As early in-person voting began Tuesday in South Carolina’s primaries, the state Senate rejected a Republican plan to cancel those congressional votes and instead schedule a new primary under revised districts designed to help the GOP oust a longtime Democrat.

Some senators said it was simply too late to make a change.

“South Carolina citizens are going to the polls today. And neither my conscience or common sense is going to let me stop an election that is already underway,” Republican state Sen. Richard Cash said.

The political drama in South Carolina is part of a Republican strategy — propelled by Trump — to redraw voting districts to the GOP’s advantage in an attempt to hold on to a slim House majority in the midterm elections. Republicans have moved quickly to try to leverage a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened minority protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.

But in Alabama, a three-judge federal panel issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from using a Republican-drawn congressional map that could help the GOP win an additional seat. The court said the plan “intentionally discriminated based on race” by including only one Black-majority district, and it ordered the continued use of a court-imposed map that includes two districts with a significant proportion of Black residents.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, vowed a quick appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and predicted an eventual victory.

Republicans, who remain ahead in a national mid-decade redistricting battle, also notched some victories in lower courts on Tuesday.

A state judge in Florida declined to block new congressional districts passed by the Republican-led Legislature from being used in the midterm elections. Republicans stand to gain as many as four seats under the new map. The judge said voting rights groups that sued hadn't shown they were likely to succeed on their claim that the map was drawn with political intent in violation of Florida's Constitution. The groups said they were quickly appealing to a higher court, and vowed to keep pursuing the case all the way to the state Supreme Court, if necessary.

A federal court also declined to issue a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit contending that Tennessee's new U.S. House districts are racially discriminatory. The new Republican-drawn map carves up a majority-Black district in Memphis, giving Republicans an improved chance to win the state's only Democratic-held seat. The case is one of several brought against the map.

A redistricting battle that has spanned 10 months

Voting districts typically are redrawn after a census at the start of a decade. But Trump has urged Republican-led states to redistrict ahead of the November elections to try to rebuff political headwinds, which typically result in lost congressional seats for the president’s party in midterms.

Since Trump first urged Texas to redraw its voting districts last summer, Republicans also have enacted new House districts in Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Republicans think they could gain as many as 14 seats from those efforts, and perhaps 15 if they eventually win the ability to use a different map in Alabama.

Meanwhile, Democrats think they could win five additional seats from new voter-approved districts in California, plus one more from a new court-imposed map in Utah. Democrats suffered a setback earlier this month in Virginia, where the state Supreme Court invalidated a voter-approved redistricting plan that could have helped Democrats win additional seats.

Redistricting discussions are ongoing in Louisiana following an April high court ruling that struck down a majority-Black congressional district as an illegal partisan gerrymander. The Louisiana House could vote later this week on a new map that could eliminate a seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields and improve Republicans' chances of winning six of the state's seven seats.

The Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday called on major corporations, including those that previously expressed support for voting rights and racial justice, to oppose redistricting efforts by Republican-led states that seek to eliminate majority-Black U.S. House districts. The caucus last week called for Black athletes to boycott public universities in states that are gerrymandering congressional maps to eliminate districts held by Black lawmakers.

Clyburn decries White House role in redistricting

More than 32,000 votes had been cast in South Carolina by 1 p.m. Tuesday on the first day of early voting for the June 9 primary after Democrats called for people against a proposed new map to turn out in force. In 2022, about 125,000 early votes were cast in the entire two weeks.

Among the first to cast an early ballot in the small city of Orangeburg was U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the Democrat whose district Republicans were trying to reshape in their quest for a clean sweep of South Carolina’s congressional seats. A defiant Clyburn insisted he would run for reelection, regardless of what the district looks like.

“I’m OK if it’s Trump plus 20,” Clyburn said while describing the potential Republican advantage in a reshaped district. “I would be running where I live.”

The Republican-led House already had passed a plan that would reconfigure Clyburn's district, void the results of current congressional primaries and instead hold new U.S. House primaries in August.

Trump had lobbied for the plan, making at least two phone calls to Republican state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey and also phoning in to a private meeting of Republican senators earlier this month. He also had maintained the pressure on social media.

But debate stalled in the Senate, where Democrats were staunchly opposed and some GOP lawmakers were concerned that aggressive redistricting could backfire by making some Republican-held seats vulnerable to losses because of the addition of Democratic voters.

Clyburn noted that when state lawmakers last redrew congressional districts, after the 2020 census, they spent months holding meetings across the state to gather public suggestions. Although that map resulted in a 6-1 seat advantage for Republicans over Democrats, the process was orderly and fair, he said.

“When the map was challenged, the U.S. Supreme Court said, yes, this is constitutional,” Clyburn said. But now, “this White House says, to hell with the process, to hell with the Constitution, just do what we want done.”

___

Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama, and Lieb from Jefferson City, Missouri.

“It’s heartless, and we [are] still in pain,” Browning’s aunt, Tameka White, said. “All we want is justice for my nephew. Period.”

Michigan State Police told Local 4 Browning was hit on Dec. 27, 2025, around 2:45 p.m., along westbound I-96 near the Greenfield exit after he and his girlfriend ran out of gas.

According to police, Browning and his girlfriend were walking along the shoulder of the freeway when a dark-colored vehicle hit him and kept going.

White said Browning had turned around to check on his girlfriend walking behind him moments before the crash.

“A car came once he turned around and hit him on the right,” White said. “You hit him. You felt it.”

She said Browning suffered devastating injuries, including seven cracked ribs, a broken femur, a traumatic brain injury, a collapsed lung and bleeding in his brain.

“When he got to the hospital, they had to rush him in and have emergency surgery so they can stop the bleed,” she said. “The doctor said that it was amazing that he was alive.”

Browning survived for 14 days before dying from his injuries on Jan. 11, 2026, according to his family.

“He was just clinging on in pain,” White said. “That’s sad for somebody to pass like that or suffer in that manner.”

Browning leaves behind four young children, all under the age of 10, his aunt said.

“They have to survive without him,” she said. “Who is that really fair to?”

Family members describe Browning as a family man and someone who loved making people laugh. She said the family refuses to stop pushing for answers.

“We gotta fight for him, because he’d do the same for us,” she said.

Michigan State Police say investigators are making progress in the case, but no arrests have been announced.

Anyone with information about this deadly hit-and-run is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Metro South Post at 734-287-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. You can remain anonymous.

Jones died Friday at a senior living community in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Cupertino, according to a statement released by the family, who was at his side.

“Our father lived a life of conscience,” the Jones' family said Tuesday. “He believed, until his final days, that an idea" is "more powerful than the march of any army. We are grateful beyond words for the love, the prayers, and the friendships that sustained him, and us, across this long and remarkable life.”

As King's personal attorney, Jones was heavily involved in some of the key moments of the Civil Rights Movement. He is credited with smuggling pages of King's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” out of his cell and writing many up until the assassination of the civil rights icon in 1968.

He helped craft King's 1967 “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” address given at Riverside Church in New York exactly a year before King's death. It was considered a hallmark speech for King's condemnation of the Vietnam War and U.S. militarism in general. He argued that the U.S.'s participation in the war exacerbated poverty across the country.

Born on Jan. 8, 1931 in Philadelphia, Jones had parents who were domestic workers for a wealthy Quaker family several miles away in New Jersey, according to the Clarence B. Jones Institute for Social Advocacy. Jones was class valedictorian of an integrated high school in Palmyra, New Jersey. His knack for speechwriting became apparent in 1949, when he gave a graduation speech about breaking down racial barriers.

Jones went on to graduate from Columbia University in New York. He then was drafted by the U.S. Army but was honorably discharged almost two years later. He went on to earn a law degree from Boston University.

In 1960, in what would be the start of a seminal friendship, Jones was approached by King to be on his legal team in a tax evasion case brought by the state of Alabama. Jones pivoted from a career in entertainment law in California and moved his family to New York City. There he could be closer to King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and serve as a full-time adviser, attorney and speechwriter for him.

He was a member of the legal team on the 1964 case New York Times v. Sullivan. The nation's highest court overturned a libel case against the newspaper, which had run an ad condemning police treatment of civil rights demonstrators in Montgomery, Alabama.

After King's death, Jones went on to work for a Wall Street investment banking firm and became the first Black American with the designation of allied member of the New York Stock Exchange.

He later ventured into academia. In 2012, he joined the faculty at the University of San Francisco where he taught law students as well as undergraduates in courses such as “From Slavery to Obama.” In 2018, he co-founded the Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice at the school. Around the same time, he also became a scholar-in-residence at Stanford University's Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute.

Jones published a book about those years with King in 2023 titled “Last of the Lions: An African American Journey in Memoir.”

The following year he received the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from then-President Joe Biden. A few weeks later, a tearful Jones appeared at a San Francisco Giants baseball game with Golden State Warriors basketball star Stephen Curry to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Curry has produced and co-directed a short documentary on Jones.

“The Baddest Speechwriter of All” won an award at the Sundance Film Festival in January and will stream on Netflix later this year.

Jones is survived by his five children and longtime partner Lin Walters.

Plans for funeral services and a public celebration of life are still being finalized.

Hammon made her initial comments on ESPN in December 2023, saying the Knicks couldn't win the championship if the 6-foot-2 Brunson was their best player.

“If your best player is small, you're not winning,” Hammon said at the time.

Those comments have generated some buzz after Brunson received the Larry Bird Trophy for MVP of the Eastern Conference finals after the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists in the series.

The Knicks will face defending champion Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the finals.

“I speak from experience,” Hammon said Tuesday. "Allen Iverson got MVP and he lost in the finals. I think the two best teams are probably in the West, but I'm up for being proven wrong. That's the other thing, I think Jalen Brunson's a hell of a player, a hell of a player. I'm speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don't know why everybody's so stuck on that. I said it two years ago.

“I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”

Hammon, who has coached the Aces to three of the past four WNBA championships, has a clear rooting interested in the NBA playoffs.

The Hall of Famer played for the San Antonio Silver Stars — who eventually moved to Las Vegas and became the Aces — and later was a Spurs assistant under coach Gregg Popovich.

“Oh, you know who I'm cheering for,” Hammon said.

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

Nicholas John Acker, 36, of Trenton, worked on the mail processing equipment at the United States Postal Service’s Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park.

He was found stuck in a machine Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, and had reportedly been dead for hours before firefighters arrived.

According to the medical examiner’s report, Nick’s body was found wedged in between a guard rail and the conveyor belt of a sorting machine.

The official cause of death was listed as Mechanical Asphyxia, which occurs when a heavy object – in this case, the mail machine – compresses or crushes the body.

When Acker didn’t return from work, his fiancée, Stephanie Jaszcz, said she began to panic and went to the Allen Park facility and waited outside the gates watching emergency responders arrive, before she was notified of his death.

The OSHA investigation has been ongoing since his death, and is still not marked as closed. Currently, there are three violations and five citations listed on the inspection page for this case.

OSHA and the USPS currently have an informal settlement listed, bringing the fine amount to $26,481.

“It is disgusting and infuriating that a company can hide behind a program like OSHA — a system that’s supposed to protect workers and make sure people come home alive — only to walk away with slashed fines, meaningless citations, and zero real accountability. What’s the point of a safety agency if the companies who violate the rules get a discount for killing someone.”

Stephanie Jaszcz

The citations listed on the inspection page include the following:

• On Nov. 8, 2025, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while the conveyors were running or if a conveyer were to unexpectedly start-up due to USPS failing to conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedure at least annually.
• On Jan. 28, 2026, USPS didn’t make sure maintenance employees working to repair equipment had adequate Lockout/Tagout training for group lockout when they were working on a conveyor belt.
• On Jan. 28, 2026, maintenance employees were exposed to caught-in and fall hazards when repairing a hotel conveyor belt without the use of a group lockout device.
• On Jan. 28, 2026, USPS didn’t make sure the proper procedures were used during shift changes to ensure the continuity of lockout protections -- this exposed employees to caught-in and fall hazards.
• On Jan. 28, 2026, and times thereafter, USPS didn’t ensure that energy control procedures were used when maintenance employees were repairing a hotel conveyor belt -- again, exposing them to caught-in and fall hazards.

A common theme in these citations is failure to provide adequate training and utilize Lockout/Tagout procedures. These procedures are meant to prevent death or serious injury by preventing the unexpected startup or release of stored energy in machines and equipment.

--> Previous coverage: Investigation into USPS facility in Allen Park

Here’s a deeper look at the OSHA citations issued in this case

Here is each citation exactly as OSHA has them posted on the inspection page:

Citation 01001: The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed: On or about November 8, 2025, the employer did not ensure periodic inspections of the energy control procedures for the Alpha conveyors were completed at least annually. Inspections of the energy control procedures needed to include an inspection of the energy control procedure and a review with each authorized employee, their responsibilities under the energy control procedure. Employees working on and near the Alpha conveyors, when performing mail search activities, were exposed to caught-in hazards while the conveyors were running or if a conveyer were to unexpectedly start-up.

Citation 01002: The employer did not provide training to authorized employee(s) on the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control: On or about January 28, 2026, the employer did not ensure maintenance employees tasked with performing equipment repair work and oversight were provided with adequate authorized employee LOTO training covering the requirements of group lockout. Employees and supervisors were not fully trained on the specific methods and means to control energy sources while they performed and over saw work on hotel conveyor belt #40 in the facility.

Citation 01004A: Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment: On or about January 28, 2026, and at times thereafter, the employer did not ensure that when maintenance tasks were performed by multiple employees, each authorized employee affixed a personal lockout device to the energy isolation device device before working on the equipment. Maintenance employees were exposed to caught-in and fall hazards when performing repair work on hotel conveyor belt 40 without the use of a group lockout device.

Citation 01004B: During shift or personnel changes, specific procedures were not utilized to ensure the continuity of lockout or tagout protection, including provision for the orderly transfer of lockout or tagout device protection between off-going and oncoming employees, to minimize exposure to hazards from the unexpected energization or start-up of the machine or equipment, or the release of stored energy. On or about January 28, 2026 and at times thereafter, the employer did not ensure procedures were utilized during shift and personnel changes to ensure the continuity of lockout protections to minimize exposure to hazards from the unexpected energization or start up of equipment such as hotel conveyor belt 40 during work such as, but not limited to repairing the metal lacing on the belt, exposing employees to caught-in and fall hazards.

Citation 01004C: The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6): On or about January 28, 2026 and at times thereafter, the employer did not ensure that the company’s energy control procedures were utilized to control hazardous mechanical movement of hotel conveyor belt 40, when maintenance employees conducted repair work such as, but not limited to repairing the metal lacing on the belt and replacing the belt or shortening the belt, exposing employees to caught-in and fall hazards.

The proposal from parents' group Protect Girls Sports in Maine was slated to go before voters in November. It would have asked voters if they wanted to require public schools to restrict access to bathrooms and sports based on the gender denoted on a child's birth certificate.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who is running for governor as a Democrat, said Tuesday her staff found that more than 12,000 signatures on the petition for the referendum were invalid. That leaves the petition drive a few hundred short of the 67,682 required for the initiative to make the ballot, Bellows said.

Bellows' decision is a setback for the nationwide movement to limit or ban transgender students in sports. Maine emerged as a battleground for the issue last year following a public disagreement between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who is in her final year of office due to term limits, and President Donald Trump.

“We take the integrity of the petitions just as seriously as we take the security of voting. It's really important that anyone seeking to place a initiative on the ballot follow the law,” Bellows said.

Leyland Streiff, principal officer of Protect Girls Sports in Maine, said in a statement that the group “disagrees with the secretary of state’s decision declaring the Protect Girls Sports initiative ineligible for the November ballot.” The group “is working to ensure full judicial review of the secretary’s decision with the understanding that the courts, not the secretary, should have the final word on this important matter,” Streiff said.

The petitioners have 10 days to appeal Bellows’ decision. The group will also have the ability to try to get the initiative on a future ballot, Bellows said. The secretary of state’s office released a recommended decision about the initiative last week that said the petition “does not meet the constitution threshold” of valid signatures.

At least 19 states have laws banning transgender girls and women from using girls’ and women’s bathrooms at public school, and in some cases, other government facilities, private schools or public places. Enforcement of one of the laws – in Montana – has been put on hold by a court.

At least 30 states have laws or other statewide policies that seek to keep transgender girls and women from competing in girls and women’s sports. Courts have blocked enforcement of some of the laws.

None of the laws on bathrooms or sports restrictions came about through ballot measures. Two other Democratic-controlled states – Colorado and Washington – have sports-related laws on the ballot for November.

The restrictions on both fronts have been adopted in the past five years, and have been championed by Trump. Since his return to office last year, he has terminated agreements with school districts to protect transgender students and signed an executive order to limit sports participation by transgender athletes.

Opponents of the Maine ballot initiative said Tuesday they agreed with Bellows' decision. The petitioners “failed to follow the rules,” said David Farmer, campaign manager for the Campaign for Free and Fair Schools, which opposed the question.

___

Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Kennedy shared the clip of himself grabbing the tails of the non-venomous black racer snakes on his personal social media accounts, noting in the caption that he was removing them from the patio of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.

An avid outdoorsman, Kennedy has posted numerous photos and videos over the years of himself interacting with wild animals. He's also shared tales of such interactions, including admitting once planting a bear carcass in New York's Central Park as a prank.

Internet users reacted with joy, incredulity and outcry at Kennedy's latest clip, which shows the snakes biting in the direction of his fingers as Oz asks questions about the snakes. Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, can be heard saying “Why?” and telling her husband to let them go.

Herpetologists said the species in the clip is largely harmless to humans, even if it bites. But they said people should be mindful of the stress that handling snakes can put on the creatures, and to avoid grabbing them by the tails as Kennedy does in the video, because it can cause injuries to their spines.

“That is not how I would handle the snakes, but I’m a trained professional,” said Bonnie Keller, a herpetologist and former board member of the Virginia Herpetological Society.

Sean McKnight, director of programs at the nonprofit Rattlesnake Conservancy, said he encourages people to minimize the duration that they’re handling any kind of wildlife, because they are “potentially stressing out the animals more than needed.”

Earlier this month, Kennedy posted a snapshot of himself holding a bird in his enclosed hand in what he wrote was the rescue of a starling at Dulles Airport in northern Virginia.

In 2024, while running for president, he posted a video of himself using a small net and a trowel to capture a rattlesnake in his California driveway. In that video, he cautiously secures the venomous snake in his bare hands and displays its fangs to the camera. McKnight said he doesn’t advise anybody to handle rattlesnakes like that, because there’s no way to restrain them safely with your hands.

Also in 2024, Kennedy generated criticism when he admitted to taking a bear carcass from the side of the road and placing it in Central Park as a prank in 2014. He said at the time that he had been picking up roadkill his “whole life” and once had a “freezer full of it” at home. His campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear, now a top adviser at the nation's health department, said roadkill was how Kennedy, a longtime falconer, fed his birds.

Skubal faced hitters in a session designed to simulate three innings as he continues his return from elbow surgery.

“The velocity was really good. Stuff was good. Execution was OK,” Hinch said before the Tigers’ game against the Los Angeles Angels. “All things that he’s going to challenge himself with as he gets back ramped up.”

Hinch said Skubal’s outing marked what would be considered a normal “start day” in his throwing progression.

The left-hander is expected to throw a bullpen session in the coming days before building toward another live outing with increased volume.

Recovery between sessions remains the key focus for Detroit’s medical staff.

“Everybody races to him right after he throws, and he felt great,” Hinch said. “Now we just sort of wait as things calm down. Is there any sort of soreness? He’s going to get pitching sore again, which is not uncommon, but obviously all attention is on anything with his arm.”

Hinch reiterated Skubal will make at least one rehab appearance in the minors before returning to the major league rotation.

“He’s going to pitch in a game somewhere other than the big leagues before he comes to the big leagues,” Hinch said. “If he needs more time, cool. If he’s continuing to progress, we’re paving the way for him.”

Tigers provide updates on several injured players

The Tigers also provided updates on several other injured players.

Infielder Gleyber Torres swung a bat Tuesday without pain, while outfielder Kerry Carpenter continued defensive work in right field and is nearing full-speed swings.

“I like that we are starting to talk about baseball,” Hinch said. “We’re talking about rehab assignments and competition and pitch execution for Tarik and swings for Kerry. There’s actual baseball stuff going on.”

Pitcher Ty Madden is expected to pitch again this weekend during his rehab assignment and could soon become an option for Detroit’s pitching staff.

Meanwhile, Tigers legend and future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander, referred to by Hinch as “JV,” is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Wednesday (May 27).

“It’s back-to-back live days,” Hinch said, referencing Skubal throwing a live session Tuesday and Verlander’s scheduled outing Wednesday. “We couldn’t quite get the Skubal-Verlander matchup in the rehab game, but we missed it by a day.”

According to Hinch, Verlander is expected to face hitters for four to five simulated innings, with Detroit aiming for a pitch count between 65 and 75 pitches.

“We’re going to try to get him into the 65-75 range,” Hinch said. “I don’t know exactly what we’re going to get to, but no restrictions other than just another day on the mound.”

Hinch said the Tigers plan to continue building Verlander’s workload gradually as he works toward a return to game competition.

The Tigers also continue monitoring outfielder Javier Báez, who will undergo further medical evaluation after lingering ankle inflammation has prevented him from returning to full baseball activities.

“We need to have him seen by a specialist,” Hinch said. “He’s not able to run full speed. He’s not able to do all the activities.”

University president Lawrence Schovanec wrote in a letter to the Texas Tech community that the school would appeal the ruling. Sorsby also has a court hearing scheduled in Lubbock County District Court next Monday on his request for a temporary injunction that would allow him to play for the Red Raiders this season.

“We believe that given the facts and the context of Brendan’s case, the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified,” Schovanec wrote. “As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular.”

Sorsby was one of the top players to enter the transfer portal after last season. At stake is the multimillion-dollar deal he signed with Texas Tech for what was supposed to be his final season of college football.

Schovanec noted the NCAA's state mission includes the lifelong well-being of athletes and to promote a “culture of care” for their mental health.

Schovanec said Sorsby last week completed an inpatient gambling addiction treatment program and is preparing to return to campus.

“Brendan himself has been open about his struggle with severe gambling addiction, and we believe his vulnerability deserves to be met with the full weight of this institution’s support,” Schovanec wrote. “Our foremost priority in contemplating Brendan’s future with Texas Tech is his continued health and well-being.”

In his lawsuit seeking an injunction, Sorsby acknowledged that in his first year at Indiana, he wagered between $5 and $50 on the Hoosiers football team to win and made prop bets on teammates to exceed statistical predictions. He said he did not bet on the one game in which he played. Sorsby said he never bet on a game involving Cincinnati after he transferred there in 2024, but he continued to bet on other sports.

According to Schovanec, Sorsby will receive ongoing treatment, monitoring and support at the school. He will receive outpatient clinical care, participation in group and individual therapy, mentor resources, treatment for his related anxiety disorder and active monitoring of his technological devices. He also will have a custodian to oversee his personal finances and and periodic compliance checks.

“This is not a symbolic commitment,” Schovanec wrote. “Each element reflects our conviction, and Brendan’s, that nothing matters more right now than his continued recovery. It is our duty to provide that support and that is support we are uniquely well-positioned to provide.”

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

In Washington, the president is scheduled for a medical checkup. The redistricting war also continues as the Congressional Black Caucus is urging corporate America to get involved to save voting rights, ending a collective retreat during Trump’s second presidency. In Texas, the Trump-backed, scandal-plagued Ken Paxton is favored over Sen. John Cornyn in Tuesday's GOP primary runoff election.

The Latest:

Trump says his administration should regulate prediction markets, not states

The president said the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should continue to have “exclusive authority” over prediction markets, as he attacked state leaders who seek to restrict the use of the online markets that can hinge on insider information.

“Under my leadership, we are setting ‘rules of the road’ that are the Gold Standard for the States,” Trump posted on social media. “We cannot have SCUM like Chris Christie, Letitia James, Tim Walz, and JB Pritzker setting the rules!”

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., has invested in the prediction market Polymarket through his venture capital firm and he has been a strategic adviser for another market, Kalshi.

The CFTC currently regulates prediction markets, and that federal oversight enables them to operate in all 50 states, even those where gambling is illegal.

“It is a major Industry, and we must protect it,” Trump said in his post.

Trump calls off holding a Cabinet meeting at Camp David

The president wrote on his social media site that Wednesday’s planned meeting with his Cabinet had been set to take place at the remote presidential retreat in the mountains of Maryland but would instead be happening at the White House.

“Based on the possible bad weather conditions tomorrow, we will be having our Cabinet Meeting in the White House,” he wrote “and will be postponing the Cabinet trip to Camp David.”

Trump has visited Camp David sparingly, making just one visit there so far in his second term last fall.

Chinese foreign minister says he hopes US-Iran ‘stay committed’ to a deal as progress remains murky

At a press conference at the United Nations in New York, Wang Yi told reporters that despite the uncertainty between Washington and Tehran after a series of U.S. strikes this week, “every step forward in the negotiations brings more hope to peace.”

“We hope that the parties concerned can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway, so that peace can return to the Middle East as early as possible,” Wang said.

He added, “As we have been saying, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice, and longstanding issues cannot be resolved overnight.”

Vance praises pope’s AI message as ‘very profound’

The vice president made the comment in a Tuesday interview with NBC News, saying he had read excerpts and summaries of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical.

“What I read of it sounds very profound, and the sort of thing that you would expect and hope from a leader of the church,” Vance said. “The thing about morality is that the principles never change, but the way you apply those principles does, because the world changes, right?”

He said with new technology “you have to kind of rethink the entire Catholic social teaching in light of the new world that we live in. And I think that’s exactly what the pope is trying to do.”

Vance, who is Catholic, previously said the Trump administration is trying to strike a balance that encourages innovation in AI while protecting data and privacy. The American pope’s message calls on AI developers to work for the common good over profit.

South Carolina Senate rejects President Trump’s call to redraw congressional maps

The South Carolina Senate on Tuesday rejected President Donald Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional district in hopes Republicans could gain an additional seat in the midterm elections.

Senators had political concerns, worrying that any map in a state where Democrats got at least 40% of votes in the past eight presidential elections couldn’t guarantee Republican wins in all seven districts.

And there were logistical worries. Statewide primaries are June 9, with early voting starting Tuesday. The plan had called for throwing out any congressional votes already cast and holding another statewide primary just for U.S. House races in August.

Election officials said holding three statewide elections in five months would require employees to work around the clock to prepare voting machines and ballots and to meet legal requirements.

The proposal passed the South Carolina House last Wednesday after two days of long debate.

▶ Read more

Trump says everything checked out ‘PERFECTLY’ at his medical exam

The president made the comment after spending more than three hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as annual preventive medical and dental checkups.

Trump called it a “6 month physical” and thanked the medical center’s doctors and staff. He returned to the White House shortly after.

The White House did not immediately release results from his physical. It was Trump’s fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since he returned to office for a second term.

Top Rubio aide moves to White House

One of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s top aides is moving to the White House to serve in a position he has held informally since Rubio became Trump’s national security adviser last year.

U.S. officials said Tuesday that Mike Needham would leave his post as director of policy planning at the State Department to work full-time at the White House as a deputy national security adviser.

Needham, a veteran of the conservative Heritage Foundation who served as Rubio’s chief of staff at the beginning of Trump’s second term before moving to the policy planning position, had already been spending large amounts of time at the White House with Rubio.

Dan Holler, Rubio’s current chief of staff, will take over the policy planning post at the State Department, officials said.

Rubio set to testify in Congress on June 2

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to testify before Senate and House committees on June 2 as the conflict in Iran remains a top concern for lawmakers.

Although the hearings are officially focused on the State Department’s budget, lawmakers are expected to press Rubio on a broad range of issues tied to the war.

News over the weekend of a potential deal to end the conflict drew mixed reactions from Republicans in Congress, with some — including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — urging Trump not to ease pressure on Iran. Cruz sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, before which Rubio is scheduled to testify.

Rubio told reporters Tuesday that negotiations over extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz could take several more days.

Jeffries implores Supreme Court to ‘do the right thing’ after Alabama ruling

The House Democratic leader said his party “will continue to fight the corrupt Republican scheme to racially gerrymander congressional maps in order to rig the midterms.”

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York issued the statement after a federal court blocked Alabama’s plan to use a Republican-backed congressional map that the three-judge panel said “intentionally discriminated based on race” by including only one Black-majority district.

Alabama is expected to swiftly appeal to the Supreme Court.

More clashes outside an immigration detention center in New Jersey

Several dozen people were demonstrating Tuesday outside the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, where advocates say some detainees have been on a hunger strike to protest conditions since last week. The Homeland Security department denied any hunger strike, abuse or poor conditions inside the center.

Protesters, including a woman draped in a Mexican flag, kneeled and chanted “ICE out” in front of a line of federal officers who stood alongside an armored vehicle. At one point, an officer appeared to tackle a protester as he and other officers started walking slowly toward the crowd, attempting to have it move back.

It was a tamer scene than what U.S. Sen. Andy Kim said he experienced on Monday, saying he was pepper-sprayed as he and Gov. Mikie Sherrill led a delegation of Democratic officials seeking to meet with detainees.

Homeland Security rejects Democrats’ protest outside detention center as ‘political stunt’

“Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire,” Kim posted on social media after Monday’s clashes. “Civilians were tackled and restrained, and agents fired pepper balls and spray into the crowd.”

Federal officials denied entry to the newly elected governor, who joined the first-term senator in demanding that Delaney Hall be shut down. “In New Jersey, we believe in the rule of law and that everyone deserves to be treated with basic dignity,” Sherrill’s statement said.

“This is nothing more than a political stunt by New Jersey sanctuary politicians for fundraising clicks,” Acting Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.

Alabama will appeal voter discrimination ruling to US Supreme Court

The federal judges’ ruling says Republicans “intentionally discriminated based on race” by redrawing the state’s House map to remove a Black-majority district.

“Ultimately, we cannot see our way clear to requiring Alabamians to cast their votes in the 2026 elections under a districting plan tainted by intentional race-based discrimination,” the judges wrote.

Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, described the GOP-drawn map as “blandly unobjectionable” and said Alabama will immediately appeal.

“Know this — in my mind, it is not a matter of whether we win this case, only when,” Marshall said.

Republicans in several Southern states, including Alabama, have sought to reshape voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats following the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.

Rubio says Iran deal talks will take several more days

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says talks with Iran on extending a ceasefire and re-opening the Strait of Hormuz will take several more days.

Speaking to reporters before leaving India on Tuesday after the U.S. launched new strikes against Iran in the south despite the ceasefire, Rubio said there is “a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document.”

“So, it’ll take a few days,” he said. He added that Trump would not accept a bad deal and said the critical point at the moment is reopening the Strait of Hormuz without Iran being allowed to charge a toll for ships to pass through the crucial waterway.

“The straits need to be open, unimpeded, without tolls,” he said.

FCC’s sole Democrat warns media companies against yielding to Trump

Anna Gomez wakes up every morning and checks her phone to see if Trump has fired her yet.

The sole Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission is urging urge media companies fight back against efforts to silence free speech. In an extraordinary four-page letter to Josh D’Amaro, the CEO of Disney, which is the parent company to ABC, Gomez described the FCC’s “sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control” against the company under Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump ally.

She noted probes touching on diversity practices, ABC’s moderation of a 2024 presidential debate, guest bookings on “The View” and calls for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired. She said the FCC’s move for early reviews of ABC’s local broadcast licenses is “the most egregious assault on the First Amendment this FCC has taken to date.”

▶ Read more from her Q&A with the AP

Iranian World Cup team will play in US but sleep in Mexico

The Iranians will return each night to a base in Tijuana, Mexico, after their U.S. group stage matches, President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed.

Sheinbaum said at a news conference Monday that she was told by a FIFA representative that the U.S. was reluctant to have the Iranian soccer team spend time in the U.S. outside the stadiums while the war launched by the U.S. and Israel continues.

“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” Sheinbaum said. A FIFA representative then asked, “Can they stay overnight in Mexico?” “And we said, ‘Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that’,” she said.

A U.S. State Department statement Monday said Trump made it clear the Iranian team is welcome to participate. The statement did not address where the team might stay, or Sheinbaum’s comments.

Lebanon hopes for an agreement that sees Israeli withdrawal

Israel’s military clashed with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants Tuesday along the strategic Litani River in Lebanon as Israeli troops tried to push farther north, just three days before Lebanese and Israeli military delegations are set to meet for direct talks in Washington.

A previously reached ceasefire appears more nominal by the day, complicating efforts at a broader peace in the Iran war, as Tehran wants an end to the fighting to include Lebanon. Israel says it will not withdraw until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to residents of its northern towns. Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting until Israel stops its daily airstrikes and withdraws its troops from Lebanon.

▶ Read more:

Trump turns 80 next month as more Americans express concerns about his age

A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll in April found that less than half of U.S. adults think Trump has the mental sharpness or physical health to serve effectively.

“I think concern for the president’s physical health is probably at an all-time high, and I think advanced physical age is the No. 1 concern,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician under Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Kuhlman said a complete physical would include advanced heart testing, screening for common cancers and a cognitive assessment. The White House has not disclosed what Trump’s checkups will entail.

“President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement.

US consumer confidence is dented as gas prices remain high

U.S. consumer confidence declined slightly as gas prices remained at or above a national average of $4.50 a gallon in May and inflation remained elevated, a sharp contrast to soaring stock prices that have neared record levels.

The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index slipped 0.7 points to 93.1 in May, the first decline after three months of gains.

The index follows a separate gauge of consumer sentiment compiled by the University of Michigan, which fell to a record low this month. Spikes in gas prices as well as higher food costs have worsened inflation, which has outpaced the growth in average paychecks in recent months, reducing most Americans’ purchasing power. Polls show Americans have soured on Trump’s economic policies, which could harm Republicans in this year’s elections.

Iran denounces US strikes as a sign of bad faith, with impact on peace talks unclear

Iran on Tuesday denounced U.S. strikes a day earlier as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations continue toward a possible deal to end the war.

The U.S. military said it acted with restraint in defensively targeting missile launch sites and boats placing mines. Iran’s foreign ministry called the strikes a ceasefire violation and warned that “The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday said it had shot down and deterred drones and a fighter jet that entered its airspace, according to Iran’s official Mizan news agency, which did not say when this happened.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf went to Qatar as part of the talks. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center said an explosion was reported Tuesday morning aboard a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. No one was injured and there was no immediate information on the cause.

Federal court blocks Alabama’s plan for new US House map

The new congressional map would give Republicans an advantage in a key House race this November. But the preliminary injunction issued by a three-judge panel requires the state, at least for now, to instead use the same court-ordered districts under which congressional representatives were elected in 2024.

Lawyers representing Black voters argued that Alabama’s map intentionally discriminates against Black voters and that trying to change lines in the middle of an election year creates chaos.

The state could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Republicans want to use a new map that will give the GOP a chance to reclaim the seat now held by Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures.

US stocks rise, oil falls after Trump said Iran talks are ‘proceeding nicely’

The price for a barrel of U.S crude oil fell 3.8% to $92.99 on Tuesday after resuming trading following the Memorial Day holiday, and U.S. stocks were catching up to others around the world that climbed after Trump said Iran talks were “proceeding nicely.”

The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq composite all rose Tuesday to near their all-time highs even though fighting continued in the Mideast and the U.S. military said it struck Iranian missile launch sites and boats placing mines on Monday. Markets have rallied in the past on hopes for a coming end to the war with Iran, only to see the conflict drag on, causing painful inflation around the world.

Congressional Black Caucus presses US corporations to oppose Republican redistricting push

The Congressional Black Caucus is calling on major U.S. corporations to oppose Republican-led redistricting efforts that seek to eliminate majority-Black U.S. House districts.

Their letter sent Tuesday urges more than 250 companies to condemn “coordinated efforts to silence Black voices at the ballot box.” Some had cosigned their own message to Congress five years ago urging lawmakers to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a Democratic proposal to restore and update the Voting Rights Act.

That 2021 coalition, Business for Voting Rights, included Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla, Salesforce, Target, PayPal, Intel and Starbucks.

“Corporations that have profited from Black consumers, relied on Black workers, and amassed wealth in part from Black communities cannot look away while Black political power is dismantled in plain sight,” the caucus chair, Rep. Yvette Clarke, said in an interview.

Trump arrives at Walter Reed military hospital for his latest physical

The White House said Trump would participate in a greeting with service members and hospital staff before he spends hours being examined by a team of doctors.

It is the Republican president’s fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since he returned to office in January 2025, and it comes as the nearly 80-year-old Trump tries to project strength going into November elections that will test his sway with voters.

The White House says the visit is an annual preventive medical and dental checkup. Trump was last at Walter Reed in October and also had a physical there in April 2025.

Last July, the White House said he’d been diagnosed with a condition common in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins, causing the swollen ankles seen in some photos of Trump.

The White House also has blamed handshaking for visible bruising on Trump’s hands.

Presidents aren’t required to disclose health information

There’s no law requiring these disclosures and the degree of transparency varies.

Presidents for decades have released medical test results to try to reassure the public that they are up to the high-pressure job.

But the president signs off on what is released, which raises questions about what isn’t being shared.

Trump’s past medical reports have been criticized for offering scant detail and including statistics that some medical experts eyed with skepticism.

It will be several hours before the White House releases any information about Tuesday’s exam.

▶ Read more

A proposed notice, announced Tuesday on the Office of Personnel Management website, is expected to be officially published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, seeking comment on a draft NDA to be used by federal agencies for “both new and existing employees."

"The form is intended to document Federal employees’ acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, current legal obligations to safeguard non-public, confidential, or proprietary information, created or obtained through their official duties, while expressly preserving the right to make disclosures authorized by law,” the notice said.

The proposed notice seeks comment on several questions, including whether the NDA should cover only unclassified information and what appropriate actions, if any, agencies should consider for new or current employees who choose not to sign the agreement.

The OPM noted “several recent instances” where internal agency communications related to rulemaking and policy development were disclosed without authorization. It also discussed specific instances in which federal employees at the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security disclosed information about planned immigration enforcement actions without authorization.

In one case, The New York Times and The Washington Post received unauthorized information on the U.S. raid on Venezuela this past January and delayed “publishing what they knew to avoid endangering U.S. troops,” the OPM request for comment said.

A Washington Post spokesperson declined to comment.

Charles Stadtlander, executive director of Media Relations and Communications for the Times, said in an email that the paper had extensive reporting on operations targeting Venezuela and preparations for land-based military operations. “Contrary to some claims, however, The Times did not have verified details about the pending operation to capture Maduro or a story prepared, nor did we withhold publication at the request of the Trump administration.”

Ferreting out leaks that the administration deems harmful to its messaging has been a priority across multiple agencies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. As part of that crackdown, the FBI in January seized the electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter, a move that alarmed media organizations and advocates of press freedom.

One other notable incident occurred last year when dozens of reporters turned in their access badges at the Pentagon, rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information — classified or otherwise — that had not been approved by Hegseth for release.

Michael L. Vogelsang Jr., an attorney at the Employment Law Group, said he has questions, among them: “What gap is an NDA supposed to fill that doesn’t already exist?”

He noted that statutes already exist regarding the leaking of classified and sensitive information. There’s also a law passed by Congress, he noted, that prohibits employers from implementing or enforcing an NDA.

He said: "So Congress has already said NDAs are a no-go. So how can OPM make a regulation that violates the law?”

The American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said in a statement that OPM’s proposed rule is part of a continuing effort to silence federal employees.

“This proposed NDA is another attempt by the administration to purge the civil service of nonpartisan career employees and replace them with loyalists who won’t speak out against waste, fraud, and abuse," Kelley said.

The Alabama-based nonprofit was indicted in April on fraud and money laundering charges that accuse it of misleading donors by paying informants inside white supremacist and other extremist organizations to obtain inside information about their activities.

Lawyers for the SPLC have already argued that law enforcement agencies have long known that the nonprofit paid informants to report on the movements of hate groups. They have also said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made a false statement at a news conference and in interviews when he said the organization had not shared with law enforcement information it had learned from informants. Blanche later appeared to walk back that claim in a television interview, saying it was true that the SPLC had “selectively” shared information with law enforcement over the years.

The attorneys for the center expanded on those arguments Tuesday, saying in a motion to dismiss the case that the prosecution was the “culmination of a top-down, retributive campaign" in which Trump pushed the Justice Department "to go after those individuals and groups he deemed his political enemies, including the SPLC.”

Defense says indictment fits broader retaliation campaign

The motion was filed against the backdrop of other politically charged prosecutions that have raised concerns that the Justice Department is operating as a weapon to target Trump's opponents. It aims to draw a parallel between the SPLC indictment and the human smuggling prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, which was dismissed Friday on similar vindictive prosecution grounds by a judge who called the case an “abuse of prosecuting power.”

The SPLC has said its now-defunct program of paying informants to infiltrate hate groups was developed to glean key insights into their activities so that potential victims could be protected. An earlier federal investigation into the practice was closed without charges, but the motion paints the current Justice Department as pursuing the case with renewed — and rushed — vigor.

The department decided to pursue the indictment without having interviewed any current SPLC employees, and did not seek any documents from the group until after it had told defense lawyers that criminal charges were forthcoming, the defense motion states. During a meeting requested by defense lawyers who hoped to avert to indictment, Justice Department officials informed them that the decision had already been made to pursue charges, according to the motion.

“These procedural irregularities show that the charges against the SPLC were a foregone conclusion based on prosecutorial vindictiveness — driven by the White House and FBI leadership’s retribution campaign — rather than the result of a good faith examination of the evidence,” the motion states, saying the indictment was “premised on conclusory accusations but devoid of provable facts or a proper statement of the law.”

The motion also cites whistleblower accounts that accused top Justice Department officials of rushing forward with an indictment despite internal concerns about the merits of the case and the strength of the evidence.

“For weeks, we have been arguing against these false allegations levied against the SPLC — an organization that for 55 years has stood as a beacon of hope fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice to create a multiracial democracy where we can all live and thrive,” Bryan Fair, the interim president and CEO of SPLC, said in a statement. “The government can’t prosecute the SPLC as payback for its protected speech — it violates basic constitutional rights.”

The administration has painted SPLC as partisan

Founded in 1971 as a civil rights organization, the SPLC over the decades has used litigation to fight white supremacist groups. It also tracks the activities and locations of domestic extremists. But its work has made it a popular target among Republicans who see it as overly leftist and partisan.

The center, for instance, received fresh attention last year after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk because the SPLC had included a section on the group that Kirk founded and led, Turning Point USA, in a report titled “The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024."

FBI Director Kash Patel announced in October that the bureau would be severing its relationship with the SPLC, saying it had 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.

The defense motion says “animus” from senior levels of the administration helped shape the indictment.

It cites, among other comments, a statement from Trump himself deriding the SPLC as “a total scam run by the Democrats,” as well as a news media interview in which Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department's top civil rights official, said the indictment was “personal” to her because she had “a lot of journalist friends ... and groups that I’ve represented who have been targeted by the Southern Poverty Law Center.”

The Warren City Council unanimously approved a moratorium last week on all new gas station and car wash construction. The temporary pause lasts up to eight months, giving officials time to rewrite zoning rules that govern where and how those businesses can be built.

The city says current zoning doesn’t adequately address location, development, design or approval criteria for what it calls “orderly development.”

Related: Why so many car washes keep popping up across Michigan

Drivers take notice

The density is hard to miss. Along just a two-mile stretch of Mound Road, Local 4 counted at least six gas stations and three car washes — many of them opening in just the last few years.

Drivers said they’ve noticed, too.

“They have way too many gas stations,” said Joe Siket. “They are putting one up on 10 Mile and Mound right now and they already have two there.”

Mike Bogden shared a similar concern about long-term impact.

“If you keep building them and building them, then what are you going to have? A bunch of empty gas stations down the road,” he said.

Not everyone sees it as a problem, though. Jacqueline Barber said the businesses serve a purpose.

“It boosts up the community and it brings jobs,” Barber said.

What the moratorium covers

The pause applies only to new construction. Businesses already operating and projects that have already received permits or approved site plans are not affected by the moratorium.

The idea originated in January, when the Warren Planning Commission recommended a temporary freeze to allow time for a zoning overhaul.

Drivers who spoke with Local 4 said they support the move.

“I think it’s a great thing,” Bogden said.

When asked if Warren needed the moratorium, Siket didn’t hesitate.

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” he said.

City leaders hope the temporary pause leads to a more diverse mix of businesses.

The top-ranked Sabalenka looked light on her feet on Court Philippe-Chatrier, despite wearing two thick necklaces in a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

“Diamonds, I don’t really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside,” said Sabalenka, the tournament runner-up last year to Coco Gauff. “So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good.”

The four-time major winner was initially going to wear three necklaces but said she thought that might be too much.

“It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I’m wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better,” Sabalenka said. "I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court. I know the dress that I will wear on the Grand Slam, and I just try to come up with something to match the outfit."

Sabalenka said she wasn't worried about protecting her jewelry when she's off the court.

“I have my fiancé. He’s kind of like my security,” she said, smiling. “My physio does jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don’t go alone.”

Gauff began her title defense with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend, while four-time major winner Naomi Osaka beat Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Court Suzanne-Lenglen wearing a sequined gold playing dress.

Frenchwoman Lois Boisson, who made a surprise run to the semifinals last year when she was ranked 361st, lost 6-2, 6-2 to the 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya.

For a third consecutive day, the temperature in Paris rose far above normal, reaching a scorching 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

“I’m from Florida, so this is nothing. Shout-out Delray Beach,” said Gauff, who kept her spare rackets in a court-side cooler during the match.

Medvedev loses early again

The unusually hot conditions made the courts faster than usual.

Daniil Medvedev usually thrives in such conditions but he struggled in a five-set loss to 97th-ranked Australian opponent Adam Walton.

Walton, who received a wild card invitation from tournament organizers, beat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. It was Medvedev's second straight first round exit here and third in four years.

“I know why I don’t really play my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it’s (making) excuses,” he said. “So I keep it to myself.”

Playing in the night session, top-ranked Jannik Sinner routed 171st-ranked French wild card entry Clement Tabur 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to extend his winning streak to 30 matches as he chases the only big title missing in his tennis career.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up to Novak Djokovic, was leading 6-2, 3-0 against Alexandre Muller when his French opponent retired. Muller injured his right calf, three months after injuring his left calf.

Ninth-seeded Alexander Bublik was beaten 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5 by Jan-Lennard Struff.

Alexander Blockx withdrew from the tournament with a right ankle sprain, making Alex de Minaur — his scheduled second round opponent — the first player into the third round.

Rising star

French teenager Moïse Kouamé made the perfect start to his French Open career with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1 win over Marin Cilic.

The 17-year-old Kouamé won one day after 39-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils made his last appearance at Roland Garros.

The teenager raised his arms in triumph after defeating the 37-year-old Cilic, who won the 2014 U.S. Open, finished runner-up at two other majors, and reached the French Open semifinals in 2022.

The ATP Tour said No. 318-ranked Kouamé became the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match.

In March, he became the youngest winner in Miami Masters history when he beat Zachary Svajda in the first round — earning a congratulatory message from Djokovic.

___

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

Crews are erecting an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn that will host next month's UFC bout, helping mark the nation's 250th anniversary — and President Donald Trump 's 80th birthday.

Online renderings depict what the completed, wire-mesh-fence-ringed fight space is expected to look like ahead of the June 14 event. It will be ringed by a red, white and blue stage under a towering arch featuring stars and stripes patterns and two large screens carrying the action live.

The cage and stage will themselves be surrounded by thousands of temporary seats, including ringside space for a full marching band that can set the entire scene to blaring music.

The project is part of a series of events celebrating the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence's signing on July 4, 1776. Other planned functions include an IndyCar race that will pass by the White House and the Great American State Fair taking place on the National Mall.

Trump has said that the finished UFC project will feature “a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House.” Additional large screens broadcasting the fights will be set up in a park at the nearby Ellipse, and the UFC has said it plans to issue as many as 85,000 free tickets to accommodate spectators at both locations.

“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets,” Trump said recently of demand to attend the UFC fight, adding, “That's gonna be something.”

The card has been panned by fans online as underwhelming, featuring just two championship fights. Brazil’s Alex Pereira will meet France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Then Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on interim champ Justin Gaethje, one of just two Americans who currently hold even a share of the UFC’s 11 championship belts.

The octagon and surrounding structures are the latest project in the White House building boom Trump is leading.

The president's other efforts to leave his mark include tearing up part of the Rose Garden to make room for a patio space reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, affixing partisan plaques to the wall of the colonnade for a Presidential Walk of Fame, redoing the bathroom attached to the Lincoln Bedroom and renovating the Palm Room, placing new flag poles on the north and south lawns and demolishing the entire East Wing for a sprawling ballroom.

The president also wants to repaint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building beside the White House and build a 250-foot arch at the nearby Lincoln Memorial — the same monument where weigh-ins for the upcoming UFC fight are scheduled to take place, bout organizers say.

The shop, located at 15430 Fenkell Ave. in Detroit, is offering free oil changes to anyone who stops by during business hours Tuesday through Friday, May 27–30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No appointment is needed, there’s no catch, and no cutoff; just show up, and they’ll keep you running.

Owner KC Zaher says the gesture is about giving back to the people who have supported the shop over the years.

“A $2,000 oil change is the smallest gesture we can make for our customers,” Zaher said.

By noon on Monday, the shop had already changed the oil in 60 vehicles.

Zaher says rising costs were top of mind when he and his team decided to organize the four-day event.

“Looking at the gas prices going up, it’s tough out here sometimes, so we got to make sure we can give back when we can give back,” Zaher said.

The community response has been overwhelming.

One woman drove all the way from Saline to take advantage of the free service.

For others, like customer Shontori Bowles, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“I’m in school, so I’m working less hours, so any money I don’t have to spend benefits me and my family,” Bowles said.

A customer who goes by TT says Detroit Express Muffler is the only place she’ll go for her vehicle maintenance.

TT was pleasantly surprised to find out the shop was offering oil changes on the house.

“Was an oil change something you’d been putting off?” TT was asked.

“Yeah, for a long time, and I’m glad it’s free,” TT said.

Zaher says the math is simple when it comes to taking care of your vehicle.

“It’s a lot cheaper to change the oil than it is to change an engine,” Zaher said.

No appointment is necessary.

Detroit Express Muffler will offer free oil changes Tuesday through Friday, May 27–30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 15430 Fenkell Ave., Detroit, MI 48227.

The crisis forced 50,000 people to evacuate in and around the Orange County city of Garden Grove last week. Most returned home after the crack formed over the Memorial Day weekend, but the risk of a smaller explosion or potential spill kept evacuation orders in place for about a third of residents.

Isabel Mendez was among those still waiting to return to her mobile home. She said she broke out in a rash on her face and developed tingling lips and a sore throat while evacuating last week. After spending several expensive nights in a hotel, she is now staying with her mother north of Los Angeles.

She remains uncertain about returning home because she does not trust official assurances that the area is safe.

“Of course it is still dangerous,” she said.

Exposure to methyl methacrylate — a highly flammable chemical used to make plastics — can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The tank at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems contains 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of the chemical.

Underscoring the dangers of living near hazardous material was an implosion of a chemical tank at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state on Tuesday that injured at least 10 people, while an undisclosed number of others had been killed or remained missing.

Crews at the California plant worked overnight to ensure two nearby tanks were neutralized and would not be affected by the compromised tank, Orange County Fire Capt. Brian Yau said, adding that material from one of these two tanks was transferred to another that has a neutralizing agent.

The tank overheated because a valve on the cooling system failed, fire officials said.

“That’s what kept it at 50 degrees,” or 10 degrees Celsius, said TJ McGovern, interim chief of the Orange County Fire Authority.

“Due to that failure, the tank went into the heating-up process because it wasn’t continuing to be chilled,” he said at a press conference Monday evening.

Crews sprayed water on the tank until the interior temperature stabilized to 92 F (33.3 C), down from 100 F (37.7 C) over the weekend, the fire department said Tuesday. The hoses put out 1,250 gallons a minute over five days, which meant they used about 9 million gallons of water.

The sprinkler system at the facility continues to douse the tank, and the company said its technical specialists and firefighters removed insulation from the tank to help cool it.

Fire officials also tested storm drain water and found it was clean, McGovern said.

“There was no contamination,” Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong said at a Monday news conference. “You should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.”

Concern among residents

The crisis occurred in central Orange County, which is a densely populated area made up of a cluster of cities including Garden Grove. The city of 170,000 people, along with neighboring Westminster, is home to Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam. It is also next to Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders.

Garden Grove Unified School District said three schools remained closed and it was unclear if they would reopen before the school year ends this week.

Chinh Nguyen, 62, was among those unable to go back to his home in Stanton. He said the first night of the evacuation, he and his wife and two adult children slept at his wife’s hair salon.

“We slept like dogs on the ground,” he said. “We had no choice. We had nowhere to go.”

They are now at a shelter in a high school in nearby Huntington Beach. He’s grateful for the help but Nguyen said he hopes to return home before food that he left for his 10 parakeets runs out.

Environmental risks remain

The South Coast Air Quality Management District will monitor the air for several months and the EPA will be checking sewer and storm drains for spills, Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen said.

As the tank heated up, the chemical converted from liquid to gas, ramping up the pressure and explosion risk, said Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor who has studied environmental contamination. Some of the methyl methacrylate may already have hardened into a stable plastic similar to plexiglass, reducing the danger, he said.

“The tank was on track for a catastrophic explosion,” Whelton said. “The formation of a crack seems to have allowed pressure to vent.”

The risk remains of a smaller blast that could send projectiles or even a chemical plume toward nearby homes, he said.

The tank needs to get closer to 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 21.1 degrees C) before conditions are considered significantly safer, he said.

GKN is a British company that supplies aircraft manufacturers

GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems makes cockpit windows, canopies and windshields for military and commercial aircraft. It employs about 16,000 people across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries, according to the company website.

“We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution,” the company said, “so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible.”

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An earlier version of this story was corrected to attribute a quote to TJ McGovern, interim fire chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, not to division chief Craig Covey.

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Weber reported from Los Angeles and Bellisle from Seattle. Associated Press journalists Leah Willingham in Boston; Jamie Stengle in Dallas; and Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California, contributed to this report.

The space agency outlined the first phase of its moon base plans on Tuesday, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to four U.S. companies.

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin will provide a pair of landers to deliver moon buggies to the lunar surface, at a spot near the moon’s south pole. These so-called lunar terrain vehicles will be built by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost. Firefly Aerospace, which landed successfully on the moon last year, will deliver the first drones to the moon.

All this hardware is ideally supposed to arrive before the first Artemis astronauts land on the moon, planned for as early as 2028.

During April's Artemis II mission, four astronauts flew around the moon, traveling deeper into space than the Apollo moon crews did during the late 1960s and early 1970s. For next year's Artemis III, another team of astronauts will practice docking NASA's Orion capsule in orbit around Earth with the lunar landers being developed for crews by Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX.

NASA is targeting Artemis III for mid-2027, with a landing by two astronauts following as soon as 2028. The moon base's second phase, from 2029 into the early 2030s, will start building up the permanent infrastructure, including a power grid. As for when the base will be ready to support astronauts for extended periods in specialized permanent habitats, that's expected sometime in the 2030s, during the third phase.

“Then we'll be able to say, 'Hey, we're permanently here and we're not giving it up,'” said NASA's moon base program executive Carlos Garcia-Galan.

Garcia-Galan envisions a moon base sprawling over hundreds of square miles, with a perimeter marked by drones, dubbed MoonFall, stationed at the corners.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said these territory markers are meant to be respectful of other countries' spacecraft and equipment that might be nearby. He expects reciprocity in the matter.

The goal of the moon base is to encourage a lunar economy while conducting scientific research and laying the foundation for a Mars expedition, Isaacman stressed.

“For those waiting patiently, the grand return is close at hand and we will not slow down,” Isaacman said. “We are really just getting started.”

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

The first bee was held in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send their champions to Washington. After a long run at a convention center in suburban Maryland, the bee returns to the nation's capital this year at Constitution Hall, a few blocks from the White House.

Another change for this year: ESPN NFL analyst and recent “Celebrity Jeopardy!” champion Mina Kimes has joined the bee as its television host.

This is the 98th bee; it was canceled from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II and again in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s champion will be the 111th, because the bee ended in a two-way tie several times and an eight-way tie in 2019.

Thirty of the past 36 champions have been of Indian heritage, including last year’s winner, Faizan Zaki.

How can I watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

The bee is broadcast and streamed on channels and platforms owned by Scripps, a Cincinnati-based media company.

Wednesday's quarterfinals will stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and semifinals can be watched on those platforms from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tape-delayed semifinals will be broadcast on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Finals will be broadcast Thursday on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The semifinals and finals will also air or be streamed on these Scripps-owned channels or services: ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network.

What are the rules of the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

Spellers qualify by advancing through regional bees hosted by sponsors around the country. In order to compete, spellers must not have advanced beyond the eighth grade or be older than 15.

Competitors must get through two preliminary rounds, where they are quizzed on words from a list provided in advance. There is one spelling round and one multiple-choice vocabulary round.

Those who make it through the preliminaries sit for a written spelling and vocabulary test, with the top 100 or so finishers advancing to the quarterfinals. The words for the test, and for all subsequent rounds, are taken from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary.

Throughout the quarterfinals and semifinals, spellers are eliminated at the microphone through oral spelling or vocabulary questions.

About a dozen spellers advance to the finals. When only two remain, Scripps has the option to use a lightning-round tiebreaker known as a “spell-off” to determine the champion.

Who is competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

This year's bee has 247 spellers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five other countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. After the preliminary rounds, 167 were left.

The top returning finisher from 2025 is Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, who finished third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. Even if he falls short this year, he has two years of eligibility left.

Other possible contenders:

— Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who finished third in 2024. He has dominated the bee circuit in the past year, winning the South Asian Spelling Bee, the SpellPundit National Spelling Bee and the Words of Wisdom Spelling Bee.

— Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Los Angeles who finished in a tie for seventh last year.

— Esha Marupudi, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Chandler, Arizona, who also tied for seventh last year.

What are the prizes for the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion?

The winner receives a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Here are the prize payouts:

— First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.

— Second place: $25,000.

— Third place: $15,000.

— Fourth place: $10,000.

— Fifth place: $5,000.

— Sixth place: $2,500.

— All other finalists: $2,000.

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Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

In a joint statement, Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. and local first response agencies confirmed there had been fatalities.

Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein later told a news conference that it was unclear how many workers had been killed. Asked how many remained missing, he replied: “We have information on that, but we’re not releasing that information.”

Among those injured was a responding firefighter. Authorities said some victims had suffered burns or inhalation injuries, and that the severity of the injuries ranged from minor to critical. There was no immediate threat to the public, they said.

The statement, issued more than four hours after the tank imploded at 7:15 a.m., said crews were continuing recovery operations and that no identifying information would be released about victims pending notification of relatives.

Some people waited at the company’s visitor entrance on Tuesday, seeking information about loved ones who worked at the facility. They declined to comment to an Associated Press reporter.

The Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility is a pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant along the Columbia River in Longview, a city of about 38,000 that has had a relationship with the paper and lumber industries since its founding by a Kansas City timber baron in the 1920s.

The facility, which employs about 1,000 people, makes material for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, cartons and other goods. It is located in an industrial zone shared by other timber, paper and chemical businesses, and it remains central to the community.

“The people who are responders here have friends and relatives that work on site,” Goldstein noted. “It is something that is impactful, and we have support networks to support the workers as well as the emergency responders.”

The 80,000-gallon (303,000-liter) tank that imploded was about 60% full, Goldstein said. It contained a chemical brew known as "white liquor,” a corrosive substance that consists mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide and is used to break down wood to make kraft paper, a durable paper used in packaging, shopping bags and other products.

It was too early to determine the cause of the implosion, Goldstein said.

In a written statement, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington called the implosion an “absolute tragedy.”

“My heart is with everyone who lost a loved one today — as well as the injured workers,” she said.

Mike Gorsuch, battalion chief with the fire department in Longview, Washington, described it as a “mass casualty scene.” He said first responders had decontaminated patients and taken them to hospitals in Longview and Vancouver, Washington.

About 40 firefighters and paramedics had responded, along with a regional hazmat team, Gorsuch said.

Following the tank's rupture, the white liquor spilled into a drainage ditch, said Brittny Goodsell, a state Ecology Department spokesperson. The department sent a team to evaluate the impacts, Goodsell said.

Thousands of residents of Southern California remained evacuated Tuesday due to a damaged chemical tank at an aerospace plant.

Just over 40 people died between January 2021 and mid-October 2023 as a result of hazardous chemical incidents, according to a paper released by a network of environmental justice organizations in late 2023.

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Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press reporters Gene Johnson in Seattle and Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed.

Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) walked through 10 units at the complex, accompanied by Superior Township Supervisor Emily Dabish Yahkind and the court-appointed receiver, or management team.

One of the units inspected belongs to Sharon, who said HUD staff photographed multiple problem areas in her home.

“They looked at the mold in the bathroom, they came down to check the basement, which I already cleaned up,” Sharon said. “They took pictures of my railing, pictures of the flooring.”

Last week, residents at Sycamore Meadows described basements with sewage, walls with what appeared to be mold and holes in ceilings. The township issued the property a non-compliance notice, citing those conditions and the complex’s failure to join the township’s rental inspection program.

Township and federal officials reached out to HUD, prompting Tuesday’s site visit.

“I want to make sure that what comes of this is not a band-aid for our residents,” Dabish Yahkind said. “That we have a long-term programmatic solution with effective timelines so that we can give folks something they can count on.”

Several residents who were not part of Tuesday’s walkthrough said they hope inspectors will come to their units next, adding their repair requests have gone unanswered for a while.

“I have a hole in my wall ‚” Lakita Guyton, a resident said. “I haven’t had inspections in years.”

Sharon requested that her face not be shown publicly to not be identified by management. She said that since she spoke out about the conditions last week, she has been threatened by management, allegations she has reported to federal and township officials, who she said have put her in contact with legal help.

“I became aware of that potential retaliation issue, I believe on Saturday, and since then I made sure that information has been relayed to HUD,” Dabish Yahkind said. “She shared that information as well, and she has quite a few allies to make sure she’s being taken care of as well.”

Local 4 tried to speak with the court appointed receiver about the non-compliance notice and the allegations from Sharon. They didn’t open the door for us, but minutes later they opened the door for someone else.

We also called to speak with management, were directed to another number and left a voicemail.

They have not returned a call yet.

Dabish Yahkind said she expects to meet with HUD officials Wednesday to discuss a plan for next steps at Sycamore Meadows.

A home in the 3800 block of 29th Street caught fire at around 9 a.m. on May 26.

When crews arrived at the scene, they saw fire coming from the second floor of the home. They were told that everyone had gotten out, and a young girl had jumped out of the window.

The child was taken to a local hospital for her injuries. According to the Detroit Fire Department, her injuries appear to be minor.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister, Israel Katz, said the strikes had targeted the new leader of Hamas' military wing. They identified him as Mohammed Odeh and called him “one of the architects” of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, which triggered over two years of war.

The strike came less than two weeks after Israel killed the previous head of Hamas' military wing, Izz al-Din al-Haddad.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas. The bodies of the dead were taken to Gaza's Shifa Hospital, which confirmed the deaths.

The attack came on the eve of Eid al-Adha, normally a joyous time of family gatherings and large meals.

The holiday once again is subdued this year in Gaza, where the vast majority of people remain displaced and live in tents or temporary shelters after a devastating war.

A ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas last October remains fragile. Israeli attacks have killed more than 880 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect. Israel says its attacks are in response to violations by Hamas or threats to its soldiers, but Palestinian health officials says scores of civilians have been among the dead. Four Israeli soldiers have also been killed during this period.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks in October 2023, which killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says over 72,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. The ministry, part of Gaza's Hamas government, does not give a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths.

Not everyone at this week's competition appreciates the change.

“I feel like they should not have moved it. The old venue was better. Because it's a bit of a hassle, getting on the bus and going there and then coming back,” said 14-year-old Yahya Mohammed, a three-time speller from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. “The old venue was more spacious, and it feels kind of isolated in the hotel.”

As the National Spelling Bee began with Tuesday's preliminary rounds, spellers and their families marveled at the historical significance of their new venue and the nearby cultural opportunities while also dealing with logistical hurdles: crowded hallways, limited dining options and shuttle bus rides to and from their hotel.

Built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Constitution Hall sits a few blocks from the Washington Monument and the White House. Spellers and their families are staying at the nearby J.W. Marriott, a favored haunt of lobbyists and interest groups, and the quickest route to the competition venue would normally be a stroll across the Ellipse, the grassy expanse south of the Executive Mansion.

However, the Ellipse is surrounded by temporary fencing and security checkpoints as crews construct an outdoor octagon on the South Lawn of the White House for UFC Freedom 250, a June 14 event timed for President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

“Two very disparate forms of entertainment,” said Rajeev Malhotra of Boston, the father of speller Rajeev Malhotra, describing the bee and the mixed martial arts extravaganza.

Venue change brings heavy security but plenty of history and culture

Security was beefed up at the hall, with guards and metal detectors stationed at every entrance and explosive-sniffing dogs patrolling the hallways. Three blocks away and three days earlier, a man opened fire at a White House security checkpoint, injuring a bystander before he was fatally shot by Secret Service officers.

At the prior venue, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, spellers moved freely throughout the building, roaming between their hotel rooms, the ballroom that housed the competition stage and a massive food court where they grabbed quick meals between last-minute study sessions.

“Last year was better,” said Arpit Aggarwal of Columbia, Missouri, whose daughter, Ananya, is competing for the second time. “Everything was in one place.”

“It's an adjustment,” Ananya's mom, Deepti Bahl, said diplomatically.

Other spellers appreciated the buzz of gathering downtown, saying it was more appropriate for a national competition. The bee began in 1925 and was held at a series of Washington hotels before it moved to the suburbs in 2011.

“I just love being here, right next to the National Mall. You can see the Smithsonian, you can see the Jefferson Memorial. It's such a lively and unique city and I love being in the heart of it,” said three-time speller Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old from Los Angeles. “There's so much history, there's so much culture. The memorials and the museums are fascinating to go to.”

Speller Andie Seavey of Fairbanks, Alaska, and her mom, Kristin, went to see the musical “The Great Gatsby” at the National Theater next door to the hotel.

After 80 spellers were eliminated Tuesday during onstage spelling and vocabulary rounds, the remaining 167 competitors reconvened at the hotel for a high-stakes written test that determined the 100 or so who would move on to Wednesday morning's quarterfinals. The competition concludes Thursday night.

At the spelling bee, the bell is not necessarily the end

Last year, Faizan Zaki won the National Spelling Bee even though he misspelled a word and heard the dreaded bell rung by head judge Mary Brooks. In fact, he knew it after a few letters. He stopped spelling and told Brooks, “Just ring the bell.”

Faizan's flub let his two remaining competitors back in, since all three misspelled during the round.

Kushi Gottimukkala of Morrisville, North Carolina, is one of a few spellers competing this year who know what that feels like.

At her regional bee, sponsored by the NFL's Carolina Panthers, it was down to Kushi and two other spellers for the final spot at nationals. She misspelled “anchialine,” and she thought it was over, only to see the other two spellers mess up.

Kushi rode the emotional roller coaster and ultimately got through.

“I was still thinking about the mistake, but I was also really grateful that I got a second chance, and so I took that into consideration and decided to focus on my next word,” she said.

Spellers have to prepare for the possibility that missing a word isn't necessarily the end.

Oliver Halkett, too, has competed in a bee where he got a word wrong but wasn't eliminated. He battled through the disappointment by focusing only on the word in front of him.

“It's a peculiar situation, but I think, above all, mental clarity is so important, especially in those latter rounds,” he said. “I close my eyes and do some deep breathing and I visualize the word, and it's just me and the word. That's how you have to approach every single word.

“Treat every word as if it's your first and last word.”

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Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

Luc Brisebois, director-general for the Centre for Border and Travel Health at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said the measures are being implemented out of an “abundance of caution” and will stay in place until Aug. 29.

Travelers who have symptoms will be transferred to hospital for further medical assessment. The stricter border measures are being implemented starting Saturday, and those who do not have somewhere to isolate will be provided with a place.

Canadian officials also said that starting Wednesday, they are pausing final decisions on immigration applications for people from affected countries for 90 days, though that could be extended or lifted based on the evolution of the outbreak.

The outbreak is centered around northeastern Congo and is of a rare type of Ebola that is outpacing response efforts, the World Health Organization says, with more than 900 suspected cases and more than 220 deaths, Aid efforts have intensified, and WHO says the outbreak could last for months

The 79-year-old president spent more than three hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as preventive medical and dental checkups. It was Trump's fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since he returned to office for a second term, and it comes as he tries to project strength ahead of midterm elections that will test his sway with voters.

In a social media post after the visit, Trump said that he had just finished his “6 month physical” and that “Everything checked out PERFECTLY.”

The White House did not immediately release a written report from Trump's doctors.

For decades, administrations have released selected results from presidential physicals, offering the public a glimpse at the commander-in-chief’s health. But the results are filtered through the White House and must be approved by the president, raising questions about what the public does and doesn't get to see.

Trump, a Republican, turns 80 next month and was the oldest person elected U.S. president. His immediate predecessor, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, was 82 when he left office, dropping out of the 2024 presidential race because of widespread concerns he was too old for the job.

A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted in April found that less than half of U.S. adults think Trump has the mental sharpness or physical health to serve effectively as president.

“I think concern for the president’s physical health is probably at an all-time high, and I think advanced physical age is the No. 1 concern,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician for more than a decade under Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

For a president of Trump’s age, a complete physical would be expected to include advanced heart testing, screening for common cancers and a cognitive assessment, along with basics like height, weight and blood pressure, Kuhlman said.

The White House has not disclosed what the visit entailed but expressed confidence in what it will show.

“President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement.

No law requiring presidents to disclose their medical records

In the weeks leading up to his visit, Trump has been saying he feels as good as he did five decades ago — even as he jokes about his fondness for fast food and his minimal exercise regimen. Yet he’s also sensitive to perceptions about his age, noting that he takes extra caution descending the steps from Air Force One to avoid headlines about a stumble.

There is no law requiring presidents to publicize their health records, and the degree of transparency has varied by administration. Trump’s past reports have been criticized for offering scant detail and for providing statistics that some medical experts have viewed with skepticism.

At public appearances, Trump is often seen wearing makeup to conceal bruising on his hands, which the White House attributes to handshaking and regular aspirin use. He has sometimes appeared drowsy during meetings and closed his eyes for long stretches, though he denies having fallen asleep.

Trump often boasts of having “aced” cognitive tests while frequently deriding Biden, who faced questions about his mental acuity. Biden and his aides pushed back aggressively against doubts raised about his fitness for office.

Some of Trump’s previous physicals have included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, used to screen for dementia and cognitive impairment. Trump's physicians reported a score of 30 out of 30 for him at his 2018 and 2025 checkups.

Yet critics have pointed to Trump’s meandering speeches and sometimes bellicose rhetoric as evidence of cognitive decline.

Last month, a statement from more than 30 neurologists, psychiatrists and other medical experts — who acknowledged they’ve never examined him — said Trump was mentally unfit to serve and warned of an “increasingly dangerous decline” in his behavior based on what they called “objectively observable signs of serious medical concern.″

“Any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to,” Ingle said.

Just like any other patient, presidents get to choose what’s disclosed about their health, said Sara Rosenthal, a bioethicist at the University of Kentucky who studies presidential health. Questions about transparency have become more acute as America elects aging presidents like Trump and Biden, she said.

“I think we can expect very little disclosure about the true health status of any president unless they’re in perfect health,” said Rosenthal, who has suggested an independent medical organization to review and report on the health of the president and those in the line of succession.

'Nothing should be hidden'

Trump's first medical report in his second term was released last April. In July, he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins. Photographs have shown the president with swollen feet, ankles and calves, described by the White House as a symptom of chronic venous insufficiency leading to “mild swelling” in his lower legs.

Following his last publicly disclosed exam, described as a routine follow-up last October, Trump’s physician issued a one-page summary saying the president was in “exceptional health” without divulging many specific results.

The frequency of Trump's medical checkups is not uncommon for someone his age, according to S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois-Chicago, who has studied the health of past presidents. It's part of a strategy to catch problems while they’re still treatable, Olshansky said.

Olshansky says the public deserves to see more than White House medical summaries that “may be subject to editorial discretion.” Full, unredacted medical records should be made public, he said: “Nothing should be hidden.”

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and the surrounding plain for worship that often marks a spiritual peak for the faithful, fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplication.

Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

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Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

___

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.

“We got in a mini car accident on my way to the site today,” Gauff told TNT Sports with a laugh. “We ran into a (pole). You felt a little impact. I spilled my juice all over the car.

“The car was not drivable. So we ended up taking a taxi,” Gauff added after beating fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0.

Gauff started her match earlier than expected when there was a retirement in another match on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

“And then right before I went onto court, my dress got stuck, so my physio was in the bathroom trying to help me take it off,” Gauff said. “It was an eventful day. But I feel like whenever that happens, it lets you not think about the match too match. I’m just happy to be here in one piece.”

Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year's title match in Paris.

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

The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% after trading resumed following Monday’s holiday and set an all-time high. The Nasdaq composite rallied 1.2% to set its own record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 118 points, or 0.2%, from its all-time high.

Stock markets in much of the rest of the world pulled back from their gains the day before, as fighting continued in the region and the U.S. military said it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines. Markets have rallied in the past on hopes for a coming end to the war with Iran, only to see the conflict drag on.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, rose 3.5% to $96.67, but that reclaimed only some of its plunge from Monday. The price for a barrel of U.S crude oil, meanwhile, fell 2.8% to settle at $93.89.

Oil prices have been at the center of financial markets' action since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The ensuing war has closed the Strait of Hormuz and kept oil tankers pent up in the Persian Gulf instead of delivering crude to customers worldwide. That in turn has driven up oil’s price and sent a wave of painful inflation around the world.

Hopes for a deal to improve the flow of oil helped lift stocks of companies with big fuel bills. United Airlines rose 6%, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings steamed 4.9% higher.

Big technology stocks also continued their big runs. Micron Technology's stock leaped 19.3% to top $895.88 and was the strongest force lifting the S&P 500 after analysts at UBS led by Timothy Arcuri raised their 12-month price target for the stock to $1,625 from $535.

The analysts are forecasting continued strength in demand for computer memory, and Micron’s stock has already more than tripled so far this year. It's the latest Big Tech company to top an overall value of $1 trillion and joined such behemoths as Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft, which have each blown past $3 trillion.

On the losing side of Wall Street was AutoZone, which dropped 9% after reporting slightly weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Phil Daniele said performance for the retailer’s stores in Brazil and Mexico was below its plan, though its overall profit topped analysts' expectations.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 45.65 points to 7,519.12. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 118.02 to 50,461.68, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 312.21 to 26,656.18.

Lower oil prices helped pull yields down in the U.S. bond market, which eased the pressure on Wall Street. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.49% from 4.56% late Friday.

It’s a respite following recent gains for yields in bond markets worldwide, which threatened to slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments. High yields have already forced the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its most expensive level since last summer, and they could curtail companies’ borrowing to build the artificial-intelligence data centers that have supported the U.S. economy’s growth recently.

Most big U.S. companies have been reporting both profit and revenue for the start of 2026 above what analysts expected. The strong performances have helped vault U.S. stocks to records, even with all the uncertainty around oil prices and the war with Iran.

U.S. households have been feeling discouraged about the economy because of accelerating inflation, and a report on Tuesday said consumer confidence edged downward in May, though the number was not as bad as economists expected. It followed a report on Friday that said sentiment among U.S. consumers hit its lowest level on record.

In stock markets abroad, many indexes slipped, including a 0.2% dip for Japan’s Nikkei 225 from its all-time high set the day before.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.5% as it caught up with other markets following its closure on Monday for a holiday. London’s FTSE 100 added 0.2% even though British petroleum giant BP fell 4% there. BP ousted its chairman over what it called serious concerns related to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct.”

___

AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

The event is two days long from June 26, 4-11 p.m. to June 27, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

The fest will be located at the Shelby Township Civic Center Campus at 52700 Van Dyke Ave.

Presented by the Shelby Township Downtown Development Authority the event is meant to kick off summer and honor America250.

What you can expect to see June 26

• DJ entertainment
• Touch-a-truck
• Strolling princess and superheroes
• Face paint
• Magicians
• Petting zoo by Shelby Township Library
• A craft beer tent
• Food truck rally hosted by Connect Macomb
• New this year: live taping of “The Treehouse,”, including science demonstrations, live animal encounters and opportunity for children to be part of episode.
• Band, Parallel Fifth will close the night

What you can expect to see June 27

• The Kids Zone
• Rock-climbing wall
• Inflatables
• Backyard games

The township will offer a sensory room in Hope Chapel, in partnership Joanne and Ted Lindsay Foundation Autism Outreach Services, providing a quiet, low-stimulation space for those who need it during the event.

“With its focus on families, Independence Day and community fun, I can’t think of a better representation or celebration of America than Shelby Township Summer Fest.”

Shelby Township DDA Chair Greg Gagnon said.

For information on how you or your business can also get involved, visit shelbytwp.org/summer or email Community Relations Assistant Director Chelsea Schneider at cschneider@shelbytwp.org.

Trump’s endorsement of Paxton, who he called "a true MAGA Warrior," came late in the race and marked another effort by the president to punish Republican lawmakers he sees as insufficiently loyal.

The winner of the Republican nomination will run against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in November.

Here is the Latest:

Democrat votes for Paxton to boost Talarico’s chances

Jessica Shaw, 46, who swung out of a polling place in a brightly colored dress in the hot Austin sun, had a strategy in mind.

“I voted for Ken Paxton because I think he is most likely to lose against Talarico,” she said, because Paxton is “such a morally bankrupt person” that he’ll turn general election voters away.

It’s an argument that Cornyn has made frequently on the campaign trail, saying he’s the better contender to face Talarico. In this case, a registered Democrat agreed.

“If this strategy doesn’t work and (Paxton) wins” in the general election, said Shaw, who then raised her hands in a shrug. “Something needs to change, or I think people will move out of Texas.”

Shaw gave a parting message before loading into her Volvo: “Vote against Trump at all costs!”

Cornyn voter: Trump’s endorsement 'doesn’t have any effect'

Debbie Burdeaux strode out of the Haggard Library in Plano sporting a fresh “I voted” sticker. Her choice in the Texas Republican Senate runoff? John Cornyn.

“Because he’s done a good job for this state, and I am not a fan of Paxton,” she said.

Trump endorsed the four-term incumbent senator's opponent, Paxton, last week.

“I don’t have a problem with Trump,” she said. “But he doesn’t have any effect on my vote.”

Burdeaux, a 69-year-old retired substitute teacher and geologist, expressed what others who have voted for Cornyn have said in this precinct: a strong distaste for Paxton.

Some Republicans have said Paxton's previous scandals could discourage GOP voters from backing him in November.

“He is a disgrace,” Burdeaux said. “I want nothing to do with him.”

Trump’s endorsement is enough for this Paxton voter

Paul Olson was quick to say why he voted for Paxton: “He’s conservative and backed by Trump.”

The 72-year-old retired finance executive elaborated a little, saying, “I just think he represents more of what middle-class America needs.”

Olson said he was perturbed that Cornyn, the incumbent, had been airing ads projecting himself as a Trump devotee despite Trump’s endorsement of Paxton.

“He claims he’s got Trump’s backing, and he most certainly doesn’t,” he said.

Olson was among a steady stream of voters arriving over the noon hour at the Haggard Library in Plano.

Confident in his choice, Olson still expressed some worry that some conservatives might be less inclined to vote in November if costs for daily expenses, most notably fuel, remain elevated.

“If they end this war soon, then good. Energy drives the cost of everything, and prices will settle,” he said. “But they have to end this war quickly.”

‘He’s just a toady for Trump’

Lee Rodriguez, a 76-year-old registered independent, said he planned to vote for Cornyn outside a polling place in Austin, Texas, mainly because he is a “stable person; he’s willing to reach across the aisle.”

To Rodriguez, that’s in stark contrast to Paxton, who “is too corrupt” and an “extremist,” he said, echoing Cornyn’s talking points about past Paxton scandals, including allegations of an affair.

Trump’s endorsement of Paxton reaffirmed his fears that “he’s just a toady for Trump,” said Rodriguez, who did not vote for Trump in 2024.

Cornyn ‘definitely the lesser of two evils’

Linda Williams walked into the steamy, sundrenched parking lot outside of Haggard Library in Plano, outside of Dallas, on Tuesday around noon.

“Paxton is a no-go!” she said of the state attorney general, but was little more enthused about Cornyn, for whom she voted and who is fighting for his political future in the Republican Senate runoff.

“It was definitely the lesser of two evils,” the 73-year-old, retired administrative support staffer from Plano said.

“Cornyn has not been the check on Trump we need. He used to be more respectable,” Williams said. “But the way he has coddled Trump and bragged about voting with him? It’s an embarrassment.”

It was all out of Williams’ sense of pragmatism.

“At least he’ll have a better chance against Talarico,” she said with reference to the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico.

“Because Paxton is a crook.”

Trump is wrapping up a month of reshaping the GOP

This has been a big month for Republican primaries and Trump’s influence over his party.

On May 5, he successfully campaigned against five out of seven Indiana state senators who rejected his redistricting plan there.

On May 16, he helped dislodge Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump in the Jan. 6 impeachment trial five years ago. Cassidy finished third in the primary, failing to make the runoff, while Trump’s choice, Rep. Julia Letlow, finished first.

On May 19, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost his primary to Ed Gallrein, who Trump endorsed. Massie had frustrated the president by voting against his signature tax legislation and pushing to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

If Paxton wins, it would be a dramatic punctation mark on the month.

Paxton’s supporters brush off years of scandals

The attorney general has faced an impeachment effort and criminal investigations, but his supporters say they’re not concerned.

“He’s had his flaws, but so have we; we all make mistakes,” said Daniel Vega, 18, adding, “He’s repented; let’s move on.”

Others said they appreciated his aggressive conservative politics.

“He’s a fighter. He’s a person of action. He’s proven that as attorney general,” said Jeffrey Sonnier, 72.

Cornyn and his allies have dumped money into the race

Throughout the campaign, Cornyn has had the cash advantage. The senator and his allies have spent roughly $90 million in advertising, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

That includes more than $20 million since the March 3 primary.

Paxton is supported by a single super PAC, and combined they’ve spent about $10.5 million on advertising. Roughly $6.1 million has been spent since March 3.

What we’re watching: the geographic split between Cornyn and Paxton

There wasn’t a clear geographic divide in the March 3 primary results. The tight margins in Houston, Dallas and their surrounding areas underscore how the battle lines cut across, rather than neatly between, Texas’ urban and suburban regions.

Cornyn — whom Paxton attacked as too aligned with D.C. Republicans and not loyal enough to Trump — led in the state’s largest counties, including those encompassing the metro areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston. But Paxton remained competitive, trailing by roughly 1,900 votes in Harris County, home to Houston, and 4,100 votes in Bexar County, home to San Antonio. Tonight’s runoff could be decided by who builds a stronger geographic base, particularly in the Houston area, where Rep. Wesley Hunt, who finished third, outperformed his state average.

A GOP voter who backed Cornyn leans toward supporting Democrat Talarico

Dallas-area contractor Raymond Schramm said Tuesday that he’s concerned about healthcare and Republican-authored cuts in subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage, and he has misgivings about how the war with Iran has been conducted.

He voted for President Donald Trump but thinks the Senate needs someone who will “have a little bit of a difference.” He likes Talarico because he seems kind.

“I like him. He’s a nice guy. He speaks well,” he said. “I don’t believe in the party system.”

Cornyn says Trump’s attacks on him are misplaced

“My situation is a little different than Massie’s or Cassidy’s,” said Cornyn, referencing two other Republican incumbents who were more critical of Trump and recently lost their primaries under pressure from the president and candidates he backed.

In his case, Cornyn said on Fox News Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump is “frustrated I think with the Senate as a whole.”

There are “grifters,” the senator continued, who are “claiming I am opposed to the president’s agenda and I think that’s caused some confusion with the president himself, but I’ve been supportive.”

‘We might as well start term limits now’ for Cornyn, one Dallas-area voter says

Legal assistant Calise Perry considers herself “100%” Republican and voted Tuesday for challenger Ken Paxton over incumbent Cornyn in Texas’ GOP runoff.

The 65-year-old Garland resident said Paxton, the Texas attorney general, is a fighter, “and that’s what we need right now.” The runoff came a week after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton.

“Cornyn’s been in way too long, and it’s time for him to retire,” she said. “He’s been in office a long time and really hasn’t done much, as far as I can see.”

How Cornyn and Paxton ended up in a runoff

The Republicans were the top two vote getters in the March 3 primary, but neither candidate won the majority needed to secure the GOP nomination outright.

Cornyn finished with 42% of the vote, while Paxton won 40.5%, according to certified results.

Three other candidates were on the primary ballot. They included U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who won 13.5% of the vote.

First, the nominations. Fans can nominated their favorite businesses from June 1-14 -- one nomination in each category per person.

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• June 19: Finalists announced
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• July 20: Voting ends
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The victory could provide a model for similar campaigns gaining traction in states including California and Illinois, where labor organizers are increasingly targeting app-based industries as drivers also grapple with the rapid expansion of self-driving technology.

As drivers waved signs and chanted with the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House providing a backdrop, labor leaders described Friday's certification as the largest private-sector organizing win since Ford autoworkers unionized in 1941.

Jean Fredo, who has driven for Uber for more than seven years, said he hopes the union will bring better pay, stronger protections against sudden deactivations and more stability for drivers.

“With the union, it will not feel like we’re working for nothing,” he said in French through a translator. “Now the money will not only stay in the billionaire’s pockets. The money will actually come to the workers who work very hard.”

Uber and Lyft said they planned to work with the new bargaining framework as negotiations move forward. Uber said it would work with the union and regulators while preserving “driver flexibility and hard-won benefits,” while Lyft said it was committed to “engaging in good faith” and “helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable for everyone who counts on it.”

The certification became possible after the state's voters approved a 2024 ballot measure creating a first-in-the-nation framework allowing ride-hailing drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while remaining independent contractors. Organizers say the union will ultimately represent nearly 70,000 drivers statewide.

Drivers hope for relief on wages, deactivations

“Without the support of the drivers, we wouldn’t be here,” Victoria Acosta, a mother who drives for both Uber and Lyft, said in Spanish through a translator. She said she hopes the victory inspires drivers in other states.

Uber and Lyft drivers are generally classified as independent contractors rather than employees, meaning they are not covered by many traditional labor protections under federal law. Drivers typically use their own vehicles, pay for expenses such as gas and maintenance themselves and can choose when and how long they work through the apps.

Fredo said when he started driving for Uber he appreciated the flexibility and the ability to make his own schedule while still being present for his family. But over time, he said, he found himself working longer hours while earning less as gas and maintenance costs climbed.

Drivers can also lose access to the apps with little warning, he said.

“I live with stress — always scared to lose my app. This is not a way to live," said Fredo, who helped sign up hundreds of other drivers at airports and gathering spots around the Boston area.

“This is my family,” he said, holding up a photo of his four children. “I’m fighting for a better life for them — just like everyone else is fighting for their families. My dream is to save and send my kids to college, and I believe we will get there.”

A labor fight shadowed by automation fears

Supporters say rising vehicle costs, fluctuating pay and opaque app algorithms have fueled frustration among drivers who pay many work expenses themselves. Uber and Lyft have argued that drivers value the flexibility of app-based work and have opposed efforts that could reclassify workers or alter the industry’s business model.

Massachusetts regulators are considering new ride-hailing rules involving safety standards and driver oversight. Days before the union certification, Uber warned in a blog post that some of the proposals could raise costs and reduce flexibility for drivers, while supporters said the changes are intended to strengthen safety and accountability.

The organizing effort has also unfolded alongside the rapid expansion of autonomous vehicle technology. Massachusetts still requires a licensed human operator inside autonomous vehicles tested on public roads.

Waymo has expanded driverless taxi operations in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, heightening anxiety among some ride-hailing drivers about the future of their jobs.

Julie Blust of the App Drivers Union said drivers across the country regularly communicate with one another about changing conditions in the industry, including the expansion of autonomous vehicles.

“Drivers now have an official organization and can speak with one voice about what’s happening in this industry,” Blust said. “We cannot let billions of dollars leave Massachusetts and go to Silicon Valley. That money feeds people’s families, that money pays the rent."

Defender Sergiño Dest, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Haji Wright were added after missing March friendlies because of injuries. Zendejas was bypassed for the March roster after a knee injury last fall.

Players were announced in order of uniform number during a made-for-TV event on the roof of the South Street Seaport's Pier 17, with the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop.

“It was so painful for me to make the decision,” Pochettino said. “We cannot talk about the players that did not make the roster.”

Reyna, a son of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, nearly was sent home from the 2022 World Cup by then-coach Gregg Berhalter for lack of hustle and made just four starts this season for Borussia Mönchengladbach — none since Dec. 19. He is viewed by Pochettino as a “special player.”

Sebastian Berhalter, a 25-year-old son of the former coach, made his national team debut last June and became the Americans' best corner-kick taker.

Players dropped who had been on the March roster included goalkeeper Patrick Schulte along with Tessmann and fellow midfielder Aidan Morris. Two players were sidelined by recent injuries: midfielder Johnny Cardoso (right ankle surgery) and forward Patrick Agyemang (torn right Achilles). Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is recovering from a torn Achilles in October.

Luna missed the March matches because of a knee injury after playing in 17 of 18 international games last year.

Who is back from 2022?

Half the roster returns from the last World Cup: goalkeeper Matt Turner; Dest and fellow defenders Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson and Joe Scally; Adams and fellow midfielders Weston McKennie, Reyna and Cristian Roldan; and forwards Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Wright.

Defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson were picked after injuries caused them to miss the 2022 tournament, where the U.S. was eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16. Richards, who missed the event because Crystal Palace in Wednesday's Europa Conference League final. is a health concern after tearing two left ankle ligaments on May 17.

Pochettino said he won't know Richards' status until he arrives in the U.S. for training.

Among the final cuts four years ago, Ricardo Pepi made it this time.

Players from 2022 left off included goalkeepers Ethan Horvath and Sean Johnson; Carter-Vickers and fellow defenders Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, DeAndre Yedlin and Walker Zimmerman; midfielders Kellyn Acosta, Luca de la Torre and Yunus Musah; and forwards Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris and Josh Sargent.

This year's average age of 26 years, 332 days as of the U.S. opener is up from 25-216 four years ago and the fifth-youngest for an American World Cup roster, also older than 1930, 1990 and 1994.

Where are players from?

Just eight players were taken from Major League Soccer, the fewest since four in 2010, and no MLS attacking players were chosen.

Five players are based in England, three each in Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1, two apiece in Italy’s Serie A and the Dutch Eredivisie, and one each in Mexico, Scotland and Spain.

Pulisic, the top American player, ended his AC Milan season scoreless in 19 games since Dec. 28 and has gone eight U.S. matches without a goal since November 2024.

Pochettino's three strikers finished their club seasons in form, combining for 56 goals: Folarin Balogun and Pepi scored 19 each and Wright 18.

For the first time since 1990, no American goalkeepers are from European clubs.

The U.S. opens against Paraguay on June 12 at Inglewood, California, plays Australia one week later at Seattle and closes Group D with a match against Turkey on June 26 in Inglewood. The top two teams in each of 12 groups advance to the new round of 32 in the expanded 48-nation tournament along with the eight third-place nations.

Ream could become the oldest American to appear in a World Cup at 38 years, 250 days when the U.S. plays its opener, older than defender Fernando Clavijo when the U.S. was knocked out by Brazil in 1994's round of 16.

Defender Alex Freeman, a son of former Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, is the youngest player at 21.

No. 3 goalkeeper Chris Brady is the first player on the U.S. World Cup roster with no international experience since backup goalkeeper Juergen Sommer in 1994.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England)

Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry), Alejandro Zendejas (América)

___

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

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The U.S. military characterized Monday's strikes in southern Iran as defensive, with targets that included missile launch sites and minelaying boats, and said the U.S. acted with “restraint" in light of the weekslong ceasefire.

Iran's foreign ministry called the strikes a ceasefire violation and warned that Washington would bear responsibility for “all consequences,” without elaborating.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered,” it added in a statement.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Tuesday that it shot down at least one drone and deterred another drone and a fighter jet that entered its airspace, according to Iran’s official Mizan news agency. It didn't specify when the incidents occurred.

Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, used a statement about Islam's annual Hajj pilgrimage to address his country's confrontation with the U.S. and Israel, declaring that other Mideast nations “will no longer serve as a shield” for U.S. military bases. Iran has previously complained about U.S. military facilities in the region and targeted them.

It was not immediately clear what the developments would mean for negotiations.

Iranian state TV reported Tuesday that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Qatar, where talks had been taking place. The report did not elaborate or point to any next steps.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio projected that talks on extending the ceasefire and reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz will “take a few days."

Iranians get back online, to some extent

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities eased a monthslong internet shutdown that they cast as a wartime necessity, but that has cost the country's economy an estimated $30 million to $40 million a day. Internet users reported that access was gradually being restored, at least in some places. State media said fixed broadband service was back. It was unclear when mobile internet would be widely restored.

Iran has long enforced filters and policed content on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. But before the war, Iranians could bypass restrictions with cheap virtual private networks, known as VPNs, and other easy workarounds.

Authorities cut off internet access in January during massive anti-government demonstrations and later began to relax those restrictions before imposing a complete internet blackout after the U.S. and Israel attacked on Feb. 28.

The internet outage made it difficult for Iranians outside the country to maintain contact with loved ones, and the lack of connectivity devastated the country’s relatively vibrant online businesses, putting further pressure on an already battered economy.

An execution in Iran

In other developments, Iran hanged a man it convicted of spying for Israel, the latest of more than two dozen allegedly espionage- and security-related executions since the war intensified a crackdown on dissent.

The Iranian judiciary’s news outlet, Mizanonline, identified the man as Gholamreza Khani Shakarab, calling him “a ringleader” for operations for Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad, and accusing him of recruiting members inside and outside Iran to work against the nation’s security. He was involved in sports and traveled to neighboring countries, according to the news agency.

Activists and rights groups say Iran routinely holds closed-door trials in which defendants are unable to challenge accusations and often are forced to confess.

The official judiciary agency said the country’s Supreme Court had upheld Shakarab's death sentence.

Global food official concerned about strait closure

The U.S. strikes were the latest flare-up in the fragile ceasefire that began April 7 and has largely held.

Negotiations center in part on the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway off southern Iran through which a fifth of the world's crude oil and natural gas passed before the war began. Once the fighting started, Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the strait, stranding hundreds of ships, shocking the global economy, disrupting energy markets and squeezing fertilizer supplies worldwide.

Iran has let a limited number of ships pass and has charged tolls. The Revolutionary Guard navy said Tuesday that 25 oil tankers, container ships and other commercial vessels were allowed to pass in the previous 24 hours, according to state broadcaster IRIB. Before the war, over 100 ships a day went through the strait.

The full effect of the fertilizer crunch might not become clear until harvests that are months away. U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu warned Tuesday at an event in Rome that “the decisions we make now will determine whether this remains a manageable shock or evolves into a deeper global food security crisis in 2026 and 2027 and beyond."

The strait has become a powerful lever for Tehran in talks, joining the long-running issue of Iran's nuclear program and its highly enriched uranium. Iran wants the U.S. to lift its military blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 17.

In the nearby Gulf of Oman, an explosion was reported Tuesday aboard a tanker, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center. No one was injured, and there was no immediate information on the cause.

The justices overturned a lower-court ruling that had allowed the case to proceed and raised questions about whether a complaint system for federal employees is still working as intended after the Republican president fired some of its top officials.

Immigration judges are federal employees, unlike those in federal courtrooms. They want to sue over a policy restricting their public speeches that started in Trump's first term in office and continued under President Joe Biden's Democratic administration. The judges argue it is a free speech issue that belongs in federal court.

The Trump administration disagreed, saying the judges must instead take their dispute to the complaint system for federal employees overseen by the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The court ruled on procedural grounds, but Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, wrote to rebuke the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for responding to “political controversies of the day.”

Tuesday's decision comes as the court weighs another lawsuit about Trump’s power to fire heads of independent agencies. The outcome is also expected to affect firing power over Merit Systems Protection Board members.

The judges first sued in 2020, and the Supreme Court previously temporarily sided with them on an emergency basis in December 2025. A union said in a statement that the judges were disappointed by the decision, but the case is “far from over.”

“Justice cannot endure when judges are intimidated into silence, nor can a nation remain free when the rule of law is subordinate to the whims of political ambition,” the National Association of Immigration Judges said.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche applauded the decision, saying it "sends a clear message: lower courts must accept that the law is the law, no matter the 'political controversies of the day,'” he wrote in a social-media post.

___

Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

Trump's endorsement of state Attorney General Ken Paxton over four-term Sen. John Cornyn gives the challenger a boost and puts Cornyn at risk of becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history to seek the party's nod and lose.

That's despite Cornyn's campaign and allied groups spending roughly $90 million in advertising since last year, the vast majority of it attacking Paxton.

It's the latest GOP contest where Trump has sought to punish a Republican he sees as insufficiently loyal. This month, he has successfully backed challengers to incumbents in Louisiana, Kentucky and Indiana, a sign of his enduring influence among primary voters.

Paxton's campaign and a pro-Paxton super PAC began airing ads promoting the endorsement within 24 hours of Trump's announcement. Cornyn acknowledged Trump's move would have an impact but said he wasn't giving up.

“I know who gets to choose our senators, and it’s the people of Texas,” he said hours after the endorsement.

The winner will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in November, when Democrats see hope of winning a statewide Texas office for the first time in decades.

Tuesday's runoffs also will decide Democratic U.S. House nominees for districts in Dallas and Houston that overwhelmingly support Democrats, and a San Antonio-area seat the party wants to flip.

The primary has been long and costly

Cornyn led Paxton in the March primary but failed to win a majority. That was after Cornyn and his supporters waged a monthslong ad campaign, mostly attacking Paxton over ethical and personal questions. The two-term attorney general was acquitted on corruption charges in a 2023 impeachment trial, where allegations of extramarital affairs surfaced. Paxton’s wife filed for divorce last year, citing “biblical grounds.”

The alliance of pro-Cornyn groups has continued its attack, outspending Paxton's campaign and two allied super PACs $16.5 million to $5.9 million since March 3, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

Trump promised to endorse immediately after the primary but didn’t act until after early voting began last week.

“Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to win,” Trump wrote in a social media post endorsing him.

David Jacobson, a retired 70-year-old Dallas-area resident, said Trump's endorsement was a factor in his decision to back Paxton on Tuesday. While Cornyn has for the most part been a strong Trump supporter, Jacobson generally thinks most politicians have remained in office too long.

“Maybe it’s time for a change,” he said after voting near Dallas.

Linda Williams said she voted for Cornyn, calling him “the lesser of two evils.” She thinks Cornyn has a better chance to beat Talarico this fall.

“Because Paxton is a crook," Williams said after voting in Plano, outside Dallas.

Trump snubs Cornyn amid retribution campaign

The negative tenor could diminish turnout in an election already complicated by coming the day after Memorial Day, Texas Republican strategist Tyler Norris said.

The dynamic could favor Paxton, whose support draws from the most loyal Trump base in Texas, or “the hardest of the hard core,” Norris said.

Trump, in his endorsement, also poked at Cornyn, saying he “was not supportive of me when times were tough” and that “John was very late in backing me.”

Cornyn suggested in 2023 that Trump could not win the presidency again in 2024 and that his “time has passed him by.” He also was an early critic of Trump’s plan for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico — a project he now supports.

Cornyn said Tuesday on Fox News Radio's “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that the president's ire was misplaced. There are “grifters," he said, "claiming that I am opposed to the president's agenda, and I think that’s caused some confusion with the president himself. But I’ve been supportive.”

Some GOP strategists have argued that a Paxton nomination would cost millions of dollars more to promote in the fall, when money could be spent defending Republican seats in more competitive states. Democrats need to gain a net of four seats to take the majority. Cornyn has the support of Senate GOP leaders.

Democrats also will choose US House nominees

Newly elected Rep. Christian Menefee and veteran Rep. Al Green are vying for the party nod in Texas' 18th District, which the Republican-led Texas Legislature redrew last year. The new map led to a runoff between incumbents and marks the end of a dizzying series of elections in the Houston area.

Former Rep. Colin Allred and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson are competing in the Dallas-area 33rd District. Johnson was elected to the seat in 2024, the year Allred lost his U.S. Senate challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Allred was running for Senate again this cycle but dropped his bid and instead is looking to return to the House.

Near San Antonio, Democratic leaders are trying to prevent Maureen Galindo, who has expressed antisemitic views, from winning the party's runoff with Johnny Garcia. While Texas lawmakers redrew the 35th District to help Republicans, Democrats view it as within reach and don't want Galindo's past comments to impede them.

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This story has been corrected to show that voter David Jacobson is 70, not 71.

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Bedayn reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press reporter Jamie Stengle contributed from Sasche, Texas.

The Rays placed right-hander Jesse Scholtens on the 15-day injured list with a right wrist strain to make room for Kimbrel on the active roster.

The New York Mets designated Kimbrel for assignment on Friday after the nine-time All-Star allowed 10 runs over 15 innings in 14 appearances. He signed a free agent contract with the team in January.

The 37-year-old Kimbrel has 440 saves with 10 teams in his 17-year career. He won a World Series with Boston in 2018 and was the 2011 NL rookie of the year.

The Rays have the AL's best record at 34-17, but their bullpen's ERA of 4.40 is 21st in the majors.

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

Parent company Meta Platforms Inc. appealed after Vermont’s highest court allowed a suit filed by its attorney general in 2023 to move forward. The company is facing similar lawsuits from states across the country, accusing it of knowingly designing addictive features.

Meta had argued that it can’t be sued in Vermont court because neither the company nor the app design has specific ties to the state. Vermont countered that the sites’ large number of teen users gives its courts jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal in a brief, unexplained order, as is typical. The procedural decision comes after court losses for Meta and YouTube in social media addiction lawsuits in California and New Mexico.

Vermont's lawsuit was filed after an investigation by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in several states. Newspaper reports based on Meta’s own research also found that the company knew about the harms Instagram can cause teenagers — especially teen girls — when it comes to mental health and body image issues. One internal study cited 13.5% of teen girls saying Instagram makes thoughts of suicide worse and 17% of teen girls saying it makes eating disorders worse.

Almost all teens ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.

Meta, for its part, has said that it has already introduced dozens of tools to support teens and their families and suggested it would have worked with the states on standards for youth social media use.

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark applauded the decision, saying it affirms “that companies that choose to do business in Vermont, like Meta, can be held accountable when they harm kids.”

The Detroit landmark has released its first animated fly-through video, offering a virtual preview of a planned 50,000-square-foot expansion. The project will feature interactive exhibits and the state-of-the-art Ford Motor Company Theatre.

The museum has raised $72 million toward its $75 million fundraising goal.

The expanded campus is expected to open in the summer of 2027.

More information can be found on the official Motown Museum website.

The woman won the Lady Luck 777 instant game, according to lottery officials.

The 63-year-old woman has chosen to remain anonymous.

The woman bought her winning ticket at AAA Fuels, located at 3860 Dix Highway in Lincoln Park.

“I scratched the tickets and saw I’d won on all three of them, but I didn’t scratch off the amounts. I scanned them at the store and the first came back as a $100 winner, the second a $50 winner, and the third came back with a message to file a claim at the lottery office. I asked the clerk what it meant, and he said I must have a big winner.” said the woman.

She recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim the big prize.

She chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $693,000 rather than annuity payments for the full amount, according to lottery officials.

“I went out to my car and scratched the amount to find out I’d won $1 million! The first thought that went through my head was that I can live easier now,” said the woman.

With her winnings, she plans to buy a new car, share with family, and then save the remainder.

As the Senior Digital Producer, you will help direct the day-to-day operations of the digital team, keeping our brand and strategic goals at the forefront. This person is adept at navigating high-pressure environments with exceptional multi-tasking skills and a profound understanding of digital analytics. Your responsibility extends beyond managing digital content -- it involves collaborating across departments as one team to enact meaningful change, enhancing the coverage of our day’s top stories across all platforms, and enriching our community’s digital experience.

Key responsibilities

• Help lead digital content strategy, ensuring alignment with our guiding brand pillars and consumer needs, and integrating content across digital, streaming, and television platforms.
• Attend editorial meetings to identify multiplatform content opportunities, focusing on authentic storytelling and community engagement.
• Ensure a smooth transition of digital content plans from shift to shift.
• Spearhead coverage of breaking news and major events, optimizing content with graphics, videos, and interactive elements to boost user engagement.
• Utilize analytics to make informed content creation decisions that significantly enhance visibility and drives audience growth.
• Execute a vertical video strategy that incorporates experimental and non-traditional video approaches, identifying talent that can convey stories with authenticity and confidence.
• Coach and develop news personnel on digital content creation and social media engagement strategies.
• Develop and post a wide range of digital content, including breaking news, daily and enterprise stories, livestreams, and videos on our website, connected apps and social media.
• Manage and creatively expand the station’s YouTube presence, curating content that enhances our digital footprint.
• Drive audience engagement by crafting effective social media posts and actively participating in audience interaction across platforms.
• Ensure digital content is optimized for search engines (SEO) and meets the highest journalistic standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Prior years’ experience in local news.
• Comprehensive knowledge of digital publishing, video editing, web design, and multimedia content development, alongside a proven ability to navigate social media landscapes effectively.
• Demonstrated proficiency in SEO practices.
• Understanding of digital analytics, with the capability to adapt content strategy based on real-time data.
• Exceptional writing and editorial skills, with an emphasis on producing engaging, error-free content across platforms.
• A track record of innovation and creativity in digital content production, with a particular focus on storytelling that reflects our brand pillars.
• Proficient with digital tools and content management systems, video and photo editing software, and a willingness to experiment with new technologies and storytelling methods.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, capable of fostering teamwork and collaboration to achieve a unified content strategy.
• Flexibility to work various hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, in response to breaking news and the dynamic needs of the news cycle.

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, mass communications, convergence, or a related field.
• Knowledge of the local market area and its communities.
• Demonstrated ability in multimedia storytelling and production, including video editing and the use of infographics.
• A track record of innovation in digital content creation, with a willingness to explore new content formats and technologies.
• Experience with data analysis tools and platforms for enhancing content strategy and audience engagement.

Location:

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Detroit, MI 48226

To apply: Interested candidates, please submit your resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience to Megan Garagiola, mgaragiola@wdiv.com.

Click HERE to download and complete employment application.

No phone calls please

WDIV is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, WDIV 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.

In a letter sent to more than 250 companies, members of the Black Caucus urge them to condemn the redistricting efforts, which the lawmakers describe as “coordinated efforts to silence Black voices at the ballot box.” Some of the companies had cosigned their own message to Congress five years ago urging lawmakers to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a Democratic proposal to restore and update the Voting Rights Act.

That 2021 coalition, Business for Voting Rights, was backed by many of the country’s most valuable and influential companies, including Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla, Salesforce, Target, PayPal, Intel and Starbucks.

Tuesday's letter is the latest effort by the Congressional Black Caucus and its allies to gather support for preventing more Republican-led states from redrawing their legislative maps in ways that would dilute Black political representation. Several states have moved to eliminate congressional districts represented by Black Democratic lawmakers after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that severely weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.

“Corporations that have profited from Black consumers, relied on Black workers, and amassed wealth in part from Black communities cannot look away while Black political power is dismantled in plain sight,” Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Black Caucus, said in an interview.

Clarke described the letter as “putting corporate America on notice,” but she said the caucus was not seeking an adversarial relationship with corporations. Among those receiving Tuesday's letter were companies based overseas that have a significant presence in the U.S.

The caucus last week called for Black athletes to boycott public universities in states that are gerrymandering their congressional maps to eliminate districts held by Black lawmakers. The 59-member Congressional Black Caucus consists entirely of Democrats, including more than a third from Southern states.

Some lawmakers have said mass protests and federal legislation might be necessary to undo the efforts underway in Republican-led states. Any new federal voting rights law would almost certainly require Democrats to secure majorities in both chambers of Congress and win the presidency.

It is unclear how companies will respond to the demands. The Associated Press reached out for comment to dozens of companies that were sent a letter by the caucus, but did not receive a response from most firms. Microsoft declined to comment.

“Many companies that previously issued statements after the murder of George Floyd, pledged billions toward racial equity initiatives, and spoke forcefully in defense of democracy following January 6 now face a defining test of whether those commitments were rooted in principle or convenience,” the caucus' letter states.

It also represents the latest instance of the caucus expressing frustrations with corporate America. A 2024 Black Caucus report noted that lawmakers were “troubled that some corporations that made pledges in 2020 have taken several steps in the opposite direction,” such as rolling back or failing to follow through on pledges to diversify their workforces.

“We understand who the occupant in the White House is and the reality of Republicans being in charge,” Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada said of the caucus’ message. “But what corporate America also understands is that there will be a shift at some point.”

The letter calls on companies to publicly condemn the redistricting plans, meet with Black Caucus members to discuss corporate America's role in protecting voting rights and disclose their political donations to Republican politicians in states that are redistricting their congressional maps.

President Donald Trump last year kicked off the unusual mid-decade round of congressional redistricting when he pushed Texas lawmakers to redraw their maps in a way that would add Republican seats. Democratic-led California responded, but it has been mostly Republican states redrawing their lines since as the party tries to maintain its majority in the U.S. House during this year's midterm elections.

The effort was supercharged by the Supreme Court decision, which allowed even more Republican states to redraw congressional maps that previously had protected minority communities.

Horsford, who chaired the Black Caucus during President Joe Biden's Democratic administration, said the caucus is demanding that companies “stand on the side of democracy, fairness and equal representation.”

“This is about power, who holds it and what it’s used for,” he said. “And when you’re diluting Black economic and political power, we need to know where these companies stand in this moment, and what side of history they’re on.”

Barcelona said Tuesday that Putellas will officially bid farewell at an event at Camp Nou stadium on Wednesday, giving the club a “chance to recognize the legacy created by a player who has become a role model on and off the field and who has helped women's football to grow across the globe.”

The 32-year-old Putellas on Saturday helped Barcelona win the Champions League title for the fourth time in six seasons.

There was no immediate announcement about her next move, with speculation in Spain that she may join the fast-emerging London City Lionesses. Putellas attended a Lionesses game in London in January.

Putellas played 507 games for Barcelona — second on the all-time list — since arriving at age 18 in 2012 from Levante, the Catalan club said.

Putellas scored 232 goals for Barcelona, a club record, and won 38 trophies, including four Champions Leagues and 10 Spanish league titles.

“The time has come to acknowledge that I’ve given everything for these colors,” Putellas said in a video posted on her social media accounts. "It’s been a perfect story.”

She was Barcelona's best player when it won its first Champions League in 2021 and helped put women’s soccer in Spain on the global map when she won back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards in 2021 and 2022. Her boost to the sport was considered key to helping Spain win the 2023 World Cup.

When Spain was embroiled in crisis after its then soccer federation president Luis Rubiales kissed a player without consent during the World Cup awards ceremony, it was Putellas who led the player revolt that prompted his downfall.

“We’ve taken the women’s team further than we ever imagined,” Putellas said. “At the beginning, being a soccer player wasn’t even recognized as a profession. Now I feel privileged to have been part of this change.”

Serious leg injuries put her star status in doubt for Barcelona and Spain. She was sidelined for months and, when she returned to the field, she was reported to be considering a move from Barcelona due to her limited playing time but eventually signed a contract extension.

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

Michigan is an especially strong fit for the trend because of its “dirty-weather” driving conditions. Road salt, slush, rain, and seasonal grime mean many drivers are regular customers, and winter salt removal is a key selling point for operators marketing unlimited wash plans.

Developers and investors have flocked to car wash projects in recent years, drawn by business models that often require fewer employees than traditional retail. Automated systems can move a high volume of vehicles with relatively small staffs, and monthly memberships help keep revenue steady even when customers are not washing every week.

Real estate and land-use dynamics also help explain why new washes seem to keep appearing on prominent corners. Car washes can often be built on visible, high-traffic lots with a simple building footprint and straightforward site plan, then operated as steady cash-flow properties that some investors view as attractive long-term holdings.

The factors behind the boom are straightforward: demand, financing, subscription models, relatively cheap staffing, and Michigan’s winter weather. For drivers, the salt and grime of the state’s long cold season make unlimited wash plans an easy sell, while for investors, the predictable, membership-driven cash flow and resilient real estate appeal continue to fuel new development.

Kingsbury is the GM of the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres while former coach Troy Ryan was recently hired as coach and GM of the PWHL expansion team in San Jose. His six-year run with Canada ended with Olympic silver in what was the team's eighth consecutive loss to the archrival U.S.

Hockey Canada’s contracts with Kingsbury and Ryan were to expire next month.

“I’m good with the transition. I’m ready for it,” Kingsbury said. “It’s time for someone to look at the landscape that has shifted in women’s hockey and set out their own vision on what that could look like for the future.”

The PWHL has altered the women’s hockey landscape in its first three seasons. The International Ice Hockey Federation shifted the world championship from April to November starting this year to avoid conflict with the PWHL season. By expanding by four teams to a 12-team league next season, the league also has churned the market for coaches and GMs.

The PWHL expansion team in Hamilton, Ontario, hired former U.S. team captain Meghan Duggan as GM, former Canadian goaltender Manon Rheaume is Detroit’s GM and former player agent Dominique DiDia is the new GM in Las Vegas.

“We’ve done quite a bit of analysis, but the sands continue to shift underneath our feet,” Hockey Canada chief executive Katherine Henderson told The Canadian Press. “I’m thrilled that there’s four new (PWHL) teams. I’m also saying now there’s four new competitors for a full-time job. I may want to go after some of those people. We’re going to have to up our game a little bit and say ‘come and work with Hockey Canada.’”

The 2026 Olympics was the first in the PWHL era. Canada’s women didn’t spend five to six months together training and playing games as they had for previous Games.

Ryan and Kingsbury were the first to hold top leadership roles with both a PWHL team and the Canadian women’s team simultaneously. A hybrid of Hockey Canada staff and NHL general managers and coaches has traditionally led Canada’s men into world championships and Olympic Games.

“We now need to live in a world probably closer to how we put together our men’s senior teams,” Henderson said.

Kingsbury said she also believes that model works for the women’s team with a dedicated person at Hockey Canada directing it.

“Someone needs to be at the helm of women’s hockey at Hockey Canada from a high-performance perspective,” Kingsbury said. “I do think there is a place for PWHL GMs to be a part of teams and the Olympic team and world championship teams and help select players. There’s an opportunity for coaches I think certainly to be from the PWHL.”

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Fans can catch the nationally known stand-up comic as he takes the stage with fresh material and signature humor at the Fox Theatre on June 6th.

Watch the video above for more information.

For more on the history behind the brand and why it’s still connecting with new generations today, watch the video above.

Local 4 Lifestyle Editor Jon Jordan breaks down the viral crazes everyone is talking about and why they are gaining so much attention online.

Watch the video above to see more.

A three-judge panel in the state’s long-running redistricting case issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the state from switching maps, ruling that the Republican-backed plan “intentionally discriminated based on race” by including only one Black-majority district. The judges instead required Alabama to continue using a court-ordered map in place for the 2024 elections that includes two districts where Black residents compose a majority or close to it.

“Ultimately, we cannot see our way clear to requiring Alabamians to cast their votes in the 2026 elections under a districting plan tainted by intentional race-based discrimination,” the judges wrote.

The ruling is a setback for Republicans, who want to use a map for the November midterms that would give the GOP a chance to reclaim the seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, said the state will immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. He contended the judges had no basis for their decision to block what he described as a “blandly unobjectionable congressional map.”

“Know this — in my mind, it is not a matter of whether we win this case, only when,” Marshall said.

Figures said he is pleased with the ruling, adding: “This is a significant step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go before this fight is settled.”

The court order is the latest development in the twisting legal and political saga following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. That ruling has led Republicans in several Southern states, including Alabama, to take steps to reshape voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats.

The redistricting frenzy is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to try to hold on to Republicans’ slim House majority in the November elections.

Alabama court fight stretches back several years

The three-judge panel in 2023 ruled that a map drawn by Republican state lawmakers intentionally diluted the voting power of Black citizens. The court said the state, which is about 27% Black, should have two districts where Black voters are the majority or close to it. The court-selected map was used in 2024.

After the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Louisiana case, Alabama officials moved to implement the 2023 state-drawn map. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority agreed to lift the injunction that had blocked the map's use and sent the case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration in light of the Louisiana ruling.

In the meantime, voters cast ballots in Alabama's May 11 primaries, and Republican Gov. Kay Ivey set new special primaries for Aug. 11 in four congressional districts affected by the map switch.

Upon further review, the judicial panel said there was “undisputed evidence” of intentional racial discrimination. It said the special congressional primaries should instead proceed under the previous court-approved districts.

The decision to temporarily block the map switch came after a seven-hour hearing Friday in which judges sharply questioned state lawyers about the timeline and the impact of the Louisiana ruling.

Using the same districts that had been in place for the previous election would prevent “an expensive, aggressive, and perhaps logistically impossible voter reassignment effort,” the judges wrote.

“Candidate and voter confusion is troublesome and warrants significant consideration, but we do not see that a preliminary injunction will worsen it. To the contrary, we expect a preliminary injunction to lessen it,” the judges said.

Deuel Ross, director of litigation for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, said the court ruling “again vindicated the constitutional rights of voters in the Black Belt, and our clients look forward to voting under a fair map this fall.”

Redistricting changes affect primaries in several states

Other states also have considered adjustments to their primary elections to allow time for congressional redistricting after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision affecting the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana’s congressional primaries, scheduled for May 16, were postponed until later this summer by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry so that state lawmakers could consider a new U.S. House map that would eliminate a majority-Black district.

In South Carolina, where early voting began Tuesday for its June 9 primaries, the Republican-led Senate rejected a plan that would have thrown out the votes and instead held a new congressional primary in August under revised districts that could have improved Republicans’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Tennessee also moved quickly to enact new U.S. House districts after the Supreme Court’s ruling, carving up a Black-majority district based in Memphis that had elected the state’s only Democratic representative. The new map gives Republicans a chance to sweep all nine of the state’s seats. As part of the plan, Tennessee temporarily reopened the candidate qualifying period for its August congressional primaries, allowing new candidates to enter the race and existing ones to either switch districts or drop out.

Since Trump first urged Texas to redraw its U.S. House districts last summer, about a half-dozen Republican-led states have enacted new voting districts, though some still face legal challenges. Democrats countered with new districts in California and also expect to gain a seat from new court-imposed districts in Utah.

It was a move designed to appeal to the team's devoted fanbase and provoke its wealthy ownership. And within hours of the network's decision, Platner has been all too eager to capitalize on the removal, using it to push his populist message as he campaigns to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.

“We ran an ad during last night’s Red Sox game exposing how private equity is making everything in our lives worse, and it got pulled midway through the game by a station owned by Red Sox ownership,” Platner said in a statement on Saturday. “And of course, the Red Sox blew a 4-0 lead to lose the game.”

The ad was pulled by New England Sports Network, which is owned predominantly by Fenway Sports Group, a conglomerate that also owns the Red Sox and Liverpool of the Premier League.

“NESN removes advertisements when credible concerns arise regarding the use of intellectual property,” the network said in a statement. “The advertisement in question was removed because the creative included unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property and did not comply with NESN’s advertising standards.”

NESN did not immediately answer questions about what specifically in the ad violated the station's rules. The Red Sox also did not respond to a question seeking comment.

Collins' campaign said in a statement that Platner's criticism of the Red Sox was an attempt to change the subject from "questions about his judgment and character.” Platner has been dogged during the campaign with questions about a tattoo he eventually had covered up that was associated with Nazi imagery. His old social media posts about subjects including women, police, veterans and rural Americans have also been called into question, and he has acknowledged and apologized for them. He has also said he was unaware about the tattoo's meaning when he got it after a night of drinking.

Platner's 15-second ad about the Red Sox includes the oyster farmer promising to “reverse the private equity curse” if elected and stating that he missed Mookie Betts, a nod to the simmering rage that Boston fans have held after FSG traded the homegrown superstar to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. (“Reverse the curse” was a popular slogan among Red Sox fans in the 1990s and 2000s that referred to the team’s long-running failure to win a World Series prior to 2004.)

It also accuses private equity of “buying up our homes, our sports and our lives” while referencing a March 2021 Axios report detailing that RedBird Capital Partners, a private equity firm, would have an 11% stake in FSG.

Around that same time, FSG brought on as an investor Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has stated that he wants to one day own an NBA team.

FSG went on to purchase the NHL’s five-time Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins in late 2021. In 2025, FSG agreed to sell the Penguins to the Chicago-based Hoffmann Family of Cos. for a reported $1.7 billion price tag. That sale was approved earlier this year.

FSG's founder and principal owner, John Henry, was an active political donor, contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to mostly Democratic candidates, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, campaign filings don’t show any activity from him post 2004.

The Red Sox are currently in last place in their division at 22-30 and have descended into mediocrity in the years since the RedBird Capital agreement. At times, fans have chanted “sell the team” during home games this season in Boston.

The team had a run of success in the years prior to the RedBird Capital deal, winning World Series in 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018. It has struggled since, advancing to the American League Championship Series only once.

___

Hightower reported from Boston and Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

No cause of death was announced by the team.

Fernandez played his entire eight-year NFL career with the Dolphins and was a key pillar on Miami's “No-Name Defense," which helped the team reach consecutive Super Bowls from 1971-1973, including back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1972 and 1973.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Manny Fernandez,” the Dolphins said in a statement, “a member of the 1972 perfect team, a two-time Super Bowl champion, ring of honor member and an anchor of the Dolphins' legendary ‘No-Name Defense.’ His consistent and selfless contributions on the field were instrumental to the Dolphins' success throughout the early 1970s, particularly in the team's three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, in which he produced some of the most memorable defensive performances in the history of the game.”

Fernandez was dominant during the Dolphins' Super Bowl win over Washington following their undefeated 1972 season. That team also included stars such as Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti and Larry Csonka.

An undrafted free agent out of Utah in 1968, Fernandez was inducted into the Dolphins' Ring of Honor in 2014.

“Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones and teammates as we remember one of the best players in Dolphins history,” the team said.

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

Trump suspended the refugee program on his first day in office and, since then, has turned it into a vehicle to allow Afrikaners — a group of white South Africans descended mainly from Dutch settlers — into the U.S. Advocates say the decision to focus a decades-old program on one group has left people around the world fleeing war and strife stranded and with few options.

The administration says Afrikaners are subject to persecution in their home country, a charge the government in South Africa denies.

In the Tuesday announcement on the Federal Register, President Donald Trump said that because of “an unforeseen emergency refugee situation” he was raising the refugee cap. He blamed the South African government for “recent increases in the incitement of racially motivated violence" but gave no specific information.

“I hereby determine that the admission to the United States of Afrikaners from South Africa in response to this emergency is justified by the grave humanitarian concerns and is otherwise in the national interest,” Trump said in the announcement.

Democrats criticize refugee cap

The administration indicated last year that it would approve up to 7,500, mostly Afrikaners, during the fiscal year stretching from October 2025 through September 2026, but last week, in a notice to Congress informing it of the increase, the administration said that “unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation.” The change raises the limit to 17,500.

Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state, and Troy Edgar, the deputy secretary of Homeland Security, met with key congressional committees on Thursday as part of the legally required consultation process with lawmakers, according to two people who were granted anonymity to discuss a private meeting.

During the hour-long session, Landau told lawmakers that one of the ways that Afrikaners had faced persecution at home was the erasure of their history in school textbooks, according to the people with knowledge of the meeting. The discussion infuriated Democrats, who called the approach and the consultation “indefensible.”

The State Department did not return a request for comment on the interaction.

“The administration’s shameful approach to refugee resettlement is organized around prioritizing white-only Afrikaners and betraying everyone else, including thousands of Afghan allies who risked their lives for our nation, and thousands of other approved and vetted refugees twisting in the wind,” said Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Alex Padilla of California, and Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Pramila Jayapal of Washington in a statement.

Inside the meeting, Democrats also pressed the administration on religious minorities in other nations, particularly in Iran, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan indicated that it was an issue the administration should look at, the people said. Jordan raised the case of Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old star wrestler who was hanged in Iran with two other young men in March after being sentenced on charges of “moharabeh,” or “waging war against God,” another person with knowledge of the meeting said.

Thousands of mostly white South Africans already admitted

The State Department has already approved more than 6,000 people through the refugee program since the beginning of the fiscal year in October, according to official data. All of those were from South Africa except for three people from Afghanistan.

Presidents set the cap on how many refugees the U.S. will approve through the program each year, and historically, they’ve allocated those numbers across various geographic regions while factoring in wars or conflicts that spark humanitarian needs around the globe.

The refugee program, administered by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, is distinct from asylum. People hoping to come through the refugee program must be living abroad and undergo vetting and other checks before being admitted to the U.S., whereas those seeking asylum are already on U.S. soil. A visa, however, is not a guarantee that the holder will be allowed to enter the U.S.

During his first administration, Trump slashed the number of refugees approved every year. Then the Biden administration built the system back up, setting a goal of admitting 125,000 refugees in his last year in office.

Groups that have for decades helped resettle refugees in the U.S. have sued to allow people who were in the refugee application process but are now stranded to be allowed to come to the U.S.

“For nearly half a century, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program embodied a simple but powerful, bipartisan idea: that the United States would offer safety to the world’s most vulnerable refugees,” said Beth Oppenheim, President & CEO of HIAS, in a statement. “This administration is now dismantling that legacy in plain sight."

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict appeared more nominal by the day, complicating efforts at a broader peace in the Iran war as Tehran wants an agreement to include an end to the fighting in Lebanon.

The Litani River has been a de facto boundary in Lebanon, with large areas to the south under Israeli military control despite the ceasefire that's been in place for over a month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after meeting with his defense minister and senior military officials that Israel will expand its operations in Lebanon.

“The (Israeli Defense Forces) are operating with large forces on the ground and seizing strategic areas,” he said, adding that Israel is trying to fortify an area of southern Lebanon under its control, which it says is necessary to protect residents in its northern border towns from Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.

An Israeli strike kills 12, including several relatives

Meanwhile, an Israeli security official said the military had called up an additional battalion to Lebanon, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Israel's military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah sites across southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley area overnight, adding that it targeted storage facilities, command centers and observation points used to attack Israeli troops and residents in northern Israel.

One strike hit the eastern village of Mashghara, killing 12 people, including several members of a family, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said.

Israel in recent days has intensified strikes in the city and province of Nabatiyeh, just north of the river. On Tuesday it warned city residents to leave.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it launched several rocket, artillery and exploding drone attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles mobilizing along the river toward the Nabatiyeh villages of Yohmor al-Shaqif and Zawtar al-Sharqieh. Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said the militant group repelled attacks along the river banks.

Elsewhere in eastern Lebanon, Israel struck an area near the Qaraoun Dam, the country's largest along the Litani River. The Litani River Authority said there was no direct damage to the dam.

Beirut, the Lebanese capital, has been spared from strikes since the start of the ceasefire, but Israel's latest moves have caused fear.

“By just saying a few words on TV, (Netanyahu) causes everyone to panic and flee their homes,” said Tony Aboud in Beirut’s bustling Hamra district. “I don’t know what’s going to happen and how long we can live like this.”

Lebanon hopes for an agreement that will see Israeli withdrawal

The Lebanese government, which came to power on a platform of reform and disarming Hezbollah and other armed groups, hopes that the direct talks with Israel — which Hezbollah opposes — will lead to a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Israel says it will not withdraw until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to residents of its northern towns. Hezbollah has vowed to fight until Israel stops its daily airstrikes and withdraws its troops from Lebanon.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has boasted that it is using new fiber-optic drones that Israeli troops have struggled to intercept, hitting both Israeli forces and northern Israeli villages.

Israel has told people there not to gather in large numbers.

“What this requires of us now is to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh,” Netanyahu said Monday.

Over 1 million people in Lebanon have been displaced in the war, sparked when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, two days after the Iran war began.

At least 3,213 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the start of the war, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, with over 9,700 wounded.

According to Netanyahu’s office, 23 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, the vast majority by drones.

___

Associated Press writers Sam Mednick and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Koral Saaed in Herzliya, Israel, and senior video producer Malak Harb in Beirut contributed to this report.

To fight off predators of the humpback chub, a threatened fish native to the river, Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona would need to do what is known as a “cool mix flow,” where cold water is released from deep in its reservoir to cool the river below. But there are no hydropower turbines in the cool, deep section, so significant power generation would be lost.

The proposal comes after the worst snowpack on record for the Colorado River Basin, relied upon by farmers, industries, wildlife and more than 40 million people in seven U.S. states, tribal nations and Mexico. It also comes as those states fail to reach a long-term agreement on how to share the river's dwindling resources beyond this year, when the guidelines expire.

“There is a limited water supply. It’s getting even lower. And with that, a lot of hard decisions need to be made,” said John Berggren, regional policy manager for the environmental nonprofit Western Resource Advocates.

Utilities that buy this hydropower say the cool water releases would be costly because they would have to spend millions to buy alternative energy and would increase financial hardship for customers. But supporters say that without cool releases, the warm waters projected downstream this summer would allow non-native predatory fish to spawn, further threatening the humpback chub, and would destroy a world-famous trout fishery nearby.

The Bureau of Reclamation, which is expected to announce a decision in the next couple of weeks, said in a statement that it is weighing several factors including the ecological health of the river and the hydropower production of the dam. The Interior Department, which oversees the bureau, declined to comment. If the cool water release is approved, it would likely happen from June to October through jet tubes, bypassing the turbines near the warmer surface.

How mixing cool water protects fish

Lake Powell, one of two massive reservoirs on the Colorado River, is just 23% full after decades of overuse and evaporation of water as average temperatures rise because of climate change. A record low inflow is expected this summer. With such a low reservoir, warm water near the surface gets sucked through the generators and sent downstream.

Smallmouth bass, introduced in Lake Powell in the 1980s for sport fishing, live at that warm surface, and also get sucked through the hydropower generators and into the river below. That's a problem for the humpback chub and other federally protected fish in the Grand Canyon, a 278-mile (447-kilometer) stretch farther south on the river that's world-famous for its geologic formations. A recent study shows that roughly half the bass survive the generators. If the river below is warm enough, they spawn.

Smallmouth bass already feast on humpback chub in the river’s upper section, where agencies spend millions of dollars annually to keep the intruders in check. Native fish have been safer below Glen Canyon Dam because it blocks the path to the Grand Canyon — but that may not be true for long.

Water temperatures just downstream of the dam are expected to shatter records set in 2022, when smallmouth bass were first found there. Officials project that water will consistently exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 Celsius) by mid-June due to the warm water being pulled in from Lake Powell. Any higher than that, and non-native predatory fish that pass through the dam could reproduce.

Officials say cool water releases from Lake Powell in 2024 and 2025 successfully prevented spawning.

It’s critical to consider the cost of not doing the cool mix, Heather Whitlaw, field supervisor with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said during a recent meeting on managing the issue. “We are certainly just giving up on the future for any kind of recovery for humpback chub and all of the other pieces of the system that rely on those cooler water temperatures.”

With no long-term solution to keep the predators from passing through the dam, withholding cool water would force officials to rely solely on manually removing them downstream.

More hydropower loss could further impact utilities

Utilities reliant on hydropower from federal generators are worried.

If the cool water releases are approved, it could mean bypassing about half the generation at Glen Canyon Dam, forcing utilities to buy power elsewhere that would likely be more expensive, according to the Utah utility group Heber Light & Power.

“We keep hearing comments that we must continue Cool Mix because the cost of not doing it will be even greater,” the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, which represents about 155 customers who buy federal hydropower generated from the river and opposes the releases, said this month in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “We would like to understand what remediation would consistently cost more than $20 to $30 (million) per year.”

The association said the releases are not a sustainable solution to prevent smallmouth bass from reproducing and threaten a critical fund used to operate, maintain and invest in hydropower and transmission facilities.

During the cool water releases in 2024, nearly 900,000 acre-feet of water bypassed the generators, costing $19 million in replacement energy costs, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. It’s unclear how much water would bypass the generators this year, although the cost to replace it is anticipated to be around $25 million — roughly the total cost to hydropower users from the prior two years.

The ongoing loss of hydropower due to Lake Powell's decline has brought challenges to Heber Light & Power as the population grows, said Emily Brandt, the utility’s energy resource manager. The overall decline has led to rate hikes the past five years.

Ann Moulton, who lives in Heber City, has seen her residential electricity bill from Heber Light & Power steadily rise. Her bill this April was $125.98, up from $103.24 and $86.14 for the same month in the previous two years. That's impacting her budget, she said.

Other customers are struggling to pay. So far this year, the utility has seen a jump in late payments over the past two years, from 10% to 12%.

Brandt said the utility supports caring for fish, “but this particular experiment seems unnecessary.”

“We’re already seeing reduced generation from drought, and now we’re seeing even further reduced generation because of this environmental experiment,” Brandt said.

Fisheries downstream are also in limbo

Dave Foster still remembers the 2022 trout die-off in Glen Canyon, a remote stretch of river between the dam and the start of the Grand Canyon. Warm water killed nearly half the rainbow trout the world-renowned fishery relies on, said Foster, who has been working on or around that stretch of river since age 13.

He and other guides are still recovering from the die-off, he said, as “the population has simply not rebounded.” But cool water releases in recent years have offset more negative impacts, and more this year would get them through the fall and winter.

Foster has warned customers booking trips after mid-June that he might cancel if the water gets too warm, which can stress fish. Without cool water releases this year, “that's it for the trout fishery,” he said. “There's no ambiguity about it. It will destroy it.”

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

___

In the third to last paragraph, corrects the name of a stretch of the river to Glen Canyon instead of Marble Canyon.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best dive bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite dive bar. Just click on the link below and find the “dive bar” category under the “drinks” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best ice cream in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite ice cream place. Just click on the link below and find the “ice cream” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Dance Studio in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Dance Studio. Just click on the link below and find the “Dance Studio” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best burger place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite burger place. Just click on the link below and find the “burger” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Law Firm in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Law Firm. Just click on the link below and find the “Law Firm” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Real Estate Agent in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Real Estate Agent. Just click on the link below and find the “Real Estate Agent” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best soul food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite soul food restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “soul food” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best soup and salad in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite soup and salad place. Just click on the link below and find the “soup/salad” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Polish food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Polish restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Polish” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Middle Eastern food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Middle Eastern restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Middle Eastern” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best gyros in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite gyro place. Just click on the link below and find the “gyros” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best fine dining restaurant in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite fine dining restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “fine dining” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Cannabis Dispensary in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Cannabis Dispensary. Just click on the link below and find the “Cannabis Dispensary” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best HVAC Company in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite HVAC Company. Just click on the link below and find the “HVAC Company” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Boutique Clothing Store in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Boutique Clothing Store. Just click on the link below and find the “Boutique Clothing Store” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Gourmet Market in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Gourmet Market. Just click on the link below and find the “Gourmet Market” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Thai food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Thai restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Thai” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best shawarma in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite shawarma place. Just click on the link below and find the “shawarma” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best pho in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite pho restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “pho” category under the “food” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best fried chicken in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite fried chicken place. Just click on the link below and find the “fried chicken” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a fried chicken place.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Ella Smith with Michigan Humane appeared on “Live in the D” to give some insight on the power of pets and how they can impact your mental health. Watch the video above to see the segment and to meet our pet of the week that needs a forever home.

Watch the video above to get the details about his upcoming shows and to see Jasen Magic perform a trick.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best sports venue in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite sports venue. Just click on the link below and find the “sports venue” category under the “things to do” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Florist in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Florist. Just click on the link below and find the “Florist” category under the “Services/Business” section.

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After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

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Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Children’s Clothing Store in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Children’s Clothing Store. Just click on the link below and find the “Children’s Clothing Store” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Children’s Clothing Store.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best auto dealership in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite auto dealership. Just click on the link below and find the “Auto Dealership” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate an Auto Dealership.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Indian food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Indian restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Indian” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate an Indian restaurant.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best bakery in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite bakery. Just click on the link below and find the “bakery” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a bakery.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best wine bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite wine bar. Just click on the link below and find the “wine bar” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a wine bar.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best distillery in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite distillery. Just click on the link below and find the “distillery” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a distillery.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best movie theater in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite movie theater. Just click on the link below and find the “movie theater” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a movie theater.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best festival in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite festival. Just click on the link below and find the “festival” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a festival.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best comedy club in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite comedy club. Just click on the link below and find the “comedy club” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a comedy club.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Roofing in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Roofing. Just click on the link below and find the “Roofing” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Roofing company.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best vegan or vegetarian options in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite place. Just click on the link below and find the “Vegan/Vegetarian” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate Vegan/Vegetarian.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best sushi in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite sushi place. Just click on the link below and find the “sushi” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a sushi place.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the place with the best margarita in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite place with the best margarita. Just click on the link below and find the “margarita” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a place with the best margarita.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best rooftop bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite rooftop bar. Just click on the link below and find the “rooftop bar” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a rooftop bar.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best day spa in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite day spa. Just click on the link below and find the “day spa” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a day spa.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best museum in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite museum. Just click on the link below and find the “museum” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a museum.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Funeral Home in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Funeral Home. Just click on the link below and find the “Funeral Home” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Funeral Home.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Nail Salon in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Nail Salon. Just click on the link below and find the “Nail Salon” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Nail Salon.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Hotel in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Hotel. Just click on the link below and find the “Hotel” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Hotel.

After nominations close on June 14, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 19. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 22 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 20. You’ll be able to vote for each category once per day.

Thanks to our Vote 4 The Best sponsor, Wallside Windows!

Have a question? Email us at clickondetroit@wdiv.com, and we’ll get you an answer.