceasefire deal in October led to the release of all the remaining hostages. Hersh had been killed, along with five other hostages, more than a year earlier.

Rachel had campaigned tirelessly for her son’s release, appearing in countless media interviews, meeting with then-President Joe Biden and addressing the Democratic National Convention. She also joined mass protests in Israel accusing the government of failing to reach a deal sooner.

Her son was among the best-known hostages. Posters and graffiti with his name and face still appear across the country, often bearing the line popularized by Frankl.

A human portrait

In her memoir, Rachel takes care not to mythologize him. She notes that he picked his scabs as a kid and was bad at doing dishes.

“Hersh has become a symbol to many,” Goldberg-Polin writes in the book. “I don’t know what to do with that. But it’s OK. If people need Hersh to be something, he will be that. That is the essence of service, being what is needed.”

Rachel grew up in Chicago and moved to Israel with her husband and three children when Hersh, the oldest, was 6. She tells stories from the “before time”: of how Hersh as a child would wow people with his encyclopedic knowledge of U.S. presidents, and how he loved Jerusalem's local soccer team and their sister team in Bremen, Germany.

She only briefly touches on his capture and the details of his captivity, which have been widely reported. She writes about their desperate search for information in the chaotic and terrifying days after the attack, their long fight for his release and the news of Hersh's killing, along with five others, after 328 days.

The book is mostly a “very raw, peeled, oozing, throbbing pain,” Goldberg-Polin said. She describes “hundreds of sodden days dripping with anguish.”

“The book really started just as a way of taking this tremendous weight of suffering that was causing my soul to buckle,” she said in an interview in Jerusalem.

The writing came out in bursts, without a plan for a final project, just a question of “How do I survive the next 15 minutes?” she said.

A fellowship of grief

The book emerged in part from her frustration when people asked how she was. “I think, ‘Well, do you not see this dagger sticking out of my chest at my heart? How can you possibly be asking me that?’” she said. “But I realized they don’t see it. And it’s not because they’re mean or insensitive. They simply don’t see it.”

“Someone who’s born blind doesn’t know what blue is, and it’s very difficult to describe blue to someone who’s blind. But I’m desperate for people to see my blue, and I’m yearning for people to feel my pain,” she said.

Then there were those who wanted to share their own stories of death and loss, even during her son’s shiva, the traditional Jewish week of mourning after the funeral. It’s an experience that she describes as overwhelming and eye-opening, revealing the “surplus of suffering” in the world.

“They’re not trying to comfort me, they’re saying: ‘Let me stand next to you and we’ll be in this together,’” she said.

During the campaign to release the hostages, one of Rachel’s mantras was “Hope is mandatory,” even when it felt impossible. Now, wherever they go, people ask her and her husband for a bit of their creased and crumpled hope.

She has no easy answers, as she tells Hersh in a letter addressed to her dead son near the end of the book.

“I will carry your why,” she writes. “I'll do it, I’ll carry your why around the world.”

He dropped in to chat with Rance about the final installment of his poetry book series to celebrate National Poetry Month.

The UT Dell Medical Center, announced Tuesday, is projected to open in 2030 as the crown jewel of a new 300-plus-acre advanced research campus. The university expects to break ground this fall on what school leaders are calling the country's first “AI-native” hospital.

The donation makes the couple the first University of Texas donors to give more than $1 billion, according to system officials, building on two decades of support for computer science education, the medical school and scholarships for students with the most significant financial need.

For Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at about $170 billion, the next step was to further expand his and his wife's investments in Central Texas. The computer magnate founded the company in 1984 as a UT-Austin pre-med student selling customized personal computers from his freshman dorm room. Health infrastructure needs became clear, he said, as the area's population about doubled in size.

“I was born in Texas. My wife was born in Texas. This is our home,” Dell told the Associated Press, adding that “building a stronger health system here, more innovation and helping to support the growth and stability of the region” is important.

The donation is among the largest ever in higher education philanthropy, following recent contributions such as Phil Knight's $2 billion pledge to Oregon Health & Science University's cancer center and Michael Bloomberg's $1.8 billion gift to cover Johns Hopkins University medical students' tuition.

A ‘rare' opportunity to integrate technology into a new medical center

From monitoring vital signs to triggering step-by-step care plans, AI is making inroads into health care at hundreds of hospitals.

With the launch of UT Dell Medical Center, however, Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti sees a rare opportunity: instead of retroactively applying new technologies to old hospital infrastructure, she said they can integrate them from the start. They will also collaborate with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to offer top specialists for those with complex conditions.

Lucchinetti, the dean of Dell Medical School and senior vice president for medical affairs, said their model will use technology to support the patient-doctor relationship and make care “feel simpler and more human.” “Ambient" AI will make the hospital itself an “intelligent member of the care team,” she said, taking notes so that clinicians can treat patients more directly. She touted AI's ability to identify biometric patterns and early signs of cancer before they're obvious to the naked eye.

The goal, she said, is to move from a reactive and fragmented health system to one that is predictive and more seamless.

“We have the technology, the science and the understanding to do better. And what we’ve been missing is the ability to design a system around those capabilities from the start,” she said. "That’s the opportunity that Susan and Michael Dell have catalyzed.”

The gift will also support undergraduate scholarships, student housing and UT's Texas Advanced Computing Center, where officials are building the nation's largest academic supercomputer with Dell's AI infrastructure.

In a convocation address two years ago, Michael Dell encouraged medical school graduates to ensure AI models understand human ethics and make health care more equitable. He believes the technology will augment caregiving, create more precise treatments, accelerate scientific discoveries and apply those findings to real-world practices sooner.

“We have to figure out how to do this in a way that is responsible, reflects our values and beliefs, and ultimately enables humans to reach their full potential,” he told AP. “That's what we're all working on.”

Landscape for higher education giving

The major contribution comes at a time when private support for higher education is falling to a dwindling pool of supporters.

Colleges raised a record $78 billion last year, according to the 2025 Voluntary Support of Education, but nearly 90% of that money came from just 2% of donors.

Rutgers University Associate Dean for Research Marybeth Gasman said she's excited to see such strong support for a public institution at a time when public funding is declining amid politicized attacks on higher education. She hopes the megagift inspires other donations, as she said decades-long patterns suggest that more giving occurs after high-profile individual contributions.

“Higher education, quite frankly, could really use it right now," she said.

UT-Austin officials are certainly hoping so. The Dells' gift kicks off a broader 10-year campaign to raise $10 billion for the university.

The donation comes on the heels of the Dells' $6.25 billion pledge to provide an incentive to claim new investment accounts under President Donald Trump's tax law for 25 million American children ages 10 and under. The “Trump Accounts” give $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open one, and invests those funds in the stock market. The couple believes it is the largest single private commitment made to U.S. children.

Michael Dell said even a small sum makes a child more likely to enter college — “perhaps at the University of Texas or some other great school” — and eventually start a family or business. He welcomed the creativity he's seeing from other “Trump Accounts" funders. He's seen cities offer additional investments for community service and good grades. He noted that hedge fund managers Brad Gerstner and Ray Dalio have seeded accounts in Indiana and Connecticut, respectively.

“I think you'll see many more gifts at the local community level and some other big ones at the national level,” he said.

But he dismissed the suggestion that, between the “Trump Accounts” and this University of Texas gift, there's been a shift in his and his wife's philanthropy toward more selective, bigger bets.

“Certainly, we’ve been very blessed and we have a lot of resources,” he said. "So, we're looking for things that have significant impact.”

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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

Repairs to the Druzhba pipeline became a contentious issue, delaying approval of a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan intended to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs over the next two years. Zelenskyy said repairing the pipeline was linked to freeing the funds, which had been blocked by Hungary and Slovakia.

But top EU officials are now cautiously optimistic that the massive loan scheme might be approved as soon as Wednesday, ending months of political deadlock.

“Ukraine has completed repair work on the section of the Druzhba oil pipeline that was damaged by a Russian strike. The pipeline can resume operation,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X. “Although no one can currently guarantee that Russia will not repeat attacks on the pipeline infrastructure, our specialists have ensured the basic conditions for restoring the operation of the pipeline system and equipment.”

“We connect this with the unblocking of the European support package for Ukraine, which had already been approved by the European Council,” he added.

Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia have been halted for two months after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian drone attacks that damaged the pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory, and that continuous strikes risk the lives of technicians trying to repair it.

The war in Ukraine that began in February 2022 with Russia's invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands, forced millions to flee their homes and turned cities into rubble.

Before being unseated by centrist challenger Péter Magyar, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had threatened to cut gas supplies to Ukraine. Both Hungary and Slovakia accused Kyiv of deliberately obstructing Russian deliveries.

Zelenskyy said earlier this month he is reluctant to allow Russian oil to continue transiting through his country.

Speaking to reporters in Luxembourg after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the loan saga had taken many twists and turns. “We expect an agreement in 24 hours, so I don’t want to jinx it,” she said.

EU envoys are due to meet Wednesday in hopes of ending the standoff.

European Council President Antonio Costa, who will chair a summit of EU leaders starting Thursday, took to social media to thank Zelenskyy “for delivering, as agreed: repairing the Druzhba pipeline and restoring its operation.”

The 27-nation EU had originally intended to use Russian assets frozen in Europe as collateral for the loan. But that option was blocked by Belgium, where the bulk of the frozen assets are held.

In December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed not to stop their EU partners from borrowing the money on international markets as long as the three countries did not have to take part in the scheme.

But Orbán angered the other 24 countries by later reneging on that deal over the pipeline dispute and as campaigning heated up ahead of elections earlier this month, which the veteran Hungarian leader lost in a landslide.

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

“This case will come down to power, to control and to manipulation,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Candace White told jurors as opening statements began in the bellwether #MeToo case, with DA Alvin Bragg watching from the audience.

Weinstein lawyer Jacob Kaplan countered that the case actually “is about consent, about choice and about regret,” echoing Weinstein's longtime defense that his accuser has recast a willing encounter as a crime.

Since Weinstein became a major target of the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct nearly a decade ago, he has been convicted of some sexual assault charges and acquitted of others in trials on two U.S. coasts. A couple of charges ultimately were dismissed. But the rape charge involving a 2013 encounter in a Manhattan hotel has lingered, due to an overturned conviction followed by a jury deadlock.

The allegation is, by now, well known. But the contours of the case have changed.

The prior trials included other accusers and charges. This trial is pared down to the single question of what happened in a hotel room one morning between Weinstein and hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann, though jurors will again also hear a lot about their relationship before and after.

Weinstein also switched his legal team, and with it the rhetorical style and perhaps some strategic choices in his defense. His new attorneys have made clear that they intend to be more circumspect about broaching, for example, Mann's compensation from a claims fund for women who said Weinstein sexually mistreated them.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies ever having nonconsensual sex. He said in court in January that he had been unfaithful to his then-wife and “acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone.”

The jury — seven men and five women — was selected last week. Weinstein's last New York jury was majority-female, but his first was mostly male.

Now a 73-year-old prison inmate, Weinstein was once one of the most influential people in Hollywood. An Academy Award-winning producer and a studio boss, he helped bring such acclaimed films as “Pulp Fiction,” “Shakespeare in Love” and “Gangs of New York” to movie houses and the popular reality series “Project Runway” to TV. He also was a prominent Democratic donor.

His career collapsed in 2017, when years of Hollywood whispers about his behavior toward women became public accusations in news and social media. Criminal charges followed in New York and Los Angeles.

Mann was a 27-year-old hairstylist hoping to break into big-time acting when she met Weinstein at a Los Angeles-area party in early 2013.

She has testified that she was looking for a professional connection but ended up, ambivalently, in a consensual relationship with the then-married Weinstein.

During a New York trip with a friend in March 2013, she arranged a breakfast for pals and Weinstein, she said at previous trials. According to Mann's prior testimony, Weinstein ultimately trapped her in a hotel room, ignored her protestation that “I don't want to do this,” demanded she undress and grabbed her arms, and she succumbed because she “just wanted to get out.”

White told jurors Tuesday that Weinstein “was used to getting his way. He did what he wanted, when he wanted and with whom he wanted.” She added, “Behind closed doors, power meant him taking what he wanted from the victim in this case.”

Weinstein shook his head slightly at one point as White claimed that he had “silenced” Mann by letting her know that crossing him could be professional quicksand.

Weinstein's defense emphasized that after the alleged rape, Mann kept seeing Weinstein, accepting invitations, asking him for career help and sending warm messages to him.

She has said she was trying to avoid angering a volatile and well-connected man. But his lawyer said the case “isn’t a ‘he said, she said' — it will be her word against her own word.”

“Ask yourself: What is Jessica Mann getting from Harvey Weinstein?” Kaplan told jurors. He contended that she reevaluated the relationship and came to regret it years later, but that “does not remove consent.”

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted, unless they agree to be named, as Mann has done.

The trial is expected to take up to four weeks.

Even more notable: Mendoza, of Indiana, joined Jim Plunkett and Bryce Young as just the third Latino to win the trophy while Pavia, from Vanderbilt, was the runner-up.

Now with the NFL draft almost here, Mendoza and Pavia continue to drive conversation about where they will go. Mendoza is projected to be the No. 1 selection Thursday night, likely going to the quarterback-needy Las Vegas Raiders, while Pavia hopes to prove any lingering doubters wrong.

And while the two quarterbacks are the headliners, they are certainly not the only Latino prospects hoping to hear their names called before the draft ends Saturday.

Here's a look at nine players who attended the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis in February.

QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

The Heisman Trophy winner and national championship-winning quarterback seems a virtual lock to be the No. 1 pick after throwing for 3,535 yards, leading the nation with 41 TD passes and running for seven more scores, including the memorable TD that helped seal Indiana's national title. Mendoza eagerly embraces his Cuban lineage. He has talked often about the role his parents and family played in his growth as a player, and his four grandparents who fled Cuba in 1959.

WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

The 5-foot-11 1/2, 196-pound, do-it-all receiver with Puerto Rican connections emerged as one of the nation's top playmakers in 2025. He was a first-team All-America selection as the all-purpose player and though his 40-yard dash time of 4.43 seconds may cause some scouts to question his top-end speed, Concepcion always seems to deliver in clutch moments or when plays appear to be over. He also has written about his speech impediment, indicating he wants to become a role model for those who “may be too scared to speak.” He could be picked on Day 1 or early on Day 2.

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

The 6-1, 231-pound Rodriguez did a little bit of everything with one of last season's top defenses. He made 128 tackles, broke up seven passes, intercepted four, forced seven fumbles, recovered two and posted one sack. And the unanimous All-American also won the Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Bednarik Award on a defense stacked with future NFL players. He seemingly did it all in college, including playing quarterback at Virginia in 2021. The question is where he will land and how all that experience will translate to the pro level.

LB Taurean York, Texas A&M

At 5-11, 186 pounds, York is smaller than prototypical linebackers but could find a home by playing the trendy safety-linebacker hybrid NFL teams seem to increasingly want. He's been productive, too. The second team all-SEC selection started all three seasons with the Aggies, and he finished last season with 72 tackles and three passes defensed. He's one of five players in this draft with family ties to Mexico. Look for York to be chosen on Day 2 or early on Day 3.

QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

He's one of the most polarizing players in this draft class, in part because he's not afraid to express his thoughts and in part because he stands only 5-foot-10, much shorter than most teams prefer in a quarterback. But there are two things on Pavia's resume that can't be ignored — he's routinely defied the odds and he wins. Pavia started his college career at New Mexico Military Institute, played well enough to jump to New Mexico State and then led Vanderbilt to its most successful back-to-back seasons in recent memory. Now the 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the first Heisman finalist from Vanderbilt will be waiting to find out which NFL team will give him a chance to prove himself all over again.

TE Josh Cuevas, Alabama

Cuevas has been a more proficient blocker than pass catcher at his three college stops — Cal Poly, Washington and Alabama. And though his size, 6-3 1/2, 245 pounds, may prompt some teams to project him more as a fullback than a tight end, there's plenty to like. Cuevas produced solid numbers last season with the Tide — 37 receptions, 411 yards, four TDs — and had career bests in 2022 at Cal Poly (58 catches, 678 yards, six TDs). The other thing coaches will appreciate is his accountablilty. He apologized to Alabama fans after the 2025 season-opening loss to Florida State, saying the players failed to meet the expected standard in that game. He also used his Senior Bowl platform to throw his support behind Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer.

OL Fernando Carmona, Arkansas

Carmona showed his versatility last season by moving to guard after playing left tackle the previous three seasons. That gave NFL teams a potential preview of what he could do next season with his shorter arms and massive size — 6-4 1/2, 316 pounds. He's also improved steadily in college, going from honorable mention all-Western Athletic Conference with San Jose State in 2023 to third-team all-SEC in 2024 and second-team all-SEC last year. While scouts also seem to like his energy and edge, they also realize he'll need better technique to excel at the next level.

QB Joey Aguilar, Tennessee

Aguilar is one of the rare prospects who didn't want to be on any draft list. Despite throwing for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns in his only season with the Volunteers, Aguilar wanted to return to school for one more year. But just days before the NFL's annual scouting combine was set to begin, a Tennessee court denied his preliminary injunction, pushing him into the draft. The decision put Aguilar in an awkward position because most of the other players had spent weeks or months preparing for the draft. That makes his landing spot — or even a selection — anybody's guess.

OL Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas

Cruz has the size teams covet — 6-5 1/2, 313 pounds — and the versatility they like in late-round prospects because he played both left and right tackle in college. He also overcame the adversity of going from starter to backup at Syracuse by reclaiming the starting job last year at Kansas. Will it be enough to entice an NFL team? Perhaps.

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

This year’s election cycle will feature a closely-watched race for governor, as Republican Brian Kemp is term-limited and can’t seek re-election. The Republican and Democratic primaries each feature multiple candidates, as does the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, with multiple people seeking the chance to face Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in November.

READ MORE: Georgia candidates jockey as sprint begins to primaries for US Senate, governor | Georgia voters: What’s on your 2026 ballot?

In order to vote in the May 19 primary, Georgia voters must be registered by April 20. In order to register, you must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote, and at least 17-1/2 years of age to register, and 18 to vote. You can register to vote on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.

Georgia voters do not need to be registered with a particular political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. In fact, party affiliation is not part of the registration process in the state. The state has open primaries, meaning voters can choose which party’s primary ballot they want, when they vote.

Absentee voting, or vote by mail, is an option for Georgia voters, and you don’t have to be absent from the county on election day in order to use this method. You do have to request an absentee ballot, which can be done online or by mail, and the request must be submitted by May 8 for the primary election.

Early voting runs for three weeks prior to election day, including two Saturdays. Voters can cast a ballot at any early voting location in their county. You can find the dates, locations and times of early voting in your community with the interactive map below, or the county-by-county listing.

On Election Day, Tuesday, May 19th, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must cast their ballot at their assigned precinct.

Whether you are voting early or on election day, you must show one of the following forms of photo identification:

• Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services. 
• A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
• Student ID from a Georgia public College or University
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state 
• Valid U.S. passport ID 
• Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

News4JAX has compiled information about all of the races on the primary ballot in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

Brantley County

Brantley County Elections, 10305 N. Main St., Nahunta

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Camden County

Camden County Annex, 107 N. Gross Rd., Kingsland

• Weekdays, April 27-May 8: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Weekdays, May 11-15: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

St. Marys Welcome Center, 400 Osborne St., St. Marys

• Weekdays, May 11-15: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday, May 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Woodbine Government Services Complex (1st floor), 200 E. 4th St., Woodbine

• Weekdays, April 27-May 8: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Charlton County

Charlton Elections Office, 1520 Third St., Folkston

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, May 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

St. George Community Center, 13063 Florida Ave., St. George

• Saturday, May 2: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Clinch County

Clinch County Courthouse, 25 Court Sq., Homerville

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Glynn County

Glynn Board of Elections, 1709 Gloucester St., Brunswick

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ballard Community Building, 30 Nimitz Dr., Brunswick

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

St. Simons Island - Fire Station 2, 1929 Demere Rd., St. Simons Island

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pierce County

Pierce Courthouse Annex, 312 Nichols St., Suite 2, Blackshear

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ware County

Ware Board of Elections, 408 Tebeau St., Waycross

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 2 & 9: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Ware County Admin Building, 305 Oak St., Waycross

• Weekdays, April 27-May 15: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Adoring crowds in the largely Catholic country lined the road from the airport into the administrative capital, Malabo, cheering the first pope to visit since St. John Paul II in 1982. Wearing his formal red mozzetta cape, Leo thrilled the flag-waving masses by arriving at the presidential palace in his open-sided popemobile.

“There is a lot of joy today because we waited 44 years for the pope to come,” said Diosdado Marques, a senior Catholic official in the country. “It’s a blessing for the country. We hope many things will change and we will deepen our faith.”

The former Spanish colony on Africa’s western coast is run by the continent's longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been accused of widespread corruption and authoritarianism.

The pope notes a year since Francis' death

The discovery of offshore oil in the mid-1990s transformed Equatorial Guinea’s economy virtually overnight, with oil now accounting for almost half of its GDP and more than 90% of exports, according to the African Development Bank.

Yet more than half of the country’s nearly 2 million people live in poverty. And rights groups including Human Rights Watch — as well as court cases in France and Spain — have documented how revenues have enriched the ruling Obiang family rather than the broader population.

Leo, who arrived from Angola, met with Obiang at the presidential palace and then addressed government authorities, diplomats and civil service representatives. Noting that the encounter occurred on the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ death, Leo quoted the late pope in denouncing income inequalities that he said had been exacerbated by a global economy focused on the pursuit of profit at all cost.

“Such an economy kills,” Leo said. “In fact, it is even more evident today than in years past that the proliferation of armed conflicts is often driven by the colonization of oil and mineral deposits, occurring with no regard for international law or the self-determination of peoples.”

The Trump administration, which has announced plans to create a minerals trading bloc with its allies, has been racing to get access to Africa’s regions rich in critical minerals and to beat competition from China in a region where Beijing has long dominated.

Last year, as the administration emerged as a key broker for a peace deal to end the fighting in Congo’s mineral-rich but conflict-battered eastern region, it was also signing a partnership with Congo that would allow American companies access to those conflict minerals.

The U.S. is also investing funds in the Lobito Corridor, a major rail project that would facilitate export of minerals from regions in Zambia and Congo through Lobito in Angola. At the same time, the U.S. has backed a South Africa project aimed at extracting rare earth minerals from industrial waste.

Leo suggests Equatorial Guinea look to the ‘City of God’

The pope's meetings took place in the old presidential palace. The government has built a new capital on the mainland named Ciudad de la Paz, or City of Peace, but the transfer of government buildings is not complete.

Authorities have said the decision to build the new capital was strategic, given the potential for expansion of the city carved out of a tropical forest. But critics said the relocation would exacerbate inequalities and give further opportunities for the presidential circle to enrich themselves.

Leo referred to the new capital by citing the famous work of St. Augustine, “City of God,” in which the 5th-century philosopher interpreted humanity through two models: The “earthly city” where people live temporarily and the eternal “city of God,” characterized by God’s unconditional love and love of one another, especially the poor.

Leo didn't call out the corruption associated with the Obiang family or the criticism of the new capital. But he suggested Equatorial Guinea should look to the “City of God” as a model.

“The earthly city is centered upon the proud love of self, on the lust for power and worldly glory that leads to destruction,” he said. “It is essential to discern the difference between that which lasts and that which passes, remaining free from the pursuit of unjust wealth and the illusion of dominion.”

The pope plans to visit a prison

Equatorial Guinea is officially a secular country but about 75% of its population is Catholic, making it one of Africa's most Catholic countries.

Church leaders “are very much interconnected intrinsically with the government,” said Tutu Alicante, a U.S.-based activist who runs the EG Justice rights group. “Part of it is the fear the government has instilled in everyone, including the church, and part of it is the monetary gains that the church derives from this government.”

The Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, No. 2 in the Vatican’s missionary evangelization office, said the Catholic Church is present in difficult civil spaces and knows how to operate in them to carry out its mission.

“Should the church go to war against the government? Surely no,” Nwachukwu said. “Should the church swallow everything as if it were normal? No. The church has to continue preaching justice, always in defense of life, human dignity and the common good.”

In addition to official corruption, the country’s government also faces accusations of harassment, arrest and intimidation of political opponents, critics and journalists.

Equatorial Guinea is also one of several African nations that have been paid millions of dollars in deals with the Trump administration to receive migrants deported from the U.S. to countries other than their own.

AP reporting shows that at least 29 such migrants with no ties to the country have been deported there. Some remain in detention in Malabo with restrictions on legal and medical support, while others have been forcibly returned to their countries where they face persecution.

Leo, who will visit a prison in the port city of Bata on Wednesday, has criticized the Trump administration’s overall migration deportation policy as “extremely disrespectful.”

___

Associated Press writers Monika Pronczuk in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and Ope Adetayo in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

RELATED: Mark your calendars: Deadlines, start of early voting approaching for Georgia’s primary election

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

Scroll down to read about everyone running for statewide offices and the U.S. House and state legislative seats representing Southeast Georgia. Also, the Georgia Republican Party and the Democratic Party of Georgia have placed ballot questions on their party’s primary ballots. These questions are non-binding but may help advise the party on future priorities. To see what’s on local ballots, go directly to voter’s guides for Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Pierce, and Ware counties. (Clinch County does not have any local races in the primary election.)

U.S. Senate

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

Incumbent Jon Ossoff is the only candidate in the Democratic primary. Joining the Senate after the 2020 elections, Ossoff previously worked as an investigative journalist whose small business produced investigations of corruption and war crimes for international news organization. He grew up in the Atlanta area, studied diplomacy at Georgetown University, and received his Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics. (Campaign website)

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

Five candidates are on the Republican primary ballot, vying for the chance to face Ossoff in the November general election. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two will advance to a runoff on June 16.

• Earl “Buddy” Carter was born and raised in Port Wentworth, Ga., and was first elected to the U.S. House, representing Georgia’s 1st District, in 2014. For over 32 years, Carter owned Carter’s Pharmacy, Inc., and served as the mayor of Pooler, as well as serving in the Georgia General Assembly. (Campaign website)
• Mike Collins currently represents Georgia’s 10th District in the U.S. House. Collins, from Jackson, Ga., started his first trucking business at age 25, and grew it to employ more than 100 drivers. He graduated with a business degree from Georgia State University. (Campaign website)
• John F. Coyne III is listed as a CEO in his candidate qualifying records. Federal election records indicate he ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia in 2016 as a Democrat, losing in the primary. (Campaign website)
• Derek Dooley is the son of legendary University of Georgia football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley. Derek Dooley played football at the University of Virginia and received a law degree at UGA. He practiced law in Atlanta before pivoting to coaching football at the college level and in the NFL. (Campaign website)
• Jonathan McColumn is a retired U.S. Army brigadier general. A native of Macon, he spent 31 years in the military, retiring while serving as a minister for more than 25 years, and an adjunct instructor at the University of Phoenix for a period of time. (Campaign website)

LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE

• Allen Buckley has been a Georgia attorney and CPA for approximately 40 years, working in areas of tax, employee benefits, estate planning, and related business law. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia law school and received an LL.M. in Tax from the University of Florida. (Campaign website)

Governor

Republican incumbent Brian Kemp is leaving office due to term limits. There are multiple candidates for both the Democratic and Republican primaries. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in a party’s primary, the top two candidates will advance to the June 16 runoff election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Chris Carr has served as Georgia’s attorney general since 2016. He previously served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development under governor Nathan Deal, and was chief of staff to Senator Johnny Isakson prior to that. Carr is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and Lumpkin School of Law. (Campaign website)
• Clark Dean has a background in management consulting, corporate finance, and commercial real estate. A Harvard graduate, Dean currently lives in Atlanta. (Campaign website)
• Rick Jackson is a businessman who started his career in a sales job, and later went on to buy the company he worked for. According to his campaign website, Jackson grew up in foster care, and because of that, worked with state leaders to help pass legislation that now allows former foster youth in the state to attend college tuition-free. (Campaign website)
• Burt Jones is a sixth-generation Georgia native who currently serves as the state’s lieutenant governor, having been elected in 2022. He previously served in the State Senate for over a decade. Jones has played a leadership role in his family’s business, Jones Petroleum, and also founded JP Capital & Insurance, Inc.8 (Campaign website)
• Gregg Kirkpatrick has a background in biotechnology, billing himself as a medical device developer and inventor. He ran for the District 21 seat in the Georgia House in 2024 but lost in the primary. (Candidate’s LinkedIn profile)
• Brad Raffensperger is currently Georgia’s Secretary of State, wrapping up his second term. He previously served in the state House, and on the Johns Creek City Council. Before entering politics, he founded a company that provided high-strength steel for construction projects, growing it to a company that employed more than 150 people. (Campaign website)
• Tom Williams is a native of Wilkinson County, and was employed at Robins Air Force Base for 35 years, where he worked in software and electronics. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and his website bills him as a true political outsider who has never held public office. (Campaign website)
• Ken Yasger spent 12 years serving in the U.S. Army and later the Georgia Army National Guard. He has run for public office twice. (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Keisha Lance Bottoms is a former Atlanta mayor, having been elected in 2017 and choosing to not seek re-election in 2021. Before becoming mayor, she served on the Atlanta City Council, and also previously served as a judge. Under President Joe Biden, she served as a Senior Advisor for Public Engagement. (Campaign website)
• Olu Brown grew up in Texas but has been a Georgia resident for 25 years, starting when he moved to Atlanta for theological training. In 2007, he founded a church, which grew over the years to a multi-acre campus. He retired from church leadership in 2022, and now facilitates workshops and provides guidance on leadership development, organizational growth, and economic revitalization. (Campaign website)
• Amanda Duffy says she is running for governor to give volume to the voices of lower middle-class families stuck in financial survival mode. A mother of twins, Duffy says she is not the stereotypical candidate. She has accounting experience with small-business construction companies in Georgia. (Campaign website)
• Geoff Duncan was Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023, elected as a Republican. After the 2020 presidential election, he rejected President Donald Trump’s false claims about fraud in the state. (Campaign website)
• Jason Esteves worked as a public school teacher before beginning his legal career. He served as a representative on the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education, eventually serving as board chair. Esteves was elected to the State Senate in 2022, and along with his wife owns several small businesses across the state. (Campaign website)
• Derrick Jackson is currently a state representative from Fayette County, for the 68th District. He served in the U.S. Navy, then worked at General Electric, including seven years as a senior marketing manager. (Campaign website)
• Mike Thurmond grew up in Clarke County and returned there after law school to start his practice. He was elected to the Georgia Legislature at age 33. Thurmond also led Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services and later served as state Labor Commissioner, and then interim DeKalb County school superintendent. (Campaign website)

LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE

• Chase Oliver is a Libertarian activist living in Atlanta. He ran as a Libertarian for the U.S. Senate in 2022, and was the party’s nominee for president in 2024. (Libertarian Party of Georgia website)

Lieutenant Governor

The current lieutenant governor, Burt Jones, is running for governor, leaving the seat open. With multiple candidates in both the Democratic and Republican primaries, one or both could go to a runoff on June 16 if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in that primary.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• David Clark - businessman from Gwinnett County (Campaign website)
• Greg Dolezal - business owner from Forsyth County (Campaign website)
• Steve Gooch - Business owner from Lumpkin County (Campaign website)
• John Flanders Kennedy - Attorney from Adrian in Monroe County (Campaign website)
• Brenda Lynn Nelson-Porter - Research scholar from Coweta County (Campaign website)
• Takosha Swan - Small business owner from Rockdale County (Campaign website)
• Blake Tillery - Attorney from Toombs County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Josh McLaurin - Attorney from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Nabilah Parkes - State Senator from Gwinnett County (Campaign website)
• Richard Wright - Certified public accountant from Fulton County (Campaign website)

Secretary of State

The Georgia Secretary of State oversees voting, tracks annual corporate filings, grants professional licenses, and oversees the state’s securities market. As current secretary of state Brad Raffensperger is running for governor, this is an open position.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Tim Fleming - Small business owner from Newton County (Campaign website)
• Vernon Jones - Consultant from DeKalb County (Campaign website)
• Kelvin King - General contractor from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Ted Metz - Retired financial planner from Cobb County (Campaign website)
• Robert Gabriel Sterling - Consultant from Fulton County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Cam Thi Ashling - Business owner/farmer from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Dana Barrett - Fulton County commissioner (Campaign website)
• Adrian Consonery, Jr. - Voting rights advocate from Cobb County (Campaign website)
• Penny Brown Reynolds - Attorney from Fulton County (Campaign website)

Attorney General

The Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to the executive branch & prosecutes violent crime across the state. The seat is open in this election because Chris Carr is running for governor.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Bill Cowsert - Attorney from Clarke County (Campaign website)
• Brian Strickland - Attorney from Henry County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Tanya Miller - Lawyer from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Bob Trammell - Attorney from Meriwether County (Campaign website)

Agriculture Commissioner

The Georgia Department of Agriculture administers a variety of programs related to the state’s farm industry and the public that consumes its products. The current commissioner, Republican Tyler Harper, is unopposed for his party’s nomination. He will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the general election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• Tyler Harper - Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, from Irwin County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Katherine Juhan-Arnold - Farmer / engineering & construction management, from Gwinnett County (Campaign website)
• Sedrick Rowe, Jr. - Farmer / agricultural scientist, from Dougherty County (Campaign website)

Labor Commissioner

The Georgia Department of Labor provides a wide range of services to individuals and employers. These include administration of Georgia’s unemployment insurance, reemployment services, provision of workforce information to the public and private sectors, and oversight of child labor issues.

The current Labor Commissioner, Republican Bárbara Rivera Holmes, was appointed to the post in April 2025 by Gov. Brian Kemp. She is now seeking a full term and is unopposed for the Republican nomination. She will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the general election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• Bárbara Rivera Holmes - Georgia Labor Commissioner, from Dougherty County (Campaign website),

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Brett Hulme - Self-employed, from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Jason Moon - Professional representative for U.S. Small Business Association from Walton County (Campaign Facebook page)
• Nikki Porcher - Businesswoman from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Michelle Sanchez - Self-employed, from Hall County (Campaign website)
• Christian Wise Smith - Attorney from Fulton County (Campaign website)

State School Superintendent

The State School Superintendent leads the Georgia Department of Education, which serves the state’s K-12 public school districts, schools, and students. The current superintendent, Republican Richard Woods, has served in the position since 2015 and is seeking re-election. He does face opposition in the Republican primary, and there are three candidates in the Democratic primary.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Nelva Lee - Business owner from Henry County (Campaign website)
• Fred “Bubba” Longgrear - School superintendent from Candler County (Campaign website)
• Mesha Mainor - Former state representative from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Randell Trammell - Nonprofit educational executive from Bartow County (Campaign website)
• Richard Woods - State school superintendent from Tift County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Anton Anthony - Hancock County school superintendent, from Burke County (Campaign website)
• Lydia Powell - Educator from Fayette County (Campaign website)
• Otha Thornton - 53rd National Parent Teacher Association President from Coweta County (Campaign website)

Insurance & Fire Safety Commissioner

The mission of the Office of the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner (OCI) is to protect Georgia families by providing access to vital insurance products and safe buildings through fair regulation that creates economic opportunities for all Georgians. The current commissioner, Republican John King, is seeking re-election. He is the only Republican in the race. He will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the general election, as well the Libertarian nominee, Colin McKinney.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• John King - Georgia Insurance Commissioner, from Fulton County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Clarence Blalock - Small business owner from Paulding County (Campaign website)
• Thomas Gabriel Dean - Driver from DeKalb County (Campaign website not available)
• Ambuj “AJ” Jain - Entrepreneur from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• DeAndre Mathis - Insurance agent from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Keisha Sean Waites - Former state legislator from Fulton County (Campaign website)

LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE

• Colin McKinney - Physician from Clarke County (Campaign website)

Public Service Commission, District 3

The Georgia Public Service Commission regulates utilities such as electricity, telephone, and natural gas. Its five commissioners must live within a designated district, but are elected statewide. They serve staggered six-year terms.

The District 3 commissioner, Democrat Peter Hubbard, was just elected in a special election in 2025. He is seeking re-election, and is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Brandon Martin - Purchasing, from DeKalb County (Campaign website)
• Terrell “Fitz” Johnson, Sr. - Entrepreneur from Fulton County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

• Peter Hubbard - Public Service Commissioner, from DeKalb County (Campaign website)

Public Service Commission, District 5

The incumbent commissioner, Tricia Pridemore, is not seeking re-election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Bobby Mehan - Business owner from Haralson County (Campaign website)
• Carolyn Roddy - Attorney from Cobb County (Campaign website not available)
• Joshua Tolbert - Professional engineer from Cobb County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Craig Cupid - Attorney from Cobb County (Campaign website)
• Shelia Edwards - Business owner from Cobb County (Campaign website)
• Angelia Pressley - Professor from Cobb County (Campaign website)

Supreme Court of Georgia

Three of the nine seats on the Supreme Court of Georgia are up for election this year in statewide, non-partisan races. One of the three justices, Justice Benjamin Land, was unopposed. Each of the other two justices will face one challenger.

Supreme Court of Georgia - Bethel Seat

• Charles “Charlie” Bethel - Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, from Whitfield County (Campaign website)
• Shamiracle Johnson Rankin - Lawyer from Douglas County (Campaign website)

Supreme Court of Georgia - Warren Seat

• Jennifer Auer Jordan - Attorney from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Sarah Hawkins Warren - Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, from Fulton County (Campaign website)

Judge of the Court of Appeals

The Georgia Court of Appeals is made up of 15 judges, and hears cases from across the state. Five of the seats are up for re-election this year in statewide, non-partisan races, though three of the judges are unopposed: Judges Sara Doyle, David Markle, and J. Wade Padgett.

Judge of Court of Appeals - Brown III Seat

• Trenton Jones Brown - Judge of Court of Appeals from Putnam County (Campaign website)
• Will Wooten - Deputy district attorney from Fulton County (Campaign website)

Judge of Court of Appeals - Gobeil Seat

• Elizabeth Dallas Gobeil - Judge from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Fatima Harris Nelson - Attorney from Fulton County (Campaign website)

Georgia’s 1st Congressional District

One of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts, this district spans the entire coastline of Georgia, from the border with Florida, up to Savannah. In our area, it includes Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Pierce, and Ware counties. As Congressman Buddy Carter is running for the U.S. Senate, there is no incumbent in this year’s election. Given the number of candidates in each party’s primary, it’s possible a runoff will be needed for one or both races on June 16, if a candidate doesn’t get more than 50% of the vote.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Pat Farrell - Small business owner from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Jim Kingston - Insurance broker from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Brian Allen Montgomery - Retired, U.S. Army, from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Krista Penn - Healthcare executive from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Kandiss Taylor - Educator from Appling County (Campaign website)
• Eugene Chin Yu - Retired, from Chatham County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Defonsio Daniels - Retired Marine from Camden County (Campaign website)
• Joyce Marie Griggs - Retired military, from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Amanda Hollowell - Chief of campaigns, from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Michael McCord - Small business owner from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Joey Palimeno - Veterinary technician from Camden County (Campaign website)
• Sharon Stokes Williamson - Public health professional (Campaign website)
• Patrick Wilver - Self-employed, from Chatham County (Campaign website)
• Randall Zurcher - Teachers union representative from Chatham County (Campaign website)

Georgia’s 8th Congressional District

Georgia’s 8th District stretches from Valdosta to north of Macon. In southeast Georgia, the district includes Clinch County. The Republican incumbent, Austin Scott, is unopposed in his party’s primary.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• Austin Scott - U.S. Representative, from Tift County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Kelly Esti - Analyst from Fulton County (Campaign website)
• Justin Lucas - Education, from Worth County (Campaign website)

Georgia State Senate, District 3

Represents Brantley Camden, Charlton, Glynn and part of Ware counties. The incumbent, Republican Michael Hodges, drew no primary challengers, and no Democrats qualified for the election.

Georgia State Senate, District 8

Includes Clinch, Pierce and part of Ware counties. The incumbent, Republican Russ Goodman, is seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Russ Goodman - Farmer from Clinch County (Campaign website)
• Ralph Tyre - Entrepreneur/small business owner from Ware County (No campaign website found)

Georgia State House, District 167

Represents western Glynn County. Republican incumbent Homer “Buddy” DeLoach is seeking re-election but drew no opposition in his party’s primary.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• Homer “Buddy” DeLoach - Business owner, from McIntosh County (Campaign Facebook page)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Nathaniel Hicks, Jr. - Pastor from McIntosh County (Campaign Facebook page)
• Laurie Anne Thompson - Attorney from McIntosh County (Campaign website)

Georgia State House, District 174

Includes Brantley, Charlton, Clinch and part of Ware County. Incumbent Republican John Corbett is seeking re-election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• John Corbett - Self employed/farmer from Echols County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

• David Hall - Substitute teacher from Brantley County (Campaign Facebook page)

Georgia State House, District 176

Includes part of Ware County. The incumbent, Republican James Burchett, is seeking re-election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• James Burchett - Attorney from Ware County (Campaign Facebook page)
• Michael Dockery - Educator from Ware County (Campaign website)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

• Marcus Ryan - CDL operator from Lanier County (Campaign website)

Georgia State House, District 178

Includes Pierce County. Republican incumbent Steven Meeks is seeking re-election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

• Steven Meeks - Farmer from Wayne County (Campaign Facebook page)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

• Barry Dunham - Teacher from Bacon County (Campaign website)

Georgia State House, District 179

Includes the city of Brunswick, St. Simons Island and other parts of eastern Glynn County. Republican incumbent Richard Townsend (Campaign website) is seeking re-election and is unopposed in his party’s primary. The only Democratic candidate withdrew after qualifying for the election.

Georgia State House, District 180

Includes all of Camden County and a strip of southern Glynn County. Incumbent Steven Sainz (Campaign website) was the only Republican to qualify for the party’s primary. No Democrats qualified for this race.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

In Charlton County, the primary features three county commission races.

Pierce County Commission - Chairman

The incumbent, Neal Bennett, is seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race. Unlike the other two commission races, this is a county-wide election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Neal Bennett - Retired
• Austin Boatright - Business Owner

Pierce County Commission - District 2

The incumbent, Graham Raley, is not seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race. This race only appears on the ballots of voters in District 2.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Jason Christmas - Retail store manager
• Richard “Dick” Larson - Retired
• Jerry Ed Rich, Jr. - Self-employed

Pierce County Commission - District 4

Incumbent David Lowman is seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race. This race only appears on the ballots of voters in District 4.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• David Lowman - Retired
• Austin Moore - Sales

Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

The attack was among several separate assaults against Britain’s Jewish community in recent weeks.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, pleaded guilty to arson not endangering life when he appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Surveillance footage showed the boy climb over a wall at Kenton United Synagogue, in Harrow, on Saturday night, and set light to a bottle of liquid before throwing it through a broken window. The fire caused some smoke damage and no one was injured.

The boy said he did not know the building was a synagogue and he didn’t intend to harm anyone.

“I have no hate toward the Jewish people,” he said in a written statement. “I am very sorry for my actions.”

The boy was released on bail and ordered to appear at Willesden Youth Court on June 4.

Police arrested and released a 19-year-old man in the investigation and are seeking two other suspects.

There has been a series of arson attacks against synagogues and other Jewish targets in the U.K. since March 23, when four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity that serves people of all faiths in Golders Green, north London, were torched. No one has been injured in any of the incidents.

Police have said they are looking into whether Iran is behind six recent attacks, including one on a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran’s government, as part of a hybrid war fought by proxies amid the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.

Counterterror police said 23 people have been arrested so far. Seven of those were held on suspicion of conspiring to set fire to an unspecified Jewish venue, London’s Metropolitan Police said.

A group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia — or Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right — has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in Britain. It has also admitted being behind incidents in recent months at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe, all of which appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests, police said.

Israel has said the recently founded group has suspected links to “an Iranian proxy.”

But it is the European Union's policy toward Israel — and how to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as security deteriorates in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as in Lebanon — that is dividing EU members, stymieing strong action, and frustrating many in the 27-nation bloc.

Israel disagreement hobbles EU action

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said there was no clear political agreement in Luxembourg to ramp up pressure on Israel.

“We didn’t see that today, but these discussions will continue,” she said.

One of the loudest voices within the EU blocking sharper pressure on Israel is shortly leaving office — Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán routinely obstructed EU action on issues ranging from support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invasion to sanctions on Israelis accused of violent extremism.

Kallas said that Orbán’s defeat by pro-European opposition leader Péter Magyar in Hungary’s recent election could accelerate action.

“A lot of issues ... have been blocked” by Hungary, she said. “We are reopening the discussions and hope that we get a positive result.”

The EU has an Association Agreement, signed in 2000, that regulates trade and cooperation with Israel. Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have proposed completely suspending it, a move that doesn't have the required unanimous support among EU nations.

However, a partial suspension targeting just the trade aspects could have enough political support, said Spanish Foreign Minister José Albares.

“The European Union has to say today very clearly to Israel that a change is needed,” he said.

The EU has found indications Israel had violated the agreement with the bloc in its military campaign in Gaza.

“The attacks on the values that underpin that agreement are now too serious to ignore,” said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, adding that Belgium would support at least a partial suspension of the deal.

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israel's recent adoption of the death penalty for some Palestinians, and ongoing fighting in Lebanon should push EU nations to ramp up pressure on Israel.

“We need to act. We need to make sure that our fundamental values are protected,” McEntee said.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said France and Sweden have brought forward a plan to curtail trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Amnesty International condemned EU's lack of action to pressure Israel over its actions. Erika Guevara-Rosas, a director for the human rights organization, said “each delay only further entrenches impunity and paves the way for further grave human rights violations” by Israel.

EU diplomats call for extending ceasefires in Lebanon and Iran

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam spoke at the meeting in Luxembourg about the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, difficulties in disarming the Hezbollah militant group, and the need for EU assistance for the war-torn nation.

“Lebanon today needs its European partners more than ever,” Salam posted on X on Tuesday.

While now mainly headquartered in Brussels, EU institutions are also spread out in northern Europe like the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany and the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Lawmakers, diplomats and officials regularly move between the cities for meetings.

The Luxembourg meeting comes a day after 60 nations sent representatives to a Palestinian peace conference in Brussels with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa and Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov, who heads the Board of Peace set up by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The EU diplomats gathered in Luxembourg called for diplomacy on Iran as a ceasefire struck between Tehran and Washington that began April 8 was to expire Wednesday.

Kallas, the foreign policy chief, warned that if the fighting resumes, "it will come at a very large cost for all.”

She also announced that EU foreign ministers agreed Tuesday on new sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for obstructing freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf.

“Freedom of navigation is non-negotiable. Daily U-turns where the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, are reckless. Transit through the strait must remain free of charge,” Kallas said.

She did not elaborate on the sanctions or name the targeted officials.

Germany’s foreign minister called on Iran to send negotiators to Islamabad to meet with U.S. negotiators.

“Iran should now take this outstretched hand in the interest of its own people,” Johann Wadephul said.

The war in Iran has throttled global oil and gas markets and rattled the EU as a major importer of energy.

Also Tuesday, EU transportation ministers discussed in a video conference how to protect consumers at home and at the pump after the head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe has “ maybe six weeks ” supply left of jet fuel.

Since the latest war in the Middle East started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

___

McNeil reported from Brussels.

"Those (conversations) have been positive and productive. In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,” Vrabel said, making an unscheduled statement from the podium at the team's facility on the second day of its offseason workout program.

The photos were of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos earlier this month.

A Patriots spokesman said there are no plans for other team officials to address the issue further.

The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week later, after the Post's report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.

Vrabel said he addressed players about the matter on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary workout program. Two Patriots players were scheduled to be made available to reporters on Tuesday, but Vrabel said he wanted to speak before they did. He also said he didn't want the interest in the Post photos to take attention away from the NFL draft, which begins Thursday.

Vrabel said any conversations he's had with team officials would stay private.

“We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction,” he said. “There are comments and questions that I’ve answered with the team and will keep those private to ourselves."

Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including “SportsCenter” anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on their video platform.

Until his appearance Tuesday, Vrabel hadn't spoken in a news conference setting with reporters since the owners' meetings.

Last year, before his first season as Patriots coach, he addressed reporters as part of the lead-up to the NFL draft. He opted not to do that last week, with only Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf speaking at that news conference on April 13.

“Very involved. Business as usual,” Wolf said when asked how much Vrabel had been involved with the team’s draft process. “I’d say he’s been in there with us this round probably a little more than he was in there last year. ... He’s been in there. He’s been contributing. He’s watched a ton of the players.”

Vrabel, 50, won three Super Bowls as a player with New England. He is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots. He led the team to a 14-3 finish last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle.

Vrabel said his focus going forward is football.

“I care deeply about this football team and excited to coach them. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus,” he said. "What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, coaches and our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward. That’s what I know and I’m excited to do that.”

___

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

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

In Ware County, the primary features a county commission race and a Board of Education race, as well as a non-binding county referendum. There are also several questions from the local Republican Party.

Ware County Commission - District 3

Incumbent Republican Timothy Lucas is seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race. The race will only appear on the ballots of voters who live in District 3.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Jonathan Reid Daniell - EMA director
• Raylan Vonderau Guy - Social worker (Campaign Facebook page)
• Timothy Richard Lucas - Insurance agent

Ware County Board of Education - District 6

Incumbent Brandi Waters is seeking re-election in this non-partisan race. This race will only appear on the ballots of voters in District 6.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

• Leonard DeWitt Meadows - Fire chief
• Brandi R. Waters - Hospital administrator (Campaign Facebook page)

Ware County Nonbinding Advisory Referendum - Perimeter Highway

Ware County officials are looking at the feasibility of a perimeter roadway around Waycross. A feasibility study completed in February examined the proposal, looking at travel times, environmental and community concerns, and the possible routes for a perimeter road. A bill approved by the Georgia legislature and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp this spring placed the nonbinding advisory referendum on the ballot:

• “Do you support a perimeter highway bypass around Waycross?”

Ware County Republican Party Questions

In Georgia’s primary elections, the state parties typically place non-binding questions on the ballot in order to gauge voter opinion on various issues. In addition to the eight questions from the Georgia Republican Party, the Ware County Republican Party placed three additional questions on the ballot:

• Question 9: Are you in favor of prohibiting any new form/type/methods of gambling in the state of Georgia?
• Question 10: Should the Georgia General Assembly require all individuals to provide physical documentary proof of U.S. Citizenship when registering to vote?
• Question 11: Are you in favor of consolidating City and County Government?

Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

In Charlton County, the primary features a county commission race and a pair of school board races.

Charlton County Commission - District 1

Incumbent Alphya Benefield is seeking re-election. No Republicans qualified for this race.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Alphya Benefield - Tax preparer
• Wanda Moody - Inside sales

Charlton County School Board - District 1

Incumbent Deborah Young is seeking re-election. No Republicans qualified for this race.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

• Charles Brown - Missile mechanic
• Deborah Young - Deputy sheriff

Charlton County School Board - District 5

There is no incumbent in this race. No Democrats qualified for the election.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• John Lynn Murray - Self-employed
• Jamison Matthew Sands - Equipment utilization specialist

Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

In Brantley County, there are a pair of Republican primaries for county commission seats, as well as two non-partisan Board of Education races.

Brantley County Commission - Post 4

The incumbent in Post 4, Brian Hendrix, is not seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Justin Bowers - Sales engineer
• James Duncan - Retired
• Ray Griffin - Driver
• Mathew McGrath - Self-employed
• John David Thompson - Public safety

Brantley County Commission - Post 5

The incumbent, Republican Harry Andrew Riggins, is seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• J.T. Flanders - Mycologist
• Harry Andrew Riggins - Retired
• Whitley Autumn Schrack - Homemaker

Brantley County Board of Education - Post 2

Incumbent Kathy Hendrix is seeking re-election. This is a non-partisan race.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

• Lynn Daniels - Human resource director
• Kathy Hendrix - Retired

Brantley County Board of Education - Post 4

There is no incumbent in this election. This is a non-partisan race.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

• Teri Gibson - Retired
• Richard Gill - Teacher
• Kalyn Gilleon - Bookkeeper
• Brenda Sue Johns - Caregiver

Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

In Glynn County, there are two county commission races on the ballot, as well as a seat on the water-sewer commission. Local Republican and Democratic parties have also put non-binding questions on the ballot.

Glynn County Commission - District 3

This is an open seat, as commissioner Thomas “Wayne” Neal, who has served on the board since 2019, is not seeking re-election. No Democratic candidates qualified for this race. This race only appears on the ballots of voters in District 3.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Dane Hutcheson - Self-employed (Campaign website)
• Miranda Music Smith - Apparel designer (Campaign Facebook page)

Glynn County Commission - District 4

Incumbent David Sweat is seeking re-election. This race only appears on the ballots of voters in District 4.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• David Sweat - Retired (Campaign Facebook page)
• Jonathan Thornton - Retail manager (Campaign Facebook page)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

• Cornell Harvey - Retired

Joint Water & Sewer Commissioner - At-Large Post 2

Incumbent Clayton Watson is seeking re-election this commission that oversees the drinking water supply and wastewater treatment in Glynn County. This is a non-partisan race that will appear on the ballots of all Glynn County voters.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

• Mark Christopher Ryals - Retired Air Force Veteran
• Clayton Watson - Administrator/hospice

Glynn County Republican Party Questions

In Georgia’s primary elections, the state parties typically place non-binding questions on the ballot in order to gauge voter opinion on various issues. In addition to the eight questions from the Georgia Republican Party, the Glynn County Republican Party placed two additional questions on the ballot:

• Question 9: If bringing Data Centers to Glynn County would significantly lower your property taxes, would you be for data centers?
• Question 10: Are you for changing the 14th Amendment so that illegal immigrants’ children do not automatically become legal citizens just for being born on U.S. soil?

Glynn County Democratic Party Questions

In addition to the two questions placed on the ballot by the Democratic Party of Georgia, the Glynn County Democratic Party put two additional questions on the ballot:

• Question 3: Should your electric bill be increased to support data center power usage?
• Question 4: Should an elected official hire immediate family to work for Glynn County?

Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and both Republicans and Democrats have multiple candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the general election. But the race for governor is far from the only statewide race gaining attention: Republicans are lining up for the chance to run for the U.S. Senate in November, and challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff.

The crowded fields for these high-profile races could add a twist to how the primaries play out. Unlike in Florida, where there are not runoffs for party primaries, Georgia does require more than 50% of the vote to win a primary election. That means some races could send the top two vote-getters on to a primary runoff on June 16.

In Camden County, voters will see as many as two additional races on their ballot, in addition to state races.

Camden County Commission - District 2

Incumbent Martin Turner III is seeking re-election. No Democrats qualified for this race.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

• Clayton Ben Goff - Retired (Campaign Facebook page)
• Martin Turner III - Minister (Campaign Facebook page)

Camden County Board of Education - District 2

Incumbent Allison Murray is seeking re-election. This is a non-partisan race, open to all voters in the district.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES

• Allison Murray - Unemployed (Campaign Facebook Page)
• Spencer Wallace - Small Business Owner

Read about the rest of the races in the primary in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.

The testimony by Olly Robbins increases the heat on Starmer, who is facing calls to resign over the decision to appoint Mandelson, a scandal-tainted politician and friend of Jeffrey Epstein, to one of the U.K.’s most important diplomatic posts.

Robbins, the former top civil servant in the Foreign Office, said there was an “atmosphere of pressure” from Starmer’s 10 Downing St. office to approve the appointment so Mandelson could be in the post at the start of U.S. President Donald Trump ’s second term.

He told the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee there had been “a very, very strong expectation” that Mandelson “needed to be in post and in America as quickly as humanly possible.” He said Downing Street had “a generally dismissive attitude” toward the requirement for tough security checks.

The prime minister fired Robbins last week after the revelation that Mandelson was approved for the job in January 2025 against the recommendation of the government's security vetting agency.

Robbins said the vetting agency considered Mandelson a “borderline case” and was “leaning toward recommending against” giving him security clearance. Robbins cleared him anyway, based on advice that the risks could be managed, he said.

Robbins said the concerns about Mandelson didn't relate to his relationship with Epstein, but he declined to explain to lawmakers what led the government's vetting agency to flag him as a potential security risk.

Mandelson had to resign twice from senior posts in previous Labour Party governments because of scandals over money and ethics. A separate background report prepared before he was appointed ambassador flagged potential business links to Russia and China as a concern.

Politicians wanted the appointment approved

Starmer has called it “staggering” that Foreign Office officials failed to tell him about the security concerns, which he says he only found out about last week. Robbins said the rules bar details of the sensitive vetting process from being shared except in “exceptional circumstances.”

Starmer announced the choice of Mandelson in December 2024, before intensive security checks were carried out. Robbins said he was “very conscious” that refusing Mandelson security clearance would have caused “a real problem for the government and a problem for the country” in its relations with the Trump administration.

Robbins declined to identify any individuals as being behind the pressure. Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, a protégé of Mandelson, resigned in February, saying he took responsibility for the decision to appoint Mandelson.

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, said Starmer "personally decided to appoint a serious known national security risk to our most sensitive diplomatic post.

“The prime minister is not fit for office," she said. “It is time for him to go.”

Starmer acknowledged on Monday that he made the wrong judgment when he picked Mandelson for the job, but said he would have withdrawn the appointment if he’d known about the failed security vetting.

Starmer fired Mandelson in September, nine months into the job, when new details emerged about his friendship with Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.

The U.K. leader has ordered a review of security concerns arising from Mandelson’s access to sensitive information while ambassador.

Questions over Starmer's judgment

Critics say the Mandelson appointment is more evidence of bad judgment by a prime minister who has made repeated missteps since he led the center-left Labour Party to a landslide election victory in July 2024.

He picked Mandelson as ambassador despite being warned by his staff that Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein exposed the government to “reputational risk.” Mandelson's expertise as a former European Union trade chief and contacts among global elites were considered assets in dealing with the Trump administration.

Starmer says he won't resign, but the scandal has caused gloom among lawmakers in his center-left Labour Party, already anxious about its dire poll ratings. Starmer already defused one potential crisis in February, when some Labour lawmakers urged him to quit over the Mandelson appointment.

He could face a new challenge if, as expected, Labour takes a hammering in local and regional elections on May 7, which give voters a chance to pass a midterm verdict on the government.

Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester, said that regardless of the complexities and blame-trading, the view of many voters boils down to: “Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson. Peter Mandelson was a wrong-un and he hung out with Jeffrey Epstein.

“And none of this that we’ve seen today or any other day does anything except reinforce that,” he said. “And that's just disastrous" for Starmer.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he had raised concerns about the choice of ambassador, but didn’t think Starmer should resign over the debacle.

“If every time a prime minister made a mistake they resigned, we would shuttle through prime ministers like nobody’s business,” Miliband told the BBC.

Mandelson is under police investigation for suspected misconduct in public office after a trove of Epstein-related documents released by the U.S. Justice Department in January included emails suggesting that Mandelson had passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to Epstein in 2009, after the global financial crisis.

British police launched a criminal investigation and arrested Mandelson in February. Mandelson has previously denied wrongdoing and hasn’t been charged. He doesn't face allegations of sexual misconduct.

Every primary, the Democratic Party of Georgia and the Georgia Republican Party place non-binding questions on the ballot for their voters. The questions typically relate to hot-button issues or future priorities.

County parties can also place additional questions on their local ballots.

For 2026, Georgia Republicans put the following eight questions on the party’s primary ballots:

1. Should Georgia enact the strongest election integrity measures possible which may include hand marked paper ballots, fines for counties that refuse to maintain current voter rolls, and restrictions on no-excuse absentee voting to restore trust in elections?
2. Should Georgia prohibit judges from releasing criminal defendants accused of murder and other felonies without posting secure bail?
3. Should Georgia extend the death penalty to include sexual crimes against children?
4. Should the United States Constitution be amended to limit the number of Supreme Court Justices to a maximum of nine to prevent partisan court packing schemes?
5. Should Georgia require public school systems to make all instructional materials and library content publicly accessible online for parental review?
6. Do you support making Georgia energy-independent by prioritizing American oil/gas production, reducing regulations, and delivering low energy costs for families?
7. Do you support banning cellphone use in Georgia public schools to improve student focus, safety, and discipline?
8. Should Georgia enact laws punishing state and local law enforcement who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in the deportation of illegal aliens charged with serious crimes?

The Democratic Party of Georgia also placed two of its own questions on party ballots.

Every primary, the Democratic Party of Georgia and the Georgia Republican Party place non-binding questions on the ballot for their voters. The questions typically relate to hot-button issues or future priorities.

County parties can also place additional questions on their local ballots.

For 2026, Georgia Democrats put the following two questions on the party’s primary ballots:

1. Should the State of Georgia raise the sales tax on everyday items like clothing, food and school supplies to pay for an income tax cut that would make millionaires and billionaires richer?
2. Is it ethical for political candidates who have used their public offices to enrich themselves and their families or have had nearly a billion dollars of business dealings with the State of Georgia to hold statewide office?

The Georgia Republican Party also placed eight of its own questions on party ballots.

The World Cup will be held Sept. 4-13 in Berlin, with the WNBA taking a nearly three-week break in its season to accommodate the event. The Americans have won the last four World Cups, dating back to 2010. They took bronze in 2006.

The U.S. squad could feature a lot of young talent, including Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese, to go along with veterans A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. The young trio helped the Americans win a World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico last month.

The Americans are in Group D. They beat China for the gold medal in the 2022 World Cup.

Buoyed by the success of the 2022 World Cup in Australia, the field was expanded to 16 teams for the first time since 2018.

“We just finished qualifiers with 24 teams that had never happened before. We had played before with 16 teams,” FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. “Women's basketball has grown a lot and 12 teams didn't fit the quality we had. Sixteen represents what we believe is today's standards for our women's game.”

The winner of each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The second- and third-place finishers in the four pools will play each other for the other four spots in the quarters.

Group A includes host Germany, which is playing in the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Germany will face Spain, Japan and Mali. France, which lost to the U.S. in the gold-medal game of the Paris Olympics, headlines Group B. Other teams in the group are Nigeria, South Korea and Hungary.

Australia, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, is the top team in Group C. Australia plays Belgium, Puerto Rico and Turkey.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

One way you can do that is by recycling, which conserves natural resources like timber, water, and minerals.

Jason Graves joins us via Zoom on News4JAX+ at 10 a.m. Jason is with Republic services, which the city of Jacksonville pays to pick up your recycling.

Watch the full interview above.

Location: In-Person – Detroit, MI

Description

We are seeking a junior-level developer who is passionate about building best-in-class web and app experiences. You will join the team responsible for our websites and apps, focused on delivering deeply personalized experiences and elevating video engagement across every market we serve. This role is for someone who obsesses over the details that separate a good digital experience from a great one — performance, design, responsiveness, and engagement.

You will rapidly prototype new features, ship them into production, and iterate based on real user behavior and feedback. We are looking for someone who strives for best-in-class experiences in web design and community engagement, and who takes pride in leveraging modern tools and frameworks to deliver polished, high-performance products. You will be part of the award-winning Graham Digital team, known for its strong culture of collaboration and innovation.

Your work will directly shape how audiences across our markets in Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Roanoke experience our local journalism. The features and experiences you build will influence how tens of thousands of people discover stories, watch our video, and connect with their communities every day.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and ship features for our websites and apps that deliver best-in-class user experiences.
• Develop deeply personalized experiences that surface the right content to the right audience at the right time.
• Elevate video engagement across our platforms — from playback experience to discovery, recommendations, and monetization.
• Rapidly prototype new ideas, release them to production, and refine based on real user behavior, performance metrics, and direct feedback.
• Collaborate closely with product, design, newsroom, and digital teams to turn ideas into polished, high-performance features.
• Apply modern development frameworks, tooling, and best practices to keep our platforms fast, reliable, and scalable.
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of our web and app architecture, adopting new tools and techniques that raise the bar on what we can deliver.

Requirements

• Frontend and backend experience with React or a similar modern JavaScript framework (Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Node.js, etc.).
• A portfolio of shipped work — personal projects, open-source contributions, or professional experience — that demonstrates your eye for design, performance, and user experience.
• Comfort working with version control, testing, deployment pipelines, and collaborative development practices.
• A clear bias toward shipping: you would rather release a good v1 and iterate than polish something indefinitely before users ever see it.
• Strong design sensibility and attention to detail across both visual polish and technical execution.
• A growth mindset and desire to learn in a fast-moving environment.

What We Offer

You will join a team that values collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. We are committed to investing in modern tooling and development practices that allow you to accelerate your impact from day one. You will learn from experienced professionals who operate and maintain leading digital platforms across multiple markets.

We are invested in your growth and believe this position has the potential to evolve into a significantly larger role within Graham Media Group. As you help elevate our web and app experiences and refine them through real-world feedback, you will build both meaningful impact and a strong foundation for long-term career advancement within our organization.

Additional Information

Working on-site in our Detroit office provides direct exposure to newsroom and product operations and close collaboration with the Graham Digital team. Being embedded in this environment will accelerate both your technical development and your understanding of how great digital experiences support local journalism and community engagement.

Contact

Michael Newman, Director of Transformation

mnewman@grahammedia.com

Graham Media Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, GMG will comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks.

Watch the full interview above.

There is a new drug, Cychlorphine, that is 10 times more powerful than fentanyl and it’s already been linked to 41 deaths in Tennessee.

Mike McCormick is with Florida Poison Control and Susan Pitman is with Drug Free Duval join News4JAX+ at 10 a.m. to discuss this deadly drug.

Watch the full interview above.

Four area teams (Creekside in Region 1-7A, Trinity Christian in 1-2A, St. Johns Country Day in 1-A and Union County in 3-R) earned No. 1 seeds in their regions. The opening round of games is Friday (Class 4A-7A) and Saturday (1A-3A). The Rural classification begins May 1.

The regional quarterfinal round is single elimination. The second and third rounds (the regional semifinals and finals) are best of three.

Regional quarterfinals

Region 1-7A

Friday, April 24 (single elimination)

(8) Lake Mary (16-9) at (1) Creekside (23-4)

(5) Sandalwood (18-9) at (4) West Orange (17-10)

(7) Flagler Palm Coast (16-10) at (2) Spruce Creek (24-3)

Region 1-6A

(5) Tocoi Creek (14-13) at (4) Tate (20-7)

(7) Mandarin (15-12) at (2) Buchholz (19-7)

(6) Oakleaf (12-14) at (3) Bartram Trail (16-10), Thursday

Region 1-5A

(8) Ponte Vedra (17-9-1) at (1) Chiles (21-5), 7:30 p.m.

(7) Beachside (17-10) at (2) Niceville (20-7)

(3) Mosley (19-7) at (6) Columbia (16-10)

Region 1-4A

(8) Baker County (15-12) at (1) Choctawhatchee (22-5)

(5) St. Augustine (14-13) at (4) Arnold (15-12)

(7) Escambia (15-12) at (2) Bishop Kenny (15-12)

(6) Wakulla (13-13) at (3) Clay (14-13)

Region 1-3A

Saturday, April 25

(8) Wolfson (15-12) at (1) South Walton (23-4)

(5) Baldwin (15-12) at (4) West Florida (17-8)

(7) Bay (13-10) at (2) Fernandina Beach (21-4)

(6) West Nassau (13-14) at (3) Suwannee (16-11)

Region 2-3A

(4) South Sumter (14-10) at (5) Palatka (21-6)

Region 1-2A

(8) Florida High (15-11) at (1) Trinity Christian (21-7)

(7) Providence (13-12) at (2) Bishop Snyder (19-6)

(6) Pensacola Catholic (16-10) at (3) Bolles (18-7)

Class 1A

(8) Rocky Bayou Christian (14-8) at (1) St. Johns Country Day (19-8)

(4) University Christian (11-15) at (5) North Florida Christian (11-14), 1 p.m.

(2) St. Joseph (19-6-1) at (7) Covenant School of Jacksonville (13-12)

(6) Christ’s Church Academy (13-13) at (3) St. John Paul II (15-8), 2 p.m.

Rural

Friday, May 1

(4) Madison County (15-7) at (1) Union County (18-7)

The Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office received numerous calls late Monday of a loud explosion in Etoile in eastern Texas, a small, rural community about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northeast of Houston.

The sheriff's office said the explosion happened at an oil well site. The city of Nacogdoches, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away, described it as a natural gas well, based on information it received from the Texas Department of Public Safety, city spokesperson Kevin Meyer said Tuesday.

Several residents evacuated as a precaution and others were asked to shelter in place.

The fire was still burning early Tuesday, but it was not spreading and was being monitored, Meyer said.

“There is currently no danger to local residents from the fire, and air quality in the area is being monitored as well,” Meyer said in a news release.

A well control emergency response company was working to suppress the fire, Meyer said.

Drilling company H&P said the cause of the well blowout is not yet known.

“At this time there is no indication of an immediate broader risk, and monitoring is ongoing,” spokesperson Stephanie Higgins said in a statement.

She said the company is cooperating with investigators.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Akayed Ullah was appropriately sentenced to life in 2021 for the planned suicide attack that largely failed when an explosive attached to Ullah’s chest barely exploded.

The Manhattan-based 2nd Circuit found that the separate charge of providing material support to the Islamic State group required that Ullah work under the terror group’s control even though he was acting alone. A three-judge panel left intact other charges that support his life term.

The appeals court said Ullah cannot be directed by the group “if he is acting alone, and if ISIS does not know he exists, has no expectation he will hear ISIS’s messages or act on them, and will not know, or care, or have any recourse if he ignores the message completely.”

That Ullah “conceived of himself as a soldier of ISIS does not establish that ISIS did, in fact, control or direct his actions,” it added.

In a dissent, Judge Steven J. Menashi said it was unsurprising that Ullah was convicted by a jury of providing material support to the terror group when the evidence they saw included Ullah's statement to investigators that he “did it on behalf of the Islamic State.”

Still, though, two of the 2nd Circuit panel's three judges concluded he acted “entirely independently” of the Islamic State group, Menashi noted.

“That is wrong,” he wrote. “To reach the opposite conclusion, the majority rewrites the material-support statute and ignores the evidence presented to the jury.”

A lawyer for Ullah and a spokesperson for prosecutors both declined to comment.

At his April 2021 sentencing, Ullah requested leniency.

“Your honor, what I did on Dec. 11, it was wrong,” he said. “I can tell you from the bottom of my heart, I’m deeply sorry. ... I do not support harming innocent people.”

Judge Richard J. Sullivan, who now sits on the 2nd Circuit, told him at sentencing that a life sentence was appropriate.

“It was a truly barbaric and heinous crime,” Sullivan said.

The attack in a pedestrian tunnel beneath Times Square and the Port Authority bus terminal left Ullah seriously burned but spared some pedestrians nearby from more serious injuries, though the government noted one bystander lost 70% of his hearing.

Hours after Ullah’s bombing attempt, President Donald Trump derided the immigration system that had allowed Ullah — and multitudes of law-abiding Bangladeshis — to enter the U.S.

The 2nd Circuit ruling comes six weeks after two teenagers were criminally charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization for allegedly bringing explosives to a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” event outside the Manhattan residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The homemade devices did not explode.

A criminal complaint against the men alleged that they were inspired by the Islamic State group.

Amazon will invest $5 billion immediately as part of the new agreement announced this week by the companies, and up to another $20 billion in the future. Amazon previously invested $8 billion in Anthropic.

The partnership will allow Anthropic to secure up to 5 gigawatts of Amazon’s Trainium chips to train and power their artificial intelligence models.

“Our custom AI silicon offers high performance at significantly lower cost for customers, which is why it’s in such hot demand,” said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.

Amazon said AWS customers will be able to access the full Anthropic-native Claude console from within the AWS cloud platform.

Earlier this year, privately-held Anthropic said its valuation grew to $380 billion, positioning itself alongside rivals OpenAI and Elon Musk’s rocket maker SpaceX, which recently merged with his AI startup xAI, maker of the chatbot Grok.

Renaissance Capital, which researches the potential for initial public offerings, counts Anthropic as third among the most valuable private firms, behind SpaceX and ChatGPT maker OpenAI, valued at $500 billion.

Anthropic and Amazon have partnered since 2023 to accelerate generative AI adoption for customers to build, deploy, and scale AI applications. Amazon says 100,000 customers run Anthropic Claude models on AWS.

In February, the Trump administration ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropic’s artificial intelligence technology and imposed other major penalties for refusing to allow the U.S. military unrestricted use of its AI technology.

In an unusually public clash between the government and the company, President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials took to social media to chastise Anthropic, accusing it of endangering national security.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company’s products could be used in ways that would violate its safeguards. Anthropic said it would challenge what it called an unprecedented and legally unsound action “never before publicly applied to an American company.”

Earlier this month, a federal appeals court refused to block the Pentagon from blacklisting artificial intelligence laboratory Anthropic in a decision that differed from the conclusions reached in another judge’s ruling on the same issues.

Anthropic is not yet profitable but said in February that it's on track for sales of $14 billion over the next year.

Anthropic was founded by ex-OpenAI employees in 2021 and released its first version of Claude in 2023, following OpenAI's ChatGPT debut in late 2022.

Soccer's governing body announced Tuesday it will make more tickets available at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday for all 104 games in Categories 1, 2 and 3 plus the new “front category” pricing it added this month.

The new category sparked online complaints from fans who said they thought the better seats in the categories they had bought tickets for were withheld and they were assigned less favorable locations.

FIFA in December put tickets on sale at prices ranging from $140 for Category 3 in the first round to $8,680 for the final, then raised prices to as much as $10,990 when sales reopened on April 1.

FIFA did not respond to an April 9 request for comment about the new ticket categories it added.

Also Tuesday, The Athletic reported that tickets sales are lagging for the U.S. opener against Paraguay on June 12 at Inglewood, California. It said a document distributed to local organizers dated April 10 said 40,934 tickets had been purchased for the U.S.-Paraguay game and 50,661 for the Iran-New Zealand contest on April 15. FIFA projects SoFi's World Cup capacity at about 69,650, noting it may change.

FIFA's December sale priced U.S.-Paraguay tickets at $1,120, $1,940 and $2,735, and Iran-New Zealand seats at $140, $380 and $450.

___

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

The investigation was prompted after prosecutors reviewed conversations between ChatGPT and accused FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner prior to the attack.

“Florida is leading the way in cracking down on AI’s use in criminal behavior, and if ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder,” Uthmeier said. “This criminal investigation will determine whether OpenAI bears criminal responsibility for ChatGPT’s actions in the shooting at Florida State University last year.”

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass also weighed in on the investigation, stressing the broader dangers of AI technology.

“It is important that all are aware of the risks of this new technology, and the harms it can and has already caused in our communities,” Glass said. “The more we can educate ourselves, the better we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities from scams, fraud, and much worse.”

What Florida law says about aiding a crime

Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone in the commission of a crime — and that crime is committed or attempted — may be considered a principal to the crime. That means an “aider and abettor” can be held just as responsible as the person who carried out the act.

What prosecutors subpoenaed from OpenAI

The Office of Statewide Prosecution subpoenaed OpenAI for a range of internal documents and records. For the period of March 1, 2024, through April 17, 2026, prosecutors are seeking all policies and internal training materials related to user threats of harm to others or themselves, as well as policies governing cooperation with law enforcement — including procedures for reporting possible past, present or future crimes. If policies changed during that period, prosecutors are also requesting documentation of those changes and their effective dates.

For the dates of March 1, 2024, Oct. 1, 2024, and April 17, 2025, the subpoena requests organizational charts identifying OpenAI executives, directors, department heads and senior managers, along with a full listing of employees within ChatGPT, including their departments, titles and role descriptions.

Prosecutors also requested any and all media and public statements OpenAI released related to the FSU shooting on April 17, 2025, including press releases and media interviews.

Details From Court Records

According to records from the State Attorney’s Office, the accused gunman exchanged more than 13,000 messages with ChatGPT over more than a year.

Those conversations included topics ranging from personal struggles and relationships to questions about weapons, school shootings and how similar attacks are covered in the media.

In one exchange, just hours before the shooting, records show he asked how the country might react if a shooting happened at Florida State University.

Records also show he asked about the busiest times on campus and questions related to firearms — details that are now part of an ongoing review into what led up to the attack.

Court records indicate authorities are still examining whether the attack was planned in advance, and what role, if any, those online interactions may have played.

An OpenAI spokesperson said the company identified an account believed to be connected to the suspect and shared that information with law enforcement after the shooting.

Earlier this month, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched an investigation into OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT. He says he’s concerned about the potential harm its artificial intelligence products might pose to minors.

Florida’s broader push against AI-related crimes

The investigation is the latest in a series of actions Florida has taken to combat AI-related crimes. A predator who possessed child sexual abuse materials — some of which were AI-generated — was sentenced to 135 years in prison. A second child predator is currently facing 100 criminal charges, including 46 counts involving AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

In March 2026, Uthmeier joined Gov. Ron DeSantis for the signing of HB 1159, which increased the penalty for AI-generated child sexual abuse material to a second-degree felony.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan and 32-year-old Jihad Abu Naim were killed in an attack by Israeli settlers and soldiers on the village of al-Mughayyir that left three others wounded.

Kazem Al-Hajj Mohammad, who witnessed the shooting, said that there was a volley of gunfire after settlers and the army arrived. School administrators told parents to come get their children and were met with more gunfire and tear gas. That’s when the two were killed, he said.

He and other mourners carried the two bodies sheathed in Palestinian flags out of the Ramallah Medical Complex, where the dead and wounded were taken after the shooting.

“This is our daily reality,” he said, noting that the role of settlers and the army had become interchangeable amid daily violence, displacement, land grabs and livestock seizures.

Israel’s military said that the gunman was a civilian, an army reservist who wasn't mobilized. The military said that he hadn't been arrested, but that the incident was under investigation. It said that troops had responded to reports of rock-throwing toward an Israeli civilian vehicle.

Al-Mughayyir, a village 9 miles (15 kilometers) northeast of Ramallah, has been an epicenter of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and soldiers, with Palestinians reporting dozens of attacks in 2025, including lethal shootings, arson and vandalism. The main road leading to al-Mughayyir has been frequently closed by a military gate, and residents say they have gradually lost access to their agricultural lands and olive groves.

Many of the groves were razed during an Israeli army raid last summer, after a Palestinian gunman allegedly opened fire on settlers grazing sheep near the village. Eight settler outposts now encircle al-Mughayyir, including Adei Ad, which was legalized by Israel’s government in December.

Another 14-year-old, Mohammed Naasan, was killed there in January. Hamdi al-Naasan, Aws' father, was killed by settlers in a 2019 clash that drew international condemnation, including by the United Nations.

Al-Naasan and Abu Naim are the latest Palestinians to be killed this year in the occupied West Bank, where 10 people have been killed by Israeli settlers — surpassing the total killed by settlers in 2025. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 240 Palestinians were killed in the territory last year, the vast majority by Israel’s military, while nine deaths were attributed to settlers.

But rights groups caution that the distinction can be blurred. The Israeli advocacy group Yesh Din, which tracks violence in the West Bank, has reported that lethal violence is increasingly being carried out by “settler-soldiers” from reserve battalions, both when they're working and when they're off duty.

“The availability of uniforms and firearms has given a vast number of settlers, some of them with a history of ideologically motivated offenses, the opportunity to engage in illegal acts against Palestinians, using military equipment, whether by abusing their powers while on duty or off duty altogether,” it said in a February report titled “Settlers in Uniform.”

Yesh Din noted an active duty reservist wearing civilian clothes opened fire in the village of Deir Jarir — also northeast of Ramallah — in December. Israel's military also opened an investigation into a reservist who shot and killed a Palestinian in the same village on April 11.

Israeli strikes kill 5 in Gaza

Also on Tuesday, Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said, including four suspected militants who were killed when a drone strike hit a Hamas-controlled security point just after midnight in Khan Younis.

Nasser Hospital, which received the casualties, said another man was wounded in the strike in Amal, a Khan Younis neighborhood around 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) west of the so-called Yellow Line, separating the Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza, according to relatives of those killed.

Israel's military didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Relatives said the militant-manned checkpoint was being used to police the area and protect people and their properties.

“They were protecting people and their properties,” said Ahmed Musa Abu Helal, a relative of the two casualties. “This is a cold-blooded killing that didn’t respect the truce."

In the northern town of Beit Lahiya, a 30-year-old woman was killed when Israel's navy opened fire toward tents sheltering displaced people early Tuesday, Shifa Hospital said.

Israel's military said it wasn’t aware of attacks in Beit Lahiya.

The deaths were the latest among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since a fragile ceasefire deal in October attempted to halt the more than two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

While the heaviest fighting has subsided, the shaky ceasefire has seen almost daily Israeli fire. Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fire on Palestinians near military-held zones, killing more than 780 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

The health ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. But it does not give a breakdown of civilians and militants.

Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to that and other violations. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.

——— Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank and Magdy from Cairo.

Running from October through late June, the current term puts justices at the center of debates over presidential authority, immigration policy, voting rights, civil rights, campaign finance and more.

Many rulings are expected by the end of June, and the practical effects could be felt almost immediately.

Birthright citizenship

One of the term’s most-watched cases centers on a question that traces back to the Civil War era: Who is a U.S. citizen by birth?

On April 1, justices pressed the Trump administration over an executive order instructing federal agencies not to recognize citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents.

A lower court blocked the policy, citing the 14th Amendment’s guarantee that all persons born on U.S. soil are citizens.

The case has drawn intense scrutiny from legal scholars and civil rights advocates who argue the order runs counter to more than 125 years of constitutional precedent.

Presidential power over independent agencies

The court is also weighing how much control a president has over officials at independent federal agencies — a question with sweeping implications for institutions like the Federal Reserve.

At issue is the Trump administration’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The Federal Reserve Act limits removals to situations involving “cause,” a provision long seen as a cornerstone of the Fed’s political independence.

That independence matters to everyday Americans more than many realize.

The Federal Reserve sets interest rates that directly affect mortgage payments, car loans, credit card bills and the broader pace of inflation — decisions that carry more weight when made free from political pressure.

Cook has described the allegations against her as a “pretext” for removal driven by policy disagreements rather than any misconduct.

Conservative justices have signaled some openness to broader presidential removal powers.

In a related dispute over the firing of a Federal Trade Commission commissioner, several justices framed congressional tenure protections as a potential encroachment on executive authority.

Voting rights, campaign finance

Election law is another major front this term, with cases that could alter how Americans vote and how political parties spend money.

The court is examining limits on coordinated campaign spending — think a political party and its candidate working together to blanket swing-state airwaves with the same ads in the final weeks of an election.

Current rules restrict how closely a party can coordinate that kind of spending with a candidate’s campaign, and the court’s ruling could loosen or reinforce those guardrails.

Justices are also hearing challenges to mail-in ballot rules, including a Mississippi policy that allows ballots to be counted if received up to five days after Election Day.

Separate cases under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could further define the legal tools available to challenge electoral maps and voting procedures that advocates say disadvantage minority voters.

Transgender athletes, conversion therapy

The court is navigating a cluster of socially charged cases involving gender identity and free expression.

Justices are considering the legality of state laws banning transgender athletes from competing in sports that align with their gender identity — a debate that has played out in legislatures and courts across the country in recent years.

On conversion therapy, the court is deciding whether state bans on the practice constitute a regulation of conduct or an unconstitutional restriction on speech.

The court recently described Colorado’s ban as an “intrusion on free speech rights,” a signal that some justices may view such laws skeptically.

Immigration, asylum access

Several immigration cases round out a docket that advocates on multiple sides are watching closely.

The justices are reviewing the practice of asylum “metering,” in which border officials limit the number of migrants who can request asylum at official ports of entry on a given day.

Also before the court are protections for immigrants under Temporary Protected Status, a program that shields nationals from certain countries facing conflict or disaster from deportation.

What’s at stake

For voters, parents, immigrants and athletes, the rulings could change daily realities — from how ballots are counted and how campaigns are funded, to whether a child born on U.S. soil is recognized as a citizen and whether a transgender student can compete in school sports.

Taken together, the term’s docket concentrates on some of the most fundamental questions in American law: how power is divided among the branches of government, how far federal civil rights laws reach, and where states can and cannot regulate speech, health and gender.

The court’s rulings — most expected by late June — will carry immediate consequences for federal and state policy, and their effects are likely to reverberate through politics and governance for years to come.

Our conversation

Constitutional law expert Rod Sullivan joins me on this week’s episode of Politics & Power as we discuss:

• The decisions that could reshape policy nationwide
• How the Supreme Court could redefine presidential power, voting rights, immigration rights, gun rights and agency power
• A Supreme Court term that could change everything

Watch our encore presentation at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. Tuesday on News4JAX+.

You can also catch up any time on demand at News4JAX+, News4JAX.com or our YouTube channel.

And if you lived in Florida in the late 90s, you might remember when the state saw devastating fires that burned 500,000 acres across Florida.

Under the right conditions, a wildfire can start quickly.

The formula: a spark, like a cigarette butt + fuel, like dry grass + oxygen = a fire.

Then strong winds, drought and heat, plus low humidity, can keep that wildfire going until it creates devastating consequences, like the wildfires of 1998.

RELATED: FROM THE VAULT: 1998 report on Westside wildfire

The fires of 1998, called the “Florida Firestorms,” lasted from April to July, burning almost 500,000 acres. FEMA reported $300 million in timber loss alone and an additional $80 million in firefighting.

From Jacksonville to Titusville, I-95 was closed on July 4. Fireworks were banned. The counties along I-95 were impacted the most.

News4JAX viewers remember it, too. Comments like these poured into our Facebook page about it

• “I was on the front line in ’98 south of Green Cove...I would go help fight this fire if they need me. Once a firefighter, always a firefighter.” - William Meeks III
• “Firefighters saved my house in Volusia County. It came within 8ft of our door. Burned all our property. Forever grateful...”- Jan Johnston Klindt Consiglio
• “I remember the ash that rained down on us in Middleburg from those ’98 fires”- Ashley Fitzmeyer

MORE: Railroad Fire grows to 3,000 acres, draws response from Florida National Guard

The wildfires in Clay and Putnam counties right now are not as bad, but they’ve brought flashbacks for some long-term first responders.

Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock said he experienced similar conditions in 1998, when he served as Chief of Operations for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.

“I told crews last night these conditions remind me of the rapid-fire progression we saw then,” Mock said.

Kevin Guthrie, the Executive Director of Florida Emergency Management, was working with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office during the 1998 wildfires and said he remembers it vividly.

“We were up and down Interstate 95 doing traffic roadblocks. I was assigned to the traffic unit at the time,” Guthrie said.

Now, he’s monitoring the 2026 wildfire season.

“I told Chief Mock — who I worked for at one point in Jacksonville — this has a very ’98 feel to it,” Guthrie said. “The difference is we’ve got a lot more technology now.”

Guthrie said first responders are working around the clock to stay ahead of the fires and keep them under control, using newer tools and strategies.

And for those who lived through 1998, there’s one thing they agree on: they don’t want to go through it again.

Click here for all state resources for wildfires and maps.

For more information on the 1998 wildfires, click here.

No structures have been affected yet, but many are being threatened, prompting voluntary evacuation alerts for parts of Bostwick.

The Bostwick Community Center, located at 125 Tillman St. in Palatka, has been set up as a shelter for evacuees from Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail.

In Clay County, voluntary evacuations are in place for areas around Varney Road and Woodward Lane.

For those with animals or livestock, there are also options, including the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, where you can rent out stalls for your animals for $25 a night. and Rodeheaver Boys Ranch.

In the meantime, the community is stepping up to support the firefighters battling the blaze to protect homes and businesses.

Anyone who would like to donate food and drinks to working firefighters may do so from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Clay County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall 2, 2463 FL-16 in Green Cove Springs.

Items like water, sports drinks and prepackaged snacks are needed most.

Apply to adopt Dax at fursisters.org

Jacksonville International has only picked up 12.04 inches of rainfall, which is 16.57 inches below the normal amount (28.61 inches) during this period.

Rainfall records date back to 1871 in Jacksonville.

The dry weather, along with the wind and low humidity, has prompted Fire Weather Alerts across our area over the past few days and also allowed numerous fires to spread out of control.

Just this morning, numerous fires were still burning across the area.

Visible satellite from this morning showed several plumes of smoke pushing across our area from the active fires in Georgia and Florida.

Our area is expected to get some rain over the next week, but it looks like it won’t be enough to put a large dent in the drought.

In fact, some spots need over 20 inches of rain to get out of the drought.

Sunday looks like the best day to see showers and storms, thanks to an approaching front.

Activity will be isolated, but we will take anything that we can get.

The good news is that the dry pattern may change as we head into the end of April. Our area is highlighted in seeing a higher probability of above normal rainfall.

Frosty nights aren't unusual this time of year. Across the region, the average date of the last frost ranges from mid-April to early June, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University. But the first half of April was unusually warm for much of the region, and that, coupled with the quick drop in temperature, could cause some problems.

Boston saw temperatures climb into the high 70s (around 26 Celsius) last week, with cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. reaching temperatures in the 90s (around 32 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service. By the weekend, temperatures across the region dropped into the 50s (around 10 Celsius), with some areas in New England seeing snow showers.

And the cold continued into this week: The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for Monday night and Tuesday morning for parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

In Ohio, the warm weather pushed peach and apple trees to start budding early at Apple Hill Orchards, which includes about 80 acres (32 hectares) in Mansfield and 110 acres (45 hectares) in Fredericktown. But the temperature then dropped into the low 20s (around minus 5 Celsius), ruining one variety of peach, said owner Anne Joudrey.

“Farming is farming, and you never know what you’re gonna get, but we had a pretty good bloom, so we were expecting a pretty good crop,” she said Monday.

The apples were doing OK, she said, and it helps that the trees are planted on high ground so cold air drains away.

“We should fare pretty well, hopefully,” she said. “But you never know.”

In Vermont, the temperature swing affected operations at Understory Farm in Bridport, which grows cut flowers. Tulips that were supposed to be ready for Mother's Day in mid-May have already bloomed in the farm's greenhouses, said owner Gregory Witscher.

“That just means that we have to harvest them all at the same time,” he said. “We have to harvest them and store them with the bulbs on in crates in a walk-in cooler for longer.”

Witscher grows about 50 varieties of flowers for wholesale markets. Weather fluctuations require flexibility, he said, and it's become more common for small vegetable and flower farms to have row covers or heaters to protect plants from cold or shade cloth for extreme heat.

“With the hot weather and then the cold weather, I think it's intense, and it makes things challenging,” he said. “The longer I do this, the more I want to have as many options as possible and have a lot of tools and resources available to be extremely nimble.”

Opening from 11 AM daily, the modern, tech-forward spaces feature vibrant pink interiors, self-serve kiosks, and convenient drive-thrus. Starting at 9 PM, the lights dim, the music turns up, and the restaurant transforms into a late-night hangout built for vibe dining – and when the dining room closes at midnight, cravings continue through the drive-thru.

The Town Center debut marks the first stop in Saucy!’s Jacksonville rollout, with a second location set to follow on April 13 at 194 N. State Road 13 in Julington Creek.

Tour seven homes and gardens throughout the Springfield Historic District including preserved historic homes, backyard gardens, and a “FunGarden” featuring space for children to play.

Visit www.springfieldtour.com for tickets and more information. Proceeds support the nonprofit mission of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) to improve quality of life in Springfield.

President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf made it clear after firing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley near the end of the season that he wanted Donovan to remain on the job. He said anyone who wanted to bring in a new coach was “probably not the right candidate for us.”

Now, it looks like whoever the Bulls hire to run their organization will get that opportunity.

“While we clearly wanted Billy to return as our head coach, we had open dialogue about the importance of respecting the process of bringing in new basketball operations leadership," Reinsdorf said in a news release. “Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved.”

The 60-year-old Donovan consistently has said he still has a passion for coaching. The decision to leave the Bulls was made “after a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization,” Donovan said in the team release announcing the move.

“I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls, to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit,” he said.

Donovan was arguably the top candidate on the market when the Bulls hired him in September 2020, a few months after Karnisovas and Eversley got their jobs.

Chicago’s lone playoff appearance since all three were hired came during the 2021-22 season, when it finished sixth in the Eastern Conference at 46-36 and got knocked out by Milwaukee in the first round. The Bulls lost in the play-in tournament the next three years.

Donovan got a contract extension last offseason. Reinsdorf said after firing Karnisovas and Eversley that the problem was the roster construction — not the coach.

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Michael's father, praised Donovan for the “class and genuine care” that he brought to the organization.

“We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach — that was never in question,” Jerry Reinsdorf said. “But through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new head of basketball operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise. That is the kind of person Billy is — he put the Bulls first.”

Karnisovas’ inability to land a franchise cornerstone player and refusal to give the Bulls a better shot at the No. 1 pick by rebuilding were glaring. He finally changed course before this year’s trade deadline, dealing Nikola Vucevic to Boston, Kevin Huerter to Detroit, Coby White to Charlotte and Chicago product Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota. The Bulls loaded up on second-round draft picks and did not get any first-rounders in return.

One of the players Chicago got in return was Jaden Ivey from Detroit. Chicago waived him following anti-LGBTQ+ comments about religion he made in videos posted on his Instagram account.

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

Voters in the Commonwealth are considering a ballot measure that would amend Virginia’s constitution to give the Democratic-majority General Assembly temporary power to redraw the state’s congressional districts. It’s the latest move in an escalating redistricting arms race that began in July 2025, when Texas Republican lawmakers redrew their state’s congressional map to favor Republicans at President Donald Trump’s urging.

Democrats hold six of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats, but if a plan passed by the legislature in February and signed by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is enacted, the party could gain the upper hand in 10 districts, a net pickup of four seats.

The new boundaries would be in place in time for November’s midterm congressional elections, where just a handful of seats could determine which party controls the House for the last two years of Trump’s final term.

Under the proposal, state lawmakers would retain the power to redraw district boundaries until October 2030, when the authority would revert to the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission. The commission would create new maps for the 2032 election after the census.

Spanberger and former President Barack Obama are among the high-profile Democrats who have endorsed the referendum, saying it's a necessary response to Republican-initiated mid-decade redistricting in other states. But groups opposed to the measure have also prominently featured the two in campaign materials alongside their past quotes critical of gerrymandering. Former GOP Govs. Glenn Youngkin and George Allen oppose the measure.

Groups supporting the proposed amendment have far outraised those opposing it, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

Democrats won Virginia in the past five presidential elections, but voters tend to be less party-loyal in state elections, as the governorship has changed party hands six times over the last 33 years.

If support for the measure falls mostly along party lines, the “Yes” side can expect overwhelming support in the state’s traditional Democratic strongholds of Northern Virginia and the cities of Richmond and Norfolk, while the “No” side should see wide margins in the smaller, more rural counties that make up the bulk of the state geographically.

Fairfax County, the state’s most populous, votes heavily Democratic, but Republican candidates who can chip away at the Democratic advantage there can win statewide. In 2021, Republicans Youngkin and then-attorney general candidate Jason Miyares received about 35% of the vote in Fairfax and won their races. By comparison, Trump lost Virginia in all three of his presidential campaigns, and his best showing in Fairfax was about 31% in 2024. Republican Winsome Earle-Sears received about 26% of the vote in her unsuccessful 2025 gubernatorial bid.

Other key jurisdictions to watch are Chesterfield and Stafford counties and the cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Spanberger and Democratic presidential nominees Joe Biden and Kamala Harris carried all four areas in their statewide victories, but Youngkin swept the four in 2021. Majority “No” votes in any of these areas on election night could be an indicator of a very close race.

The Associated Press does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing side to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

Virginia does not conduct automatic recounts. On ballot questions, a group of 50 or more voters may request and pay for a recount if the vote margin is 1 percentage point or less. The government will pay for the recount if the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points or the recount changes the outcome. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

When do polls close?

Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The proposed constitutional amendment is the only statewide contest on the ballot.

It reads: “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?”

A “yes” vote would support allowing the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts ahead of the midterms. A “no” vote would leave current boundaries unchanged until the next round of regularly scheduled redistricting after the 2030 census.

Who gets to vote?

Any voter registered in Virginia can cast a ballot. Eligible voters may register on Election Day.

How many voters are there?

There were 6,386,877 registered voters as of March 1. Virginia voters do not register by party.

How many people actually vote?

About 3.4 million votes were cast in the 2025 general election for Virginia governor, which was the last statewide election. This was about 54% of registered voters at the time.

How much of the vote is cast early or absentee?

About 43% of total votes cast in the 2025 general election for governor were cast early or by absentee ballot.

As of Monday, about 1.4 million ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election. That’s about 93% of the total advance votes cast in the 2025 gubernatorial election. In-person early voting concluded on Saturday.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Virginia counties and independent cities vary in terms of when they release results from early and absentee voting.

Less than a third of jurisdictions release all or almost all of their early and absentee voting results in their first vote update of the night.

Nearly half the jurisdictions release no early or absentee voting results in the first vote update.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

In the 2025 general election for Virginia governor, the AP first reported results at 7:10 p.m. ET, or 10 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 1:52 a.m. ET with more than 99% of total votes counted.

Are we there yet?

As of Tuesday, there will be 196 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

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Follow election results for the Virginia redistricting special election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/virginia-special-general-results-question-1/.

A spike in gas prices due to the Iran war, now in its eighth week, resulted in a hefty 1.7% gain in retail sales in March after a revised 0.7% increase in February, according to the Commerce Department’s report on Tuesday. The figure marked the fastest one-month increase in retail sales in more than three years.

The report marks the first read on spending to capture the effects of the Iran war.

Excluding gas prices, retail sales were up 0.6%, helped in part by government tax refunds and warm weather.

Business at gas stations rose 15.5% percent.

Elsewhere, shoppers were still willing to spend. Sales at department stores rose 4.2%, while sales at furniture and home furnishings stores were up 2.2%. Online retailers saw a 1% gain. Consumer electronics and appliance stores posted a 0.9% increase. The only area that saw a decline for March was miscellaneous retailers, according to the Commerce report.

The snapshot offers only a partial look at consumer spending and doesn’t include things like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category – restaurants – registered a more modest gain of 0.1%.

The so-called control group—which excludes food services, autos, building materials and gas station sales and is used to calculate economic growth—rose 0.7%. That offered a good sign of broad spending by consumers, economists said.

“It’s a blowout retail sales figure for March,“ Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, wrote in a report.

She noted that the impact of tariffs is visible in the high spending on electronics and appliances due to higher prices. A small increase at restaurants may indicate some early signs of pullback as consumers have to spend more at the pump, she said.

“Overall, the American consumer is still healthy,” she added. "Extra income from tax refunds is helping many households weather this oil shock, but that extra money won’t last forever.”

The Iran war began Feb. 28 and has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Late last month, U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022.

Economists had believed that an unusually large jump in tax refunds would kick start spending at the start of the year. But spiking gas prices are taking a bite out of that money. And the Iran war is also further dampening shoppers' mood. Consumer sentiment plunged to a record low in April, according to a survey released earlier this month by the University of Michigan, largely because of the Iran war and concerns over higher gas prices.

Shoppers aren’t just feeling it at the gas pump, but are also starting to see unforeseen costs everywhere, including when they travel such as higher baggage fees. They will also likely see higher prices on different products ripple through the supply chain as companies start to pass on higher transportation costs to shoppers, analysts said.

The jump in gas prices caused a sharp spike in inflation last month, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and increasing already significant political hurdles for the White House.

Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9% in March from February, the largest such gain in nearly four years.

Heading into the war, shoppers were already cautious. But Bryan Eshelman, Americas leader of retail and a partner and managing director at consultancy AlixPartners, noted his retail clients see their customers pulling back even more now.

“Particularly in the low-end economy, people are shifting from wants to needs,” he said.

R.J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at Placer.ai, noted that for seven straight weeks, traffic at nondiscretionary retailers like grocers outpaced that of discretionary merchants. That trend was reversed the week of April 6, helped by the distribution of tax refunds and spending tied to spring break and Easter.

But after the data goes past Easter trends, future visits will largely depend on consumer sentiment regarding broader macroeconomic conditions and gas prices, Hottovy said. The firm tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage.

Williams had been missing since Sunday, April 12, when he was last seen around 8 p.m. leaving his sister’s home in a gray 2010 Toyota Camry. His family had described his disappearance as completely out of character and had appealed to the public for help in locating him.

“It’s indescribable,” his father, Jeffrey Williams, said. “I’ve never gone a day without talking to my son.”

During the search, family members described Jo’el as active, spontaneous and adventurous — someone who loved his family and stayed in constant contact.

“He likes to dance. He love his family and he likes capturing the moments. He’s inspiring,” his sisters, Courtney and Brianna Williams, said.

Courtney Williams said she was the last person to see him before his disappearance, around 4 p.m. the same day, when he was helping with groceries and spending time at home.

“He was laughing, everything seemed normal,” she said.

Jeffrey Williams said he last spoke with his son later that night, around 9:30 p.m., and noticed something unusual.

“As a father, you know your son’s voice,” he said. “He was just talking, but I could hear a little worry… and I told him to go home son.”

Concern grew the following day when calls and messages went unanswered.

“Jo’el normally texts me twice a day and calls me at least three times,” his father said. “I didn’t get a respond. So I called his sister or brother. Matter of fact I called Brianna and told her, track your brother to see where he at. She said she couldn’t pick him up so I talked to my other son and he said he couldn’t pick him up and I talked to Courtney, and she couldn’t pick him up. So I got real concerned.”

The family said the days that followed were filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

“I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep,” Jeffrey Williams said. “It’s just pain not hearing from your son who you talk to every day.”

The family had filed a missing persons report and been in contact with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. However, they said investigators indicated Williams did not meet the criteria for an active search.

“There’s no active search for Joe,” a family member explained. “JSO says that he doesn’t fit the criteria. The criteria being elderly, a child or diagnosed with mental health. The only information we have is that the car that he was in was last picked up on a camera on I-95 and Airport Rd going Northbound.”

The emotional weight of the search was compounded by the family still grieving the loss of their mother in 2024.

“This feeling is familiar, and it’s not a good one,” Courtney Williams said. “We all are feeling it… we just want our brother home.”

That home went up in flames slower because it was fortified with better materials. Add moving vegetation, mulch, wood fences and hot tubs with their highly flammable insultation several feet away and experts said you can protect houses from the increasing danger of wildfires on a warming planet.

The research is being done by workers at a remote site in South Carolina. They have set fire to 13 houses because scientists need to burn to learn.

Inside the carefully crafted home were sensors and a few cameras the site's manager said will “give their life for science.” Outside are nearly $1 million of other cameras and instruments in a fireproof building nearby and scattered around.

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is a nonprofit created by insurers to make houses and other buildings more resilient. The institute's 100-acre (40-hectare) site in Richburg, South Carolina, started to study hurricanes and heavy wind and rain.

As wildfire danger increased in recent years, they sometimes turn the six-story tall wall of 105 fans stacked on top of each other to blow out of the wind tunnel's massive doors and spread fire.

“We crash test houses,” said Roy Wright, the president of the institute.

Wildfires are worsening, costing more damage

From 2016 to 2025, wildfires in the United States on average burned an area the size of Massachusetts each year, slightly more than 11,000 square miles (28,500 square kilometers). That’s 2.6 times the average burn area of the 1980s, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Canada’s land burned on average for the last 10 years is 2.8 times more than during the 1980s, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

In the United States, wildfires have caused an average of $17.7 billion a year in damage since 2020, according to statistics kept by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the nonprofit Climate Central.

Climate change is intensifying and extending fire seasons across the U.S. and a growing population puts densely packed neighborhoods into fire-threatened areas. In the past three years, massive and devastating wildfires hit California, Maui in Hawaii and the North and South Carolina mountains.

Drought across much of the United States — especially in the West and Southeast — is at record severe levels for this time of year. Add to that record heat and unheard of levels of low moisture in the West for the first three months of 2026 and it looks like this upcoming fire season will be extraordinarily bad, unless late spring or early summer rain somehow bails out the country, said UCLA climate and fire scientist Park Williams.

Test fires lead to building changes

The institute's research has already led to some conclusions that strengthened California's fire code. New homes must have ignition-resistant walls, tempered or double paned windows and mesh over vents to prevent fire embers from getting inside.

As important is taking care of the outside. Creating a 5-foot (1.5-meter) buffer where any material that burns easy like pine straw, a hot tub, a wooden fence or overhanging branches is an important line of defense.

The fire testing makes that clear. Researchers at the test site set fire to wooden blocks that look like Jenga towers within the buffer zone. The simulated winds, which in a recent test purposefully fluctuated between 30 and 55 mph (50 to 90 kph), continually pushed the flames toward the home.

Once the windows and walls are breached, all the combustible things inside like couches, furniture, clothes and plastics quickly erupt and begin sending large showers of dangerous burning embers lofted by heavy wind, setting new fires a block or two away.

But fire standards can only help so much. “Under really severe fire conditions, especially those involving very high winds, they probably are of more limited value,” Syracuse University fire researcher Jacob Bendix said.

Home fire prevention becomes a business

Fire prevention tools and techniques are becoming a big business.

After the 2018 Woolsey fire near his home in Ventura County, California, Nicholai Allen watched firefighters use fire retardants and wondered if homeowners could do the same. He became a wildland firefighter and learned that preventing embers from getting into homes’ attics and garages are the key.

Allen now makes and sells Safe Soss (pronounced like sauce), which include carbon filters or guards for attics and vents, fiberglass heat-resistant ember-stopping tape and a spray fire retardant that can work from a garden hose, all of which recently became available at a major hardware chain.

Allen compares it to how people up north get ready for winter.

“It’s kind of like if you live in the snow, you have a snow shovel, you have scrapers, and you know that you have to take certain preventative steps in order to live in an environment that, hey, sometimes snows,” Allen said.

Trial by fire

The test fires by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are carefully controlled. The homes are made to be as similar to regular houses as possible without electricity or plumbing.

The attention to detail and safety is exacting. The institute likes spring fire testing at its site about halfway between Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina, because while summer temperatures in the South can nearly match those in the fire-prone West, the swampy humidity in July is a bad approximation to a mountain canyon.

High winds delayed last week's fire for more than six hours with anxious workers worried they couldn't wait for the next day because an outdoor burning ban was starting after an unusually dry and hot spring.

Tarps and machines heat the houses to summer levels just before the fires are set on a huge concrete pad just outside the giant hanger where the fans line one wall and the hurricane testing takes place.

Elsewhere at the site, researches have started looking into hail and how it can damage homes. Another part of the campus has dozens of roofs just sticking above the ground as the shingles freeze and bake and are soaked by Mother Nature sometimes for more than a decade for more testing.

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Borenstein reported from Washington. Associated Press journalist Erik Verduzco contributed from Richburg, South Carolina.

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

Some aspects of sustainable seafood are obvious and well-trod, even if the how-to intricacies likely are lost on most consumers.

But sustainability today is complicated terrain, as much about business as bycatch, and why, for your next clam chowder, human rights matter as much as healthy habitats.

Advocates now want you considering issues of labor abuses, the rights of indigenous populations to use traditional fishing practices, the carbon footprint of a salmon fillet relative to a filet mignon, even whether the fishing boats offer free, high-speed Wi-Fi.

All of this is certified, rated and labeled by a tapestry of competing and overlapping groups.

For the already seafood-averse consumer -- Americans have a notoriously limited appetite for seafood -- it all can be a bit overwhelming.

“I’m an expert and I still sometimes struggle to look through some of the systems to figure out which product in the store actually matches which rating, and which label is different,” said Robert Jones, global director of aquatic foods for The Nature Conservancy.

The old 'traffic light' ratings

For several decades, the most recognizable expression of seafood sustainability was Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, which encouraged or admonished consumption of specific species with cards labeled green, yellow and red.

Driven largely to preserve seafood populations -- eat the abundant Arctic char, but take a pass on the tenuous tuna -- the simplicity resonated.

Twenty-five years ago, that was the right focus, said Jennifer Kemmerly, vice president of global ocean conservation for Monterey Bay. Overseas fisheries, the source of much of the seafood consumed in the U.S., might be immune to American regulations, but would respond if enough consumers demanded sustainable choices.

But the simple, traffic-light ratings also created a guilty-until-proven-innocent aura that lingers, said Barton Seaver, a seafood sustainability expert with National Geographic. Rather than tease out whether farmed or wild salmon is better (the answer has changed over the years), many people just opt for chicken.

“The entire category had to be exonerated,” he said. “Yes, (the information) was more easily digestible, but the end result was fear, trepidation and a general lack of participation.”

The many meanings of sustainability

Seafood Watch eventually fell silent, partly a victim of pandemic pressures. By then, the definition of sustainable had broadened dramatically. Safeguarding endangered stocks still matters, of course. But a host of other issues -- treatment of workers, regenerative practices, local vs. corporate ownership of the fleet -- can mitigate that.

And plenty of people in and outside the industry argue that any test of sustainability also must weigh the impact of seafood against the alternatives.

“When we do so across five very important metrics -- greenhouse gas, land-use alteration, feed conversion, freshwater and antibiotics -- seafood just comes out on top in the animal-protein conversation,” said Seaver.

“If you want the sustainable option for dinner, the yellow-list or even red-list seafood might be the better environmental option than chicken or beef,” he said.

The result is an equation too complex for most consumers. It doesn’t help that many of the newer sustainability issues simply aren’t intuitive to the consumer. That on-ship Wi-Fi, for example? A lifeline for workers to report labor abuses while at sea for months at a time.

The monoculture-like beef, pork and poultry industries easily align on methods and messaging (after all, everyone knows what’s for dinner and which is the other white meat.) But seafood is inherently complex, comprised of thousands of species, regions and regulations.

“The biggest loser here is the American consumer,” said celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, whose documentary “Hope in the Water” highlighted efforts to make seafood more sustainable.

Aiming higher

Despite the information overload, Kemmerly sees the complexity as a sign of success.

“These big companies who 25 years ago made a sustainability commitment thinking it was just the environmental piece are now also on the hook -- no pun intended -- for reporting on environmental, social and governance issues,” she said.

The way forward, many say, is to sell confidence in American seafood. Zimmern wants to see all the players -- from fishermen and wholesalers to watchdog groups -- agree on regularly updated standards. It puts the onus for good choices on the industry and frees the consumer to feel good about whatever they purchase.

That may not be as wishful as it sounds. The Alaskan seafood industry benefits from a sustainability halo because regulations mandating good practices are written into the state constitution.

“We’ve always said, if you choose Alaska, it’s the easy choice from a sustainability standpoint. There’s not a single one of our fisheries that isn’t sustainably managed,” said Jeremy Woodrow, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. “We’ve tried to simplify that for them.”

The best way to support the industry, Seaver said, is to let chefs and consumers focus on what tastes good. And Seafood Watch seems to agree. The program is in the midst of a relaunch that will focus on educating chefs about making sustainable choices.

So what’s a befuddled seafood shopper to do? The consensus seems to be: Buy American, local when possible. Though hardly perfect, the U.S. seafood industry is highly regulated and works with retailers who insist on sustainability standards.

“When you go to Whole Foods, you trust that they’ve done the job for you. And that’s the case for a lot of large grocery chains these days,” Woodrow said. “Consumers should feel confident when they go to the freezer case or the fresh case that that fish is going to be coming from a responsible fishery.”

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J.M. Hirsch is a longtime food writer who was food editor of The Associated Press for nearly a decade until 2016.

Exercise extreme caution if you are outdoors and make sure to follow any burn ban in place as the fire weather threat is high.

Temperatures will climb into the 80s this afternoon and it will be breezy. Winds could gust up to 20 mph at times. It will be dry thanks to a large area of high pressure overhead.

Regarding rainfall, the rainfall outlook is not good news for our area. Over the next seven days, little rainfall is expected.

There’s an opportunity for some rain later this weekend thanks to an approaching front, but coverage will only be around 30%. We certainly need any rain that we can get due to the worsening drought over our area.

Regarding the drought, the latest drought monitor reflects the overall pattern over the past few months. Most of our area remains in an extreme drought. An exceptional drought classification has been expanded to include more of our area.

TODAY: Sun & Clouds. Breezy. High 81, Low 55.

WEDNESDAY: Partly to Mostly Cloudy. High 82, Low 58.

THURSDAY: Sunny Sky. High 84, Low 59.

FRIDAY: Mostly Sunny. High 86 Low 61.

SATURDAY: Sun & Clouds. Mainly Dry. High 89, Low 63.

SUNDAY: Sun & Clouds. Isolated Rain & Storms. High 90, Low 64.

Under a proposal submitted Monday to a state judge in Texas, The Onion would be granted an exclusive, temporary license to the intellectual property of Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, allowing the outlet to put its own content on the Infowars website and social media accounts.

Ben Collins, chief executive of The Onion, said the deal could be in place around April 30, if approved by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin. He said The Onion has already hired people to run Infowars as a parody site including Tim Heidecker, one half of the comedy duo Tim and Eric known for their work on the Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim” shows.

“We’ll build this into a bigger comedy network,” Collins said in phone interview Monday, adding the Sandy Hook families would receive profits from the new operations.

“A big part of it for us is that the way people consume news now is they see somebody who has no idea what the (expletive) they’re talking about staring into their camera and just like coming up with conspiracy theories or telling you health hacks that will actually get you poisoned, things like that,” he said. “We’re going to create a bunch of characters and worlds around those kinds of things.”

After the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, which killed 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, Jones called it a hoax staged by “crisis actors” in an effort to increase gun control. Many relatives of the victims, along with an FBI agent who responded to the shooting, sued Jones and his company for defamation and infliction of emotional distress.

On his show Monday, Jones vowed to fight the licensing proposal in court but acknowledged he and his crew could be kicked out of the building at the end of the month. He said he would continue his shows in another studio he is preparing, and they would air on his personal X account and other new social media accounts and websites, as well as dozens of radio stations. He also has set up new websites for the merchandise he sells, including dietary supplements and clothing that bring in millions of dollars a year.

“I’m going to continue the exact same show,” he said. “It’ll just be called the ‘Alex Jones Show.’ So, it’s the same satellite, same system. It's a different news site and news studio. So I’m not going anywhere.”

The licensing deal with The Onion would be for six months, with the right to renew it for another six months as a court-appointed receiver works to eventually sell the assets of Infowars’ parent company, Austin-based Free Speech Systems, and give proceeds to the Sandy Hook families. The receiver is supporting the plan, which calls for The Onion to pay $81,000 a month to cover the rent for the building housing Infowars' studios, along with utilities and other costs.

During a trial of the defamation suit in Connecticut in 2022, victims' relatives testified that people whom they called followers of Jones subjected them to death and rape threats, in-person harassment and abusive comments on social media over the hoax claims. Jones argued there was never any proof that linked him to the actions of others.

A jury and judge awarded the families and the FBI agent more than $1.4 billion in damages. In a similar lawsuit in Texas, the parents of a child killed at Sandy Hook were awarded nearly $50 million. Jones appealed both awards. He lost his challenges to the Connecticut judgment, while his appeal of the Texas award is still pending.

Jones filed for bankruptcy in late 2022. In those proceedings, an auction was held in November 2024 to liquidate Infowars’ assets to help pay the defamation judgments, and The Onion was named the winning bidder. But the bankruptcy judge threw out the auction results, citing problems with the process and The Onion’s bid.

The attempt to sell off Infowars’ assets later moved to the state court in Texas, where Guerra Gamble appointed a receiver to liquidate the assets of Jones' company. Jones is also appealing that ruling, which has put a hold on the liquidation.

A lawyer for the Sandy Hook families who sued Jones in Connecticut said they support The Onion's plan.