We are following through on a viewer’s request to revisit a previous KSAT investigation into Jaime Aquino’s travel.

In 2024, KSAT Investigates found SAISD spent $21,000 on Aquino’s 22 trips at the time, which included conferences in tropical destinations, celebrity speakers and “rightsizing research trips.”

New records reviewed by KSAT Investigates show the spending and travel hasn’t stopped.

Financial woes

San Antonio ISD has spent the spring looking for ways to cut its $46 million deficit in half, while also searching for its next superintendent.

In March, Aquino announced he would retire from the district in January 2027. He became the district’s superintendent in May 2022.

Aquino has been the subject of multiple KSAT Investigates stories in recent years, many of which focus on the district’s spending.

A January 2024 KSAT investigation revealed, under Aquino’s watch, the district spent more than $9 million from its 2020 bond at campuses that were scheduled to shut down.

Two months later, KSAT Investigates learned how misinformation from the district and inadequate heating during winter weather in January 2024 contributed to dozens of schools to close down for multiple days.

The district also spent nearly $500,000 on a single expense: a consultant. Tens of thousands were also spent on attorneys to review media records requests while SAISD was strapped for cash.

Teachers like Cynthia Beaver hopes the district’s next leader focuses on finances.

“Stop with the frivolous spending and the things that we don’t need,” she said.

From D.C. to Harvard to Houston, Aquino’s travel spending persisted during budget cuts

Since Aquino began leading SAISD in 2022, records show the district has spent at least $36,000 on his travel.

Fifteen of those trips happened after KSAT’s first story about his district-funded trips, which amounted to around $14,000.

Records revealed Aquino traveled to Washington D.C. in February 2025 to speak on an education panel at a celebration of the achievements and contributions of Dominican Americans. He was invited by Congressman Adrian Espaillat (D-NY). Records show that trip cost the district around $700.

Aquino traveled to Harvard University in Massachusetts in July 2025 for 5-day public education leadership project. Records show the district paid $588.73 for meals, lodging and airfare.

Receipts and emails show Aquino traveled to Houston ISD at least twice in 2025.

Houston is about a three-hour drive from San Antonio. Instead, records show Aquino flew there. Airfare for Aquino’s two-day trip to Houston ISD in July 2025 cost the district $569.05, while another plane ticked for a two-day visit in September 2025 was $543.79.

Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles invited Aquino, according to emails reviewed by KSAT Investigates. Miles founded charter network Third Future Schools, which is taking over three SAISD schools.

“No more trips,” said Rose Hill, who lives in SAISD.

With the current deficit and changes, she believes now is the time for the district to tighten its purse strings.

“Right now, our schools are hurting,” she said. “I think we need to cut back on the trips. We need to get back on everything until we get our finances under control.”

Hill wanted to know how Aquino’s trips are benefitting the community — and KSAT Investigates wanted to know too.

Last month, we reached out to the district to ask for an interview to ask how the trips benefitted students and staff and the fiscal health of the district, as well as the impact of Third Future Schools.

SAISD’s Chief Communications Officer Laura Short refused to make Aquino available for an interview with KSAT Investigates, despite us providing several dates.

We emailed the following questions to Short:

• How have these trips benefitted SAISD students and their education?
• With the district facing a $46M deficit and looking to make cuts, how do you justify spending $14,000 of taxpayer dollars on trips, which are mainly out of state?
• What do you say to those who believe this money could be better spent to support students?
• Two of the trips last year were to Houston ISD schools. The superintendent at the time is now tied to Third Future schools.
• • Why was SAISD going to meet them in Houston?
  • How does the district justify spending over $1,000 on flights to Houston instead of driving?

In a statement, Short defended Aquino’s extensive travel. The statement did not directly answer KSAT’s questions.

“Leading a large urban school district like SAISD requires staying connected to what’s working – and what isn’t – across similar districts. Travel to national and regional education conferences, along with campus visits in comparable districts, is purposeful professional work focused on improving student outcomes. These convenings provide direct access to peers facing the same challenges, allowing SAISD to compare strategies, adopt proven practices, and avoid costly mistakes. The insights gained are applied to support educators, improve systems, and make more informed decisions for students and taxpayers.”

Laura Short

Know something the public should know about SAISD? Reach out to Daniela at dibarra@ksat.com

Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.

There were no reports of deaths after the tornadoes cut across the state's southwest late Wednesday evening, said Scott Simmons, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

He said 12 of those hurt were transported from a hard-hit trailer park in the small community of Bogue Chitto, about an hour's drive south of the state capital in rural Lincoln County.

Most of the two dozen homes at Gene’s Mobile Home Supply were flattened into heaps of splintered boards and twisted metal. People picked through the debris Thursday morning under cloudy skies as a chain saw buzzed in the background.

Krystal Miller and six others — including babies as young as 4 weeks old — grabbed a Bible and sheltered in their home's hallway when the tornado sent the building cartwheeling through the air.

“We just flipped, and it threw us all out,” she said. “It scattered everybody out. ... I can’t find the Bible.”

She said her young son was in the hospital for monitoring and another child was injured in the face.

“The trailer is in pieces but we made it out,” Miller said. “I'm feeling grateful.”

One intact trailer lay flipped on its roof near the tree line. Several cars, some with hazard lights blinking, appeared to have been picked up by the storm.

“We know there were at least three tornadoes,” said Daniel Lamb, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office in Jackson.

“The same storm produced at least two tornadoes from Franklin, Lincoln into Lawrence counties, and then there was another one from Lamar possibly into Forest County.”

He said there may have been more. “Those are just the ones that we are able to confirm by radar before even having gone down there.”

“Pray for Mississippi,” Gov. Tate Reeves posted online, saying the state Emergency Management Agency was coordinating response efforts.

Many roads were still blocked in Lincoln County and teams from the agency were assessing the damage.

“We ask that you please refrain from sightseeing as crews are working,” the department posted early Thursday.

The governor said a volunteer rescue group was providing a 50-person shelter pod, a high-powered generator and 10 pallets of supplies to the county, which reported at least 200 damaged homes.

Lamar County to the southeast reported about 275 homes damaged, according to the state emergency management agency. Another 10 to 12 homes were damaged in Lawrence County.

More storms were expected Thursday with the possibility of tornadoes across parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida, the weather service said. Strong storms also were possible for parts of the Carolinas and Texas.

____

McCormack reported from Concord, New Hampshire.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman entered the pleas Thursday in Boulder County District Court. He now faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the attack in downtown Boulder last June 1.

Soliman’s attorneys revealed he would plead guilty in a Sunday court filing in a related federal case. Soliman has meanwhile pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges.

Prosecutors are weighing whether to seek the death penalty in the federal case, according to his attorneys.

Soliman initially pleaded not guilty in state court to murder and dozens of attempted murder and assault charges for throwing two Molotov cocktails at demonstrators at a pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder, a city of 100,000 people northwest of Denver that’s home to the University of Colorado.

An 82-year-old woman who was injured in the attack later died. A dozen others were also injured.

Soliman is an Egyptian national who federal authorities say was living in the U.S. illegally. Investigators allege he planned the attack for a year and was driven by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.”

Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Tara Winer said the victims included some of her close friends.

“It was a horrific attack,” Winer said by email this week. “Their lives were changed forever.”

Soliman’s federal attorneys have said in court filings the attack “was profoundly inconsistent” with Soliman’s prior conduct and “came as a total shock to his family.”

Soliman had been living with his family in a two-bedroom apartment in Colorado Springs — about 97 miles (156 kilometers) away — at the time of the attack. He had moved to the U.S. from Kuwait in 2022 with his wife and their five children and worked in a series of low-paying jobs.

The couple divorced in April.

Investigators allege Soliman told them he intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration at Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall. He threw two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had with him while yelling, “Free Palestine!”

Police said he told them he got scared because he had never hurt anyone before.

Federal prosecutors allege the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual connection to Israel. Soliman’s federal defense lawyers argue he should not have been charged with hate crimes because he was motivated by opposition to Zionism, the political movement to establish and sustain a Jewish state in Israel.

An attack motivated by someone’s political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law.

State prosecutors have identified 29 victims in the attack. Thirteen were physically injured. The others were nearby and considered victims because they could have been hurt. A dog was also injured in the attack, and Soliman has been charged with animal cruelty.

Soliman’s wife, Hayam El Gamal, and their children spent 10 months in immigration detention until a federal judge in Texas ordered their release in April.

An immigration appeals court had dismissed their case to stay in the U.S. and issued a deportation order. But U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio allowed their release on the condition that El Gamal and her oldest child, who is 18, wear electronic monitoring.

Soliman’s attorneys seek to block the family’s deportation until a judge determines they won’t need to be present for court proceedings in his federal case.

“This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease,” Maria Van Kerkhove, director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization, told the Associated Press. “Most people will never be exposed to this.”

No cases have been reported to the Metropolitan Health District in San Antonio, according to a spokesperson.

KSAT asked Dr. Jason Bowling, an infectious disease specialist with University Health and UT Health San Antonio, to explain what hantavirus is, who is most at risk and what people can do to protect themselves.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is not a single virus — it’s a family. There are at least 40 known hantaviruses, and at least 22 of those are known to cause infections in humans, Bowling said.

The World Health Organization classifies it as a serious infectious disease, and for good reason.

In the United States, the mortality rate for hantavirus infection hovers around 35% — meaning roughly one in three people who contract it will develop a potentially life-threatening condition known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, according to Bowling

“So they get into basically respiratory failure as the infection progresses,” he said.

Can people get tested in San Antonio?

Testing for hantavirus is not widely available locally because the disease is so uncommon.

“Testing, since it’s such a rare disease, is a little bit difficult to come by,” Bowling said. “The testing basically tests for antibodies to see if your body has seen it before.”

Because the disease is so rare, testing without a clear high-risk exposure history runs the risk of a false positive result. Labs in the San Antonio area do not carry the test locally — it must be sent out. Physicians will typically assess a patient’s risk of exposure before ordering the test, Bowling said.

How do people get it?

The most common route of transmission is exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva — making it primarily a mouse-borne illness.

“It’s very rare that it is transferred from person to person,” Bowling said.

That person-to-person strain is found in Argentina and Chile — not in the United States. Domestic cases typically occur when someone cleans out an enclosed space — a cabin, barn or similar area — where mice have been active, inadvertently aerosolizing particles from droppings or urine.

What about the cruise ship outbreak?

According to the Associated Press, detailed investigations of the cruise ship outbreak are ongoing, notably to determine its source.

Investigators in Argentina suspect that the cases were initially contracted during a birdwatching trip in Ushuaia, at the country’s southern tip, two officials told the AP.

Argentina has seen a surge of hantavirus cases that many local public health researchers attribute to climate change.

Officials have found evidence of Andes virus, a version of hantavirus found in South America.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of hantavirus are not immediately distinct, which makes early diagnosis challenging.

After exposure to infected rodent material, symptoms typically appear one to eight weeks later. Initial signs closely resemble the flu and can include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.

“Four to 10 days after those general, nonspecific symptoms is where people can start having significant shortness of breath and cough and maybe even some chest tightness,” Bowling said.

Anyone experiencing those respiratory symptoms should seek medical evaluation promptly.

How rare is it in Texas?

For residents in San Antonio and across Texas, the risk is extremely low.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the last reported hantavirus case in Texas was in 2021.

When cases do occur in Texas, they are generally concentrated in the Panhandle region, Bowling said. Nationally, Arizona and New Mexico see the highest number of cases.

How can people protect themselves?

Since the strains circulating in the U.S. have been known not to spread person to person, prevention centers almost entirely focus on avoiding rodent exposure.

“The main way is to avoid exposure to mouse droppings, urine and saliva,” Bowling said. “Really try to keep mice out of your cabin, out of your barn.”

For anyone cleaning a space with known mouse activity, Bowling recommends spraying the area with a disinfectant first to reduce the risk of aerosolizing particles.

Wearing a mask — something many people became familiar with during the COVID-19 pandemic — is also a reasonable precaution, he said.

Norfolk Constabulary said that the arrest came Wednesday evening after a man was reported “behaving in an intimidating manner” near the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in eastern England.

“Officers attended, and the man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offense and possession of an offensive weapon,” the force said Thursday.

The suspect is being held for questioning at a nearby police station. The term offensive weapons covers knives, truncheons and other items used to cause injury. Police didn’t specify what type of weapon was involved.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a man wearing a ski mask ran toward the former royal while shouting abuse. It said the incident occurred near the Sandringham Estate while the former prince was out walking his dogs, and that Andrew and his protection officer got in their car and sped away.

Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, moved to the king’s private Sandringham Estate, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of London, after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle following revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew, 66, now lives at Marsh Farm, a property on the Sandringham Estate, after leaving Royal Lodge last year.

He was stripped of all his honors and titles and banished from public view by the royal family after years of scandal over his money woes and links to questionable characters, including Epstein.

One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, alleged that she was forced to have sex with the then-prince three times starting when she was 17. He denied it, but eventually settled the case for an undisclosed sum and acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41.

In February, he became the first senior British royal in almost 400 years to be arrested when he was held for hours by British police on suspicion of misconduct in public office in a case related to his links to Epstein. It was an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment.

Police previously said they were “assessing” reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent trade information to Epstein, a wealthy investor and convicted sex offender, in 2010, when the former prince was the United Kingdom’s special envoy for international trade.

Correspondence between the two men was released by the U.S. Justice Department along with millions of pages of documents from the American investigation into Epstein.

Israel meanwhile said it killed three Hezbollah militants in a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut the day before.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya's 32-year-old son, Azzam, was wounded by a strike in Gaza City on Wednesday that killed another person and wounded several others. The Israeli military has not commented on the strike. The older al-Hayya is based abroad.

Israel has continued to carry out regular strikes against what it says are militant targets — also killing civilians — since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire halted major military operations in October. That agreement also led to the release of the remaining hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war.

Key stipulations of the agreement remain unmet, including the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international stabilization force and Israel's withdrawal from the half of the territory its troops still control. Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violations.

Israel has killed several Hamas leaders and their relatives

Hamas accused Israel of trying to pressure negotiators through targeted killings. It was not clear if the younger al-Hayya was the target of the strike.

In comments to Al Jazeera after his son was wounded, Al-Hayya said that if his son was targeted, “it would be an honor to me, to him, and to all Palestinians.”

When asked about disarming, al-Hayya said Hamas would be ready to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire agreement only after Israel fulfills the first phase, which includes a cessation of hostilities and a surge in humanitarian aid.

Israeli strikes have killed several top Hamas leaders and their family members over the years. Another son of al-Hayya, Hammam, was killed in an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar in September.

Al-Hayya's daughter, Tasnim, speaking at Shifa Hospital in Gaza, said her father's hand would not be forced by the deaths of his children.

“We are like all our people. Everyone has suffered and everyone has sacrificed. We are one of them,” she said.

Palestinians still struggle despite shaky ceasefire

An Israeli strike on Thursday killed three Hamas-affiliated security forces at a guard post, according to Shifa Hospital. A fourth security officer was critically wounded, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

More than 72,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas' 2023 attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Palestinians in Gaza are still contending with myriad daily struggles, from lack of water to rodent infestations in sprawling tent camps.

Relatives of three people killed Wednesday in a separate Israeli strike on Gaza gathered in the courtyard of Shifa Hospital on Thursday to say their final goodbyes, embracing as they wept.

The family members had just moved out of a school where they were sheltering and were setting up new tents when they were struck. A man, his son and his nephew were killed, according to a relative, Yahiya Kishko.

A rare strike on Beirut

In Lebanon, the Israeli military said it had killed Ahmed Balout, who it identified as a commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, along with two other militants. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Wednesday's strike occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to many civilians. It was the first time Israel had struck the area since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was announced on April 17. Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon.

Israel says it has killed more than 85 Hezbollah militants and struck 180 sites used by the group in the last week, without providing evidence.

___

Ezzidin reported from Cairo. Associated Press reporter Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed.

Health authorities on at least four continents are now tracking down and in some cases monitoring the cruise passengers who disembarked on April 24, and trying to trace others who may have come into contact with them since then.

The World Health Organization said the risk to the wider public is low because hantavirus — usually spread by the inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings — isn't easily transmitted between people.

“We believe this will be a limited outbreak if the public health measures are implemented and solidarity is shown across all countries,” said Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, the WHO's alert and response director.

The Dutch health ministry said Thursday that a flight attendant on a plane briefly boarded by an infected cruise passenger in South Africa was showing symptoms of hantavirus and would be tested in an isolation ward at a hospital in Amsterdam. The cruise passenger, also a Dutch woman, was too ill to fly and was taken off the plane in Johannesburg, where she died.

If the woman tests positive, she could be the first known person not on the MV Hondius to become infected in the outbreak.

Three cruise ship passengers have died in the outbreak, and several others are sick. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.

None of the remaining passengers or crew on the ship are currently symptomatic, the ship's operator said.

1st hantavirus case on board was confirmed May 2

Three people, including the ship’s doctor, were evacuated Wednesday while the ship was near the West African island country of Cape Verde and taken to specialized hospitals in Europe for treatment.

The body of the Dutch man who was the first to die on board on April 11 was taken off the ship on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena on April 24, when his wife also disembarked. She then flew to South Africa a day later and died there.

Oceanwide Expeditions, the Netherlands-based cruise ship company, said Thursday that 30 passengers left the vessel at St. Helena, while the Dutch Foreign Ministry put the number at about 40. The company had not previously said publicly that dozens more people left the ship on April 24.

It wasn't until May 2 that health authorities first confirmed hantavirus in a passenger on the ship, the WHO says. That was in a British man evacuated from the ship to South Africa from Ascension Island three days after the St. Helena stop. He was tested in South Africa and is in intensive care there.

Passengers who disembarked April 24 are being monitored

It emerged Wednesday that a man tested positive for hantavirus in Switzerland after he disembarked at St. Helena, though his precise movements in between aren’t clear.

On Thursday, Singaporean health authorities said they were monitoring two men who got off the ship at St. Helena and flew to South Africa and then home. The two men, who arrived in Singapore at different times, were being isolated and tested, officials said. One had a runny nose and the other had no symptoms, Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency said.

British health officials say two people who were passengers aboard the ship but flew home midway through the journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms of illness. The U.K. Health Security Agency said “a small number” of contacts of the two are also self-isolating but are not showing any symptoms. Other contacts are being traced.

Authorities in St. Helena, the remote, volcanic British territory in the South Atlantic where passengers got off, said they were monitoring a small number of people who were considered “higher risk contacts.” Those higher risk contacts were being told to isolate for 45 days, the St. Helena government said.

South Africa is tracing contacts from an April 25 flight

The vessel is now sailing to Spain’s Canary Islands, a voyage that is expected to take three or four days, with more than 140 passengers and crew members still on board.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday that he had been in regular touch with the ship's captain, and that “morale has improved significantly since the ship started moving again.”

Authorities in South Africa are also trying to trace contacts of any passengers who previously got off the ship. They have focused mainly on an April 25 flight from St. Helena to Johannesburg, the day after passengers disembarked there.

The Dutch woman from the cruise ship who later died in South Africa briefly boarded that flight, officials have said. It's not known how many other cruise passengers also were among the 88 people on it, but flights from St. Helena go to South Africa and are rare, normally once a week.

The body of the third fatality, a German woman, is also still on board the ship after she died on May 2.

Andes virus is only hantavirus that spreads human-to-human

Tests have confirmed that at least five people who were on the ship were infected with a hantavirus found in South America, called the Andes virus. The only hantavirus thought to spread human-to-human, it can cause a severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Argentina’s health ministry said there were 28 deaths from hantavirus last year, up from an average mortality rate of 15 in the five years before that. Nearly a third of cases last year were fatal, it said.

The ship departed from Argentina and investigations into the source of the outbreak are focusing on that country.

Tedros said the couple that presented the first two cases had traveled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip before boarding the ship. The Dutch couple visited sites where the species of rat that is known to carry Andes virus was present, he said.

Tedros said the WHO is working with health authorities in Argentina to understand their movements, and that the WHO had arranged for shipping 2,500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to laboratories in five countries.

___

Quell reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP writers Jill Lawless in London and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.

The San Antonio City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on two contracts on the city’s proposed, multi-billion-dollar sports and entertainment district in Hemisfair, known as “Project Marvel.”

A briefing on the sports and entertainment district has been rescheduled for June, city council members decided on Thursday.

The meeting will be livestreamed in this article; delays are possible, if there isn’t a livestream available, check back at a later time.

Though a new Spurs arena is at the heart of the vision for the district, it also includes plans for mixed-use development, a possible expansion of the Henry B. González Convention Center, the conversion of the John Woods Courthouse into a live entertainment venue, and more.

The city plans to award Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects the contract to coordinate and manage development activity in the district as the “executive program manager” (EPM).

The $6 million contract is for the “first phase” through March 2027, though it can be renewed in additional one-year increments through September 2031.

The council will also vote on a one-year, $350,000 contract with MuniCap to conduct a cost-of-service study for the district.

The Maryland-based public finance consulting company would look at how much it will cost to provide core city services to the area, like police, fire, traffic, and park maintenance.

It would also be charged with forecasting how much money the district will bring to the city and new opportunities for generating revenue.

Despite concerns over taxpayer costs, many Spurs fans say they are excited about the possibility of a new home for the team.

“We went to a lot of the kickoff parties, we’ve been involved and pushed for what’s going to happen,” Spurs fan Tom Zuniga said. “That’s going to be the home that Wemby built.”

Others say the project could bring energy and opportunities to the city.

“We need something positive in the city for the kids, too,” Berlinda Zuniga said. “Places where they can go and look up to.”

Both consultants were selected through a competitive process, but their contracts need council approval.

Read also:

• How will new East Side apartments stay ‘affordable’ in the face of growth?

Incoming drones were destroyed over 20 Russian regions, including Moscow, according to the Defense Ministry, in Ukraine’s second-biggest aerial attack since Russia’s all-out invasion more than four years ago. The largest was in March when it launched 389 drones.

Dozens more Ukrainian drones were launched during daylight hours Thursday, the ministry said, including some heading again toward Moscow. Nearly 100 flights in and out of the Russian capital's three main airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo — were delayed or canceled by midday, the Moskva news agency reported.

The attacks came ahead of Russia’s most important secular holiday, Victory Day, which marks the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Russian authorities have declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday.

Ukraine had responded to that with its own suspension of hostilities from midnight Tuesday. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow disregarded the goodwill gesture and launched fresh attacks.

“Russia has not stopped any type of its military activity. Unfortunately, it has not stopped. Ukraine will act symmetrically,” Zelenskyy said in his regular evening video address Wednesday.

He said Thursday on X that Russia’s attacks have been ceaseless, with drones, missiles, artillery shelling and glide bombs hitting civilian areas of Ukraine, including the power grid and rail network.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest, a drone strike wounded nine people, including three children, local officials said.

Tension has grown as Russia’s Victory Day celebrations approach and U.S.-led peace efforts gain no traction. Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, was in the United States on Thursday and preparing to meet with Trump administration representatives, according to Zelenskyy.

All mobile internet access and text messaging services will be shut down in the Russian capital on May 9, state media reported Thursday, citing the country’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.

A traditional parade in Moscow won’t feature the usual tanks, missiles and other military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades.

The Russian Defense Ministry cited the “current operational situation” as a reason for excluding military equipment.

Russian authorities say they are concerned about possible Ukrainian attacks, as Kyiv has expanded its long-range drone and missile capabilities.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that additional security measures were being taken due to the “rather complex operational situation.”

The measures being taken “are necessary to ensure the safety of citizens, which is an absolute priority,” Peskov told reporters.

Among the foreign dignitaries expected to attend the Victory Day ceremonies on Saturday are Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was to meet with Putin and lay flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier but stay away from the parade.

Russia repeated its recent warnings to Ukraine that it would take decisive action — including a potential mass strike on Kyiv — if Ukrainian attacks disrupt the occasion.

“We have strengthened our focus on the possibility of retaliatory measures,” presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists Thursday.

Also, Russia’s Foreign Ministry advised foreign embassies and international organizations located in Kyiv to evacuate their offices in case such a strike did take place.

Ukraine’s air defense shot down 92 of the 102 drones Russia launched overnight, the military said.

Russia maintains a significant advantage in drone numbers, regularly deploying hundreds in a single attack.

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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

ODESSA — Last October was like any other for most Odessa city employees. Parks employees unveiled a new sign. The police department gave a tour to homeschooled kids. A council member attended a fundraising event for culinary students.

But amid everyday responsibilities, top local officials were scrambling to respond to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s demand that they justify a recently approved tax rate hike. The state had just passed a law that prohibited cities from raising taxes without completing financial audits. Paxton had singled out four cities, and Odessa was among them.

“To uphold my duty as the Attorney General to ensure that municipalities are following audit laws, I am formally launching an investigation into the City of Odessa to determine whether the new tax rate is illegal,” Paxton wrote. “Furthermore, I am demanding that the new tax rate not be implemented until I complete my investigation.”

City officials moved quickly, gathering hundreds of pages of documents, including minutes from relevant City Council meetings and evidence that the tax rate was published in a newspaper. By December 2025, Odessa had handed over the documents Paxton requested.

Then, Paxton went dark.

In the seven months since issuing the first order, Paxton has not responded to the city — not to documents nor letters. Since deploying that first order, Paxton, who is running in a high-profile U.S. Senate race, has sent at least 1,000 additional inquiries to other Texas cities. The move advances Austin’s effort to crack down on property taxes across Texas, one of the few remaining mechanisms municipalities have for raising revenue.

Local officials in Odessa said they are unclear whether they can cancel a tax rate increase, even if they agree with Paxton’s rationale.

“There’s no mechanism for what he’s asking us to do,” said Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick. “It’s impossible. There’s no way to do it.”

At least one fiscal and county government expert said Paxton got it wrong. The law Paxton was using to make his demand did not apply in Odessa, said Bill Aleshire, an attorney, former county tax collector and county judge.

“As much as I respect the professionalism of the career lawyers at the AG’s office, by its own terms, SB 1851 has not taken practical effect yet,” Aleshire, who served as a Democrat, said.

Paxton’s office did not return requests for comment.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t agree”

Odessa’s proposal to raise the tax rate caused unease among at least one political watchdog, who warned officials the city could be running afoul of a new law. The city, with the support of some local Republicans, stood by its reasoning.

Kris Crow, a frequent critic of the city, told council members that passing the higher taxes without first filing the audits could mean breaking a law authored by state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville. The law became effective Sept. 1.

“This isn’t about opposing needed city services or infrastructure,” Crow said in a September council meeting, as council members debated whether to raise the tax rate. “It’s about ensuring that decisions are made in compliance with the law and allow for full accountability.”

Dallas Kennedy, precinct chair for the Ector County Republican Party, said that a previous council was at fault for the missing audits. He said the city should still pass the new tax to continue funding city services.

Hendrick and other members of the council have said raising the tax was a necessary step to fund public safety departments and avoid cutting staff, and to keep salaries in line with inflation for all employees. He said over the last few years, the city’s costs have shot up.

City officials have said they inherited the late audits from a previous administration.

In the wake of a 2024 race that elected two new city councilmembers and a new mayor, Odessa has also dramatically changed its approach to using the money in its coffers, said Craig Stoker, the city’s at-large councilmember. Stoker, who defeated an incumbent, said the council has purchased equipment to repair broken trash trucks and new fire engines. The city also added back 300 staff positions, jobs that were previously frozen, and authorized millions of dollars in road and infrastructure projects that have been deferred for years, Stoker said.

“These projects had been budgeted for in the past, but many of the dollars were never actually spent,” Stoker said in a statement. “Despite cries for austerity, the city had a healthy fund balance, and this council made the decision that instead of acting like a piggy bank, the city needed to deliver the improvements and services that had been neglected for far too long.”

He said the city also increased salaries to attract top talent and pay employees above the poverty line. 

“The bigger issue would have been to continue sitting on millions of dollars in the bank while the city continued to crumble,” he said. “We took a hammer to the piggy bank and started giving that money back to the citizens through the services they expect.”

On the night that Crow and Kennedy addressed the council during a debate in September, the city’s attorney said the law didn’t apply to that tax year but did apply to future ones. In September 2025, the city approved the new tax as part of its annual budget approval. They passed it later that month, as part of the overall budget approval.

About a month later, in October, Paxton sent a letter demanding that the city halt the new tax until his office investigated.

The letter sparked an internal debate among city employees, who said they were doubtful the city had broken the law.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t agree with the AG’s interpretation of the Senate Bill,” one staffer said in a text message obtained by The Texas Tribune via an open records request. “Neither does our interim city attorney, or our auditor who we requested an opinion from.”

Hendrick, the city’s mayor, said they handed over the extensive documentation Paxton requested. Shortly after receiving the demand, the city sent a letter of its own, arguing that the decision to raise taxes fell within legal bounds, as the law would take effect the following tax year — 2026.

In December, Hendrick sent Paxton another letter. He defended the city’s position and partially explained why the audits had not been filed.

“We were surprised by the tone of your letter in addition to not being notified prior to the issuance of your letter,” Hendrick wrote. “We believe a meeting would be beneficial to clarify any facts and allow the City to state its position. We would be glad to host you and or your staff in Odessa or we could travel to Austin at a convenient time for all.”

Paxton did not reply, nor did he acknowledge the documents the city sent to his office.

In Texas, the tax year begins in tandem with the calendar year, said Aleshire, the former county government tax collector and judge.

The tax rate the city approved applied to the 2025 tax year, which begins on Jan. 1 and ends on Dec. 31 — in other words, before the law took effect. The tax year that begins on or after September 2025, when the city passed the tax, is the following January.

“The earliest application of the Act possible is for 2026 taxes,” he said.

Nichols, the law’s author, said he wasn’t familiar with Odessa’s situation. But he said the city shouldn’t have raised taxes without first knowing the results of its audits, regardless of the dispute. Absent a meeting with the attorney general, Nichols said the city should try the Texas Comptroller’s office next.

“It sounds like they’re going to need a lawyer,” he said.

“Don’t sell your tickets," Embiid said. “This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”

Of more pressing concern for the Sixers and their fans, they need Embiid.

The 2023 NBA MVP, Embiid missed Game 2 of the second-round series against the Knicks with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.

The 76ers put up a far better fight without Embiid than in the Knicks’ 137-98 romp in Game 1, yet still lost 108-102 on Wednesday night. It's the Knicks who hold a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals when the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday night and Game 4 on Sunday.

Recent history proved, the Knicks should feel right at home once they play in Philadelphia.

Spurred by affordable train fare, cheaper tickets compared to Madison Square Garden and a simply overzealous passion for Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the Knicks team stamped a legitimate NBA championship contender, New York fans have flooded Philly and provided a home-court edge on the road.

The Sixers’ strategy to ward off Knicks fans in this playoff series was to try through Ticketmaster to geographically restrict sales.

Geo-fencing, in sports ticket lingo.

A message on their website over the weekend read: “Xfinity Mobile Arena is located in Philadelphia, PA. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Greater Philadelphia area. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside Greater Philadelphia area will be canceled without notice and refunds given.”

The 76ers — and other sports teams in all leagues that cut off sales outside city limits — essentially shut the front door of their home but leave all the windows open. There are so many ways around the game plan through the various resale platforms — no proof-of-Philadelphia ID needed — it hardly seemed worth the effort.

The splashy headline for a day could turn into a cold reality check on Friday night — there’s nothing that can prevent big-spending backers of the Knicks from buying from Philadelphia fans who choose to sell.

“I think they’re soft,” Knicks fan Bryan Reinah, of Queens, said at Game 2. “They’re afraid of the Knicks takeover. I think last time we played them it was 47% Knicks fans. Everybody hops on the trains and goes right down. Tickets are cheaper and the Knicks fans travel well. They’re afraid of it.”

The 76ers' plan did spark national headlines even though the policy is not new or even uncommon in sports.

The thought is, why not try?

Of recent note, the Detroit Pistons tried the same tactic in last season's playoffs and limited ticket sales on Ticketmaster to residents of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Ontario, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes did the same to New York Rangers fans during the 2024 and 2022 NHL playoffs.

Hey, maybe these cities just don't like New Yorkers!?

Ah, maybe not as the policy through the decades has enforcement well beyond the five boroughs.

Take 2001, when Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, a former senior executive with America Online, wrote a computer program that banned Pittsburgh residents from buying tickets on the Capitals' website.

"Pretty cool, isn’t it?” Leonsis said in 2001. “I got a lot of emails from Pittsburgh saying I was mean-spirited and unfair. I don’t care. I’m going to keep doing it.”

The Sixers said this season's effort was designed to ensure that tickets remained in the hands of local fans who have supported the team all season.

Neither the Sixers nor Ticketmaster said how many face-value tickets went on sale Sunday.

Ticketmaster put out a statement that covered its geo-fencing policy with a peppy social media post.

“Who gets to buy tickets to sports games? Let us break it down,” the video noted. “Sometimes, sports teams put limits on who can buy tickets for big, in-demand matchups. This is a way to give local fans the best shot at attending the event and to limit scalpers who are located hundreds of miles away, who are trying to flip to the tickets just for a profit.”

Ticketmaster said those rules and decisions come directly for the team.

When the Knicks played at Philadelphia in Game 6 of a first-round series in 2024, Sixers owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman and former minority owner Michael Rubin joined forces to buy more than 2,000 tickets they handed out to people who serve the Philadelphia community.

Tickets for Game 3 on StubHub as of Thursday started at about $220 a pop in the upper deck and topped $1,000 in the lower bowl.

Sixers or Knicks fans, that's some serious cash.

The amount of blue-and-orange and Brunson jerseys in the stands on Friday night will be the final word on if Sixers fans were serious about listening to Embiid and keeping tickets in house.

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AP freelance writer Adry Torres in New York contributed to this story.

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

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell another 3.2% to $97.98, down from more than $115 early this week. It and gasoline are still much more expensive than they were before the war with Iran began, but hope is rising in financial markets as Iran said it was reviewing the latest U.S. proposals on ending their war.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 added 0.2% to its all-time high set the day before after a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said, “We expect an agreement sooner rather than later.” Pakistan has been acting as a mediator between the United States and Iran, and the hope is that they will reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Its closure during the war has kept oil tankers trapped in the Persian Gulf and sent prices higher for crude and all kinds of products.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 69 points, or 0.1%, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was adding 0.6% to its own record.

Of course, Wall Street has rallied strongly before on hopes for a coming end to the war with Iran, only to get quickly disappointed. That could happen again, and tensions are still high in the Middle East after a U.S. fighter jet shot out the rudder of an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman Wednesday as it tried to breach the American blockade of Iran’s ports.

Despite all those uncertainties, a powerful parade of U.S. companies saying they made even bigger profits during the first three months of the year than analysts expected has helped support the U.S. stock market. Stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate profits over the long term.

Datadog leaped 29.6% to help lead the U.S. market after the monitoring and security platform for cloud applications topped analysts' expectations for profit in the latest quarter.

Albemarle rose 8.2% after the lithium products and specialty chemicals company likewise delivered better-than-expected results. Taser maker Axon Enterprise rallied 10.2% after raising its forecast for revenue this year in part because of big growth for its counter-drone products.

They helped offset a 12.5% drop for Whirlpool, which tumbled after reporting much weaker results than analysts expected. It announced the largest price increases in a decade for its major appliances in North America, while accelerating cuts to its costs, as it contends with weaker confidence among U.S. consumers.

Shake Shack dropped 28.6% after its results for the latest quarter fell well below analysts' expectations.

McDonald’s slipped 0.4% even though its revenue for the latest quarter edged past analysts’ expectations. CEO Chris Kempczinski said high gasoline prices and consumer anxiety over the Iran war could dent its sales this spring.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.36%, where it was late Wednesday, but remains down from 4.45% early this week.

Lower yields can bring down rates for mortgages and other kinds of loans going to U.S. households and businesses, which in turn can give the economy a boost. Lower yields also tend to push upward on prices for stocks and other kinds of investments.

The 10-year Treasury yield, though, remains well above its 3.97% level from just before the war.

Several reports on the U.S. economy also came in mixed. One said more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, but the increase was not as bad as economists expected. Another report suggested that productivity for U.S. workers improved by only half of what economists expected for the latest quarter.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell in Europe following a stronger finish in Asia.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 roared 5.6% higher as trading in Tokyo reopened following a holiday and caught up with big gains for Asian markets from earlier in the week. It’s at a record after soaring nearly 71% in the last 12 months on strength for tech stocks benefiting from the boom in artificial intelligence.

“I think it’s a kind of bubble because buying activity concentrated on leading AI, artificial intelligence stock and semiconductor-related stocks. It’s a situation where only semiconductor stocks are being bought,” said Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at MONEX.

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

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary opened the event by saying his agency was “removing all petroleum-based food dyes" from U.S. foods. But the specifics did not become clear until the final minutes, when Kennedy revealed that the government had “an understanding” with foodmakers to voluntarily stop using the chemicals. A “national standard and timeline” for completing the process would soon follow, according to an FDA statement.

More than a year later, the FDA has not introduced any of the detailed, scientific regulatory documents needed to establish a safety issue with the half-dozen widely used dyes. Instead, the FDA maintains an online list of manufacturers that have pledged to phase out the chemicals.

The administration’s handling of food dyes reflects its approach to a number of health priorities. Instead of using the time-consuming process of federal rulemaking, which can stretch across multiple administrations, officials working under Republican President Donald Trump have found a quicker approach: Announce sweeping changes first and deal with the regulations later.

“It speaks volumes that the administration has yet to produce a document articulating the scientific basis for the voluntary request,” said Susan Mayne, a Yale University public health expert and former director of the FDA’s food program. Meanwhile, the FDA's website continues to carry the government's longtime conclusion that “the totality of scientific evidence” does not show a link between synthetic dyes and health problems.

“If FDA has changed its position, then FDA should document why and pursue a ban,” Mayne said.

A spokesperson for Kennedy said the administration has used “multiple approaches” to quickly make more progress on food dyes “than at any point in the past.”

“FDA engaged industry early in this effort to encourage timely changes while continuing its scientific and regulatory work,” said Emily Hilliard of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The agency maintains its role in evaluating safety and will continue to use its regulatory authorities, guidance, and review processes as appropriate.”

The lack of initiative in drafting new regulations is particularly striking at the FDA. Under federal law, the agency is supposed to refrain from making major policy announcements in news releases, speeches or other informal settings.

But a string of changes from Makary and his deputies have appeared first in articles in subscription-only medical journal articles, television interviews or online posts, including new restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines and other therapies.

Traditionally, those changes would be published first in the Federal Register, giving consumers, experts, and companies a chance to comment and suggest revisions to FDA proposals.

FDA has faced little pushback from industry

Almost as surprising as the agency’s shift away from rulemaking is the fact that the powerful companies FDA regulates have put up little resistance.

The FDA has faced hundreds of lawsuits over the decades — from drugmakers, pharmacies, tobacco companies and others — that accused the agency of failing to follow the legally required steps for new regulations and guidelines.

But drugmakers and other multibillion-dollar companies are sitting on the sidelines, at least for now.

Industry observers point to the administration's unusual willingness to pressure drugmakers, including on drug pricing concessions sought by Trump.

“Does the government have the ability to basically bully companies?” asked Dan Troy, the FDA’s former chief counsel. “Yes, and I think we’re seeing that.”

One of the biggest FDA changes came last May, when Makary and then-vaccine chief Dr. Vinay Prasad published a medical journal article announcing that the FDA would no longer routinely approve COVID-19 shots for healthy adults under age 65 and children without underlying health problems. To win approval for that group, vaccine manufacturers would need to conduct large studies that many experts say may not be feasible in today's post-pandemic environment.

As with other vaccine decisions, Makary and Prasad bypassed the agency’s outside experts, who had traditionally been consulted on major decisions involving the shots. Makary says FDA advisory panels are often biased and take too much time and money to convene.

“We had all of this experience looking at the safety of how these vaccines work, and then these two cowboys come and say: ‘We’re going to make this policy’,” said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, who previously led the FDA’s vaccine panel.

Edwards and other experts say the lack of pushback from vaccine manufacturers may reflect the tremendous power the FDA holds over them.

“Ultimately, you need the FDA to license your product,” said Edwards, a retired vaccine scientist at Vanderbilt University. “If you’re going to try and buck the FDA -- especially in this environment — the likelihood of your product getting a positive review is going to be pretty low.”

Earlier this year, the FDA briefly refused to consider a new mRNA flu shot from Moderna. The agency reversed its decision after pushback from the company and the White House.

Recent FDA changes may have little staying power

There may be other reasons why normally litigious companies are not challenging the agency.

Some FDA initiatives have the potential to benefit companies, including a program that awards ultrafast reviews to drugs favored by the Trump administration.

Even seemingly burdensome changes may have little staying power because the agency is not going through the process to enshrine them in federal rules or guidelines. That includes stringent new standards to win approval for CAR-T therapies that were previously approved for various forms of cancer, based on early results.

“Anything that this administration does that they don’t embody in law can easily be undone by a future administration,” Troy said.

Still, with more than two years remaining under Trump, there are signs at least some companies may be willing to raise objections.

The FDA last year began releasing rejection letters for drugs it declined to approve. Previously, that information was considered confidential and the property of drugmakers.

Last month, an unnamed drugmaker filed a formal petition challenging the practice, noting the FDA had provided “only a two-sentence explanation addressing its purported legal authority” to release the letters.

The petition does not carry the force of a lawsuit, but it invokes the same language as numerous legal challenges to the agency, calling the FDA’s action “arbitrary and capricious.”

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

The military said that any “hostile design” against Pakistan would be countered with “greater strength, precision and resolve” than what India witnessed during the May 2025 conflict, which Islamabad named “Marka-e-Haq,” or “Battle of Truth.”

Pakistan and India had exchanged tit-for-tat strikes following an attack by gunmen in the Indian-controlled part of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them Hindu tourists. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for the massacre in the town of Pahalgam, an allegation Islamabad denied while calling for an independent investigation.

India launched strikes inside Pakistan on May 7, triggering retaliatory attacks by Pakistan that included drone incursions, missile strikes and artillery fire. Dozens of people were killed on both sides before a ceasefire was reached on May 10 following U.S. mediation.

Pakistan at the time claimed it shot down at least seven Indian military aircraft, including a French-made Rafale fighter jet. India acknowledged suffering some losses but did not provide details.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken the credit for helping avert a wider war.

Speaking at a televised news conference, army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said India had blamed Pakistan for the attack on tourists in Kashmir within minutes of the shooting without presenting evidence.

“It has been one year since the Pahalgam incident, yet the questions Pakistan raised remain unanswered,” he said. Chaudhry said Pakistan did not underestimate India’s military capability but was fully prepared to respond to any “misadventure.”

“We are prepared; if anyone wishes to test us, they are more than welcome,” he said alongside Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Rear Adm. Shifaat Ali and Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Projects) Air Vice Marshal Tariq Ghazi. However, Chaudhry added: “We are not seeking conflict, we are not seeking war. But we know how to defend ourselves with honor and dignity.”

Ali said the Indian navy had attempted to deploy vessels in the northern Arabian Sea during the fighting in an effort to target Pakistan’s naval assets and disrupt maritime trade routes. “But due to the effective strategy of the Pakistan Navy, maritime traffic in all our waterways remained uninterrupted,” he said.

At Thursday’s briefing, Ghazi said Pakistan had downed eight Indian fighter jets during the conflict. He added that Pakistan had exercised restraint and that its air force had the capability to inflict greater damage on the enemy.

Pakistan and India have long had strained relations and have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, which is claimed by both in its entirety.

The Iranian effort to formalize control over the channel raised new concerns about international shipping, with hundreds of commercial ships bottled up in the Persian Gulf and unable to reach the open sea. Still, hope that the two-month conflict could soon be over buoyed international markets.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Middle East peace efforts at the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV, whose opposition to the Iran war has led to open sparring with President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration has sent mixed messages on its strategy to end the war. A tenuous ceasefire and previous declarations that military operations were over have given way to new threats of bombing if Tehran does not accept a deal that allows for resumption of oil and natural gas shipments disrupted by the conflict.

Trump also suspended an attempt by the U.S. military open a safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, saying the pause would allow more time to reach a peace agreement. An official in Saudi Arabia said Thursday that the kingdom and U.S. ally refused to support Trump's effort to reopen the strait by force.

The ceasefir e between the U.S. and Iran has largely held since April 8. But in-person talks between the two countries hosted by Pakistan last month failed to reach an agreement. The war began Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran.

Pakistan says it expects a deal soon

“We expect an agreement sooner rather than later,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Thursday. “We hope the parties will reach a peaceful and sustainable solution that will contribute not only to peace in our region but to international peace as well.”

But he declined to give a timeline, saying Pakistan would not disclose details of the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Asked whether Pakistan was expecting any response from Iran later Thursday, Andrabi said: “I will not comment on specifics or the movement of the messages.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking in televised remarks, said Islamabad remained in “continuous contact with Iran and the United States, day and night, to stop the war and extend the ceasefire.”

Iran creates agency to control passage at Hormuz

Iran established a new government agency to approve transit and collect tolls from shipping in the strait, shipping data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence said Thursday. The move has raised concerns about eroding the freedom of navigation on which global trade depends.

The agency, called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, is “positioning itself as the only valid authority to grant permission to ships transiting the strait,” Lloyd’s reported in an online briefing. Lloyd's said the authority had emailed it an application form for ships seeking passage.

Iran has effectively closed the strait, a vital waterway for the shipment of supplies of oil, gas, fertilizer and other petroleum products, while the U.S. is blockading Iranian ports. The disruptions have sent fuel prices skyrocketing and rattled the global economy.

The new Iranian agency formalizes an existing, albeit murky, vetting lane that takes vessels through the strait’s northern waters near the Iranian coastline. Iran controls which ships are allowed to pass and, for at least some vessels, imposes a tax on their cargo.

Maritime law experts say Iran’s demands to vet or tax vessels violate international law. The United Nations Law of the Sea treaty calls for countries to permit peaceful passage through their territorial waters.

Iran's president reports lengthy meeting with new supreme leader

Top Iranian officials have said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is playing a key role in overseeing negotiations with the U.S. But he remains in hiding and has not appeared in public since he was wounded early in the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met recently for more than two hours with Khamenei. In remarks aired Thursday on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian praised the supreme leader’s “sincere” behavior in what he said was a long in-person meeting.

Khamenei has only released a series of written statements since being named supreme leader in March. He replaced his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the war’s initial strikes.

Trump says Tehran wants to end the war

“We’re dealing with people that want to make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” the president insisted Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, told state TV on Wednesday that Tehran was still examining the latest U.S. proposal.

Baghaei said Iran had “strongly rejected” U.S. proposals reported by the news outlet Axios, which said the provisions included a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, lifting of U.S. sanctions, distribution of frozen Iranian funds and opening the strait for ships.

Saudi official says kingdom did not support US effort to reopen strait

Trump did not consult with U.S. ally Saudi Arabia before launching the short-lived effort to force open a shipping passage through the strait, according to a Saudi official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We told them that we are not part of this and that they can’t use our territories and bases for this,” the official said Thursday.

The official said Saudi Arabia sent a message to Iran that the kingdom would not be involved in U.S. attacks related to Trump’s attempt to reopen the strait.

Trump suspended the effort, dubbed Project Freedom, during its second day Tuesday. Only two American-flagged merchant ships are known to have passed through the U.S.-guarded route. The U.S. military said it sank six Iranian small boats threatening civilian ships.

On Thursday, the price of Brent crude oil fell to around $97, down from more than $115 earlier this week.

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McHugh reported from Frankfurt, Germany, and Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. Associated Press journalists Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece; Joshua Boak and Ben Finley in Washington; Samy Magdy and Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan; and Nicole Winfield in Vatican City contributed to this report.

Protesters shouted “No Jim Crow” outside the House and Senate chambers as lawmakers convened to consider the legislation. Some protesters later were cleared out of the House chamber after interrupting debate with chants of “Who's House? Our House!”

The redistricting effort in Tennessee is one of several rapidly advancing plans in Southern states as Republicans try to leverage a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.

The court ruled that Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a second Black-majority House district as it attempted to comply with the federal law. The high court's decision altered a decades-old understanding of the law, giving Republicans grounds to try to eliminate majority-Black districts that have elected Democrats.

Louisiana has postponed its congressional primary to give time for state lawmakers to craft a new House map. Legislation awaiting a final vote in Alabama also would upend the state’s congressional primaries if courts allow the state to change its U.S. House districts. In South Carolina, meanwhile, Republican lawmakers urged on by Trump have taken initial steps to add congressional redistricting to their agenda.

The states are the latest to join an already fierce national redistricting battle. Since Trump prodded Texas to redraw its U.S. House districts last year, eight states have adopted new congressional districts. From that, Republicans think they could gain as many as 13 seats while Democrats think they could gain up to 10. But some competitive races mean the parties may not get everything they sought in the November elections.

Tennessee Republicans act despite protests

A package of bills in Tennessee would repeal a state law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting and reopen a candidate qualifying until May 15 to allow time for new people to enter the primary and existing candidates to switch districts. The proposed House map would break up Tennessee’s lone Democratic-held district, centered on the majority-Black city of Memphis, creating a ripple effect of alterations to districts throughout the western and central parts of the state.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said the proposed districts were drawn based on population and politics, not racial data.

But Democrats dismissed such assertions.

Rep. Justin Jones, a Black Democrat from Nashville, denounced the redistricting plan as a “racist, gerrymandered, Jim Crow map.” He noted that under the new map, some people in Memphis would be grouped into the same district as people in a wealthy Nashville bedroom community.

“Who do you think their representative will listen to?” Jones asked rhetorically during Thursday's debate.

Democrats noted that the state Supreme Court in April 2022 rejected a challenge to the current congressional map, finding it was too close to the election to make changes. This year, there’s even less time before the Aug. 6 primary, raising the potential of confusion for both candidates and voters, Democrats said.

A plan for a new primary advances in Alabama

Protesters watching an Alabama legislative committee Thursday erupted in shouts of “shame” as Republican lawmakers advanced legislation to authorize special congressional primaries if the state can put a new congressional map in place for the November midterms.

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision arising from Louisiana, Alabama is seeking to overturn a court injunction that created a second U.S. House district with a substantial percentage of Black voters. That map led to the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. Republicans want instead to use a 2023 map drawn by state lawmakers that would give the GOP an opportunity to reclaim Figures’ district.

If a court grants Alabama's request, the legislation under consideration would ignore the May 19 primary results for congressional seats and direct the governor to schedule a new primary under the revised districts.

The House passed the legislation on a party-line vote Thursday after four hours of fiery debate. A final vote in the Senate is expected Friday.

South Carolina may add redistricting to its agenda

The South Carolina Senate could take up a resolution Thursday giving lawmakers permission to return later, after their regular work ends, to redraw congressional districts that could eliminate the state’s only Democratic-held district. The proposal, which passed the House on Wednesday, needs a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Republican House leaders said after the vote that they plan to introduce a new map Thursday and hold committee meetings on Friday. But during debate Wednesday, Republicans fended off specific questions from Democrats, including why they were willing to stop the June 9 U.S. House primary elections well after candidates filed and how much a rescheduled primary could cost.

Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg said he felt sorry for Republicans who, he said, were giving up their principles to follow the whims of Trump.

“The president of the United States is a very powerful man. Wields a heavy, heavy thumb — Truth Social, X, Meta, Instagram. To be honest I don’t envy our Republican colleagues,” Bamberg said.

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Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama; Collins from Columbia, South Carolina; and Lieb from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press reporter Kristin M. Hall contributed.

LaunchSA, a free business resource program supported by the City of San Antonio and Geekdom, offers daily workshops, one-on-one meetings, mentorship connections and classes for anyone ready to leap into entrepreneurship.

Andrea Ley is proof that the program works. She launched Olla Express in 2017 with the help of LaunchSA, and what started as an idea has grown into a brand now sold at major retailers.

“When I realized everything was free resources from this organization, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is something that I can take advantage of,” Ley said. “And they are gonna help me along the way — if they don’t find the solutions, they are going to look for them, and that’s going to help me a lot.”

Ley said the mentors and coaches she met through the program provided her with the confidence to push through.

“That’s why I got like the courage and I started like, okay, I’m going to come regularly,” she said. “I met so many mentors, coaches, and experts who were helping with all the questions I got.”

Navigating a changing business landscape

LaunchSA Director Matthew Espinoza said the program is especially valuable right now, as starting a business can feel more complicated than ever.

“Right now it seems like for small business owners or people thinking about starting a business, it can be overwhelming,” Espinoza said. “There’s a thousand different things that you’re thinking about, especially with technology and AI — the way we’re doing business is so different.”

Ley’s Café de Olla is now sold at H-E-B, the Pullman Market and other locations, which is a milestone that she still finds hard to believe.

“Oh my God, it’s unbelievable,” Ley said when asked about her growth from 2017 to now.

She credits the community around her for helping fuel that expansion.

“When you trust your team and your community, it’s like, oh, you know what, I can go and look for some other opportunities and go to other places that are looking for Café de Olla,” Ley said.

Whether someone has a fully developed sales pitch or is simply curious about how the program works, LaunchSA’s team is available at the Central Library Monday through Friday during regular business hours — all at no cost.

Read also on KSAT:

• Hunt residents see progress on Hunt Post Office reopening
• San Antonio launches free property tax workshops to help homeowners

• TODAY: Mostly cloudy and cooler, small chance of a shower
• FRIDAY EVENING/NIGHT: Best chance for storms, severe weather possible
• SATURDAY: Rain early, then afternoon clearing
• MOTHER’S DAY: Mostly sunny and HOT, small shot at storms by evening

FORECAST

TODAY

Yesterday’s cold front has left us with lower humidity and cooler temperatures. We’ll start in the mid-60s and end up in the low-70s this afternoon. Expect mostly cloudy skies and only a small shot at a shower (20%).

RAIN CHANCES FRIDAY, EARLY SATURDAY

An upper-level low will help generate storms late Friday afternoon. Storms will initially develop near the Rio Grande and then push east toward San Antonio Friday evening and overnight Friday. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, strong storms are possible. This activity will continue into early Saturday morning, before moving east of the area by midday. Expect clearing skies, with lower humidity Saturday afternoon.

MOTHER’S DAY

We’ll see plenty of sunshine on Sunday, which will send temperatures soaring. Low-90s are in the forecast by the afternoon. Most of the day will be quiet, however, a front is forecast to arrive by the evening. A storm or two may develop along the front. Rain chances sit at 20%.

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The letter underlines how the Democratic Party — both its leaders and the base — has grown increasingly critical of Israel.

Since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, the Israeli military has regularly issued maps covering large areas of territory along with warnings telling all residents of the zones to flee. Israel had previously used a similar approach in Gaza.

The senators said the sweeping warnings have “been used to permanently displace people and destroy homes and towns” and that some civilians who refused to leave their homes in the areas have been killed by subsequent strikes.

The 12 senators led by Vermont Sen. Peter Welch, in a letter dated May 4 to CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper that was provided to The Associated Press, state that Israel’s practice of unilaterally declaring mass evacuation warnings in Lebanon and Iran “likely contravene international laws the United States has helped develop around humane warfare.”

The other signatories include senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.

The letter asked the CENTCOM chief whether U.S. forces have coordinated military targets with Israeli forces during the recent war with Iran, whether they provided assistance or intelligence helping Israel’s military to impose the evacuation zones in Lebanon and Iran, and whether CENTCOM signed off on U.S. military support for the targeting of people or infrastructure in the evacuation zones. It also asked whether the U.S. military has reviewed the legality of the practice.

The Israeli military declined to comment when asked about the letter. CENTCOM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the past, Israel has said the evacuation maps aim to keep civilians out of harm’s way. It says Hezbollah has positioned fighters, tunnels and weapons in civilian areas across southern Lebanon, from which it has launched hundreds of drones and missiles — without warning — into northern Israel.

International law experts say Israel’s warnings are inconsistent and often overly broad and open-ended. In Lebanon, residents say the warnings sometimes come with short notice or in the middle of the night, causing chaos and confusion, while in some cases, the warnings prompt evacuations but are never followed by a strike. In other cases, strikes in residential areas come with no warning.

A shift in the party stance

Observers said the move is part of a larger shift in the stance of Democratic Party leaders on U.S. military assistance to Israel. Democrats have also been critical of the Trump administration's entry into the war on Iran alongside Israel.

The letter came nearly three weeks after more than three dozen Democrats supported an effort by Sanders to block arms sales to Israel, signaling a growing discontent in the party with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the wars in Gaza and Iran.

The two resolutions to block U.S. sales of bulldozers and bombs to Israel were opposed by all Republicans and rejected 40-59 and 36-63.

Jon Finer, former deputy national security adviser under President Joe Biden, said the recent steps by Democratic senators reflect a “growing concern about Israeli conduct of various wars that cause civilian harm and U.S. complicity in that" across the spectrum within the Democratic Party.

Asked why the Democratic Party is taking these steps now and not at the time when the war in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah war broke out — when the Democratic Biden administration was in power — Finer said: “our operational integration with Israel appears to be growing, which is part of it, but the truth is the Democratic base has been moving in this direction for some time and Washington has been catching up.”

Andrew Miller, a former senior official on Israel and Palestinian Affairs at the State Department, said the letter “represents a shift among congressional Democrats moving from questions of the legality of Israeli military operations to concerns about the complicity of the U.S. military.”

“It demonstrates that Democrats are taking international law very seriously and that is a welcome development,” Miller said.

The evacuation zones

Israel has issued dozens of evacuation warnings in Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2. Over 1 million people in Lebanon have fled their homes during the war.

Israel has also issued similar warnings for Iranians, both during the 12-day Israel-Iran war last year and during the U.S.-Israeli war launched on Iran on Feb. 28. In one case last year they warned 300,000 people in Tehran, Iran's capital, to evacuate.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning to residents of 12 villages in southern Lebanon saying Hezbollah is using them to launch attacks. The warnings came despite a ceasefire that has been nominally in place since April 17, although Israel and Hezbollah have been carrying daily attacks since then.

The senators said the declaration of evacuation zones does not absolve Israeli and U.S. forces “from the absolute legal responsibility to determine that each individual person or civilian facility targeted by drones, jets, and gunfire is, in fact, a military target.” It said the use of the zones has been linked to “the deaths of thousands of civilians," describing them as “kill zones.”

In response to questions by the AP last month, the Israeli military said it issues warnings by phone, text, radio broadcast, social media and leaflets dropped from the air, in accordance with the “principles of distinction, proportionality and feasible precautions” under international law.

___

Associated Press writer Julia Frankel contributed to this report from Jerusalem.

Both the Vatican and the U.S. State Department stressed that Rubio’s meetings with Leo and the Vatican’s top diplomat underscored strong bilateral ties. Those relations, though, have been strained over Trump’s repeated broadsides about Leo’s calls for peace and dialogue to end the U.S.-Israeli war.

Rubio, a practicing Catholic, has often been called on to tone down or explain Trump’s harsh rhetoric. He had an audience first with Leo, which was complicated at the last minute by Trump’s latest criticism of the Chicago-born pope. During a 2½-hour visit, Rubio then met with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who on the eve of his visit had strongly defended Leo and criticized Trump’s attacks.

“Attacking him like that or criticizing what he does seems a bit strange to me, to say the least,” Parolin said Wednesday.

After the meetings, the U.S. State Department said that Rubio and Parolin discussed “ongoing humanitarian efforts in the Western Hemisphere and efforts to achieve a durable peace in the Middle East. The discussion reflected the enduring partnership between the United States and the Holy See in advancing religious freedom.”

In a separate statement about the audience with Leo, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that the two discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere. “The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,” he said.

The Vatican, for its part, said that during Rubio’s meetings with both Leo and Parolin, “the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America was reaffirmed.”

It said the two sides exchanged views on the current events “with particular attention to countries marked by war, political tensions, and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as on the need to work tirelessly in favor of peace.”

Rubio also has meetings Friday with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Those meetings might not be much easier for Washington’s top diplomat, given both have strongly defended Leo against Trump’s attacks and have criticized the Iran war as illegal — drawing the president’s ire.

A mission to smooth ties

The tensions began when Trump lashed out at Leo on social media last month, saying the pope was soft on crime and terrorism for comments about the administration’s immigration policies and deportations as well as the Iran war. Leo then said that God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.

Later, Trump posted a social media image appearing to liken himself to Jesus Christ, which was deleted after a backlash. He has refused to apologize to Leo and has sought to explain away the post by saying that he thought the image was a representation of him as a doctor.

Rubio said that Trump’s recent criticisms of Leo were rooted in his opposition to Iran potentially obtaining a nuclear weapon, which he said could be used against millions of Catholics and other Christians.

Leo has never said Iran should obtain nuclear weapons and that the Catholic Church “for years has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there.”

“The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace. If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth,” Leo said late Tuesday, after Trump again accused him of being “OK” with Iran having a nuclear weapon.

By Thursday, tensions seemed to have eased.

Rubio gave Leo a small crystal football paperweight. He acknowledged Leo’s known allegiance to the Chicago White Sox, saying “you’re a baseball guy,” but noted that the football had the seal of the State Department on it.

“What to get someone who has everything?” Rubio joked as he gave Leo the paperweight.

Leo, for his part, gave Rubio a pen apparently made of olive wood — “olive being of course the plant of peace,” Leo said — with his coat of arms on it and a picture book of Vatican artworks.

Trump also has criticized Meloni and other NATO allies for a lack of support for the Iran war, recently announcing plans to withdraw thousands of American troops from Germany in the coming months.

Vatican seen as willing to have dialogue

Giampiero Gramaglia, former head of the ANSA news agency and its onetime Washington correspondent, said that he didn’t expect much to come out of Rubio's visit for Italian or Vatican relations. He, and other Italian commentators, believe Rubio instead was looking to smooth over relations with the pope for his own political ambitions, as well as the upcoming midterm U.S. congressional elections and 2028 presidential race.

“I doubt Rubio has the role of conciliator for Trump,” he told Italy's Foreign Press Association. “I have the perception that Rubio’s mission is more about himself” and his political ambitions as a prominent Catholic Republican.

The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, undersecretary in the Vatican’s culture office, said that Rubio’s mission wasn’t to “convert” the pope to Trump’s side. Rather, Washington “has come to acknowledge — implicitly but legibly — that (Leo’s) voice carries weight in the world that cannot simply be dismissed.”

“The situation created by President Trump’s remarks required a high-level, direct intervention, conducted in the proper language of diplomacy: a semantic corrective to a narrative of frontal conflict with the church,” he wrote in an essay this week.

Cuba is also on the agenda

Rubio said that topics other than the Iran war were on the agenda for the Vatican visit, including Cuba. The Holy See is particularly concerned about the Trump administration’s threats of potential military action there following its January ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump has said frequently that Cuba could be “next,” and even suggested that once the Iran war is over, naval assets deployed in the Middle East could return to the United States by way of Cuba.

Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants and a longtime Cuba hawk.

“We gave Cuba $6 million of humanitarian aid, but obviously they won’t let us distribute it," Rubio said. “We distributed it through the church. We’d like to do more.”

___

Matthew Lee, the AP's diplomatic writer, reported from Washington.

___

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

The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. was $4.55 on Thursday, according to AAA. That was 44% higher than a year ago.

McDonald's Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said the company has been making progress bringing lower-income customers back into its stores with value meals. But fast food visits by customers with household incomes of $45,000 or less are still declining overall, and the spike in gas prices won't help, he said.

“Clearly, when you have elevated gas prices... that is going to disproportionately impact low-income consumers. And so we expect the pressures there are going to continue,” Kempczinski said Thursday during a conference call with investors.

McDonald's said same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, fell in the U.S. and some international markets in April. That was partly due to a big surge in sales last April, when a popular Minecraft meal drove traffic. Kempczinski said it's too early to get a read on sales in May and June, although the company is hoping a new beverage lineup which launched in the U.S. this week will generate interest.

“Certainly consumer sentiment is heightened anxiety, let’s just say, and it may have an impact. But, you know, our focus is on controlling what we can control,” Kempczinski said.

McDonald's shares were flat in early trading Thursday.

In the January-March period, McDonald's global same-store sales rose 3.8%. That was better than the 3.7% increase Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

The company kept customers interested with limited-time menu items like the Big Arch burger, a 1,020-calorie behemoth that went on sale in the U.S. in March. The burger became a viral sensation after Kempczinski posted a video of himself taking a nibble from one and was mocked for his tentative bite. Tom Curtis, president of rival Burger King, posted his own video taking a vigorous bite of his chain’s new Whopper.

The Big Arch burger costs well over $8 in many U.S. markets. So McDonald's is trying to emphasize value in other parts of its menu. The company cut prices on some U.S. combo meals in September, and starting April 21, McDonald’s U.S. stores began offering 10 items that each cost less than $3.

Kempczinski said McDonald's experience in other markets like Germany and Australia has shown that the combination of meal deals and low-priced individual items is the best value strategy.

“You need to have a meal deal offering there to be able to drive interest and excitement around some of our core menu items,” Kempczinski said. “But you also need entry-level price points for those folks who are maybe a little bit more stressed around affordability and are looking for, you know, ‘What can I get for $3 or less?’”

The Chicago chain said its revenue rose 9% in the first quarter to $6.52 billion. That was also higher than the $6.47 billion Wall Street was expecting, according to FactSet.

McDonald’s net income rose 6% to $1.98 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, the company earned $2.83 per share. That was also higher than analysts’ forecast of $2.74.

Lawyers for the state filed an appeal on Tuesday against Travis County Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle’s ruling last week, which extended the pause on the smokable hemp ban. The state’s 15th Court of Appeals agreed to hear the appeal Wednesday, putting the state’s rules that effectively bans smokeable hemp back into effect. 

Lawyers for the hemp industry also requested on Wednesday that the appeals court reinstate the temporary pause on the ban until the next hearing, currently scheduled for July 27. A decision is expected from the appeals court this week.

“We are confident that the 15th Court of Appeals will reinstate our Temporary Injunction so that our Vets, elderly, and adult consumers have reasonable access to these products,” said David Sergi, an attorney for the hemp industry. “The voters will remember who voted for true liberty in November.”  

Lyttle granted the Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and several Texas-based dispensaries and manufacturers a temporary injunction against new testing requirements that create a 0.3% total THC threshold that would effectively bar the sale of natural smokeable hemp products. The ruling also prevents a 3,000% increase in licensing fees for hemp retailers from taking effect for now. 

During a three-day hearing earlier this month, lawyers for the hemp industry argued that the Texas Department of State Health Services overstepped their constitutional authority by rewriting the statutory definitions of hemp established by lawmakers in 2019. 

“The Texas Legislature must answer to the voters of Texas; that is a fundamental check and balance of our constitution. Agency bureaucrats lack accountability to the people of Texas, which is why their authority is limited,” said Jason Snell, one of the attorneys for the hemp businesses. 

Attorneys for the state argued in court that Texas law requires the health agency to prioritize Texans’ well-being in rulemaking, allowing them to implement new hemp regulations. The judge disagreed, saying the rules were doing irreparable harm to the industry.  

“The Court finds that the purpose of a temporary injunction is to preserve the last, actual, peaceable, non-contested status that preceded the controversy,” said Lyttle. 

Andrew Alvarado, an attorney representing the hemp industry, said Lyttle’s ruling upholds the separation of powers among government entities. 

“Frankly, I think it’s a win for all Texans, because fundamentally, the Court confirmed that unelected officials and state agencies cannot impose rules that conflict with the will of the people,” he said. 

In a separate decision that could harm the industry’s chances of defeating the overall ban on smokeable hemp products, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday upheld the state health agency’s prohibition on another natural intoxicating hemp compound called delta-8 THC. Delta-8 THC has been off store shelves since 2022 because of the ban, allowing delta-9 THC to proliferate and become the most commonly found intoxicating chemical in hemp products now.

The court’s decision says the delta-8 ban can remain because state law gives the agency overarching authority to protect Texans. The state could invoke this ruling to allow the state health agency to ban any or all consumable hemp products based on its statutory responsibilities to protect Texans, and that can only be undone if the Legislature tells the state agency those products are legal. 

“If the legislature desires to legalize powerful drugs, it has every tool it needs to do so—and to do so unmistakably, as we expect for such a major change to social policy. The role of the courts is merely to assess the state of the law as it is,” Texas Supreme Court Justice Evan Young said in his court opinion.  

State law defines hemp as containing less than 0.3% levels of intoxicating delta-9 THC. The health agency redefined hemp in accordance with federal law which clarified last November that hemp can’t contain total amounts of any type of THC — not just delta-9 THC — that is more than 0.3% of its dry weight, according to Zachary Berg, an attorney with the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Berg added that the federal government’s new definition doesn’t go into effect until this coming November, but the state wanted to be in compliance early with federal law.  

Snell said that by trying to mirror a federal law that isn’t yet in effect, the state clearly overstepped its regulatory authority. He also called on a slew of witnesses, including veterans, suburban mothers, rural store owners, and economists, to testify on how these new regulations are already shuttering businesses and killing off the industry.  

Hemp retailers told the court that businesses have lost over 50% of their revenue since the rules went into effect; manufacturers are shutting down production due to increased licensing fees; and farmers are not planting crops because new testing requirements are making hemp flower worthless. 

The hemp businesses also asked for a temporary injunction on other rules that increase licensing fees for retailers and manufacturers and prevent businesses from selling smokeable hemp out-of-state. Both of these were also lifted by the court for now. 

The background: Even though Texas law bans marijuana, lawmakers legalized hemp in 2019 with the Texas Farm Bill. State law defines hemp as containing less than 0.3% levels of intoxicating delta-9 THC.

To get around the law’s delta-9 THC restrictions, manufacturers started cultivating hemp plants with another type of THC, called THCA, that, when ignited in a joint or smokeable product, can produce a high. Many lawmakers have said this legal loophole has allowed a recreational THC market to appear overnight without direct approval from the state.

Last year, the Texas Legislature voted to ban the products out of fear that these intoxicating products were consistently getting into the hands of children. But, Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the decision last summer, before asking the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and DSHS to increase regulations on the industry instead. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services released regulations on consumable hemp-derived THC products that went into effect on March 31. These new regulations include child-resistant packaging, a significant increase in licensing fees, new labeling, testing, and bookkeeping requirements. The rules also codify the legal purchasing age to 21, which went into effect last year as an emergency directive. 

Why the hemp industry sued: Also under the new rules, laboratories tests now measure the total amount of any THC in a product. If the THC levels exceed the 0.3% threshold, even if it’s only activated upon being smoked, the product will be noncompliant under state regulations. As a result, some of the most popular hemp products, like THCA flower and pre-rolled joints, have been banned. 

Hemp businesses caught selling noncompliant products face a range of penalties and fines, including license revocation and up to $10,000 in violation fees for each day these products were sold in stores. 

Retailers cannot sell hemp to out-of-state customers either. 

Several hemp industry representatives testified on Thursday that smokable products aren’t the only items being removed from shelves due to the new testing requirements. Hair gels, bath bombs, balms, tinctures, dog treats, and much more can no longer be made because the main ingredient is hemp flower.  

“It’s like trying to regulate the sale of wine by banning grapes,” said Amanda Taylor, one of the attorneys for the hemp businesses, in court.  

The state health agency didn’t conduct a complete economic impact report on the proposed rules and regulations, which the lawyers for the hemp industry called negligence. 

Attorneys for the state said the health agency either couldn’t find or verify the data needed to confirm the economic impact of these rules or wasn’t required to do so because the well-being of Texans takes priority over industry concerns. 

Beau Whitney, the founder and chief economist at Whitney Economics, a cannabis economic research firm, told the court that his own impact report done earlier this year found that the new rules and regulations will have a $7.2 billion negative impact on the Texas economy due to job losses and reduced tax revenue from hemp retail closures. He said the process of preparing the economic report on the Texas hemp industry was simple and well within the state health agency’s reach in both economic and time terms. 

The rules also increase licensing fees for manufacturers of hemp-derived THC from $258 to $10,000 per facility and retail registrations from $155 to $5,000, which industry leaders say will fulfill the ban by forcing businesses to close. The state’s attorney said the state needs the fees to build a system to regulate the hemp industry, despite the health agency stating in its rules that it didn’t have any plans to hire additional DSHS employees for this effort. 

The hemp business community’s lawsuit is not challenging the other new regulations, including the age verification or ones they say protect consumers.  

What the state says: Concerns about the safety of these high-THC products among youth led lawmakers to attempt to ban hemp-derived THC products outright last year. While the overall ban didn’t succeed, lawmakers successfully banned vape pens containing THC and other hemp-derived intoxicating chemicals. 

Berg said in court that the state has received reports of hemp products containing 100 times the recommended amount of THCA being sold in these stores, and customers weren’t using it for wellness reasons but to get intoxicated. 

“Many are consuming recreationally and not just adults,” said Berg. 

Data provided from the Texas Poison Center Network confirms a sharp increase in cannabis-related poisoning calls starting in 2019, a year after hemp-derived THC was legalized by the federal government, from 923 to a 10-year high of 2,592 in 2024. Calls climbed to 2,669 last year. The majority of these calls involve suspected poisoning of children under the age of five and teenagers.

Drug policy experts said these numbers seem alarming, but it is natural for poisoning calls to increase when a drug has become legalized, and the data needs additional context before making conclusions from it.

What’s next: It’s not clear if Friday’s Texas Supreme Court ruling on delta-8 could affect the court case involving the smokeable hemp ban.

The state health agency added delta-8 to the controlled substance list, making it illegal in 2021. The Texas Supreme Court’s ruling upheld that, giving the agency broad authority over drugs on the list. However, Katharine Neill Harris, a drug policy fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said that doesn’t give the state agency authority to prohibit any substance it wants.

However, if the state agency ever wanted to put any THC found in consumable hemp on the controlled substance list, the ruling could be invoked to justify making consumable hemp illegal.  

“While the Texas Farm Bill legalized hemp and its derivatives, it did not explicitly legalize or remove from scheduling all THC compounds. The delta-8 issue was not directly addressed in that legislation, and DSHS clarified back in 2021 that delta-8 was considered a controlled substance,” Harris said.  

David Sergi, an attorney representing the hemp industry, has broader legal concerns about the Texas Supreme Court’s decision, as it places the state’s health agency on the same level as lawmakers in terms of authority to make industry-shifting decisions. 

“There are some very large constitutional concerns that, I think, a result-driven case like this, an opinion like this, causes us. But those are the conversations that the legal team is having right now,” Sergi said, adding they have been speaking with lawyers around the country about the Texas Supreme Court decision and what it might mean legally. 

Separate from the Texas Supreme Court’s ruling, the federal government passed restrictions that redefined hemp so that only 0.3% of any type of THC is allowable, which effectively bans smokeable hemp nationally starting this November. There are ongoing efforts in Congress to alter the ban or allow states to opt out of following this new definition. 

Police officers first responded to a call for a crash around 3 p.m. on Wednesday on Southwest Loop 410 near Valley Hi Drive.

In a statement on Wednesday, SAPD said that two people were killed in the crash.

However, in a preliminary report released on Thursday, police stated that the occupants of the vehicle had what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

They were pronounced dead at the scene, and their deaths are now being investigated as a murder suicide, the report states.

Police have not identified them or a motive for the shooting.

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Iran effectively seized control of the critical waterway after the U.S. and Israel attacked it on Feb. 28. Weeks of heavy bombing and a U.S. naval blockade imposed last month have yet to loosen its grip. Iran says it will only reopen the strait if the war ends and the blockade is lifted. U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking wider concessions, including the rollback of Iran's disputed nuclear program.

Here is a look at the strait by the numbers:

21 miles (34 kilometers)

This is the width of the strait, which bends like an elbow, at its narrowest point between Iran and Oman. Ships follow narrow lanes to safely navigate the shallow water, making it even more of a chokepoint.

20%

Before the war, a fifth of the world’s traded oil typically flowed through the strait every day, as well as large supplies of natural gas, fertilizer and other petroleum products.

100-130

The number of ships that passed through the strait each day before the war began, including oil tankers and cargo ships, according to research firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

534

The number of ships that are believed to have passed through the strait from the start of hostilities through May 4, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. Many are believed to have carried Iranian oil. In normal times, an estimated 6,500 to 8,450 ships would have transited the strait during the same period.

50%

The amount that the average price of gas in the U.S. has risen since the war began. The average price of a gallon was $4.56 on Thursday, according to AAA. The closure of the strait has also nearly doubled the cost of jet fuel.

Up to 10%

Insurance rates for ships have skyrocketed from 1% of the ship’s goods up to as much as 10%, according to shipping experts.

45 million

The number of people who could experience hunger, mostly in Asia and Africa, if the strait does not open soon, according to the U.N. World Food Program. The blocking of fuel and fertilizer shipments could soon push the price of food and other necessities out of reach for those already in a precarious situation, it said.

10

The number of mariners who have been killed since the Iran war began, according to the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization.

32

The number of ships that have come under attack, according to the International Maritime Organization.

1,550

The number of vessels, from 87 countries, currently stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to the U.S. military.

22,500

The number of mariners stranded on these ships, including many from South and Southeast Asia.

15,000

The number of U.S. soldiers, accompanied by 100 aircraft, committed to enforce Project Freedom, according to the U.S. military. Trump's initiative to guide ships through the strait was paused on Tuesday, just two days after he announced it.

2

The number of ships that the U.S. said it successfully guided through the strait as part of Project Freedom. ___

Associated Press writer David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed.

Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, is also campaigning to turn the Rome event into a fifth Grand Slam.

The players have targeted the coming French Open for reducing players' share of revenue to an alleged 14.3% — compared to the 22% at ATP and WTA events like the Italian Open this week.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff were among players this week threatening a boycott of the Slams if they don’t start receiving more compensation.

“The players have our full support,” Binaghi said. “It’s scandalous that we’re required by the ATP to share a bigger cut of the revenues with the players and the four Grand Slams hand out a smaller cut.

“It’s shameful and creates competitive disparities, too, because the four nations (that organize the Slams) have a huge amount of money to invest in their technical sectors that other nations don’t have,” Binaghi added. “I want to blow apart this monopoly.”

Italian Open prize money

It should be noted that the Italian Open has offered less prize money for women than men for years. The total men's prize money this year in Rome is $9.6 million while the women's prize money is $8.3 million.

But next week the women's champion in Rome will earn 1.055 million euros — slightly more than the 1.007 million euros handed out to the men's winner.

Fifth Grand Slam

For more than a year, Binaghi has been campaigning to turn the Italian Open into a fifth Grand Slam alongside the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open — upending a century of tennis history.

With Jannik Sinner dominating at No. 1 and three other Italians in the men's top 20 rankings — No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti; No. 12 Flavio Cobolli and No. 20 Luciano Darderi — Italian tennis is booming.

Italy has won the Davis Cup for three straight years and the Billie Jean King Cup — the women’s team event — for the last two years.

So Binaghi, who took over the federation a quarter century ago when it was nearly bankrupt, wants to take advantage of the boom for his Grand Slam dream.

“We’re experiencing a stretch of tennis in Italy that will be tough to repeat, because it also needs to be considered in comparison with the Italian soccer debacle," Binaghi said, referring to how Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

Foro Italico running out of room

Besides tradition and scheduling issues, Binaghi faces another major obstacle toward making the Italian Open bigger: There’s little room for expansion at the Foro Italico.

“We’re open to organizing a (fifth Grand Slam) anywhere in Italy — on any surface,” Binaghi said.

Work on a retractable roof for Campo Centrale is slated to start immediately after this year’s Italian Open and be ready for the 2028 edition.

Capacity for the revised stadium will increase from 10,500 to 12,400.

The Italian Open is hoping to pass 400,000 ticket sales this year, while the French Open last year had a total attendance of nearly 700,000.

“If we’re going to aim big, we shouldn’t focus exclusively on the Foro Italico, because there are a lot of issues here in terms of transport and temporary venues,” Binaghi said.

So would Binaghi be willing to move the tournament away from the Foro and its statue-lined courts?

“These days, the beauty factor is just added value; it’s not decisive,” he said. “The people don’t come to see the statues anymore. They come to see Sinner, Musetti, (Jasmine) Paolini and the other Italian players.”

The Italian Open wanted to add a mixed doubles tournament this year on the weekend before the singles events start but ATP and WTA rules wouldn’t allow it because the Madrid Open ends those days.

Sinner favored to end drought

While Jasmine Paolini earned Italy the titles in both women’s singles and doubles (with partner Sara Errani) last year, Sinner is an overwhelming favorite this year to become the first Italian man to win at the Foro since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Apart from the Olympics, the Italian Open and French Open are the only big titles in tennis that Sinner hasn’t won and his top rival, Carlos Alcaraz, is out of both tournaments due to a right wrist injury.

Binaghi said if Sinner raises the trophies in Rome and Paris, “maybe I should step down.

“If it happens,” Binaghi said of Sinner winning those two titles, “we’ll take stock of all the opportune and logical consequences.”

___

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

The No. 2-seeded Spurs restored order in the West, handing the Timberwolves their worst postseason loss in franchise history, 133-95, as Victor Wembanyama and company seemed to send a message after a disappointing home loss in the series opener.

The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama dominated with 19 points and 15 rebounds, Stephon Castle added 21 points and the Spurs shot 50% from the field to even the series, which heads to Minnesota for Game 3 on Friday night.

Minnesota coach Chris Finch reacted by saying, “I just told (our players) we got punked.”

The Spurs’ win marked the franchise’s highest-scoring playoff game since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.

Also Wednesday, the New York Knicks took a 2-0 Eastern Conference semifinal series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers with a 108-102 win behind 26 points from Jalen Brunson.

A pair of Game 2s are on tap Thursday: Detroit, at home, will aim for a 2-0 lead on Cleveland in the East and Oklahoma City, also at home, is seeking a 2-0 lead on the Los Angeles Lakers in the West.

Thursday's schedule

— Game 2, Cleveland at Detroit, 7 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)

Odds: Detroit by 3 1/2.

Cade Cunningham had 23 points, Tobias Harris scored 20 and the top-seeded Pistons ended a NBA record-tying 12-game postseason losing streak to a single opponent with a 111-101 win against the Cavaliers in Game 1. The Pistons had not defeated Cleveland in the NBA playoffs since the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. Cavs reserve guard Sam Merrill (left hamstring) could miss Game 2.

— Game 2, Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)

Odds: Oklahoma City by 15 1/2.

The Los Angeles Lakers, still without Luka Doncic (hamstring), looked completely outmatched against OKC in Game 1. Chet Holmgren had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Thunder ran away with a 108-90 victory. Doncic has already been ruled out for Game 2. Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) is doubtful and Luke Kennard (neck) is questionable for the Lakers.

Friday's schedule

— Game 3, New York at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)

Series: New York leads 2-0.

Odds: 76ers by 1 1/2.

The 76ers will look to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole as the series heads to Philadelphia. The 76ers are hoping to get center Joel Embiid back after he missed Game 2 with a sprained ankle.

— Game 2, San Antonio at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. EDT (Prime)

Series: Series tied 1-1.

Odds: Spurs by 3 1/2.

Wembanyama brought a refuse-to-lose attitude to Game 2 and the Spurs won in a blowout. Now the series moves to Minnesota and the Timberwolves hope star Anthony Edwards, who has come off the bench in the first two games, may be able to play more minutes as he works his way back from a hyperextended knee.

Wednesday recap

— Knicks 108, 76ers 102 for 2-0 series lead. Joel Embiid did not play due to a sprained ankle.

— Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95 to even series at 1-1.

Awards watch

A breakdown of this season's NBA awards:

— Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year: DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans.

— Hustle Award: Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte.

— Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.

— Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City.

— Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson, San Antonio.

— Sportsmanship Award: Derrick White, Boston.

— Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta.

— Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Dallas.

— Executive of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston.

Among the announcements still to come:

— Most Valuable Player: Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama or Denver's Nikola Jokic.

— Coach of the Year: Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio's Mitch Johnson or Boston's Joe Mazzulla.

Betting odds

Defending champion Oklahoma City (-165) is favored to win the NBA title, according to oddsmakers.

The Thunder were followed by San Antonio (+400), New York (+800), Detroit (+1700), Cleveland (+3500), Los Angeles Lakers (+4000) and Minnesota (+4000).

Philadelphia has the longest odds at +10000.

Will Lakers strategy in Game 2 change?

The Lakers were determined not to let Gilgeous-Alexander beat them in Game 1, repeatedly double-teaming the Thunder point guard.

The strategy mostly backfired.

While Gilgeous-Alexander turned the ball over seven times and was limited to 18 points — the first time he's been held to fewer than 20 points in 81 games — the rest of the OKC team thrived in a blowout victory.

“Ultimately it’s the easiest form of basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’d much rather do that than have to go one-on-one all night over somebody. My teammates on the back end playing four-on-three, it’s what you play for.”

Added Thunder coach Mark Daigneault: “When they play like that, it’s one of the advantages that you have. They’re throwing two at Shai really early in possessions and, in order to do that, you get two guys on the ball and then you’ve got three guys off of bodies and rotating and that presents rebounding opportunities.”

Key dates

— Sunday: NBA draft lottery.

— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.

— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.

— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.

— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).

— June 23: Round 1, NBA draft

— June 24: Round 2, NBA draft

Quote of the day

“I thought we had maybe four wide-open shots in a row that didn’t go. We just needed to keep the scoreboard moving and we played great offense. We just didn’t shot-make.” 76ers coach Nick Nurse on his team's struggles scoring down the stretch in Game 2 without Embiid.

Stats of the day

— The 76ers-Knicks game featured 25 lead changes, the most in a playoff game in 11 years. There were also 14 ties. The largest lead of the game was seven points.

— San Antonio's De'Aaron Fox made both 3-point attempts after missing on four attempts in Game 1.

___

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

Starmer’s center-left Labour Party is bracing for big losses in polls that will choose about 5,000 local councilors and a handful of mayors across England, as well as semiautonomous parliaments in Scotland and Wales. They are the biggest set of elections since Labour swept to power in a landslide in July 2024, and Starmer’s opponents have painted them as a midterm referendum on the prime minister.

Polls will close at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT), and some local authorities will count ballots overnight, but the bulk of the results are likely to be declared on Friday afternoon.

A rout could trigger moves by restive Labour lawmakers to oust a leader who led them to power less than two years ago. Even if Starmer survives for now, many analysts doubt he will lead the party into the next national election, which must be held by 2029.

Starmer’s popularity has plunged after repeated missteps since he became prime minister in July 2024. His government has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living — tasks made harder by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has choked off oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

The prime minister has been further hurt by his disastrous decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

Labour is defending about 2,500 seats on English local councils, and party members are apprehensive it may lose many of them.

Starmer already survived a crisis in February, when some Labour lawmakers, including the party’s leader in Scotland, urged him to quit over the Mandelson appointment.

He has vowed to serve out his five-year term, but a bad result could spark a challenge from a high-profile rival such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner or Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Alternately, Starmer could face pressure from the party to set a timetable for his departure after an orderly leadership contest.

Hard-right Reform UK expected to win big

Luke Tryl of pollster More in Common said the local elections are likely to see “the total collapse of the traditional two-party system” that was dominated for decades by the Labour and Conservative parties.

The big winner is expected to be hard-right party Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which is aiming for working-class, former Labour strongholds in England’s north and on London’s outer edges with its anti-establishment, anti-immigration message. The Green Party is also likely to gain hundreds of council seats in urban centers and university towns.

The main opposition Conservative Party is also expected to lose ground, with the centrist Liberal Democrats making some gains.

Starmer didn’t even mention the Conservatives in his final preelection message, framing it as a choice between “progress and a better future” under Labour and “the anger and division offered up by Reform or empty promises from the Greens.”

Farage said on the eve of the election that a strong result for Reform would mean Starmer is “gone by the middle of summer.”

Both Reform UK and the Greens have grown rapidly in the last year or two, and are facing increased scrutiny as a result. Farage is facing questions over a 5 million pound ($6.8 million) donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire that he accepted in 2024, but did not declare. He says it was a personal gift.

The environmentalist Greens, who have stressed their pro-Palestinian credentials under self-described “eco populist” leader Zack Polanski, have fired several candidates for antisemitic social media posts.

Reform also is eyeing breakthroughs in Scotland and Wales, though pro-independence nationalists the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru are likely to form governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

“Labour’s going to lose to Reform in some places, Greens in others, and here and there they’ll lose one or two seats to the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives as well,” said Tony Travers, a professor of government at the London School of Economics. “They’re fighting on four fronts in England — five in Wales and Scotland.”

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office served the warrant Wednesday in the ongoing investigation into Smart's disappearance. Her remains were never found and she was declared legally dead in 2002. Paul Flores was convicted in October 2022 and ultimately sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Law enforcement searched a home in the central coast town of Arroyo Grande occupied by Flores’ mother, Susan Flores, according to public records and reporting by a podcast that has closely followed the case.

“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,” the sheriff's statement said. “No further information is available.”

The “Your Own Backyard” podcast, which helped investigators crack the case by bringing forward additional witnesses, first reported the search and said the home belongs to Flores' mother. Attempts to reach Susan Flores for comment Wednesday were not successful.

Smart went missing from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996 after returning from an off-campus party. Prosecutors alleged she was killed during an attempted rape and that the last person she was seen with was Flores, a fellow student.

Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, were arrested in 2021.

Prosecutors alleged Smart’s remains were buried on Ruben Flores’ property and later moved. He was acquitted of accessory charges. That property is different from the one searched on Wednesday.

Paul Flores was sentenced in March 2023 to prison, where he has been physically attacked at least twice.

In 2024, a judge ruled that Paul Flores must pay just over $350,000 to Smart's family for costs they incurred after her death.

The family has said it would forgo restitution if Flores would tell them where Kristin’s body was. Flores’ attorney, Harold Mesick, said in 2024 that the defense did not know where her remains are. Flores maintains his innocence.

The county district attorney’s office said Wednesday it was helping the sheriff's office with the investigation.

“While those responsible for Kristin’s death — and those with knowledge of her whereabouts — could provide answers at any time, we remain firmly committed to using every lawful tool available to locate Kristin’s remains and to support her family until she is brought home,” District Attorney Dan Dow said in a statement.

Jason Aaron Vancleave was sentenced to 40 years in prison for each of two aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. He was also sentenced to 20 years for each of two counts of assault family violence with a previous conviction.

All of the sentences will run concurrently, according to the DA’s office.

The charges stem from an incident on Jan. 19, 2024, when Comal County deputies responded to a 911 call at Vineyard View RV Park. Upon arrival, deputies found a man and a woman with injuries.

The woman, who was in a dating relationship with Vancleave, had visible swelling on her face. She told deputies that Vancleave was intoxicated and became verbally aggressive.

Vancleave had approached the woman in a “confrontational manner,” which prompted her to kick him due to similar incidents in the past, the district attorney’s office stated. Vancleave then struck the woman’s jaw with a powder rifle.

The second victim was found with a laceration above his right eye that was bleeding heavily. He told the deputies that he had attempted to intervene in the assault. However, Vancleave threw a pair of pliers at him, which caused the injury.

According to the DA’s office, the man attempted to call 911, but Vancleave took the cellphone and threw it outside.

The male victim was later taken to a hospital in San Antonio for treatment.

Prosecutors presented various pieces of evidence in Vancleave’s trial, which included a 911 call recording, photos of the victims’ injuries, medical records, bodycam footage, jail calls and witness testimony.

Vancleave’s criminal history includes multiple firearm-related offenses, such as deadly conduct, assault family violence with a deadly weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

More crime coverage on KSAT:

• Suspect in deadly Eagle Pass casino shooting ruled competent to stand trial
• City detention officer accused of posting videos of him sexually assaulting girl, 13, on social media

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The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the week ending May 2 rose by 10,000 to 200,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 205,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.

The previous week’s new claims figure, which was the fewest since 1969, was revised up by 1,000 to 190,000.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Despite dwindling layoffs shown in government data, the Iran war, now in its third month, has injected a large degree of uncertainty about how it will affect the U.S. and global economies even as Iran and the U.S. remain under a ceasefire agreement with growing optimism that an end to the war is near.

U.S. financial markets have rebounded near record levels and prices for a barrel of U.S. crude oil remain elevated around $90 per barrel. That’s down from highs of $112 last month, but still 36% higher than before the war began. Gas prices also much higher since the war began — AAA says the national average Thursday was at $4.56 a gallon —- saddling businesses and consumers with higher costs.

Last week, the government reported that a key inflation measure jumped in March as gas prices soared, the latest sign that the Iran war is driving the cost of living sharply higher.

An inflation gauge monitored by the Federal Reserve rose 0.7% in March from February, up sharply from the previous month, the Commerce Department said. Compared with a year ago, prices rose 3.5%, the biggest increase in almost three years.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core inflation was also up in March.

This comes at a time when U.S. inflation is already above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Last week, the Fed opted to leave its benchmark rate alone, citing economic uncertainty caused by instability in the Middle East and still-elevated inflation.

Lower interest rates can boost the economy and hiring, but also tend to fuel inflation. Fed officials voted to cut rates three times to close 2025 out of concern for a weakening job market.

The Labor Department reported last month that U.S. employers added an unexpectedly strong 178,000 new jobs in March, nudging the unemployment rate back down to 4.3%. That followed a surprisingly large loss of 92,000 jobs in February. Revisions also have trimmed 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls, a sign that the labor market remains under strain.

The government issues its monthly jobs report for April on Friday.

A number of high-profile companies have cut jobs recently, including Morgan Stanley,Block, UPS, Amazon and Disney.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff rollouts, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

Employers added fewer than 200,000 jobs last year, compared with about 1.5 million in 2024, according to the data firm FactSet.

Economists say the American labor market appears stuck in a “low-hire, low-fire” state that has kept the unemployment rate historically low, but has left those out of work struggling to find a new job. The recent artificial intelligence boom and the investment required to develop it is also making companies reluctant to hire.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly ups and downs, fell to 203,250, down 4,500 from the previous week.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending April 25 declined by 10,000 to 1.77 million.

Once an outlier on the nation’s highest court, Justice Clarence Thomas has become a towering figure in the conservative legal movement over the last decade as he helped secure landmark rulings on abortion, voting and Second Amendment rights.

The only justice with a longer tenure is liberal William O. Douglas. Thomas would overtake Douglas in 2028 if he remains on the court — and there’s no sign he plans to retire anytime soon.

“I think he’s more energized and excited now than when I first met him,” said John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who served in Republican President George W. Bush's administration after his time as a Thomas clerk three decades ago.

Thomas was confirmed in 1991 after contentious hearings that included sexual harassment allegations. More recently, his acceptance of luxury trips has raised a storm of ethics questions. He's nevertheless gone from near-silence at oral arguments to asking the first questions and penning a landmark ruling expanding Second Amendment rights.

Following the appointment of three conservative justices by Republican President Donald Trump, Thomas is now the most senior member of a supermajority that's also overturned abortion as a constitutional right, ended affirmative action in college admissions and sharply limited the Voting Rights Act.

“The court has radically moved in his direction over the course of his time on the court,” said Stanford University law professor Pamela Karlan. Thomas' seniority means he can decide who writes an opinion if he's part of a majority that doesn't include Chief Justice John Roberts, a factor that can nudge other votes behind closed doors, Karlan said.

Off the bench, Thomas' sphere of influence also includes his large, close-knit network of former clerks, who have served in the Trump administration and are increasingly filling out the ranks of federal judges.

“That is an important legacy that he will leave,” said Sarah Konsky, director of the Supreme Court and Appellate Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. “Even as justices' own time on the court winds down, significant influence lives on through their clerks.”

That’s not to say Thomas’ time on the court is up. In a recent speech, Thomas tied the nation’s highest ideals to a conservative vision of limited government — and launched a broadside on progressivism seen by critics as unfair and inappropriate. In the room at the University of Texas, though, it earned a standing ovation.

Thomas, who became the second Black member of the court, now has a tenure that tops 34 years, putting him ahead of Justice Stephen J. Field, who was appointed by Lincoln before the end of the Civil War and served as the only 10th justice until 1897.

For Thomas, 77, it’s a long way from the hearings at which his nomination by Republican President George H.W. Bush was nearly derailed by allegations that he had sexually harassed Anita Hill, a charge he forcefully denied.

Thomas has more recently come under scrutiny for lavish, undisclosed trips from a GOP megadonor and the conservative political activism of his wife, who backed false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. The justice has said he wasn’t required to disclose the trips he took with friends and ignored calls to recuse himself from cases related to the election.

On the court, though, recent years have also brought perhaps the most significant work of his career, especially a 2022 opinion he wrote that found people generally have the right to carry a gun in public. The justice did not respond to a request for comment on his tenure.

His own jurisprudence has changed little over the years, said Scott Gerber, author of “First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas." Even as the majority moves his way, he’s continued to write dissents that get noticed.

“He’s incredibly consistent,” Gerber said. Once known for solo dissents, “now he writes majority opinions.”

___

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

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas in White Plains, New York, ordered the release of the note after The New York Times asked him last week to unseal it and other documents in a case involving the former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione. Federal prosecutors did not oppose the request.

Few people had known about the note until Tartaglione, a former police officer serving a life sentence for killing four people, mentioned it last year on writer Jessica Reed Kraus’ podcast.

Tartaglione claimed he discovered the note in a book after Epstein was found on the floor of their cell at a Manhattan federal jail on July 23, 2019, with a strip of bedsheet around the financier's neck. That was about three weeks before Epstein was found dead in his cell in what authorities concluded was a suicide.

“They investigated me for month -- found nothing!!!” said the short note, which is hard to decipher in some places. “It is a treat to be able to choose” the “time to say goodbye,” the note continues. “Watcha want me to do -- Bust out cryin!!”

“NO FUN,” the note concludes, with those words underlined. “NOT WORTH IT!!”

It is unclear who wrote the note Tartaglione claimed to have found. It wasn’t mentioned in the lengthy government reports examining the circumstances of Epstein’s death, nor did it surface in the Justice Department’s recent release of files on the late financier.

In a written ruling, Karas said he weighed the privacy interests of third parties, including Epstein, before ruling to release the note. He said existing case law suggests that privacy interests of a deceased person, such as Epstein, “are vastly reduced and disclosure of the deceased’s information is unlikely to ‘work a concrete harm.‘”

According to jail records, Epstein had friction marks and skin irritation on his neck from the suspected July 23 attempt. Jail officers said he was breathing heavily but responsive. One officer reported at the time that Epstein said he believed Tartaglione had tried to kill him, according to a memo included in the Justice Department’s files.

Jail officials placed Epstein on suicide watch for 31 hours after the incident before downgrading him to psychiatric observation — his status when he killed himself. According to jail records, he denied trying to harm himself, telling a jail psychologist that suicide was against his Jewish religion and that he was a “coward” who didn’t like pain.

A chronology included in the files states that Tartaglione told his lawyer about the note four days after the suspected July 23 attempt. The note was later submitted as evidence in Tartaglione’s criminal case and was placed under seal amid a dispute over his legal representation.

Both men were interviewed by jail personnel on July 31, 2019, according to jail records.

Epstein said he had never had any issues with Tartaglione, wasn't threatened by him and didn't “want to make up something that isn’t there.” Tartaglione said he didn't have any issues being Epstein’s cellmate, though he said they kept their conversations to a minimum. On July 23, he said, he thought Epstein was having a heart attack because his eyes were open and he appeared to be snoring.

Epstein and Tartaglione shared a cell for about two weeks, beginning soon after Epstein’s July 6, 2019, arrest and ending with the suspected suicide attempt. Both were awaiting trials — Epstein on sex trafficking charges and Tartaglione on charges that in 2016 he killed four men, including a man he tortured and strangled over stolen drug money.

Tartaglione, who had been an officer in the Hudson River Valley village of Briarcliff Manor, was convicted in 2023. He is currently incarcerated at a federal penitentiary in California and has petitioned President Donald Trump for a pardon.

Epstein was without a cellmate when he was found dead at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, on Aug. 10, 2019. Authorities have pointed to a series of missteps by jail personnel — including browsing the internet and sleeping when they should've been checking on Epstein — for allowing him to take his own life.

Officials said they found a handwritten note in Epstein’s cell at the time of his death, but that it didn't appear to be a suicide note. Rather, they said, it appeared to be a list of grievances about conditions at the jail, including about food, showers and the presence of bugs.

___

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

Last week, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said he hopes the U.S. would make the “right choices” relating to the self-ruled island when he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not excluded the use of force to take it. Beijing has been ramping up its military pressure by sending warplanes and naval vessels around the island almost daily.

“The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian Thursday.

“Abiding by the One China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués and honoring the commitments made by U.S administrations on the Taiwan question, is the due international obligation of the United States and the prerequisite for a steady, sound, and sustainable China-U.S. relationship," he added.

Such strong language so close in time to the two leaders' meeting is rare for Beijing, said Arthur Zhin-Sheng Wang, a defense expert at Taiwan’s Central Police University. The new language also explicitly links U.S. diplomatic actions on Taiwan to Washington's relationship with China.

China and Taiwan split after a civil war in 1949. The U.S. is the island's largest unofficial ally and also sells weapons to Taiwan as part of a law which requires it to ensure Taiwan can defend itself. Those weapons sales and diplomatic support is a primary source of tension between China and the U.S.

Separately, China's top diplomat Wang said Thursday in a meeting with visiting American senators that ties with both sides have managed to keep things stable amid disruptions.

During a meeting with members of a U.S. bipartisan congressional delegation, led by Sen. Steve Daines, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi credited Presidents Xi Jinping and Trump for “helping steer the direction of bilateral relations at critical moments.”

“Over the past year, China-U.S. relations have gone through many twists and disruptions, but we have still managed to maintain overall stability," Wang said.

Daines, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a strong supporter of Trump, agreed and said that both countries should look for stability.

“I strongly believe that we want to de-escalate, not decouple. We want stability, we want mutual respect,” he said.

Daines hinted at one possible outcome to the two leaders' meeting next week, saying, "perhaps we could see some more Boeing airplanes purchased, which I know would be something we would like to see."

The senator also recognized China's efforts to help reduce tensions in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said that Wang's meeting on Wednesday with the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was proof of China's engagement.

Ahead of Trump's visit to China, scheduled for May 14-15, the U.S. government has been pressing Beijing to use its influence with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.

It was Daines' second trip to China since Trump took office last year. He previously visited in March 2025, when the two countries were locked in frictions over trade tariffs and efforts to combat illegal fentanyl trade.

—-

Wu reported from Bangkok.

The Cheesecake Factory is known for their massive menu of more than 250 items but guess what... they are adding more. We check out some of the new dishes & show you the sweet treat that will make you mom’s favorite - spoiler alert, it’s cheesecake.

A local boutique - Pop Fizz Clink - is bringing the gifts to you by setting up outside a local school. We check out this unique setup & what they have for mom.

Creative Lifestyles with Adeina is back with a great way to create your own DIY spa day for mom. Plus, some other great last minute gift ideas.

>> Wembanyama and Spurs rebound to hand Timberwolves largest postseason defeat, 133-95, to even series

Alamo Biscuit Company & Panadería, located at the Shops at Rivercenter, gave away 700 free conchas to fans who drove through downtown following the Spurs victory.

The business said it planned to continue the tradition throughout the playoffs, handing out hundreds of conchas after every Spurs win.

Take a look at KSAT reporter Alexis Scott’s preview below:

According to a news release, Alamo Biscuit began preparing for the giveaway Tuesday night and continued baking throughout Wednesday, producing hundreds of brightly colored Mexican pastries ahead of tipoff.

On Wednesday night, Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs handed Minnesota the worst postseason loss in franchise history, beating the Timberwolves 133-95. The series is tied 1-1.

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Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10. Some places require reservations, so be sure to book in advance!

Here are some of the ways you can treat mom this weekend:

Ácenar HotMex & Cool Bar: The restaurant will have a brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Mother’s Day at 146 E. Houston St., along the River Walk.

The meal is $65 for adults and $35 for children. There will also be a happy hour from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., featuring discounted cocktails and food.

Bakery Lorraine: The bakery will offer a variety of festive desserts to celebrate Mother’s Day. Some desserts include “Mother’s Sweet Escape” cookie tray, a “Maman Chérie Box” and a fruit frangipane. Pre-orders are available for submission now through Monday, May 4.

Customers can pick up their orders on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10.

Clementine: The Castle Hills restaurant, located at 2195 NW Military Highway, will host its annual Festive Mother’s Day High Tea from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9.

Tickets are $75 per person. To make a reservation, click here.

Corinne San Antonio: Located inside the Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, 555 S. Alamo St., will offer guests a brunch buffet, a mimosa station and a photo-op from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day. The brunch includes an ice sculpture and seafood display, a custom omelet, carving and crepe-making station and more.

The brunch is priced at $75 for adults and $17 for children. To make a reservation, click here.

Dean’s Steak and Seafood: Located inside the Kimpton Santo San Antonio-Riverwalk, 431 S. Alamo St., customers can enjoy dinner specials, live music and more from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day.

Customers can purchase two glasses of Taittinger champagne for $40 or a bouquet of flowers for the table for $25. To make a reservation, click here.

Gallery on the Park: The restaurant, located inside The St. Anthony Hotel, 300 E. Travis St., will have a three-course prix fixe brunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mother’s Day. The menu will feature melon poke and butter-poached lobster benedict, along with traditional brunch dishes.

The meal is $65 per guest, and reservations are required. Guests can also receive a $10 valet parking with validation when dining. To make a reservation, click here.

Jingu House: The restaurant, located at the Japanese Tea Garden, will offer a Mother’s Day brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10.

Buffet prices for adults are $65 and for children 12 and under is $25. Reservations are encouraged as seating is limited.

Jots: The restaurant, located inside The Gunter Hotel, 205 East Houston, will serve crafted specials, including crab royal, steak and fries, chicken schnitzel and toffee reserve on Mother’s Day.

Guests can also enjoy live music from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are encouraged and can be scheduled through here.

La Cascada Table and Bar: Located inside Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, 1 Resort Way in Boerne, guests can enjoy a brunch that will feature chef-inspired favorites, seasonal dishes and desserts on Mother’s Day.

The brunch costs $78 per adult and $30 per child. To make a reservation, click here.

La Cosecha Mexican Table: The restaurant, located at 505 Business, N Interstate 35 Frontage Road in New Braunfels, will offer a Mother’s Day brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. From Saturday, May 9 through Sunday, May 10.

The menu will include huevos divorciados, grilled oysters, snapper crudo and more. Reservations can be made online or by calling the restaurant at 830-358-7511.

La Panaderia: The bakery and cafe will celebrate Mother’s Day by offering a Heart Mousse pastry for $9.50, a special edition mini concha for $3.20 and its full brunch menu until 4 p.m. on May 10.

La Panaderia will also offer the first 50 mothers dining at any location on May 7 and May 10 a complimentary mimosa.

Maverick Texas Brasserie: From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day, there will be a buffet led by Executive Chef Ed Ebert featuring French-Texas fusion dishes.

The restaurant is located at 710 S. St Mary’s St. To make a reservation, click here.

McAdoo’s Seafood Co. & Oyster Bar: The restaurant, located at 196 N Castell Ave. in New Braunfels, will offer a Mother’s Day menu that will feature crab cake egg benedict, seafood salad and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day.

Reservations can be made through here or by calling the restaurant at 830-629-3474.

Paris Baguette: The bakery, located inside The Gunter Hotel, will offer a collection of desserts now through Mother’s Day. Some desserts include strawberry soft cream heart cake, triple chocolate strawberry fraisier and lemon citrus fresh roll cake.

Smashin Crab: From Friday, May 8, through Monday, May 11, all three San Antonio locations will have a Mother’s Day special. The $50 “Combo for a Queen,” a limited-time boil, contains a queen crab cluster, a half-pound of shrimp, a half-pound of crawfish, sausage and vegetables.

Springhouse Café: Located inside the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas, 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive, the restaurant will have a special holiday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mother’s Day. The menu will feature pancakes, seafood, smoked prime rib and more.

The meal is $95 for adults and $35 for children between 6 and 12 years old. Children ages 5 and younger eat free. For more information and to make a reservation, click here.

Tenfold Rooftop: The restaurant, located inside the Kimpton Santo San Antonio-Riverwalk, will offer personalized specials and live music from noon to 10 p.m. on Mother’s Day.

Tenfold Rooftop will offer a “Mom’s Moment” package for $150, which includes a bouquet of roses, four chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of bubbles and complimentary valet. The rooftop bar and restaurant will also offer a “Mom-osa Kit” for $30 and a bouquet of flowers for $25. Click here to make a reservation.

The Jerk Shack: The restaurant will offer a three-course dine-in only menu for $45 for mothers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mother’s Day. The menu includes a choice of starter, a daily chef’s special and a dessert.

Zocca Cuisine d’Italia: The restaurant inside The Westin Riverwalk, 420 W. Market St., is hosting a guided bouquet-making class to celebrate Mother’s Day. The event, hosted by The Dried Wildflower, is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9.

Tickets are $45 for children and younger adults and $65 for adults. Guests will receive a custom dried floral bouquet to take home, a welcome drink and charcuterie bites. To purchase tickets, click here.

The restaurant will also host a brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day, with dishes include smoked sausage and gouda quiches and Fruity Pebbles mini waffles. To make a reservation, click here.

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The man has been identified as Damian Barajas, 30, by family and the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office. The medical examiner’s office told KSAT he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Family and friends remembered Barajas on Wednesday with a vigil at the apartment complex where he died.

“We want answers,” Leeila Barajas, his sister, said. “We want justice for our brother.”

According to the San Antonio Police Department, covert and SWAT units were told about a suspect with multiple felony warrants. Officers conducted surveillance of that man and located him at the apartment complex off West Dickson Avenue.

SAPD said that as the suspect approached in a vehicle, officers utilized a flash bang. Police then said the suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and fired multiple times toward the officers.

That’s when two officers — Jonathan Reyes and Salvator Hernandez — fired and killed him.

Both officers have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation is conducted.

Barajas’ family said they want details on why their brother was shot, what weapon he allegedly used and how he was treated after he died.

KSAT reached out to SAPD around 9 p.m. on Wednesday directly about those concerns and have yet to hear back as of 10 p.m.

At the vigil Wednesday night, KSAT was provided with videos recorded by witnesses at the shooting. KSAT is reviewing those clips and will update this story.

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• North Side neighbors shaken after 3 dead, 1 critically injured in suspected murder-suicide

Stephon Castle had 21 points and De’Aaron Fox added 16 points for San Antonio, which shot 50% from the field and 41% on 3-pointers. It was the highest-scoring playoff game for the Spurs since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.

Alamo Biscuit Company & Panadería, located at the Shops at Rivercenter, says it will give away 700 free conchas to fans who drive down Commerce Street after the game.

>> Where to score free food, coffee after each Spurs playoff win

The business said they will be handing out hundreds of conchas every time the Spurs win during the playoffs.

Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 12 points for Minnesota.

Edwards came off the bench again as Minnesota continued to restrict his minutes in his second game back from a hyperextended left knee.

Games 3 and 4 are Friday and Sunday in Minneapolis.

With Wembanyama playing more aggressively on offense from the outset, the Spurs put the series-opening loss behind them quickly.

Minnesota’s previous largest postseason defeat was by 30 points to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003.

Only the margin of victory was in doubt Monday as both teams sent their starters to the bench with 10 minutes remaining and the Spurs leading 104-66.

After combining to score 21 points on 10-for-31 shooting in Game 1, Wembanyama and Fox combined to go 12 of 25 from the field Wednesday.

The All-Star duo scored the Spurs’ first 11 points as they raced to a 29-point lead in the first half.

The Spurs missed their first three shots, but Wembanyama followed the third attempt by flying through the lane and throwing down a right-handed dunk to open the scoring.

Minnesota was held to 35 points in the first half. The Timberwolves shot 29.8% from the field before halftime and were 2 for 15 on 3-pointers as they fell behind by 25 points.

Spurs rookie Carter Bryant soared for a two-handed slam for his first points of the series and Wembanyama followed with a 3-pointer for a 43-26 lead midway through the second quarter.

Back-to-back slams by Dylan Harper and Castle were part of a 11-0 run that extended the advantage to 59-34.

San Antonio has not lost consecutive games since falling at Minnesota and Oklahoma City in mid-January.

___

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

Read also:

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The Republican Party has felt like home to Rena Schroeder since her teenage years when she joined a high school club for conservative Latinos. She cast her first presidential vote for Ronald Reagan. And she’s lost friends over her ardent posts on social media, some touting her anti-abortion views.

“I’ve always been committed,” said Schroeder, 62, of her allegiance to the GOP. That is, until she learned about a massive data center, part of OpenAI’s $500 billion Stargate project, going up south of her property.

The project has been championed by her party’s standard-bearers, President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott. But the more Schroeder learned about data centers popping up across the state, the more she became convinced her party was corrupted by industry lobbyists, seemingly brushing off what she saw as an existential threat to rural Texans like her.

So in late March, at a GOP precinct meeting in Falls County, Schroeder suggested they propose a data center ban at the upcoming state Republican convention, which sets the party’s priorities.

“They started screaming and yelling, and you would have thought I started World War III,” Schroeder said. “They said, ‘We won’t accept that, Rena. You’re gonna have to revise it to regulations.’”

She threw her hands up in the air and said, “The only thing that I’m gonna revise, right here, right now, is my commitment to the Republican Party. Goodbye.”

Now, Schroeder identifies as an independent, and she exemplifies the growing divide among Texas Republicans over data centers.

As the massive, digital information-processing facilities proliferate, Republicans are caught between a zealous president and governor bent on Texas becoming the next global data center hub, and outraged constituents, like Schroeder, in red and rural districts where a majority of them are being proposed.

According to a Texas Tribune analysis, at least 82 data centers, or nearly 60% of those that are either planned or under construction, are in state House districts that voted for President Donald Trump and elected a Republican state representative in 2024. Meanwhile, a March Quinnipiac poll found that 65% of Americans oppose the building of an AI data center in their community.

Republican state lawmakers — caught in the middle — have offered mixed opinions about data center development amid calls from city and county leaders to give them more freedom to regulate the facilities.

Altogether, the thorny politics could hurt Republicans ahead of this year’s midterm elections — especially in a cycle when they hold the White House, a dynamic that typically favors the opposing party.

In Washington, Trump has removed federal red tape to spur faster data center expansion, framing it as key to protecting the country from cyber attacks and ensuring economic dominance over foreign adversaries like China. Congressional proposals to require greater transparency from operators and protect ratepayers have stalled and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is moving to block states from regulating artificial intelligence nationwide.

Meanwhile, Abbott has touted Texas as the “epicenter” of artificial intelligence development, including in November when he announced, alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the company’s $40 billion investment in Texas in the form of three new data centers in West Texas and the Panhandle.

The issue is set to be a major focus when lawmakers return to Austin in January, with both House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate, having highlighted it multiple times within their priority lists.

Both directed their chambers to balance the economic development benefits of the facilities with their potential impact on Texas communities and their water and power infrastructure. Patrick also asked senators to look into the state’s sales tax exemption for the projects, which The Tribune reported earlier this month will cost the state $3.2 billion in revenue over the next two years.

The data center industry has recently mobilized, unveiling a campaign to promote the benefits of the facilities, and ramping up its political donations during Texas’ GOP primaries. It’s also expanding its lobbying shops to win over Republicans priding themselves on being anti-regulation and pro-business as they pitch billions in investment and thousands of jobs.

AI-aligned super PACs spent about $4.2 million in Texas this primary cycle, with all but $150,000 going to Republicans, according to the Tech Oversight Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that supports regulations on data centers.

Companies that own, operate or rent from data centers collectively added at least 15 more lobbyists between the 2023 and 2025 sessions, according to a Tribune analysis, and have already started gearing back up for next year’s session.

James Dickey, the former Texas GOP chairman who is now a political consultant for data centers, said lawmakers may have reasonable questions but ultimately he expects Republicans will line up to support the industry.

“I think the vast majority of our legislators understand and agree with the White House that artificial intelligence is both an economic and national security concern, and that the best place to grow for the future is in Texas,” he said.

A delicate balance

About 50 miles southwest of Galveston in coastal Brazoria County, which features a mix of rural and urban areas, the Republican county executive Matt Sebesta was blunt with his constituents at a commissioners court meeting on March 10. The court was about to vote down a tax abatement for a proposed, 620-megawatt data center and accompanying natural gas plant, but he wanted a roomful of angry residents to know that beyond that, counties have virtually no tools to stop the development.

“When folks look at me and say, ‘We don’t want this,’ I point them to our state reps and say, ‘Go talk to your state rep. Go talk to your senator,’ because they don’t trust us to make those decisions,” Sebesta said in an interview, underscoring his desire for the Legislature to give counties that authority.

He added: “County government is an extension of state government, but we’re the redheaded stepchild. We’re the ones that deliver the services, but they treat county government like shit.”

State Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, who showed up to the Brazoria County meeting, said he filed legislation last session to give counties regulation authority over large developments like data centers that have the potential to impact health, safety or noise levels, though it did not make it to the House floor. He committed to bringing similar legislation in 2027.

“When you develop in the county, it’s been viewed kind of as the Wild West, but I think as time has gone on, more and more projects are being developed near residences in the county, and that’s something we need to look at changing,” Vasut said at the meeting.

Not all Republicans are on board with the idea of empowering local governments with more oversight.

“These should be statewide, top-down guidelines,” state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said in an interview. “You can’t have 254 different counties and 1,000 cities all coming up with different answers. Stuff would never get built.”

The debate is beginning to reveal geographic fault lines among Republican legislators, with rural lawmakers like Vasut tending to raise more concerns about data centers while those from urban areas like Bettencourt have generally been more supportive — or at least quieter.

At a House committee hearing on the issue in March, for example, outgoing state Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo worried aloud about the state’s long-term water supply, while state Rep. Will Metcalf of Conroe openly pitched an executive on bringing a data center to his district.

Metcalf had just asked about the benefit of data centers to the local community, and Dan Diorio, a vice president of the Data Center Coalition, an industry membership association, pointed to new jobs and the significant property tax revenue they bring that goes back into schools, infrastructure and public works. In Virginia, the largest data center market in the world, Diorio said, for every dollar a center spends in services, it gives back $26 in revenue.

“Let’s visit in the future,” a smiling Metcalf said to Diorio. “Because Conroe Technology Park has a great location that this might fit well in.”

“Immediate Pause”

In March, state Rep. Helen Kerwin, a Republican who represents rural Glen Rose, penned a letter to Abbott calling for an “IMMEDIATE PAUSE” on new large-scale data center developments to allow for impact studies, particularly on water availability and grid capacity. Somervell County, which falls entirely in her district, has a tax abatement deal with Amazon for a 600-megawatt data center. Kerwin said she knows of at least five other potential applications in her district.

“The AI revolution is advancing at a pace that exceeds the industrial and technological revolutions that came before it, and its impact on humanity will likely be even greater,” she wrote in a letter she also posted to social media. “Because of this, it is imperative that we get the foundational policies right from the beginning.”

Three days after posting the letter, Kerwin was part of a group of nearly 100 Texas Republican legislators invited to the White House to meet with President Trump and his cabinet. There, Trump officials discussed a number of policy issues, including the administration’s desire to expand data center development in Texas.

Bettencourt was in the cohort and found the administration’s arguments persuasive. He said he believes opponents are being short-sighted because they fear change.

“The future of having growth is what’s key to keeping the Texas miracle alive, which is more jobs, rising wages, a good place to raise and educate children,” he said. “All the opportunities that the Texas economy brings everyone is a much better solution than no growth.”

State Rep. Wes Virdell, R-Brady, wrote on Facebook that he and other members warned the Trump officials that the state lacked the resources for a data center influx, and he also described his constituents’ concern that new high-voltage transmission lines will “destroy the Hill Country.”

“I left with the impression that our concerns fell on deaf ears,” wrote Virdell, in a rare break for the deeply conservative MAGA Republican. “It looks like it is up to us (the people) to fight against data center expansion in Texas.”

In an April interview about her letter, Kerwin said it was “misunderstood initially” as her calling for restrictions on the industry and she stressed that she is not against data centers or artificial intelligence.

“All I’m asking the governor to do is just, let’s just pause – not stop. I don’t want to halt,” she said. “We all know we have to embrace this, or we’re going to be left behind, and we may already be behind with China, who knows? – but we have to do it right, and we have to protect our water, our aquifers, not for decades but for generations.”

The North Central Texas representative stopped short of saying she supports “regulation,” though she raised the possibility of the Legislature considering a “guideline” that would limit developments to closed-loop cooling systems, which tend to use less water.

“The word ‘regulation’ scares me, as a grassroots conservative,” she said. “I don’t want to use the [word] regulation right now until the study, if we can get one, determines that might be needed.”

A PR campaign in its infancy

Sensing that anti-data center sentiment was worsening in Texas, the governor’s office called meetings with top data center representatives. The San Marcos city council had recently denied rezoning for a $1.5 billion data center over concerns about water and other local boards were entertaining anti-data center proposals.

An Abbott staffer gave them a stern warning that they needed to step up their public messaging or risk losing political support, according to three people with knowledge of the conversation not authorized to speak publicly.

“There is bad press after bad press after bad press,” one of the sources paraphrased the governor’s aide as saying. “Elected officials are getting beat up for this, and y’all are doing absolutely nothing. I mean, it was almost a ‘What are y’all thinking?'”

Within weeks, a new nonprofit dedicated to educating Texans about the data center industry rolled out an outreach campaign touting the benefits of the facilities. Its first advertisement video, entitled “Built for Texas,” highlighted that the centers house critical data like medical information and business payrolls, create “high-paying jobs” and pay “billions” in taxes, all while promising that the centers will consume “minimal water” thanks to new technology.

The nonprofit, Texas Connects, mirrors a similar effort in Virginia, whose parallel group, Virginia Connects, both of which were put together by the Data Center Coalition.

The Virginia campaign cost at least $700,000 in the last fiscal year, according to Fast Company. Statewide political campaigns in Texas, home to several major media markets and more than three times as many residents as Virginia, have to raise significantly more money to have a similar reach here.

The coalition did not respond to questions about where in Texas they plan to air the videos or how much they expect to spend.

Kate Goodrich, an attorney at K&L Gates and lobbyist for data centers, said the industry “has taken a bit to get everyone moving in the same direction” on its public messaging, but that’s been changing in recent months.

“There is currently an industrywide endeavor to do a better job at clearing up any misconceptions,” Goodrich said. “Any new emerging technology is scary. Even when airplanes were created, people were like, ‘What is this? This is going to change everything.’ So there’s just a need for education.”

With the amount of public outcry over the subject, Goodrich and her colleague Austin McCarty, said it seems inevitable that lawmakers pass some kind of regulation in the upcoming session.

“The issue at hand is to make sure that an overly burdensome regulatory environment doesn’t kill an opportunity,” McCarty said. “I mean, this is the new gold rush. Another economic opportunity like this will not come along in our lifetime or maybe even our children’s lifetime.”

Meanwhile, the tech industry is already lavishing donations across the capitol.

Abbott has received over $2 million from people and companies linked to the tech and AI industries since last year. Meta plans to give $65 million this midterm cycle to state politicians who support the AI industry, both in Republican- and Democrat-led states, through new super PACs, according to national reporting.

The one aimed at Republicans, Forge the Future, spent over $1 million in Texas this year boosting Republican state-level candidates during this year’s primary, including nearly $174,000 supporting the campaign of state Rep. David Cook, who easily defeated Schroeder this year when she ran in the GOP primary for an open Senate seat.

Schroeder says she won’t support Cook because she doesn’t believe he’ll stand up to data centers.

Cook, in a Feb. 26 statement, said he rejected Meta’s support and “their efforts to build in an area where the citizens have spoken out in strong opposition.” The Mansfield Republican’s attorney sent the company a cease and desist letter that same day, demanding it stop voter outreach on behalf of Cook because he had never spoken to anyone at the Meta super PAC before and “does not want any help.”

That same month, Cook said he agrees with Trump that data centers are “critical to national security.” Yet he also voiced support for setting guardrails on the industry and letting counties pass moratoriums on construction of the facilities. He has committed to filing legislation that gives counties “reasonable authority” to regulate data center development and protects against water depletion and power rate increases.

Activists like Schroeder aren’t letting up. She plans to continue her involvement in a grassroots, social media-originated group called the Texas Coalition Against Datacenters and has her sights set on running for office again.

“I have to fight for Texas land because if I don’t, where’s my daughter gonna go?” Schroeder said. “This is her inheritance right here. And I’m speaking for every rural Texan, where’s our grandchildren and our children’s inheritance gonna go?”

Apurva Mahajan contributed to this reporting.

A decade ago, wind power was surging in popularity and attracting huge investments that made Texas a national leader in renewable energy. But today, gas generation is making a big comeback, driven by a wave of data centers flooding into the state.

For the last six months, the volume of gas generation in the Texas grid’s interconnection queue — the yearslong waiting list for electric generators wanting to connect to the grid — has surpassed wind. It’s the first time since January 2016 that gas has overtaken wind in the queue, a shift that reflects the policy and economic headwinds facing the wind industry and data centers favoring gas power as they seek to cash in on the artificial intelligence boom.

“The data center explosion and their desire for 24/7 power probably excited a lot of gas developers, and that gas queue got bigger,” said University of Texas professor of energy regulation David Spence.

Like every power grid operator in the U.S., the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, uses the interconnection queue to manage and plan for new power generation coming online. But not all projects in the queue ultimately reach completion. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, or LBNL, only 22% of projects in ERCOT’s queue actually get built, which is still the highest percentage of any grid in the nation.

Still, the queue gives an early indication of how the grid is projected to evolve in the future. Solar and battery projects dominate, accounting for 75% of the 458,000 megawatts in the queue, with gas and wind projects making up the rest.

But over the last three years, the volume of gas projects in the queue has jumped by more than 400%, from 12,500 megawatts in March 2023 to nearly 64,000 megawatts as of last month, according to ERCOT data. Meanwhile, wind projects have grown at a much slower clip, increasing by 87% from 25,700 to 48,000 megawatts over the same period.

The gas queue is getting a boost from the Texas Energy Fund, a program passed by the Legislature in 2023 that provides low-interest loans to developers of so-called dispatchable power that can easily be ramped up or down according to grid demand, such as gas-fired power plants.

About 9,000 megawatts worth of projects in the queue are getting loans from the TEF, a large portion of which are “near-term gas projects we expect to come online,” an ERCOT spokesperson said.

But the strongest driving force behind the gas ramp-up is the long list of companies looking to build data centers in Texas.

ERCOT data shows around 360,000 megawatts of power demand tied to prospective data center projects — a volume that would by itself more than quadruple the grid’s record peak demand of 85,500 megawatts set in August 2023.

If anything close to that number actually gets built, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas told a Senate committee earlier this month, “then we’re going to clearly need a lot more of [gas] generation in order to have a balanced and reliable grid.”

ERCOT’s gas embrace

Vegas sees the growth of gas projects on the queue as a welcome trend. For too long, he said, ERCOT’s energy market hasn’t been attracting dispatchable energy generation like gas plants.

It’s a symptom of how the market was designed 25 years ago, when the Texas Legislature passed sweeping reforms that deregulated the market. Restructuring in 1999 created a competitive wholesale and retail power market and introduced a renewable energy requirement.

That incentivized bringing cheap electricity to the grid, Vegas said, and it kick-started renewable energy development that boomed through the late 2000s and early 2010s.

But Vegas said the new market design failed to value the different strengths of power sources, and those differences matter for grid reliability.

Renewables provide cheap, clean electricity but are only intermittently available when the sun is shining and wind is blowing. Battery power — which pulls electricity from the grid during off-peak hours then sends it back to the grid during peak hours — can be dispatched when needed, but it has duration limitations.

Thermal generators like gas and coal don’t have similar limits as long as the fuel is available to run them.

“We’ve seen this explosion of wind and solar, and now batteries, to the complete exclusion of growth in the natural gas system, because economically we’re not valuing the characteristics of gas generation that is so important for long-term reliability,” Vegas said. “We need to change that somewhere in the market design to recognize the reliability characteristics of the generating source.

But bringing gas-fired power onto the grid faces its own hurdles. For the last several years, the supply chain for gas turbines — the engines that power plants use to generate electricity — has seen a major bottleneck caused in large part by surging demand from data centers outstripping manufacturing capacity. According to Wood Mackenzie, an energy research and consulting firm, orders for a turbine today may take until 2031 to arrive.

However, data centers and gas power developers are finding creative ways around this problem, including repurposing turbines originally designed for aircraft or cruise ships, according to a recent report from the energy data company Cleanview.

In El Paso, for instance, the city’s electric utility is planning to build a gas plant using a novel design that will tie together 813 small gas generators, which are typically used as backup power units at hospitals or manufacturing facilities, to produce 366 megawatts for a data center being built by Meta. And in Mississippi, Elon Musk’s AI company xAI purchased and revived a dormant power plant last year to power a data center that helps train xAI’s chatbot Grok.

“The perceived economic loss of not getting your data center up and running in a year is valued in the billions of dollars,” said University of Texas grid researcher Joshua Rhodes. “That will drive people to very out-of-the-box solutions for these types of things.”

Wind’s slowdown

On the other side of the equation is wind’s shrinking market share. Since its peak in 2018, when wind composed around 50% of the megawatts in the interconnection queue, wind has now fallen behind every other major generation source.

The headwinds facing wind today are multifold, experts say, and extend beyond the recent cuts to tax credits for renewable projects.

Wind’s primary challenge stems from its earlier success. After two decades of immense growth across the state, all of the prime development locations have been taken. Parcels across West Texas and the coastal region — where winds are strong, land is accessible, and transmission lines are available to send the electricity to the grid — have mostly been developed already.

“Texas has a lot of land, but the low-hanging fruit has been picked over by all the wind development that has happened there,” said Joseph Rand, an energy markets researcher at LBNL.

And because the West Texas and coastal regions have become saturated, the existing transmission lines have grown congested, forcing generators to curtail their power output — which cuts into their profits.

To solve that issue, ERCOT is advancing plans to update its transmission system again, which will include three major 765 kilovolt lines capable of carrying more electricity than any existing line in Texas.

“If I were a wind developer, I might not want to build today and face that curtailment risk for the first few years of my project’s lifespan,” Rand said.

Wind’s challenges also stem from solar’s soaring success in Texas. While technology costs for wind and solar have both fallen over the last two decades, the cost of solar energy has fallen more rapidly, from around $160 per megawatt-hour in 2010 to around $70 in 2024, LBNL data shows.

“Because the cost of building a solar farm has gone down so dramatically over the last five to six years, it just becomes a better business decision to build solar and, increasingly, solar plus [battery] storage,” said Judd Messer, Texas vice president of the clean energy trade association Advanced Power Alliance.

Lastly, the wind industry faces policy uncertainty that has made it difficult for wind projects to attract financing. Trump administration policies that have slowed or paused federal approvals necessary for wind projects to reach completion have caused investors to shy away from the industry.

In Texas, which created a grid designed to avoid federal regulation by operating almost entirely within state lines, the federal government can still hamper renewables via the Federal Aviation Administration’s 200-foot rule, which requires construction permits for all structures over 200 feet tall, such as onshore wind turbines.

Last summer, for instance, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the FAA “will thoroughly evaluate proposed wind turbines to ensure they do not pose a danger to aviation,” indicating that the routine permit may become a hurdle for onshore wind.

“This kind of arbitrary executive-level uncertainty is really spooking people,” said Messer. 

Disclosure: Advanced Power Alliance has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 

Also, after every Spurs “W” throughout the playoff season, Animal Care Services is offering $0 adoption fees drop the next day for all available dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. ACS is located at 4710 State Hwy 151.

Here’s where you can score free food after a Spurs win:

Big Lou’s Pizza

The day after a playoff win, people can get a free one-topping medium pizza with the purchase of a large pizza. The pizza joint is located at 2048 S WW White Rd.

Taco Palenque

Taco Palenque will give out a free breakfast taco after every Spurs playoff win, according to a news release. Customers must use the coupon code “SPURSWIN” in the Taco Palenque app or present it in the restaurant.

The Taco Palenque offer is available at all of its locations from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., even outside of San Antonio, the release said.

La Panadería

La Panadería will give out Fiesta-themed mini conchas for free at every La Panadería location after a Spurs win.

The promotion is only available for the first 50 customers who purchase an additional item.

Eightball Coffee

Eightball Coffee, which is located at 1432 S. St. Mary’s St., partnered with San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson to provide free coffee the following day after each San Antonio win from 8-10 a.m.

La Popular Bakery

Multiple La Popular Bakery locations are offering one free glazed doughnut on each day after a San Antonio playoff win from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

The locations participating in the free doughnut offer include 2505 West Avenue and 1318 Cupples Road.

La Michoacana Meat Market

All La Michoacana Meat Market locations in San Antonio are handing out one free breakfast taco from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. after every Spurs win in the playoffs.

Read more Spurs coverage from KSAT:

• Former Spur Tiago Splitter to face San Antonio in 2026 NBA Playoffs
• NBA announces tipoff times, TV networks for first 4 Spurs-Trail Blazers playoff games
• NBA playoff odds show Spurs as No. 2 favorite to take home title

Surging gas prices, an unpopular war in Iran and tariffs that have hit the state’s auto industry hard have all contributed to concerns about a worsening political environment for Michigan Republicans.

The latest warning sign came Tuesday, when a Democrat won a special election by almost 20 points in a state Senate district that Kamala Harris won by less than 1 point in 2024. The previous officeholder, a Democrat, carried the seat by 6 percentage points in 2022.

“To get to this margin in that kind of a district means that Democrats and independent voters are working in tandem to send a message to the Trump administration,” Michigan pollster Richard Czuba said of Tuesday's result.

The sentiment could pose a challenge for Michigan Republicans in a midterm year when voters will decide the governor’s office, control of the Legislature and a premier U.S. Senate race. The mood of voters in Michigan also matters for a national Republican Party that sees the state — which Donald Trump flipped in 2024 — as central to its coalition and a midterm map that will again hinge heavily on the industrial Midwest.

‘If they don’t get Iran figured out pretty quick, we’re screwed’

Nationally, Trump’s approval rating on the economy fell between March and April as the Iran war sent prices higher, according to an AP-NORC poll. The April poll found that approval had eroded even among Republicans, with 62% having a positive view of the way Trump is handling the economy, down from 74% in March.

Trump’s economic approval remained low among independents, who have an outsized role in deciding elections in swing states like Michigan. About 2 in 10 independents approved of Trump’s performance on the economy in the April poll, down slightly from about 3 in 10 in March. Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults approved of his handling of the cost of living.

Michigan voters may be feeling the impacts more than those elsewhere in the U.S. Gas prices in Michigan are averaging around $4.80 per gallon, the 10th-highest in the nation, according to AAA, after they jumped by over 80 cents in a week.

Jared Kaufman, 26, is among those frustrated by rising costs and the war in Iran. He voted for Democrat Chedrick Green in Tuesday's election, saying he’s a teacher who doesn’t make much money. The sacrifices being made “for something that is nowhere near us” are unnecessary, he said.

Tariffs have also created new anxiety in a state deeply tied to the auto industry and cross-border trade with Canada. While Trump has argued the tariffs will strengthen domestic manufacturing, suppliers and smaller manufacturers in Michigan say the uncertainty has made it harder to plan investments and expansion.

“The more stability there is in the environment, the easier it is for me to make decisions to grow and expand,” said John Lytle, president of Promess Inc., a manufacturer outside Detroit. “That’s probably been the biggest impact it’s had on us.”

Jason Roe, a strategist and former executive director of the Michigan GOP, conceded that the political environment isn’t good right now, but argued Democrats have their own problems and that Trump still has time to bring costs down.

“But if they don’t get Iran figured out pretty quick, we’re screwed,” he added.

A messy top of the ticket race

The worsening political climate is also colliding with internal divisions at the top of the GOP ticket.

With Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer term-limited and leaving office at year's end, the governor's race was once viewed as Republicans' best pickup opportunity. Michigan has a long history of electing a governor from the opposite party once an incumbent leaves office.

The overwhelming favorite in the GOP primary was Rep. John James, a veteran who represents a competitive House district and has been endorsed by Trump in previous elections, including two failed bids for U.S. Senate (Trump has not endorsed in this year's GOP primary). But frustration with his campaign has steadily built within the party, spilling into public view in recent weeks.

After it was announced in April that James would miss a GOP debate in an important swing county where all other major candidates were attending, a wave of Republicans criticized him.

“The data is clear: if John James wins the Aug. 4, 2026, primary, Republicans will almost certainly lose the general election in November,” said Chris Long, a member of the Michigan GOP's leadership team, in a social media post calling for James to drop out.

James has said that he will take part in two debates in July.

Democrats have their own concerns. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is expected to lead the Democratic field, though Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is also running. Some in the party worry that Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat now running for governor as an independent, could pull votes from their nominee.

But James' campaign has also been complicated by the late entry of Perry Johnson, a millionaire businessman who mounted long-shot bids for governor in 2022 and president in 2024. Johnson has aggressively attacked James — and has the money to sustain it, announcing a $10 million television ad buy in February.

Republican strategist Dennis Lennox criticized James as running “an awful campaign,” but added that no matter who is the nominee, it will be a tough cycle.

“Anyone who isn't being paid to say otherwise will concede that 2026 is going to be a very difficult year for Republicans,” said Lennox.

In a statement, James spokesperson Hannah Osantowske dismissed the criticism as “sore losers griping,” arguing that James remains the GOP frontrunner and “the only Republican beating both Democrats in November.” She also dismissed Johnson’s campaign.

“Michiganders are not buying what he is selling,” Osantowske said. “They want a trusted Trump ally, combat veteran and proven job creator. That is John James.”

Republicans hope to break a three-decade Senate losing streak

The governor's race is top of the ticket in Michigan, but national Republicans are also looking to crush Democrats' chances of winning control of the Senate by flipping Michigan's open Senate seat.

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is running again on the GOP ticket, after losing in 2024 by less than 20,000 votes to freshman Sen. Elissa Slotkin.

Democrats are in the midst of a competitive — and increasingly messy — Senate primary with three high-profile candidates vying for the party's nomination in the Aug. 4 primary.

Still, questions linger about whether Rogers can win a race he lost even with Trump on the ballot. No Republican has won a U.S. Senate race in Michigan since 1994.

Rogers maintains the most cash on hand of any Senate candidate, due to a non-competitive GOP primary, but was behind Democratic candidates Mallory McMorrow, a state senator, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former health official, in fundraising in the first quarter of 2026. The Senate Leadership Fund, the leading super PAC for Senate Republicans, announced an initial $45 million investment in the Michigan race early in April.

Czuba said the influx of outside money may not help Rogers if it further nationalizes the race.

“If the conversation is nationalized in Michigan, we see how poorly the president's numbers look right now,” said Czuba. “If undecided voters disproportionately view Donald Trump negatively, I'm not sure what the path is for Mike Rogers.”

___

Associated Press journalist Mike Householder in Bay City, Michigan, contributed to this report.

It’s a rare moment of respite and catharsis amid the harsh realities of life in the Gaza Strip. The children, some wearing sliders on their feet, dance next to mangled metal rods jutting out from a mound of rubble and shattered concrete. The school that trains them is in the Nuseirat refugee camp, a crowded, built-up camp in central Gaza dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

“I come to this center because I discovered that I have a talent for breakdancing, and I also come here to release the negative energy inside me and to enjoy,” said Habiba Abu Khater, one of the children from around five to 14 years old who train at the school. She said she's been attending for four years and is happy about her progress after starting from scratch.

Instructor Fayez Saraj said the school, established in the camp in 2004, helps children build their self confidence and improve their mental health through break dance, gymnastics, and contemporary dance.

The movements "help the child with psychological release, especially from the difficult situations we experienced during the years of war," he said. “We have a significant role in … moving them from an atmosphere of depression and frustration to one of joy.”

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 72,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, caused widespread destruction and displaced most of the territory’s residents.

The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. It does not give a breakdown of civilians and militants.

Israel launched the offensive after Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostage in their attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

While the heaviest fighting has mostly subsided since a fragile ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, deadly Israeli strikes have repeatedly disrupted the truce. Hamas and Israel have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Palestinians in Gaza are still contending with myriad daily struggles.

—-

Associated Press writer Mariam Fam in Winter Park, Florida, contributed to this report.

“I just told them we got punked,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.

Stephon Castle had 21 points and De'Aaron Fox added 16 points for San Antonio, which shot 50% from the field and 41% on 3-pointers. It was the highest-scoring playoff game for the Spurs since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.

Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 12 points for Minnesota.

Edwards came off the bench again as Minnesota continued to restrict his minutes in his second game back from a hyperextended left knee.

Games 3 and 4 are Friday and Sunday in Minneapolis.

With Wembanyama playing more aggressively on offense from the outset, the Spurs put the series-opening loss behind them quickly.

Minnesota's previous largest postseason defeat was by 30 points to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003.

Only the margin of victory was in doubt Monday as both teams sent their starters to the bench with 10 minutes remaining and the Spurs leading 104-66.

“I told the guys after the first game it’s the natural tendency for the team that steals the first game, the away team, to get blown out in Game 2," Edwards said. “We can’t come out cool and we came out cool and what happened — we got blown out.”

After combining to score 21 points on 10-for-31 shooting in Game 1, Wembanyama and Fox combined to go 12 of 25 from the field Wednesday.

The All-Star duo scored the Spurs' first 11 points as they raced to a 29-point lead in the first half.

“Just trying to set the tone,” Wembanyama said.

Fox finished 2 for 2 on 3-pointers after missing on four attempts in Game 1.

“We’re at our best when (Fox is) in attack mode,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnnson said. “He has probably the strongest ripple effect on our team in terms of when he’s in attack mode pushing the pace, because you have Steph (Castle) and Dylan (Harper) that follow suit with that. And then our shooters get shot in transition. Victor plays in space and so on and so forth.”

The Spurs missed their first three shots, but Wembanyama followed the third attempt by flying through the lane and throwing down a right-handed dunk to open the scoring.

Minnesota was held to 35 points in the first half. The Timberwolves shot 29.8% from the field before halftime and were 2 for 15 on 3-pointers as they fell behind by 25 points.

“I loved how everyone had everybody’s back (defensively),” Wembanyama said. “Tonight looked like a system that worked.”

___

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

The health emergency aboard the ship that's moored across the ocean comes as Argentina sees a surge of hantavirus cases that many local public health researchers attribute to the recently accelerating effects of climate change. Argentina, where the cruise to Antarctica departed, is consistently ranked by the World Health Organization as having the highest incidence of the rare, rodent-borne disease in Latin America.

Higher temperatures expand the virus’ range because, in part, as it gets warmer and ecosystems change, rodents that carry the hantavirus can thrive in more places, experts say. People typically contract the virus from exposure to rodent droppings, urine or saliva.

“Argentina has become more tropical because of climate change, and that has brought disruptions, like dengue and yellow fever, but also new tropical plants that produce seeds for mice to proliferate,” said Hugo Pizzi, a prominent Argentine infectious disease specialist. “There is no doubt that as time goes by, the hantavirus is spreading more and more.”

The Argentine Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025, roughly double the caseload recorded over the same period the previous year.

A hantavirus found in South America, called the Andes virus, can cause a severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The disease led to death in nearly a third of cases in the last year, Argentina’s Health Ministry said, up from an average mortality rate of 15 in the five years before that.

Hantavirus usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings and can spread person-to-person, though that is rare, according to the WHO, whose top epidemic expert said the risk to the public is low. The Andes strain only hantavirus known to spread from human to human.

Authorities said passengers on the MV Hondius ship tested positive for the Andes virus. Argentina on Wednesday said it was sending genetic material from the Andes virus and testing equipment to help Spain, Senegal, South Africa, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom detect it.

The cause of infection remains under investigation

Argentine officials say they’re trying to pin down where infected passengers traveled in the country before boarding the Dutch-flagged cruise liner in Ushuaia, a city in southern Argentina known as the end of the world. Once they know the itineraries, they plan to trace contacts, isolate close contacts and actively monitor to prevent further spread.

The U.N. health agency, or WHO, says that the first death on board, a 70-year-old Dutch man, happened on April 11. His 69-year-old wife, also Dutch, died on April 26. The third passenger, a German woman, died on May 2.

The virus can incubate for between one and eight weeks. That makes it hard to know whether the passengers contracted the virus before leaving Argentina for Antarctica on April 1; during a scheduled stop to a remote South Atlantic island; or aboard the ship.

The province of Tierra del Fuego, where the vessel docked for weeks before departing, has never seen a case of hantavirus. Before boarding, the Dutch couple went sightseeing in Ushuaia, and traveled elsewhere in Argentina and Chile, WHO said.

The Argentine government’s leading hypothesis is that the couple contracted the virus during a bird-watching outing in Ushuaia, according to two investigators who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, with the investigation ongoing. Authorities are also tracing the Dutch tourists' footsteps through the forested hillsides of Patagonia in southern Argentina where some infections are clustered.

Because early symptoms resemble the fever and chills of a flu, “tourists might think they just have a cold and not take it seriously. That makes it particularly dangerous,” Raul González Ittig, genetics professor at the National University of Córdoba and a researcher at state science body CONICET, said.

Climate change sends rodents to new frontiers

Argentina in recent years endured a historic drought. But it also had bouts of unexpectedly intense rainfall, part of a broader pattern of wild weather that scientists attribute to climate change.

Some of this variability has created conditions that have allowed hantavirus to flourish, experts say. Dry spells drive animals out of their usual habitats in search of food and water. Huge amounts of rain lead to vegetation growth, scattering seeds that attract leaf-munching rodents.

“When precipitation increases, food availability increases, rodent populations grow, and if there are infected rodents, the chance of transmission between rodents — and eventually to humans — also increases,” Ittig said.

Although hantavirus cases once were limited to the southern reaches of Patagonia, now 83% of cases are found in Argentina’s far north, according to the Health Ministry.

Argentina issued alerts early this year

The ministry issued an alert in January about several fatal outbreaks, including in the most populous province of Buenos Aires.

With rural hospitals underequipped, residents had no clue what hit them.

Daisy Morinigo and David Delgado said they initially thought their 14-year-old son had the flu when he came down with a fever and body aches. Doctors who first saw Rodrigo in the town of San Andrés de Giles sent him home with ibuprofen and orders to rest.

But the feisty fourth grader's breathing worsened. On Jan. 1, they rushed Rodrigo to intensive care. He died just two hours after a hantavirus test came back positive.

"I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone in the world,” Delgado said.

The Russian activist has lived under protection since 2022 because French officials believe Russia is trying to kill him.

In April 2025, a crew of Russian men staked out Osechkin's home and the surrounding area in southwestern France for several hours, taking videos and photos in suspected groundwork for an assassination, according to court documents seen by The Associated Press that are not public. Several years earlier, Osechkin said, a red dot — which he thought was a laser sight for a gun — appeared on his wall.

Elsewhere in Europe, Lithuanian officials disrupted a plot last year to kill a Lithuanian supporter of Ukraine and another against a Russian activist. Officials in Germany have similarly broken up two plots: one to target the head of a German weapons company supplying Ukraine, the other against a Ukrainian military official. Polish authorities arrested a man in 2024 in what they said was a plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And that same year, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected was killed in Spain — with Russian operatives the prime suspects.

While Russian officials have long been accused of silencing the country’s enemies abroad, three Western intelligence officials from different countries told AP that a campaign of targeted killings has ramped up since President Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The officials said Russia's security services are now more brazen in their choice of targets, going after Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine, in addition to the usual suspects like military defectors. All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

“This campaign is not by accident or chance," said one of them, a senior European intelligence official. "There is political authorization.”

The intelligence officials, a former senior British counterterrorism official and prosecutors in Lithuania see the campaign as connected to Russia's broader efforts to undermine European countries that support Ukraine, including 191 acts of sabotage, arson and other disruption linked to Russia by Western officials that the AP has mapped across Europe since the beginning of the war.

Many accused in that campaign are people who were recruited as cheap proxies for Russian intelligence operatives. Moscow is now using that model to target its perceived enemies abroad, according to the French court documents, officials and information from the Lithuanian prosecutor.

Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told AP he didn't see “any need” to comment. Russian officials have previously denied that Moscow is behind attempts to kill its opponents abroad.

The AP spoke to three of the people targeted: Osechkin; Lithuanian activist Valdas Bartkevičius; and Ruslan Gabbasov, who advocates for independence for the Russian region of Bashkortostan.

A trip to the seaside

Three of the four men detained by French police in the plot to kill Osechkin traveled to the beach resort of Biarritz, where Osechkin lives, in April 2025, court documents show. They surveilled his house “with a view to assassinating him and subsequently intimidating all political opponents of the Russian authorities living in France,” the documents said.

All four were born in Russia's Dagestan region. One has multiple criminal convictions while another said he had been arrested by Russia's domestic security service and fled the country to avoid being sent to Ukraine.

Osechkin founded a rights group for prisoners years ago and runs a project that exposes abuses in Russia's prison system, but he said the threats against him escalated after he began investigating alleged Russian abuses in Ukraine and helping Russian military defectors flee.

He moved to France in 2015 and was put under police protection seven years later when French officials received information that his life was in danger.

“If it weren’t for them, I probably would have been killed,” he said.

Targets say Moscow wins if they hide

Across the continent in Lithuania, Gabbasov, the activist from Bashkortostan, discovered an Apple AirTag tracker hidden on his car in February 2025. Police told him to leave the device and followed the people following him, he said.

A few weeks later, Gabbasov said he was attending celebrations marking Lithuania’s independence from the Soviet Union with his wife and 5-year-old son when officers called and told him not to return home.

The next day, he said officers told him: “Yesterday, a killer was detained near your house; he was waiting for you with a gun. ... He was ready to wait for you all night.”

Lithuanian authorities, he said, offered him the chance to completely “disappear” — change his name, move and stop his work.

He turned them down, saying many people from his mainly Muslim home region near Kazakhstan see him as a leader in the campaign for independence. The region is important to the Kremlin, Gabbasov said, because of its gold reserves and because large numbers of its men have been sent to fight in Ukraine.

“I can’t betray them all by simply disappearing, especially out of fear,” Gabbasov said, adding that would play into Moscow’s hands.

“What difference does it make to them?” Gabbasov asked, referring to Russia’s security services. “They could kill me ... or I could hide from everyone and stop engaging in political activity. That’s exactly what they want.”

A plot to put a bomb in a mailbox

The authorities in Lithuania made the same offer to Bartkevičius, after he said they discovered a plot to kill him with a bomb planted in his mailbox in March 2025.

But disappearing also wasn't an option for the activist who raises money for Ukraine and who gained notoriety for his anti-Russian acts, including urinating on a Russian war memorial.

That, he said, would be “social death."

Lithuanian prosecutors charged 13 people from at least seven countries with involvement in the two plots — among at least 20 people authorities have detained, charged or identified as involved in such plots in Europe over the past year.

The people involved in the Lithuanian cases were directly ordered by Russian military intelligence, prosecutors said, and some had connections to Russian organized crime and could be linked to other arson and espionage plots elsewhere in Europe.

Moscow's switch to relying on such proxies can be traced to a previous attempted assassination, Cmdr. Dominic Murphy told AP before he retired as head of the counterterrorism squad at Britain’s Metropolitan Police.

In 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a nerve agent in Salisbury, England — an attack the U.K. government accused Moscow of carrying out with military intelligence officers.

In response, Britain and other Western nations kicked out hundreds of Russian diplomats — and spies — making it harder for Russian officers to operate in Europe, Murphy, a lead investigator, said.

The fact that most of the plots made public by Western officials since 2022 have been foiled could indicate that it’s harder for Moscow to carry them out with proxies, as opposed to its own officers, one of the Western intelligence officials said.

Still, the attempted killings may serve additional purposes, they said, including scaring the Kremlin’s opponents into silence and wasting European law enforcement resources.

Pointing to the case of Maxim Kuzminov — the helicopter pilot who defected and was threatened with death by masked men in military fatigues on Russian state television — the official said it’s clear Russia’s security services can kill someone in Europe if they really want to.

For that reason, the European intelligence official said, targets will never be safe.

“Even if you thwart an operation once, you still need to be ready in case they strike again.”

The grand jury indictment filed April 21 by the U.S. Justice Department is an extraordinary strike against the Alabama-based organization, which works to combat discrimination and racism particularly in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The SPLC denies wrongdoing, and no individual is charged.

The group has drawn criticism from conservatives including FBI Director Kash Patel, especially after it included Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA in a report about “hate and extremism.” Kirk was killed during a Utah college appearance in 2025.

Supporters say the SPLC is being unfairly targeted by the Trump administration for its civil rights triumphs.

An arraignment on charges of money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud and false statements to a bank was set for Thursday in federal court in Montgomery.

The Justice Department accuses the organization of defrauding donors by using their money to fund the same extremism it says it fights. At least $3 million went to informants affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan Nations, the National Socialist Party of America and other groups between 2014 and 2023, the indictment says.

CEO Bryan Fair said the payments went to confidential informants to monitor threats of violence from the extremist groups. The information gathered helped save lives, he said, and was frequently shared with the FBI.

“We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC,” Fair said when the charges were filed.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently acknowledged that the organization has a history of sharing information with law enforcement after he was challenged for saying the opposite.

“That's well-documented, and there's no dispute there. They aren't charged with any of that conduct,” Blanche said.

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Associated Press writer Ed White in Detroit contributed.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is tech’s favorite candidate to be the next leader of California.

The 43-year-old former tech executive jumped into the crowded race in January, touting himself as a pragmatic problem-solver. A moderate Democrat, Mahan has built his statewide profile mainly by criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature's response to homelessness and crime. His centrist message has appealed to tech leaders who want a business-friendly governor to succeed Newsom, a longtime tech ally who’s terming out.

In just three months, Mahan has raised more than any of his rivals, many of whom have been running for more than a year. ( Billionaire Tom Steyer is largely self-funding his campaign.)

During a Tuesday night debate on CNN, he criticized his rivals as career politicians while crafting himself as the candidate with practical solutions to the state’s challenges.

“We don’t need MAGA values, but we also don’t need more of the same,” Mahan said, referring to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement supported by Republican rivals Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, whom Trump has endorsed.

But Mahan doesn’t appear to have yet gained the momentum he expected or the widespread name recognition to beat his rivals — and he’s running out of time to win over voters ahead of the June 2 primary. His ties to tech are of particular concern to labor unions and a segment of Democratic voters who question whether he’ll stand up to the industry.

A Silicon Valley mayor

“People do not want somebody who is a puppet of these big tech billionaires, of these AI billionaires — and that’s who he has always been,” said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, president of the California Labor Federation, which has endorsed Steyer, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Mahan said he's the only candidate who has experience with the behemoth industry, pointing to a coalition he created in San Jose where more than 900 public agencies work together to explore responsible ways to implement artificial intelligence in government. In Tuesday's debate, he said he supports taxing AI companies to fund workforce development.

“Voters can see past the kind of, you know, shallow connection that because I’m the mayor of the largest city in Silicon Valley, that might mean that I’m not willing to regulate tech,” Mahan told The Associated Press. "It’s actually been quite the opposite.”

Observers note California is known for leading the way on policies aimed at both boosting and reining in its home-grown tech industry.

“If they can ensure that they get a governor in California who’s weak on tech accountability, then that can save them a lot of money across the states,” J.B. Branch of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights advocacy group, said of the Silicon Valley leaders supporting Mahan.

Tech's efforts to exert political influence

Across politics, the tech industry is flexing its political muscle as public skepticism about social media and artificial intelligence rises. Independent groups backed by tech companies and billionaires have already committed at least $40 million to influence California legislative races.

Political committees backing Mahan have raised more than $25 million, including donations from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, venture capitalist Michael Moritz and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman.

Some donors, like Brin and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, are hedging their bets — they also gave to Hilton, the former Fox News host.

Mahan is “focused on actually solving problems — building more housing, improving public safety and making it possible for people to live and work here again,” Garry Tan, who leads a startup accelerator that helped launch companies like Airbnb and DoorDash, said through a spokesperson.

From the Ivy League to business and politics

A Harvard graduate, Mahan was classmates with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who he's said persuaded him to go into tech instead of law school.

Mahan was part of the team that built an early Facebook app called Causes that allowed users to promote nonprofit organizations. He then co-founded Brigade, a nonpartisan online voter network.

But that's not at the center of Mahan's campaign. He's focused instead on his upbringing as the son of a postal worker and a schoolteacher. He's the only major Democrat who wants to suspend the state's gas tax.

He defeated a labor-backed candidate for mayor in 2022 after serving two years on the city council. As mayor, he convinced council members to direct more city money toward short-term housing to get homeless people off the streets and made them eligible for arrest for rejecting shelters. Both efforts faced fierce opposition, but San Jose last year saw a drop in the number of people without access to shelters, according to county data.

He bucked Newsom in 2024 by backing a tough-on-crime ballot measure. Mahan has since tamped down his criticism, saying the governor has focused on the right issues.

Tech support is a double-edged sword

Mahan has committed to not raising taxes to fix budget holes — including with a one-time tax on billionaires that most of his rivals are also against. He wants to incentivize elected state officials and appointees by tying future pay raises to improvements on issues like unemployment rates and homelessness.

“Raising taxes isn’t always the answer, Tom,” he pointedly said Tuesday when Steyer pitched a plan to make corporations pay more in property taxes.

Mahan raised more than $13 million in 11 weeks, allowing him to launch television ads to reach voters in some of the most expensive markets in the country. Two independent expenditure groups have spent more than $18 million to boost him.

As of last month, only about 730 donations given to Mahan’s campaign were less than $250, indicating limited grassroots support. In contrast, almost all of Porter’s 46,000 donations were under that amount, as were about 5,600 of those to former state attorney general Xavier Becerra.

Still, voters' support for the other Democratic candidates "is very soft" Mahan said of his chance. “Even if people are leaning a certain way, they’re still persuadable.”

Tech moguls’ support of Mahan’s candidacy and his plans to regulate them were among the most popular topics during a recent “Ask Me Anything” session Mahan hosted on Reddit, where people can ask questions anonymously.

Several people asked when Mahan would drop out to prevent a catastrophic scenario for Democrats where two Republicans could advance to the November election. One asked which Democrat he would endorse after exiting the race.

“I plan to win!” he responded.

It turned sour, and the jury is charged with settling the ensuing legal dispute between the two Silicon Valley titans.

But the unresolved questions about the dangers of AI have been looming over the federal courthouse in Oakland, California, since the trial began last week. The technology itself is not on trial – the judge has warned lawyers not to get “sidetracked” by questions about its dangers – but witness testimony has touched on concerns around workforce disruptions and the prospect raised by Musk that superhuman AI might one day kill us all.

Musk, the world's richest person, filed the case accusing his fellow OpenAI co-founder of betraying promises to keep the company as a nonprofit. Altman, in turn, accuses Musk of trying to hobble the ChatGPT maker for the benefit of his own AI company.

One witness, AI pioneer Stuart Russell, said that the “winner take all” power struggle over AI's future is itself threatening humanity.

Musk's lawyers brought Russell to the stand as an expert witness, at the rate of $5,000 an hour. The University of California, Berkeley computer scientist listed a host of AI dangers, from racial and gender discrimination to jobs displacement, misinformation and emotional attachments that take some AI chatbot users down a spiral of psychosis.

“Whichever company develops AGI first would have a very big advantage” and an increasingly big lead over everyone else, Russell told the court, using the initials for artificial general intelligence, a term for advanced AI technology that surpasses humans at many tasks.

A judge's warning hasn't kept out talk of AI's dangers

The trial centers on the 2015 birth of OpenAI as a nonprofit startup primarily funded by Musk.

Both Musk and Altman, who has not yet testified in the trial, have said they wanted OpenAI to safely develop AGI for the benefit of humanity and not for any one person’s gain or under any one person’s control. And both camps allege it’s the other guy who was trying to control it.

A jury of nine people selected from the San Francisco Bay Area will get to say which one of them is telling the truth.

Early on, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers warned lawyers, particularly Musk’s, not to delve into broader AI concerns that go beyond Musk’s claims that OpenAI violated its charitable mission.

“This is not a trial on the safety risks of artificial intelligence. This is not a trial on whether or not AI has damaged humanity,” Gonzalez Rogers told lawyers before jurors arrived at the federal courthouse.

Still, Musk managed to skirt that guidance in his testimony last week. Asked to describe artificial general intelligence, Musk said it is when AI becomes “as smart as any human," and added that “we are getting close to that point," and AI will be smarter than any human as soon as next year.

Musk said he has “extreme concerns” about AI and has had them for a long time. Musk said he wanted a “counterpoint” to Google, which at the time had “all the money, all the computers and all the talent” for AI, with no counterbalance.

“I was concerned AI would be a double-edged sword,” he said.

Musk and OpenAI each say they are working for humanity's benefit

During his testimony, Musk repeatedly said that he could have founded OpenAI as a for-profit company, just like the other companies he started or took over. “I deliberately chose this,” he said, “for the public good."

The judge expressed some skepticism. In comments to lawyers last week before the jury came into the room, Gonzalez Rogers pointed out that Musk, “despite these risks, is creating a company that is in the exact same space,” referring to the billionaire’s xAI artificial intelligence company, which launched in 2023 and has since merged with Musk’s rocket company SpaceX.

OpenAI's side also claims its goals are to benefit the public. OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman, a defendant in Musk's lawsuit along with Altman and their company, said he thought the technology OpenAI was developing was “transformative” — bigger than corporations, corporate structures and bigger than any one individual. It was, he said, “about humanity as a whole.”

Brockman testified this week that his No. 1 goal was always the “mission” of OpenAI and it was Musk who sought unilateral control over the company.

Brockman recalled a meeting where at first Musk seemed open to the idea of Altman being OpenAI's CEO. In the end, however, “he said people needed to know he was in charge.”

In addition to damages, Musk is seeking Altman’s ouster from OpenAI’s board. If Musk wins, it could derail OpenAI’s plans for an initial public offering of its shares.

___

O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

The 76ers were limited to 12 points in the fourth quarter and lost 108-102 to the New York Knicks to fall into a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Embiid was ruled out about six hours before the game with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip. Coach Nick Nurse said Embiid woke up with soreness and was treated during the 76ers' morning shootaround. The team's medical staff determined afterward that Embiid would be unable to play.

Andre Drummond started and Adem Bona backed him up. They combined for 15 rebounds but both were in foul trouble. Drummond took only two shots and Bona didn't take any.

That's nowhere near the kind of offense the 76ers can count on from Embiid, who has averaged 25.2 points in five games thus far.

“We feel like we should have won it,” 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe said. “It came down to shot-making at the end of the game. They were making shots, we weren’t.”

Embiid struggled through a short night in the Knicks' 137-98 romp in Game 1, scoring 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting in 25 minutes before the starters were benched with the game out of reach.

Embiid had been listed as probable to play in that game with a bruised right hip before being cleared, and the Knicks repeatedly took advantage of his lack of mobility to create open shots.

Embiid returned from a late-season appendectomy during Game 4 of Philadelphia's first-round series against Boston and helped the 76ers overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the series.

It's unclear whether the pain around Embiid's hip is replated to the appendectomy. He winced and grabbed his abdomen at one point in Game 1 after Knicks guard Mikal Bridges collided with him on a screen in the first half.

Embiid later said he felt the contact was unnecessary.

“Obviously based on what’s been going on, I guess I’ve got to protect it more,” Embiid said. “I don’t know if it was dirty or not, so I guess I’ve got to do a better job of protecting, especially that part.”

Tyrese Maxey bounced back from a passive performance in Game 1 with 26 points, while Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. each had 19. Edgecombe finished with 17, but Philadelphia was just 4 for 17 in the fourth quarter.

Embiid might have made a difference, though the Sixers are used to playing without him. It has been years since the former MVP has truly been healthy.

“I said this before, but coming back from that appendectomy so quick was not easy for him to do,” Nurse said. “He’s worked extremely hard to get back and he continues to want to play badly and I feel really bad for him, because he really wants to be out there and we want him out there.”

Perhaps Embiid will get a chance this weekend, with Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. Either way, the 76ers believe they can make another comeback.

“We definitely feel like we can pull ourselves out of this one,” Maxey said. “Kind of go home, get two.”

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

Cole is the captain and a four-year member of the varsity tennis team, where he was named the 28-6A Men’s Doubles Champion as a senior.

He’s been the class president, the president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Science National Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America, the Model United Nations, the Mock Trial team and is an NISD ambassador.

Cole maintains a 102.96 GPA and is ranked number one in his class.

Cole plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where he will study human dimensions of organizations.

The Spurs and Timberwolves are facing off for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday at the Frost Bank Center.

The Spurs will try to bounce back after Minnesota opened the series with a 104-102 win on Monday.

Zuniga also joined fans before Game 1. Watch the full livestream from Monday below:

More Spurs coverage on KSAT:

• River Walk restaurant will hand out 500 free conchas to downtown honkers after San Antonio Spurs win
• How to watch the Spurs in the NBA playoffs: Streaming options, watch parties and more
• SCHEDULE: NBA announces TV schedule, tip times for first 4 games of Spurs-Timberwolves series

Josh Doan and Jordan Greenway also scored for Buffalo, which was making its first second-round appearance since 2007, and first overall in 15 years. Alex Lyon stopped 26 shots and improved to 4-1 since taking over the starting duties in Game 3 against Buffalo’s opening-round opponent Boston.

Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach scored for Montreal, which appeared slow to find its legs three days after defeating Tampa Bay in Game 7 of its first-round series. Jakub Dobes finished with 12 saves, and allowed four goals after allowing a combined two in splitting Games 6 and 7 against the Lightning.

Montreal has yet to win consecutive playoff games this postseason, and was coming off a series in which all seven games were decided by one goal, including four in overtime.

Buffalo hosts Game 2 on Friday night, before the series shifts to Montreal on Sunday.

The Sabres were the more rested team, having had four days off since beating Boston 4-1 in Game 6 on Friday.

“I like the quick start we got off to. I know we can be a lot better," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, noting he thought Buffalo looked disjointed at times. “There’s a couple situations in the game that we gave them a little bit of momentum.”

Doan opened the scoring 4:31 in by converting Zach Benson’s pass to cap a 2-on-1 after Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson fell and turned over the puck in front of his bench.

McLeod made it 2-0 by converting Benson’s pass through the crease on Buffalo’s second power-play opportunity 13:26 into the first period. Byram scored on the next opportunity by snapping in a shot from between the circles to put Buffalo up 4-1 midway through the second period.

Byram’s goal was his fourth, matching the Sabres’ franchise playoff record for defensemen, joining Mike Ramsey (1988), Jason Woolley and Alexei Zhitnik, who both scored four in 1999.

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis was pleased with how much more room his players had to create with the puck after a tight-checking series against the Lightning. His only issue is the Canadiens need to take advantage of it.

"Now, what does that mean? I got to rewatch," St. Louis said.

“I have ideas, but I’m not going to put my stamp on those ideas right now. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you," he added. "I’m confident that we can play any style. I’m confident that we could play the game that’s in front of us. And I’m confident that we can learn from this one and be better.

Buffalo converted 2 of 3 power-play chances, breathing new life into a unit that went 1 of 24 against Boston. The Sabres' 4.2% conversion rate was tied for 865th out of 897 teams that had 20 or more opportunities in a playoff series since 1978.

And Buffalo’s man-advantage woes carried over from the final seven regular-season games, during which the team went 0 for 22.

McLeod didn't mind hearing questions about the power play on Wednesday night.

“I mean, maybe keep asking, if we’re gonna keep scoring now,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a process of building it and getting your look. So I think, we got them tonight and it was going in.”

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin limped off favoring his right leg with under three minutes left after blocking a shot by Jake Evans. Dahlin briefly went up the tunnel, before returning to the bench, but did not see any further ice time.

Ruff said he doesn't believe there's an issue after seeing Dahlin walking down the hallway.

Dach scored the game’s highlight goal, cutting Buffalo’s lead to 4-2 with 3:29 left in the second. Driving up the right wing, Dach’s centering pass was blocked by Lyon’s stick. The puck caromed back to Dach who, while falling, was able to lift the puck over the goalie’s glove.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

“Shuttle launches were just kind of routine and the broadcast networks weren’t even covering them anymore,” says Knobel, who worked for CBS News in the 1990s and now teaches journalism at Fordham University. “CNN did. So when things went so tragically wrong, there they were on top of the story like no one else.”

That, says Knobel, who now teaches a class on TV’s biggest innovators, is just one example of why Turner was the biggest of them all — huge steps ahead of anyone else in his understanding of how news needed to be delivered.

Turner’s death Wednesday comes at a fraught time for cable news, which has struggled to retain viewership in an era of countless media choices and abundant streaming video. CNN has not been immune; changes in the media ecosystem, the company’s financial picture and multiple editorial resets over the years have left it a markedly different entity than the one Turner built.

But that misses an important point: He built it.

“We use the word giant sometimes to describe people that really aren’t giant," Knobel says. "Ted Turner truly is a giant. He invented around-the-clock news.”

Early on, Turner saw news as something global

Many in and around the news industry struggled Wednesday for big enough words to describe Turner’s impact on how we consume news. Longtime TV analyst Robert Thompson said the issue was hyperbole-proof.

“Death and hyperbole often go together,” said Thompson, director of Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. ”But there is no hyperbole here. I can think of very few other things in the 20th century that so dramatically changed American politics, journalism and civic engagement than the invention of 24-hour cable news.”

He does add a caveat: The real impact would not be truly felt until others started doing it. Which, of course, they did. But for a long time, and certainly well into the 90s, “CNN became almost generic for breaking news,” Thompson says,” like Kleenex for facial tissues and Xerox for photocopying.”

But it isn't just the 24-hour cycle that defines Turner’s legacy in news. A number of analysts cited, too, how he conceived of news as a global commodity.

Knobel recalls that when she was Moscow bureau chief for CBS beginning in the early 1990s, she would walk into the Kremlin and see CNN on televisions.

“That was the way in which they came to understand what the world was thinking about Russia,” Knobel says. The same was true in other seats of power across the world. “Global programming didn’t exist before Ted Turner came along and said, ‘Not only am I going to build a new channel for America, but there are a lot of people around the world that will probably want to watch this news channel.’”

All of this has become so ingrained by now that it’s hard to convey to younger people that it once didn't exist. Back in the ’70s when Turner — an insomniac — was first dreaming of 24/7 news, in many places you’d turn on your TV late at night and would see only static, a test pattern or an American flag until about 6 am.

Former CNN White House bureau chief Frank Sesno, now a media and public affairs professor at George Washington University, tells his students about the “Walter Cronkite era" — when news was delivered at an appointed time, by a voice from on high, in a 30-minute broadcast (which actually doubled the 15-minute broadcasts there once were.)

“I teach these young people and they have no idea who Ted Turner is,“ Sesno said. “I remind them this was, in fact, the world of Walter Cronkite. Ted Turner came in and and CNN was seen as an upstart, as something that wasn’t going to succeed.” Thus the derisive moniker “Chicken Noodle News,” which was echoing across the industry when Sesno joined the network in 1984 .

“When they hired me, I had zero television experience," he says.

But CNN wasn’t looking for star anchors at the time. The news was supposed to be the star. The stable of stars came later.

The first Gulf War was a turning point

For CNN, a moment of particular success came in October 1987, the year after the Challenger explosion, when 18-month-old Jessica McClure was rescued from a well in Texas after a two-day ordeal. CNN covered not only the outcome but the incremental developments — standard fare today but certainly not so then for TV.

Brooke Erin Duffy, an associate professor of communication at Cornell University, points to public appetite for that story as a key moment for CNN, which covered the “hours and hours of waiting” and allowed audiences to regularly tune in for updates.

But it was during the first Gulf War with Iraq when the entire foundation of news shifted. When other journalists left Baghdad, CNN stayed. With correspondents Bernard Shaw, John Holliman and Peter Arnett doing reports under siege from Baghdad's al-Rashid Hotel, the network changed war journalism forever.

A key factor was technology. CNN's news managers “went to Turner and said you know, there’s a war coming. We need some money to cover it, and Ted Turner said to them well what do you need?” Knobel said. ”What they did with that money is to bring in satellite phone technology that no one else had." It enabled CNN to continue to broadcast news when communications were knocked out.

“I’m someone who competed against CNN for many years working for CBS (and) I can say CNN always had a technological advantage over everybody else," she said, crediting Turner for giving his network the edge.

The 24/7 schedule of broadcasting continuous developments also vastly reshaped what it was like to actually work in the TV news industry. Journalist were increasingly expected to “be available 24/7 to satiate the public’s appetite for news," Duffy said.

After CNN found success, more and more outlets followed suit. The uptick in competition for around-the-clock content made time even more of a currency when it came to breaking news.

“I think one of the consequences is the race for eyeballs within the saturated media landscape,” Duffy said. “Time is the currency in news media.”

Playing without the injured Joel Embiid, the 76ers put up a far better fight than in the Knicks' 137-98 romp in Game 1. The game featured 25 lead changes — the most in a playoff game in 11 years — and 14 ties. Neither team led by more than seven points.

“Most importantly it’s staying poised, staying composed,” Brunson said. “Just figuring out one just play at a time, one step at a time and not looking too far ahead.”

Those kinds of situations are made for Brunson, who made the tiebreaking basket with 5:06 remaining and added another jumper for a 103-99 advantage with 3:45 to play before Mikal Bridges' basket made it a six-point game.

“They started switching a little bit and he got to his spots and scored a bucket and that’s what he’s expected to do for us,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said of Brunson.

OG Anunoby added 24 points for New York, though he left late in the game, went to the locker room and didn't return to the bench. Brown said after the game he didn't have an update on the forward's status.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Knicks, whose Game 1 victory made them the first team to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points.

Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points for the 76ers, who face another big climb after falling behind 3-1 against Boston in the first round.

The series moves to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday, where Embiid will find out if gets his wish for the arena to be filled with Sixers fans or if New Yorkers made their way in.

Embiid was ruled out with right hip and ankle injuries after waking up with soreness and being unable to go through the 76ers’ morning shootaround.

But the 76ers, who won Game 2 in Boston without him while he was still recovering from a late-season appendectomy, got 19 points each from Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. and 17 from VJ Edgecombe to nearly overcome their big man’s absence.

They were ahead for the final time at 99-96 after Oubre’s 3-pointer before Josh Hart — who had appeared to hurt his left hand or wrist in the third quarter and left the game — made a 3-pointer with 6:52 remaining.

“I thought we had maybe four wide-open shots in a row that didn’t go,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “We just needed to keep the scoreboard moving and we played great offense. We just didn’t shot-make.”

The 25 lead changes were the most since the Spurs and Clippers combined for 31 on May 2, 2015.

Maxey managed only 13 points in Game 1 but was back to leaving defenders in the dust Wednesday, scoring 15 points in the second quarter and 19 in the first half.

The Knicks did a better job on him in the second half, led by Bridges, who also contributed 18 points.

___

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

“Another mandate without funding,” said Tesilia Soliz, Northside Independent School District director of transportation. “It’s an overwhelming, daunting request because our fleet is so large.”

Soliz agrees with the need for safety enhancements, but said the difficulty lies in the feasibility of retrofitting hundreds of buses and funding the project by September 2029.

Bill Harrison, Northeast ISD executive director of transportation, echoed a similar sentiment.

“It’s definitely needed because it’s all about safety to me,” Harrison. “This is stemming off of two years ago, a tragic accident up in Hayes County where a young child was killed when the bus rolled over.”

The author and sponsor’s statement of intent to push SB 546 forward reflects on the deadly 2024 crash.

“In March 2024, a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a Hays CISD school bus and concrete pump truck resulted in the deaths of Ulises Rodriguez Montoya, a pre-K student on the school bus, and Ryan Wallace, a doctoral student at The University of Texas, prompting an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB),” the statement reads in part.

While the districts have until September 2029 to finalize changes to all buses to ensure compliance, districts are required to submit their budget limitations to the Texas Education Agency no later than May 29, 2025.

“As part of the required estimated cost reporting, school systems will be able to participate in a grant opportunity related to seat belt installation‚" TEA wrote on its website.

The San Antonio Independent School District estimates it will need $15 million for the upgrades; the North East Independent School District estimates needing $19 million; and Northside ISD estimates needing $52 million.

All three districts are also planning to purchase new buses to offset the issue of older buses unable to be upgraded to have three-point seatbelts, and some buses aging out of the district’s safe timeline for owning and operating a school bus.

On average, a single school bus with three-point seatbelts can cost between $160,000 and $185,000, according to NISD, NEISD, and SAISD.

However, the TEA has not allocated a clear amount of grant funding toward alleviating the financial burden of the seatbelt updates.

“Details regarding grant opportunities are currently in development,” the Texas Education Agency told KSAT in an email.

In the meantime, school districts are finalizing their submissions to their school board and the TEA before May 29.

Districts in San Antonio, facing financial deficits, are also creating an issue in affording the bus upgrades to new seatbelts as they try to get out of financial issues.

“The district’s in a financial crunch,” Harrison said. “We are in a deficit, have been for a few years. ... It kind of backs us in a corner where we’ve got to put a plan together, it’s basically three and a half years to have all the buses we need to have retrofitted.”

Northside ISD is in a similar situation of a budget deficit.

“We are this year operating at a $38 million budget deficit and projected for an even larger deficit for next year,” Soliz said.

Read also:

• SAISD proposes budget cut to trim $19.3 million from 2026-2027 school year budget
• Northside ISD faces $35 million deficit, but does not anticipate layoffs

Blanche was in Phoenix to address the Border Security Expo, a yearly gathering that draws top immigration officials, local and state law enforcement officers and representatives from companies doing business with the federal government. Blanche's appearance at the gathering reflects the way immigration enforcement and border security have become priorities throughout the Trump administration.

Blanche, who has led the Justice Department since Pam Bondi was ousted last month, spoke to The Associated Press after his appearance at the conference. His comments were some of the most detailed on the changes to immigration courts since he took over the role.

“You take an oath and you’re not allowed to make decisions based upon what appear to be just sympathy or your whim,” Blanche said.

“If there’s judges that are just not applying the law in the way that it needs to be applied, delaying inappropriately, have backlogs that are just unacceptable, they’re the folks that we’re going to try to find somebody different to fill that spot.”

The second Trump administration has made mass deportations a central priority and has launched an all-of-government effort to reach its lofty goals. To do so, it has cracked down on migrants in American cities, scaled up detention facilities and increased hiring of immigration officers.

While the Department of Homeland Security is the Cabinet agency most directly responsible for carrying out President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda, immigration courts, a key aspect of the immigration system, fall under the Justice Department.

Dozens of immigration judges have been removed from their jobs during Trump's second term, with critics saying they were targeted because they were approving too many asylum cases. The administration has also directed masked officers to handcuff migrants at closed asylum hearings and sent memos instructing judges to fall into line. Many migrants and their advocates say that immigration courts have increasingly become traps — they show up for routine hearings only to face arrest.

Unlike federal courts, where there are strict rules of procedure and judges have lifetime tenure, the Justice Department runs immigration courts and the attorney general can fire the judges with fewer restraints.

But critics take issue with how the administration is remaking the immigration courts.

“Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is systematically dismantling due process protections in U.S. immigration courts, prioritizing speed and enforcement over fairness, accuracy, and fundamental justice,” the American Immigration Lawyers Association wrote in a policy brief last fall.

Critics also say that a board within the courts system that determines how immigration judges can rule on cases has issued a number of decisions under the Trump administration that have narrowed the pathway to asylum through the courts. Blanche brushed away the criticism, saying the decisions were consistent with the law.

Blanche said there were problems with judges repeatedly delaying cases and other cases where judges weren't following the law “because of sympathy towards individuals.”

Flush with money from Congress last summer that empowered the department to hire more judges, the department is rapidly hiring new immigration court judges, sparking criticism that the judges do not meet standards.

“We have a very rigorous process to get people interviewed, approved and then trained up. And then we’ll watch them,” Blanche said, expressing confidence in the new hires.

Blanche also said the Justice Department has been prioritizing efforts to strip citizenship from people who the administration says have defrauded the system, a process known as “denaturalization” that between 1990-2017 was used in only about a dozen cases per year.

“That’s one of the tools that we are using aggressively that hasn’t been used as aggressively in the past,” Blanche said, without providing specific numbers.

“I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we're saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides,” he said. “I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do.”

His remarks to a conference of judges and lawyers from the 3rd U.S. Circuit in Pennsylvania came at a time of low public confidence in the court, and about a week after the court handed down a decision that hollowed out the Voting Rights Act.

The high court struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, finding it was an unconstitutional gerrymander based on race. The decision weakened the Civil Rights era law that has increased minority representation in Congress, and it opened the door for more redistricting across the country that could aid Republican efforts to control the House.

In recent years, the conservative majority court has also handed down landmark rulings overturning the constitutional right to abortion, expanding gun rights and ending affirmative action in higher education.

Roberts didn’t reference any specific decisions in his remarks, but said the court is “simply not part of the political process.”

Opinions, he said, are based on the Constitution — though he acknowledged disagreement with some outcomes. “One thing we have to do is make decisions that are unpopular,” he said.

Criticism, he said, should focus on rulings rather than personal attacks. He condemned the targeting of lower-court judges, a sentiment he’s repeated amid rising threats to the judiciary. “That’s not appropriate and it can lead to very serious problems,” he said.

High-profile criticism of judges in personal terms has come from Republican President Donald Trump, who also targeted Roberts and other justices who voted against him in the opinion that struck down tariffs the president levied under an emergency-powers law.

Tuesday started with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explaining how the U.S. military was protecting stranded ships so they could traverse the Strait of Hormuz. He insisted it was a defensive operation and the truce was still in place even though Iran had launched missiles and drones at U.S. forces, which sank Tehran’s small attack boats.

That afternoon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that the military operation was “concluded” and that the U.S. achieved its objectives. But in almost the same breath, he said President Donald Trump was still seeking a “path of peace” that required Iran to agree to a deal to reopen the vital oil shipping corridor.

By Tuesday evening, Trump announced that the effort to protect ships was paused to see if an agreement could be reached. Then on Wednesday morning, he again warned that bombing would resume if Tehran didn't agree to U.S. terms.

The Trump administration’s shifting and often contradictory messaging throughout the Iran war has produced ever more confusion this week as the president and his aides presented a dizzying narrative over the U.S. strategy to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and wrap up the war that drastically changed over the course of mere hours.

Administration officials have been trying to walk a fine line between maintaining the ceasefire and reopening the strait, where 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. The economic fallout is growing as fuel prices rise, with Republicans facing increasing pressure to find solutions to higher costs ahead of the midterm congressional elections.

Aides are trying to sell Trump's strategies

The Trump administration has struggled with its messaging because the war wasn't well planned, said Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

“Because it happened very quickly, it wasn’t sold to the American public in a way that I think was palatable,” said Dent, a former official in the State Department and Pentagon. “Now I think Trump is sort of doing everything he can to prevent a return of hostilities because he saw how unpopular the war was.”

Throughout the conflict, the president has shifted his priorities and his perspectives on victory. He's offered a murky definition of a ceasefire. And he's provided his own interpretation of a law that requires congressional approval for military operations after 60 days.

The confusion is fueled in part by Trump’s tendency to make off-the-cuff statements that essentially make policy, Dent said. Aides like Rubio and Hegseth must then explain Trump's statements.

The whirlwind 24 hours of decision-making by the Trump administration also reflects a realization that any alternative to an agreement “is going to range from unpalatable to outright ugly” at a moment of great political importance for the Republican president, said Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group.

“This is not an administration that operates based on a policy process. It operates based on impulse. And the president seems now both tired of this war and reluctant to continue investing his political capital into it,” Vaez said.

The administration's narrative whipsaws on the Strait of Hormuz effort

The last couple of days have been emblematic of how the Trump administration's statements can seem out of sync and hard to follow.

The president said Sunday that U.S. forces would safely guide hundreds of stranded commercial vessels out of the strait, which Iran has effectively closed by firing at ships off its coast.

On Tuesday, Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, said two American-flagged freighters transited the waterway to lead the effort, but Iran fired at U.S. ships and the military sank six Iranian small attack boats.

When asked about the fire from both sides, Hegseth said, “No, the ceasefire is not over.” Caine also said Iranian attacks did not reach the level of “restarting major combat operations.”

Rubio later insisted Trump's preference was diplomacy.

“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” he said, referring to the code name for the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. “What the president would prefer is a deal.”

A deal seemed closer at hand when Trump said Tuesday night on social media that he was halting the operation in the strait to see what would happen with negotiations.

One key ally, Saudi Arabia, had been skeptical of what turned out to be the short-lived plan by Trump to guide the stranded vessels out of the strait, according to a person familiar with the diplomatic conversations. The person, who was familiar with the conversations but who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly, said the Saudis conveyed they didn’t see Trump’s plan as a feasible way to get the strait open and create confidence for vessel operators and insurers who are looking for a lasting solution to U.S.-Iranian standoff over the waterway.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington did not offer any immediate comment on the kingdom’s position on Trump’s effort, dubbed “Project Freedom.”

By Wednesday morning, Trump was threatening Iran once again.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he wrote on Truth Social.

The U.S. military said Wednesday that it shot at and disabled an Iranian oil tanker as it tried to breach the blockade of Iran’s shipping.

Seeking help from other countries in the strait

Another confusing element is the administration's efforts to persuade allies to deploy warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has been lashing out at countries unwilling to do more, telling them to “go get your own oil” and saying it was not America’s job to secure the strait. But administration officials have begun actively soliciting help while toning down their language.

Rubio said the issue is not a lack of interest, but that many are unable to provide the necessary resources.

“A lot of countries would love to do something about it. But they don’t have a navy, right? Or they can’t get there in time,” he said.

After Trump's abrupt suspension of the initiative, two U.S. officials said the administration was still deciding whether, and how, to proceed with planning, following the State Department’s formal request for support from countries last week.

The officials, who spoke on Wednesday on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Trump’s announcement had not been expected and that they had not been offered detailed guidance on whether to withdraw the requests for support.

U.S. allies like Britain and France have rejected on-again, off-again suggestions from Trump that they become militarily involved, but they have led the formation of a separate international maritime coalition to secure the strait — but only once the threat to shipping ends. France’s aircraft carrier strike group is moving south of the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea in preparation for a potential French-British mission in the strait.

The issue only has been more complicated by Trump’s trip to Beijing next week.

“Going to China while the strait remains closed is humiliating for President Trump and puts China in a position of strength vis-a-vis the United States, because President Trump would have to, as he has done recently, ask for China’s help to resolve a problem that didn’t exist before he launched a war,” Vaez said.

___

Amiri reported from New York.

The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex in the 200 block of West Dickson Avenue, near Southwest Military Drive and South Flores Street.

Undercover detectives had tracked the suspect to the complex. Police said the man was known to be “armed and dangerous” and was wanted on charges including assault, property crime, drug dealing and parole violation.

Detectives contacted the SWAT team to assist with the arrest. According to police, four officers in uniform arrived in an unmarked vehicle and deployed a flash-bang device.

Police said the man ran and pulled out a firearm, firing multiple rounds at the officers. Two officers returned fire.

The suspect, identified only as a 30-year-old man, was pronounced dead.

Neither of the officers who returned fire was injured.

On Wednesday, SAPD identified the officers involved in the shooting as Jonathan Reyes and Salvator Hernandez. Both are 14-year veterans of the SWAT team, police said.

Reyes and Hernandez have been placed on administrative leave until further notice, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing. Police said findings will be submitted to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office for an independent review.

Read also:

• Man arrested in connection with fatal RV fire, Medina County Sheriff’s Office says
• Woman stabs brother with kitchen knife after argument escalates on West Side, SAPD says
• 18-year-old man arrested in connection with Northwest Side murder, SAPD says

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee's decision came after lawyers for the county had argued that the ballots and other election materials, as well as any electronic copies the Justice Department has made, should be returned because the seizure was improper and unconstitutional.

The Jan. 28 seizure by the FBI targeted the elections hub in Georgia’s most populous county, which is heavily Democratic and includes most of the city of Atlanta. Fulton County has been at the center of unfounded claims by President Donald Trump and his allies that widespread election fraud cost him the 2020 election.

The Justice Department has said it is investigating “irregularities that occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the County” and identified two laws that might have been violated. One requires election records to be maintained for 22 months, while the other prohibits procuring, casting or tabulating false, fictitious or fraudulent ballots.

Georgia’s votes in the 2020 presidential race were counted three times, including once by hand, and each count affirmed Democrat Joe Biden’s win.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts said he strongly disagrees with the judge's denial of the county's request to return the election records.

“We will continue, as always, to stand by our election workers and the voters of Fulton County,” he said in an emailed statement. “We intend to vigorously pursue all available legal options.”

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the ruling Wednesday evening.

“The seizure in this case was certainly not perfect,” Boulee wrote in his 68-page ruling. But he went on to say that Fulton County did not establish that its rights were callously disregarded “either through the lack of probable cause, omissions in the Affidavit or by the manner of the execution of the seizure.”

The county also failed to show that it needs the documents or will be irreparably harmed if they are not returned, he wrote, noting this is particularly true because the Justice Department has given the county copies of the documents.

Months after the January seizure of ballots and other election materials, the Justice Department in April obtained a grand jury subpoena for the names and personal contact information of Fulton County employees and volunteers involved in the 2020 election. Fulton County filed a motion Monday to quash that subpoena, arguing that it is overly broad and meant to harass the president’s political opponents.

The Trump administration has also taken moves to obtain past election records from other critical swing states. The FBI used a subpoena in March to get records related to an audit of the 2020 presidential election in Maricopa County in Arizona. And in April, the Justice Department demanded that Michigan’s Wayne County turn over its 2024 election ballots.

The Justice Department is also fighting numerous states in court for access to voter data that includes sensitive personal information. Election officials, including some Republicans, have said handing over the information would violate state and federal privacy laws.

Democrats have raised concerns that the Trump administration is weaponizing federal law enforcement to pursue the president’s personal grievances and is planning ways to interfere in this year’s midterm elections. The administration has said it is looking into allegations of past problems and seeking to protect future elections.

During a March 27 hearing on Fulton County’s demand that the FBI return its ballots and other materials, lawyers for the county argued that the seizure was improper and unjustified and demonstrated “callous disregard” for the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure. They suggested that the Trump administration decided to use a criminal search warrant to obtain the materials because it had grown tired of waiting for the outcome of the civil litigation the Justice Department had filed last year to obtain them.

Justice Department attorneys argued that they took the appropriate steps to get a warrant and then take the documents. They said it is not uncommon for parallel civil and criminal investigations to be going on at the same time.

The judge agreed that the affidavit was “defective in some respects” and that some of the statements included in it were “troubling.” But he noted that the FBI agent who wrote it also included “facts that both hurt and helped him.” He concluded that the document's shortcomings don't amount to callous disregard.

He also agreed that the government can pursue civil and criminal proceedings on the same matter and said the timeline of the investigation weighs against the county's theory that the Justice Department “created an ‘ongoing investigation’ to sidestep procedural hurdles” in civil cases.=

A fighter jet shot out the rudder of the tanker in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to breach the American blockade of Iran’s ports, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post.

The attack occurred as Iran and the U.S. are officially in a ceasefire. Trump threatened Tehran with a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached that includes opening the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Trump posted on social media that the two-month war could soon end and that oil and natural gas shipments disrupted by the conflict could restart. But he said that depends on Iran accepting a reported agreement that the president did not detail.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump wrote.

Israel hits Beirut for first time since last month's ceasefire

Meanwhile, Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time since a ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group was announced April 17. Fighting has continued since then in southern Lebanon.

The last strikes in Beirut were on April 8, when a series of massive Israeli attacks killed more than 350 people. More than 2,500 have died in Lebanon since fighting began March 2, two days after Israel and the U.S. launched the war on Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday’s strike, which came without warning, targeted a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force. Hezbollah did not immediately comment.

Trump suggests U.S. might force a deal with Tehran

Trump insisted Wednesday that Iranian officials want to end the war.

“We’re dealing with people that want to make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” the president said.

He suggested that the U.S. could ultimately force a settlement.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump said on social media, “and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

The White House believes it is near an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum to end the war, according to reporting by Axios. There is no deal yet, but provisions include a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, lifting of U.S. sanctions, distribution of frozen Iranian funds and opening the strait for ships.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the possible agreement.

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, told state TV that Tehran had “strongly rejected” U.S. proposals reported by Axios, but that it was still examining the latest U.S. proposal.

A shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Tehran has largely held since April 8. Pakistan hosted in-person talks last month between the two countries, but they failed to reach an agreement.

Trump suspends short-lived effort to force open safe passage

Trump sought to increase pressure on Tehran the day after he suspended a short-lived U.S. effort to force open a safe passage for commercial ships through the strait. The waterway was a vital passage for oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and other petroleum products before the war.

Only two American-flagged merchant ships are known to have passed through the U.S.-guarded route after it opened Monday. The U.S. military said it sank six Iranian small boats threatening civilian ships.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy and put enormous economic pressure on countries, including major powers such as China.

China's foreign minister called for a comprehensive ceasefire Wednesday after meeting in Beijing with Iran's top envoy. Wang Yi said his country was “deeply distressed” by the conflict, which began Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran.

China’s close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence. The Trump administration is pressing China to use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open the strait.

Iranian envoy visits

China ahead of Trump

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to China came ahead of a planned trip by Trump to Beijing.

Trump is scheduled to attend a high-profile summit on May 14-15 with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump was the last U.S. president to visit China in 2017.

“We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable,” Wang said in a video of the meeting.

The Chinese foreign minister said the conflict “has not only caused serious losses to the Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global peace.”

Araghchi told Iranian state TV that his visit included discussions about the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program and sanctions imposed on Tehran.

Trump has demanded a major rollback of Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

A statement published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website said China values Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons while affirming its “legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”

Shipper says strait shutdown costing $60M per week

Hundreds of merchant ships remain bottled up in the Persian Gulf, unable to reach the open sea without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

A cargo container ship operated by the CMA CGM Group was damaged, and multiple crew members were wounded when it came under attack while transiting the strait Tuesday, the French shipping company said. It said the injured crew members were taken off the ship and received medical treatment.

Oil prices and shipping will not likely return to normal until the risk of attacks in the strait has receded, said Kaho Yu, head of energy and resources at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

“Refiners, shippers and commodity traders will remain cautious until there is clearer evidence that Hormuz disruptions will not re-escalate,” he said.

Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world's largest shipping companies, said in a statement that the strait's shutdown is costing it around $60 million per week, with rising fuel and insurance costs hitting particularly hard. The company said alternate routes to other harbors or over land are limited.

The spot price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell to around $100 per barrel Wednesday, easing significantly from big price jumps earlier in the week. Crude sold for roughly $70 a barrel before the war began.

___

Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. Associated Press writers E. Eduardo Castillo in Beijing; Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece; Munir Ahmed in Islamabad; Toqa Ezzidin in Cairo; David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany; Adam Schreck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.

___

A previous version of this story misstated the name of the company that operates the container ship.

So when Jess Rattle began seeing purse seine ships fishing the Indian Ocean under the flags of Mauritius, Tanzania and Oman, she wondered whether European corporations might be involved.

“We wanted to understand who really owned these vessels,” said Rattle, head of investigations at the London-based environmental charity Blue Marine Foundation. “Were they owned by the coastal states whose quota they were now using, or in fact, were they owned by the EU?”

A new report released Thursday by the Blue Marine Foundation and Kroll, a global investigations firm, and shared with The Associated Press in advance reveals the extent of the European fleet’s access to Indian Ocean tuna stocks, finding that European companies have taken a third of the tropical tuna catch at a time when yellowfin and bigeye tuna are under pressure and still rebounding from being severely overfished.

They have done so in part by registering their ships under the flags of the Seychelles, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania and Oman to gain access to a greater catch limit, Rattle’s team found. The practice has allowed the European-owned fleet to expand to more than 50 purse seine ships and supply vessels and increase its catch of tropical tuna despite the European Union’s commitments to cutting back.

The finding comes ahead of an annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission in the Maldives, which brings together the EU and 28 countries with a stake in the tuna fishery.

While common in the fishing industry and not illegal, reflagging a vessel to a foreign country makes it difficult for observers and regulators to gauge the impact of European companies on the fishery. Parent company ownership is often obscured via layers of shell companies and foreign registries, which Rattle and the team at Kroll tracked down over the course of months.

“Europe’s opportunity to help stop overfishing is greater than first appears,” said Benedict Hamilton, a managing director at Kroll.

Though European companies have long fished under the Seychelles flag, Rattle said, their registering under the flags of Oman and Kenya is new. Europeche Tuna Group, which represents the European tuna industry, said in a statement that the industry’s relationship with coastal nations reflects its long-term investment in the region and strong local partnerships.

Spokesperson Anne-France Mattlet said the European industry benefits the economy of regional countries by paying taxes and fishing license fees, investing in local infrastructure, and unloading tuna and other fish in their ports and canneries.

Mattlet concurred with the report’s findings that Europeche has more than 50 purse seine and supply ships operating throughout the Indian Ocean, including with non-EU flags.

Maciej Berestecki, a spokesperson for the European Commission, said in a statement the reflagging of fishing vessels is a private business decision not influenced by public authorities, and that the EU does not defend or represent the interests of vessels flagged to other countries.

“The EU has done, and keeps doing, its utmost to promote and respect catch limits,” Berestecki said.

Despite Europe’s distance from the Indian Ocean, its fishing fleets have long played a dominant role there. Spanish and French tuna companies first introduced purse seine ships to the Indian Ocean in the 1980s, which allowed them to quickly increase their yearly catch. The ships get their name from their giant nets that encircle the tuna and close like a drawstring purse.

But the EU has occasionally butted heads with coastal nations that want a say over the fishing practices in the ocean at their doorstep.

Five years ago, with yellowfin tuna stocks in sharp decline, the Maldives accused the EU of not putting forth a serious proposal to lower tuna quotas at a contentious meeting of the tuna commission. In 2023, the EU objected to a proposal from Indonesia for a closure on purse seine fishing gear that passed with the support of 15 other countries.

In recent years, the tuna commission has put in place new management measures to rebuild the vulnerable yellowfin and bigeye tuna stocks, which are beginning to show signs of recovering. For instance, the EU agreed to reduce the yellowfin tuna catch for EU-flagged vessels by 21%.

Those new limits may be pushing European fishing companies to look to other countries’ quotas to maintain their catch, said Glen Holmes, senior officer with Pew Charitable Trusts.

Holmes and colleagues from Pew, Global Fishing Watch, and other environmental groups are advocating for greater ownership transparency among fishing fleets in the Indian Ocean.

Shipowners have long registered vessels under the flags of foreign countries, much to the dismay of transparency advocates, who say the practice limits oversight of those ships. Sanctioned oil tankers in the ‘ghost fleet’, for instance, frequently change their name and flags to conceal their ownership.

Certain flags have become known as ‘flags of convenience,’ offering companies low fees and lenient attitudes toward fishing or trade rules. Some countries may simply have fewer resources to enforce the laws of the sea.

A January report by the environmental group Oceana found European companies routinely register fishing vessels under the flags of foreign nations, including some countries the EU has accused of “turning a blind eye to illegal fishing activities.”

Oceana is calling on EU countries to begin collecting and publishing ownership data for their fishing fleet.

The change would help the EU better enforce its own laws, which prevent any European individual from benefiting financially from the practices of illegal fishing, said Vanya Vulperhorst, Oceana’s illegal fishing campaign director for Europe. And it would shed light on “the real EU fleet,” she said.

“What we found last year is that the real European fleet, if you add the non-EU flagged vessels, doubles,” Vulperhorst said.

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This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Contact AP’s global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

The deployment puts Europe’s most powerful warship closer to the strait whose effective closure has come to epitomize the war in Iran, stranding hundreds of ships and triggering what the International Energy Agency calls the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.

The defensive effort is distinct from the U.S. “Project Freedom” that launched Monday and was paused by President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening.

The repositioning of the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle and its escorts comes as part of a proposed mission championed by France and Britain to restore maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as conditions allow.

It "may help restore confidence among shipowners and insurers,” Macron said on X. “It remains distinct from the parties at war.”

Macron, who spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, said he also intends to raise the matter with Trump.

“A return to calm in the Strait will help advance negotiations on nuclear issues, ballistic matters, and the regional situation,” Macron wrote. “Europeans… will play their part.”

Col. Guillaume Vernet, spokesperson for the French armed forces chief of staff, stressed that the Hormuz coalition — drawn up by France, Britain and more than 50 nations — will not begin operating until two thresholds are cleared: The threat to shipping must come down, and the maritime industry must be reassured enough to use the strait.

Even then, he told The Associated Press, any operation would require the agreement of neighboring countries. That would include Iran, which borders the strait and effectively closed it by attacking and threatening ships after the war began on Feb. 28 with attacks by the U.S. and Israel.

Vernet did not specify when the carrier would reach its destination. He said the carrier was being positioned to be close enough to act if and when the conditions are met: “The French position is the same since the beginning — defensive posture, respecting international law."

War-risk insurance premiums for transits of the strait have risen four to five times above preconflict levels, according to industry estimates.

For now, insurance premiums are so high that "not a single ship will jeopardize their trip or go there,” Vernet said.

Washington has not been part of the French-British planning, which observers have said echoes the European “coalition of the willing” that Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assembled to support Ukraine.

“We want to send the message that not only are we ready to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but that we are also capable of doing so,” a French top official said, speaking anonymously in line with the French presidency’s customary practices.

Early in the war, France sought a multinational initiative to reestablish freedom of navigation in the strait. Macron and Starmer hosted dozens of countries at a Paris summit on April 17, and military planners from more than 30 nations later finalized operational details.

The Charles de Gaulle had been ordered from the Baltic to the eastern Mediterranean soon after the war began in what the French presidency described as an “unprecedented” mobilization that also includes eight frigates and two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.

Meanwhile, French Rafale fighters based at Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates have been intercepting Iranian drones and missiles over the Gulf state since the war began under a long-standing defense pact with Abu Dhabi that puts some 900 French personnel on the Gulf’s southern shore.

___

Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.

The order was filed on Monday in Maverick County’s 293rd Judicial District Court.

Cantú is accused of “official misconduct” and “incompetency,” as defined in Section 87.011 of Texas’ Local Government Code. In the order, Cantú will not be exercising “any powers, duties or authority of the office and shall not interfere in any manner with the operations of county government.”

He may be subject to permanent removal from the role following a jury trial.

According to Section 87.011, official misconduct is defined as “intentional, unlawful behavior ... by an officer entrusted with the administration of justice or the execution of the law.”

Examples of official misconduct include:

• An officer’s intent or decision to not perform a duty required by law
• A “prosecuting attorney” decision to refuse “to prosecute” a type of criminal offense
• Allowing an attorney to not prosecute a type of criminal offense or instruct law enforcement to not arrest individuals who may have broken a law

Incompetency in a local government role is described in one of three instances:

• Gross ignorance of official duties
• Gross carelessness in the performance of those duties
• Unfitness or inability to perform official duties due to a serious physical or mental defect that did not exist at the time of the officer’s election

Cantú’s order does not offer specific examples of the official misconduct or incompetency allegations he faces.

In Cantú’s place, Rolando Jasso was tabbed as Maverick County Judge on an interim basis.

Cantú is also in the middle of the Democratic primary runoff for Maverick County judge between he and challenger Gerardo “Jerry” Morales. In March, Morales garnered 49.9% of the vote compared to Cantú’s 28%.

Election Day for the primary runoff race is scheduled for May 26.

Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.

Their faces covered with pink balaclavas and shouting “Blood is Russia’s art” and “Disobey,” 50 members of feminist groups opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin blockaded the highly controversial pavilion for at least half an hour while Italian police prevented them from getting inside.

They chanted, played a punk rock song and dispersed without confrontation.

After years of war, “you guys just opened the door to them,” said Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, adding that the Biennale had not comprehended the importance of “so-called soft power, things, things that seemingly for some people are not important or not political.”

“For Russia, it’s clear that it’s part of their military strategy, and that’s the way they try to conquer the West,” she said.

Discord marks the Biennale

This year is the first time Russia has participated in the international art exhibit since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The opening has already cost the Biennale 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in EU funding, and plunged the normally serene week of previews into chaos after the jury resigned in protest of both Russia and Israel's participating, citing crimes against humanity.

The Biennale has defended its decision saying that any country with relations with Italy is free to participate in the exhibition, despite opposition from Premier Giorgia Meloni 's government.

The protest comes on the second day of VIP previews for art world luminaries and journalists ahead of the Biennale’s opening on Saturday.

The run-up to Biennale's 61st edition is the most contested in recent memory, reflecting global turmoil that is spilling over into the exhibition that features 100 national pavilions and 110 artist and artist groups participating in the main curated exhibition titled “In Minor Keys.”

Palestinians have also protested Israel's participation with actions in the Giardini.

Russia is one of 29 countries with a pavilion in the historic Giardini venue, and one of the oldest, dating from 1914, 19 years after the Biennale was founded in 1895.

The impact of jury's resignation

The five-woman jury's unprecedented resignation came after it announced that it would not award the prestigious Golden Lion prizes to countries under investigation by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses, effectively isolating Russia and Israel.

British artist Anish Kapoor, who has opened an exhibition in his palazzo across Venice, called the jury “courageous.”

“They should have included the US of A in that list of countries excluded because of the politics of hate and war that has been going on now for too long,’’ he told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. “What these wonderful women say is that culture has a language that speaks to politics that is if you like enrolled, embedded in political discourse, even if it’s invisible.”

Inside the Russian Pavilion

For all the controversy it unleashed, Russia’s pavilion, which features a series of musical performances, is scheduled to close before the official opening of the Biennale on May 9. The performances were being recorded to play through the window during the rest of the international exhibition, which closes Nov. 22.

Until Friday, visitors can fish a piece of discarded clothing from a bin inside the sparsely adorned pavilion, and wander upstairs where an open bar dispenses champagne and Prosecco next to a huge bouquet of flowers resembling a tree, visible through an open window from outside the Giardini walls.

On Tuesday, the first preview day, a small group of people danced to house music played by an Argentine DJ, while a pavilion spokesman wearing an animal mask refused to give his full name and said curators were not available for interviews.

Tolokonnikova said the only Russian art that should be shown is by dissidents who are jailed “for mostly ridiculous charges.”

“Those people make art, and I want that art to represent Russia, because they represent the real face of Russia,’’ she said.

Tolokonnikova said that efforts to contact the Biennale organizers to express their concerns had failed, and that to enter the Giardini venue, she had to use an assumed name to get through security.

In Russia, Mikhail Shvydkoy, Putin’s special envoy for international cultural cooperation, has welcomed Russia’s return to the Biennale, telling Russia’s news outlet RBC last month that “Russian culture can’t be canceled.”

Russia’s Antiwar Committee, a group of Kremlin critics and opposition activists in exile that formed after Moscow launched its all-out war on Ukraine and which has since been banned in Russia and declared a “terrorist organization,” lauded the EU’s decision to pull funding.

“The participation of Putin’s representatives at one of the world’s foremost cultural forums is neither a gesture of openness nor a celebration of artistic freedom,’’ the group said. “It is a source of shame for Europe and a gift to the Russian propaganda machine.”

___

Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

In Tennessee, protesters repeatedly interrupted legislative hearings on the redistricting plans, yet Republicans advanced them for a potential final vote Thursday.

Despite passionate pleas from Black Democratic lawmakers, Republicans in the Alabama House approved a measure to upend the state’s congressional primaries if courts allow them to switch their U.S. House districts. In South Carolina, Democrats chided Republican colleagues for abiding by President Donald Trump's desires as they took an initial step toward redrawing a district long held by a Black Democratic lawmaker.

The stakes are high for minority voters who stand to lose their preferred representatives and for any Republican lawmakers reluctant to follow Trump's wishes. In Republican primary elections Tuesday, Trump-endorsed challengers defeated at least five of the seven Indiana state lawmakers targeted by the president's allies for refusing to support a congressional redistricting effort last year.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a second Black-majority House district as it attempted to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The ruling significantly altered a decades-old understanding of the law, giving Republicans in Louisiana and elsewhere grounds to try to eliminate majority-Black districts that have elected Democrats.

The ruling intensified an already fierce national redistricting battle ahead of a November midterm election that will determine control of the closely divided House.

Since Trump prodded Texas to redraw its U.S. House districts last year, eight states have adopted new congressional districts. From that, Republicans think they could gain as many as 13 seats while Democrats think they could gain up to 10. But some of the new districts could be competitive in November, meaning the parties may not get all they sought.

Tennessee plan splits up Memphis district

Republicans on Wednesday proposed a new U.S. House map that would split Memphis’ home of Shelby County into three districts, instead of the current two. The map would break up Tennessee’s lone Democratic-held district, centered on the majority-Black city, creating a ripple effect of alterations to districts throughout the western and central parts of the state.

“Tennessee is a conservative state, and our congressional delegation should reflect that. This bill ensures it does,” Republican state Sen. John Stevens said.

Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said the proposed districts were drawn based on population and politics, not racial data.

To adopt new House districts, Tennessee lawmakers also are seeking to repeal a state law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting.

Democrats and civil rights activists denounced the efforts during Wednesday's committee hearings.

The proposal “is Black vote dilution at an industrial scale,” said Sekou Franklin, a political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University who is part of the Tennessee branch of the NAACP.

Protesters interrupted a Senate committee meeting, loudly chanting “Hands off our vote!” After senators suspended the hearing, state troopers cleared people from the room. Senators resumed their work elsewhere, advancing the legislation.

Later Wednesday, protesters in the hallway beat on the walls and doors of a committee room where senators were meeting. A House committee also paused its work as state troopers escorted chanting protesters from the room.

The candidate qualifying period in Tennessee ended in March, but legislation would reopen it to allow new candidates to join the races and existing candidates to switch districts. The primary election is Aug. 6.

Democrats noted that the state Supreme Court in April 2022 rejected a challenge to the current congressional map, finding it was too close to the election to make changes. This year, there’s even less time before the primary elections, raising the potential of confusion for both candidates and voters, Democrats said.

Alabama House backs a new primary

The Republican-led Alabama House on Wednesday passed legislation authorizing special congressional primaries as Republicans eye the possibility of getting a different congressional map in place for the November elections. The bill now moves to the state Senate.

Alabama is seeking to lift a federal court order that created a second congressional district with a near-majority of Black voters. That map led to the 2024 election of Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. Republicans want instead to use a 2023 map drawn by state lawmakers that would give the GOP an opportunity to reclaim Figures’ south Alabama district.

The legislation won House approval on a party-line vote after four hours of fiery debate during which Black legislators said the moment calls back to the state’s shameful Jim Crow-era history.

“It’s a tragic step backward for Black Alabama voters. But we’ve been here before, and we will not give up this fight,” Democratic state Rep. Adline Clarke said.

Democratic state Rep. Juandalynn Givan likened the legislation to poll taxes and counting jelly beans in a jar — a virtually impossible task that was used to suppress Black voters during the Jim Crow era.

“It is a calculated political maneuver born out of fear, a fear that is of Black people and most importantly Black political power,” Givan said.

Tensions rose later Wednesday as dozens of protesters temporarily blocked a hallway outside the Senate, singing “We Shall Overcome” and shouting “we’re not going back” as security officers tried to get them to leave.

Alabama's legislation hinges on the U.S. Supreme Court or a district court agreeing to lift the injunction.

“We’re going to be ready if the court hands down a favorable ruling,” said Republican state Rep. Chris Pringle, who sponsored the bill.

Alabama’s primaries are May 19. If a court grants the state’s request, the legislation would ignore the results for congressional seats and direct the governor to schedule a new primary under the revised districts.

South Carolina moves toward redistricting

The South Carolina House on Wednesday approved a resolution giving lawmakers permission to return later, after their regular work ends, to redraw congressional districts that could eliminate the state’s only Democratic-held district. The proposal now goes to the Senate, where it would need a two-thirds vote.

Republican House leaders said after the vote that they plan to introduce a new map Thursday and hold committee meetings on Friday. But during debate Wednesday, Republicans fended off specific questions from Democrats, including why they were willing to stop the June 9 U.S. House primary elections well after candidates filed and how much a rescheduled primary could cost.

Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg said he felt sorry for Republicans who he said were giving up their principles to follow the whims of Trump.

“The president of the United States is a very powerful man. Wields a heavy, heavy thumb — Truth Social, X, Meta, Instagram. To be honest I don’t envy our Republican colleagues,” Bamberg said.

Democratic Rep. Leon Stavrinakis said democracy will die if lawmakers redraw voting districts for political reasons every time power changes or to protect someone in office.

___

Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama; Collins from Columbia, South Carolina; and Lieb from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press reporter Kristin M. Hall contributed.

That question led me to Paris Hatters — a downtown hat shop that has been part of San Antonio since 1917.

Owner Abe Cortez said the business was started by his father when he was just 16 years old. More than a century later, the family is still selling hats from Broadway.

“During the Depression, all the ’30s, the ‘40s, the ‘50s, the ‘60s, and here we are today,” Cortez said.

Walking through the shop feels like stepping into San Antonio’s history. Photos line the walls featuring celebrities and public figures who have stopped by over the decades, including John Wayne, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, ZZ Top, Deion Sanders and even Pope John Paul II.

The store has survived massive changes along Broadway, from redevelopment to rising costs and ongoing construction that continue to reshape the corridor.

When asked how Paris Hatters has managed to stay open while other longtime businesses have disappeared, Cortez pointed to one thing: consistency.

“We treat people like they should,” Cortez said. “They come in, they want a hat — we got any hat they want.”

The family originally operated the business near Market and Alamo before relocating to its current Broadway location decades ago, after the city purchased the original building during Hemisfair development.

Today, four generations later, Cortez’s daughter and young grandson still spend time inside the store — something Cortez said reminds him of growing up in the business himself.

As Broadway rapidly changes around it, Paris Hatters remains one of the corridor’s oldest surviving businesses, and a reminder of the generations of San Antonio history still standing along the street.

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City staff are recommending both tactics as part of a plan to combat a growing budget deficit in the general fund, which could balloon to more than $250 million within five years.

“It’s not lost upon me that the city hasn’t increased the tax rate in 33 years,” City Manager Erik Walsh told council members during a Wednesday budget briefing.

The general fund is currently about $1.7 billion, and covers many core city operations like police, fire, libraries and parks. However, Wednesday’s presentation showed those costs are projected to consistently outpace revenues in the coming year.

One of the biggest sources of funding, property tax revenue, is expected to decline next year and then see minimal revenue growth for the next four years.

The city’s share of CPS Energy revenues is also expected to go down in FY 2027 before seeing moderate growth in subsequent years, and city sales tax revenues are expected to grow between 2% and 3.5% over the next five years.

Though the city’s FY 2027 budget is expected to be balanced, according to a Wednesday budget presentation, the deficits could begin in FY 2028 with a $130.7 million gap between projected revenues and expenses.

By the 2031 fiscal year, the general fund deficit could grow to $264 million.

Even raising property tax rates to bring in the maximum amount of revenue allowed by state law without an election would only close the projected deficit to $196 million by FY 2031, according to Wednesday’s presentation.

Council’s first task will be to tackle the first two years. City staff laid out two scenarios Wednesday: one with $130.7 million worth of cuts and a second with a mix $70 million worth of cuts and maxing out the tax rate for property tax revenue.

Where the cuts would fall isn’t clear yet, but Wednesday’s presentation listed “non-core, non-mandated services” and emphasized minimizing “impact to vulnerable populations.”

The presentation also mentions adjustments to fees and charges.

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Authorities said at least two people died on Wednesday afternoon in a crash on Southwest Loop 410 and Valley Hi Drive.

As of 4 p.m., the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)’s incident map shows a crash blocking three of four northbound lanes of SW Loop 410 near Valley Hi Drive.

At this time, it is unclear how many vehicles or people were impacted by the crash.

It is also unclear when the blocked lanes on SW Loop 410 will reopen.

SAPD said the scene is still active and its investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

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One of the people said the investigation into Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas was opened during Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation.

While the probe apparently has spanned administrations of different political parties, Democrats viewed it against a backdrop of recent, politically charged inquiries during President Donald Trump’s tenure. Lucas, who has been a senator for 34 years, was a prominent voice in Virginia's recent redistricting effort, a Democrat-led initiative to counter Republican redrawing pushed by Trump.

“Today’s actions by federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people,” Lucas said in an evening statement. “What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices of those who stand up to them.”

The FBI said only that it was conducting a court-authorized search in Portsmouth. Such searches require approval from a judge and for investigators to assert that they believe they have identified probable cause of a crime.

Besides the search at Lucas' office, which houses her disabilities services business and is her political base in Portsmouth, agents in FBI T-shirts also went into the nearby cannabis store, which she opened in 2021. Several entrances to the Cannabis Outlet's parking lot were blocked by unmarked vehicles with flashing blue lights, as was an entrance to the politician's office.

By evening, agents were carrying boxes and bags out of the shop's back door.

Lucas, a prominent backer of legalizing marijuana, has said the store sells legal hemp and CBD products. It has drawn scrutiny from local media amid allegations that some products were mislabeled.

Virginia has legalized pot possession, but retail sales of recreational marijuana remain illegal in the state.

A woman who identified herself as Lucas’ granddaughter, Nicole Bremby, came by after agents left to check on the Cannabis Outlet. She declined to discuss the raids.

“I’ve had better days,” she said. “It’s all good. Everyone is home.”

Virginia Democrats point to other recent prosecutions

State House Speaker Don Scott said he was deeply concerned by the FBI search.

“Right now, there is far more theatrics and speculation than actual information available to the public,” Scott, a Democrat, said in a statement, adding that more facts were needed “before anyone rushes to political conclusions.”

Gov. Abigail Spanberger declined to comment.

Other Virginia Democrats were quick to note that the search comes as the FBI and Justice Department have opened a spate of investigations into perceived adversaries of Trump.

Last week the Justice Department charged former FBI Director James Comey with making a threatening Instagram post against Trump, an accusation that Comey — who for nearly a decade has drawn the president’s ire — has denied. A court dismissed federal prosecutors' earlier case accusing Comey of lying to Congress.

A separate mortgage fraud case, also ultimately dismissed by a court, targeted Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his business. Both she and Comey, a longtime Republican who split from the party in the past decade, denied the charges and said the prosecutions were vindictive.

Such cases “have undermined public confidence” in federal prosecutors in Virginia, Democratic state Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement.

The FBI and Justice Department have also provoked concerns among Democrats about ongoing election-related investigations, including the seizure by agents of ballots and other information from Fulton County, Georgia.

Lucas has been a vocal leader of Virginia's redistricting effort, which voters approved last month. A sign urging people to “vote yes” to “stop the MAGA power grab” still hung Wednesday on a fence separating her office's parking lot from that of the cannabis shop.

Lucas played a leading role in Virginia redistricting

Amid a national, state-by-state partisan redistricting fight kicked off by Trump’s desire to aid his fellow Republicans, Virginia voters OK'd a Democrat-backed constitutional amendment authorizing new U.S. House districts. The plan could help the party win up to four additional seats.

“We are not going to let anyone tilt the system without a response,” Lucas said after the vote. Trump, meanwhile, denounced the results.

The state Supreme Court let the referendum proceed but has yet to rule on whether the effort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a lower court judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated procedural requirements.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, after each census. But Trump last year urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to give the GOP an edge in the midterms. California Democrats reciprocated, and redistricting efforts soon cascaded across states.

Lucas, 82, has been a figure in Virginia politics since the 1980s, when she became the first Black woman elected to a city council seat in her native Portsmouth. She now is the first woman and first African American to serve as the Senate’s president pro tempore.

Earlier in life she was the Norfolk Naval Shipyard's first female shipfitter, according to her biography in the state library. The job entails making, installing and repairing sometimes enormous metal assemblies for vessels.

In recent years she has been the CEO of a Portsmouth business that runs residences, day programs and transportation for intellectually disabled adults.

___

Associated Press journalists Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, Jake Offenhartz in New York, Claudia Lauder in Philadelphia and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

“No, I don't," Maye said. "I mean, he’s our head coach. I think he’s done a great job of talking to us and talking us through it. I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and getting ready.”

Maye spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday following the Truist Championship Pro-Am in Charlotte in which he was paired with PGA Tour pro Gary Woodland on the back nine at Quail Hollow.

Vrabel has found himself entangled in controversy after the New York Post posted pictures of him with longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. Vrabel said on April 24 that he was taking accountability for his actions without addressing specifics about the published photos.

Vrabel missed the third day of the draft to attend counseling.

Vrabel said he had to have hard conversations with the people that he cared about the most, including his family, his team and members of the Patriots organization. He added that, "My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t.”

When asked if the issues are something the Patriots will need to put behind them before the season, Maye said, “I think that’ll take care of itself.”

“I know he’s got the right mindset and I know he’s a great human being,” Maye added. “I think he’s ... like I said, I love playing for him.”

Maye, the third overall pick in 2024 who grew up in nearby Huntersville, North Carolina, led the Patriots to an appearance in Super Bowl 60 in just his second season. He was runner-up to Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford for the AP NFL MVP award in 2025.

Maye also addressed former Patriots teammate Stefon Diggs' acquittal on charges that he assaulted his live-in personal chef.

The charges stemmed from a Dec. 2 incident at his Massachusetts home where Jamila Adams testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during an argument.

Diggs had pled not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before clearing Diggs of all charges. The acquittal in court clears a path for the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to return to the field, although he could still face discipline from the NFL.

“Well, you know, he’s always been a great teammate to me and I know he’ll do great things," Maye said. "I was fortunate enough to have a year with him, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to him. He’s a great player.”

And as for the shoulder injury that hampered him down the stretch last season, Maye said he's doing “great.”

“Nothing, nothing, no problems at all," said Maye, adding that he did not need surgery.

The Patriots will host a three-day rookie minicamp beginning Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

___

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

The lawyer, Justin D. Smith, told the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a filing Tuesday to stay its decision supporting the award so that Trump won’t have to pay writer E. Jean Carroll while he appeals to the high court.

A Manhattan jury awarded Carroll the payout in January 2024. Another jury in May 2023 awarded Carroll $5 million after concluding Trump sexually abused her in a Manhattan luxury department store dressing room in 1996 and then defamed her after she published her account of it in 2019.

Trump has vehemently denied sexually abusing Carroll or ever knowing her and has repeatedly accused her of making accusations against him for political purposes or to promote her memoir.

In court papers filed with the 2nd Circuit, Smith told the appeals court that Carroll's lawyer does not oppose the request for a stay as long as Trump increases the bond posted after the verdict by $7.4 million to cover any post-judgment interest that would accrue during a possible Supreme Court review.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, who represents Carroll, declined comment through a spokesperson.

Smith told the 2nd Circuit that Trump “will suffer irreparable harm” if he must pay Carroll now because she has said publicly that she plans to give the award away, meaning the president would not be able to recover the money if the high court reverses the verdict.

Smith said there was a “reasonable probability” that the Supreme Court will take up an appeal in part based on Trump's insistence that he has absolute immunity from a lawsuit stemming from statements he made while he was president.

In support of his request, Smith cited arguments in a dissent by three 2nd Circuit judges to a decision last week in which the appeals court refused to put the case before all of the court's active judges, leaving standing a three-judge panel's September decision upholding the verdict.

He wrote that there was “at least a fair prospect that the Supreme Court will reverse the Panel.”

“I went to Spain to do PRP,” the NBA scoring champion told reporters as the Lakers prepare to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. “Everybody knows that it's one of the best countries to do that. Obviously, you know, we talked with the Lakers doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there.”

Each injection required four days of rest in between, resulting in an extended stay in Spain, he said.

“I know and trust lots of people in Spain that I used to work with before,” he said. “I needed four days in between every shot. I did it four times, so that’s why I stayed longer.”

Doncic was injured during the third quarter of a loss to Oklahoma City. on April 2. The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs, with 41-year-old LeBron James taking up much of the scoring slack.

The Lakers lost to the top-seeded Thunder 108-90 in Game 1 on Tuesday. If Doncic can't speed up his recovery timeline, he would miss the entire series and part of the conference finals, should the Lakers advance.

Doncic said he’s been running but has yet to reintroduce contact. He said it has been hard to watch his team while knowing he can't participate.

“It's very frustrating. I don't think people understand how frustrating it is,” he said. “All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It's the best time to play basketball. It's very frustrating to see what my team is doing. I'm very proud of them, but it's been very tough to watch.”

The six-time All-Star also understands that coming back too soon would put him at risk.

“It's a tough one for me. I've come back from injuries too soon before, and it wasn't the best result,” he said. “This is the first time I have a hamstring injury. It's not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful. I'm doing everything to come back.”

___

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

The shooting happened just before 11:45 p.m. Tuesday at a home on Croesus Avenue near Vance Jackson Road.

Authorities said Carlos Ray Rodriguez Alcorta, 25, forced his way into the home and opened fire, killing Manuel Flores, 64, and Adela Flores, 60. A 24-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, was also shot and remains in critical condition.

Police said Rodriguez Alcorta later took his own life.

A 33-year-old woman and a 4-year-old child were inside the home at the time but were able to escape unharmed, according to investigators.

Neighbors in the area said they were shaken by the violence and are mourning the loss of people they described as kind and undeserving of such a tragedy.

“They were good people, and now they’re dead,” a neighbor who wanted to stay anonymous said. “We just heard the gunshots,” the neighbor said. “It was loud.”

An extended family member, who did not want to be identified, described the scene as chaotic and emotional.

“There is blood all around,” the relative said in Spanish.

Police have not confirmed the relationship between Rodriguez Alcorta and the victims and said a motive remains under investigation.

Neighbors told KSAT that the critically injured woman is the mother of the young child who was inside the home during the shooting. Some expressed hope she will recover.

“For her to get better, to get to the child,” one neighbor said, adding concern about the emotional impact on the child.

The investigation is ongoing.

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The lawsuit, filed in February 2026, accused former Frio County election judge Margarita “Margie” Gonzales and Mary Lee Moore, the Democratic nominee for Frio County Judge, of making false, defamatory statements with the intent of malice.

Gonzales spoke exclusively with KSAT in March about the lawsuit, which she called ridiculous.

“My immediate thought was basically witness intimidation, being that I am the main witness to the indictment that they received and the charges that were brought up against these individuals by the AG’s office,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said she and Moore separately filed complaints with the Texas Attorney General’s office.

Gonzales told KSAT that said she witnessed ballot tampering.

The complaints to the attorney general’s office led to the arrests of 15 people in the summer of 2025, with a majority facing charges of vote harvesting. Among those facing charges are a former candidate for San Antonio mayor, school board and city council members, and the Frio County judge.

Five of those facing charges banded together to file the February lawsuit against Gonzales and Moore:

• Frio County Judge Rochelle Lozano Camacho
• Pearsall City Council member Ramiro Trevino
• Pearsall City Council member Racheal Garza
• Pearsall Independent School District board member Roselle Adriann Ramirez
• Rosa Galvan Rodriguez, whom the 81st Judicial District Attorney said is an alleged vote harvester

Court records signed this month by Judge Jennifer Dillingham state the group “failed to establish” clear and specific evidence for their claims. The court order states the group is responsible for paying Gonzales’ and Moore’s legal fees, which will be determined later.

“This ruling reflects a textbook and faithful application of the (Texas Citizens Participation Act),” said Mark Anthony Sánchez, who represents Gonzales and Moore. “The statute exists to stop lawsuits that attempt to punish citizens for speaking on matters of public concern or for reporting suspected wrongdoing.”

“We will be appealing the court’s decision,” said Domingo Garcia, who is representing the group. “Our clients are innocent have have been smearing (sic) by a rogue attorney general on a political witch hunt.”

Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.

Around 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, firefighters responded to the scene in the 8600 block of Broadway, near Loop 410.

SAFD said the person admitted to intentionally setting the fire. They sustained burns and were taken to a hospital for treatment.

CPS Energy shut off power to the building, and people inside were evacuated.

Firefighters are still investigating how the person started the fire, but SAFD said it appears it started near a couch area on the second floor of the building.

No firefighters were injured during the response, SAFD said. An arson investigation is underway.

Read also:

• Man arrested in connection with fatal RV fire, Medina County Sheriff’s Office says

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS

• COLD FRONT: Drops temperatures into the 60s this evening, lower humidity too
• RAIN CHANCE: Scattered showers around sunrise Thursday
• HIGHEST RAIN CHANCE: Friday night

FORECAST

COLD FRONT TODAY

A potent, early May cold front is moving through South-Central Texas right now, so plan for a sharp temperature drop, but it won’t be “cold” outside. Actually, this front will make for a comfortable evening to watch the Spurs playoff game outdoors.

MORE RAIN CHANCES

• THURSDAY: Behind the front, passing disturbances will keep a few showers and rumbles of thunder in the forecast. Rain chances sit at 40% for the morning commute, then 20% in the afternoon.
• FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY: An upper level low will move west to east across Texas. This will increase our rain chances to 60% Friday night into early Saturday morning. As usual this time of year, severe storms are possible. Rain chances end Saturday evening.

MOTHER’S DAY

Sunny, warm, and humid. Lower 90s.

QUICK WEATHER LINKS

• WATCH LIVE: Doppler Radar
• Hourly and 10-Day Forecast
• Download FREE KSAT Weather Authority App: Up-to-date forecast information and livestreams from trusted local meteorologists.
• KSAT Connect: Share your weather photos.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia raced clear after playing a simple one-two with Fabián Ruiz in midfield, then picked out the unmarked Dembélé to sweep the ball in under the crossbar in the third minute of the semifinal second leg.

By the time Harry Kane equalized in stoppage time it was too late to keep alive Bayern's dream of a Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble.

The draw gave PSG, the defending champion, a 6-5 win on aggregate after edging their encounter 5-4 in the first leg in Paris last week.

The French league leader will face Arsenal in the final in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30, after the Gunners defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 on Tuesday to progress 2-1 on aggregate.

“It’s magnificent, two finals," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “Now we will go there and try to fetch a second star. I said to the players we are warriors.”

PSG’s defense — breached four times in Paris last week — kept Bayern’s much vaunted attack of Kane, Luis Díaz and Micheal Olise largely in check.

“We know how to suffer and we’re ready for what we have to face,” PSG midfielder João Neves said. “We’re very proud of how far we’ve come.”

By the time Kane let fly for his 55th goal across all competitions including the German Supercup for Bayern this season, PSG’s substitutes were already lining up to celebrate.

The England captain's goal ensured Bayern has scored in every competitive match this season. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany struck an optimistic tone despite the disappointment.

“We made progress this season,” Kompany said. “We have to do it again.”

Real Madrid was the last team to achieve back-to-back titles — winning three in a row from 2016-18.

“Shoot us into the final,” the Bayern fans had urged their team with a huge choreography as the combatants emerged on the field.

Bayern only needed one goal to level the tie, but it soon turned to two after Fabián sent Kvaratskhelia on his way.

If the Georgia star was surprised by how much space he was offered by the absent defense, he didn’t stop to question it. Desiré Doué was another option queuing beside Dembélé to take a shot with Luis Díaz the closest Bayern player back.

Bayern’s players complained the already-booked Nuno Mendes should have been booked again when the ball hit his arm in the first half, but referee João Pinheiro blew instead for a handball from Konrad Laimer.

There were more protests shortly afterward when Vitinha struck teammate João Neves’ arm with the ball in the penalty area with a clearance.

Kompany played down the importance of the referee's calls, though he also said more time should have been played in stoppage time.

While Bayern dominated possession, PSG was more efficient, with Doué and Kvaratskhelia keeping Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer alert after the break.

“PSG were killers with their five goals and how they scored (last week),” Neuer said. “That’s what we needed today. I think we were close to the final but couldn’t finish the job.”

PSG already had good memories of Munich. The city was the scene of PSG’s triumph in the final last season when it demolished Inter Milan 5-0 to fulfill its Qatari owners’ quest to become European champion for the first time. A relatively unchanged team is well-placed to deliver the second title.

___

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

The system swept over the Rocky Mountains and into the High Plains a day earlier and was winding down Wednesday afternoon. Several towns at higher elevations received about 2 feet (nearly 61 centimeters) of snow.

A winter storm warning remained in place, with another 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of snow expected in Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver and Castle Rock, the National Weather Service said.

Commuters in Denver were dealing with slick roads. A few crashes were reported by the State Patrol but there was no word of serious injuries. Forecasters warned that snow-loaded tree limbs could snap. “Avoid parking under trees,” the weather service's Denver office posted.

The weather service said parts of the region could continue to see light snow and rain on Thursday but that temperatures will trend warmer, reaching as high as the mid 70s Fahrenheit (about 24 Celsius) in Denver by the weekend.

Mountain towns dig out from feet of snow

The town of Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park, saw 22 to more than 30 inches (56 to more than 76 centimeters) of snow, the weather service said.

Estes Park resident Kathy Ross said enough snow fell in her yard to clear the head of her Boston terrier mix.

“The view of the mountains is just spectacular, as long as you like the color white,” said Ross, who spent Wednesday morning shoveling the sidewalks outside the used bookstore she manages.

In Boulder, some spots got a foot (30 centimeters) of snow, and officials warned of downed trees and branches.

Denver saw one of its biggest snow storms of the season. The city's international airport recorded 5.8 inches (nearly 15 centimeters) of snow after early flight delays and cancellations, the weather service said.

Temperatures dropped into the low 30s Fahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius) on Wednesday morning, prompting Denver to activate its cold-weather shelter plan. Warmer weather is expected Thursday.

The storm didn't stop thousands of people from showing up for an outdoor David Guetta concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Tuesday night, although organizers moved the start time up an hour. Fans bundled up in furry winter coats and beanies while lining up to enter.

The Colorado Rockies postponed two games against the New York Mets, but that happens more often than not during Denver's spring baseball season, including four times in 2015, according to the MLB.

Snow in May isn't unheard of in Colorado and is even more common in Wyoming's capital of Cheyenne, which sits almost 1,000 feet (305 meters) higher than Denver and is cooler and windier, often piling snow into drifts.

A springtime snow day

Denver Public Schools, the largest K-12 district in the state, and others on Colorado’s Front Range canceled Wednesday classes. Families dug mittens and snow boots out of seasonal storage to make the most of the rare May snow day.

On Denver’s west side, neighborhood parents and kids gathered at Nettie Moore Playground, a popular sledding spot where a hill slopes into a dry gulch. Fern Garstka, 8, joined the fun after a morning of hard work.

“My parents made me go outside and shake the snow off of the trees,” Garstka said.

Andy Flinn said the wet, heavy snow was less than ideal for sledding, but that his two young sons were happy to get a few runs in after an exceptionally dry winter.

“Every little bit helps. Whether it’s snow or rain, we’ll take it,” Flinn said.

The storm is welcome during a drought

April was warmer and dryer than usual, with Denver missing an inch of rain (2.5 centimeters) and 2.8 inches of snow (7 centimeters) last month.

For some farmers, who have felt the pressure from Colorado's ongoing drought, the snow was an opportunity.

Adam Jones of Unsung Family Farms in Longmont planted carrot seeds just days earlier to take advantage of the precipitation.

“You can’t get as even distribution with driplines or sprinklers,” he told KMGH-TV. “There’s nothing like starting seeds with snow or water.”

Jones moved more delicate crops inside, and used a heater to keep them warm.

The unsettled weather stretched beyond the Rockies. Severe thunderstorms, some capable of producing tornadoes, were possible across the Southeast on Wednesday, with the strongest storms expected from Arkansas through Georgia.

____

McCormack reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press journalists Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles, Savannah Peters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Thomas Peipert in Denver contributed.

Associated Press footage showed health workers in protective gear evacuating three patients. Two arrived at Amsterdam's airport Wednesday evening and were taken to separate hospitals.

Three people have died, and one body remained on the ship, the World Health Organization said. Of eight recorded cases, five were confirmed by laboratory testing.

Hantavirus usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings and can spread person-to-person, though that is rare, according to the WHO, whose top epidemic expert said the risk to the public is low.

Health officials in Europe and Africa are trying to identify people who may have had contact with people who earlier left the ship, which departed April 1 from South America for stops in Antarctica and several remote Atlantic islands.

Two Argentine officials investigating the origins of the outbreak said the government's leading hypothesis is that a Dutch couple contracted the virus while bird-watching in the city of Ushuaia before boarding.

They said the couple visited a landfill during the tour and may have been exposed to rodents. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, with the investigation ongoing.

Officials say those still on board show no symptoms

The Dutch foreign ministry said the three people evacuated Wednesday were a 41-year-old Dutch national, a 56-year-old British national and a 65-year-old German national. WHO said testing in Senegal confirmed that two of the evacuees were infected with hantavirus.

Two of the evacuees were in “serious condition,” Dutch ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said, and the third had no symptoms but was “closely associated” with a German passenger who died on the MV Hondius ship on Saturday.

Upon arriving in Amsterdam, one of the evacuated patients was taken to a specialized hospital in Dusseldorf, Germany; the other was taken to a hospital in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Health officials said passengers and crew members still on the ship were without symptoms. Their journey to the Canary Islands will take three or four days, Spain’s health ministry said. Their arrival “won´t represent any risk for the public,” the ministry said.

Still, the Canary Islands regional president, Fernando Clavijo, said he worried about the risk to the public and demanded a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

WHO expert says this is ‘not the next COVID’

Authorities said passengers tested positive for the Andes virus, a species of hantavirus found in South America, primarily in Argentina and Chile. The virus can spread between people, though that’s rare and only through close contact, according to the WHO. The health agency has never seen a hantavirus outbreak on a ship.

“This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease,” the WHO's top epidemic expert, Maria Van Kerkhove, said. “Most people will never be exposed to this.”

Two Dutch infectious diseases experts were joining the ship, Van Kerkhove said. Access to clinical care is important, she said, because infected people can develop severe acute respiratory distress and need oxygen or mechanical ventilation. There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention can increase the chance of survival.

The hantavirus incubation period can be one to six weeks, or more, she said.

The ship's itinerary included stops across the South Atlantic, including mainland Antarctica and the remote islands of South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and Ascension.

Officials rush to determine passenger's travel after leaving ship

Authorities in Switzerland said a former passenger who tested positive was being treated at a Zurich hospital. South African authorities earlier said two passengers who were transferred there tested positive. One, a British man, was in intensive care; the other collapsed and died in South Africa.

Swiss health office spokesperson Simon Ming said the patient there had left the ship during its St. Helena stop. It was not clear when or how he traveled to Switzerland and how many other countries he might have passed through.

The patient’s wife hasn’t shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution, a statement by the office said.

South Africa looks for people who had possible contact

At St. Helena, the body of the Dutch man suspected to be the first hantavirus case on board was taken off the ship. His wife flew to South Africa, where she collapsed at the Johannesburg airport and died.

Later, a British man was evacuated at Ascension Island and taken to South Africa.

The ship's operator has not said if other people left at those or other locations.

The South African health ministry says officials have traced 42 out of 62 people, including health workers, they believe had contact with the two infected passengers who traveled there. The 42 tested negative for hantavirus.

British health officials said two passengers who flew home earlier in the ship's journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms. The U.K. Health Security Agency said “a small number” of contacts of the two are also self-isolating but also are not showing symptoms.

___

DeBre reported from Buenos Aires and Furtula from Amsterdam. Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal; Joseph Wilson in Barcelona; Geir Moulson in Berlin; Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, and Michelle Gumede and Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg, contributed to this report.

Authorities responded to the fire around 12:10 p.m. in the 9300 block of Toronto Drive, near Interstate 10.

It’s unclear how many dogs were killed in the fire. ACS is investigating the dogs’ ownership and potential ordinance violations.

ACS said it has not received calls for service at the address since 2022.

Additional information was not immediately available.

Read also:

• Person hospitalized after setting fire to North Side office building, SAFD says

The San Francisco-based company said in March that it would offer extra compensation to U.S. and Canadian drivers as part of a temporary program to offset a sharp increase in gas prices due to the Iran war. The national average for a gallon of gas on Wednesday was $4.53, up 44% from a year ago, according to AAA.

DoorDash said demand for deliveries remained strong in the January-March period despite higher gas prices, with total orders rising 27% to 933 million. That fell short of Wall Street’s forecast of 954 million, according to analysts polled by FactSet. DoorDash said winter storms closed businesses and dampened demand in some locations.

Revenue also fell short of expectations. DoorDash said its revenue rose 33% to $4.0 billion, which was shy of the $4.15 billion analysts were forecasting.

The company said it's paying for gas price relief by adjusting investments in other areas. DoorDash said in November that it would be spending heavily on new products and services this year, including the addition of restaurant reservations in its app and robot deliveries.

“We did have to push out some investments ... in order to make room for this,” DoorDash Chief Financial Officer Ravi Inukonda said during a conference call with investors. “If we do decide to extend the program, our goal is to find offsets.”

DoorDash said its net income fell 5% to $184 million, or 42 cents per share, for the January-March period. That was partly due to a 30% increase in research and development costs compared to the same period last year.

Still, that beat analysts' forecast of a 36-cent per share profit, according to FactSet.

DoorDash's shares rose more than 11% in after hours trading Wednesday.

DoorDash's earnings report came a week after rival Uber announced a deal with Expedia Group that will let users make hotel reservations through the Uber app.

When asked if DoorDash plans to add a similar service, DoorDash Co-founder and CEO Tony Xu said the company still sees plenty of room to grow its core area of restaurant and retail delivery.

“We are a tiny fraction of what’s actually available and addressable, which in some sense means that there’s a large runway and opportunity for us to become even better in breed in terms of what it is that we can offer,” he said. “And if we can keep doing that, I think we’re going to be just fine.”

The Cabinet member was the latest powerful political figure to appear before the House Oversight Committee. He has previously given contradictory statements about his relationship with Epstein, but he said he has done nothing wrong and welcomed the closed-door interview with lawmakers.

The transcribed interview is a test of how much scrutiny lawmakers will apply to powerful men who kept company with Epstein even after his conviction. Trump's administration has tried unsuccessfully for more than a year to move past the issue.

Lawmakers emerged from the private interview with vastly different assessments of Lutnick's answers. The committee chairman, GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said Lutnick had been “forthcoming” in describing limited interactions with Epstein. Democrats accused Lutnick of lying and evading their questions.

Lutnick is the highest-ranked administration official, besides President Donald Trump, to be named in the Epstein case files. The Republican president has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and has said he ended their relationship years ago. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Several Democrats have called for Lutnick to resign. A few Republicans, including Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, have said he should at least testify before the committee.

“He was evasive, nervous. He was dishonest,” said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va. “He would not admit to lying, which he clearly did.”

Epstein's private island

Lutnick has played down his ties to Epstein, who was once his neighbor in New York City. Under questioning from Democrats during an unrelated hearing earlier this year, Lutnick described their contact as a handful of emails and a pair of meetings in 2011 and 2012.

But that admission came after Lutnick had previously claimed on a podcast last year that he had decided to “never be in the room” with Epstein after a 2005 tour of Epstein’s home, which included a massage table, disturbed Lutnick and his wife.

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to state sex offense charges in Florida, including soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.

“I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him,” Lutnick told senators in February when he was asked about Epstein during a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

But Lutnick, who was previously the head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, actually had an hourlong engagement at Epstein’s home in 2011. His family then visited Epstein’s private island in 2012 for lunch.

Committee Democrats asked Lutnick repeatedly about that visit, but came away from the interview frustrated with Lutnick and accused him of evading their questions. They said Lutnick said he remembered little about the island visit and did not see anything that raised concern.

During a break in the interview, Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., said Lutnick “claims that when he said, ‘I would never be in a room again with Jeffrey Epstein,’ he meant only him and Jeffrey Epstein.”

The federal release of case files on Epstein also showed that Epstein and Lutnick had kept in contact through email. Lutnick in 2018 emailed Epstein about a proposed expansion of a museum in their neighborhood that would have blocked the view from their homes. Epstein also gave $50,000 to a 2017 dinner honoring Lutnick, while Lutnick invited Epstein to a 2015 fundraiser for Hillary Clinton. In 2013, they both invested in the same business venture.

“I haven't seen wrongdoing in the email correspondence, but he wasn't 100% truthful with whether or not he had been on the island,” Comer said. He added that the committee planned to later release the transcript of the interview and “let the American people judge whether the credibility was damaged or not.”

Democrats said Lutnick also backed away from his statement in an interview last year that Epstein was the “greatest blackmailer ever."

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said Lutnick told him that he was only “speculating” when Lutnick made the blackmail claim.

No video recording of the interview

The interview was not recorded on video, as the committee has done with depositions for others, including former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state. Comer said the decision not to video the interview, for which Lutnick volunteered, was keeping with the committee's practice.

To Democrats, that decision allowed Lutnick to escape the same kind of scrutiny as others had.

“The level of the lies that are taking place inside that room without video is unbelievable and part of this egregious cover-up,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz.

Comer said Democrats were only trying to score political points. “This is a serious investigation,” he said.

The chairman argued it made the committee's inquiry easier when subjects consented to an interview, rather than resist congressional demands.

“Nobody wants to be videoed. If you come in, you work with us, then you know, you might not have to be videoed,” he said.

The White House has continued to express support for Lutnick, who is one of the biggest boosters of Trump's tariff strategy. He has been close to Trump for years and helped raise money for his 2020 and 2024 campaigns.

The committee is also scheduled to hear testimony on May 29 from Pam Bondi, who was pushed out as attorney general last month.

___

Follow the AP's coverage of Jeffrey Epstein at https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein.

The brash television pioneer who died Wednesday made his greatest mark on the news business when he launched CNN nearly a half-century ago and with it, the 24-hour cable news cycle — a revolutionary moment that transformed the industry.

His media empire grew to include CNN International, the Cartoon Network, TNT and Turner Classic Movies. Then he used his riches to become one of America’s most extensive landowners, dedicating his final years to preserving natural habitats, saving endangered species and reducing nuclear weapons.

Turner died at age 87 while surrounded by his family, according to Turner Enterprises, which oversees his vast businesses and investments. A cause was not released. He was diagnosed in 2018 with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder.

A Southerner with outspoken wit, he earned the nicknames “Captain Outrageous” and “The Mouth of the South” during his youthful years.

“If only I had a little humility, I’d be perfect," he once bragged.

Turner was a celebrity in his own right when he married actor Jane Fonda in 1991, just before being named Time magazine’s Man of the Year.

“He swept into my life, a gloriously handsome, deeply romantic, swashbuckling pirate and I’ve never been the same,” Fonda wrote Wednesday on Instagram.

Slowed late in life by his illness and long out of the television business, Turner concentrated on philanthropy — donating a stunning $1 billion to United Nations charities — and his more than 2 million acres (800,000 hectares) of property, including the nation’s largest bison herd.

His garrulous personality sometimes overshadowed a driven, risk-taking business acumen. By the time he sold his Turner Broadcasting System to Time Warner Inc. in a 1996 media megadeal, Turner had turned his late father’s billboard company into a global conglomerate that included seven major cable networks, three professional sports teams and a pair of hit movie studios.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called him “one of the Greats of All Time.”

The creation of CNN

Turner’s signature achievement was creating CNN, the first 24-hour, all-news television network in 1980. It was born of frustration — he often worked late after network newscasts had gone off the air, and was in bed by the time his local stations did their own news.

He took a chance by launching what some called the “chicken noodle network” in the early days of cable television, living in an apartment above its Atlanta office.

“I was going to have to hit hard and move incredibly fast and that’s what we did — move so fast that the (broadcast) networks wouldn’t have the time to respond, because they should have done this, not me,” Turner recalled in a 2016 interview with The American Academy of Achievement. “But they didn’t have the imagination.”

CNN’s breakthrough came during the Gulf War with Iraq in 1991. Most television journalists fled Baghdad. CNN stayed, capturing images of the war’s outbreak, with anti-aircraft tracers streaking across the sky and correspondents flinching from the concussion of bombs.

“His first love was family and he had five children. But very close behind, he’s always told me that his greatest achievement was CNN. But he had so many over the years,” Tom Johnson, CNN's president from 1990 to 2001, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Turner was promised a role in CNN after his company’s sale to Time Warner for $7.3 billion in stock but was gradually pushed out, much to his regret.

“I made a mistake,” he later said. “The mistake I made was losing control of the company.”

That same year — 1996 — saw the birth of Fox News Channel and arrival of a new dominant mogul in cable news, Rupert Murdoch. Turner once compared Murdoch to Adolf Hitler. The bitter rivals later reconciled over environmental concerns.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Wednesday called Turner a visionary and a trailblazer.

“Ted’s entrepreneurial spirit, creative ambition and willingness to take risks changed the media industry forever,” Zaslav said in a note to employees at Warner, CNN’s parent company, which is nearing a mega merger with Paramount.

Building TBS Superstation

Robert Edward Turner III was born Nov. 19, 1938, in Cincinnati. When he was 9, his family moved to Savannah, Georgia. After being expelled from Brown University for sneaking a female student into his room, Turner came to Atlanta to work for his father’s billboard company.

His ambitions at that point were broad, he later recalled: “I used to tell people I wanted to become the world’s greatest sailor, businessman and lover all at the same time.”

After his father’s 1963 suicide, Turner took over the company. In 1970, he bought an independent UHF station with a signal so weak it didn’t even cover Atlanta.

On Dec. 17, 1976, he began transmitting the station to cable systems across the country via satellite. It became TBS Superstation. “It was the start of something bigger than we ever imagined,” Turner said.

TBS’ collection of old movies and “The Andy Griffith Show” reruns was augmented by Turner’s acquisition of baseball’s Atlanta Braves, which slowly attracted fans across the nation and declared themselves “America’s team.”

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Turner transformed how fans experience sports.

In the 1980s, Turner went deeply into debt to buy MGM, another move greeted with skepticism.

But the acquisition gave his company a huge library of vintage movies that eventually launched the TNT and Turner Classic Movies networks. His devotion to older movies earned Turner a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. He was also criticized for adding color to classic movies like “Casablanca,” which he said he did to appeal to a younger audience.

TBS also acquired the Hanna-Barbera animation library, which led to the Cartoon Network.

“He sees the obvious before most people do,” Bob Wright, former president and CEO of NBC, told The New Yorker in 2001. “We all look at the same picture, but Ted sees what you don’t see. And after he sees it, it becomes obvious to everybody.”

Asked to share the secret to his success, Turner said: “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.”

Acquiring sports teams and land

Married three times, the mustachioed Turner wooed beautiful women with a roguish charm. He was married to Fonda from 1991 to 2001. She quit acting while married to Turner, but tired of his philandering and divorced him, although they remained friends.

“He was sexy. He was brilliant. He had 2 million acres by the time I left. It would have been easy to stay,” Fonda once said.

He struck up friendships with world leaders, bonding with Cuban leader Fidel Castro over hunting and arguments about politics.

Turner's sports empire included professional baseball, basketball and hockey teams in Atlanta, but he was best remembered at the helm of the Braves, turning the perennial doormats into World Series champions in 1995. Their former stadium, built for the 1996 Olympics, was named Ted Turner Field.

He acquired millions of acres in ranches complete with roaming buffalo. He spoke often of reviving the West’s bison herds, and in 2002 started a restaurant chain serving bison burgers, Ted’s Montana Grill.

Forbes estimated his net worth at $2.8 billion at the time of his death.

He had enough time, and money, to devote his energy to such lofty goals as promoting world peace and protecting the environment.

“See, my life is more an adventure than a quest to make money. Adventure is going out and doing something for the pure hell of it,” Turner once said. “You just want to see if you can do it, period. There’s no thought of gain other than your own satisfaction.”

‘The Mouth of the South’

Through the years, Turner’s antics occasionally overshadowed his business activities.

Fresh from skippering his boat “Courageous” to the 1977 America’s Cup title, a very inebriated Turner was captured by TV cameras stretched out on the floor at the victory celebration.

Turner managed to insult many with his shoot-from-the-lip style. An atheist since his only sister died of lupus at age 17, he called Christians “losers” and “Jesus freaks,” later apologizing.

He once suggested in a speech that unemployed Black people be used to haul mobile missiles with ropes “like the Egyptians building the pyramids.” He said he was joking after civil rights leaders demanded an apology. And he once told an audience in Berlin that “you Germans had a bad century.”

“You were on the wrong side of two wars. You were the losers. I know what that’s like. When I bought the Atlanta Braves, we couldn’t win, either. You guys can turn it around. You can start making the right choices. If the Atlanta Braves could do it, then Germany can do it,” Turner said, according to The New Yorker.

Dedication to humanitarian causes

Turner's 1997 pledge to give $100 million a year for 10 years to United Nations charities made him a leader in American philanthropy. He made good on his promise even as his fortune shrank after the AOL Time Warner merger, calling it the best hope for peace.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called Turner “a visionary whose conviction, generosity and audacious spirit left a lasting imprint on the United Nations and our world.”

Turner promoted a range of humanitarian causes. He joined former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn to start the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative.

“If I had to predict, the way things are going, I’d say the chances are about 50-50 that humanity will be extinct in 50 years,” Turner said in 2003. “Weapons of mass destruction, disease, I mean this global warming is scaring the living daylights out of me.”

___

Bauder, a longtime media writer who retired from The Associated Press in 2026, was the principal writer of this story. Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Former Associated Press correspondent Ryan Nakashima and AP writers R.J. Rico in Atlanta, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed.

According to an updated SAPD report, Sebastian Terrazas Rodriguez, 24, was taken into custody on Tuesday.

In its report, officers said Rodriguez got into an argument with an unidentified 49-year-old woman just before 9 a.m. on April 13 in the 8500 block of Running Horse, near Five Palms Drive.

The woman then pulled out her cellphone and began taking pictures of Rodriguez, which police said prompted Rodriguez to snatch her phone out of her hands.

Authorities said a 38-year-old man watched Rodriguez snatch the woman’s cellphone and told him to give the phone back.

As the 38-year-old witness began driving away from the scene a block away from the original argument, the report said Rodriguez pulled up in his vehicle next to the witness and opened fire before fleeing.

An SAPD officer said the witness suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm.

Upon arrival, officers began administering aid until emergency personnel made it to the scene. The witness was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

In a follow-up request, KSAT asked how officers tracked down and arrested Rodriguez. As of Wednesday afternoon, SAPD has yet to respond.

According to jail records, Rodriguez was officially booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on an aggravated assault for discharging a weapon from a motor vehicle charge — a first-degree felony — just before 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Court documents show a judge set his bond at $100,000. Rodriguez is expected to make his next court appearance on Aug. 3, records indicate.

SAPD said its investigation is ongoing.

More news coverage on KSAT:

• Man injured; suspect flees scene of suspected road rage shooting on Southwest Side, police say

“We have the lowest cattle inventory, the lowest number of cattle in 75 years right now,” said Gary Joiner, director of communications for the Texas Farm Bureau. “That’s because of drought, the cost of feeding those animals, and other economic pressures.”

With fewer cattle available, the supply chain is tightening, resulting in higher prices for consumers at the meat counter, and relief may not come quickly.

“Economists are saying it will probably be another year or two before that cattle inventory becomes more normal,” Joiner said.

Milk prices are also rising, and transportation costs — especially fuel — are playing a significant role in driving up prices.

“The transportation cost of actually hauling milk from the farm to the processor and to the retail outlet is why milk prices are higher,” Joiner explained. “Diesel accounts for about 92% of the milk that is transported in this country, which is done by trucks.”

Despite rising prices at the store, farmers themselves are seeing only a small share of the profits. Producers receive roughly six cents of every dollar spent on food, according to the Texas Farm Bureau.

That means while shoppers are paying more at checkout, the increase is largely absorbed by other parts of the supply chain — not the farmers who produce the food.

Read also:

• San Antonio launches free property tax workshops to help homeowners
• Gas prices rise above $4 in San Antonio, but some stations offer relief

Seung Ho Han, 69, has also been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following Tuesday’s shootings in the Koreatown neighborhood of Carrollton, police said.

Police said Han acknowledged he was the shooter in an interview with detectives and said he was angry at the people he shot because of financial disagreements over their business dealings. They declined to release the names of the victims and said they were still investigating the motive.

Carrollton, with about 130,000 people, is 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Dallas. More than 4,000 residents are of Korean descent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Han was being held Wednesday in Denton County Jail. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.

The first shooting happened just before 10 a.m. Tuesday at a shopping center, police said. When police arrived, they found four adults who had been shot, including a man who died. While they were investigating, another shooting was reported at an apartment complex roughly 4 miles (6 kilometers) away. Responding officers found a dead man inside one of the apartments.

Police said Wednesday that the three injured people were hospitalized in stable condition.

Investigators determined that Han carried out both of the shootings, police said. He was arrested at a nearby grocery store after a short chase on foot.

The attack occurred as Iran and the U.S. are officially in a ceasefire and as the two countries seemed to be approaching an agreement to end the war. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached that includes opening the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Hours after he threatened to bomb Iran into submission, Trump said they want to make a deal and “we’ll see if we get there.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared before a House committee for a closed-door interview over his contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Lutnick has given contradictory statements about his relationship with Epstein but says he has done nothing wrong.

So far, lawmakers emerged from the private interview with vastly different assessments of Lutnick’s answers. The committee chairman, GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said Lutnick had been “forthcoming” in describing limited interactions with Epstein.

Democrats accused Lutnick of lying and evading their questions.

The Latest:

Justice Department sues again over Colorado gun laws

The Trump administration has sued Colorado over a statewide ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines that the state adopted after a 2012 mass shooting at a movie theater.

The lawsuit followed one the Justice Department filed Tuesday against Denver and its police department that sought to strike down an assault weapons ban in place in the city since 1989.

In both cases the administration asserts that many firearms, including AR-15-style rifles, that have large-capacity magazines are common in the U.S. They are “ordinary semiautomatic rifles” used for lawful purposes, “including but not limited to self-defense,” attorneys for the Justice Department wrote.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has called guns with large-capacity magazines a major threat to public safety and said the state’s ban is reasonable.

Lutnick is departing Capitol Hill

The commerce secretary has left the room where he was being interviewed by the House Oversight Committee on his previous contacts with Jeffrey Epstein.

The interview lasted just over four hours, but that’s relatively short by the standards of the committee. Lawmakers have kept some interviewees for hours as they try to wear them down with relentless questions.

So far, lawmakers emerged from the private interview with vastly different assessments of Lutnick’s answers. The committee chairman, GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said Lutnick had been “forthcoming” in describing limited interactions with Epstein.

Democrats accused Lutnick of lying and evading their questions.

Lutnick interview is not being recorded on video

The commerce secretary’s interview with lawmakers will be released via transcript, but not video. The committee has video recorded depositions for others, including former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state.

Democrats slammed that decision and said it allowed Lutnick to escape the same level of scrutiny that has been applied to others.

But the committee’s Republican chair. Rep. James Comer countered that it makes the committee’s investigation easier when subjects like Lutnick voluntarily sit down for an interview, rather than resist the committee’s requests and potential subpoenas.

“Nobody wants to be videoed. If you come in, you work with us, then you know, you might not have to be videoed,” he said.

Trump says deal with Iran is ‘very possible’

Hours after he threatened to bomb Iran into submission, Trump said they want to make a deal and “we’ll see if we get there.”

“We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after he summoned them to see the UFC fighters he’d been meeting with.

“This is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” the president said.

Israeli strikes kill five across Gaza, hospitals say

Five Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli strikes across Gaza on Wednesday, including incidents near the so-called “Yellow Line,” a boundary dividing Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of the enclave, local health officials said.

One person was killed in Khan Younis when a strike hit a car, according to Nasser Hospital. In Gaza City, three people, including a 16-year-old, were killed earlier in the day when a strike hit an area where residents had been setting up tents, Al Ahli Hospital said. A fifth fatality was reported later in Gaza City after a strike hit a street about 200 meters from the Yellow Line, the same hospital added.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

At Al-Ahli hospital, relatives wept over bodies laid out on hospital beds, some clinging to each other in grief as they said their final goodbyes.

At the strike site in Khan Younis, smoke billowed as people ran in panic.

The deaths come amid a fragile ceasefire that has largely reduced heavy fighting but has not stopped near-daily Israeli fire. Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fire on Palestinians near military- held zones, killing at least 837 Palestinians, including at least 226 children and 179 women, according to Gaza health officials.

Democrats accuse Lutnick of evading their questions about contact with Epstein

Democratic lawmakers who are questioning Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick behind closed doors emerged from the room saying that Lutnick is refusing to acknowledge that he made misleading statements in the past about his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein.

“He was evasive, nervous. He was dishonest,” said Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia. “He would not admit to lying, which he clearly did.”

The lawmakers said that the public should be able to observe Lutnick’s demeanor as he was answering questions, but the Republican-controlled committee is not video recording the interview.

The Republican committee chair, Rep. James Comer, said that the lack of video kept with the committee’s practice for voluntary interviews and that a transcription of the interview will be released later.

Iran’s foreign ministry says Tehran is still examining the latest US ceasefire proposal

The ministry’s spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state media Wednesday that Iran had already “strongly rejected” proposals that the Axios news outlet reported the US had put forward for the agreement with Iran.

Axios had reported earlier that the deal included Iran agreeing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment.

Israel strikes Beirut suburbs for first time since ceasefire was announced

Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs Wednesday for the first time since a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group was announced on April 17.

Fighting has continued since then in southern Lebanon.

The last attacks in Beirut were before that, on April 8, when a series of massive Israeli strikes, including in central Beirut, killed more than 350 people.

A statement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday’s strike, which came without warning, targeted a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force. Hezbollah did not immediately comment.

US military fires on Iranian-flagged oil tanker in Gulf of Oman

An American fighter jet shot out the rudder of an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday as it tried to breach the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports, the American military said in a social media post.

The attack occurred as Iran and the U.S. are officially in a ceasefire and as the two countries appear to be moving closer to an initial agreement to end the war. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to pressure Tehran with threats of a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached.

American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the ship it was violating the blockade, U.S. Central Command said in its post.

Trump says question is whether Iran can make a deal ‘that’s satisfactory to us’

The president insisted that Iranian officials want an agreement to end the war, suggesting as he did previously over social media that U.S. actions could ultimately force a settlement.

“We’re dealing with people that want to make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” Trump said at a Mother’s Day lunch at the White House.

The president added: “And if they don’t agree, they’ll end up agreeing shortly thereafter.”

Trump called the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz a “wall of steel,” as both countries jockey to use the stoppage in oil and natural gas shipments as a way to pressure the other side.

AP source: Office of Virginia Senate leader searched by FBI as part of corruption probe

The FBI searched the Virginia state Senate leader’s office on Wednesday as part of a corruption investigation, a person familiar with the matter said.

The search at Virginia Sen. L. Louise Lucas’s district office in Portsmouth comes after the Democrat helped lead the state’s recent redistricting effort.

The FBI said only that it was conducting a court-authorized search warrant in Portsmouth. The person who confirmed the FBI’s search was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

A message seeking comment was left on a cellphone for Lucas.

Amid a national, state-by-state partisan redistricting fight, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment on April 21 authorizing new U.S. House districts. Backed by Democrats, the plan could help the party win up to four additional seats.

Lucas has been a vocal leader of the effort.

The state Supreme Court let the referendum proceed but has yet to rule whether the effort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a lower court judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated procedural requirements.

—By Eric Tucker and Jennifer Peltz

UAE urges UN to take action against Iran if it keeps blocking shipping and attacking neighbors

Mohamed Abushahab, the United Arab Emirates’ U.N. ambassador, said the Security Council must “compel Iran’s compliance” with its March resolution demanding that Tehran stop attacking its Gulf neighbors and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He told reporters Wednesday that Iran attacked the UAE on May 4 -- while a ceasefire is in place -- with 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones which resulted in a fire on critical energy infrastructure in the Fujairah oil industry zone.

The United States and its Gulf allies including the UAE have circulated a new Security Council resolution threatening Iran with sanctions or other measures if it doesn’t stop attacks and open the critically important strait, where about 20% of the world’s crude oil had transited.

The proposed resolution was drafted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter which can be enforced militarily. A watered-down resolution aimed at opening the Strait of Hormuz, which was stripped of Chapter 7 language, was vetoed by Russia and China hours before Washington and Tehran announced a temporary ceasefire in early April.

The UAE’s Abushahab was asked whether he thought Russia and China would agree to the new draft under Chapter 7. “Not only is it possible, but it’s necessary,” he replied.

GOP chair of oversight panel says Lutnick was not ‘truthful’ about Epstein ties

Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, told reporters as he entered the closed-door interview that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had in the past not been “100% truthful” about whether he had ever visited Epstein’s infamous private island.

Lutnick said on a podcast last year that he had decided to “never be in the room” with Epstein following a 2005 tour of Epstein’s home that disturbed Lutnick and his wife. But the release of case files on Epstein showed that Lutnick had kept in contact with Epstein and met up with him a couple of times in 2011 and 2012.

Under questioning from Democrats during an unrelated hearing earlier this year, Lutnick said he had visited Epstein’s private island with his family in 2012 for lunch.

AP-NORC poll: Many Americans have conflicting views on birthright citizenship

This poll comes as the Supreme Court weighs President Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship.

The AP-NORC poll finds about two-thirds of U.S. adults say automatic citizenship should be granted to all children born in the country. Most Democrats and independents back that view, but Republicans are more doubtful: just 44% support birthright citizenship.

The poll also shows that some people are conflicted, saying in general that they support birthright citizenship but also that they oppose it in some specific circumstances.

For instance, the poll found about three-quarters of U.S. adults say they support automatic citizenship for children born to parents who are in the country legally on work visas, while only about half support it for those born to parents who are in the country illegally.

Trump’s commerce secretary arrives for interview in congressional Epstein investigation

Howard Lutnick is answering questions from House lawmakers today about his relationship with his former neighbor, Jeffrey Epstein.

The commerce secretary is the highest-ranking official in the Trump administration, besides Trump himself, to appear in the Epstein case files.

Lutnick has said he barely knew Epstein and has welcomed the closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, but his story on his interactions with Epstein has changed. He met with Epstein a couple times and exchanged emails with the financier, even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.

French navy moving to support shipping through the strait

France’s aircraft carrier strike group is moving south of the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea in preparation for a potential future mission as part of a French-British plan for the Strait of Hormuz, a senior French military spokesman told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The repositioning of the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle puts France’s only carrier closer to the Persian Gulf chokepoint where Iran has effectively halted commercial traffic since early March. The French effort is distinct from the U.S. “Project Freedom” mission launched Sunday and paused by Trump on Tuesday evening.

“Going south of Suez is new for us,” said Col. Guillaume Vernet, spokesman for the French armed forces chief of staff.

The wider Hormuz coalition — drawn up by France, Britain and more than 50 nations — will not begin operating until the threat to shipping eases and the maritime industry is reassured enough to use the strait, Vernet said, adding that any operation would also require the agreement of neighboring countries.

An attack damaged a French-operated cargo ship and injured its crew, company says

A cargo container ship operated by the CMA CGM Group was damaged when it came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the French shipping company said Wednesday.

Multiple crew members were injured in the attack on the CMA CGM San Antonio, the company said without providing details. The injured crew were taken off the ship and are receiving medical treatment.

Trump is going to Beijing. Iran’s foreign minister got there ahead of him

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit comes ahead of Trump’s planned high-profile summit on May 14 and 15 with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first such trip by a U.S. president since Trump visited in 2017.

In a televised interview Wednesday with Iran’s state media from Beijing, Araghchi said his discussions with Chinese officials included the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions imposed on Tehran. And he said Iran has attained “an elevated international standing,” having proven its capabilities and strength.

China’s Foreign Ministry said after the meeting that it values Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons while affirming its “legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had expressed hope on Tuesday Beijing would reiterate the need for Iran to release its chokehold on the strait, its main source of leverage, as Trump demands a major rollback of its disputed nuclear program.

Trump’s Indiana wins show his power over GOP with more primaries and redistricting debates ahead

Five months ago, Trump was stinging from a political defeat as Republican state senators defied him on redistricting in Indiana. Now he has proved he can still punish wayward party members after the slate of challengers he endorsed defeated almost every one of those lawmakers.

The results will likely bolster Trump’s confidence heading into upcoming Republican primaries where he wants more incumbents ousted, including Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Indiana’s primary results also ratchet up pressure on Republican lawmakers in other states to move aggressively to redraw congressional district boundaries in time for the November elections.

▶ Read more

Shipper either loses millions or risks sanctions for paying Iranians for safe passage

Hamburg-based shipping company Hapag-Lloyd says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is costing it around $60 million a week, in particular in costs for fuel and insurance, as it remains too risky to permit its ships to try getting through.

Insurance costs have shot up due to the risk of attack from Iranian drones and small boats. Alternate routes to safe harbors or overland are “limited in capacity and cannot completely replace the regular maritime routes through the region,” a company statement said.

The number of ships passing the strait has dwindled to a trickle. Iran has demanded that vessels go through a vetting process run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp that involves passing to the north near the Iranian cost, submitting information on crew and cargo, and in some cases paying. But paying the IRGC risks running afoul of sanctions from the US and the EU, which have designated it a terrorist organization.

Shipping industry and oil traders see no quick return to normal

Oil prices and shipping are unlikely to return to normal until it’s clear the risk of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have receded, cautions Kaho Yu, head of energy and resources resources at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

“Even with diplomatic engagement continuing, energy markets are unlikely to return quickly to pre-crisis assumptions,” he said. “Refiners, shippers, and commodity traders will remain cautious until there is clearer evidence that Hormuz disruptions will not re-escalate.”

Despite the Iran-China meeting’s emphasis on de-escalation, “Hormuz remains the real metric that will be watched,” he added. “Tanker traffic and energy flows over the coming weeks and months are likely to matter more than diplomatic language in assessing whether Beijing can translate influence with Tehran into practical stability.”

Poll: Most believe the US is no longer a great place for immigrants

About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say the United States is no longer a great place for immigrants, according to the AP-NORC poll.

Roughly 3 in 10 say the U.S. is a great place for immigrants, while about 1 in 10 say it never was. The belief that America is no longer great for immigrants is more common among Democrats and independents.

Nick Grivas, a 40-year-old Democrat from Massachusetts, said he worries that federal immigration policies could discourage new arrivals from investing in their communities, especially if they don’t believe they will be allowed to remain.

“You’re less willing to commit to the project if you don’t think that you’re gonna be able to stay,” he said.

White House says it believes an agreement with Iran is near

The White House believes it is nearing an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum to end the war, according to reporting by Axios.

There is not an agreement yet, but the provisions include a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, a lifting of U.S. sanctions and the distribution of frozen Iranian funds and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for ships.

The White House did not respond to questions about the possible agreement.

Trump threatens Iran with bombing if it doesn’t reopen Strait of Hormuz

Trump posted on social media that the war with Iran could soon end and oil and natural gas shipments could restart. But that all depends on Iran accepting a reported agreement that the U.S. president did not detail.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” Trump said.

Trump said that it was “perhaps a big assumption” that Iran would agree to the terms being offered by the United States.

“The goal is to protect Brazil’s population, prioritize the country and maintain constructive dialogue,” Durigan told state broadcaster EBC. “Expectations for the trip are very positive.”

The encounter at the White House follows a crisis in bilateral relations last year, after the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and tied the measure to the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for his involvement in a coup plot.

Lula sharply defended Brazil's sovereignty and Trump later loosened tariffs on Brazil as part of his effort to lower consumer costs for Americans.

Trump and Lula started mending fences at the United Nations General Assembly in September, which was followed by their first private meeting in Malaysia in October and subsequent phone conversations.

The Brazilian government’s handling of the 50% tariff likely raised the country's leverage with the Trump administration, said Ana Garcia, an international relations professor at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

“The Trump administration likely sees Brazil as a partner that must be taken somewhat seriously, but will continue to pressure it to make concessions,” Garcia said.

An ongoing point of contention between the two governments is the Trump administration's reported consideration of designating Brazil’s largest criminal factions — Red Command, or CV, and the First Capital Command, or PCC — foreign terrorist organizations.

The designations would give the U.S. more power “to act as a political or economic actor in Brazil,” said Leonardo Paz Neves, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think-tank and university. “It’s a defensive issue for Brazil that doesn’t serve Brazil’s interests at all.”

A Brazilian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, said that both sides appeared to be committed to deepening cooperation on the fight against organized crime rather than opting for unilateral actions.

Another key item likely to be on the meeting’s agenda is access to Brazil’s rare earth deposits. The South American country has the world’s second-largest reserves of rare earth minerals, used in a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and jet engines.

Durigan on Wednesday again reiterated Brazil’s position that the nation does not want to be simply a raw material exporter.

“Countries in the global north ... are thirsty for this raw material.” Durigan said. But “while foreign investment is welcome, we want industrial development within Brazil: creating jobs in partnership with our universities.”

The trip to the U.S. is taking place in a difficult domestic scenario for Lula, who last week suffered two blows dealt by Congress. The lower house overrode his veto on a law seeking to reduce Bolsonaro’s time in prison, while the Senate rejected his nomination to the Supreme Court — a first in more than 100 years.

The 80-year-old leader will seek a fourth, nonconsecutive term in the October elections. Polls currently show him neck to neck with Bolsonaro’s Senator son, Flávio.

Lula departed for Washington D.C. early afternoon local time Wednesday, and is expected to arrive in the evening.

___

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

Jaylan A. Davis was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in the wake of Sunday night's shooting, which erupted after an apparent argument broke out amid a large crowd gathered at Arcadia Lake in the north Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond, its police chief said.

Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger announced the arrest at a news conference and said the initial charge against Davis was in the process of being upgraded to felony murder following the death of an 18-year-old woman who was shot. Police identified the woman as Avianna Smith-Gray.

Davis was being held in the Edmond jail on a $1 million bond. He was listed in jail records as an Oklahoma City resident.

There was no lawyer listed for Davis in court documents, and the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office said Davis would not be assigned an attorney until the upgraded charges have been filed.

Detectives believe the incident began with an argument between two women attending the gathering and escalated into an altercation between rival gang members, the police chief said. Younger also said police think there is at least one more suspect.

In addition to the 18-year-old woman killed, authorities said, others suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds as dozens of shots were fired at the popular boating, fishing and swimming lake some 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of downtown Oklahoma City.

Six of the victims are juveniles, some as young as 15, Younger said.

Davis turned himself in Wednesday morning after police produced an arrest warrant, the chief said.

“We’re trying to find justice for 23 people that were shot, one that’s deceased and even the people that were involved. I think it’s important not to demonize or separate the parties here,” Younger said.

He added that multiple people discharged weapons and that more than 80 rounds were fired.

The woman who died, Smith-Gray, was a high school senior who was looking forward to walking the stage at her upcoming graduation, her family said on a fundraising page for her funeral expenses. The family said she loved to dance, sing, do hair and much more. Her sisters described her as a loving, smart person who was good with kids and “so full of life.”

The party had been promoted across social media and drew a large crowd of mostly young adults from around the Oklahoma City area to a picnic pavilion beside the lake. The shooting occurred just as officers were responding to a noise complaint about the party, police said.

Authorities noted that organizers hadn't sought the necessary reservations for such an event.

McLaughlin, the wife of San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin, has built a social media following by documenting her family’s experiences in the Alamo City since their move last year.

“We love it here. The community is just incredible,” she said. “Everyone’s so welcoming, so warm. It just feels like family every time I meet somebody new.”

The McLaughlins moved to San Antonio last February after Jordan McLaughlin was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Spurs. Around the same time, the couple had just become first-time parents — a transition that has shaped much of Anissa McLaughlin’s content.

Through her videos, she shares an inside look at family life, motherhood and the realities of being part of an NBA family, while also highlighting local small businesses.

“I originally started to humanize us, humanize the guys, our families,” she said. “He comes home from work, does dishes, changes diapers and gets in dad mode just like any other dad. I feel like that has helped bridge a gap between us and fans.”

Her content ranges from postpartum experiences to Spurs-related moments and community interactions.

“Whether it’s my weight loss journey postpartum or just figuring out motherhood, it’s bringing a lot of people together,” Anissa McLaughlin said. “Community is important wherever you are.”

As the Spurs push through the playoffs, McLaughlin said her family is enjoying both the excitement on the court and the traditions off it — calling Spurs fans “top tier.”

Even extended family members have joined in on the experience. Anissa McLaughlin said her grandmother has visited and even been recognized by people who follow along online.

While the family’s long-term future in San Antonio remains uncertain, McLaughlin said the city has already begun to feel like home.

“We don’t know how long we’ll be in San Antonio, but we love it so much,” she said. “We’re even thinking of making this our home base.”

More Spurs coverage on KSAT:

• 95-year-old Spurs superfan goes viral as playoff excitement builds in San Antonio
• How to watch the Spurs in the NBA playoffs: Streaming options, watch parties and more
• Where do you go to cheer on the Spurs? Let us know on KSAT Connect!

“That's not a figure of speech, sadly,” the country star told The Associated Press. “I was really, really badly hurt, and it was a bad enough injury that there was a chance that I wouldn’t have been able to perform ever again.”

It was 2021. She was riding in Montana, and fell, landing on her head. The accident — so severe that she ended up in an emergency room — resulted in a concussion and stitches to her scalp. At the time, she couldn't walk without assistance.

In the years since, McBryde thought about all of the songs she and her band rip through on stage but hadn't yet committed to record. “What if I keep letting them not be on records? What if something had happened and now somebody never hears “Water in the River”? Somebody never hears “Rattlesnake Preacher.” Somebody never hears “Creosote” because I let myself be discouraged in this way or that way from putting those on the record?”

And so “Wild” — her new album out Friday, produced by John Osborne and recorded with her live band Deadhorse — became their home.

Heading into the “Wild”

The live tracks that gave birth to “Wild” are barn burners, a rowdy good time. So, McBryde knew she needed to find a way to strike some balance. She pursued divination practices like reading runes, going to a tarot reader, doing anything and everything she could to have her fifth album reveal itself to her. The answer was in the experimentation, a “playful, curious” writing process with her band.

“The more we looked at the songs that we had felt like playing — and doing a good job of delivering — (we found they) were true stories about my life,” she recognized. “It's terrifying to be known.”

But it's also cathartic — as is the realization that “whatever it was that I was going through, I’m not unique. There’s nothing I’ve been through that most of us haven’t been through or are going to go through,” McBryde explains. “It’s not about me, it’s about us.”

Getting deep

McBryde's last album, 2023's “The Devil I Know,” had a rebellious streak to it — as does “Wild” and the bulk of her discography. When critics said something “was too rock, we turned that up. They said something that was too country, then we put a toothpick in its mouth. And I think by the time we got to ‘Wild,’ I didn’t care anymore. It was that level of defiance,” she said. “It's none of my business. My job is to make sure these songs get heard.”

She calls this album her most rock ‘n’ roll — sonically, like what is found on the first four tracks — and emotionally, embodying her fiery spirit on the cutting treatise on domesticity, “Lines in the Carpet,” the heartfelt mission statement of the title track and everywhere in-between.

“Does the wild call out to you from a distance?” she starts her first chorus on “Wild.” Then, the revelation: “Do you miss the fire and the freedom? / When there wasn’t anything keeping / You from being wild.”

“There are people out there with natural ability and there are people that dedicate every waking hour to honing their craft. Ashley is both,” Osborne said in a press statement. “Never settling. Always reaching. The perfect combination of vulnerable and fearless.”

That combination is also evident on the songs that appear to detail her struggles with addiction. McBryde got sober in 2022, the specter of past indiscretions heard on the beery ballad “Bottle Tells Me So” and the gut-wrenching “Behind Bars.”

“I was terrified that I was gonna suck,” she says about songwriting after getting sober. “It’s not like I’d get hammered to write a song, but I would have drinks while writing songs.” And maybe a couple did suck, she guesses, “because they were just from such angry or unsatisfied places.” But she's worked on herself, and now, “these songs are just grown. And I'm glad. I got out of my way.”

It's good advice for anyone, and a central theme of the album. She wants “Wild” to shake something loose, to inspire her listeners to take a chance on themselves.

“Let’s say that someone doesn’t get to be what they wanted to be when they grow up. I will shoulder that for you,” McBryde says.

She wants to access that dreamer. “I want that to wake up in you when you hear this record,” she says.

Call it catharsis, call it enthusiasm, call it whatever you want. McBryde has her own word for it: “It's a recognition.”

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the last name of the producer of McBryde's new album. He is John Osborne, not Osbourne.

Texas Tech leaders told faculty not to widely share the chancellor’s memo restricting graduate work related to sexual orientation or gender identity, a move some experts say could cost prospective graduate students time and money.

Instead, an April 17 email from Mark Sheridan, Texas Tech’s vice provost for graduate and postdoctoral affairs and dean of the Graduate School, directed them to notify certain prospective and newly admitted graduate students if their stated interests might conflict with the restrictions.

Graduate students and higher education experts say that approach could leave students learning too late that Texas Tech will not allow the work they want to pursue.

Asked why university officials aren’t notifying all prospective graduate students about the restrictions, Allison Hirth, a Texas Tech spokesperson, said “program-specific advising is the most effective way” to provide students with relevant and accurate information about their intended field of study.

“This guidance is part of that broader effort to support transparency and student success,” said Hirth, the university’s associate vice president of marketing and communications.

On April 9, Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton issued a memo that prohibited future graduate student theses, dissertations and other degree-culminating research or projects from centering on sexual orientation or gender identity. Current students can continue that work temporarily, according to his memo.

Sheridan, who did not respond to a request for comment, then sent an email to department chairs and other academic leaders, instructing them not to post or distribute Creighton’s memo. Instead, he wrote communication with prospective and newly admitted graduate students “must be targeted,” according to a copy of the email shared with The Texas Tribune

Sheridan instructed them to ask those students about their research or creative interests using specific messaging.

The form letters detail how work centered on sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited at Texas Tech.

Students are urged to discuss their proposed interests “as soon as possible” with their designated faculty contact.

Students committed to such studies are told that they “may want to explore programs elsewhere that can better support your interests and goals,” according to the messaging.

Hirth said the university’s intent is to ensure students are well-informed and can make decisions that align with their educational and professional goals.

“Academic advising conversations are individualized and routinely address program requirements, available faculty mentorship and any constraints that may affect a student’s proposed course of study,” Hirth said in a statement.

Destiny Dunn is graduating this semester with a master’s degree from Texas Tech’s School of Theatre and Dance. She chose the university because its program combined theatre performance with teaching.

Had the restrictions been in place when she was seeking a program, Dunn said, she would not have enrolled.

When Dunn applied in 2023, she did not know what her final project would be. She knew only that students had an option to research, write and perform a one-person play. Those often draw from students’ lives and experiences, she said.

That’s why Texas Tech should make clear in offer letters and across department websites what prospective graduate students can and cannot research before they enroll, said Stacy Hartman, a program officer for higher education initiatives at the American Council of Learned Societies.

Hartman said she is concerned that only some students are being told about the restrictions when those limits could affect anyone doing research in the humanities and social sciences. It is not reasonable to expect prospective students to know before enrolling whether their eventual work will touch on sexual orientation or gender identity, she said.

“Good research is a process of asking a series of questions, and sometimes that series of questions takes you to a place that you don’t expect,” Hartman said.

Graduate students cannot switch schools as easily as undergraduates, she said. Their progress is often tied to a specific adviser, department, funding package and thesis or dissertation topic.

Students who learn too late that their research is barred could have few good options, she said.

They may have to apply to a program at another school and risk losing credits, especially if they are already two or three years into a degree. Or they may have to stay and pick a different topic. A dissertation must sustain years of work and may become the foundation for a scholar’s first book, so changing topics could delay graduation.

“It’s not like just picking a different topic for a term paper,” Hartman said.

Paula Krebs, executive director of the Modern Language Association, said in a statement that limits on graduate research and classroom discussion are “very unusual.” It would be unfair for any graduate program to admit students “under false pretenses,” she added.

Creighton’s memo went beyond graduate research.

It directed the system’s universities to identify academic programs centered on sexual orientation and gender identity by June 15, then freeze admissions to those programs and phase them out.

Texas Tech officials are committed to supporting strong academics and scholarship in various disciplines, wrote Hirth in her statement, but as a public institution, “the university is also required to comply with state law and related guidance that affect certain areas of instruction and research.”

Before he became the chancellor, Creighton was a Republican state senator who authored Texas’ 2023 ban on diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs in higher education. That law carved out academic course instruction, scholarly research and creative work from its restrictions. Texas Tech officials have cited broader state and federal guidance related to gender identity as part of the legal landscape they must navigate.

Texas Tech has a women’s and gender studies undergraduate minor and graduate certificate and a conference related to those studies each spring. This year’s conference went on as scheduled April 23, although the program was more sparse and Provost Ron Hendrick’s remarks, recorded by faculty members who attended and shared with the Tribune, were more somber.

In the recording, Hendrick thanked attendees and praised the conference for bringing “people together across disciplines and across perspectives” in ways that “reflected the very best of Texas Tech University.”

“We need to acknowledge, though, that this year is different,” Hendrick said. “The work as we’ve known it won’t be the same.”

Student organizers are using Creighton’s memo to draw people to Thursday’s regents meeting in Lubbock. Students Engaged in Advancing Texas and Raiders Against Censorship plan to stage a mock funeral for academic freedom, which is the ability of scholars to teach and research freely.

Dunn’s one-person play focused on water disparities in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. But two of the eight students in her cohort changed the subjects of their plays amid uncertainty over Texas Tech’s evolving restrictions, she said.

Although Dunn did not have to change her own project, she said she had nightmares about being recorded and reported by students while teaching a theater appreciation class this semester.

Conservative activist groups have published undercover recordings of college and university employees across the state discussing how they have responded to Texas’ DEI ban.

Dunn said it was difficult to discuss theater history without touching on gender and censorship and drawing parallels to what is happening at Texas Tech and nationally.

Asked whether she would have chosen Texas Tech if the restrictions had been in place and clearly communicated when she applied, Dunn said no.

“In no way would I have done that because it’s been psychologically damaging,” she said.

Josh Lile is finishing his first year in a doctoral program in Texas Tech’s College of Education. The restrictions may not directly affect him since he is already enrolled, but they have made him question whether to continue.

Lile chose Texas Tech because he could pursue his PhD online while raising his children and teaching high school math in San Antonio. He said he has already paid between $6,000 and $7,000 out of pocket and would lose that money if he left.

When he applied, Lile knew he wanted to study teacher development, but he did not have a fully formed dissertation topic.

“When you come in, you don’t have a dissertation ready to go or anything,” Lile said. “You don’t have the idea fully fleshed out.”

If Texas Tech’s goal is transparency, prospective students should be told about the restrictions before they commit, Lile said.

“Why wouldn’t you?” he said. “If you’re this proud of this, then own it.”

_The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage._

Disclosure: Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University System have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was shot multiple times during Monday’s confrontation and was in the back of an ambulance on his way to a hospital when he said, “'F—k the White House' and “Kill me, kill me, kill me,'” a Secret Service agent said in an affidavit.

The sworn statement does not specify whether investigators believe Marx had a particular target.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement that her office "will pursue the most serious charges available against anyone who brings gun violence to our streets, particularly when that violence unfolds steps from the seat of our government and the path of the Vice President of the United States.”

Marx was walking along the path of Vance's motorcade when officers spotted him near the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue. The officers were responding to a Secret Service agent's report that Marx was seen near the White House complex with a firearm concealed on the right side of his body, the affidavit says.

Marx pulled a firearm from his waistband as he ran away from Secret Service officers and fired at one of them, but a bystander behind the officer was shot in the leg, the affidavit says. Officers returned fire and struck Marx in his abdomen, a hand and his left arm, according to the filing. It says Marx spit at officers as they provided him with aid after the shooting.

The teenage bystander was not seriously injured and has been released from a hospital, ABC News reported. ABC was first to report what the suspect allegedly said after the shooting.

Marx was charged in a complaint with assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm during a violent crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The shooting came just over a week after a California man tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while armed with guns and knives. Cole Tomas Allen has been charged in that incident with attempting to assassinate the president and firing a gun at a Secret Service officer.

Around the time of Monday's shooting, President Donald Trump was holding a small business event at the White House, which was briefly locked down as authorities investigated.

Online court records did not immediately list the name of a lawyer representing Marx.

Marx has used aliases, including Michael Patrick and Michael Zavici, according to the affidavit. It says Marx had a 2011 drug trafficking conviction in Florida that made it illegal for him to possess a firearm.

Officers responded to the shooting just before 11:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Croesus Avenue, which is not far from Vance Jackson Road.

According to a preliminary report, the gunman forced entry into the home and shot two women and one man before he shot himself.

Manuel Flores, 64, Adela Flores, 60, and the suspect, Carlos Rodriguez Alcorta, were pronounced dead at the scene, SAPD said.

A 24-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, according to the report.

Another woman, 33, and a child, 4, were inside the home at the time of the shooting, but police said they escaped the home uninjured.

SAPD said its investigation is ongoing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, call 988 or text TALK to 741-741.

Anyone can also reach out to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) at 210-223-7233 (SAFE) or 800-316-9241 and text NAMI to 741-741.

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Protesters marched up to Tennessee's Capitol on Tuesday as a special legislative session began that could carve up a majority-Black district in Memphis. In Alabama, meanwhile, Republican lawmakers pressed ahead with a plan that could upend the state's congressional primaries. And Republican leaders in South Carolina announced Tuesday that would try to eliminate a House district held by a longtime Black Democratic lawmaker.

Louisiana lawmakers also are making plans for new U.S. House districts after the Supreme Court last week struck down the state's current map. The high court’s ruling said Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a second Black-majority House district as it attempted to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The ruling significantly altered a decades-old understanding of the law, giving Republicans in various states grounds to try to eliminate majority-Black districts that have elected Democrats.

It could lessen congressional representation for Black Americans and other minorities, reversing decades of gains in minority voting rights.

President Donald Trump has been encouraging more states to join in redistricting as Republicans seek to hold on to their narrow House majority in this year’s elections.

Eight states already have adopted new U.S. districts ahead of the midterms. From that, Republicans think they could gain as many as 13 seats in five states, while Democrats think they could gain up to 10 seats from new districts in three other states. But some of the new districts could be competitive in November, meaning the parties may not get all they sought.

The newly proposed redistricting in Southern states could add to the Republicans’ tally.

South Carolina to test its will for redistricting

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn has represented South Carolina's 6th Congressional District since it was redrawn to favor minority voters in 1992. He's running for an 18th term. But that could get harder if Republicans redraw his district.

Leaders in the state House and Senate said a redistricting effort needs to start with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. The issue could come up as soon as Wednesday. But if only a few Republicans aren’t on board, it can’t succeed.

“We don’t know if we have the votes in the House,” Republican Speaker Murrell Smith said.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey has warned that redistricting could backfire because of thin political margins, resulting in a second Democrat in the U.S. House. Massey told reporters Tuesday that he had a cordial conversation with Trump about redistricting, each laying out their concerns.

The state’s primaries are June 9 and early voting starts in three weeks.

Tennessee plan targets Memphis district

Republican Gov. Bill Lee called Tennessee lawmakers into a special session to consider a plan urged by Trump that could break up the state’s lone Democratic-held U.S. House district, centered on the majority-Black city of Memphis. Republican lawmakers said little about the plan Tuesday.

As the Senate began work, shouts of “shame, shame, shame” could be heard inside the chamber from protesters gathered in the hallways. On the chamber floor, Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Black Democrat from Memphis, called the redistricting “an act of hate.”

At a rally earlier Tuesday, state Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, who is running for Congress, denounced the Republican plan as a “racist redistricting.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who is white, said the Memphis-based district he represents predates the Voting Rights Act.

“Memphis has been a majority black district historically, because that is where the population is,” he said. “It’s a district that is compact, and it has community purpose.”

Martin Luther King III sent a letter to Tennessee legislative leaders expressing “grave concern” about the plan to divide Memphis’ congressional representation.

“This decision undermines the work that my father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., carried out to help secure passage of the Voting Rights Act,” he wrote, noting that his father was assassinated in Memphis.

The candidate qualifying period in Tennessee ended in March, and the primary election is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Alabama looks at setting a new primary

Alabama legislative committees swiftly advanced legislation Tuesday that would allow a special congressional primary, if the Supreme Court clears the way for the state to change its U.S. House districts.

In light of the court's ruling on Louisiana's districts, Alabama officials have asked the high court to set aside a judicial order to use a U.S. House map that includes two districts with a substantial number of Black voters and instead let the state revert to a map passed in 2023 by Republican lawmakers. That map could help the GOP win at least one of those two seats currently held by Democrats.

Alabama's primaries are scheduled for May 19. If the Supreme Court grants the state's request after or too close to the primary, the legislation under consideration would ignore the results of that primary and direct the governor to schedule a new primary under the revised districts.

“This is an opportunity for the voters to vote in the districts drawn by legislators in 2023,” said Republican state Rep. Chris Pringle, the bill's sponsor.

During a House committee hearing, several Black residents urged lawmakers not to change the current congressional districts.

“Representation matters — not just politically but in access, in power and in who gets to be heard,” said Eliza Jane Franklin, of rural Barbour County.

Democrats denounced legislation as a Republican power grab that harkens back to the state’s shameful history of denying Black residents equal rights and representation.

Republicans are “working to secure an electoral victory by taking Alabama back to the Jim Crow era, and we won’t go back,” Democratic U.S. Rep Terri Sewell told a crowd gathered outside the Alabama Statehouse.

Thousands had already voted in Louisiana

After last week’s Supreme Court decision, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry postponed the state's May 16 congressional primary to allow time for lawmakers to approve new U.S. House districts. State Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, a Republican, said a redistricting committee he leads plans to hold a public hearing Friday.

Louisiana voters had already sent in more than 41,000 completed absentee ballots by last Thursday, when Landry suspended the House primaries, according to the Secretary of State's Office. That’s about one-third of all the absentee ballots sent out to voters. Around 19,000 were from registered Democrats, 17,000 from registered Republicans and the remainder belonged to neither party.

Democrats and civil rights groups have filed several lawsuits challenging the suspension of Louisiana’s congressional primary.

___

Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama, Lieb from Jefferson City, Missouri, and Collins from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press writers Jack Brook in New Orleans and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report. ___

This story was first published on May. 5, 2026. It was updated on May. 6, 2026, to correct the first name of Louisiana’s governor. He is Jeff Landry, not Mike Landry.

The main reason drivers are paying more at the pump is because the war has stranded oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil normally passes. The price of crude oil, which is the main ingredient in gasoline, climbed for most of the past two months because Iran has effectively shut the waterway located off its coast.

In mid-April, U.S. gasoline prices fell daily for almost two weeks amid signs the conflict could be winding down.

“After the announcement of the initial ceasefire, there was kind of optimism that this really could be the beginning of the end of the conflict,” said Rob Smith, director of global fuel retail at S&P Global Energy. “And so crude prices came down correspondingly, gasoline spot prices followed, and so on and ... the retailers lowered prices as well.”

But gasoline prices reversed course and began increasing again as deepening hostilities over the strait between the U.S. and Iran kept oil supplies constrained.

“There’s a fundamental shortfall that will exist globally or fundamental struggle to meet that demand that will drive up price,” Smith said. “No matter what a government says or what any market person thinks, there is a true kind of upward pressure that’s being exerted on prices every day the Strait of Hormuz is constrained. And it is still severely constrained.”

Who sets gasoline prices

Gas station owners set prices at the pump, but a lot of factors go into what they decide to charge.

The main ingredient in gasoline cost is the price of a barrel of crude oil. In the U.S., oil prices represented about 51% of the price of a gallon of gasoline in 2025, according to the Energy Information Administration.

That means when crude oil prices rise, gasoline prices generally follow. Less oil on the market means higher prices for oil and gasoline.

Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the war triggered the largest supply disruption in the history of oil markets, according to the International Energy Agency, pushing oil prices as high as $112 a barrel in early April.

Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel Wednesday after the U.S. and Iran appeared to be moving closer to an initial agreement to end the war. That could pull gasoline prices down as well, if the trend continues.

Bob Kleinberg, adjunct senior research scholar at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy, compared the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. with the price for a barrel of WTI, the U.S. benchmark oil, over the past few weeks, and said their price changes generally matched up.

“Not much of a mystery here,” Kleinberg said. “It's not exactly proportional but the shape of the curves follows the same pattern, and really with very little delay.”

Federal and state taxes contributed about 17% of the oil price, refining costs and profits contributed 14% and distribution and marketing contributed 17%, the EIA said. In some states, such as California, higher taxes and refining costs push the price of gasoline well above the national average.

What caused renewed march in gasoline prices

One event that could have changed the trajectory of gasoline prices occurred in April, when the U.S. blocked Iranian ports to stop the country from exporting oil.

“Iran had been moving an unusually high amount of oil to global markets, so that was helping moderate prices," said Jim Krane, energy research fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute. "The Trump administration decides they’re going to punish Iran, and try to put more pressure on Iran by blocking their exports, so of course that does put pressure on Iran, but also puts pressure on global oil prices and forces them up. That was probably a big factor.”

What refineries and traders are willing to pay for oil swings wildly after news breaks about attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf or diplomacy talks stalling. “The oil market is exquisitely sensitive to what’s coming out of the White House,” Kleinberg said.

Back in early March, at the beginning of the Iran war, the price of gasoline jumped 48 cents in a week. The highest weekly jump was in March 2022, when the price jumped 60 cents in a week after Russia invaded Ukraine, AAA said.

No quick fix

No one can predict how high gasoline prices will climb. A gallon of regular in the U.S. costs more now than it did in early May of 2022, and back then, the price kept climbing through Memorial Day, AAA said.

The longer the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz is hindered, the higher prices will go and the longer it will take to get back to normal, Smith said.

“Even if there was a true and lasting resolution of the conflict, both sides agree to play nice and truly do commit to keeping Hormuz open, it will still take months to get back to what it was pre-war, if not even longer,” Smith said. “There will still be within the industry a risk premium associated with going through that region. Not that it was ever a perfectly safe journey, but the past few months have shown that it’ll be hard to convince shippers and insurance companies that the risk level will be similar to what it was in February. It’ll be a long time before anyone can be convinced of that.”

Why U.S. oil production alone can’t solve the problem

The U.S. exports more oil than it imports, and oil is the main ingredient in gasoline. But oil is traded on a global market, so events happening in other parts of the world impact prices for everyone. Also, nearly 70% of U.S. refineries are set up to process heavy, sour crude, according to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), a trade association. And much of the oil produced in the U.S. is light, sweet crude, which was unlocked during the shale revolution.

As a result, just 60% of the oil processed in U.S. refineries comes from domestic oil fields, according to the AFPM. Retooling domestic refineries would cost billions of dollars, the group said, and would require shutting down those refineries temporarily, which generally raises gasoline prices.

The New York Times called the lawsuit politically motivated and said it would defend itself “vigorously.”

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of a New York Times editor who lodged a complaint after he didn't get the role of deputy real estate editor in 2025, alleging gender and racial discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, national origin or religion.

The EEOC claimed the news organization's publicly stated goals of increasing the number of women and people of color in its leadership ranks influenced the decision to exclude the white male applicant for a final round of interviews, while advancing three women and a Black man.

EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has been a staunch champion of the Trump administration's campaign against corporate diversity policies that she argues veer into discrimination against white men and others. In December, Lucas posted a social media call urging white men to come forward with complaints if they believe they have faced discrimination because of their employer's diversity policies.

“No one is above the law — including ‘elite’ institutions. There is no such thing as ‘reverse discrimination;’ all race or sex discrimination is equally unlawful, according to long-established civil rights principles," Lucas said in a statement. "No matter the size or power of the employer, the EEOC under my leadership will not pull punches in ensuring evenhanded, colorblind enforcement of Title VII to protect America’s workers, including white males.”

The New York Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said the EEOC “deviated from standard practices in highly unusual ways. The allegation centers on a single personnel decision for one of over 100 deputy positions across the newsroom, yet the EEOC’s filing makes sweeping claims that ignore the facts to fit a predetermined narrative.”

“Neither race nor gender played a role in this decision – we hired the most qualified candidate, and she is an excellent editor,” Rhoades Ha added.

In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, the EEOC complaint said the complainant, who was not identified, has worked as an editor for the New York Times since 2014, mostly as a senior staff editor on the international desk with previous experience working on real estate stories.

The lawsuit claims that the woman ultimately appointed deputy real estate editor “did not have experience with real estate journalism" but “as a multiracial female, this candidate matched the race and/or sex characteristics NYT sought to increase in its leadership.” The EEOC said one final panel interviewer described her as “a bit green overall."

The EEOC's lawsuit extensively cited The New York Times diversity and inclusion policies as evidence for its alleged discriminatory policies.

In particular, the lawsuit cites the organizations “Call to Action” plan published in February 2021 in which it set a goal of increasing the number of Black and Latino employees in leadership by 50% by 2025. The EEOC said the New York Times met that goal in 2022 but continued its commitment to diversity policies. According to reports cited in the lawsuit, white employees composed 68% of its leadership in 2024, compared to 29% people of color.

Lucas has been particularly critical of representation goals that many companies have publicly announced, particularly in the wake of the 2020 racial protests following the police killing of unarmed Black man George Floyd.

In almost all cases, it is illegal under Title VII for employers to take race or gender into account when making hiring, promotion and other decisions. Lucas has taken aim at practices she claims pressure hiring managers to do just that, from certain forms of anti-bias training to ensuring a diverse slate of candidates for roles. Critics say the EEOC is attacking long held practices designed to level the playing field for workers who have traditionally faced discrimination in U.S. workplaces.

In February, the EEOC revealed that it was investigating sportswear giant Nike for racial discrimination against white employees. Unlike the New York Times lawsuit, the Nike investigation stemmed not from a worker complaint but by Lucas herself, who filed what is known as a “commissioner's charge” to investigate an array of diversity policies at the sneaker company.