--> Weeks-long search by police in Michigan ends as missing NMU student found in Marquette Harbor

Trenton Massey, a 21-year-old NMU student, was last seen on Feb. 22, 2026, at around 3 a.m. He was seen on cameras walking in the area of E Baraga Ave and the Founder’s Landing Boardwalk in Marquette. Police said he was likely trying to walk to his place on McMillan Street in the city.

Massey was last seen wearing a black and olive-green coat. According to police, the 21-year-old appeared disoriented in the surveillance video and had difficulty walking.

Marquette police, as well as multiple other agencies, have been searching for Massey since he was reported missing and provided daily updates on the search on social media.

On Feb. 23, police provided a map of the relevant search area where they believe Massey is.

Police suspended the search at around 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 and said they will resume searching for Massey at 9 a.m. on Feb. 24.

Police will focus on the water in the lower harbor near Founder’s Landing.

Volunteers who want to help find Massey are asked to report to the Hampton Inn lobby at 461 S. Lakeshore Boulevard on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. for further directions. Police are reminding volunteers to stay off the ice in the harbor.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Marquette Police Department at (906) 228-0400.

Trenton Massey, 21, was found at about 3:30 p.m. submerged in the water north of Shiras Dock, according to the Marquette Police Department. Volunteers from Hybrid Robotics, an underwater remotely operated vehicle manufacturer based in Traverse City, made the discovery.

Divers from the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body, which was turned over to UPHS EMS and transported to UPHS-Marquette for an autopsy. The investigation remains ongoing.

Nearly two months of searching

Massey’s recovery followed an extensive search spanning nearly two months.

Multiple agencies and volunteer groups assisted in the operation, searching by land, air, ice, and water.

Massey, an NMU student, was last seen Feb. 22, 2026, at around 3 a.m. Surveillance cameras captured him walking near E. Baraga Ave. and the Founders Landing Boardwalk in Marquette.

Police said he appeared disoriented and had difficulty walking, and was believed to be heading to his residence on McMillan Street.

He was last seen wearing a black and olive-green coat.

Marquette police launched a search after Massey was reported missing and provided daily social media updates throughout the effort. Authorities suspended the search Feb. 23 before resuming the following morning, focusing on the water in the lower harbor near Founders Landing.

Dozens of agencies joined the effort

Authorities thanked the many organizations involved in the search, including the Antrim County Sheriff’s Office, NMU Police Department, Marquette City Fire Department, Michigan State Police K-9 and Marine Services units, the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Marquette, the U.S. Army, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, Alger County Sheriff’s Office, No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue, Frontline Strong and community volunteers.

Previous report

Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Tatum was 5 of 9 on 3-pointers in just his 19th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon. Brown scored eight straight points late in the fourth for a 96-92 lead that put some distance between them and a Sixers team brimming with confidence following a surprise Game 2 win in Boston.

“We definitely wanted to come back and respond after dropping one on our home floor,” Brown said. “We can't lose two games in a row in the playoffs. It's tough. So this was a big win for us.”

Tatum and Brown did their part in the fourth, scoring 19 of the Celtics' 29 points.

Tatum buried a 3 for a 100-96 lead and Payton Pritchard hit a step-back 3 to make it 103-98. Tatum, still looking to regain his top form after not playing for nearly a year, may just be there and hit the final 3-point dagger for the 106-100 lead that even sent Allen Iverson headed toward the exit.

Pritchard scored 15 points and the Celtics shot 44% from the floor.

Philadelphia played again without center Joel Embiid for Game 3 as he continues to ease his way back into practice following an appendectomy on April 9.

Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points and Paul George added 18.

“We were in a position to win this game,” Maxey said. "Come in Sunday, got to get one. Got to protect home court and even the series.”

The more games Embiid misses, the more Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have played their way into the faces of the franchise.

Fans were already on their feet when the Sixers brought the ball down in the fourth and roared when Maxey let a 28-footer fly and hit it for an 85-84 lead.

Yet growing pains are inevitable in the playoff process.

Tatum took the lead right back on a goaltending call against Edgecombe. Edgecombe paired his second double-double of the series - 10 points and 10 rebounds — with a brutal 0-for-7 effort from 3-point range. With Boston up 90-85, Edgecombe was whistled for his third foul when he smacked Brown on his way to the bucket. Brown hit both to stretch the lead to seven.

Boston's 32-point Game 1 win stands as the outlier so far of two otherwise fantastic playoff games. What has stayed steady, the team with the 3-point edge wins. Boston hit 16 in Game 1 and the 76ers had the advantage with 19 in Game 2. Led by five each from Tatum and Pritchard, the Celtics made 20 of 47 in Game 3 while the Sixers were just 12 of 35.

“They did make some pretty heavily contested ones, especially late in the game," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.

The Sixers got only a combined 22 points from Embiid replacements Adem Bona and Andre Drummond.

___

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

Curtis Robinson said his wife died April 12 from complications of lupus.

Robinson said he and his wife were separated but still legally married, making him her next of kin.

He said he told Butler Funeral Home that his wife’s sons could handle funeral arrangements, but he requested a copy of her death certificate and a portion of her ashes.

“I just told the funeral home that her sons could plan the funeral. I didn’t want to interrupt with them burying their mother, I just wanted the death certificate and some of her ashes,” Robinson said.

Robinson said funeral home co-owner Charita Butler called him last week to arrange a time for him to come in and sign cremation paperwork.

The voicemail began routinely, but then appeared to capture Butler speaking after she believed she had hung up.

In the recording, Butler is heard telling another employee not to mention the ashes again and to give Robinson “somebody else’s ashes” if he kept asking.

“Don’t bring up the ashes again, but if he brings up the ashes or whatever, I’m just gonna give him somebody else’s ashes,” Butler is heard saying on the voicemail. “So we got some ashes back here that need to be disposed of. I’ll just give those to him.”

Robinson said the message caught him completely off guard.

“Very unsettling,” he said. “Kind of made me feel real sad, stressed out, that I couldn’t trust the funeral home with giving me any of my wife’s ashes like I asked for.”

Butler told Local 4 over the phone she was caught in a family dispute and said his wife’s sons did not want Robinson to receive any ashes. Butler said she was trying to keep the peace when she made the remarks.

“I was just really processing, I was throwing stuff out,” Butler said. “Like, if it gets down to it, if he gets ugly, is really what I was thinking, maybe I could do that. I don’t know, but I hadn’t really decided quite honestly.”

Butler said she has not given anyone the wrong remains.

“I haven’t done that,” Butler said. ”I have never done that, and I had not done that. It was just something that, it was just a discussion that was happening.”

Butler said she apologized and offered Robinson the chance to witness the transfer of the ashes into an urn.

Butler said she also bought a small keepsake urn for him.

Robinson said the apology wasn’t enough.

“If they said that to me, how many other people have they done like this or treated like this?” Robinson said.

Local 4 found no similar complaints about Butler Funeral Home, which has an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Robinson said he is still waiting for his wife’s ashes and is exploring legal options.

The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston.

Los Angeles opened overtime with a 6-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Smart to take a 107-103 lead. Alperen Sengun made a basket for Houston before Smart made two free throws to push the lead to 109-105 with 52 seconds left.

Smart made two free throws with 35.5 seconds to go to make it 111-105. Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer to get Houston within three with less than 30 seconds left in overtime but Smart made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to 112-108.

Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.

Even with Durant out for a second game in this series — this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury — the Rockets were in position to close out the game after James had consecutive turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.

Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers led by as many as 15 early, but were down six in the fourth before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25.4 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three.

James, who had 13 rebounds, then stole the ball from Sheppard and his 3-pointer tied it at 101-all with 13.1 seconds to go in the fourth.

The Rockets had a chance to take the lead after that, but Sengun’s 7-footer was off. James grabbed the rebound and called a timeout. He grabbed the inbounds pass and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his 3-point attempt bounced off the rim to send it to OT.

___

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

Even when he's ailing, he still finds a way to come up with the biggest hit of the game.

After being scratched from the lineup because of tightness in his left quad, Harris delivered as a pinch-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Harris drove a two-run double against the wall in left-center off Andrew Painter to lead the Braves to a 5-3 victory, handing the Phillies their 10th straight loss.

“He's really feeling it right now," manager Walt Weiss said. “We've seen him like this before, but this might be another level."

Harris left the previous day’s victory at Washington in the seventh inning, and the Braves decided to play it safe by not starting him in the opener of a weekend series against the struggling Phillies.

But with Atlanta trailing 3-2, two runners aboard and two outs in the sixth inning, Weiss decided to send Harris up against fading Phillies starter Andrew Painter.

One could hardly blame the manager. Harris is off to a blistering start for the first-place Braves, hitting .326 with six homers and 18 RBIs.

“If the situation showed itself, I was going to use him,” Weiss said. "That was probably the only time we could guarantee he was gonna face a right-handed pitcher. With a couple of guys on and two outs, we took a shot right there. Mikey was ready. He had been swinging in the cage. He was ready for that moment and got a huge hit for us.”

Harris had faced Painter just last weekend in Philadelphia. He homered in a 4-2 victory that completed a three-game sweep.

“I kind of knew what he had,” Harris said. “I just went up there and tried to put a good swing on it.”

Harris looked just fine as he jogged into second base. He didn’t even feel his quad as he watched the ball sail over the head of leaping Brandon Marsh in left field.

“I couldn’t even tell you” if it was hurting, Harris said. “I was worried about the ball getting down.”

Even so, he was immediately replaced by pinch-runner Jorge Mateo, who stole third and came home for an insurance run on a wild pitch by Painter.

It's been quite a season — on and off the field — for Harris. He and his wife, Esther, welcomed their first child two weeks ago, a boy named Michael Harris III. He's known as Trip, which is short for triple.

“It's pretty good,” Harris said, breaking into a big smile when asked what it was like to a new father.

The NL rookie of the year in 2022, Harris struggled mightily to regain the form he showed in that debut season. But he started to turns things around in the second half of 2025, and that momentum has carried through the first month of this campaign.

Asked to explain his turnaround, Harris replied, “I don't think I can, and that's the best thing about it. Just let it happen. I can't really figure out what's going right and what's was going wrong before. I just know what feels good and trying to stay this way.”

The Braves have nine of 10 for the best record in the majors at 19-8. Most notably, they already have a 10 1/2-game lead over the two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies with the season not yet a month old.

“We can't take that for granted," Harris said. “We've got to keep our foot on their necks.”

Harris' status is day to day. The Braves hope he'll be back in the lineup Saturday, but they're not taking any chances.

“We're gonna be cautious," Weiss said. “That soft-tissue stuff can be tricky. We want to use good judgment here.”

Besides, Harris showed he can do plenty of damage with just one swing.

“He’s the GOAT,” said Braves starter Grant Holmes, who picked up the win off Harris' big blow. "It’s crazy. It’s like every time he’s up there, he gets a hit. He’s coming through big time for the guys.”

___

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

Another Wolverine making his way to the Lone Star State! pic.twitter.com/GsFnEY55OT

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 25, 2026

Barham spent his collegiate career at Maryland before transferring to Michigan, where he showcased his ability as a hybrid linebacker and pass rusher with impact potential at multiple spots in a defensive front.

As a freshman with the Michigan Wolverines in 2022, Barham earned Freshman All-American honors after leading Maryland with 6.5 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with four sacks.

He started 12 games and finished the season with 58 tackles, four sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.

In 2023, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten after starting 11 games and recording 37 tackles, three sacks, an interception, and a pass breakup.

Barham continued his steady production in 2024, starting all 13 games and finishing with 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups.

In 2025, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors again, appearing in 12 games with 11 starts. He totaled 32 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

Primarily deployed as an off-ball linebacker, Barham’s 2025 film highlighted his explosiveness and versatility, drawing interest from teams seeking a developmental rush linebacker in multiple defensive schemes.

At 6-foot-3 with a powerful, athletic build, Barham is known for his ability to defeat blocks with quickness and strength. He flashes sudden first-step explosiveness as a rusher and can win with dips, rips, and edge-flattening speed against slower offensive tackles.

Scouts note his elite bend and reactive athleticism, which allow him to make plays in space and finish tackles from difficult angles.

He also shows smooth movement in coverage and strong stop-start ability when changing direction.

While Barham’s motor and physical tools stand out, evaluators say he remains raw as a pass rusher and must improve his discipline and consistency to limit negative plays. His ability to stack and shed blocks is considered a strength, but his edge-setting technique is still developing.

Despite those areas for growth, Barham is widely viewed as a high-upside defender with the versatility to play inside linebacker or stand-up edge, and he projects as a potential future starter once his technique matures.

“It is headed right for us,” she recalled thinking, as she peeked outside, unable to contain her curiosity.

Huddled inside the dark 8-by-8 foot (2.44-by-2.44 meters) concrete shelter with her husband, brother-in-law and a neighbor, she heard roaring, metal slapping on the door and glass breaking.

Afterward, they emerged unscathed, but found the windows smashed out of the one-story brick home in Enid and the roof badly damaged.

The scene was repeated Thursday night across the city of about 50,000 people about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City as the EF-4 tornado hit. It was on the ground for 9 miles (14.48 kilometers), packing winds of 170 to 175 mph and measuring 500 yards across at its widest, said Rick Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

For those 30 to 40 minutes, at least 40 homes were damaged, some blown off their foundations. But no one was killed and only minor injuries were reported.

“People around here have a plan,” Hunt explained, noting that residents of this tornado-alley state are trained to either take shelter in a room near the center of their home or get underground.

Basements aren’t common in Oklahoma because of the red clay soil and elevated water tables that make it difficult and expensive to install them, but many homes — like Hunt's — have storm cellars or safe rooms with reinforced concrete walls where people can take cover.

People here also know to flip on the TV and set up weather alerts on their phones — particularly in the springtime, when the risk of violent twisters is highest.

“Especially in Oklahoma, we have great meteorologists,” said Justin Hunt of Enid, who described the storm's aftermath as a “disaster.”

Storm leaves rubble in its wake

Commercial buildings just south of the city were turned into a pile of twisted metal, splintered wood and insulation by powerful winds that pushed the buildings completely off the concrete foundations.

The tornado knocked down utility poles and left power lines wrapped with huge chunks of debris. A home had part of its metal roof torn off and trees were left stripped of bark and limbs. At another home, a section of one wall had peeled away to reveal the interior of the home with some furniture still in place.

“Usually when we come to a neighborhood that’s been hit this bad, there’s one or two deaths,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a news conference Friday. “We’re just so thankful there wasn’t a loss of life.”

People pick through rubble, clear away debris

Police and fire departments and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol conducted multiple home searches, rescuing some trapped residents, Enid Mayor David Mason said Friday.

“Supplies have poured in already,” Mason posted online. “This is who Enid is in challenging moments — we continue to show up for one another.”

Dave Lamerton of Enid spent Friday morning salvaging what was left of his son Joseph’s woodworking shop just south of the city, along with some family members and a group of volunteers who traveled from Kansas to help with cleanup.

“The tornado just swung right through here and just hit us directly,” Lamerton said, pointing to a giant mess of splintered wood beams, furniture, debris and heavy machinery that was pushed into a massive pile at the edge of the building’s foundation. “We’ve got stuff on the property we can’t even find.”

Meteorologists describe powerful storm system

One striking image from Thursday’s storms shows a tornado in the Enid area with a dark clouds of debris extending in V-shape on either side. That is typical of higher-end tornadoes, according to Mark Fox, the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service’s office in Norman.

It has such a violent motion as winds pick up dirt, debris and things like parts of people’s houses.

“If you start seeing things like this, you know it’s a violent tornado,” he said.

Neighboring counties also reported some flooded roads and barn damage. The National Weather Service was sending two crews out Friday to do damage surveys related to six potential tornadoes in the Enid and Braman areas of north-central Oklahoma, meteorologist John Pike said.

Air force base is damaged

Fences and some equipment were knocked down at nearby Vance Air Force Base, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City. The base was closed until further notice “due to ongoing power and water restoration efforts,” it posted online Friday.

Everyone assigned to the base has been accounted for and no injuries were reported, 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs Chief Ashley D. Hendricks said in an email Friday.

More bad weather possible

More storms are possible through Friday night across south-central and southeast Oklahoma, the weather service said. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday, including in the Enid area.

It was a stormy night in other states, too. In Kearney, Missouri, north of Kansas City, officials reported downed trees, debris blocking roadways and damage to homes on Thursday night after storms passed through the area. Officials said in a social media post that no injuries had been reported. Crews worked to make roads passable by early Friday and were expected to continue cleanup efforts during the day.

—-

Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland, contributed to this report.

The Trump administration's campaign of blowing up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has persisted since early September and killed at least 183 people in total. Other strikes have taken place in the Caribbean Sea.

The military has not provided evidence that any of the vessels were carrying drugs.

The attacks began as the U.S. built up its largest military presence in the region in generations and came months ahead of the raid in January that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He was brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges and has pleaded not guilty.

In the latest attack Friday, U.S. Southern Command repeated previous statements by saying it had targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. It posted a video on X showing a boat floating in the water before a explosion left it in flames.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes.

Marlin is headed to Houston! pic.twitter.com/AlsKqn2tJ2

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 25, 2026

Klein, a German native, emerged as a key contributor for the Wolverines late in his career and served as a team captain during the 2025 season, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

After redshirting in 2022 and appearing in two games, Klein began to carve out a role in 2023, playing in 10 games primarily as a reserve and recording one reception for eight yards.

His role expanded in 2024, when he played in all 13 games with six starts and was named Michigan’s Most Improved Player on offense.

Klein finished the season with 13 receptions for 108 yards.

In 2025, Klein took another step forward, appearing in 11 games with six starts, totaling 24 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown, and serving as a captain.

At 6-foot-6 with a sturdy frame, Klein is viewed as a traditional “Y” tight end who does much of his work at the line of scrimmage.

He shows toughness and physicality as a blocker, using strong hands and a solid base to engage defenders and sustain contact.

Scouts note Klein’s ability to create leverage and accelerate through contact, along with his awareness in traffic to stay on schedule in route concepts.

While not considered an elite athlete in space, he builds speed with long strides and has shown reliable hands when targeted.

Evaluators say Klein still has room to develop, particularly with his technique as a blocker and by adding strength to his frame.

Given his relatively limited experience in the sport, he is considered a developmental prospect.

Klein projects as a potential depth tight end at the next level, capable of contributing as a blocker while continuing to refine his all-around game.

To acquire Moore, Detroit sent the New York Jets’ pick No. 50 (second round) and No. 128 (fourth round) for the 44th pick on Friday (April 24), placing him on the same line as fellow Wolverines alum, Aidan Hutchinson.

Lions trading up to 44, sending 50 and 128 to the Jets.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2026

The Lions selected offensive tackle Blake Miller with the No. 17 pick in the first round on Thursday (April 23).

The College Football Playoff national champion developed into one of the Big Ten’s most productive pass rushers during his career with the Michigan Wolverines, emerging as a team captain and first-team all-conference selection by the end of the 2025 season.

Moore saw action in all 14 games as a reserve in 2022, finishing with eight tackles and two sacks while beginning to carve out a role on the defensive line.

He took a significant step forward in 2023, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors while appearing in all 15 games for Michigan’s national championship team.

Moore recorded 34 tackles, including six for loss and five sacks, along with two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

With the 44th overall pick in the @NFLDraft, the @Lions have selected EDGE @Big8DMoore.

The 2025 First-Team All-Big Ten selection logged 41 total pressures last season, per @PFF. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/H6BCTpyZ0r

— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) April 24, 2026

In 2024, Moore again earned honorable mention all-conference recognition and moved into a starting role, starting 12 games. He totaled 23 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks, adding two pass breakups.

Moore’s breakout came in 2025, when he was named first-team All-Big Ten and served as a team captain. He led the Wolverines with 10.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, starting 12 games and finishing with 30 tackles, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

At 6-foot-4 with long arms and a powerful frame, Moore is regarded as a physical edge defender who excels as a pass rusher. He relies heavily on a bull rush, using strong hands and lower-body drive to collapse the pocket and generate pressure.

Scouts note Moore’s ability to build momentum through his rush and overwhelm blockers once he gains leverage.

His combination of size, technique, and timing allows him to finish plays effectively, whether pursuing quarterbacks or ball carriers.

While Moore has shown the ability to set the edge against the run, evaluators say he can be inconsistent in that area and will need to bring greater urgency on early downs to become a complete three-down defender.

Even so, Moore’s production and skill set project him as a starting-caliber edge rusher at the next level, with the potential to consistently generate pressure and sacks.

--> Detroit Lions introduce first-round pick Blake Miller after ‘whirlwind’ draft night

Lions’ recent playoff history

The heartbreak stretches back further.

In the 2023-24 postseason, Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game but squandered a 24-7 halftime lead, ultimately falling to the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.

General Manager Brad Holmes addressed the team’s offseason evaluation process with candor, acknowledging inconsistency as a defining issue of the 2025 campaign.

“You always have to evolve,” Holmes said. “And when you don’t get the desired results, you’ve got to just look at everything.”

Holmes emphasized that the organization will examine all offseason decisions and processes, but that the foundational identity and type of players sought will remain the same.

→ What Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes said during NFL Scouting Combine

Holmes and Dan Campbell are looking to replenish the roster and return to their winning ways with the No. 17 pick, which was the highest draft slot they’ve had since drafting running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall selection in 2023.

--> Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes explains trading up for Michigan football’s Derrick Moore

Lions’ 2026 draft capital

Detroit enters the draft with nine total picks: one in the first round, one in the second, two in the fourth, two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh.

Notably absent is a third-round selection.

The Lions traded two third-rounders, including a compensatory pick tied to former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s departure to become head coach of the New York Jets, to the Jacksonville Jaguars in order to move up and select wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 draft.

Detroit also received an extra 2026 sixth-round pick in that deal.

The Lions’ extra fourth-round pick came via a trade that sent running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans during the offseason.

Detroit also received a compensatory fifth-round pick after offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler departed in free agency ahead of the 2025 season.

An additional sixth-round pick came in the deal that sent wide receiver Tim Patrick to Jacksonville.

Detroit’s seventh-round pick came from the Cleveland Browns as part of a 2024 trade deadline deal that moved pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland.

Lions first round picks by Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell

• 2025 (No. 28 overall): DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State.
• 2024 (No. 24 overall): CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama.
• 2023 (No. 12 overall): RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama.
• 2023 (No. 18 overall): LB Jack Campbell, Iowa.
• 2022 (No. 2 overall): EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan.
• 2022 (No. 12 overall): WR Jameson Williams, Alabama.
• 2021 (No. 7 overall): OT Penei Sewell, Oregon.

Lions 2026 NFL draft picks

Here’s the complete list of the Lions’ remaining picks in the 2025 NFL draft:

• Round 1: Offensive tackle Blake Miller, No. 17 overall.
• Round 2: Edge rusher Derrick Moore, No. 44 (from Jets)
• Round 4: No. 118.
• Round 5: No. 157.
• Round 5: No. 181 (compensatory pick).
• Round 6: No. 205 (from Jacksonville).
• Round 6: No. 213 (from Seattle).
• Round 7: No. 222 (from Cleveland).

“We’re really, really excited,” Holmes said. “It’s hard to find guys that, I’m not going to say we’re picky, but we have a certain type that we like, and he fits those boxes.”

To acquire Moore, Detroit sent the New York Jets’ pick No. 50 (second round) and No. 128 (fourth round) for the 44th pick on Friday (April 24).

--> Detroit Lions trade up to select Michigan football star Derrick Moore with No. 44 pick in NFL draft

Lions target Moore amid edge rusher run

Detroit traded up six spots to secure Moore amid a run on edge rushers early in the second round.

Holmes noted the uncertainty of how other teams graded prospects.

“He was part of that cluster we were targeting,” Holmes said. “For us, he was our one at that point.”

Holmes pointed to Moore’s performance during Senior Bowl practices as a pivotal evaluation moment, even though the defender did not play in the game itself.

“His practices were really, really good,” Holmes said. “He showed he’s an improved pass rusher, not just off the edge, but inside as well. That’s a very underrated part of his game.”

Versatility key to Moore’s fit in Detroit

The Lions believe Moore’s versatility will strengthen a defensive front built around star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, a fellow Michigan Wolverines alumnus.

Holmes said Moore can contribute immediately in a rotation, spelling Hutchinson while lining up across multiple positions in sub-packages.

“He can set edges in the run game, rush outside, rush inside,” Holmes said. “That’s what he showed on tape, and that’s how we expect to use him.”

Holmes also emphasized Moore’s instincts and willingness to handle the less glamorous aspects of the position.

“You’ve got to earn the right to rush the passer,” Holmes said. “He does the dirty work. He’s instinctive, and that gives him a high floor.”

Michigan background eases NFL transition

Detroit’s front office has consistently prioritized players from programs that run pro-style systems.

Holmes said Moore’s experience at Michigan should ease his transition to the NFL.

“When you see guys coming out of programs like Michigan, Alabama, or Georgia, they’re used to NFL concepts,” Holmes said. “It takes a little projection off your plate.”

While the Lions lost pass-rush production in the offseason, Holmes said expectations for Moore’s rookie year will remain measured.

“He just needs to come in and be who he is,” Holmes said. “We didn’t draft him to replace anybody’s numbers right away, but we do believe he can grow into that kind of player over time.”

Intangibles, work ethic set Moore apart

Detroit’s first two selections, an offensive tackle and Moore — aligned with both roster needs and the team’s best-player-available philosophy, Holmes added.

“When it blends together like that, it’s really nice,” Holmes said.

Holmes credited the organization’s scouting process for identifying Moore’s work ethic and passion for football as differentiators.

“There are a lot of guys with physical ability,” Holmes said. “But the intangibles, the love for the game, the coachability, that’s what really matters. He checks those boxes.”

With additional picks remaining, Holmes said the Lions still have flexibility to add depth but expressed satisfaction with how the draft has unfolded.

“We feel like we’ve got enough ammo to keep building,” Holmes said.

Lions 2026 NFL draft picks

Here’s the complete list of the Lions’ remaining picks in the 2025 NFL draft:

• Round 1: Offensive tackle Blake Miller, No. 17 overall.
• Round 2: Edge rusher Derrick Moore, No. 44 (from Jets)
• Round 4: No. 118.
• Round 5: No. 157.
• Round 5: No. 181 (compensatory pick).
• Round 6: No. 205 (from Jacksonville).
• Round 6: No. 213 (from Seattle).
• Round 7: No. 222 (from Cleveland).

Brad Holmes is live at the podium: https://t.co/8JlKbF2pmG

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 25, 2026

Skenes (4-1), the NL Cy Young winner, didn’t allow a base runner until Jake Bauers’ sharp single to right with two outs in the seventh. He was vying to become the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in American Family Field, previously known as Miller Park, which opened in 2001. There have been two no-hitters.

Skenes gave up one hit over seven shutout innings. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter. He threw 93 pitches — 62 for strikes.

Mason Montgomery and Isaac Mattson completed the one-hitter.

Skenes had another no-hitter close call in Milwaukee on July 11, 2024, when he allowed no hits over seven innings in a 1-0 win. The Brewers’ only hit in that game was Bauers' single off Colin Holderman in the eighth.

Griffin hit a solo shot off Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff (2-1) in the third.

Nick Gonzales’ run-scoring single in the fourth extended the Pittsburgh lead to 2-0. The Pirates added another run in the fifth on Oneil Cruz’s RBI force-out. Ryan O’Hearn doubled and scored on Spencer Horwitz’s single as the Pirates lead grew to 4-0 in the sixth.

Griffin’s two-run single in the eighth put the Pirates up 6-0.

The Brewers made a series of moves prior to the game, recalling first baseman/outfielder Tyler Black and left-hander Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville. They also optioned right-hander Carlos Rodriguez to Nashville and designated outfielder Luis Matos for assignment.

Up next

RHP Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79 ERA) was set to start for Pittsburgh on Saturday against Jacob Misiorowski (1-2, 3.04).

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An unusually large number of wildfires are burning this spring across the Southeast, where scientists say the threat of fire has been amplified by a combination of extreme drought, gusty winds, climate change and dead trees still littering some forests after being toppled by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

In northern Florida, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office said Friday that volunteer firefighter James “Kevin” Crews suffered an unspecified medical emergency while suppressing a brush fire. Crews was rushed to a hospital where he died Thursday evening, according to a news release posted to social media.

“Kevin was the epitome of courage and dedication,” Hilliard Volunteer Fire Chief Jerry Johnson said in a statement. “His sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

‘No way to stop this fire’ without soaking rain

After getting a firsthand look at firefighting efforts in southeast Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters that state officials believe 87 homes burned in rural Brantley County this week are the most destroyed by a single wildfire in the state's history.

An additional 35 homes have been lost to a larger fire burning in sparsely populated Clinch and Echols counties near the Florida state line, Kemp said. That blaze has burned about 50 square miles (129 square kilometers), an area twice the size of Manhattan.

Kemp said officials suspect the Brantley County was sparked by a foil party balloon that touched live power lines, creating an electrical arc that ignited the ground. He said investigators suspect the larger fire started with a man welding a gate outside.

Spread across nearly 12 square miles (31 square kilometers) and still growing, the Brantley County blaze was 15% contained Friday, the Georgia Forestry Commission said. An estimated 4,000 homes in the county were under evacuation orders Friday, said commission spokesperson Seth Hawkins.

“There’s no way to stop this fire,” Kemp said. “They’re having to contain the flanks and the back of it and then, hopefully, we get a change in the weather.”

No fire deaths or injuries have been reported in Georgia.

Firefighters are battling more than 150 other wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.

‘We’ve lost everything, but I'm one of the lucky ones'

Michael Gibson was at his job Thursday at a chicken feed producer when his fiancee called urging him to come home. By the time he arrived, firefighters were already on the road where Gibson, his fiancee and their four children lived. He said he took his family to safety and tried to return to salvage belongings, but police stopped him.

Gibson said the fire consumed his mobile home and one beside it where his fiancee's brother lived. His family has been staying in a camper on a relative's property.

“We’ve lost everything, but I’m one of the lucky ones.” Gibson said Friday. “We’ve been prepared to leave. And I’m truly blessed to have my family and to have somewhere to sleep. ... A lot of people in my county didn’t make it out with the clothes on their backs.”

Jennifer Murphy said she had little time to react when firefighters knocked at her door in the Brantley County community of Hortense.

She said she barely had a chance to gather her dog, Chip, and a single bag of belongings before firefighters urgently helped her walk down her wheelchair ramp and grab a rolling walker from her van outside.

“It was like, 'Get out now, right now. You’ve got to leave,’” Murphy said Friday at the local church where she had spent the night on a couch.

Firefighters are hosing down homes, trying to limit destruction

While crews with bulldozers work to clear fire breaks around the burning areas, firefighters from dozens of local agencies have focused on protecting nearby homes and other structures — clearing away dry brush and using hoses and sprinklers to keep houses and yards wet.

"We’ve definitely had the local fire guys out there literally hosing stuff down,” said Hawkins of the forestry commission.

In Florida, firefighters were battling more than 120 wildfires Friday, mostly in the state’s northern half. Fire crews in Georgia responded to 31 new and relatively small blazes Thursday, the state forestry commission said.

Officials say soaking rain is badly needed to snuff out the large fires, and that possible showers forecast this weekend won't bring enough rainfall. There's also a chance of thunderstorms, raising concerns that lightning could spark more fires.

"It is going to take 8 to 10 inches before we can walk away from these fires,” said Johnny Sabo, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.

He said long-range forecasts predict less than average rainfall until July.

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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. Associated Press journalist Jeff Amy contributed from Atlanta

Despite homers from Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, the two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies dropped 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Braves with the season not even a month old. Atlanta has won nine of 10 for the best record in the majors (19-8).

Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a two-run homer for the Braves, but it was Harris who delivered the biggest hit on a night when it appeared he wouldn't play at all.

Harris was a late scratch from the lineup as a precautionary measure after tightness in his left quad forced him to leave the previous day's victory over Washington.

But when the Braves, trailing 3-2, put two runners aboard with two outs in the sixth against Andrew Painter (1-1), the call went to Harris as a pinch-hitter for Eli White.

After getting ahead 2-0 in the count, Harris pounced on a 96 mph fastball. The ball cleared leaping left fielder Brandon Marsh while Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubón raced around the bases with the tying and go-ahead runs.

Harris showed no pain at all as he chugged into second base, but he was immediately replaced by pinch-runner Jorge Mateo, who gave the Braves an insurance run by stealing third and coming home on a wild pitch by Painter.

Grant Holmes (2-1) surrendered a two-run homer to Turner in the third inning and a solo shot by Harper leading off the fifth. But he lasted six innings to pick up the win, avoiding further trouble by striking out Kyle Schwarber with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

Robert Suarez earned his third save as a fill-in for injured Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias, retiring Marsh on a weak grounder to end the game with runners at second and third.

Painter gave up nine hits and all five Braves runs over 5 2-3 innings.

Up next

RHP Zack Wheeler finally makes his season debut for the Phillies on Saturday after coming back from thoracic outlet surgery. The Braves will counter with RHP Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA).

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Wembanyama — the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award — went down in the second quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday night and did not return.

Portland went on to win the game 106-103 in San Antonio. The series is tied heading into the third game.

“Victor is not playing tonight. Obviously there's a lot that goes into that, but he's doing well and progressing,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

Wembanyama had traveled to Portland with the Spurs on Thursday afternoon while continuing to complete the steps mandated by the league’s concussion protocol. Earlier, he was listed as questionable for Friday’s game.

Johnson said he was going to keep details of Wembanyama’s condition "in-house,” except to say he’s continuing to progress.

Wembanyama was putting up shots at the team’s shootaround Friday morning at the Moda Center.

Johnson said Luke Kornet would get the start against the Trail Blazers in Wembanyama’s absence. Kornet has played in 68 games this season with 25 starts, averaging 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Players must clear a series of benchmarks before being cleared for play under the concussion protocol. The results are compared to baseline neurological evaluations players take at the start of the season.

Any extended absence by Wembanyama could be a massive blow to San Antonio, which finished with the league’s second-best record behind the versatile 7-foot-4 center from France. They were 12-6 in the regular season without Wembanyama.

Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks per game this season. He was also with his teammates on Wednesday evening, when they all donned cowboy hats and surprised teammate Keldon Johnson after he was announced as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year.

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

Twenty-two of the 32 picks were defensive players and the Philadelphia Eagles acquired 2024 Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from Minnesota on Friday night.

Eight teams made their first selections of the draft after sitting out Round 1, with the 49ers kicking off the second day by taking Mississippi wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling. San Francisco traded down twice to end up with the 33rd pick.

The Bills, who traded back three times, ended up with an edge rusher, choosing Clemson's T.J. Parker at No. 35.

Two players who came to Pittsburgh but didn’t hear their names called Thursday went back-to-back at 36 and 37 on Friday. Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was selected by Houston and Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood went next to the New York Giants.

The Bengals strengthened their defense with their first pick of the draft, taking Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell at No. 41. Atlanta’s first pick was Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 48th pick. Green Bay also chose a cornerback with its first pick, taking South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse 52nd.

The Colts got Georgia linebacker CJ Allen at No. 53 after trading their first-rounder in a deal for Sauce Gardner last season.

Jacksonville’s first pick was Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.

The Broncos had to wait until the third round to make their first pick after trading No. 62 to Buffalo. Denver previously sent Miami its first rounder in a trade for wideout Jaylen Waddle.

After losing Makai Lemon to the Eagles on Thursday night, the hometown Steelers got their wide receiver, taking Alabama’s Germie Bernard 47th.

Thousands of fans, many wearing yellow-and-black and waving Terrible Towels, watched various former players announce the selections. They booed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell when he walked on stage.

The Super Bowl champion Seahawks closed out the second round by adding Texas Christian safety Bud Clark at No. 64.

No quarterbacks went in Round 2 but Arizona opened the third round by selecting Miami’s Carson Beck.

Just 16 of the 32 first-round picks were made by the original teams that owned them.

The eight teams that didn't pick was the second-most teams sitting out Round 1 since 1970. Ten teams didn't pick in the first round in 2022.

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

Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom — three of the first four hitters — homered just seven pitches into the game.

Kurtz launched Nathan Eovaldi's first pitch over the right-field wall. Cortes sent another shot to right, and Tyler Soderstrom homered on the first pitch he saw to straight-away center.

The last time the Athletics homered three times in the first inning was against the Atlanta Braves on July 8, all against Didier Fuentes.

Eovaldi had no trouble with the Athletics' batting order when he faced them on April 13 in California, shutting them out over seven innings on three hits in an 8-1 Rangers victory. He entered with a career ERA against the A's of 2.54, his lowest against any opponent he faced at least six times.

In Eovaldi's previous start, he allowed four runs, two earned, in five innings at Seattle.

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

The pair will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was heading to Pakistan on Friday for “bilateral consultations,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed. Vice President JD Vance will not be traveling, the White House said.

The trip to Pakistan comes as officials there have been trying to get the United States and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations.

The Trump administration also announced it is placing economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil. The move, actualizes the administration’s threat to impose secondary sanctions on entities that do business with Iran, an effort to cut off Iran’s key source of revenue: its oil exports.

Here is the latest:

US says detained Kuwaiti-American journalist has been released by Kuwait

The State Department says a detained Kuwaiti-American journalist who was arrested in Kuwait has been released after intervention by the Trump administration.

The department said late Friday that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin had been freed and allowed to leave Kuwait. It offered no other details, citing privacy concerns.

Iran says no direct talks with US in Islamabad are planned

Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the U.S.” Instead, Baqaei said Pakistani officials would convey messages between the delegations.

Baqaei thanked the Pakistani government for its “ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression.”

The White House said earlier Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.

Iranians have long sought work and relative stability in Turkey. The war could force some to return

Sadri Haghshenas spends her days selling borek — a layered, savory pastry — at a shop in Istanbul, but her mind is on her daughter in Tehran.

The family had to send her home to Iran after they ran into difficulties renewing her visa, despite fears that a shaky ceasefire could soon collapse.

For years, short-term residency permits have allowed tens of thousands of Iranians to pursue economic opportunities and enjoy relative stability in neighboring Turkey. But it’s a precarious situation, and the war has raised the stakes.

“I swear, I cry every day,” Haghshenas said, raising her hands from behind the counter of the pastry shop. “There is no life in my country, there is no life here, what shall I do?”

▶ Read more

Bessent rules out renewal of Iranian and Russian oil waivers

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the U.S. does not plan to renew a waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products that are currently at sea. He also said a renewal of a one-time waiver for Iranian oil at sea is totally off the table.

“Not the Iranians,” Bessent told The Associated Press. “We have the blockade, and there’s no oil coming out.”

In an AP interview about the impact of the war on the global energy market and other topics, Bessent also said he had no plans to extend the sanctions relief for Russia.

“I wouldn’t imagine that we’d have another extension. I think the Russian oil on the water has been largely sucked up,” he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Islamabad for talks on reviving ceasefire negotiations

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday.

Araghchi was received by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials upon arrival.

In a statement, it said during the visit Araghchi is expected to meet Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

US imposes sanctions on a China-based oil refinery and 40 shippers over Iranian oil

The Trump administration is placing economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil.

The move, announced Friday and first reported by The Associated Press, makes good on the Trump administration’s threat to impose secondary sanctions on companies and countries that do business with Iran. It’s also part of the Republican administration’s overall ramped-up campaign to cut off Iran’s key source of revenue — its oil exports.

Concurrently, the U.S. this month imposed a physical blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway that is crucial to global energy supplies.

These sanctions come just a few weeks before President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are due to meet in China.

▶ Read more

Israeli strikes kill at least 11 in Gaza, health officials say

Among those killed in three separate Israeli strikes on Friday across Gaza were a woman and a child, health officials said.

An afternoon drone strike near a police checkpoint in northwestern Gaza City killed two Palestinians and wounded two others, according to officials at Shifa hospital.

The Israeli military acknowledged the strike, saying that it targeted “terrorists” without providing evidence or further details.

In the evening, another strike targeted a police vehicle in southern Gaza, killing at least seven, according to officials at Nasser hospital. A third strike in northern Gaza killed a woman and a child, health officials at Shifa hospital said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the evening strikes.

Deadly Israeli strikes are a near-daily threat in Gaza, where more than 790 Palestinians have been killed despite a ceasefire with Hamas since October, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Leavitt says Vance is willing to go to Pakistan ‘if we feel it’s a necessary use of his time’

Leavitt told reporters the president decided to send Witkoff and Kushner “to hear the Iranians out.”

“We’ve certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days,” Leavitt said. She did not offer any details about what U.S. officials were hearing.

Witkoff and Kushner dispatched to Pakistan for new talks with Iranian foreign minister

President Donald Trump is sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday to continue talks with Iran, the White House said Friday.

White House press secretary Karolien Leavitt said in an interview on Fox News Channel that the two will have talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“We’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward to a deal,” Leavitt said.

She said that Vice President JD Vance would not be traveling but that he remains “deeply involved.”

Leavitt said he will be in the U.S., along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president’s national security team, on “standby” to fly to Pakistan “if necessary.”

Lebanon’s health ministry raises death toll to 2,491

The ministry included figures released Friday that 7,719 people were wounded in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out March 2.

It was the first time the ministry has released new figures since April 17, when a ceasefire went into effect.

Despite the ceasefire, the death toll rose by 197 in one week because bodies were apparently recovered from areas that previously had been out of reach.

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu says he was treated for prostate cancer and is now healthy

It’s his first public acknowledgment of the diagnosis.

He said that roughly a year and a half ago he had prostate surgery. Then two and a half months ago, his doctors discovered and treated a small tumor at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital with radiation therapy. That was not announced at the time.

“I requested to delay its publication by two months so that it would not be released at the height of the war” against Iran, the 76-year-old Israeli leader said, to prevent “more false propaganda against Israel.”

He said he was healthy and called the tumor a “minor medical issue.”

Netanyahu’s health was the subject of speculation during the early weeks of the war with Iran as fake, AI-generated images circulated suggesting he had died, including on Iranian state media.

▶ Read more

Businesses dole out up to $4 million to cross Panama Canal during Strait of Hormuz chokehold

That’s according to the Panama Canal Authority.

While passage through the waterway usually comes at a flat rate via reservations, companies without reservations can cross by paying an additional fee in an auction for slots, which are awarded to the highest bidder rather than waiting for days off the coast of Panama City.

That price has ballooned in recent weeks as Iran and the United States have bottlenecked the key shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, and demand for those slots has skyrocketed. Ships have increasingly traveled through the Panama Canal as shipments are rerouted and buyers purchase from other countries to avoid commerce through the now-treacherous Middle Eastern waterway.

“With all the bombings, the missiles, the drones ... companies are saying it’s safer and less expensive to cross through the Panama Canal,” said Rodrigo Noriega, a lawyer and analyst in Panama City. “All of this is affecting global supply chains.”

▶ Read more

Netanyahu says Israel and the US are operating in ‘full cooperation’ on Iran

“The same is true in Lebanon: We have begun a process to achieve a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it is clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday in a video statement released by his office. He was referring to direct negotiations underway between the two countries — which don’t have formal diplomatic relations — for the first time in decades.

Israel says it struck Hezbollah sites after rocket fire from Lebanon

The Israeli military said it hit sites from which rockets were launched toward the town of Shtula a day earlier.

The strikes targeted the town of Deir Aames, which is outside the border area in Lebanon that Israeli forces have declared a buffer zone and continued to occupy since a 10-day truce was implemented last week. Earlier Friday, the Israeli military issued a warning for residents of Deir Aames to leave.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension to the Israel-Hezbollah truce, but both sides have continued to fire at each other.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says meeting in Saudi Arabia was productive

In a Telegram post Friday, Zelenskyy said his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was productive and that both countries are developing a strategic security agreement.

The agreement includes three elements, he said: exporting Ukraine’s defense expertise and capabilities, expanding energy cooperation, and strengthening food security.

“We are working together to strengthen our nations and partners. We have defined tasks for our teams and I expect their prompt and full implementation,” he said.

Saudi Arabia, along with other Mideast countries, has been targeted by missile and drone attacks from Iran since the war began.

Iran’s top diplomat says purpose of tour is to consult on regional developments

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that the purpose of his upcoming tour to Islamabad, Pakistan; Muscat, Oman; and Moscow is to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.”

Araghchi’s comments didn’t address any possible resumption of talks with the U.S., but Pakistani officials have been intensifying efforts in recent weeks to get the U.S. and Iran to a second round of ceasefire negotiations.

Hezbollah legislator says extension of ceasefire is ‘meaningless’

Ali Fayyadh said in comments Friday that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that was extended for three weeks the day before has no meaning as long as Israel continues its attacks, targeted killings and strikes on Lebanese villages.

Since the 10-day ceasefire went into effect last Friday it has been repeatedly violated by both sides.

Fayyadh said every Israeli attack against any Lebanese target, regardless of its nature, gives his group that right to respond appropriately.

He added that any ceasefire that doesn’t constitute a prelude to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory affirms the Lebanese people’s “inalienable and final right to resist” the occupation and expel it from our land in order to restore full Lebanese sovereignty.

Lebanon’s president calls on European Union to hold conference for reconstruction of his country

President Joseph Aoun’s comments Friday came during a visit to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus where he’s a guest at the European Union summit.

Aoun said in a speech that “Lebanon’s stability is part of the region’s stability.”

He added that Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts. He was apparently referring to Iran, which has put a permanent ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group on top of its list in talks with the U.S..

Aoun said Lebanon, like other countries in the region, “places great importance on de-escalation, stability, and peace.”

Aoun used World Bank figures, saying the Israel-Hezbollah was has caused damage worth $1.4 billion to Lebanon’s infrastructure and that 38,000 housing units were destroyed.

He said 150,000 people in Lebanon are without homes.

US protected ships from Iran in Strait of Hormuz during ‘Tanker war’ in the ’80s. Could it again?

Today, offering escorts in the Strait of Hormuz wouldn’t be so easy. Military technology has advanced since the “Tanker war.”

The U.S. hasn’t defined the same clear, narrow goals in this war as it did in the 1980s. And it’s not clear international shippers would feel safe even with an American Navy escort given it’s a combatant now.

The U.S. Navy has long been familiar with the small boat tactics deployed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has adapted to international sanctions blocking its ability to access military vessels by using smaller civilian ships for military purposes.

For years, the Guard has used vessels the size of small commercial fishing boats to shadow American aircraft carriers whenever they pass through the strait. Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.

Using those small boats, Iran seized two cargo ships this week.

▶ Read more

A surge for Intel sends tech stocks higher on Wall Street and crude oil prices swing some more

A surge for Intel following a blowout profit report is leading technology stocks higher, while oil prices keep swinging in the wait for what’s next with the Iran war.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2% early Friday and pulled near its all-time high set Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 74 points, while the Nasdaq composite jumped a market-leading 0.7%.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June was down 0.4% at $104.67 after yo-yoing between roughly $103 and $107.

European stock markets were modestly lower and Asian markets closed mixed.

▶ Read more

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov

In a statement in Islamabad, the foreign ministry said Lavrov appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role” in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.

Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to supporting efforts that promote dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes, it said.

Both sides agreed to remain in contact, it added.

Israeli military confirms a drone downed over Lebanon

The army said in a statement Friday that a remotely piloted aircraft was downed in southern Lebanon following the launch of a small surface-to-air missile by the militant group Hezbollah.

The military said the incident is under review.

The statement came after Hezbollah said it shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over the outskirts of the southern city of Tyre.

Malaysia in talks with Iran to let two tankers pass

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that his government is in talks with Iran to allow two Malaysian-owned tankers carrying fuel supplies to pass through.

The vessels have exited the Strait of Hormuz but face severe restrictions despite earlier clearance given by the Iranian government, he was cited as saying by the national Bernama news agency. He didn’t provide further details.

One Malaysian vessel has earlier reached home and another is expected to enter Malaysian waters soon, he said. Another is stranded at port due to technical problems, he added.

Hegseth says any new Iranian mine laying would violate the ceasefire with the US

Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon on Friday that the military is prepared to deal with any Iranian ships that “recklessly and irresponsibly” lay more mines.

But he said he wouldn’t speculate on reports that it will likely take six months to clear mines in the strait. The Associated Press reported that the Pentagon gave that timeline in a classified briefing to lawmakers this week.

Hegseth was responding to statements from President Trump who said Thursday that he has ordered the military to “ shoot and kill ” small Iranian boats deploying mines.

Hegseth said the U.S. is confident it can clear any mines it identifies “and would encourage other countries to be a part of such an effort as well.”

White House didn’t immediately respond to questions on Iran’s foreign minister going to Pakistan

And it didn’t respond to questions on whether the U.S. would send a delegation.

Crews of seized tankers remain in US custody

The crews of all three merchant vessels seized by the U.S. military over the past week are still in U.S. custody, Gen. Dan Caine said at a briefing Friday.

“We will continue to conduct similar maritime interdiction actions and activities in the Pacific and Indian Oceans against Iranian ships and vessels of the Dark Fleet,” Caine said.

Caine also said the crew of the Tousca, the first merchant ship seized by U.S. forces Sunday, “repeatedly ignored U.S. warnings” over a six-hour period. Caine said this behavior prompted the crew of the Navy destroyer following the ship to fire five warning shots.

“The vessel and her crew continued to ignore warnings and, after exhausting all other measures, CENTCOM authorized disabling fire against the Tousca,” Caine said. Then, according to Caine, the destroyer disabled the ship’s engine by firing nine inert rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch guns “precisely into the engine room and engine space on board the Tousca.”

“Not surprisingly, the vessel then reported issues with their engine, went dead in the water and began to comply with U.S. directions,” Caine added.

Hegseth criticizes European allies for inaction on the Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. secretary of defense suggested traditional U.S. allies in Europe are “free-riding” and being disloyal by not using their own forces to open the Strait of Hormuz that’s been closed because of President Trump’s Iran war.

“We are not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do,” Hegseth insisted. He mocked a recent European confab, saying U.S. allies “might want to start doing less talking” instead of holding “a fancy conference” and “a silly conference.”

Iran’s maneuver to choke off the strait has disrupted global energy supplies — especially in Europe, where many leaders remain frustrated. French President Emmanuel Macron said at one point that the U.S. can’t complain about a lack of support “in an operation they chose to undertake alone.”

Hegseth’s broadsides echo Trump’s swipes that other nations should “Go get your own oil!” and “start learning how to fight for yourself.”

The players remained backstage while the 15 other NFL draft prospects in attendance made their way to the stage to hug NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected in the first round.

McDonald and Hood's time would have to wait until Friday, though not for very long.

The Houston Texans selected McDonald, the burly 6-foot-3, 326-pound defensive tackle from Ohio State with the fourth pick of the second round. Hood, a cornerback from Tennessee, went to the New York Giants with the next selection.

McDonald chose to return to the green room on Friday, though this time he had traded the suit he had on Thursday while walking the red carpet for a far more casual fit. Wearing a black short-sleeved button down shirt, a white T-shirt and a chain, McDonald was visibly shaken as he made the slightly delayed talk toward Goodell.

The commissioner and McDonald embraced for a long moment, the tears streaking down McDonald's face hard to miss.

“It’s emotional man,” McDonald said. “I knew I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so blessed.”

McDonald added he's blessed to join the Texans, who finished last season with the NFL's top-ranked defense and bludgeoned the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round of the playoffs.

Asked what he can add to a unit that's already among the league's best, McDonald didn't hesitate.

“Disruptive, making it easier for the (defensive) end,” McDonald said. “We all go to work.”

While McDonald stuck around, Hood did not, opting to head home to Atlanta instead, where Hood said he felt more comfortable because he could be surrounded by even more friends and family.

When Hood's name was called by Goodell, who had former Giants star defensive end Osi Umenyiora at his side, the videoboard behind them merely flashed a picture of Hood wearing Tennessee orange.

“Way to go Colton,” Goodell said before retreating backstage before the next selection.

The distance between the epicenter of the NFL universe this weekend and Atlanta did little to dampen the joy Hood felt when a lifelong dream was realized.

While sitting around on Thursday was disappointing, Hood doesn't view having to wait an additional 24 hours as a bad thing.

“I know God does everything for a reason,” he said. "He was probably preventing me from something, or he has something better in store for me and that being the Giants.”

Hood admitted he was a little surprised he heard from New York. Maybe he shouldn't have been. First-year Giants coach John Harbaugh coached Hood's uncle, former NFL defensive back Roderick Hood, when both were in Philadelphia in the early 2000s.

If anything, what happened on Thursday night just added a significantly large chip to Hood's shoulder.

Asked if the perceived first-round snub is motivation, Hood said "for sure, but I’d say it’s more just wanting to prove the Giants right and just thanking them for taking the chance on me.”

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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.

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