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 announcement Tuesday 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 admit 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.

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 admitted 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 admit 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.

During his first administration, Trump slashed the number of refugees he admitted 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."

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, despite their titles, and had wanted 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 argued it was 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.

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

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.

Fully driverless commercial rides without a human operator are not currently permitted in Massachusetts.

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 could ultimately represent nearly 70,000 drivers statewide.

As drivers waved signs and chanted with the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House providing a backdrop, labor leaders described the victory 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.”

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 or recourse, he said.

“I live with stress — always scared to lose my app,” Fredo said. “This is not a way to live.”

Fredo said he immediately joined the organizing effort when he heard about it and later helped sign up hundreds of other drivers at airports and gathering spots around the Boston area.

At one point during the rally, Fredo pumped his fists over his head while showing a photo of his family to the crowd.

“This is my family,” he said. “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 often work long hours while paying for gas, insurance, maintenance and vehicle wear-and-tear 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.

The organizing effort has unfolded alongside the rapid expansion of autonomous vehicle technology. In Massachusetts, autonomous vehicles can be tested on public roads, but current regulations still require a licensed human operator inside the vehicle. Fully driverless commercial operations without a human in the car are not permitted statewide.

Waymo has expanded driverless taxi operations in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The rollout has drawn scrutiny over traffic disruptions, safety investigations and incidents involving stalled or malfunctioning vehicles, while also 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 in California.

“We now know what’s happening there,” she said. “Drivers are seeing pay go down, and there are real concerns about safety and job security as automatic vehicles expand.”

Organizers increasingly see unionization as a way for drivers to collectively respond to the growth of autonomous vehicle companies, she said.

“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. That money goes into small businesses."

Uber and Lyft ‘engaging in good faith’

The bargaining process is also unfolding as Massachusetts regulators consider broad new ride-hailing regulations proposed this spring involving safety standards, driver oversight and proposals involving electric vehicle fleets. 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.

In an emailed statement Tuesday, Uber said it would work with the union and state regulators as the bargaining process moves forward.

“As we enter this next phase, we will work closely with the ADU, our broader driver community, and the Department of Labor Relations,” the company said. “Together, we will ensure that driver flexibility and hard-won benefits remain the foundation of our progress.”

Lyft also said it planned to engage with the new bargaining process.

“As this new process moves forward, we’re committed to engaging in good faith,” the company said in a statement. “Lyft does well when drivers do well, and we’ll stay focused on helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and dependable for everyone who counts on it.”

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.

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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.

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 been moving quickly to try to leverage a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened minority protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.

But the GOP also suffered a setback Tuesday in Alabama, where 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 Republican plan “intentionally discriminated based on race” by including only one Black-majority district and 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.

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 are trying to reshape in their quest for a clean sweep of South Carolina's seven 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 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 been moving quickly to try to leverage a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened minority protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.

But the GOP also suffered a setback Tuesday in Alabama, where 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 Republican plan “intentionally discriminated based on race” by including only one Black-majority district and 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.

Democrats, who have suffered their own share of setbacks in the national redistricting battle, praised the turn of events in Alabama.

The “fight for justice is far from over in states across the country where politicians are enacting gerrymanders on top of gerrymanders to erase equal representation for communities of color,” said Marina Jenkins, executive director of the National Redistricting Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

The national redistricting battle 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. Meanwhile, voters in California adopted new Democratic-drawn districts, and a court imposed a favorable map for Democrats in Utah. Democrats suffered a setback 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 out of the state's seven seats.

The Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday called on major corporations across the U.S., 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. That comes after 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 26,000 votes were cast in South Carolina by noon 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 the entire two weeks.

The Republican-led House already has 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 has 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 has maintained the pressure on social media.

Debate has stalled in the Senate, where Democrats are staunchly opposed and some GOP lawmakers have concerns that an aggressive redistricting could backfire by making some Republican-held seats susceptible 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.”

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

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:

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.

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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.

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.

The U.S. military characterized Monday's strikes in southern Iran as defensive, saying targets 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. In Washington, 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 reported that fixed broadband service was partially restored. Mobile internet wasn't yet working.

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 crucial 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.

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.

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.

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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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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.

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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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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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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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Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best gyros in Metro Detroit.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

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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 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.

Click here to nominate a pho 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 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.

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.

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.

Click here to nominate a sports venue.

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 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.

Click here to nominate a Florist.

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 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.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% after trading resumed following Monday’s holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 186 points, or 0.4%, as of 1:28 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% higher. All three indexes are near all-time highs.

The indexes pared gains from earlier in the morning 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 4% to $97.14, but that reclaimed only some of its 7.1% plunge from Monday. The price for a barrel of U.S crude oil, meanwhile, fell 2.7% to $94.01.

Oil prices have been at the center of the action for financial markets since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The ensuing war has closed the Strait of Hormuz to most oil tankers, keeping crude pent up in the Persian Gulf instead of flowing 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 5.1%, and cruise operator Carnival steamed 2.8% higher.

The lower oil prices also 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 4.51% 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.

Big technology stocks also continued their big runs. Micron Technology leaped 18.4% to top $880 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. They're forecasting continued strength in demand for computer memory, and Micron's stock has already tripled so far this year.

That helped offset a drop of 9.9% for AutoZone, which reported slightly weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit topped expectations. CEO Phil Daniele said performance for the retailer’s stores in Brazil and Mexico was below its plan.

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, indexes were mixed. 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 4.5% there. BP ousted its chairman over what it called serious concerns related to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct.”

Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.2% from its all-time high set the day before.

___

AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

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.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Italian food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Italian restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Italian” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate an Italian 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 fries in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite place. Just click on the link below and find the “fries” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate fries.

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 beer selection in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite place with the best beer selection. Just click on the link below and find the “beer selection” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a place with the best beer selection.

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 farmers’ market in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite farmers’ market. Just click on the link below and find the “farmers’ market” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a farmers’ market.

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 Beauty Salon in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Beauty Salon. Just click on the link below and find the “Beauty Salon” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Beauty 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.

The departure was abrupt and unexpected, with Albert Manifold having been appointed to the position late last year.

“Albert has helped bring a welcome focus and pace to BP’s transformation," Amanda Blanc, senior independent director, said in a statement Tuesday. "However, the board has been surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable and has taken decisive action.”

BP's board was unanimous in the decision and Ian Tyler, a member of the board, was named interim chair, effective immediately. The company did not elaborate on Manifold's sudden departure.

BP, based in London, is a “supermajor,” one of the five largest oil production and exploration companies in the world when measured by revenue and profit.

After a new focus on renewable energy by BP in 2020, the company was seeking a return to its roots by 2025. CEO Murray Auchincloss said last year that optimism over opportunities in renewable energy was misplaced, with the company moving “too far and too fast.”

Manifold, who had been the top executive at Dublin-based global building materials company CRH for 10 years, became the chair at BP in October. BP was looking for someone to redirect the oil giant and went with an industry outsider in Manifold, who had made major strategic changes at CRH.

BP's hard reset last year was criticized by environmentalists, as well as some shareholders. Zigzagging goals within BP have been accompanied by tumultuous changes in leadership, though not specifically tied to strategy.

CEO Bernard Looney resigned in late 2023 after BP determined that he had misled the company over past relationships with colleagues.

Auchincloss stepped down in December and the company named Meg O'Neill as his successor, two months after Manifold became chair.

Manifold was challenged almost immediately when shareholders defeated company resolutions this spring that would have allowed BP to reduce climate reporting requirements and move its annual meetings fully online. Some 18% of shareholders voted against Manifold’s election as chairman, a high level of opposition for an appointment that is generally rubber-stamped by investors.

Legal & General, one of Britain’s largest insurers and investment companies, said at the time that Manifold was responsible for resolutions that would have had “a negative impact on shareholders’ insight into how the company is addressing financially material long-term risks, and seizing long-term value creation opportunities, associated with the energy transition,” the Times of London reported on April 23.

Glass Lewis, an influential shareholder adviser, urged investors to vote against Manifold’s election. It held that BP took “unprecedented action” by refusing to consider a resolution from a group of climate activists and pension funds hoping to force the board to create an alternative strategy should demand for fossil fuels decline, the Times reported.

Like other big oil companies, BP has struggled with falling demand in recent years.

BP’s 2025 earnings fell 16% from a year earlier to $7.49 billion as the price of Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil prices, dropped 16.9%. The company’s preferred measure of earnings is underlying replacement cost profit, which adjusts for one-time items and fluctuations in the market value of inventories.

Last year there were media reports that British oil giant Shell was in talks to buy rival BP. Shell denied the reports at the time.

The search for a new chair is underway, BP said Tuesday.

Shares of BP Plc slid 5% on the NYSE.

____________

Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Hair Salon in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Hair Salon. Just click on the link below and find the “Hair Salon” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Hair 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 brunch place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite brunch place. Just click on the link below and find the “brunch” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a brunch 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 best BBQ place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite barbecue place. Just click on the link below and find the “BBQ” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a BBQ 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 best bagel place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite bagel place. Just click on the link below and find the “bagel” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a bagel 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 best live music bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite live music bar. Just click on the link below and find the “live music bar” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a live music 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 Irish pub in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Irish pub. Just click on the link below and find the “Irish pub” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate an Irish pub.

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.

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.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best karaoke bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite karaoke bar. Just click on the link below and find the “karaoke bar” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a karaoke 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 concert venue in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite concert venue. Just click on the link below and find the “concert venue” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a concert venue.

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 Tattoo Parlor in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Tattoo Parlor. Just click on the link below and find the “Tattoo Parlor” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Tattoo Parlor.

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 steakhouse in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite steakhouse. Just click on the link below and find the “steakhouse” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a steakhouse.

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.

You’ll notice the sun looks a bit filtered or milky as high, thin clouds start moving in ahead of our next system. We’ll still see plenty of sun throughout the day and UV levels will be in the Very High range, so you may want to keep the sunscreen handy.

Those additional clouds should make for a beautiful sunset tonight - official sunset time for Detroit is at 8:58 p.m.

Skies will stay partly cloudy overnight with temperatures falling only to near 60° in most neighborhoods.

This leads to a warm Wednesday with highs back in the 80s.

A weak cold front will move through the region, bringing the chance for later-day isolated showers and storms.

The rain chance will linger through the evening before we dry out and see decreasing clouds into Wednesday night.

This gives way to mostly sunny skies Thursday. Highs will be more seasonable, in the mid 70s, starting Thursday and continuing through the weekend.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best steakhouse in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 15, fans can nominate their favorite steakhouse. Just click on the link below and find the “steakhouse” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a steakhouse.

After nominations close on June 15, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 20. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 23 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 21. 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 food truck in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite food truck. Just click on the link below and find the “food truck” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a food truck.

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 coney dog in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite coney dog. Just click on the link below and find the “Coney Dog” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a coney dog.

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 breakfast place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite breakfast place. Just click on the link below and find the “breakfast” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a breakfast 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 best sports bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite sports bar. Just click on the link below and find the “sports bar” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a sports 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 golf course in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite golf course. Just click on the link below and find the “golf course” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a golf course.

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 Barbershop in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Barbershop. Just click on the link below and find the “Barbershop” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Barbershop.

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 Photographer in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Photographer. Just click on the link below and find the “Photographer” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Photographer.

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 Coney Island in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Coney Island. Just click on the link below and find the “Coney Island” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a Coney Island.

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 tacos in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite taco place. Just click on the link below and find the “tacos” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a taco 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 best deli sandwich in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite deli. Just click on the link below and find the “sandwich/deli” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a deli.

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 donuts in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite donut place. Just click on the link below and find the “donuts” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a donut 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 best cocktail bar in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite cocktail bar. Just click on the link below and find the “cocktail bar” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a cocktail 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 cider mill in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite cider mill. Just click on the link below and find the “cider mill” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a cider mill.

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 Grocery Store in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Grocery Store. Just click on the link below and find the “Grocery Store” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Grocery 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 chicken wings in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite chicken wing place. Just click on the link below and find the “wings” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a chicken wings 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.

Crews were spraying water to keep cooling the tank that overheated last week, prompting the evacuation of 50,000 people in the Orange County city of Garden Grove. Most returned home after a crack formed over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, relieving pressure inside.

The evacuation zone remained the same on Tuesday morning, said Orange County Fire Capt. Brian Yau.

Crews worked overnight to ensure two other nearby tanks were neutralized and would not be affected by the compromised tank, he said, adding that material from one of these two tanks was transferred to another that has a neutralizing agent.

“They are moving material over to ensure that all threats have been eliminated,” Yau said.

Those threats include the risk of a very small explosion and potential spill, officials 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 the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems plant contains 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of the chemical.

The interior cooled to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C), the county's fire division chief Craig Covey said Monday, down from 100 degrees (37.7 degrees C) a day earlier. The company said its technical specialists and the county fire authority have removed insulation from the tank to help cool it.

Health officials sought to reassure people who are returning to homes near the plant.

“There was no contamination. There were no fumes,” Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong said at Monday's news conference. “There was not a leak. So it should be, you should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.”

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.

Relief among residents

Garden Grove Unified School District said last week it was shutting a dozen schools through what was supposed to be the last day of the school year on Wednesday but later said only three would remain closed Tuesday. It was unclear if they would reopen before the school year ends this week.

At a parking lot at a large park in Fountain Valley, just southwest of Garden Grove, people sought refuge in an ad hoc shelter there or pitched tents outside. Other people gathered in the park to enjoy Memorial Day.

Kim Yen, a retiree who was still evacuated from her home two blocks from the plant, welcomed news that the worst was not expected.

“I am happy and many of us are happy,” she said Monday.

She said she's ready to go back but wants to be sure it’s safe first. She's also been worrying about the emergency workers, who she called “our heroes.”

Environmental risks remain

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 could eventually cool enough for crews to safely stabilize and drain the remaining material without triggering a spark or ignition, Whelton said.

However, he said there is still a risk of an explosion while the chemical remains hot and reactive. Temperatures need to fall 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, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible,” the company said.

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

——

This story has been corrected to attribute a quote to TJ McGovern, interim fire chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, not to division chief Craig Covey.

___

Willingham reported from Boston. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Jamie Stengle in Dallas; Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Detroit-style pizza in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Detroit-style pizza place. Just click on the link below and find the “Detroit-style pizza” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a Detroit-style pizza 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 best Mexican food in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Mexican restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Mexican” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a Mexican 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 Chinese restaurant in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Chinese restaurant. Just click on the link below and find the “Chinese” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a Chinese 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 coffee place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite coffee place. Just click on the link below and find the “coffee” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a coffee 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 best brewery in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite brewery. Just click on the link below and find the “brewery” category under the “drinks” section.

Click here to nominate a brewery.

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 haunted house in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite haunted house. Just click on the link below and find the “haunted house” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a haunted house.

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 bowling alley in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite bowling alley. Just click on the link below and find the “bowling alley” category under the “things to do” section.

Click here to nominate a bowling alley.

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.

The American Civil Liberties Union announced the settlement in a federal lawsuit it filed last year on behalf of Suzanne Swierc against Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns.

Swierc worked as director of health promotion and advocacy at Ball State's campus in Muncie, Indiana, before she was fired last September. Ball State cited Swierc's private Facebook post about Kirk as the sole reason for her termination, saying it caused “significant disruption” to the campus.

Swierc's firing violated her constitutional rights because she was “speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” said Stevie Pactor, an ACLU attorney in Indiana.

“The First Amendment does not allow government institutions to retaliate in those circumstances, and this settlement reflects that,” Pactor said in a statement.

Mearns defended firing Swierc in a statement sent Tuesday to campus leaders, which a Ball State spokesperson shared with The Associated Press.

Mearns said backlash over Swierc's post threatened to harm the school's student enrollment and fundraising. He said the settlement's “modest monetary payment” to Swierc was substantially less than fighting her lawsuit would have cost.

Kirk, founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was killed by a gunman Sept. 10 on the campus of a Utah university. Before his death, Kirk was credited with galvanizing the conservative youth vote to help President Donald Trump win a second term.

Others fired for Kirk posts have won six-figure settlements

Swierc was among a wave of workers who lost their jobs in both the public and private sector after posting social media comments and memes about Kirk’s assassination. And she isn't the first to win a legal settlement in court.

Earlier this month, a Florida state agency agreed to pay $485,000 to settle a lawsuit by a former state biologist who was fired after she reposted a meme that claimed Kirk wouldn’t care about children being shot in school.

In January, Austin Peay State University in Tennessee reinstated a professor and paid him a $500,000 settlement after he sued over his firing for posting a 2023 news headline that read: “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.”

Lawsuits by other fired workers are still pending.

Ball State says employee's post led to a flood of outrage

In her Facebook post, Swierc referred to Kirk's killing as a “tragedy.” But she also called it a “reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.” She wrote: “If you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can't be friends.”

Swierc's attorneys said her Facebook page's privacy settings walled off her posts from the general public, but someone took a screen shot of her comments on Kirk that was shared widely online.

Ball State's president said Swierc's post resulted in a flood of outraged phone calls and emails to the university. Some warned they would withhold donations and at least one parent said she planned to withdraw her children from the school. Some callers threatened violence, Mearns said.

“The reaction was extraordinarily damaging to our University’s reputation and image, and it was exceptionally disruptive to our mission and our people,” Mearns said in his statement.

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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.

Nominations for this year’s Vote 4 The Best are open, and we’re looking for the best Book Store in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite Book Store. Just click on the link below and find the “Book Store” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Book 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 dog groomer in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite dog groomer. Just click on the link below and find the “Dog Groomer” category under the “Services/Business” section.

Click here to nominate a Dog Groomer.

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 pizza place in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 14, fans can nominate their favorite pizza place. Just click on the link below and find the “pizza” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate a pizza 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 best ice cream in Metro Detroit.

From now until June 15, fans can nominate their favorite ice cream place. Just click on the link below and find the “ice cream” category under the “food” section.

Click here to nominate an ice cream place.

After nominations close on June 15, we’ll announce the finalists for each category on June 20. We’ve got dozens of categories for food, drinks, things to do, services, and businesses.

Finalist voting will open June 23 (during the Ford Fireworks on Local 4) and end July 21. 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.