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As the world rediscovers 'The Odyssey,' disabled actors in Greece explore the pain of war

Petros Giannakouris And Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 04:08:59 +0000

As Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” renews global fascination with Homer, a cast of disabled and non-disabled performers in Greece is staging the war’s other story.

It’s not about the triumph of returning heroes, but the suffering they left behind.

“The Trojan Women,” with a cast of 22, was staged at Epidaurus, the ancient open-air stone arena in southern Greece. It marked what organizers called the first fully accessible performance in the ancient theater’s 2,300-year history.

While Homer followed warriors sailing home from Troy, the playwright Euripides — writing some three centuries later — turned to the city’s ruins and its women, forced into exile and enslavement.

The ancient theater offered a full range of accessibility services for the Aug. 2 performance. Blind audience members received Braille programs, tactile models and live audio description, while deaf spectators followed overhead titles. Physical adaptations also improved access throughout the site.

“It’s the first time a performance at Ancient Epidaurus has been made accessible to everyone,” said Greg Polychronidis, a Paralympic gold medalist who attended the event. “Today was a celebration of equality and it should serve as an example for everyone, forever.”

For many of the performers, standing on the ancient stage was itself part of the message: a voice for those often overlooked. Eirini Kourouvani, a 58-year-old cast member who uses a wheelchair, had never set foot inside the theater before.

“It is just grand,” she said. “I feel my heart opening up as wide as this theater is.”

Ioanna-Maria Gertsou, a blind psychologist, attended with Babu, her guide dog.

“We too have the right to attend performances on an equal footing,” she said, relieved that her dog remained quiet during the play.

The National Theater of Greece produced the performance, and accessibility services were designed by the nonprofit Liminal with financial support from Greece’s Alpha Bank.

Argyro Chioti, the National Theater’s artistic director, said the production should become the norm rather than the exception.

“This was complex, not simple. It required months of planning. It cost money. And it required very specific organizational expertise,” she said. “But that’s the standard and venues we need to reach — the major stages and the major theaters.”

—— Gatopoulos reported from Athens

Pontiac nonprofit gives away 1,200 pairs of shoes for back-to-school season

Amaya Kuznicki — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:42:50 +0000

A Pontiac nonprofit is making sure local kids head back to school in style — and without the financial strain that often comes with it.

The Micah 6 Community organization distributed about 1,200 pairs of brand-new shoes to area families, offering a wide variety of colors and sizes so every child could find a pair that fits.

The effort was born from a simple question: What do families need most?

“A number of years ago somebody said shoes. We need back to school shoes. A bridge card doesn’t buy shoes, so I said okay we can help with that,” said Coleman Yoakum, executive director of Micah 6 Community.

For many parents, the giveaway came at just the right time.

“My one niece she’s somewhere around here, but she’s got five kids. That’s a real financial burden for her. Shoes are really expensive. It’s crazy how expensive they are,” said Belinda Grada, a parent at the event.

Beyond easing costs, organizers wanted kids to feel genuinely excited about going back to school — right down to what’s on their feet.

“It’s like their first day of school in some nice shoes. You can’t beat that. They’re so excited they hold them and say ‘I’ve got to use this tomorrow mom. I’m so happy,’” Grada said.

For the kids themselves, new shoes weren’t the only thing to look forward to.

When asked what she was most excited about heading back to school, third-grader Zuri Arnett smiled and said, “To see my friends and make new friends.”

The event was made possible through a network of community support that Yoakum says is central to everything Micah 6 does.

“So many community partners come in to make it happen, all of these great vendors that share resources. They’re just here to help our families,” Yoakum said.

The Micah 6 Community organization has been serving the Pontiac area since 2012, with a mission centered on supporting local families and children.

‘I am screwed’: Warren senior sounds alarm on hearing aid provider, AARP moves to remove provider from network

Kyla Russell — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:41:58 +0000

An elderly Warren woman says she was scammed by a Southeast Michigan hearing aid provider. It’s the same provider tied to a similar case Local 4 has been tracking. Now, AARP is taking extra steps to stop him from seeing more seniors.

AARP Hearing Solutions by UnitedHealthcare Hearing tells Local 4 they’ve removed provider William, or Bill, Robinson from their list and says he’s been reported to the state licensing board. It comes after Local 4’s story on a 99-year-old Birmingham woman who said she’d been scammed by Robinson.

Following that story, Warren woman Nancy Russell reached out to Local 4 with a similar story.

If someone was to walk inside Russell’s Warren home, they would see a folder labeled “Bill Robinson.”

Inside, there’s a paper that says, “I am screwed,” written by Russell.

It was last June that Russell’s hearing health took a hard turn.

“They went in and put Teflon coating over it,” Russell said about a procedure she had. “When they did that, they cut what goes from my ear to the brain.”

Complications from that procedure cost her much of her hearing and sent her looking for relief.

She reached out to AARP’s Hearing Solutions by UnitedHealthcare Hearing program.

“It ended up that Bill Robinson called me,” Russell said.

Eventually, Robinson, who is a mobile provider on their provider list at the time, came to her home.

“We bought 2 hearing aids for $2,000,” she said.

She says Robinson told her it would make more sense if it was a private transaction, instead of through AARP.

For an extra 200 dollars, she bought a warranty that covered any loss, damage or parts.

Around Christmas, Nancy needed some additional parts, so she reached out to Robinson.

“We made three appointments with him within two or three months and he would say he would come and he never showed up,” Russell said. “One time was on my husband’s birthday - we were thinking of going to Frankenmuth for his birthday, free dinner, and we stayed and waited for him instead and he never came.”

In April, after months of waiting, she’d reached her end.

“April 7th, I said, ‘If you don’t come, I am considering you have broken your contact with me,’” she said.

Nancy also says she misplaced one of her hearing aids. That’s something the warranty should have covered.

She says she and her husband thought they were the only ones, until they saw Local 4’s earlier report about the Birmingham woman with a similar story.

“If Robinson was sitting right here, if he were me, what would you say to him?” Local 4’s Kyla Russell asked.

“You scam people,” she said. “You don’t want to help people to get hearing aids who need it.”

“Customer care is our top priority,” AARP Hearing Solutions by UnitedHealthcare Hearing program said. “We hold our network of providers to the highest standards to support patient care and quality outcomes, and we regret the inconvenience and frustration this situation caused. We are deeply disappointed a provider failed to deliver on our customer promise. The provider is no longer with our network and was reported to the state licensing board. We were unaware of the issue because these devices were not purchased through the AARP® Hearing Solutions™ by UnitedHealthcare Hearing program. Regardless, we understand how important it is to address these concerns, and we would be happy to work directly with the Russells to find a resolution.”

Local 4 reached out to Robinson for a response, but have not heard back yet.

Shanghai cancels 1,300 flights as China prepares for Typhoon Dolphin

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 03:49:51 +0000

Shanghai's two airports canceled more than 1,300 flights and authorities relocated some 300,000 people in surrounding regions as China prepared for Typhoon Dolphin, after the storm brought heavy rains to northern Taiwan.

The outer bands of the storm on Saturday hit northern Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, bringing rain. Some Taiwanese airlines also canceled their flights to China Sunday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at about 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph) as of Sunday morning. It is bringing heavy rains, creating a risk of severe flooding as well as landslides and is expected to hit Zhejiang province and northern parts of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday.

Forecasters in China predicted that areas could see 200-400 mm (7.9–15.7 inches) of rainfall over the next few days. Authorities are warning of severe landslide risks in Zhejiang.

Shanghai's Hongqiao and Pudong airports respectively also canceled about 60% of Sunday's expected flights, according to the Paper, Shanghai's state media.

On Saturday evening, authorities in Zhejiang evacuated some 390,000 people in the city of Taizhou. Authorities in Shanghai evacuated some 30,000 plus from riskier areas.

Zhejiang authorities also suspended all water-based activities, including ferries and cruises.

Bills coach Joe Brady enjoys father-son moment before team holds first practice in new stadium

John Wawrow, Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 03:06:13 +0000

Buffalo Bills first-year coach Joe Brady used the team’s first practice in its new $2.1 billion stadium to enjoy a brief father-son moment on Saturday night.

With fans beginning to file in, and rock music blaring over the state-of-the-art sound system, Brady emerged from the tunnel holding his 3-year-old son Jordan in his arm while enjoying a walk around the sideline.

As much as the first-year coach wanted to use the practice to simulate a game-day routine and get accustomed to the team’s new surroundings, Brady couldn’t help but work family into the equation.

“Those are the moments that I made sure I tried to take in,” Brady said. “So when I say hey, I’m focused, let me just take a second to enjoy a special moment, because once the season goes, you know those are going to be few and far between.”

Soon after, it was back to football for Brady, who at 36 is the NFL’s youngest coach entering this season, and also for a Bills team that officially made the move across the street into its new digs.

The first practice at Highmark Stadium featured a crowd of at least 30,000, a couple of Josh Allen touchdown passes, a brief but heavy downpour, and closed with a fireworks show.

Buffalo will get more chances to break in the new facility before hosting Detroit in its regular-season home opener on Sept. 17. The Bills will also host two preseason games, starting with a meeting against Carolina on Aug. 15.

“It’s awesome. I know everybody loved ‘The Ralph’ and what was over there across the street,” right tackle Spencer Brown said, referring to the Bills former home, also called Highmark. The old home was dubbed The Ralph in honor of franchise founder Ralph Wilson.

“But this is a whole new atmosphere and it’s awesome to call it home. And I look forward to seeing how it is on a normal game day,” Brown added. “It seems like the crowd’s more on top of you. And I imagine on third down it will be rocking.”

With a capacity of just over 60,000, the new stadium has 12,000 fewer seats than the Bills old home. And yet the vertical configuration of the new stadium, with levels stacked overtop one another, brings the fans closer to the action and designed to contain the noise.

“It’s intimidating,” season ticket-holder Tom Beecher said, from his first-row seat at the 15-yard-line. “It’s going to be interesting when it really gets rocking in here. It’s less people, but I feel like it’s going to be louder. It feels like more.”

The loudest cheers were devoted to Allen, of course. They first rose when Allen was pictured on the video-screen boards at each of the stadium during the pre-practice stretching period.

Allen looked up, smiled and provided a thumbs up.

Later, he drew even louder cheers for completing would-be touchdown passes to DJ Moore and then Khalil Shakir.

Place-kicker Tyler Bass gave the new stadium a thumbs-up for its design and aesthetics.

“First impressions, man, it’s amazing. I think it’s a work of art, honestly. It’s very easy on the eye, very symmetrical,” Bass said.

He also credited the design features, including a curved overhang, in working to limit the effects of the wind. Pre-storm wind gusts outside the stadium were barely felt at field level.

Injuries and notes

Starting center Connor McGovern was escorted to the locker room after appearing to hurt his left leg. Backup running back Ty Johnson did not return after going down with a non-contact injury. Brady did not have any immediate updates on the two players. ... The Bills are off Sunday. The team resumes training camp at its home facility on Monday after spending the past two weeks at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York. ... Though Brady wanted to use the practice as a test-run for game day communications, not all of his staff was present. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was excused to attend Drew Brees’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Carmichael was the Saints offensive coordinator during much of Brees' tenure in New Orleans.

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Toronto's Max Scherzer moves into 10th place all-time in strikeouts, passing Walter Johnson

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 03:00:22 +0000

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer moved into 10th place all-time in strikeouts, passing Hall of Famer Walter Johnson in the Blue Jays’ 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.

The 42-year-old Scherzer, making his ninth start of the season, has 3,516 career strikeouts, one more than Johnson, and is second to Justin Verlander (3,554) in strikeouts among active pitchers.

Scherzer struck out Kyle Schwarber leading off the sixth to move past Johnson before giving up consecutive home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper that tied the game at 2 and ended his night.

Scherzer cruised through five scoreless innings against Philadelphia, scattering just three hits, and had retired nine in a row before the consecutive drives by Turner and Harper. He allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 7.25.

Scherzer was selected in the first round (No. 11 overall) by Arizona in the 2006 draft. He has won three Cy Youngs, made eight All-Star teams and won two World Series titles.

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Shelter-in-place ordered as police respond to armed barricade situation on Detroit’s west side

Will Jones — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:41:41 +0000

Police are urging residents in Detroit’s Pembroke neighborhood to shelter in place after a woman barricaded herself inside a home Saturday evening.

Police said the situation began around 5:30 p.m. after they received reports that someone was pointing a gun at children near a home on Asbury Park near Pembroke.

When officers arrived, police said they surrounded the home and began trying to get the person inside to come out, but that has not happened.

A Tibetan cooperative keeps a centuries-old weaving tradition alive

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:23:11 +0000

More than a dozen men and women sit at wooden looms, sliding shuttles through rows of wool yarn before pulling each thread tight. They repeat it again and again as they weave Pulu, the traditional woolen fabric that has clothed people on the Tibetan plateau for centuries.

They work at the Ethnic Huaji Handwoven Cooperative in Shannan, where artisans are trying to preserve one of Tibet’s oldest weaving traditions while creating jobs for local residents.

Founded in 2008 by Tibetan artisan Pasang, the cooperative employs more than 100 local residents, including some people with disabilities, while teaching younger Tibetans a craft that he feared was disappearing.

The cooperative specializes in Zeter, a finer variety of Pulu made from especially soft wool from the necks and backs of sheep. He said the finer wool makes the yarn more difficult to spin than that used for ordinary Pulu.

Pasang said that because Zeter is lighter, softer and more delicate than ordinary Pulu, it was presented as a tribute from Tibet to the Chinese imperial court during the Ming dynasty.

Pasang said he learned the craft from his parents at a time when fewer than 10 people still knew how to weave Zeter.

He added that the craft has been recognized as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage, and that he hopes younger generations will continue practicing it.

The wool comes from sheep raised around Shannan, about 3,700 meters (12,100 feet) above sea level.

Statues of Tibet's 7th century King Songtsen Gampo and his Chinese bride, Princess Wencheng, stand at the center of the workshop, surrounded by wooden looms. According to local tradition, the weaving craft dates to when Princess Wencheng introduced weaving techniques to Tibet after marrying the king.

In Chinese official history, their marriage symbolizes the historical ties between Tibet and China. “It integrated Tibetan and Chinese cultures,” Pasang said about the fabric’s history.

The Associated Press joined a government-organized trip to Lhasa and Shannan last month, which included visits to the cooperative, palaces, Buddhist temples, tourist sites, an eldercare center and local businesses.

Next to the workshop, a small showroom displays scarves, shawls, jackets, bags and other products made from Pulu and Zeter. Pasang said most sales are in Tibet, although customers also come from elsewhere in China.

Tsering Yangchen has been working for seven years in the cooperative. The 80-year-old woman moved from another county and said she struggled to find work before joining the workshop, where instructors taught her and others how to weave.

She said Pulu is more than just a product she weaves.

“We usually wear them,” she added. “They are made from pure wool.”

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Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang contributed.

Frederick Richard makes a statement in more ways than one en route to first US gymnastics title

Will Graves, Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:14:42 +0000

Frederick Richard won his first U.S. men's gymnastics all-around title Saturday night, flashing the form he believes can make him a contender at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The 22-year-old Richard, a key member of the men's team that earned bronze at the Paris Games two summers ago, posted a two-day total of 170.015, two points clear of runner-up Shane Wiskus and three points ahead of promising newcomer Danila Leykin.

The charismatic, socially-media savvy Richard has made it his mission to bring his sport to a larger audience. That includes breaking norms — and the rules — by ditching the traditional stirrup pants on a handful of events in favor of shorts and compression leggings, all under a singlet featuring his “Frederick Flips” logo.

The fashion statement costs Richard three-tenths (0.3) every competition he does it, a move that he has unequivocally said is worth it to bring visibility to a side of the sport that often operates in the shadow of the more popular women's program.

After Thursday night's opening round — when he found himself just two-tenths (0.2) ahead of the 19-year-old Leykin — Richard doubled down, saying he would sacrifice a national championship if that's what it came to.

“I'm not here to say everybody should wear this uniform,” Richard said after night one. “I'm just here to say it's not hurting gymnastics.”

Fortunately for Richard, he didn't have to choose. His confident performance across six rotations on Saturday marked the latest step forward in a comeback year after a disappointing 2025 in which he found himself left off both the national and world championship teams.

The experience was sobering for a gymnast who wants to be the face of a men's program looking to make some noise in Los Angeles in a couple of years. He responded by putting in the work, and it paid off during two days in the desert in which he held off challenges from the promising Leykin and Wiskus, a 2020 Olympian who returned to competition this year following a break after being an Olympic alternate in 2024.

Leykin began the finals with a flourish, scoring a 14.963 following a stylish high bar set that briefly put the pressure on Richard. Yet his bid to finish atop the all-around podium ended on floor, where he shuffled at the end of his first tumbling pass and sat down after his second, his 11.650 giving Richard plenty of breathing room.

Not that Richard needed it. His thrilling high bar set that included three technically intricate releases ended with a 15.005 score, the second best of the night on the apparatus behind Cooper Kim. He had no issues tumbling on a floor that gave others in the fields fits, and when he survived pommel horse without any mishaps — hardly a given — he celebrated by pumping up the crowd. His total of 14.633 allowed him to use the final two rotations as a victory lap of sorts.

When he cleanly hit his vault in the final rotation, he turned toward the crowd and flashed the “No. 1" sign after saluting the judges, the first of what he hopes are multiple national titles during a career still on the ascent finally secure.

Richard is basically assured of a spot on the team that will head to The Netherlands in October for the world championships. Leykin is likely close to a lock.

Stephen Nedoroscik, the pommel horse specialist whose performance in Paris helped the Americans clinch their first team medal at the Olympics in 16 years and shot him to fame in the process, will likely be watching from home.

Competing with the goggles that have long been his trademark and still recovering from multiple injuries that have slowed his training, Nedoroscik came off the horse midway through his routine on Saturday and his two-day total of 28.366 put him well behind gold medalist Patrick Hoopes, who has — for now at least — supplanted Nedoroscik as the best American on a demanding apparatus that is often pivotal in international competitions.

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

Pentagon pushes defense companies to boost weapons production after concerns of depleted stocks

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:00:36 +0000

The Pentagon is pressing the U.S. defense industry to accelerate production of weapons to help replenish its diminished stockpile of munitions, including those depleted in the ongoing war with Iran.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Saturday that the department was actively focused on boosting munitions acquisitions to provide “the weapons our warfighters need at the pace the threat demands.” He confirmed department efforts in the last week to significantly speed the process but insisted it was part of a broader modernization effort that predated the five-month-old conflict.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg wrote to industry leaders on Wednesday, giving them no more than 21 days to submit plans to “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities," according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.

“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.”

The memo comes as recent fighting with Iran used up more of the U.S. military’s already diminished stockpiles of advanced missile interceptors, potentially putting American troops at more risk if hostilities resume, according to a new analysis.

Shrunken inventories of Patriot and THAAD interceptors may force the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies to take more risks to conserve those air defenses, according to the analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. For example, it said, American forces may launch fewer missiles against incoming Iranian drones and missiles, raising the chance of one getting through.

President Donald Trump in recent days has bristled over public reports of a munitions shortage, posting on Truth Social on Thursday that the U.S. has “massive amounts." He added that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed.”

On Saturday, Parnell affirmed that Feinberg's memo seeking a rapid escalation of weapons production is “real," adding that it “will inform the fiscal year 2028 budget submitted to Congress for funding, and it is entirely consistent with our ongoing push to rebuild the defense industrial base.”

A defense spending bill is currently stalled in Congress, with lawmakers fuming over Trump’s military action against Iran and resisting the White House request to substantially increase Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion, up from about $900 billion last year.

The number of Patriot interceptors fell from 2,330 before the war to 1,030 when the April ceasefire took effect, CSIS estimated last month. Following recent fighting, the stockpile is now estimated to be between 759 and 827, a decrease of at least 65% since before the conflict began.

The number of THAAD interceptors fell from 452 before the war to between 232 and 262 at the start of the April ceasefire, CSIS said. The U.S. was able to replenish some of the inventory to between 234 and 278 interceptors. But the stockpile is still at least 38% smaller than it was before the conflict.

Pilots of helicopter that crashed while fighting wildfire in Utah are dead, officials say

Josh Funk, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 21:05:22 +0000

Two helicopter pilots who crashed while they were fighting a wildfire in Utah are dead, officials confirmed Saturday.

The pilots were killed when their Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter went down Friday morning, according to the Sevier County Sheriff.

The helicopter was among those fighting a fire in the Fishlake National Forest. The crash ignited a new fire that spread to connect with the existing blaze, which has now scorched nearly 174 square miles (nearly 451 square kilometers).

Officials did not identify the pilots but said they were employed by Helicopter Transport Services, which was contracted by the U.S. Forest Service.

Initially officials said they were unable to reach the crash site because of the fire. Then, on Saturday, crews were able to enter the area and confirmed the deaths, according to the Sevier County sheriff and coroner.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate once its team can examine the wreckage. It will likely take the NTSB a year or more to determine the cause.

Numerous fires also were burning in other parts of the West, including one that closed part of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.

The National Park Service shut down access to the Sunrise and White River areas of the park after a new wildfire burned less than a third of a square mile (less than a square kilometer). Firefighters were working to gain control of it.

Larger fires near Spokane, Washington, have now burned more than 15.63 square miles (over 40 square kilometers), but firefighters constructed more than 75 miles (over 120 kilometers) of containment line to help control those flames.

Meanwhile in Oregon, hot and dry conditions helped an uncontrolled fire spread beyond 30 square miles (77.7 square kilometers).

Firefighters were still trying to identify the best places to set up containment lines around the Wrights Spring fire as they mourned the death of 47-year-old Jason Ensign, who was killed while operating a bulldozer for a timber company. The blaze grew rapidly Thursday and cut off Ensign’s escape route.

And north of the border in British Columbia, more than 20,000 people had to evacuate ahead of another fast-moving wildfire.

Community raises money to help Detroit activist Minister Malik Shabazz with medical bills

Will Jones — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 01:56:29 +0000

A Detroit community leader who has spent decades fighting for safer streets is now the one who needs help.

Friends and supporters gathered at the Shrine of the Black Madonna Saturday for a fundraiser to help Minister Malik Shabazz cover his medical expenses after a series of health challenges.

Shabazz has been a longtime activist, advocating for justice and equality in Detroit for more than 40 years.

In June 2023, Shabazz suffered a massive heart attack and has faced other health scares since then.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said the fundraiser is a small way to give back to someone who has given so much to the city.

“Whenever you call me, I’m showing up,” he said. “The city of Detroit, we owe a debt of gratitude just for keeping us safe. We can’t do it alone as a police agency, and we have never had to do it alone because Malik always stood with us.”

Shabazz said he is grateful for the community’s support.

“We have been out here now 43 years, a long, long time, and it’s an honor to be able to serve the community and to serve God through trying to uplift fallen humanity,” he said.

If you couldn’t make it to the event, you can still help by donating to Peace in the Streets Inc. at 17301 Livernois, Suite 405, Detroit, Michigan 48221.

League of Women Voters works to engage first-time voters ahead of midterms

Priya Mann — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 01:24:06 +0000

Michiganders cast a record number of ballots in the primary, and with the 2026 midterms approaching, nonpartisan groups like the League of Women Voters are working to engage first-time voters.

The League hosted a “Unite & Rise for Voting Rights” Day of Action in Detroit Saturday, one of hundreds of events held nationwide.

The event at the University of Michigan Detroit Center brought together community leaders, organizers, artists, advocates and residents to promote civic engagement and voting rights.

Nineteen-year-old Faith Coats attended after casting her first ballot earlier in the week. She also read a poem at the event.

“It’s very important to vote,” Coats said. “I think young people need to vote as well.”

Organizers said the League’s goal is to educate voters without telling them how to vote.

“We don’t support or oppose candidates or parties,” Celina said. “Our goal is to give people information to feel confident to go to the ballot, but what choice you make is yours when you get there.”

The Detroit event is part of the League’s Unite & Rise 8.5 initiative. Organizers said the nationwide effort aims to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters by November 2026.

For Coats, voting for the first time was easier than she expected.

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Coats said. “I walked in with my mom, and I was like, ‘omg, what do I do? Cause I’ve never done it before,’ but it was pretty easy and simple.”

Coats said she hopes more young people turn out to vote this year.

Organizers said the events give people a nonpartisan way to learn about issues in their communities and get involved.

“Right now, people are wanting to do something and they want action,” Celina said. “This provides an opportunity for people to be civically engaged in a nonpartisan way.”

FIFA defends Infantino against allegations tied to his time at UEFA

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 01:14:57 +0000

FIFA has issued a statement defending its president, Gianni Infantino, against what it calls a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine his leadership of the organization.

The statement was released Saturday, a day after a report by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.

UEFA confirmed that a “departure payment” was made to the employee and said it was “in line” with regulations at the time.

Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before being elected FIFA president.

In the statement Saturday, FIFA accused Infantino’s critics of trying to weaken his authority and remove him from office without due process.

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” the FIFA statement said. “Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.”

It said some reporting has included “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” which shouldn't be presented as fact.

“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead.”

Infantino faced intense backlash after details of his plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity were published. UEFA and two other continental confederations — North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation — rejected the plan.

He did receive backing from FIFA’s management board last Wednesday following a meeting in Morocco, and he apologized over the process. UEFA’s threat to have its 55 member countries boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was scrapped remained, with UEFA saying Thursday that the announcement “changes nothing.”

While confirming the exit payment “was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time,” UEFA said the rules had been tightened since 2016 and currently “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organization.”

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

Iran makes new strait demands, the UAE says a ship was targeted and other Middle East news

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:41:36 +0000

Iran issued dramatic new demands around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the United Arab Emirates said one of its ships was targeted by an Iranian missile. Yemen’s military attacked the country's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. And Turkey’s Kurdish peace bill won approval in parliament.

Here’s a look at developments across the Middle East on Saturday. Full coverage can be found here.

Iran says the strait won't open until the US ‘corrects’ its behavior

Iran's politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States “corrects its behavior," issuing new demands that could shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway.

Iran's state broadcaster published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

The United States must never threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region. The U.S. must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.

The U.S., which has wanted an acceptable deal first on the strait before ending the blockade, had no immediate comment. According to the interim deal signed in June, a schedule to end sanctions and plan on compensation would be part of the final deal, and negotiations would address frozen assets.

Iran has said it was close to reaching a separate deal with Oman to manage the strait, which runs between the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier Saturday said they were close to reaching an agreement on navigation. But the waterway’s reopening is contingent on other conditions, he said in remarks shared on social media, and blamed the situation on what he called the U.S. violation of the interim deal.

Oman, a mediator Gulf Arab country which has said relatively little on the talks, said in a statement discussions were ongoing “in a positive and constructive atmosphere,” and condemned attacks on ships on the strait.

Details emerge about potential Iran-Oman deal

The strait, crucial to global supplies of oil and natural gas, was considered an international waterway before the war.

The deal Iran and Oman are working to finalize would be temporary, but it would reopen the strait with ships entering the strait through a route close to Iran and exiting through a route close to Oman, according to two people familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Ships would cross the strait without paying fees or tolls during the interim period.

The agreement is designed to restore an earlier, separate agreement between the U.S. and Iran and restart a 60-day clock for the two countries to negotiate over Iran's nuclear program.

During that time, Iran is expected to be able to sell oil. The current 60-day deadline to negotiate a final deal is due to end in just over a week.

— by Michelle Price in Washington and Aamer Madhani in New York.

Iran attacks a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE says

A vessel owned by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned ADNOC oil and gas company was attacked while transiting the strait, Emirati authorities said. The Foreign Ministry said Iran fired the missile as part of attacks on commercial shipping.

ADNOC in a statement said there were no casualties following the early Saturday attack. The company said over a dozen of its vessels have been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the strait since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. One crew member has been killed and 20 others wounded, it said.

ADNOC didn’t elaborate on the attack's location or any damage.

Later, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said a vessel east of the town of Khasab, Oman, had been struck by a projectile that caused a fire that was put out, with the vessel and crew safe. It was not clear whether this was the ADNOC incident.

A defense deal is not aimed at any third country, Turkey says

A defense agreement that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed Friday is not aimed against any third country, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said. It says an attack on one would be considered an attack on all three.

Fidan told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on Saturday the countries do not view any state as an adversary unless it takes hostile action against them: “We don’t have anything written down — nothing we’ve signed — that defines a common threat."

Asked how the mutual defense mechanism would work, Fidan said a member would formally request help and the two countries’ assistance could range from intelligence-sharing to logistics support or the deployment of military units. The mechanism would establish a secretariat to be based in Saudi Arabia, Fidan said.

He said other nations, which he did not identify, have expressed interest in joining the agreement, adding that he expects Egypt, which he described as a “natural partner,” to participate “at the next stage.”

Yemen's military attacks Iran-backed Houthis

The attacks were in response to the Houthis’ recent strikes in central and eastern Yemen. Col. Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemen’s military, said the attacks targeted the rebels’ “sites and capabilities” on multiple front lines, without elaborating.

The escalation between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government and its backer, a Saudi-supported coalition, threatens to reignite Yemen’s civil war following a 2022 truce.

Turkey’s Kurdish peace bill wins approval in parliament

A Turkish draft law aimed at advancing a peace effort with the country's Kurdish insurgents passed its first hurdle in parliament on Saturday. A committee approved the measure. It is expected to be approved in the general assembly next week.

Last year, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, declared its decision to disarm and disband as part of the peace initiative aimed at ending the decades-long conflict with the Turkish state.

The draft legislation defines the procedures for the group’s disarmament and rehabilitation of some PKK members. The measures would come into effect once Turkey’s National Security Council confirms that the group has disbanded and surrendered all weapons.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people since it began in the 1980s. Turkey and its Western allies consider the group a terrorist organization.

Chicago’s DiJonai Carrington ejected for foul on Fever's Cunningham and posts 'white privilege'

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 21:32:27 +0000

DiJonai Carrington of the Chicago Sky was ejected Saturday after being called for a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever. Minutes later, Carrington posted on social media the words “WHITE PRIVILEGE” and tagged the Fever.

Cunningham, who is white, was shooting a fast-break layup in the first quarter when Carrington, who is Black, came from behind and hit her in the head and neck, knocking her to the court as the shot went in.

Cunningham said she thought the foul in the 90-86 Indiana win was “absolutely” intentional.

“Clearly I think it was unnecessary,” Cunningham said. “I’ve never really spoken to her and I have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent up stuff.”

Fever coach Stephanie White had a different view of the play.

“It was a hard foul,” White said. “I don’t think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did, but it did happen, and I thought it was the right call.”

Cunningham got up immediately, charged toward Carrington and pushed her as she was held back by a teammate.

“I popped up,” Cunningham said. “I’m not going to let anyone just do that to me. I think everyone knows that. I think that’s why she did it because she wants attention.”

The play was reviewed and upgraded to a Flagrant 2 after the referee said there was windup, impact and follow-through on the foul.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh said he hadn't seen a replay of the play, but that seeing it live, he thought Carrington was making a play on the ball and that he didn't believe it warranted a Flagrant 2 foul.

“I haven’t looked at that play since, so I really don’t know if it was justified or not,” he said. “But, that’s what I thought in the moment.”

Marsh was then asked about Carrington's social media post.

“I have to get back to you on that because I’m just now hearing about that,” he said. “So yeah, we’ll handle that.”

But Cunningham had plenty to say about the post.

“I think the league is taking care of that,” she said. "This has nothing to do with race. Last year, I did the same thing and I got kicked out. And I deserved to be kicked out. There’s no reason even to play that card.”

In the third quarter, Fever star Caitlin Clark was assessed a technical foul after she made contact with a referee when she was forced out of bounds. The technical was Clark's eighth of the season, triggering a one-game suspension for Indiana's next game if not rescinded by the league.

“She said I ran into her,” Clark said in a postgame television interview. “I’ve already watched it on the tape, so we’ll let the league decide. But it wasn’t intentional or anything, so I’m hoping it’s getting rescinded,”

A few hours after the game Clark got her way. The WNBA rescinded the technical foul.

Cunningham has frequently come to Clark's defense after physical play by opponents and has become one of the higher-profile players in the league this season. In an ESPN article published last month, she voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports, which led to small protests and rallies outside Fever games in Seattle and Portland.

In a memo to teams on Friday, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league would have ongoing discussions about the issue of transgender participation in women's basketball.

Marsh said that the controversy surrounding Cunningham didn't add anything extra to the game.

“We didn’t come into this one with any more or less juice than we’ve had in the last four since the All-Star break," he said. "Our mindset is trying to win games.”

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Hossler and Brennan share Wyndham Championship lead with postseason berths at stake

Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:45:52 +0000

Beau Hossler handled a half-dozen tough par putts and two rain delays Saturday for a 4-under 66 that gave him a share of the lead with Michael Brennan going into the final round of the Wyndham Championship with postseason berths at stake.

Hossler is No. 122 in the FedEx Cup, knowing his only mathematical chance to be among the top 70 to advance to playoffs is to win for the first time on the PGA Tour.

Brennan, who went from the PGA Tour Americas to a PGA Tour card by winning the Bank of Utah Championship last fall, made a birdie putt from 15 feet on the last hole for a 63.

They were at 16-under 194, one shot ahead of Scottish Open winner Tom Kim (63), and two shots clear of 44-year-old Alex Noren and Alex Smalley, who each shot 65.

Such is the nature of the final regular-season tournament — and the stakes — that nine of the top 10 players on the leaderboard shot 66 or lower on Saturday.

Hossler was leading until a 30-minute delay because of storms, and returned to three-putt from 30 feet for bogey on the par-3 16th hole, ending his streak of 31 holes without a bogey. He hit his tee shot into the rough on the 17th and then came another delay of 1 hour, 20 minutes.

The rough was even thicker and damper when he returned, and the greens were challenging as ever. Hossler save par with three putts from 10 feet or long, and three others in the 5-foot range that looks even longer with the grain in the greens.

“That might be the hardest two-putt on the PGA Tour right there,” Hossler said of the 18th green. “Was really glad to get that down in two and give myself a chance for tomorrow. But very chaotic day, and just glad to make it through.”

Jordan Smith of England, at No. 68 in the FedEx Cup, helped his cause in many ways when he made a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th hole with a 9-iron. That also came with a million reward points from tournament sponsor Wyndham.

Davis Thompson had enough drama to last a week. He is at No. 81 — a year ago he finished 71st after the Wyndham Championship and missed the postseason by five points — and holed out with an 8-iron from 186 yards for an albatross on the par-5 fifth hole.

“Making an albatross usually helps get things going,” Thompson said.

The other par 5 at Sedgefield didn't work out as well. Thompson noticed a crack in his driver on the 13th hole, and he had a spare driver head in his locker. But before it could be brought out to him, he reached the par-5 15h and had to hit 3-wood. He his 3-iron (instead of a mid-iron) into the bunker and had to settle for par.

Even so, his 65 put him in a great spot to hold his own and advance to the postseason.

“It’s my fourth year on tour and two of the three years I’ve been right on the bubble, so I’ve got experience with it,” Thompson said.

He also was close enough to the lead — three shots — to think about winning.

Hossler has no choice but to win if he wants to get into the lucrative postseason, that starts with a pair of $20 million tournaments. Brennan, at No. 105, could finish in a three-way tie for second and still have a mathematical chance at the top 70.

Brennan was more honest than most about the final round.

“I know where I need to be. I know what I need to do. I know I'm going to be thinking about it,” he said. “Just get myself to comeback to the golf I'm playing.”

Keegan Bradley got a reprieve by making the cut on the number, but he could only muster a 69 and needs a low round Sunday to move from his spot at No. 72. Andrew Putnam and Austin Smotherman also need something special.

Ben James, the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University ranking who made his pro debut in June, has to win and he started one shot out of the lead and in the final group with Hossler. But he had four bogeys in a five-hole stretch on the back nine and, much like his Saturday in the Canadian Open, went the wrong direction in a hurry. He shot 72 and was seven shots behind.

Brooks Koepka, meanwhile, will see his season returning from LIV Golf end sooner than he would have hoped. Koepka shot a 74 on Saturday and was 11 shots behind where he needed to be to have any chance of advancing.

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

Red Sox bid for 2nd win streak of 10 or more games ends in 7-3 loss to Athletics

Ken Powtak, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 23:32:36 +0000

The Boston Red Sox failed in their bid for a second winning streak of 10 or more games in the same season, losing to the Athletics 7-3 on Saturday.

Boston recorded a franchise record-tying 15-game winning stretch, matching a mark from 1946, before it was stopped on July 22. The team's attempt for a second streak of 10 or more games for the first time in the franchise's 126-year history fell short against the A's.

Gage Jump worked six strong innings, Tyler Soderstrom and Henry Bolte hit solo homers, and Jonah Heim and Donovan Walton added two-run doubles for the Athletics, who snapped a nine-game skid. The A's hadn’t won since beating the Red Sox at home on July 28.

Jump (5-7) struck out a season-high 11 and allowed two runs and six hits.

Andruw Monasterio had a two-run single in the first inning for the Red Sox, whose nine-game run started the day after Jump earned a victory by pitching six scoreless innings.

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras returned after missing two games with an illness, went 0 for 4 and was booed for jogging lightly on a ground out.

The Athletics' bullpen, which entered with the majors’ highest ERA (5.64), allowed one run in the last three innings. Hogan Harris got the last four outs for his 10th save.

The Athletics erased a two-run deficit with a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in sixth.

Boston's Jake Bennett (7-5) breezed through the first three innings, allowing only a walk. He was pulled with one out in the sixth and charged with four runs.

Brian Serven’s RBI single cut the Athletics' deficit in half before Heim’s two-run single in the fifth put them ahead. Walton’s pinch-hit ground-rule double off reliever Justin Slaten into Boston’s bullpen added two more runs in the sixth.

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson matched the MLB record of 110 straight games without committing an error at the position. He is tied with the Baltimore Orioles' Mike Bordick (2002).

Up next

Athletics RHP J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.51 ERA) will start Sunday. The Red Sox haven’t announced a starter.

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Boston fails to post 2nd win streak of 10-plus in a season for 1st time, falls to A's 7-3

Ken Powtak, Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:38:05 +0000

The way the things have gone for the Boston Red Sox since early July, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they pulled off another comeback.

Instead, they loaded the bases against Athletics reliever Hogan Harris after scoring a run, but Ian White lined out solidly to center field to end their bid for a second win streak of at least 10 games in the same season for the first in team history with a 7-3 loss on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

“That we might actually win the game the way it’s gone,” interim manager Chad Tracy said, when asked what he was thinking with the potential tying run at the plate.

“It was a great effort to get the tying run to plate and give ourselves a shot, which was awesome,” Tracy said of the rally that started with two outs and a runner on second.

It was just Boston’s fourth loss in its last 31 games. On Friday, the Red Sox became just the seventh team since 1920 to win 27 or more in a 30-game span, and the only team to begin their run under .500.

On June 24, the Red Sox were 14 games under .500. Now, they’re 64-52.

Just over two weeks ago, the Red Sox had a franchise record-tying 15-game win streak ended. It matched th mark set by the 1946 club that was led by future Hall of Famer Ted Williams.

The most recent streak started July 29, after a loss in West Sacramento, California, against the Athletics, sending them on a nine-game skid.

“I think that’s our identity. I think that’s who we are as a team,” Boston DH Jahmai Jones said. “We’ve seen comebacks for us, we’ve seen a lot of late inning rallies.

“Unfortunately, it was hit on the screws right at somebody,” he said of the final out.

Entering Saturday, 12 of Boston’s last 19 wins came in a comeback, including Thursday when the Red Sox became the first team in modern MLB history to score in the final five innings from the ninth inning on in the same game in a 12-11 victory over the White Sox.

“We had that hope, that big hope,” infielder Andruw Monasterio said.

Boston has won its last nine series. The Red sox won a franchise-record 11 consecutive series in 1912, the year that Fenway Park opened.

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Collier, Miles go to work late and carry the WNBA-leading Lynx past the Aces

Patrick Donnelly, Associated Press — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:34:50 +0000

The Minnesota Lynx had seen a double-digit lead cut to four points in the final two minutes of the third quarter of their game against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday.

That's when their two biggest stars went to work.

Rookie point guard Olivia Miles — the No. 2 pick in April's WNBA draft — set up five-time All-Star Napheesa Collier for open 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Minnesota's star forward buried both to stretch the Lynx lead to 10 points.

The Lynx ended up rolling to a 98-87 victory and improved the WNBA's best record to 26-7.

A couple of questions had been dogging the Lynx since Collier missed the first 26 games of the season recovering from ankle surgery. How long would it take to reincorporate her into the rotation? And how would her game mesh with Miles, who has taken the league by storm as a rookie and led the Lynx to a 20-6 record in Collier's absence?

Turns out there was little reason for concern. Even though they've played just six games together, Collier and Miles are already starting to play off each other like longtime teammates. Their success has Lynx fans dreaming of another dynasty to rival the Minnesota teams that won four league titles in the 2010s.

“It's not hard to integrate Phee,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeves said of Collier, who scored 22 points and added six rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 35 minutes. “She just knows how to play.”

Miles led the Lynx in scoring (19.1 points per game) and assists (5.8 per game) while Collier rested. And as she demonstrated by scoring a game-high 26 points on Saturday, she will continue to dominate and hunt for opportunities to get her shots. Now, she's got one of the game's best inside-out threats to work with as they find new ways to torment defenses.

“I kind of had to take on a little bit more of a load without her on the court,” Miles said. “Now we’re kind of learning how to share the space and get each other touches in the right moments, and I think we’re doing a good job with it.”

They're also vibing well off the court, if an exchange during the postgame press conference is any indication. When asked what Collier brings to the Lynx defensively, Miles said, “Effort, IQ, consistency, knowledge of the game, experience. I mean, I could go on and on.”

Collier, clearly enjoying the praise, laughed and jokingly said, “What else do you need to know about me?”

After Miles finished her compliments, Collier simply looked at her rookie teammate and said, “Thanks, Liv.”

Miles replied, “Of course,” before turning back to the reporter and adding, “Now ask her about me!”

And, given a chance to return the favor, Collier was equally complimentary of Miles.

“I’ve just been so impressed. It’s hard to come into this league and produce, especially as rookie, and especially as rookie point guard,” Collier said. “I’ve got an opportunity to watch her from the bench and just be in awe of what she’s able to do. So being able to be on the court with her and see that, it’s amazing.”

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Storm potential to start the week in Metro Detroit

Christina Burkhart — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:24:20 +0000

4Warn Weather - Parts of Southeast Michigan saw spotty showers and heard a few rumbles of thunder Saturday, but most remained dry. High pressure keeps skies clear into the first part of Sunday before rain chances return.

Tonight temperatures will drop into the mid 50s to low 60s.

Forecasted low temps tonight (WDIV)

We’ll have a lighter breeze out of the northwest with mostly clear conditions.

That leads to a sunny start to Sunday ahead of increasing afternoon cloud cover. Highs will be in the mid 80s.

Rain looks to move in during the evening hours.

What radar could look like 8pm Sunday (WDIV)

Rain could be heavy at times overnight into early Monday.

What radar could look like 4am Monday (WDIV)

A few storms may be strong later Sunday into Monday, and the Storm Prediction Center has placed the southwestern side of our viewing area under a Marginal Risk (level 1 out of 5) for severe weather during that time frame.

Southeast Michigan will continue to have the chance for rain later Monday as well. There are Marginal and Slight (level 2 out of 5) risks for severe weather Monday afternoon and evening.

There are Marginal and Slight Risks (levels 1 and 2 out of 5) for severe weather Monday afternoon and evening (WDIV)

Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats with any strong storms that develop.

Although we’ll have the chance for rain and thunderstorms into the midweek, temperatures will stay warm. Highs on Monday will be in the mid 80s before we see more low 80s Tuesday and Wednesday.

WNBA quickly rescinds technical on Fever's Caitlin Clark that would have forced 1-game suspension

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:17:27 +0000

The WNBA quickly rescinded a technical foul assessed to Caitlin Clark during the Indiana Fever's win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.

The technical would have been Clark's eighth of the season, triggering a one-game suspension for the Fever star. She would have had to miss Tuesday's game against New York.

But, a WNBA spokesman said the technical had been rescinded a few hours after the game ended.

In the third quarter of the Fever's 90-86 win over the Sky, Clark made contact with a referee when she was forced out of bounds and was called for a technical foul.

After the game, Clark said the contact was inadvertent and that no words were exchanged. She was hopeful the WNBA would rescind the foul.

“She said I ran into her,” Clark said of the referee. “I have already watched it on the tape. So, we’ll let the league decide. But, it wasn’t anything intentional or anything. So, I hope it gets rescinded. And, nothing was said.”

Clark got her wish.

“That's a bad call, incidental contact when you're flying out of control,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “I thought her teammates should have come up and talked to her about that as well. I think that’s really bad. that (expletive) happens all the time in the game. you know, officials have to have some awareness in those moments, and it didn’t happen.”

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49ers coach Kyle Shanahan plans to coach the exhibition opener following car crash

Josh Dubow, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:45:54 +0000

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday he is nearly fully recovered from the car crash that has limited him this summer and is ready to coach the team's first exhibition game on Thursday night.

Shanahan has been working his way back to full speed since the car crash on July 14 that left him with a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken hand and more than 40 stitches to close a cut over his eye. In his first news conference of training camp, he said he has just a few remaining symptoms from the concussion.

“I’m doing real good,” he said. “My body feels good. Just got to get this annoying cast off. My ribs feel good, except when I sneeze, and my head feels so much better. Concussions do linger a little bit. The only things I really deal with now is just headaches and fatigue. That’s why I’m not always exactly on the same routine, but pretty damn close.”

Shanahan has been at practice every day this summer and said that the loud music that bothered him at the beginning of camp is no longer an issue. He has only addressed the full team at meetings a few times and didn't feel ready to hold a news conference until after practice on Saturday.

But he said he has been doing the most important parts of his job and that he will be on the sideline for the exhibition opener against Tennessee.

“One thing I haven’t missed anything of is film,” he said. “I watch every single play with the coaches after with the players. I have had a few team meetings. Normally I do it every day. But I do lose a little when I do stuff, so I’ve just had to pick and choose a little bit more. But as far as the film and everything, being out there for all the practice periods of going against each other, those are to me the most important things in my job. I’ve been able to do those every day.”

The 49ers are entering a crucial part of the summer with a joint practice on Tuesday with the Titans ahead of the exhibition opener. The Niners are scheduled to have another joint practice the following week with the Chargers before their second exhibition game and then wrap up the preseason on Aug. 27 against Las Vegas. The team the leaves the following week for Australia, where the 49ers will open the season on Sept. 11 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Shanahan said he thought he would have been back at full strength sooner but is glad he has taken the extra time. He said being patient was easier because of the confidence he had in acting coach Chris Foerster, along with coordinators Klay Kubiak, Raheem Morris and Brant Boyer.

“It made it really easy for me not to worry about me having to do something,” he said. “Our guys are awesome. We have a pretty well-oiled machine. We’ve been here for, this is our 10th year. Those guys made it very easy for me to not do anything stupid.”

Shanahan took the blame for the crash into a car driven by a 21-year-old woman in Palo Alto last month, saying it happened when he reached for his phone. Shanahan was the only person who needed to be hospitalized and police didn't issue him a ticket for the cellphone use.

“Any time you cause an accident that can be avoided, you’d feel pretty stupid, especially when you have a chance to hurt someone else,” he said. I think you get mad when you get a ticket at yourself. So it was kind of the same."

Shanahan said he was driving about 20 mph and his Tesla was in autopilot mode when the crash happened but said he still shouldn't have taken his eyes off the road when he reached behind his seat for his phone.

“I’ve had autopilot for nine years, so I’m pretty comfortable with it,” he said. “Who knows what happened when I turned around, whether it malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off. That’s something that I don’t know yet. But regardless, that is always your fault, whether you’re in autopilot or not. You can’t take your eyes off the road. It’s a partnership driving. You don’t just turn it over to a computer. It’s a good lesson, no matter how comfortable I am with that, that I believe someday could save my life or someone else’s.”

Bosa sits with soreness

Star defensive end Nick Bosa missed his third straight practice with what the team described as “soreness.” Bosa is coming back from a torn ACL that ended his season in Week 3 last year.

He had only taken part in individual drills early in camp but hasn't been able to practice at all since Monday. Shanahan said he wasn't overly concerned.

“You wish that didn’t happen, but no, there’s no concern to where something’s happened that is a big setback or anything,” he said. "We’ll wait until the soreness goes away and evaluate why the soreness has happened, but I still feel pretty good about that.”

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Whitney Houston's new No. 1s album, first-ever Barbie, Clive Davis and more: A Q&A with Pat Houston

Maria Sherman, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:00:39 +0000

It was four decades ago next year that Whitney Houston released “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” a timeless hit in a career made up of them. And it is just one of her 11 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, all of which have been compiled into a new album, “WH1TNEY,” released Friday.

The record is part of ongoing birthday celebrations for Houston, who would've turned 63 on Sunday.

There's also the fifth annual Whitney Houston Legacy of Love gala, taking place Saturday night, and a Whitney Houston Barbie — her first, ever, courtesy of parent company Mattel — releasing Sunday.

“It's a dream come true,” says Pat Houston, the executor of Whitney Houston’s estate and her sister-in-law.

In this interview, Pat Houston discusses the No. 1 hits collection, the new Barbie, if a “Michael”-style biopic is on the table and more. It has been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: Why a collection of her No. 1 hits and why now?

HOUSTON: Whitney always believed that the ultimate collection represented the very best of her career. And you know, it brought together songs that defined generations. It broke records. It touched hearts around the world. And those kinds of hits were not just chart toppers, they were the soundtrack to millions of lives and a testament to a voice that will never be duplicated. So, you know, celebrating her No. 1s is really a no-brainer.

AP: There's also the first Whitney Houston Barbie arriving Sunday. She's wearing her 1987 “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” music video look.

HOUSTON: It is her first ever Barbie. And let me tell you something, what made this journey special is because Whitney and I had conversations about Barbie more than 20 years ago. And to see this vision finally come to life decades later is both emotional and very much inspiring. You know, it served as a beautiful reminder that some dreams take time. And when they’re rooted in love and purpose, you can transcend generations and that’s what this Barbie is doing.

Visiting the showroom and working hand-in-hand with Mattel’s talented team, it was an honor to witness how much they care about the creativity and the commitment they had behind celebrating Whitney’s legacy to make this such a meaningful experience.

AP: Music industry giant Clive Davis died in June. His legacy is inextricable from Whitney Houston's legacy. How do you view him?

HOUSTON: You can’t mention Whitney Houston and not mention Clive Davis and you can't mention Clive without mentioning Whitney Houston. Every conversation that Clive Davis has in music, he ultimately speaks about Whitney Houston. He played a very, very important role in her life. And it went beyond the music. They truly loved one another. He was a part of her and still is a part of her legacy.

Whitney would tell you herself, “I had the talent and the craft, but this is someone that revered my career.” And he did until the day that he died. And I so appreciate that from Clive.

AP: Next year is the 35th anniversary of “The Bodyguard.” Any big plans?

HOUSTON: There are some things that we’re working on. Until the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, I never like to say.

AP: The Michael Jackson biopic was a smash this year. Would you want to do something similar with Whitney? Maybe a two-part film?

HOUSTON: Whitney’s catalog is incredible and that voice is matchless. Of course there’s plenty of things that can be done, but you don’t want to do an overkill. You don’t wanna oversaturate the industry without having purpose. It has to have purpose in order for us to put something out there or deliver something to you.

But yes, different things come to the table all the time, but we’re cautious and careful.

AP: And 2027 marks 15 years since Whitney Houston's death. How do you hope people view her legacy?

HOUSTON: Never forgetting that voice and what she represented to the music industry. Forget about everything else, it’s what she brought to the industry. Whitney’s voice showcased passion. Her artistry is incredible.

And there are live shows that some people have never seen before. I would love to come up with or produce some of the shows and present some of those shows that have never been seen before, because it would blow you away to see that gifted talent. That's probably one of my ultimate goals, I guess. It's not just movies. But just releasing music and shows that people in other parts of the world have seen, but North America hasn't seen, if you can understand what I'm saying.

Darline Graham tests value of a famous name vs. lack of experience in South Carolina primary

Meg Kinnard, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:55:44 +0000

Few people have anything bad to say about Darline Graham, who was catapulted from obscurity last month when she was appointed to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate.

“I think Darline’s wonderful,” said Kathy Bustos of Mount Pleasant, after attending a Republican forum last week.

But that doesn't mean Bustos wants to vote for her in the state's special primary on Tuesday.

“I think it’s a very nice gesture for her to have the rest of his term to complete, but I’m not sure that she’s really qualified or ready to be elected to the Senate,” she said.

It's a common sentiment among Republican voters pondering an unexpected decision about replacing Lindsey Graham, who was nominated for a fifth term before he died from a tear in his aorta. Darline Graham was often by his side throughout his career, but she remains largely unknown in South Carolina's clubby political circles.

President Donald Trump has endorsed her, and she's backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is running television advertising to support her candidacy.

However, Graham has been largely absent from the campaign trail, spending most of her time in Washington as an interim senator. Her appointment to the role, instead of giving her a leg up over the competition, may ultimately hold her back by preventing her from getting to know voters during a weeks-long sprint to Tuesday.

A crowded field of contenders

She is up against several well-known Republicans, including Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, as well as former Gov. Mark Sanford. The crowded field makes a runoff more likely, and it would be held on Aug. 25.

All of them spoke at a Friday meeting of the Fourth District Republican Club in Greenville, but Graham sent a video message, saying she was “in Washington working hard for you." She promised to be "a great friend and ally” to Trump and that she wanted to “earn your vote.”

And at a candidate event in Florence on Saturday, where Graham spoke, some of her supporters said they backed the interim senator’s decision to stay in Washington, even if it meant not campaigning.

“She committed to not missing votes or not being there to push forward with those bills,” said Teresa Castrinos, who made the hours-long drive from Bluffton to see Graham. “I feel like she’s putting South Carolina first. She’s wanting to fulfill her time as a senator right now, so I really admire her for that.”

A low profile in Washington — and on the trail

While Lindsey Graham was single and well-known around the world, his sister lived a relatively quiet life with her husband and daughters in Lexington, South Carolina. She spent years in state government, working with people with disabilities and as an agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.

Before participating in a candidate forum Saturday in Florence, her only public campaign event had been a candidate forum in Lexington. Charles Brentnell of Greenville County, who was still considering his options, said he liked her decision to stay in Washington when the Senate was in session.

“Let’s keep the Senate at the Senate instead of taking a month off for no good reason,” he said.

Appearing alongside other contenders Saturday, Graham apologized for reading from notes from a lectern, pointing to the Senate votes that kept her in Washington until just hours before she headed to meet voters in South Carolina.

“Yes, I have some notes. You know why? Because I haven’t slept in two days, so I’m going to keep my thoughts straight,” Graham said, adding that she opposed Senate recess but lost out to others who wanted to end votes and go home. "I wanted to stay there, and I wanted to get things done."

Graham also participated in one of two televised debates, where she backed Trump's plan to change filibuster rules to make it easier to pass strict proof-of-citizenship voting legislation.

While other candidates came to speak to the media gathered afterward, Graham skipped the session and merely gave a thumbs-up outside when asked how she felt the debate had gone.

In contrast to her loquacious late brother, Graham has not spoken with reporters in Capitol Hill hallways or fielded questions on the stump.

She's spoken at length to Fox News personalities Sean Hannity and Trey Gowdy, both of whom eulogized Lindsey Graham at memorial services last month, and granted two interviews to local news outlets.

On Saturday, in her first gaggle with reporters, Graham addressed some of voters' concerns, reiterating her commitment to do Senate work when the chamber is in session.

“I feel like my job is to be in D.C. working for everyone right now. I hate that I can't be here. I want to be here," she said. "That's why I left and didn't sleep at all last night, so I could attend today's event.”

As to the skepticism in sending Graham to Washington for six years, Graham cited her state government experience, plus the past several weeks she's had serving as interim.

“Trust me, I have learned a lot already, so I think I have experience,” she said.

A second debate took place while Graham was in Washington on Tuesday, a date her campaign pointed out had been scheduled despite the senator’s conflict.

Gigi Bray of Charleston said the idea of Darline Graham serving in the interim makes sense, but electing her to a full term does not.

“I think it’s a great honor for her to hold her brother’s spot till November, but it’s time for a change,” said Bray, who backs Sanford. “I don’t think she has a lot of government experience, and I think right now, with the state of our country, I think it’s very important that somebody has experience.”

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

Lake Mead hits historic low water level as Colorado River struggles

Ty Oneil And Dorany Pineda, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:01:41 +0000

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has plummeted to its lowest water level since it was filled some 90 years ago, another sign of the crisis plaguing the Colorado River system.

Water levels at the reservoir, which straddles the Arizona-Nevada border outside Las Vegas, hit 1,040.4 feet (317.1 meters) above sea level on Friday, according to federal data. That’s just below the record set on July 28, 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

“It's extremely significant and extremely concerning. You have three-quarters of the population of the Colorado River Basin, some 30 million people, who are directly impacted by risks to Lake Mead,” said J.B. Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California and a board member of the Imperial Irrigation District, the largest user of the river’s water.

Hamby said it is vital for states that use Colorado River water to reduce water use.

Drought and dry conditions have stretched along the length of the Colorado and are particularly intense at its source in the Rocky Mountains.

Melting snow provides important water for the river. This past winter, however, saw the worst snowpack on record for the Colorado River Basin, adding more stress on farmers, industry, wildlife and hydropower producers, as well as the 40 million people across seven U.S. states, tribal nations and Mexico who rely on the waterway.

Years of overuse combined with drought and rising temperatures have been depleting Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir. Both are the lowest they have been in nearly seven decades.

To protect the strained system's ability to produce hydropower, federal officials said Thursday that they will not release cool Lake Powell water from Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to protect a threatened native fish, the humpback chub, whose habitat is between the reservoirs.

Federal officials recently announced a short-term proposal to stave off a crisis in the beleaguered waterway, after states that rely on it — California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah — failed to reach an agreement on how to share the dwindling resource in the long term.

The federal proposal called for the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada to take less water. The Bureau of Reclamation, which released the plan, said it was flexible: Deeper cuts could happen in drier times, while states would have more time to collectively agree on how to manage the scarce resources.

Severe drought in 2022 on Lake Mead, which is held back by Hoover Dam, exposed human remains and forced water officials in Las Vegas to pump water from deeper within the reservoir to continue to supply water to millions of people.

Levels at Lake Powell have dropped so much that it has become difficult to descend far enough to reach the water. Boat ramps have had to move, shut down or be built anew.

Lake Mead and Lake Powell are not alone. Of the 54 Western reservoirs tracked by the Bureau of Reclamation, nine recently recorded their lowest levels in the last three decades.

Federal officials do not believe the record will stay where it is. According to modeling done in July, Lake Mead is forecast to continue dropping through much of the rest of the year.

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Associated Press writer Michael Phillis in Washington contributed.

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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

ICE says it expects to equip every field officer with body cameras by the end of August

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 19:17:31 +0000

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Saturday it expects every officer and agent in the field to be equipped with a body camera by the end of August, a rapid expansion that could provide an unprecedented visual record of the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations.

But whether the public will get to see that footage remains largely up to ICE.

The agency defended its body-worn camera policy amid questions about provisions allowing ICE leadership to withhold or indefinitely delay footage after serious injuries or deaths in custody. Acting Director David J. Venturella said the restrictions are intended to protect investigations and privacy and are consistent with federal law and policies at other federal law enforcement agencies.

Venturella’s statement came in response to an Associated Press report on ICE policy, including a provision calling for the expedited release of footage after a serious injury or death in custody when doing so is determined to be in the “best interests of the agency.”

Venturella said the AP “mischaracterized” the policy by conflating that provision with ICE’s broader authority to release body-camera footage. He said the policy clarifies that footage should not be released when doing so could compromise investigations or privacy.

The AP report did not say the provision governs every release of body-camera footage. It focused on ICE’s policy for releasing footage after some of the most consequential encounters with the public: those involving serious injury or death.

The AP sought comment from ICE before its initial story on Friday. The agency provided partial responses, without addressing the provision that footage would be released when in its “best interests.”

ICE has been under heightened scrutiny since the fatal shooting in July of a 25-year-old motorist in Maine by an ICE officer with a history of violent behavior. Days earlier, another ICE officer shot and killed a Houston homebuilder driving to work. Neither shooting was recorded with body cameras.

Venturella said ICE was “committed to transparency and accountability” and was “on track to equip every officer and agent in the field with body-worn cameras by the end of August.”

The AP quoted Christopher Schneider, a sociology professor at Brandon University in Canada, who said that selective releases are routine in some law enforcement agencies but usually not so clearly contemplated in policy. “In some ways, ICE is saying the quiet part out loud,” he said.

The story noted that ICE’s sister agency, Customs and Border Protection, has not released footage of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott told lawmakers that it was part of an investigation and would be made public “when it’s appropriate."

Turkey says defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is not aimed at Iran or any other country

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:07:58 +0000

A defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey is not aimed against Iran or any other country, Turkey’s foreign minister said Saturday, describing the pact as an important step toward regional stability.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on Friday. It states that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all three.

The “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” brings together oil-rich Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan as well as Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army and a rapidly growing defense industry. It deepens cooperation and deterrence at a time of increased regional uncertainty and threats from the war in Iran.

In an interview with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan insisted that the three countries do not view any particular state as an adversary unless they take hostile action against them.

“We don’t have anything written down — nothing we’ve signed — that defines a common threat,” Fidan said. “Any country that does not attack us is not a target for us.”

The Turkish minister described the agreement's clause on mutual defense as being “technically the same” as NATO's Article 5, under which an attack on one of the 32 members is considered an attack on them all.

Asked how the mechanism would work, Fidan said a member would need to formally request help and that the other two countries’ assistance could range from intelligence sharing to logistic support — or the deployment of military units depending on the threat.

“These are multi‑layered matters that vary according to the scale of the threat,” Fidan said. “This is the perspective we have set out so far in our work.”

The Turkish minister said other nations — which he did not name — have expressed interest in joining the agreement, adding that he expects Egypt, which he described as a “natural partner,” to participate “at the next stage.”

Under the deal, the foreign and defense ministers of the three countries, along with their military chiefs, would hold regular committee meetings. The three countries would also establish a secretariat, to be based in Saudi Arabia, Fidan said.

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig enter the Hall of Fame

Rob Maaddi, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 19:39:50 +0000

Drew Brees stood on stage next to his bronze bust, in front of Who Dat Nation, and took his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Getting benched three times in the NFL helped him get there.

“Marty Schottenheimer, one of the greatest coaches and motivators to ever coach this game and who belongs here in Canton,” Brees said Saturday. “Marty was my biggest fan. He would tell me all the time, even as he benched me three times and made me fight for my job every year with two greats, Doug Flutie and Philip Rivers.

“The first two times I got benched, I deserved it. The third time, I still don’t think I deserved it, Coach. But nonetheless, it lit more than a fire. It forced me to access a place in my mind and heart that I had not yet been. The adversity was not expected, but very necessary. I would never have reached the heights I did without it. I knew I needed to play better, but more importantly, I knew he believed I would play better.”

Brees eventually left the San Diego Chargers and joined the New Orleans Saints, where he won a Super Bowl playing for coach Sean Payton and became one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, to the delight of fans who filled the Superdome with chants of “Who dat?”

Payton took time off from coaching Denver to introduce Brees on stage.

Brees got emotional thanking Payton.

“You always had a plan and vision for every player you coached,” Brees said. “I’m not sure if this is how you envisioned my journey or how big a role you would play in it, but I love you for it.”

Brees has the second-most yards passing (80,358) and touchdown passes (571) in league history, behind only Tom Brady. He was a first-ballot selection and joined a class that includes Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig.

“I often ask myself how in the world did I play 20 years in the NFL,” Brees said. “Yes, it was for the love of the game. Yes, it was a relentless attempt to master my craft. Yes, it was the grind and challenge of preparation and the thrill of game day. But you want to know what it really was: for the love of my teammates. I would wake up every day with a burning desire to commit, sacrifice and command in a way that would give them everything they deserved.”

Larry Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald was the first player to have his bronze bust revealed on stage Saturday at Tom Benson Stadium.

The 11-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who played his entire 17-year career for the Cardinals, was introduced by the oldest of his three sons, Devin.

He finished his speech with a message to his boys that’s applicable to everyone.

“Don’t just pursue excellence for yourself,” Fitzgerald said. “Help other people pursue it, too. That’s the part of this story that matters the most. Not the likes. Not the fame. But the people you travel with. The values you uphold. In the end, it’s not just about the excellence. It’s about the people who help get you there.”

Being drafted No. 3 overall in 2004 by Cardinals coach Dennis Green reunited Fitzgerald with the man who was Minnesota’s coach when he was a ball boy for the Vikings.

“When coach Green hired me as a ball boy, I grew up watching legends being built right in front of me,” Fitzgerald said. “Hall of Fame players like John Randle, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel and Warren Moon, who taught me what it means to demand more of yourself than anyone else ever would. Plus, they saw me.”

Fitzgerald thanked Hall of Fame receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss for their influence on his career during his time working for the Vikings as a kid. He singled out former Cardinals teammates Emmitt Smith and Kurt Warner for showing him how to be a professional.

“Kurt, when you demanded that I elevate my preparation, consistency and accountability, you dragged me to the winner’s circle,” Fitzgerald said. “The timing couldn’t have been better for an impressionable kid, and I continue to aspire to be the kind of man you are.”

Fitzgerald is second on the NFL’s career list in receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492). His 121 touchdown catches are sixth.

Adam Vinatieri

Vinatieri became only the third full-time placekicker to be inducted into the Hall, joining Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen.

He may have a new career in comedy.

Vinatieri drew plenty of laughs and cheers with jokes about Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

“And Peyton, thank you for generously donating your forehead for today’s teleprompter,” Vinatieri cracked. “A gigantic forehead means big brain and your football IQ is unmatched.”

Manning nodded his head with a smile from his seat among the Hall of Famers.

Vinatieri retired with NFL records of 2,673 career points and 599 field goals. Only George Blanda (26) and Andersen (25) had longer NFL careers than Vinatieri’s 24 seasons.

“When people hear the word greatness, they usually think about the biggest names on the biggest stages,” Vinatieri said. “But greatness isn’t created under bright lights. Greatness is built on empty practice fields when it’s below zero. Greatness is sacrificing temporary fun for meaningful outcomes. Greatness is turning doubt into belief. Preparation matters. Character matters.

“And to all the doubters, thank you. Your criticism became fuel. Your doubt became motivation. You helped make me better.”

Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon introduced Vinatieri, who won his fourth Super Bowl with Indianapolis after earning three championship rings in New England.

Luke Kuechly

At 35, Kuechly became the second-youngest player inducted into the Hall. Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers was 34 when he was inducted in 1977.

Introduced by his father, Tom, Kuechly was inducted on the same field where he led St. Xavier High School to a state championship in 2007.

Known for his intense study habits, Kuechly was a five-time All-Pro linebacker, the 2012 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2013 AP Defensive Player of the Year during his eight-year career with the Carolina Panthers. Kuechly decided to retire in part to preserve his brain health after suffering several concussions.

“This game teaches you a lot if you’re willing to observe and listen,” Kuechly said. “It’s taught me resilience, consistency, toughness, the value of communication, how to find common ground, and most importantly how to enjoy it along the way cause often times the best moments are the ones you are in.”

Roger Craig

Craig, who revealed in a video speech that he has vascular dementia, became the first player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Only Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey have done it since.

“You spend your whole life trying to prove you belong and one day you’re told you’re one of the all-time greats. Man, it’s overwhelming,” Craig said.

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

Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, dies at 68

Ramiro Barreiro, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:28:39 +0000

Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.

The Rosario-based Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys announced his death in a social media post that said he had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness. The post described him as “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.”

The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, in a statement also offered its condolences “with respect and affection for Lionel.”

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a runner-up finish in this year's World Cup. In the team's first match, against Algeria, he was visibly emotional after scoring the first of his three goals. He said later that he wept for “a reason unrelated to sports.”

“I went through some difficult, complicated days,” he said. “I am grateful to the delegation, to all my teammates, because they were always by my side wishing me strength so that I would be OK.”

Media reports at the time outraged the Messi family, which days later released a statement confirming that “Jorge is experiencing a health issue,” without specifying the nature of his condition.

“A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest,” according to the statement, which also expressed “discomfort at the lack of sensitivity, respect and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter.”

Jorge Messi was a chemical technician and worked as a steelworker. He played soccer as a midfielder and reached the youth ranks of Newell’s Old Boys but had to abandon the sport to complete his mandatory military service in Argentina.

He played a fundamental role in his third son’s career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs. He was the one who traveled with a young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the trial that would open the doors to La Masia, the club’s youth academy. Lionel Messi made his professional debut in 2005 and went on to win eight Ballon d’Or awards. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.

“My dad was always by my side,” Lionel Messi said in a 2007 interview with Radio del Plata. “Sometimes I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn’t see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren’t. My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me.”

His father negotiated the contracts with Barça and later his transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while also managing the use of his famous son’s image rights and his numerous investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants.

In 2013, father and son were accused by a Spanish prosecutor of trying to conceal earnings from the player's image rights. Jorge Messi paid more than than 5 million euros ($6.6 million) on Aug. 14 to cover alleged back taxes and interest.

In Rosario, a sign at the VIP Rosario restaurant, one of the Messi family’s gastronomic ventures, indicated that it was closed for the day.

The president of Argentina's soccer federation, Claudio Tapia, on Saturday issued a lengthy statement in which he recognized Jorge Messi “for having raised a person of values: humble, respectful, and deeply committed to others.”

The organization ordered a moment of silence to be observed at all matches across all categories of Argentine soccer and mandated that players, referees and coaching staff wear black armbands.

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Barreiro reported from Montevideo, Uruguay.

Mariano Rivera returns to Yankees Old-Timer's Day after tearing Achilles tendon last year

Larry Fleisher, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 19:25:20 +0000

Mariano Rivera was back on the field at the Yankees’ annual Old-Timer’s Day on Saturday after tearing an Achilles tendon playing the outfield at the event last year.

With former teammate Jorge Posada catching him, Rivera threw 11 pitches to four batters. The 56-year-old faced Mickey Rivers, Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher and Shane Spencer in the exhibition game, which returned last season for the first time since 2019.

“They’re still moving,” Rivera said about his pitches on the YES Network broadcast. “That’s good and the reaction is good.”

Rivera, who hit an inside-the-park homer in his 2019 appearance, also took an at-bat against Mike Stanton and jogged to first when he flew out to center field.

Rivera was introduced last, just as Joe DiMaggio used to be. To the strains of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the Hall of Fame closer doffed his cap and waved to the fans.

Rivera, baseball’s career leader in saves, underwent surgery after getting hurt playing center field last year. During an at-bat by Willie Randolph, Rivera took a step and fell to the ground in shallow center field behind second base.

“It was tough, but I still have to do it,” Rivera said. “We continue going and moving better. I’m here. I’m good enough to be here.”

Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in May 2012 while shagging fly balls in batting practice in Kansas City. He returned for his final season in 2013 and finished with 652 saves in the regular season and 42 in the postseason, including 11 in the World Series.

He was a setup man for John Wetteland in 1996 and took over the closer’s role the following year, helping the Yankees win three straight titles from 1998 to 2000 and another title in 2009.

The Yankees were outscored 12-1 in the first two games against the Braves at Yankee Stadium in 1996 before winning three straight in Atlanta and taking the series at home in Game 6.

“We never gave up,” Rivera said about the 1996 team. “We were a team that never gave up literally. As a matter of fact in the World Series, we were down 2-0 going into Atlanta with those big monsters on the mound and we were able to overcome that and seal the deal here in New York. It sounds easy, but it wasn’t easy."

Rivera also threw the last pitch of New York’s most recent World Series title against the Phillies in Game 6. Since then, New York’s lone World Series was a five-game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024.

The ceremony featured 11 players from New York’s 1996 World Series title team, including Bernie Williams, Posada, and Paul O’Neill along with manager Joe Torre. Derek Jeter did not attend for the second straight year after appearing in 2023 and 2024, when the format was a question and answer session with WFAN broadcaster Suzyn Waldman.

There were four first-time attendees, including David Weathers, whose son Ryan is 5-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 starts in his first season with the Yankees. Also in attendance for the first time were current YES Network broadcasters Dellin Betances, Todd Frazier and Adam Ottavino.

“For your kid to be a part of it is way better than when I played,” David Weathers said.

The event began with a tribute to longtime radio announcer John Sterling, who died in May. The widows of five-time manager Billy Martin, captain Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer were also introduced as part of an event that began in 1947 when Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth first appeared.

Tommy John not in attendance, posts message about health on social media

Tommy John, who won 91 games in two separate stints for the Yankees, did not attend and shared a vague message about his health.

In a lengthy social media post that did not detail an exact health issue, the 83-year-old John wrote that he wanted to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends and fans who followed him throughout his 26-year career.

John was 288-231 with a 3.34 ERA in 760 appearances. Besides eight seasons with the Yankees, John pitched for the White Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Guardians and Athletics.

He also underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in 1974 that was named after him and has been performed on numerous pitchers.

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Raiders suspend Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby from team drills after practice fight

Mark Anderson, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:36:52 +0000

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were suspended from team drills at practice Saturday following their fight the day before, giving rookie QB Fernando Mendoza his first opportunity in training camp to run the starting offense.

“We have very clear expectations about how we want to practice, how you go about our business,” coach Klint Kubiak said. “We violated that yesterday, so we held those guys out. That's all I'm going to say about it. We addressed it with the team and we're moving on.”

Cousins and Crosby had to be separated by teammates after the fight. The 37-year-old quarterback appeared upset that Crosby tipped his pass, forcing an incompletion, and then charged the 6-foot-5, 256-pound defensive end, who is three inches taller and 42 pounds heavier.

The Raiders are off Sunday before returning Monday morning, so their starting quarterback and star pass rusher will compete against each other again, though, Kubiak hopes, without any punches.

Mendoza has ups and downs against first-team defense

With Cousins watching Saturday, Mendoza — the Heisman Trophy winner at Indiana who was taken first overall in the NFL draft — threw touchdown passes to tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and wide receiver Tre Tucker.

He also had some misfires while facing the starting defense for the first time, but showed agility in eluding pressure to find open receivers.

“Fernando continues to improve, and the thing I think we're very pleased about is from spring to the start of camp, there were some parts of this game we wanted him to improve upon and he has as we've added different layers and dimensions,” quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said. “He's not repeating mistakes, which is always a good thing. It's a long process. We're pleased with how he's developing.”

Kubiak has said Mendoza, brought to Las Vegas to be the franchise quarterback, would be able to run the first-team offense at some point in camp.

The timing of getting that chance Saturday probably doesn't hurt, given that the Raiders open their preseason schedule Thursday night when they host the Arizona Cardinals. Kubiak hasn't made any announcements on how he plans to use his quarterbacks, but Mendoza probably will at least see the field early and possibly start.

Cousins likely will be the starter when the season begins, but even then, Kubiak has made no promises. The Raiders are expected to turn to Mendoza at some point this season.

“The visual and verbal communication he's made, certainly the ability to take snaps under center, those are things we've seen him improve upon,” Sullivan said. “He's going to continue to work on and we want him to still want him to be even better. But we're pleased with where that's at right now.”

Injury updates

Wide receiver Jalen Nailor returned to practice after sitting out Friday with an unspecified injury, but defensive ends Kwity Paye and Keyron Crawford as well as wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. remained out.

Caleb Rogers, who is competing with Jackson Powers-Johnson at right guard, appeared to injure his left arm or elbow, but wound up returning.

“I feel great,” Rogers said, without going into specifics.

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

Two drivers of Mercedes AMG cars file class action lawsuit over an alleged burn hazard in its logo

Anne D'Innocenzio, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:19:14 +0000

Two drivers of Mercedes AMG cars have filed a class action lawsuit against the luxury car company, claiming that the AMG logo on their driver’s seat gets so hot that it literally brands them and causes burns.

Gabriel Lahijani and Karendeep “Karina” Bath allege the front seats of certain Mercedes AMG vehicles have a design defect where the raised metallic AMG logo is “reasonably expected to contact an occupant’s upper back, neck, or shoulder,” according to the court document filed earlier this week in the U.S. District Court of California’s Western division.

The plaintiffs want Mercedes to compensate them for any medical expenses, as well as any pain, suffering and emotional distress they can prove at trial. They also want Mercedes to pay for other owners to have the logo removed from their cars.

Mercedes-Benz couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.

Lahigani, a Los Angeles resident, had leased a new 2026 Mercedes-AMG E-Class vehicle from an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership in Los Angeles, according to the suit. He reported receiving second-degree burns on his back on May 31, after entering his vehicle wearing a tank top. A board-certified dermatologist subsequently documented first- and second-degree burns, describing the injury as “AMG inscribed."

Roughly six weeks later, Bath, a Chatsworth, California resident, received similar burns allegedly from the logo design while wearing a sleeveless top. After parking her Mercedes-AMG vehicle in Los Angeles, Bath returned to the vehicle and entered the driver’s seat, the suit said. Her shoulder immediately touched the logo, causing a burning sensation. In the following days, a mark in the shape of the AMG logo “darkened and became visible on her skin, consistent with a thermal contact burn," the lawsuit said.

In December, Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimer AG agreed to pay $149.6 million to settle allegations that the automaker secretly installed devices in hundreds of thousands of vehicles to pass emission tests, according to an announcement by a coalition of attorneys general.

According to the coalition, between 2008 and 2016 the German automaker equipped more than 211,000 diesel passenger cars and vans with software devices that optimized emission controls during tests but reduced the controls during normal operations.

Roger Craig reveals he has vascular dementia during his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech

Rob Maaddi, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:14:28 +0000

Roger Craig revealed during his induction speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he has vascular dementia.

The former San Francisco 49ers star running back spoke in a prerecorded video message while he sat on stage wearing his gold jacket at Tom Benson Stadium on Saturday. Presented by former teammate Jamie Williams, he received a standing ovation from the crowd and hugs from the many Hall of Famers on stage.

Nearly eight minutes into a nine-minute speech, Craig announced his diagnosis, saying his doctors believe “it may be related, at least in part, to the concussions” he experienced during his playing career.

“The changes were gradual,” Craig said. “At first, they were easy to dismiss as normal aging. Over time, my family noticed, too.”

Symptoms of vascular dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic, include: confusion; trouble finding the right words; difficulty paying attention; trouble organizing thoughts or actions; difficulty planning and following through with plans; slowed thinking; uncertainty about what to do next; and memory issues.

“Two things could be true,” Craig said. “Football gave me opportunities beyond anything I can imagine. It helped shape the man I became. At the same time, we know more today about brain health than when I played. I hope sharing my story encourages people to pay attention to their health and seek help when something doesn’t feel right.

“I want people to know that this diagnosis doesn’t define me. I am still Roger Craig. I am still a father, still a husband, a teammate, a friend and someone who loves this game and the people who brought it to my life. If sharing my story helps even one family or one former player, then it’s worth it. Football gave me everything: opportunity, discipline, lifelong friends and the platform to grow as a man. This honor belongs to my parents who started it all.”

Selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 1983 draft as a fullback out of Nebraska, Craig become one of the most versatile players in league history.

He excelled as a runner, receiver and blocker, helping the 49ers win three of their five Super Bowls.

In 1985, Craig became the first player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He was the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988.

“When I learned that Bill Walsh wanted me, that meant something because he saw something in me that others didn’t,” Craig said. “He didn’t just want a running back, he wanted a complete football player. He trusted me to do whatever the team needed. That’s why a 1,000-yard rushing, 1,000-yard receiving season means so much to me. We weren’t chasing numbers. We were chasing wins. I didn’t realize I was making history. It just felt like we were doing something special as a team. Looking back, I can appreciate how difficult it is and how few players have done it since.

“What means the most is knowing we helped expand what people thought a running back could be. None of that happens without great teammates. What made those 49ers teams special: We weren’t selfish. We didn’t care who got the credit. We cared about winning.”

Craig was selected from the seniors category and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 with Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.

___

Wall Street week ahead: inflation, retail sales updates

Associated Press — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:38:30 +0000

Reports on inflation and retail sales are the central updates for Wall Street this week.

The reports help give investors and economists a better sense of where prices are moving on a wide range of goods and services, while also providing a clearer picture on the impact to businesses and households.

On Wednesday, the U.S. will release its consumer price index, or CPI, for July. It is a detailed report on prices for a wide range of goods and services. Economists expect it to show that the rate of inflation remains above 3%.

On Thursday, the U.S. will release its producer price index, or PPI, for July. It shows costs for businesses before they’ve passed them along to consumers. That helps give a more detailed view of some of the inflation pressures facing companies.

On Friday, the U.S. will release its retail sales report for July. It gives details on monthly sales for a wide range of businesses. The data in the report can also give clues as to how much people are spending and where they are focusing their spending.

Inflation remains a key focus for Wall Street and the Federal Reserve. Stubborn inflation could hurt consumer spending, and in turn, the broader economy. The Fed has been closely watching inflation’s direction and is expected to raise interest rates in order to help tame rising costs before the end of the year.

Eagles All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson says his 14th season will 'probably' be his last

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:07:44 +0000

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson said Saturday that his 14th season would “probably” be his last.

Johnson missed four days of training camp this week for personal reasons before he returned Friday.

The 36-year-old Johnson was a first-round pick in 2013 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2022. He earned second-team honors in 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Johnson took a leave of absence during the 2021 season as he battled anxiety and depression and has since shared his story at mental health clinics in the area.

He said his latest leave had more to do with family issues, specifically taking care of his parents, and that his priorities had shifted more toward life outside football.

“I'm looking potentially this is probably going to be my last year,” Johnson said after Saturday's practice. “Just because I am getting to that point of, those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don't enjoy (it), I love everything about this game, preparing for it, but it's kind of where I'm at in my career.”

Johnson has been a pillar at right tackle and won a pair of Super Bowls with the Eagles.

“I still feel like I can be a premier tackle in this league,” Johnson said. “My movement and everything feels good.”

Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, said his potential retirement came into focus last season after conversations with his family and an injury-plagued season. He missed Philadelphia’s final seven regular-season games and the wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Johnson was suspended for 10 games by the NFL in 2016 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He was also suspended the first four games of the 2014 season for violating the policy.

He said his teammates already knew he was considering ending his career.

“I feel like planning on having a really good last year,” Johnson said. “I'm trying to soak in these last six months, seven months.”

___

Hunter Biden says his father's prostate cancer is causing him pain even as he continues to speak out

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:01:46 +0000

Former U.S. President Joe Biden ’s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him pain, even as he continues to speak out on public issues, his son Hunter said in an interview.

In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC broadcast late on Friday, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father’s condition, describing it as very sad to watch.

“The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," he said. "It’s very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects.”

Joe Biden, 83, was the oldest man to serve as U.S. president and his age was a source of concern for much of his four years in office. He and his White House advisers have faced intense criticism for allegedly concealing the extent of his problems, especially after he was forced to abandon his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with his eventual successor, Donald Trump.

The former president revealed his cancer diagnosis in May of last year, less than four months after he left the White House.

Hunter Biden said the diagnosis had been tough on the family.

“It's really sad to watch," Biden said. “The only thing that I'd say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good.”

But Biden said his father remains “out there," speaking publicly about the issues that are important to him.

“He’s still doing his thing," he said. “He so believes in this country."

The former president will publish a memoir, “Promise Me, America,” after the mid-term elections.

WNBA commissioner says league will continue discussing issue of transgender participation

Doug Feinberg, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:07:42 +0000

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has sent a memo to teams that addresses ongoing discussions around transgender athletes in women's basketball.

“I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention,” Engelbert wrote in the memo, which was sent Friday afternoon and obtained by The Associated Press. “I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism.”

The memo said the topic will be discussed further by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a previously scheduled meeting next week.

In an ESPN article published last month, Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports. Cunningham's comments sparked small rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland when the Fever were on the road last week.

There was a lone protester at the Fever's home game against Las Vegas on Thursday night. Indiana visits Chicago on Saturday. Members of two conservative groups are planning a rally in support of Cunningham ahead of that game.

The league hasn’t made any public comments on the issue.

Engelbert wrote that the league will “always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league’s highest priorities.”

The league's collective bargaining agreement states that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but it does not include any more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. On Friday, two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.

“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead,” Engelbert said in the memo. “We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.”

The WNBA players' association released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group “will not be used as political pawns.”

“We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement read. “Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.”

Some WNBA players and coaches have come out in support of transgender athletes, including Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.

“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve said on Aug. 1. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”

___

--> Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs signs record $67.5M deal, becomes highest-paid running back in NFL history

Zelenskyy visits Moscow-friendly Serbia as Russian attacks on Kyiv region kill 4

Volodymyr Yurchuk, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:12:26 +0000

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Russia’s latest deadly attacks on Kyiv on Saturday as he visited Serbia, one of the few European countries that has maintained friendly relations with Moscow throughout its invasion of Ukraine.

Four people, including a child, were killed in the overnight strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Ukrainian forces hit Russian oil facilities.

Zelenskyy arrived in Belgrade on Friday for his first official visit to Serbia.

Speaking at a news conference in Belgrade with Zelenskyy, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described Ukraine as a “friendly nation” and said he was honored to welcome the Ukrainian leader — the first visit by a Ukrainian president in eight years.

The two leaders discussed their countries’ efforts toward joining the European Union, bilateral ties and ways to expand cooperation.

Kyiv’s residents face regular drone and missile barrages that Ukraine’s depleted air defenses are struggling to counter amid Moscow’s 4-year-old full-scale invasion, while repeated Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities have caused fuel shortages and rattled Russians.

Paperwork holds up missile production licenses

Vucic, who has maintained close ties with Moscow and refused to sanction Russia over the invasion — drawing pressure from the EU to change course — reiterated that Serbia respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity and said that position would not change.

“The situation in Ukraine is difficult,” Zelenskyy said at the press conference. “There was another missile strike last night — ballistic missiles targeting our infrastructure. There were also attack drones.”

Zelenskyy said that deliveries of Patriot air defense interceptors — the sole air defense weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal able to shoot down ballistic missiles — have slowed compared with a year ago.

“There are fewer of these missiles in 2026. In 2025 there were more, I’ll tell you honestly, in terms of monthly supplies,” he said.

Zelenskyy said Washington has agreed to let Ukraine manufacture its own Patriot air defense interceptors, but that they are “stuck dealing with paperwork.”

“The process for some of these licenses is also taking a long time,” he said.

Boy killed with grandparents in Kyiv region

The talks in Belgrade came after multiple Russian drones destroyed the home of a family in the Brovary district, northeast of Kyiv, killing a 3-year-old child and his grandparents, local officials said.

Three other members of the same family and a neighbor who came to their aid were hospitalized, local authorities said. The attack reduced the house to rubble and wrecked outbuildings and cars.

Zelenskyy said at least one other person died in a “strike involving six ballistic missiles against civilian infrastructure” in the capital.

In its daily report, Ukraine’s air force said it had downed or intercepted 135 of 151 drones launched by Russia overnight. The attack also involved six ballistic missiles and other guided missiles.

Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.

Ukraine’s air defenses shot down around 5,300 drones and missiles last month, Ukraine’s defense ministry said Friday, just under 60% of the around 9,000 attack drones and missiles Russia fired in the same period.

Moscow is exploiting Ukraine’s critical shortage of interceptors for the U.S.-made Patriot systems, the sole air defense weapon in its arsenal able to shoot down ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy has pleaded with other countries, especially the U.S., to send more of the ammunition made scarcer by the Iran war. Failing that, he wants to make Patriot ammunition in Ukraine or win permission from Elon Musk to use his Starlink satellite communications system to guide strikes inside Russia that can hit its missile launchers.

Following the latest attacks, Zelenskyy appealed on X for more sanctions to “prevent the production of these ballistic missiles,” along with “anti-ballistic capabilities” and “interceptor missiles.”

Ukraine strikes Russian oil facilities

In Russia, six people were wounded when a fire broke out at the Ilsky Oil Refinery, in the southern Krasnodar region, due to debris from a falling drone, local officials said.

Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces struck the refinery in Krasnodar, along with the Syzran Oil Refinery in the Samara region, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) inside Russia.

Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, governor of Russia’s Samara region, said drones hit an “industrial enterprise,” but he did not mention the refinery.

Ukraine’s almost daily long-range drone and missile strikes using domestically developed weapons have battered Russian oil facilities for months. The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin.

___

Yurchuk reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Elise Morton in London contributed to this report.

A 12-year-old girl dies after Thailand school shooting, bringing the death toll to at least 8

Jintamas Saksornchai, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:11:47 +0000

A schoolgirl died from critical wounds on Saturday after a student opened fire at a high school and his home outside Bangkok the day before, bringing the death toll from the attack to at least eight people.

The 14-year-old opened fire at around 10 a.m. Friday at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province northwest of the Thai capital before apparently taking his own life. He also appeared to have killed his two grandparents at his family home earlier in the morning, officials said.

The girl, 12, died after hospitalization, the Health Ministry said. The school had posted a message on Facebook Friday seeking blood donations for two students, including the girl, who was in seventh grade.

Fourteen people remain hospitalized, of whom seven remain in critical condition Saturday, according to Thailand’s Health Ministry. Most of those wounded were between 12 and 14 years old.

Relatives claimed the bodies of eight people from Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine: five school staff, the accused shooter, and his grandparents. Emergency workers brought out a coffin and loaded it onto an ambulance, which will transport the bodies to their hometowns for funeral rites.

The young girl’s body is still to be released.

Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, head of the institute, said most of the victims suffered a single fatal gunshot wound to a vital area, including the chest or head.

He said the gunshot wound found on the alleged shooter was consistent with the weapon he had used. More detailed forensic findings, including toxicology results, are expected later, he said.

Officials said the gun, described as small and compact, was legally registered to the boy’s grandfather.

There were reports that the boy, who lived with his grandparents, had shown signs of stress connected to school, although some of his relatives told Thai media that they were unaware of any troubles he might have been facing.

The co-educational state school, which has about 3,000 students enrolled aged 12 to 18, said all classes would be suspended between Aug. 10-14 and school staff were instructed to work from home during that time.

A few mourners laid flowers Saturday morning at the school's gate, where a few police officers could be seen.

Charin Siriananchai brought his two sons, ages 9 and 6, to pay their respects. He said while his sons do not study here, he lives in the neighborhood and drives past this school almost every day, often stopping to allow students to cross the road.

“Everyone was saddened and shocked, because it was unexpected that this would happen in Thailand, and also it’s quite a great loss,” he said.

Some parents also came with their children to collect their belongings left behind after the shooting. A father, who declined to identify himself, said his son, who was at the school during the shooting, was still in shock and could not sleep alone.

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, second only to Pakistan and far surpassing its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Data collected in 2017 by the groups Small Arms Survey and GunPolicy.org in their last extensive international study found civilian gun ownership in Thailand was about 15.1 guns per 100 people, compared with less than one per 100 in neighboring Malaysia.

Thailand had 3.49 deaths by firearms per 100,000 people, according to 2023 statistics published by World Population Review. That puts it well behind parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, but relatively high in Asia. Only the Philippines is higher in Southeast Asia.

While shootings involving indiscriminate killings are not common, the country has seen an uptick in high-profile shooting deaths in recent years.

In February, a 17-year-old stole a gun from police and opened fire at a public high school in southern Thailand, briefly taking people hostage in a two-hour attack that killed one person and wounded two others.

A 14-year-old boy was accused of a 2023 shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall.

Todd Blanche is narrowly confirmed as Trump's attorney general in an overnight Senate vote

Alanna Durkin Richer And Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:32:15 +0000

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a vote early Saturday, cementing the command of President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer at a Department of Justice that Trump has sought to bend to his will.

The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 to make Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House last year with a stated desire to use the law enforcement agency to investigate his political enemies. While Blanche has already been leading the department in an acting capacity, his confirmation could free him to pursue the administration’s agenda even more aggressively.

Blanche said on social media that he was “deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me,” adding that he was “grateful” to senators for working late to confirm him.

The vote followed a tumultuous confirmation fight that exposed deep concerns — from some Republicans as well as Democrats — about installing Trump’s close ally atop a Justice Department that historically prided itself on its independence from the White House.

In the end, Blanche was confirmed by the narrowest of margins, opposed by two Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — and by every Democrat.

The path to confirmation for Blanche was unusually rocky, due in large part to Republican concerns about a controversial settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS.

Under pressure, Blanche publicly promised in writing that the department would abandon Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for the president’s allies, including those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and rein in another piece of the settlement designed to shield Trump and his family from IRS tax audits.

His appeals were enough to win over Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, the decisive vote who threw his support behind Blanche on Friday morning. Cassidy said no other nominee may be able to run the department better under Trump and suggested Blanche’s role as Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer can make him more effective at pushing back on the Republican president’s demands.

“This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” said Cassidy, who lost his primary this year to a Trump-backed challenger.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said confirming Blanche would be a “serious mistake.” He begged his colleagues not to be on the “wrong side” of history.

“If there is ever a moment in history when we need an Attorney General above reproach, who is clearly dedicated to ending corruption, even at the highest level of our government, it’s right now,” Durbin said.

Blanche’s loyalty to Trump left senators skeptical

The vote capped off a bruising confirmation fight, with Blanche’s loyalty to Trump at the center of the stalemate.

Blanche was elevated to the top Justice Department post in an acting capacity after Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. Blanche moved swiftly to advance the president’s interests, accelerating investigations into Trump’s perceived foes and announcing the settlement that created the $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate people who feel mistreated by the criminal justice system and provided Trump and family members with immunity from tax audits.

The controversial settlement threatened to torpedo Blanche’s nomination until he formally rescinded the fund in writing under pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The deal reached between the senators and the department unlocked a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which advanced Blanche’s nomination earlier this week

Even after the deal, Blanche faced opposition from some Republican senators concerned with the settlement fund and the tax audit immunity.

Murkowski announced early Friday that she would join Collins in opposing Blanche’s nomination, saying the country needs an attorney general “who will check the worst impulses of this administration.”

Former prosecutor rises as Trump’s defender

A former federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche rose to public prominence as a lead attorney on Trump’s defense team, including during the Republican’s hush money trial in New York. He also defended Trump against criminal charges in the two federal cases brought by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice — an experience Blanche has said provided him a firsthand look at what he contends was the weaponization of the criminal justice system against Trump.

Blanche entered the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general under Bondi, overseeing the agency’s day-to-day operations and serving as the public face for high-profile and controversial matters, like the release of millions of investigative files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats have accused Blanche of prioritizing his loyalty to Trump above all else through investigations against Trump foes such as former FBI Director James Comey and a radical reshaping of the department. Under Bondi and Blanche’s leadership, the department has lost thousands of employees through firings, resignations or voluntary departures.

Blanche’s supporters say his experience as a federal prosecutor and the trust he earned from Trump in the courtroom make him better equipped than Bondi to explain to the White House the legal constraints of its demands. Republicans have also touted his efforts to bring down violent crime, tackle illegal immigration and combat violent cartels and drug trafficking.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committee chairman, gave a full-throated endorsement of Blanche ahead of voting, saying he’s led the Justice Department with distinction. “Mr. Blanche is the right choice,” said Grassley, R-Iowa.

It is unclear whether Blanche will fare any better in delivering on Trump’s desire for retribution than Bondi, whom Trump fired amid resistance from judges, grand jurors and the department’s own workforce as prosecutors sought to establish criminal conduct by one Trump foe after another.

Shortly after Blanche took the top post, the Justice Department moved to indict Comey on charges of threatening the 47th president by posting a social media photograph of seashells in the numerical arrangement of “86 47.” Comey’s lawyers are pressing to have the case dismissed, accusing the department of misleading judges, submitting documents containing false statements and withholding key facts.

Blanche has also appointed Joseph diGenova, a former Justice Department prosecutor from the Reagan administration, to oversee a Florida-based investigation into whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired over the last decade to undermine Trump. But it remains uncertain whether that probe will result in any criminal charges.

Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Kevin Freking and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

Trump goes unmentioned but not ignored as Clinton, Bush and Obama step up as essayists on presidents

Calvin Woodward, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:26:28 +0000

When George W. Bush wrote an essay this year about another president named George, he avoided mentioning the one named Donald.

So did Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The three ex-presidents joined a roster of historians and authors in contributing to the In Pursuit project, a 250th-anniversary series that had each writer produce an essay about a president or first lady.

Though the project was explicitly designed to transcend today’s politics, some of its essays nevertheless reflect anxieties that are flaring in the era of President Donald Trump over the use of power, the health of the democracy and the integrity of the presidency.

The project is being curated by Colleen Shogan, the U.S. archivist who was fired without explanation by Trump last year. She instructed contributors not to be partisan or ideological. “Everybody took those instructions and that guidance very seriously,” she told The Associated Press. The goal was for all Americans to “feel welcome to be able to read these lessons and essays and learn something from them.”

The mission, Shogan said, “is to surface the lessons from the past 250 years of American history, so that we can learn from those lessons, from both our successes and our failures, so we can plan for the present and the future. It’s what has been described as debriefing the American story.”

The essays cover 43 presidents — all but Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Trump — and 30 first ladies. They are being published chronologically and weekly into December.

Trump and Biden were judged too fresh to be appraised by history, a call that may have also set aside passions of the moment.

Without naming Trump, Bush’s essay is difficult to read without thinking of Trump’s reluctance to cede power after his 2020 election defeat and his musings about a third term in defiance of the Constitution’s two-term limit.

Bush hails the heroism of humility

Bush's essay celebrates George Washington, the original “No Kings” guy. Bush, a Republican, hails a man whose legacy only grew larger because he modeled the limits of the presidency for centuries to come.

“Our first president could have remained all-powerful,” Bush writes, “but twice he chose not to. In so doing, he set a standard for all presidents to live up to.” First, Washington resigned as commander in chief of the Continental Army, then set the precedent of serving only two presidential terms before that limit was enshrined in the Constitution.

Bush went on: "George Washington’s humility in giving up power willingly remains among the most consequential decisions and important examples in American politics.” Bush's essay, released Presidents Day as the first in the series on Substack, drove heavy engagement.

Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who led U.S. and international forces in the Afghanistan War, sized up a fellow general, Ulysses S. Grant, in another essay that drew much attention for its parallels with today.

History offers lessons on ‘law over loyalty’

McChrystal presents the Union general and post-Civil War president as a leader who displayed “an absolute commitment to principles larger than personal ambition" and who, before his presidency, resisted pressure on military leaders to “align with political factions and be loyal to a person rather than the Constitution.”

The emphasis on personal loyalty resonates in a time when Trump has repeatedly demanded fealty from officials in his administration.

The “temptation to bend institutions toward personal power is not unique to Grant’s era,” McChrystal writes. “Our future still depends on whether our leaders choose law over loyalty.”

This month, in the latest In Pursuit installment, Democrat Clinton writes about Theodore Roosevelt, focusing on that president's drive to expand the universe of “we the people” at the expense of powerful corporate interests, while also emphasizing Roosevelt's exclusionary views on Black and Indigenous people.

The essays frequently address presidents’ failures alongside their accomplishments, a contrast with Trump’s calls for federal cultural institutions to stick to patriotic interpretations of American history.

Presidents, the chief justice and first ladies contribute

Among the In Pursuit contributors are Chief Justice John Roberts (writing about William Howard Taft, the only president who also served on the Supreme Court); Hillary Clinton ( Eleanor Roosevelt ); Michelle Obama ( Jacqueline Kennedy ); GOP operative Karl Rove ( William McKinley ); documentarian Ken Burns ( Franklin D. Roosevelt ); and historian Michael Beschloss ( Lyndon Johnson ). Democrat Barack Obama presents Abraham Lincoln.

The project is being staged by More Perfect, a nonpartisan alliance of dozens of presidential centers along with academics and organizations dedicated to advancing democracy. It is where Shogan now practices her archivist craft that Trump shut down by firing her in February 2025.

She still has not been told why. Nor has Congress apparently been notified of the reason. The law requires Congress to be told but does not specify a deadline. The National Archives is the central repository of federal documents both precious and routine, and its leader has discretion over which records to preserve and display, and how.

“That is a position that used to be a nonpartisan position, much like the Librarian of Congress, the secretary of the Smithsonian,” she said. “And I took that very seriously and acted the entire time when I was archivist in a nonpartisan way.”

The White House did not respond when asked why Trump fired the archivist and whether the administration will tell Congress the reason.

Trump has long begrudged the archives for notifying the Department of Justice of his alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left office following his first term, though Shogan was not working for the agency then.

Shogan sees hunger for history without a slant

Shogan said she has been overwhelmed with the public response to the series so far and figures that speaks to a hunger for history shorn of partisanship. The essays have received more than 1 million cumulative views on Substack and her podcast of the same name registered 160,000 audio downloads and nearly 64,000 YouTube views at last count. A documentary about the series is scheduled to air on PBS in October.

In the essays, readers learn something new not just about the giants, but about presidents such as Millard Fillmore — “a historic punchline — best remembered, ironically, for being so forgotten,” in the words of his essayist, former New York congressman Steve Israel.

Then there was Franklin Pierce, presented by his essayist as a pro-slavery president and “permanent victim” of Washington's alcohol-soaked culture.

Yale history professor David W. Blight recounts how Pierce won the presidency for the Democrats in 1852 despite vicious trolling by the Whigs. Fielding Mexican War veteran Gen. Winfield Scott in that election, they labeled Pierce, who also served in the war, the “hero of many a well-fought bottle.”

Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO Greg Abel spends a chunk of the company's massive cashpile

Josh Funk, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:29:32 +0000

Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO Greg Abel spent a significant chunk of the company's massive pile of cash as it invested $10 billion in Google's parent company and repurchased about $4.5 billion of its shares.

The conglomerate that legendary investor Warren Buffett built reported its second-quarter earnings Saturday morning and disclosed that its cash holdings had shrunk to $365.5 billion from nearly $400 billion at the end of March.

Berkshire's report suggested that it had added more than $21 billion worth of commercial, industrial and other stocks to its portfolio, but the earnings report doesn't name the stocks it bought. That won't be revealed until a separate filing later this month.

Abel took over as CEO in January when Buffett retired after six decades leading the company. But Buffett remains chairman.

CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said investors should be encouraged by the amount of shares Berkshire's repurchased although Geico's performance was a concern because its underwriting profits fell 45% and lagged far behind other big auto insurers.

“I think there are two key takeaways that should encourage investors: The fact that they bought back shares after not having done things of this magnitude for several years now. And the other positive thing is the ability to produce the 10% operating revenue growth in the quarter,” Seifert said.

Abel announced in March that Berkshire had resumed buying back its own shares for the first time in more than two years, but investors were underwhelmed when the company only repurchased about $234 million worth of Berkshire stock in the first quarter.

The purchases in the second quarter that were disclosed Saturday demonstrate that Berkshire is serious about buybacks, but it is on the low end of the range that investors were expecting. Buffett watchers had been predicting repurchases somewhere between $5 billion and $11 billion based on a filing Buffett made when he announced his annual charitably donations in July.

The company’s standard is that it only repurchases shares when Abel and Buffett believes they are selling for less than they are worth. They do not plan to spend a specific amount like many companies do. Most of Berkshire's repurchases were made in June. They may not be buying much now as the stock just hit a new 52-week high on Thursday.

Berkshire previously repurchased $78 billion worth of its own stock between 2018 and 2024.

In addition to the Google stock Berkshire bought this spring, the Omaha, Nebraska-based company also completed a $6.8 billion acquisition of homebuilder Taylor Morrison but that didn't close until July so it's not reflected in these quarterly figures.

Berkshire's bottom line profit more than doubled to $25.667 billion, or $17,868.44 per Class A share, on a big paper gain in the value of its investments as the company lapped last year's $3.8 billion writedown in the value of its Kraft Foods stake. A year ago Berkshire reported earning $12.37 billion, or $8,600.89 per Class A share,

But Buffett has long urged investors to pay more attention to Berkshire's operating earnings to get a better sense of how its dozens of companies are performing because those numbers exclude investments. By that measure, Berkshire's operating profit grew to $12.983 billion, or $9,038.30 per A share, from $11.16 billion, or $7,759.58 per Class A share.

Berkshire owns several major insurers, including Geico, a collection of big utilities, BNSF railroad and a varied assortment of manufacturing and retail companies, including Precision Castparts and See's Candy.

‘I just want to win a Super Bowl’: Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs returns to practice after historic extension

Hobie Artigue — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 20:43:38 +0000

Jahmyr Gibbs returned to the Detroit Lions’ practice field for the second day in a row on Friday.

This time, it was as the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

The Lions are giving Gibbs a three-year extension worth $22.5 million per year.

For Gibbs, the hold-in was not easy, but he is thrilled to get back to work.

“This was extremely stressful,” Gibbs said of the process during training camp. “I just wanted to play ball.”

That tough process is over. Gibbs is ready to show this team he can be a tough, dependable player for the franchise as a “bell cow” type of player for the offense.

“I appreciate (the Lions) having that much trust in me,” Gibbs said. “For me, it’s not something that I’m not used to. I think I’ve always been in that role.”

The Lions coaching staff agrees that Gibbs is built for an expanded role in the offense.

“When you’ve got a guy like Jah, he can be a ‘bell cow’ and touch it 10 times and have 200 total yards,” Lions wide receiver coach Scottie Montgomery said. “We just need him to be impactful.”

Gibbs earned a historic contract, but that is not the ultimate goal for the Lions superstar.

“Ultimately, I just want to win a Super Bowl with this team and doing whatever it takes to get that,” Gibbs said.

College sports bill doesn't get vote, but does get spot on the Senate's September calendar

Eddie Pells, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:56:22 +0000

The Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a vote during an all-night, pre-recess session in the Senate that ended early Saturday, though the bill did gain a spot on next month's calendar after the chamber comes back from its summer break.

The measure has been touted as one that would put guardrails around an escalating spending spree in college sports as the industry struggles to adapt to a new model in which teams can pay players.

“College sports is something that needs to be fixed, they have a good solution,” said Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “We got it teed up for next month."

The bill has been on a roller coaster since it was introduced in late May but quickly failed to gain support of the two biggest conferences: the Big Ten and SEC.

Those conferences signed on and saved it from near death late last month after a flurry of negotiations. But as quickly as it was revived, it faced a reality check in the Senate, where lawmakers from SEC states, including Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., were among its biggest skeptics.

Then, as the bill neared closer to a vote, the Congressional Black Caucus and AFL-CIO also came out against it. Amendments dealing with issues that were never part of the bill also started coming up.

All that, combined with a packed list of votes including on a short-term funding bill and the narrow confirmation of Todd Blanche for Attorney General, pushed the PCSA toward the back of the Senate's agenda.

Bill co-sponsor Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said “my colleagues and I have worked hard to end the chaos” that surrounds college sports and predicted the bill would receive support of 60 or more Senators to keep it on path to becoming law.

Co-sponsor, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said she was grateful Thune put it on the calendar.

“This bipartisan bill is how we protect women's and Olympic sports,” she said. “I look forward to its passage in September.”

If it passes the Senate, the bill still figures to face a steep climb in the House, which is more narrowly divided and tried for months to bring the less athlete-friendly SCORE Act to a vote and failed repeatedly.

A rethinking of third-party NIL

Among the bill's biggest features would be a redefinition of “third-party” NIL — the name, image, likeness sponsorship deals that most blame for spiraling costs. Under current rules, schools can share revenue of up to $21.3 million among all players across their athletic program.

But there’s an uncapped amount of extra money to be made via these third-party deals, which are often brokered through multimedia rights companies labeled “associated entities” that sell a school’s promotional assets and move some of that cash to the players in exchange for their NIL.

The law would presumably shift some of those arrangements under a newly expanded revenue share of up to $48.8 million while leaving open the possibility of “organic” third-party deals that don’t come from an existing arrangement with the school. A good example: Caitlin Clark got her sponsorship deal with State Farm because she was Caitlin Clark, not because she played for Iowa, which happened to have a deal with State Farm. (The Hawkeyes don't have such a deal.)

Sports leaders hope this new “retention pool” of money curtails runaway costs. The MMR groups aren’t promising it will.

“It’s going to continue to grow,” Christy Hedgpeth, the president Playfly Sports Properties, said in an interview this week with The Associated Press. “We have a lot of data that proves that they don’t have to be nationally recognizable. On an average roster, you’re going to have far more than 20 (players) who are going to have several NIL deals.”

___

AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed from Washington.

___

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

Stormy pattern moves into Metro Detroit; strong storms possible by Sunday

Bryan Schuerman — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:27:14 +0000

SATURDAY: Mix of sunshine and clouds, a chance of a few thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. High: 86.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mainly clear skies. Low: 62.

SUNDAY: Mix of sunshine and clouds, a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon & evening. Some storms could be strong. High: 85.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy skies, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low: 66.

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy skies, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could be strong to severe. High: 85.

After a dry end of the week with the one exception being a few rain showers for some of us, we will increase the chances of showers and thunderstorms as we look ahead into the upcoming weekend.

A cold front will move through the region to start the weekend on Saturday, well majority of the day will be dry, we will look for a few thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and into the early evening hours. High temperatures remain remaining on the warm side, in the mid to upper 80s by Saturday afternoon.

Better chances for showers and thunderstorms roll into the region by the end of the weekend and start of next week. Some of those storms could be strong to possibly severe. The Storm Prediction Center has placed part of the region under a Marginal Risk (1 out of 5) for severe weather on Sunday, then part of the region is under a Slight Risk (2 out of 5) for severe weather to start next week on Monday. Damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall will be the primary threats with any thunderstorm through the end of the weekend and start of next week.

Expect chances for showers and thunderstorms to continue looking ahead into next Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures remain remaining on the reasonable side of things, into the low 80s both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dry weather works into the region, looking ahead into the end of next week. Expect plenty of sunshine for next Thursday, and into the end of the week on Friday. Cooler temperatures will also move into the forecast as well. High temperatures warming into the low 80s by the end of next week.

How Troy Jackson went from Maine logger to the Democratic nominee for Senate against Susan Collins

Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:47:32 +0000

Troy Jackson stood alongside a small group of loggers deep in the northern Maine woods and stared down State Police troopers who threatened to arrest them.

The lumberjacks had used their trucks to block access to the Quebec border in protest of Canadian loggers who were stealing their jobs by working for less. The blockade, which took place nearly 30 years ago, failed to stop the problem, leading Jackson to decide that he needed to try another way.

“He realized that the only way to change, to change it from the inside, was to be involved,” said Hilton Hafford, a logger who stood with Jackson at the blockade.

That moment set the fifth-generation lumberjack on a path into politics, eventually making him Maine's unlikely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. He faces longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of a handful of races that could determine control of the chamber in November.

Jackson’s campaign has focused on his ties to Aroostook County, a sprawling, wooded region known as “The County” to Mainers. It's where Jackson, 58, says he watched hard-working people struggle to get ahead, fueling his fight against billionaires and corporations. It also is the place that has elected Jackson to the Legislature while supporting Republican Donald Trump for president.

Defeating Collins, a five-term incumbent who has survived other efforts by Democrats to unseat her, will not be easy.

Jackson is a last-minute replacement for Graham Platner, the initial nominee who exited the race after a sexual assault allegation that he denied. Jackson has accused Collins of looking out for herself instead of Maine and he criticized her vote that paved the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to end the nationwide right to an abortion. Collins, 73, who is also from Aroostook County, has accused Jackson of being too liberal for the state.

Speaking to Maine Democrats while he accepted the party nomination last month, Jackson pointed to his logging background and humble upbringing in a rural county as critical to shaping his desire to fight for the working class.

"What I am is a guy from northern Maine that’s a logger," Jackson said.

The evolution of a liberal lumberjack

Aroostook County, among the poorest in the state, is thinly populated but so large that it could easily contain both Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Tucked in the northern tip of the county is Jackson's hometown of Allagash, where pavement turns into the logging roads and where Jackson went to work as a lumberjack at 19.

Jackson said he worked long, dangerous hours. It was not unusual to wake up at 2:30 a.m. for a 12-hour shift on a job that often did not offer health insurance.

“Everyone in that profession works hard for our families. We did follow the rules. But the harder we worked, the more that companies took from us,” Jackson said during his nomination acceptance speech at a party convention in Bangor. “And further behind we would fall.”

The town saw a steady drop in population as job opportunities dried up. Officials shuttered the school in the mid-1990s, crushing those who remembered the glory days of the school’s prominent basketball team, which won a handful of state championships in the 1970s.

Jackson's disappointment with the logger blockade and other labor demonstrations in the late 1990s further cemented his feeling that something had to change.

He turned his attention to running for state office. Jackson first ran as a Republican but failed to collect enough support in a region that was heavily Democratic at the time. Eventually he won running as an independent and then became a Democrat in 2004. He went on to serve as president of the state Senate.

His political positions evolved over time, particularly on social issues. Early in his political career, Jackson opposed abortion and same-sex marriage. He has since reversed those stances.

“The logging industry is a very, very red industry,” said Louie Pelletier, the brother of Jackson's longtime partner, Lana Pelletier. “That’s the kind of mindset he was in."

Once in office, Jackson started to think he was on the wrong side of those social issues, added Louie Pelletier, who was a logger before taking over his family’s wood shop in Allagash.

“Then he never looked back,” he said.

Allagash is divided on the crucial Senate race

There is just one restaurant in Allagash, while a modest museum alongside the banks of the St. John River displays key moments in the town's history, including a framed photo of Jackson shaking hands with former Democratic President Joe Biden.

As of late July, only one campaign sign for Jackson could be seen from the main road that goes through Allagash. Several Republican gubernatorial and congressional candidates’ signs were prominently displayed.

Taking a break from slinging hamburgers during the weekend lunch rush, Darlene Dumond acknowledged that Allagash remains divided on Jackson. She supports him.

With a population of about 230 people, Allagash is defined by the handful of families who have lived for decades in “Moosetown,” where divisions can fall not only between Republicans and Democrats, but Catholics and Baptists.

Dumond said Collins’ long tenure as senator has been a disappointment even if she helped bring in resources and money to the state. She pointed to Collins’ role in confirming Brett Kavanaugh for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, where he helped overturn the ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide.

“Why would our girl from Aroostook County be the deciding vote for the justice that overthrew Roe v. Wade?” Dumond said, shaking her head.

Collins has said she disagrees with the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, but she does not regret her vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

Jackson has repeatedly argued that he will be a strong Senate candidate because he has kept his legislative seat as a Democrat while the region steadily became more Republican, including when Aroostook County swung for Trump.

Still, Jackson has struggled to compete outside Allagash. He failed to secure the Democratic nomination for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District in 2014 and came in third place in the June 9 primary for governor. In 2023, he lost a local race in Allagash — a seat for first selectman position — by six votes.

He has butted heads with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers while in the Legislature, including Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. She ran against Platner for the Senate nomination but dropped out, citing a lack of campaign money. Mills has since declined to endorse Jackson.

Some lawmakers who worked with Jackson have criticized him as having a temper, including once throwing a plastic water bottle on the ground in frustration while disagreeing with a female lawmaker. His inner circle is quick to deny he has anger issues, instead describing him as “passionate” and “competitive.”

Asked by reporters about the confrontations, Jackson said “I wear my heart on my sleeve," saying that he took responsibility for his outburst and apologized to those he had confrontations with at the time.

Hafford, who worked alongside Jackson as a logger, has seen that fiery side but chalked it up to strong feelings. He remembers being in meetings with Jackson in the 1990s where loggers were debating what to do to improve working conditions, and encouraging Jackson not to fly off the handle — even though he wanted to.

“Troy would look over at me and he’d say, ‘Is it time yet?’” Hafford said.

___

Associated Press writer Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.

Anxious students who were unenrolled now moving into Howard University dorms

Matt Brown, Terry Tang And Corey Williams, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:26:29 +0000

Nikiyah Clark had five boxes and a backpack when she ultimately received the keys to her Howard University dorm. Weeks earlier, the school had told her this moment would never come.

When Howard administrators informed Clark — and hundreds of others — that she was permanently unenrolled for missing a tuition fee deadline, she rode a bus from Cleveland, Ohio, to plea with administrators. She left in tears.

“I didn’t just lose my dream. I lost my way out,” said the 17-year-old, who had pinned her hopes on Howard as a peaceful environment and a path to financial freedom after years of growing up in “survival mode.”

Shortly after that, the university notified Clark she was once again welcome to enroll. But as she moved into the Washington, D.C., campus on Thursday, she remained uneasy. She worries that the university might reverse its decision yet again, and hopes Howard will make changes so that other students aren't wrongfully unenrolled.

“I’m definitely not really over that,” Clark said.

While administrators prefer that students, faculty and alumni focus on the school's new academic year, much of the community's attention is still trained on the unenrollment debacle. More than 500 incoming first-year students were unenrolled for missing a July tuition payment deadline, the university said. About 200 students have had their enrollment restored.

It was also reported Friday that Howard unenrolled the students about a month after offering voluntary early retirement buyouts to 600 eligible employees. But Howard University said in a statement that the employee buyouts were unrelated and part of a plan for “long-term financial sustainability.”

For some in the Howard community, the bitter experience has raised questions about the legacy of one of the country's most revered historically Black colleges and universities. Others say such administrative matters won't lessen the career impact a Howard diploma can have.

The loss of HBCU luster

Zy’Aira Blackmon had her heart set on attending Howard, seen as the preeminent Black university in the nation.

But, after her enrollment status was revoked and then reinstated within days, the 18-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, doesn’t feel the same way. The luster Howard once held has been dulled.

“After this situation, most people are going to ignore all the good things Howard has to offer,” said Blackmon, who now will study at Western Michigan University.

When Howard took away 17-year-old Yuisa Davis’ enrollment, her mother hopped on a plane July 28 from the family’s Puerto Rico home to get answers. An administrative official told Karina Polen-Davis and her husband, who was on speakerphone, that she couldn’t answer their questions. Then the official called security.

The Davises say they paid what they thought they owed but the university rescinded enrollment without explanation or recourse.

The school never budged.

“It’s very disheartening just because there’s so many opportunities that’s kind of just been taken from me without me being able to" find a resolution, said Yuisa Davis, who often visited Howard as a child.

Now, Davis is working with The New School in New York City on possible financial aid.

“The difference in how we've been treated has been night and day,” Kenneth Davis said.

Families and university officials blame miscommunication

Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick told The Associated Press last month that Howard simply followed its payment policy, noting that 2,200 students did meet payment requirements.

Unenrolled students and their parents did not properly read school communications about a July 10 deadline for half their unpaid balance, with financial aid factored in, Frederick said.

Those students who did everything correctly “deserve to show up on Aug. 17, the first day of class and meet their professors in class, have their housing assignments taken care of,” Frederick said. Previously, the school had to scramble to find enough student housing and adjunct professors to fill classrooms.

Some students assert they followed the school’s payment requirements.

Blackmon said her scholarship had not been included in her balance owed. After being unenrolled, she constantly called and emailed the school.

“They reinstated me. They really didn’t explain much,” she added.

Ashley Christopher, an attorney and Howard alumna whose son is a sophomore there, thinks Howard shoulders some blame. She is the founder of HBCU Week, a foundation that awards scholarships, and believes students received “bad information" from the school.

“There’s a way to take accountability for a misstep, and also explain that there’s joint responsibility here,” said Christopher, an attorney. “It is not just the parents. It’s not just the students."

Frederick said that how Howard has handled unenrollment and reenrollment can contribute positively to the school’s image.

“All this does is strengthen our legacy and helps us perform as a high-performing institution on the administrative side, as we have been doing in the past,” he said.

A storied and pree

minent HBCU

The nearly 160-year-old Howard is one of about 100 HBCUs in the U.S., with famous alumni including former Vice President Kamala Harris and actor Chadwick Boseman.

Howard has a 6-year graduation rate of 70% and a retention rate of 90%, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The school consistently ranks among the most prestigious private HBCUs, including as the top-ranked HBCU by Forbes.

The university costs more than $66,000 each year to attend. The median income for four-year graduates is about $73,000, according to the Education Department. Frederick said Howard has graduated more Black doctors than any other school in the country.

The “scandal,” as Christopher calls the unenrollment issue, likely will not impact Howard’s reputation as “The Mecca” of Black education in the long run.

“Howard has been the blueprint for HBCUs, graduated the best and the brightest — not saying they’re the only one who does that," she said. "When it comes to overall impact of HBCU institutions, Howard stands at the top of that list.”

___ Tang reported from Sunnyvale, California. Williams reported from Detroit.

With the right preparation, international trips with babies are possible and even fun

Claire Rush, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 11:58:09 +0000

Traveling with babies and toddlers can be daunting for parents. Questions about air travel, what to pack and safety are often top of mind, especially on long-distance flights and international trips.

“Traveling with kids is a whole new world," said Dr. Shannon Thompson, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children's, adding that it's important to “enjoy your kiddo on your trip” as much as you can.

Here are some tips and tricks for parents to travel safely with young children — and have fun with them, too.

Look for amenities like cribs and high chairs before you book

Before you decide where to stay, consider your options for baby-proofing.

Check whether items like portable playpens, cribs and high chairs are offered to guests. If you are staying somewhere with stairs, a balcony or a pool, inquire about baby gates; if they are not provided, see if they are available for rent nearby or consider bringing travel-friendly foldable mesh gates. Pack electrical outlet covers and wipes to clean any dirty surfaces your kiddo might touch.

For babies, safe sleeping is still essential on vacation. Children younger than 1 should sleep on their back on a flat, firm surface such as a mattress in a bassinet, crib or playpen with nothing more than a fitted sheet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization also recommends babies sleep in the parents' room — but not in the parents' bed — for at least the first six months.

You should also consider how you will get to your lodging: Will you fly in and rent a car or take a taxi, or take public transit from the airport? Will you mostly be driving or walking? For parents, these factors can determine whether you want to bring a stroller and a car seat, both of which you can gate check for free when you fly, or rely on using a sling or baby carrier.

Plan for snacks and diaper changes on the plane

“Flying with kids is one of those big, intimidating things,” said Thompson, the pediatrician. “I think the biggest thing to think about is always safety and then of course their comfort.”

While children under two can fly in their parents’ lap, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends securing them in their own safety seat, such as a car seat certified for use on planes. This requires buying a seat for your child.

For long-haul or international flights, ask the airline if they have bassinets available.

Food and drink for babies and toddlers, including breast milk, formula and puree pouches, are considered medically necessary liquids by the Transportation Security Administration. That means they are not subject to the standard 3.4-ounce (100-milliliter) limit for carry-on liquids. The same goes for ice packs used to keep such liquids cool. Let the TSA officer know if you have these in your carry on when you go through security screening.

In addition to snacks, don't forget to carry on diapers, wipes, a portable changing pad and sealable plastic bags for disposal. Bring extra clothes to layer or change in case of accidents or messy spills.

Swallowing and chewing can help with ear pressure, so nursing little ones or giving them a bottle or pacifier can ease discomfort during take-off and landing.

Speak with your pediatrician beforehand if your kiddo is prone to ear infections, and before traveling abroad, ask them what vaccines may be recommended.

Keep kids entertained on and off the plane

For flights with young kids, Christy Slavik, owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel, recommends “having little surprises that you can distract them with” — such as sticky mats for travel-sized play doh, suction cup toys and other games that are small and light to pack.

If sightseeing once at your destination, think about ways to make activities more fun and interactive. For art museums, bring notebooks that kids can draw in, or ask them what types of animals they can find in the paintings, Slavik said.

“Kids need a mission. They need games,” she said. “You have to get creative sometimes when you're traveling."

Exposing children to other cultures, foods and languages can also be fun. Some may enjoy picking out snacks at markets, for example, or learning foreign words for their favorite dishes and activities.

There are options for places to stay that are family friendly, with amenities such as pools or games. For those traveling abroad on a budget, many hostels offer private rooms for families so they don’t have to share a dorm-style room with bunk beds. Hotels and hostels provide the opportunity to meet other travelers, including fellow children who can become playmates.

The perks of traveling with extended family

Helping moms actually enjoy their vacation — and relax amid the stress that can come with planning and traveling — is a core goal of Slavik's travel agency.

One way parents can get a break is by planning trips with grandparents or other family members. This helps with babysitting duties, while also allowing loved ones to have special bonding time with kiddos. Just make sure they also have their own down time and aren't wearing themselves out, Slavik said.

“When you bring grandparents to a vacation, you're giving them the opportunity to experience those moments together,” she said.

‘We saw death and suffering’: Dozens of Nigerians freed after 6 months in jihadi captivity

Pelumi Salako, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:21:57 +0000

Some of the 163 kidnapped Nigerians rescued from jihadi captivity have spoken of the suffering and fear they lived in for six months.

The freed captives, mostly women and children, were among over 300 kidnap victims freed by Nigerian forces this week.

They were handed over to the authorities by security forces in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state, on Friday for medical attention and routine checks, and were anticipating their return home to reunite with their families.

Mary Ishaya recalled days without food, and being asked alongside others to bury other hostages who died in captivity.

The 44-year-old, who had never touched a dead body or buried one before, said: “I still cannot find the right words to describe what has happened to us. We saw death and suffering.”

The Nigerians were abducted on Feb. 3 when jihadi militants stormed the village of Woro, killing over 160 others.

In the hospital where they were receiving medical attention, the freed captives looked emaciated with many laying on the floor, barely able to stand, while others had injuries and emotional scars from their ordeal. Some of the women were informed that their husbands had been among those killed during the February attack.

Some told The Associated Press how they had given up on any hope of returning home. Others recounted people falling sick, being beaten by the rain, and told to hide whenever Nigerian military helicopters flew over the forest hideouts where the captors held them.

Amira Saliu, a nurse who was among those freed, said she helped about 10 pregnant women deliver their babies in the forests.

“I had no choice but to use my bare hands,” she said.

Locals in Woro said they suspected the killings and kidnapping were a punishment for their resistance to the preachings of the jihadis.

Hauwa Saliu recalled how the captors constantly asked the abductees if they had accepted those preachings. Saliu, whose husband was killed in the attack, said she refused to accept them.

“We prayed to God to help us go back home, but it never really crossed our minds that we were going to go back home,” the 30-year-old said.

‘Largest rescue operation ever’

February's attack was one of the deadliest in Nigeria in recent years, and showed how militants who had previously focused their activities in the north are moving south through Africa’s most populous nation, where gangs compete for territory and control of natural resources in villages where they outnumber the country’s overstretched security forces.

The U.S. is providing military support to Nigeria under an agreement it says aims to protect Nigerian Christians, though much of that support is restricted to logistics and intelligence-gathering at the heart of the violence in the north.

Mass kidnappings have come to define Nigeria's security issues, with schoolchildren also targeted.

The victims in the Muslim-majority Woro were rescued this week alongside 145 other victims who had been kidnapped, mostly from the neighboring Niger state.

Local authorities did not say how the captives were rescued from the dense, expansive forest of the Kainji Lake National Park.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu described it as the “largest rescue operation ever” undertaken on a single day, and promised to intensify operations against armed gangs.

Recruitment drive and pay rises for the military

Some of the jihadi militants in Nigeria have presented themselves as an alternative to the government in areas with limited government and security presence.

A key issue in Nigeria is the poor welfare of the country's overstretched and underpaid security forces, which Tinubu has sought to address by recently announcing pay rises and mass recruitment for the military.

The government must find ways to act on intelligence and prevent militant attacks, rather than simply responding to them, according to Sekinat Ojeniyi, a senior analyst at global risk consultancy Africa Practice.

“It is time for us to recheck how much our security apparatus does to prevent” attacks, said Ojeniyi.

Senators head for the exits without meeting Trump's demands for voting bill

Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:15:05 +0000

Senators headed for the exits in the predawn hours Saturday, ending for now a crushing standoff over President Donald Trump's demands that they stay in session to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill before the summer recess.

While they wrapped up many key priorities in the overnight votes, advancing Trump's SAVE America Act was not among them.

Instead, Republican senators who had brought the chamber to a standstill spoke to Trump late in the evening about an alternative plan: They would try again to approve elements of the voting bill as part of a broader GOP budget package to fund the Iran war and replenish the Pentagon when they return to work in September.

“Obviously, with the president at his direction, this is what he wants to do,” said Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the GOP budget committee chairman, flanked by Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rick Scott, R-Fla., after their phone call with the president.

The sudden wind-down after weeks of Trump ramping up his demands shows just how deeply the president is able to reach into the halls of Congress to set the agenda or disrupt it, the executive directing the affairs of the legislative branch. While Trump is often seen as a de facto speaker of the House, he is invariably trying his hand at mastering the Senate.

Trump had poked and prodded Senate Majority Leader John Thune for weeks to pass the SAVE America Act, a bill that does not have enough support from the Republicans who hold majority power, let alone the Democrats whose votes would be needed to advance it in the Senate.

The president has gone so far as to insist the Senate abandon its filibuster rules to jam the SAVE America Act past the 60-vote threshold that is typically needed to advance legislation in the chamber — something Thune and most senators have no interest in doing.

“John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that. But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate,” Trump said in an interview with Punchbowl News that posted Friday.

Trump's pressure couldn't overcome Thune's reality

Thune himself has worked to carefully balance the often unusual demands of the president with the political reality of his slim GOP majority. Republicans are down one vote with the prolonged absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former leader, who said this week he was released from a rehabilitation center and is recovering at home.

“I think everybody’s, for the most part, on the same page,” Thune, R-S.D., said about the trio's call with Trump, adding that eventually the Senate would have to tackle another budget bill.

During a daylong session that dragged for nearly 20 hours, Thune successfully powered through a lengthy list of other Trump priorities. Senators confirmed the president's pick of Todd Blanche as the attorney general, passed a sweeping Russian sanctions package to aid Ukraine, and approved a bipartisan package to fund the government into December in an early step toward avoiding a government shutdown.

The Republicans also tried to push forward a slimmer voting bill that would require people to show IDs before casting ballots for federal elections. It failed to advance, largely on a party-line vote with Democrats opposed.

But the failure to make progress on the SAVE America Act had erupted as an online crusade for Trump's allies in Congress, amplified by activists urging them on.

Led by Lee, a growing group of senators was refusing to adjourn for the summer break without passing Trump's priority voting bill.

At dinnertime, Thune gathered all the Republican senators for a meeting as the standoff deepened at the Capitol. There was no immediate way forward for the SAVE America Act or the broader budget bill. Thune encouraged the trio of senators to talk to the president, which they did, before regrouping back at Thune's office.

"We had about a two-hour conference meeting trying to figure out, you know, what we need to do to, to come to an agreement, to accomplish what the president wanted,” Johnson said. “Then we had discussion with the president, he agrees.”

Lee acknowledged he was disappointed by the outcome, but said he understood the political reality of the situation.

“We are not in a position right now where we have the wherewithal to pass it,” Lee told reporters at the Capitol, after the three senators emerged from Thune's office following their call with Trump.

Near daybreak, when the Senate did call for the vote to adjourn, Lee and others objected with hearty nos.

On the simple voice vote, the ayes had it, and the motion to adjourn was adopted.

Detroit nurse charged with allegedly stealing controlled substances from nursing home patient

Brandon Carr — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

A 26-year-old Detroit licensed practical nurse was arraigned on charges alleging she stole controlled substances from a nursing home patient and falsified medical records to cover up the theft, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said.

Maniya Miller was arraigned in 37th District Court in Center Line on Friday (Aug. 7).

She faces three felony charges: larceny in a building, falsifying medical records and illegal possession of a controlled substance.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, according to the attorney general’s office.

The allegations stem from an incident at a Centerline nursing home in 2024.

Officials allege Miller took controlled substances belonging to a patient and falsified medical records in an attempt to conceal the alleged theft.

The facility terminated Miller’s employment after the allegations surfaced and contacted law enforcement and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, according to the attorney general’s office.

Miller was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

She is scheduled to appear Aug. 19 for a probable cause conference.

The case is being handled by the Michigan Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

Detroit Lions WR coach Scottie Montgomery makes hilarious ‘Next Friday’ comparison about Jahmyr Gibbs

Brandon Carr — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has earned a record-setting contract, but wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said the young star’s success is the result of years of work rather than luck.

Gibbs returned to the practice field this week after agreeing to a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid running back.

Montgomery, who has worked with Gibbs since the Alabama product entered the league in 2023, said the 24-year-old has consistently embraced the expectations that came with being a first-round pick.

“He earned it,” Montgomery said. “He has come in from day one and did everything we asked him to do.”

From Alabama to NFL standout

Montgomery compared Gibbs’ journey to a scene from the movie “Next Friday,” joking that Gibbs was more like Willie Jones, who earned his success, than someone who simply got lucky like his brother Uncle Elroy.

Montgomery pointed to Gibbs’ development as a pass protector, route runner and overall offensive player as evidence of how far he has come since joining the Lions.

“He is what a pro should be,” Montgomery said.

Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns last season while adding 517 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 52 receptions.

With the departure of veteran running back David Montgomery, the Lions are expected to lean even more heavily on Gibbs in 2026.

Redefining ‘bell cow’

Scottie said a heavier workload does not necessarily mean a traditional one.

“When you got a guy like J, you can be a bell cow and touch it 10 times and have 200 total yards, and that’s still a bell cow,” Scottie said.

Gibbs’ versatility gives Detroit several ways to utilize him.

Scottie said the running back can line up in the backfield, as a receiver or in the slot, allowing him to remain a major part of the offense without simply accumulating a large number of carries.

“He can be a bell cow on third down without turning around and handing it to him,” Scottie said.

Growth as a leader

Scottie also highlighted Gibbs’ growth in understanding defenses and protections.

Early in his career, Gibbs had to adjust to the complexity of NFL pass protection schemes, but he has progressed to the point where he can recognize assignments quickly and even help younger teammates.

That development has helped Gibbs emerge as a leader in Detroit’s offense.

“He’s coaching our guys that a lot of them are older than him,” Scottie said. “So, I think that’s the part that we’re really, really excited about, his growth as a leader.”

Scottie said Gibbs is now approaching a stage of his career similar to the leadership growth the Lions have seen from other young players.

“Now it’s time for him to take that step,” Scottie said.

Camp competition, receiving corps development

While Gibbs has received much of the attention following his new deal, Scottie said Detroit’s offense has made significant progress throughout training camp.

The Lions have emphasized competition and physicality during the opening weeks of camp, and Montgomery said the second week is when players begin separating themselves mentally and physically.

“We’re starting to see that unfold,” Scottie said.

Scottie also praised offensive coordinator Drew Petzing for his work installing the offense and making sure players and coaches understand their roles.

“He is a great, great communicator,” Scottie said.

The Lions are also counting on continued growth from their receiving corps.

Scottie said Jameson Williams has worked extensively on improving his ability to make contested catches.

The coaching staff has focused on encouraging Williams to attack passes farther away from his body rather than allowing them to reach him before making the catch.

Scottie said Williams has also improved his body positioning and ability to create contact at the catch point.

For rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa, Montgomery said the focus has been on developing separation through both quickness and physicality.

Goff, St. Brown chemistry a constant

The Lions’ offensive success will also depend on continued chemistry between quarterback Jared Goff and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Scottie said their consistency is rooted in routine, preparation and an increasingly instinctive understanding of each other.

Their experience together has created situations where the two can make adjustments during plays without having to communicate verbally, Scottie said.

“We’re trying to make everything we do look exactly the same until it’s not,” Scottie said.

Work continues despite new contract

As training camp continues, Scottie said the Lions still have plenty of work ahead of them.

But he believes the competition and development taking place now are laying the foundation for the regular season.

For Gibbs, that work comes with a new contract and heightened expectations.

Scottie’s message is simple: The money has changed, but the work has not.

“His financial situation has changed,” Scottie said, “but the person, what it’s going to take for us to get to where we need to get to, none of that has changed.”

‘You guys took my world’: Families mourning teens killed in shooting at Oak Park party

Erika Erickson, Jeff Jewell — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

Two teens were killed, and two others were injured in a shooting at a birthday celebration and pajama party at a short-term rental home in Oak Park early Monday morning.

Family and friends said 19-year-old Dashaun Green and 18-year-old Teris King were shot and killed inside the home on Coolidge Highway, just south of Nine Mile, after “dozens of shots” were fired from outside shortly before 5 a.m.

Oak Park police said they were dispatched to the home at approximately 4:48 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of gunfire. One neighbor told Local 4 it sounded like a semi-automatic weapon, reportedly hearing “40 to 50 shots.”

Devastated family members struggled to comprehend the loss of Green, who was just two weeks away from going back to college, and King, who had just graduated high school. Family members were holding hands, crying, and hugging at the scene.

“Put them guns down,” Dashaun Green’s father, Davains Green, said. “You guys took my world — not just me, the other girl’s mother — the other girl that got shot. You guys took a lot.”

According to Green and family friends, the home had been rented for a birthday party and pajama party.

One of the teens in attendance told Local 4 that about 15 young people were there — many of them teenagers. Family and friends said a group of people who were not invited arrived at the gathering and were “politely asked to leave.”

“They said they left,” Green said, after speaking with a teen who found his son’s body. “About 4-something in the morning, he said he heard gunshots.”

By that time, a 16-year-old, who escaped the home wearing only his socks, told Local 4 that most of the partygoers were asleep when the shooting began. Friends of Green and King said the two victims “didn’t have a chance.”

“My son didn’t even know the guys who were asked to leave,” Green said. “He was in the back where he was found dead.”

Investigators said the shooting scene stretched well beyond the home itself, with evidence markers extending along Coolidge Highway as Oak Park Police and the Oakland County Crime Scene Analysis Unit processed the area.

Oak Park Police and Fire Chief Steve Cooper said investigators are working around the clock to determine exactly what happened and identify those responsible. No arrests had been made as of Monday evening.

“With all the promise that the young adults… had, it’s just a terrible tragedy,” Cooper said. “We’re committed to doing everything we can to find out who is responsible for this.”

“If you got any remorse or heart, just like you picked them guns up and came here, be a man. You know what to do,” Green said, addressing those who pulled the trigger.

“He was a very handsome young man, very well-mannered, very respectful,” another family member said of Dashaun Green. “He was going to be somebody. He was finding his way in life. He was robbed, and none of this is fair. I hope he gets the justice he deserves. Two young lives taken for no reason is heartbreaking. Our family is heartbroken by this senseless act.”

“This senseless act of violence and disregard for human life will not be tolerated in our community,” said City Manager Erik Tungate. “We are dedicating every available resource to this investigation and are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.“

Oak Park police said the investigation remains active.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Oak Park Public Safety at 248-691-7520 or call 911 in an emergency.

St. Clair Shores couple threw explosive labeled ‘BYE BYE’ at neighbor’s yard, prosecutors say

Samantha Sayles — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

A St. Clair Shores couple is accused of throwing an explosive at their elderly neighbor’s yard on Monday.

Jason Showers, 45, was charged with one count of placing explosives near a property, one count of possession of bombs with unlawful intent, two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, two counts of felony firearm, and one count of habitual offender - fourth offense notice.

Megan Showers, 38, was charged with one count of placing explosives near a property and possession of bombs with unlawful intent.

Megan Showers (left) and Jason Showers (right)

On Aug. 3, Megan Showers allegedly lit the explosive device Jason Showers was reportedly holding prior to him throwing it in their 72-year-old neighbor’s yard.

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said the explosive device, described as a red, cylindrical device with the words “BYE BYE,” was extinguished by the neighbor.

Authorities executed a search warrant at the Showers’ home and found firearms, ammunition, and materials for making explosive devices.

Jason Showers’ bond was set at $100,000, cash-only. He is required to wear a steel cuff GPS tether upon release and was ordered not to contact the victim or his wife and cannot return to his home due to the proximity of the victim.

Megan Showers’ bond was set at $20,000 with a 10% option. She is required to wear a GPS tether upon release and was ordered not to contact her husband and the victim. She is allowed to return home after release.

Both are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m. for a probable cause conference.

Jahmyr Gibbs returns to Detroit Lions practice with new contract and bigger role in mind

Brandon Carr — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

Superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs is back on the practice field, and the Detroit Lions phenom has more than a new contract waiting for him.

Gibbs returned to practice on Friday (Aug. 7) after a stressful training camp hold-in, saying that he was relieved to be back with his teammates and coaches.

“The process was extremely stressful because I just wanted to play ball,” Gibbs said. “I missed being out there with my teammates and coaches.”

The Lions recently agreed to a three-year contract extension with Gibbs worth $22.5 million per year, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

Here y'all go pic.twitter.com/YfUIv6fBUh
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 7, 2026

For Gibbs, the deal is significant, but it is not the ultimate goal.

“Ultimately, I just want to win a Super Bowl with this team and doing anything it takes to get that,” Gibbs said.

The 24-year-old Gibbs is entering his third NFL season and is expected to take on an even larger role in Detroit’s offense.

Gibbs said he appreciates the confidence the Lions have shown in him, but he is comfortable with the responsibility.

“I think I’ve always been in that role till I came here,” Gibbs said. “And yeah, I’m ready for it.”

Gibbs also pointed to his development as a pass protector and his improved understanding of opposing defenses as areas where he has grown since entering the league.

“The physical is pretty much all there,” Gibbs said. “It’s just the mental part.”

That development could allow the Lions to use Gibbs as an every-down back capable of running, catching passes and protecting quarterback Jared Goff.

Gibbs said he hopes his contract can also help change the perception of the running back position and create opportunities for younger players.

“We want to open the gates for the younger generation and show them the pathway of being able to do as such,” Gibbs said, citing the importance of being able to contribute in every phase of the offense.

Gibbs said several prominent NFL running backs, including Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, James Cook, De’Von Achane and David Montgomery, reached out to congratulate him on the new deal.

He also expressed his appreciation for Detroit, saying his view of the city changed after joining the Lions.

“Before I got here, everything you hear about Detroit is negative,” Gibbs said. “And since I’ve been here, all I can say is positive things. The people, there’s a lot of good food here, the culture, I love being here.”

Gibbs said he is excited to remain in Detroit for the next several seasons.

The new contract and expanded role come with heightened expectations, but Gibbs said his focus remains on football.

“I knew what I could do, and I was confident in myself that I was going to do what I always do,” he said.

Now that the contract negotiations are behind him, Gibbs can return his attention to the Lions’ pursuit of their ultimate goal.

A Super Bowl.

Tell a friend to tell a friend pic.twitter.com/uK0hDVyVBx
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 7, 2026

Meet the candidates running in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race

Samantha Sayles — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

Michigan voters have decided on the Democratic and Republican candidates running in the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Republican U.S. Rep. John James and Democrat Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are running for Michigan’s governor.

Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot run again.

Local 4’s Ty Steele spoke with Benson and James before the primary election and asked them what Michigan voters are most concerned about, including education, affordability, economic growth, public safety and data centers.

Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

You can watch the full interviews below:

Jocelyn Benson (D)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson has served as Michigan’s Secretary of State since 2018.

Benson framed her campaign around lowering costs, expanding economic opportunity and protecting individual rights. She pledged to work with lawmakers from both parties while promising to challenge those she said stand in the way of her agenda.

When she accepted her nomination on primary election night, she highlighted her background as the daughter of public school teachers, the wife of a combat veteran and the mother of a 10-year-old son.

She said those experiences shape her priorities on education, health care, housing affordability and child care.

Benson called for expanding affordable housing, improving access to health care, investing in public education and building what she described as a government that “saves us time, saves us money and makes our life easier.”

She also emphasized protecting abortion rights and voting rights, issues that have been central to her tenure as secretary of state.

John James (R)

Republican gubernatorial candidate John James has represented Michigan’s 10th Congressional District since 2023. He also served in the U.S. Army for eight years as a Ranger-qualified aviation officer.

If elected, he would be the first Black governor of Michigan.

James’ campaign focuses on economic issues, education, infrastructure and public safety.

When he accepted his nomination on primary election night, he criticized Michigan’s Democratic leadership, arguing that families are struggling with high costs, including energy prices, and that the state needs a change in direction.

James pointed to concerns about unemployment, school performance, infrastructure and population loss as issues he said would shape the November election.

“Michigan does not lack talent. We do not lack resources,” James said. “But Michigan lacks proven, tested leadership where it matters the most.”

He pledged to pursue policies including lowering taxes, reducing energy costs, improving schools, supporting law enforcement and investing in roads, bridges and infrastructure.

Clinton Township man pleads ‘no contest’ to 3 armed robberies at Wendy’s, nail salon and business

Brandon Carr — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:01 +0000

A 48-year-old Clinton Township man pleaded no contest to charges stemming from three separate armed robberies in Macomb County in December 2025, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Anthony Patterson entered the pleas on Thursday (Aug. 6) during a pretrial hearing.

The cases also include restitution for the victims, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The first case involved an armed robbery Dec. 4, 2025, at a Wendy’s restaurant on Gratiot Avenue in Clinton Township.

Prosecutors said three employees were robbed and the restaurant manager was forced to surrender money from a safe.

Patterson pleaded no contest to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of felony firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and a third-offense habitual offender notice.

The second case involved a Dec. 5, 2025, robbery at Starlight Nails in Eastpointe.

Prosecutors said Patterson displayed a handgun and took money from employees and customers, as well as a driver’s license and debit card.

He pleaded no contest to four counts of armed robbery, four counts of felony firearm, and a third-offense habitual offender notice.

The third case involved an armed robbery Dec. 12, 2025, at an Advance America location on Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores.

Prosecutors said Patterson took money from cash drawers and a cash box.

Patterson pleaded no contest to two counts of armed robbery, one count of felonious assault, three counts of felony firearm, and a third-offense habitual offender notice.

He is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. Sept. 16, 2026.

Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election

Kevin Freking And Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 07:59:29 +0000

The Senate in an overnight vote Saturday approved a short-term measure to fund federal agencies into early December and avoid a potentially chaotic government shutdown during the middle of campaign season.

The late-summer action on a funding fix is unusual. Normally, Congress waits until the final days or hours of a funding deadline to pass short-term patches, but this time senators acted nearly two months before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

The 90-6 vote showed lawmakers are still smarting from the two historic shutdowns that occurred this past year and want to avoid another before voters go to the polls.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune wanted the funding dealt with before senators went home for the next five weeks to focus on their reelection campaigns and other matters. It got caught up with other issues that pushed votes into the night, but the bill had broad bipartisan support. The House will also have to approve the measure when members return from their August recess before it can go to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.

The bill generally funds the federal government at current levels though Dec. 11, but includes a variety of exceptions that senators negotiated with the White House.

Democrats secured language to ensure no money could be transferred to the Border Patrol. They also rejected the White House's request of $1 billion for early work on a new “Trump-class” battleship that the administration announced on Dec. 22.

“The only person who wants these golden ships is Donald Trump so he can slap his name on them,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.

Hemp provision became a point of contention

The bill also includes language delaying a national ban on most intoxicating hemp products. That one-month delay prompted outrage from some Senate Republicans who say that too many such products are falling into the hands of often unsuspecting children. The packaging of the products often relies on bright colors and intentionally mimics popular snack brands to attract consumers.

Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said that since 2017 there has been nearly a 10-fold increase in cannabis-related emergency room visits by minors in his home state.

“This is a public health crisis that deserves this Senate’s immediate attention,” Budd said. “Our children should never be the testing ground for an industry willing to exploit a loophole in federal law for profit.”

But the hemp industry said the delay buys time for Congress to craft legislation that protects hemp farmers and businesses while also putting in place safeguards to protect children.

Trump himself has called Budd to discuss the issue, though the president did not specifically ask the senator to drop his effort, Budd’s spokesman said.

“Senator Budd had a friendly phone call with President Trump discussing the legislative efforts regarding THC,” said spokesman Christian McMullen. He said the senator outlined his concerns about “any delay to closing the hemp loophole.”

Budd tried to strip the hemp delay from the bill, but the Senate turned aside his effort.

The bill delays a Trump administration rule on grants

Democratic lawmakers, along with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, also got language in the bill that would block, for the duration of the funding patch, new regulations on federal grants. The regulations would require a senior political appointee to review grants before they are awarded to ensure, among other things, that they advance the president's policy priorities. Democrats worry it's an effort to kill grants destined for Democratic-leaning states.

“They are not interested in making our tax dollars work better — they just want them to work for Donald Trump,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The White House Office of Management and Budget says its effort is about improving accountability to ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted or misused. The issue is sure to be a topic of future negotiations on a full-year spending measure.

But Collins said the vast majority of the nearly 500,000 people and groups weighing in on the rule are opposed to it.

“I don't think in my time that I've been privileged to serve in the Senate that I have ever seen a proposed rule generate that many negative comments," Collins said.

Student kills at least 7 people at a high school and a home outside Bangkok, officials say

Associated Press — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:08:11 +0000

A student opened fire at a high school outside Bangkok on Friday, killing at least five people and wounding more than 20, according to authorities, who said he also appeared to have killed his two grandparents at the family home earlier in the morning.

The 14-year-old shooter took his own life at the school, officials said.

Five school staff members, including teachers and administrators, died in the shooting around 10 a.m. at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province northwest of Bangkok, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said at the scene.

The boy also killed his grandparents at the home he shared with them prior to the school shooting, Polapee said.

Bangyai Hospital, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the school, said 23 people were wounded, of whom 10 were in critical condition, with most suffering gunshot wounds. Earlier reports gave conflicting casualty numbers.

A witness said students hid inside a classroom while they heard gunshots from another building before police officers knocked on the door and cleared a way for them to leave the building.

Amporn Niamfuang, who owns a restaurant 50 meters (160 feet) from the school, said there was the sound of a single gunshot and then a pause.

“And then there were multiple continuous shots,” Amporn said, recalling the narrow road outside the restaurant filling with fleeing students. “Students were running scared and pouring onto the street. Young girls were holding each other’s hands and crying. I went inside to hide.”

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, speaking after touring the school, confirmed reports that the shooter was 14 and had killed himself. He said the student had shown signs of stress connected to school.

The gun, described by police as small and compact, was legally registered to his grandfather, he said.

About an hour after the shooting, people stood outside comforting one another as police and first responders walked around the co-educational state school, which has an enrollment of about 3,000 students ranging from 12 to 18 years old.

All classes will be suspended between Aug. 10 and Aug. 14 and school staff have been instructed to work from home during that time, the school said.

Police find grandparents dead at family home

After the shooting, police went to his home and found both grandparents dead of apparent gunshot wounds, regional police Commander Wattana Yeejeen said.

The student appeared to have shot them before attending school as normal. He waited until classes started and began shooting inside his classroom before walking out and firing more shots, Police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan said.

The boy fired more than 20 shots and police found he still had 30 rounds after shooting himself, he said.

Several family members, including his uncle and sisters of the grandfather who were at the family home while police investigated, said he usually kept to himself and was a good student.

The family members said they were unaware of any troubles he faced at home or school.

Thailand has high rate of gun owners

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, second only to Pakistan and far surpassing its Southeast Asian neighbors.

A 14-year-old boy was accused of a 2023 shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall.

___

Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok and Kaweewit Kaewjinda in Nonthaburi, Thailand, contributed to this report.

High divers take the plunge in the Seine in a new test of Paris’ reclaimed river

Eva Van Dam, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 07:11:18 +0000

Paris is staging its first high-diving competition in the Seine, with athletes launching themselves from a 20-meter platform in front of the Eiffel Tower — a spectacular new test of the city’s effort to reclaim its river for sport.

The event on the Bir-Hakeim Bridge has also exposed the fragility of that ambition: Organizers suspended training Thursday when traces of hydrocarbons were detected upstream. By Friday, the French Swimming Federation said the affected area had been treated, allowing athletes to return to the water and the event to proceed as planned.

High diving concludes Saturday with the final two rounds and medal events, while the broader European Aquatics Championships run through Aug. 16.

“There are things that are within our control, and there are uncertainties that are inevitably linked to any outdoor activity,” said Maxime Sauvage, Paris deputy mayor in charge of sports, sports facilities and equal access to sport.

Among the things within the city’s control, he said, are the massive investments made before the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to make the river safe for swimming, from work to prevent sewage from flowing directly into the Seine to improvements in stormwater management.

“There is always a small risk, but that is also part of what makes outdoor events special,” Sauvage said. “When they work, it is magical.”

Hundreds of people gathered along the riverbanks Friday to watch the divers. Some stopped during their lunch break, while others stumbled across the competition by chance.

Among them was Rebecca Kapogiannis, a 45-year-old visitor from London, Ontario, who was visiting Paris with her daughter to celebrate her graduation. Her daughter had even packed a bathing suit in case she got the chance to swim in the Seine.

“We just headed down to the (Eiffel) Tower today and thought we would walk along the Seine and stumbled upon this and thought it was a really cool activity to watch,” she told The Associated Press.

“I was not expecting a competition to take place in the Seine, but I think it’s such a cool use of this water that runs right through the city.”

For Cynthia Matz, who was visiting Paris with her husband, Sean, the setting itself was part of the draw. She said they probably would not have sought out the competition had it been held inside an aquatics center.

“Anybody can go. I don’t have to know anything about diving. I can just say, ‘This is really cool to see,’” Matz said.

“Having it out in public, people will just stop and go, ‘Huh, what’s going on?’ and stop and spend some time and enjoy it.”

That ability to stumble across elite sport in the middle of the city reflects a broader transformation Paris officials have been pushing for years: turning the Seine from a river associated largely with commerce, transport and tourism into a place where people can also swim, play and compete.

The 38th European Aquatics Championships, from July 31 to Aug. 16, mark the centenary of the inaugural championships, held in Budapest in 1926. For Paris, they are a return of another kind: The French capital last hosted the event in 1931.

More than 1,000 athletes are competing across five disciplines: swimming, diving, artistic swimming, open-water swimming and high diving.

The Seine is hosting both open-water swimming and high diving, placing the river back at the center of a major international sporting event two years after the Paris Olympics.

Swimming in the Seine was officially banned in 1923 amid pollution and the dangers of river traffic. Public swimming returned only in 2025, after Paris and its partners mobilized 1.4 billion euros to make the river swimmable, an effort accelerated by the Olympics.

For many French people, former President Jacques Chirac’s 1988 pledge, when he was mayor of Paris, to make the Seine clean enough for swimming again seemed like a distant dream.

But since the 2024 Olympics, images of athletes competing — and now residents swimming — in the river have become almost familiar.

Around 70,000 people used the city’s designated Seine swimming areas in July, according to Paris City Hall, compared with nearly 100,000 during the entire summer last year, suggesting growing public interest in reclaiming the river for recreation.

Bringing sport into daily Parisian life has been an objective across successive city administrations. Under Emmanuel Grégoire, elected mayor in March, Sauvage said the mission is to “make the entire city increasingly favorable to physical activity and sport.”

“For decades, the Seine was limited to economic purposes, tourism with sightseeing boats, and logistics with ships loading and unloading goods in Paris,” Sauvage said. “It was a river with high levels of pollution that also had a significant impact on its biodiversity.”

Now, he says, the aim is to add another identity to the river without erasing the others.

“Paris is not just a postcard image, it is also a magnificent sporting venue,” Sauvage said. “It is a city that people come to visit, but it is also a city to be experienced by bike, through running, through sport, through play and through swimming.”

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Associated Press writer Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed

The mighty Dodgers are reeling following a 7th straight loss in heartbreaking fashion

David Brandt, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 06:05:16 +0000

The two-time defending World Series champions are in a rare funk.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their season-high seventh game in a row in a stunning collapse on Friday night after the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a 4-3 win when rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a two-run, walk-off homer against closer Edwin Diaz.

“A loss is a loss but to get walked off never feels good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We didn't play a clean game, a great game, on either side of the baseball, but we did enough to put ourselves in position to win a game.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't finish it.”

It was another rough outing for Diaz, who has an 11.00 ERA over 11 outings this season. The 32-year-old is a three-time All-Star, but hasn't been able to help the Dodgers much after signing a $69 million, three-year deal during the offseason.

Waldschmidt connected on Diaz's hanging slider, hitting it into the left-center field seats for his second career homer and first big league walk-off.

“It's the slider,” Diaz said. “The fastball was great today, but I missed the slider right in the middle. I think I was trying to be perfect with the pitch and I'm missing right in the middle — I've got to be better. I'm a big league pitcher so I've got to make pitches.”

The Dodgers were swept by the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs coming into Friday night's game. They still have a comfortable lead in the NL West — 7 1/2 games in front of the Diamondbacks — despite a 10-16 record since July 5.

Roberts acknowledged that Diaz has been struggling since his return from the injured list on July 29, but the manager wasn't necessarily ready to try a new closer. His reasoning was simple: there's no clear-cut alternative.

“Honestly, you've got to look at the options,” Roberts said. “The way some of these guys are throwing, they're not throwing great, either."

The Dodgers still look like a formidable team, particularly after adding ace left-hander Tarik Skubal in a trade-deadline deal with the Detroit Tigers last week. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is also slated to return on Tuesday after missing most of the season with injuries.

And the lineup still has plenty of star power with Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker.

Roberts said before Friday's game that the remedy for the recent troubles was simple.

“We've just got to play better,” Roberts said. “I don't think the standings — I mean they're important, they matter — but I just feel like with the talent we have, we've just got to play good baseball and it'll take care of itself. It always does.”

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Eastern China braces for Typhoon Dolphin, shutting schools and tourist activities

Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 03:31:45 +0000

Authorities in eastern China shut schools and tourist sites as Typhoon Dolphin made its way toward land on Saturday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at about 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph). It will bring heavy rains, creating a risk of severe flooding as well as landslides and is expected to hit Zhejiang province and northern parts of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday. Shanghai is also in the path of the storm.

Forecasters predicted that areas could see 200-400 mm (7.9–15.7 inches) of rainfall over the next few days.

National authorities declared a level III emergency response, the second lowest level.

Many tourist destinations in Zhejiang are shut Saturday and Sunday, as well as all water-based activities, including ferries and cruises.

Authorities in the city of Ningbo, one of the province's largest, ordered schools and other educational facilities shut this weekend and all water-related activities to halt. Some 800 ships are docked at the port.

Yankees rally with 2 outs in 9th inning and beat Braves 3-2 in 10 after long rain delay

Larry Fleisher, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:42:32 +0000

Ben Rice ripped a tying single off the right-field fence with two outs in the ninth inning and Ryan McMahon hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th as the New York Yankees rallied past the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Friday night in a rain-delayed game that ended after midnight.

New York improved to 2-8 in extra-inning games, halting an eight-game winning streak overall for the NL East leaders.

Yankees left-hander Max Fried pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his first outing against his former team, but Tyler Mahle matched him with six shutout innings in his Atlanta debut.

Austin Riley homered in the eighth and Matt Olson went deep in the ninth to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. With the Yankees down to their final out, slumping Austin Wells doubled home a run off All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias.

Amed Rosario walked before Rice singled on a 1-0 changeup.

Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Dylan Dodd entered and retired Luis García Jr. on a groundout to send the game to extra innings.

New York's rally began when rookie George Lombard Jr. reached on an infield single with one out and advanced to third on Iglesias' throwing error.

David Bednar (5-3) pitched a scoreless 10th, helped by Lombard's off-balance throw from shortstop on Sean Murphy’s grounder and García's over-the-shoulder catch at first base on Ronald Acuña Jr.'s popup to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom half, rookie Spencer Jones was intentionally walked and Lombard worked a walk from Tyler Kinley (6-5) that loaded the bases. García, the automatic runner, scored easily on McMahon's sac fly to deep right field on a full-count pitch as the Yankees improved to 5-42 when trailing through eight innings.

The start was delayed by heavy rain and thunderstorms for 1 hour, 55 minutes.

It was the eighth time in 10 games a Yankees starter permitted no more than one run.

Fried spent his first eight major league seasons with the Braves before leaving as a free agent to sign a $218 million, eight-year contract with New York in December 2024.

Up next

In a marquee matchup of Cy Young Award winners, Atlanta LHP Chris Sale (12-6, 2.08 ERA) pitches Saturday for the first time since July 29 when he faces New York RHP Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.42) on Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium.

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Waldschmidt walks off LA with 2-run HR as D-backs hand Dodgers 7th straight loss

David Brandt, Associated Press — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:40:09 +0000

Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off closer Edwin Diaz to give the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 victory over Los Angeles on Friday night, sending the Dodgers to their season-high seventh straight loss.

Waldschmidt connected on a slider, hitting a shot to left center that barely cleared the wall. Diaz walked Max Kepler to start the ninth before striking out Tim Tawa, but Waldschmidt followed with the biggest hit of his young career.

Diaz — a three-time All-Star — has given up 11 earned runs in nine innings this season.

The Dodgers trailed 2-0 early in the game but rallied. Andy Pages' solo homer to lead off the eighth gave them a 3-2 lead.

D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly took a no-hitter into the sixth before Tommy Edman led off with an infield single. Freddie Freeman brought home a run later in the inning on a fielder's choice, cutting Arizona's lead to 2-1, and Kelly had to leave the game with cramping in his right leg.

The Dodgers tied it at 2 in the seventh on Edman's RBI single and had the bases loaded before Shohei Ohtani grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Roki Sasaki gave up two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

Nolan Arenado gave the D-backs a 1-0 lead in the second with a solo homer that barely cleared the left field fence and the glove of Teoscar Hernandez. It was Arenado's 17th homer of the season.

In the third, Corbin Carroll robbed Edman of a ying homer, leaping high above the right field fence to make the grab.

Up next

The Diamondbacks were set to start RHP Brandon Pfaadt (6-1, 3.66 ERA) vs. Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7, 2.76) on Saturday.

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