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Residents near Maui wildfires show elevated metals linked to impacted lung health, study says

Alexa St. John, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:11:02 +0000

Metal mixtures found in the leftover smoke, ash and debris from the deadly 2023 Maui wildfires were harmful to the lung health of people living nearby long after the burning ended, a new study says.

The work shows that major wildfires, which are worsening with the planet’s warming, could have lasting effects beyond immediate exposure.

Post-wildfire air quality needs to be monitored longer term, the research suggests, and recovery efforts need to consider what might remain in contaminated soot, residue and dirt well after burning stops.

The wildfires, caused by wind spreading a brushfire spurred by downed power lines, burned on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August 2023, destroyed the town of Lahaina and killed more than 100 people. They were among the deadliest in U.S. history.

New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday found higher metal levels, associated with respiratory harm, in nearby residents up to a year and a half after the fires.

University of Hawaii researchers studied the urine of 1,400 adults and found substantially elevated concentrations of metals such as arsenic, cadmium, copper and antimony.

Burned buildings, cars and electronics can release harmful chemicals

These metals could be the result of burned buildings, vehicles, electronics and other materials lost in the wildfires, the researchers say. They can cause a different human impact than simply the burned vegetation that is typically studied after fires of this magnitude.

“What we’re dealing with, especially in the aftermath of what we experienced in Lahaina, is a much more complicated mixture of these chemical exposures,” said Alika Maunakea, the study’s co-author and an anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology professor at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

The researchers found antimony nearly 40 times higher in the Maui participants than U.S. biomonitoring data. They found manganese 3.8 times higher, barium 2.3 times and arsenic 2.2 times.

Having more metals in the body was more likely to result in abnormal lung function, such as having less breathing capacity and difficulty moving air in and out of one’s lungs, during standard breathing tests, the study found.

Those lung effects aligned with the geographic distribution of smoke and ash; those nearest to Lahaina, and Wailuku and Kahului, experienced a different impact than in those near Kula.

“It’s really important to identify potential sources of these exposures and to mitigate and reduce potential risks for re-exposures that might be contributing to these effects,” Maunakea said. “What happens to the land and environment can shape what people breathe, take into their bodies, and develop over time. The consequences of that can unfold over many years.”

Warming planet can worsen wildfires

Wildfires are getting larger, more intense, faster-moving and more frequent in certain parts of the globe, experts say, in part due to the warming and drier weather associated with climate change. Human-caused climate change has upped the likelihood of many major fires around the world in recent years and led to fires in regions that typically do not see them as often.

The researchers did note a limitation of the study in that it cannot assess exactly how much of the impact came directly from the wildfires versus chronic or other exposures — such as Hawaii’s geology, diet, historic agricultural and industrial activity and environmental sources — given there is no comparable data from before August 2023.

However, previous studies have also found significant long-term human impacts from wildfires and other environmental crises. The impacts have included lung issues and mental health issues such as depression.

“This is bigger than wildfires. These climate-related disasters can change the environment in ways that continue after the immediate emergency is over,” said Ruben Juarez, study co-author and professor of health economics at the university. “Floods, hurricanes, fires, and other disasters definitely can disturb soil, debris, buildings, and legacy contaminants that we have in Hawaii, creating these pathways for exposure. … Disaster response should not stop when visible danger is gone.”

Dr. Kekoa Taparra, a physician and assistant professor who studies chronic diseases at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the research expands our understanding of the health burden of the fires, particularly over an extended period.

“This type of work echoes that climate-related disasters affect human health well beyond the immediate injuries and deaths we see during the event itself,” said Taparra, who was not involved in the study released Monday but has studied the health impacts of disasters. “Historic wildfires in Lahaina and even Los Angeles have highlighted how these disasters can produce longer-lasting consequences through displacement, disruption of healthcare and social networks, environmental exposures, and potentially increased mortality.

“As these events become more frequent and severe, understanding and measuring their full health impact will be essential to building more resilient communities and health systems.”

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Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.

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Mediators are working to broker a US-Iran deal, but major hurdles remain

Samy Magdy And Collin Binkley, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:25:44 +0000

Mediators are working with Iran and the United States on trying to broker a deal to end the fighting and open the Strait of Hormuz, three regional officials and two U.S. officials told The Associated Press, but major hurdles remain between the sides.

The indirect talks come as the conflict, which is entering its eighth month, has caused global economic damage and badly battered Iran. Multiple efforts to allow safe shipping on one of the world’s most crucial waterways have failed.

The officials divulged that the behind-the-scenes efforts continue even after U.S. President Donald Trump initially said he spurned an Iranian proposal to reopen the strait in a week if the U.S. agreed to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian assets and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, among other conditions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — who stayed in New York after last week’s gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly — will meet with Qatari mediators Monday about the latest discussions, Iranian state media reported Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying.

Despite Trump’s often bellicose rhetoric, he is open to pursuing a non-military resolution to the conflict if one can be achieved, a senior U.S. official said.

But the Trump administration will not reach a deal with Tehran until nuclear issues are addressed, another U.S. official said. Trump is willing to grant sanctions relief to Iran, along with the release of some frozen funds, for concrete progress on nuclear issues, and while Iran has indicated it is flexible on nuclear issues, the sides are far apart on timing and which side makes the first moves, the official said.

All the officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity about the behind-the-scenes diplomatic negotiations.

The deal would first reopen the strait and lift the US blockade

Two of the regional officials speaking to the AP confirmed that mediators are working with both sides on a proposal that would include reopening the strait and lifting the U.S. blockade, and then removing sanctions.

According to the draft text being discussed, the strait would reopen in accordance with a separate deal that Iran has been discussing with Oman, on the other side of the strait, and it would include no tolls — something Tehran has pursued. That deal seeks to temporarily manage shipping traffic on what was seen as an international waterway before the war.

One regional official said the U.S. is seeking Iranian concessions on nuclear issues that include allowing inspectors to enter the country. Under the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed in June that collapsed within days, Iran’s nuclear program was meant to be discussed over a 60-day period.

The U.S. officials say the United States is skeptical about whether Iran can be persuaded to ultimately reach Trump’s conditions for a deal and would be serious about any promises it makes, especially after it broke the interim deal by firing on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. officials feel their position is getting stronger as Tehran feels the impact of sanctions.

Iran's latest proposal seeks faster action

While Iran’s latest proposal echoes the June deal, a key difference is speed.

Araghchi told a closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last week that Tehran had pitched the deal as benefiting Trump in the midterm elections. Araghchi later told journalists that “the seven-day timeline will start as soon as the United States accepts this plan.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also planned to meet Araghchi on Monday in a bid to help mediators, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Both the U.S. and Iran have been hurting economically — the U.S. from high oil prices as Iran attacks ships on the strait, and Tehran from the naval blockade and a growing number of U.S. sanctions that bottle up its oil sales. Brent crude, the international standard, is above $108.

For months, the two sides have been trying to outlast the other, while regional countries endure missile and drone attacks as Tehran claims to target U.S. military assets in the region.

Reflecting Iran's impatience, a rare statement on Monday attributed to the theocracy's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei noted the “painful blows” that enemy forces have received near the strait. “Before long, the Arabian Sea, too, will be rid of them,” the statement added.

Tehran's latest proposal again sought to end the fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. But a new front has emerged in recent weeks as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are now perched on another crucial waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. That has further pressured global energy markets.

Iran argues that the Houthis have their own demands, and that their conflict with neighboring Saudi Arabia is separate from the U.S.-Iran war, but Iranian officials said they are willing to help in finding a settlement between the Houthis and the Saudis, one of the officials said.

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Price and Lee reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Collin Binkley in Washington and AP Middle East editor Victoria Eastwood contributed to this report.

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AP STANDARDS: The AP only uses anonymous sources when the information is vital to the news report and not opinion or speculation. The information must be unavailable except under the conditions of anonymity imposed by the source. The source must be reliable, in a position to have accurate information and approved by news managers.

Maritime experts travel to Nantucket to investigate shipwreck remains exposed by nor’easter

Leah Willingham, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:05:13 +0000

A maritime expert planned to visit a Nantucket beach Monday to inspect weathered wooden beams exposed by the weekend’s powerful nor’easter, possibly the remnants of a 19th-century shipwreck buried beneath the island’s southern shore.

The Egan Maritime Institute said its exhibits and collections manager would survey the site and send a report to state underwater archaeologists, who then will work with the institute to determine which vessel the wreckage came from.

The splintered timbers, fastened together by rusted iron, emerged near an area where remains believed to be from the Warren Sawyer, a wooden schooner lost in 1884, have been found before.

Officials from Egan, a nonprofit that operates the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, cautioned Monday that the newly exposed wreckage has not been identified with certainty.

The slow-moving nor’easter battered the Northeast coastline over the weekend with heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous surf, flooding low-lying communities from New Jersey to New England and knocking out power to more than 100,000 customers at times Sunday. The storm also raised concerns about coastal erosion as waves crashed into beaches and seawalls.

The Warren Sawyer ran aground on Dec. 22, 1884, while carrying 1,115 bales of cotton and 28 tons (25.4 metric tonnes) of scrap iron from New Orleans to Boston, according to the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources. Its captain and seven-member crew were ultimately rescued.

The schooner remained intact on the island's Miacomet Beach for two weeks, allowing islanders to save 700 bales of cotton using skids and teams of oxen. Then, on Jan. 6, 1885, another storm tore the ship apart, scattering pieces of its hull, remaining cargo and cordage across more than half a mile (0.80 kilometers) of beach.

More than a century later, remains believed to be from the ship have continued to emerge from the sand.

Jason Graziadei, who has lived on the island for two decades and is editor of the online news site the Nantucket Current, said he went out to the beach Saturday amid heavy winds with his 8-year-old son after he got a tip about possible wreckage on the island's south shore.

He and his son found the wooden beams on a drive-on beach by the town’s wastewater facility that everyone calls the “Sewer Beds." He said they had to park their car and walk down to the beach because erosion from the storm had formed a steep drop-off.

The location made the discovery even more remarkable to him: It was directly beneath a route beachgoers had been driving all summer.

“Given where it was and where it emerged, it means that everyone who was driving onto the beach this summer was just directly over this,” Graziadei said. “I just think it is so funny and so cool.”

Graziadei said his son was excited by the discovery and began asking what had happened to the people aboard the ship and why it had run aground. The two could walk right up to the exposed wreckage.

“It’s amazing to think from, you know, over 100 years old that it’s still there,” Graziadei said.

State archaeologists inspected a roughly 42-foot (12.8-meter) section of hull exposed on Miacomet Beach in late 2022 and concluded it was likely part of the Warren Sawyer. A roughly 15-foot-square (4.6-meter-square) section of the lower stern appeared nearby in February 2023, but shifting sands buried it again before state archaeologists could return to document it.

Nantucket is one of the areas known as the “graveyards of the Atlantic,” with more than 750 wrecks estimated in the surrounding waters.

The institute urged visitors not to disturb the newly exposed wreckage. Massachusetts law prohibits removing, damaging or displacing underwater archaeological resources.

Nvidia's board increases chipmaker's share buyback plan by $150 billion

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:11:41 +0000

Nvidia’s board has cleared the way for the company to spend $150 billion more in share buybacks as the chipmaking giant looks to make use of more of its stellar revenue growth fueled by demand for its high-end artificial intelligence chips.

The Santa Clara, California, company said Monday the share buyback increase, which it touted as the largest ever, brings its stock repurchase program to $235 billion.

Nvidia said it expects to “execute” the share buyback plan through its fiscal year that ends in Jan. 30, 2028.

Companies use repurchases, in part, to return cash to investors and support the stock’s price. Earnings per share can increase because there are fewer shares outstanding. Buybacks also signal confidence from leadership about a company’s financial prospects.

“NVIDIA’s growth is being driven by a once-in-a-generation platform shift to AI and accelerated computing,” said Jensen Huang, Nvidia's founder and CEO. “Our cash generation gives us the capacity to invest in the technologies that advance this transformation and return capital to shareholders. This authorization reflects our confidence in the long-term opportunity ahead.”

Shares in Nvidia climbed 2.1% in afternoon trading Monday. The stock is up about 24% so far this year.

Nvidia’s high-end chips have emerged as the leading building blocks for AI, and are highly sought after. The company reported quarterly profits of $59.69 billion late last month.

While AI has powered stock market gains and U.S. economic growth in recent years, there’s been growing skepticism about whether AI will justify the trillions of dollars being spent to develop the technology.

The AI industry also faces increasing pushback amid objections to the expansion of data centers and fears that the rapid speed of AI adoption could lead to widespread job losses worldwide.

Abbott declares disaster in Texas over diesel prices, waives restrictions on commercial shipping

Texas Tribune, Paul Cobler — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:47:56 +0000

Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide disaster on Monday over soaring diesel prices and a worsening fuel shortage created by wars abroad.

The 30-day disaster declaration, which can be extended indefinitely, allowed Abbott to lift some restrictions on commercial transportation, which he said will alleviate some of the elevated costs. Diesel fuel is used in farming and commercial shipping, so elevated fuel prices are passed through to consumers in the form of higher costs for goods at the grocery store.

The declaration expands the use of dyed diesel on Texas roads, suspends Texas Low Emission Diesel rules to the limit the federal government authorizes and raises the allowable weight for fuel, agricultural and timber loads. The governor also requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal ultra-low sulfur diesel requirements to boost supply.

“Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel,” Abbott wrote in a statement. “Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family. Farmers and truckers can now use dyed diesel on Texas roads, and fuel, crop, and timber loads can move at a higher weight. These steps cut costs on the farm, on the road and at the store.”

Dyed diesel is chemically the same as regular diesel available at gas stations, but it is tinted the color red and used in off-road farm and construction equipment. Because it’s exempt from federal and state motor fuel road taxes, typically its use on public roads is prohibited and violators are subject to fines for tax evasion, according to state law.

Removing restrictions on the use of dyed diesel could reduce prices by increasing the supply of diesel available for everyday use.

Abbott’s order does not waive the underlying fuel tax, which is a flat 20 center per gallon on both gasoline and undyed diesel.

The governor’s disaster declaration and order comes as AAA reports an average diesel price of $5.86 per gallon in Texas. Monday also marks seven months since the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, leading to an extended disruption of oil and gas exports from the Middle East. The ongoing conflict has created elevated gas and diesel prices across the world.

Diesel was $3.30 per gallon in Texas in early February.

Affordability has become central to election season in the U.S. ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Abbott and other statewide Republican officials face competitive elections in a state that no Democrat has won statewide in since 1994.

Abbott’s opponent, Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, called on the governor to waive the state gas tax. Abbott’s office has argued he does not have the ability to unilaterally waive taxes.

In 2024, Abbott last waived restrictions on dyed diesel amid wildfires in The Panhandle.

5 men arrested near a US-run air base are bailed as UK police probe whether there's a link to Iran

Alastair Grant, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:11:41 +0000

Five young British men arrested on explosives and terror charges near a U.S.-operated air force base in England were released on bail Monday, and counterterror detectives said they were investigating “multiple lines of inquiry,” including whether there is a link to Iran.

The men were detained early Sunday after three vans were spotted in the countryside near RAF Fairford, a U.K.-owned base that has been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East, including this year's war with Iran.

Investigators haven't concluded whether the incident was state-backed. They are investigating a possible link to Iran, Russia or non-state militant groups. RAF Fairford has also been the focus of protests by anti-war campaigners.

The five suspects, who haven't been named, were initially held over suspected explosives offenses, and later also arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. Police said the men are all British nationals from London and in their 20s.

Britain's national news agency, PA, reported without citing sources that police had not found viable explosives. Announcing that the suspects had been bailed, the head of U.K. Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said that the suspects face stringent conditions and “absolutely remain under investigation."

Taylor said lines of inquiry include that the suspected offenses were committed by "proxies or individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.”

Iran denied involvement. The Iranian Embassy in London said that it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” about the incident.

Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Whelford near the base on Sunday, and army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine three white vans. The villagers were allowed to return home late Monday afternoon, though a cordon remained around the three vehicles, police said.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a meeting of the government’s COBRA emergency committee on Monday “to make sure we have the full picture" of the incident, he said.

The arrests came after reports of suspicious vehicles

It was unclear whether the arrested men had been on security services' radar. Local residents described seeing heightened security around RAF Fairford in recent days, with heavy vehicles parked across entrance gates.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the suspects had been detained following cooperation between the U.S. and Britain, and had been “under view” for some time. Police, however, said the arrests were triggered by a late-night call about “suspicious vehicles” near the base.

A local farmer said she called police after seeing three oddly parked vans as she drove home late Saturday night, and that nearby she came across “a large group of men,” some with their faces covered. She said they scattered when they saw her vehicle.

She declined to be identified to protect her identity because she was describing what she saw as potential security lapses.

British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the farmer “did exactly the right thing” by calling police but only had “a partial view” of the operation.

The arrests came at a time of heightened tensions around the threat from hostile states, with British intelligence services saying Russia and Iran have both used proxies to commit crimes on U.K. soil. In March, officials said the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states, including Iran, increased by 50% in the six months to December 2025.

Iran has been linked to a series of attacks in Europe

Britain didn't join the U.S. and Israel in the Iran war, which began on Feb. 28, and initially denied Trump’s request to use bases in the U.K. to strike Iran. But then Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed in March to let the U.S. use bases in Britain for what he called “defensive” operations against Iran’s missiles and their launch sites following Iranian attacks on U.K. interests and Britain’s allies in the Gulf.

American B-1 and B-52 bombers have taken off from Fairford, 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London, for operations during the Iran conflict.

Iran has said that it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.

British security officials say proxies linked to Iran have been behind a string of arsons and other attacks in the U.K. and other countries, many of them targeting the Jewish community and intended to sow fear. They have previously warned that Tehran could expand its targets in the U.K. if conflicts in the Middle East continue.

Several people also have been charged with plotting to commit arson in the U.K. on behalf of Russia-linked groups.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Monday that the incident is a “reminder of the threats our country faces.”

Miliband met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the United Nations in New York last week and told him that “Britain will not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on U.K. soil,” according to a U.K. readout of the conversation.

US Air Force says personnel remain vigilant

The U.S. Air Force said that its personnel on the base “remain vigilant,” but “for operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures.”

The U.S. Embassy in London has warned Americans in Britain to be cautious and mindful of their personal security.

Trump said that authorities had the suspects “under view for a long time and we got them.”

“It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort. And working with the British worked out great,” he told reporters in Chicago on Sunday.

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Jill Lawless reported from Liverpool, England. Ben Finley in Washington contributed to this report.

ACSO: 18-year-old arrested after allegedly making school shooting threat in Atascosa County

Andrea K. Moreno, Bill Taylor — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:37:34 +0000

An 18-year-old man was taken into custody Monday for allegedly making a school shooting threat at Charlotte Independent School District in Atascosa County, according to the sheriff’s office.

The FBI notified the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office of the threat that morning.

The man is being held at the Atascosa County jail on a warrant stemming from a prior felony assault charge, the sheriff’s office said. Charges related to the threat are pending.

A large number of deputies and investigators were assigned to Charlotte ISD and all other Atascosa County school districts. Deputies, criminal investigators, the Texas Rangers, Texas Highway Patrol and FBI agents worked together to locate the man.

In a statement, Charlotte ISD said additional law enforcement will remain on its campuses, and more deputies will continue to patrol around the perimeter.

Below is the full statement from the district:

Additional information was not immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

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Hurricane Polo could cause life-threatening flooding in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula

Martin Silva, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:18:09 +0000

Residents of Mexico’s Baja California Sur state boarded up homes and workers hauled dirt and rubble to shore up embankments as Hurricane Polo bore down on the peninsula Monday, threatening high winds, floods and mudslides. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo could still bring torrential rain to parts of Hawaii even as the storm edged away from the state.

In Puerto San Carlos, a fishing town of about 5,700 people, some feared high tides and pounding waves from Polo could breach barriers and send seawater into the community. Some families planned to head to shelters in Ciudad Constitucion, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) away, while dozens of people elsewhere in the state were evacuated.

“Civil Protection told those of us here in San Carlos to evacuate because this is a high-risk area. With the current tides, the expected waves and the wind, the earthen barriers they built (to prevent flooding) could give way,” Rocío Sánchez, a fisherwoman, said.

Polo barreling toward Baja California peninsula

Polo was a Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) Monday morning, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Forecasters said it would hit the Mexican mainland after lashing Baja California Sur with heavy rains, and that “life threatening winds and flash floods (were) expected to occur soon.” It could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the U.S. Southwest later in the week.

“Polo is forecast to be near major hurricane strength when it reaches Baja California Sur later today, and is anticipated to be a hurricane when it makes landfall in mainland Mexico late tonight or early Tuesday morning,” the center said.

By Monday morning, waves began to crash and flood coastal areas. Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Mexico’s Civil Protection Agency, reported that Polo would make landfall later in the afternoon.

At a Monday morning news briefing, she urged residents to stay off the streets and seek shelter if their homes are at risk. She said travel will be suspended in the area where the hurricane was expected to make landfall and that ports across the region would be closed.

Nolo, meanwhile, was well southwest of Hawaii and moving away from the Big Island as the weekend drew to a close, but a wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Monday morning. Nolo’s maximum sustained winds increased to near 155 mph (249 kph).

It's been a busy season for Pacific storms

Storm activity in the Pacific has been above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec. He said that pattern is consistent with El Niño years, when the Pacific often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.

With Polo approaching Mexico, the Mexican navy said it has gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan, on the Pacific Coast, and deployed three vessels that could ship aid to coastal communities isolated by the storm.

One of the towns in the hurricane’s projected path is San Juanico, a small fishing community on Baja’s Pacific coast. The town has only had full-time electricity for a few years, and still experiences frequent outages. There is concern that washed-out roads could block access to medical facilities.

“Our people are concerned about this event,” said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel. “We haven’t faced such a worrying situation in many years.”

Robles Meza said Sunday that army soldiers arrived in San Juanico to prepare a shelter and provide support for possible emergencies.

Also Sunday, Tropical Storm Rachel formed well off Mexico's southwest coast. The hurricane center said Monday that Rachel had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was located about 225 miles (365 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

In Hawaii, floods and mudslides are still a risk

Forecasters said Nolo’s outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island possibly getting up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain. Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.

More than 120 National Guard members were activated, part of roughly 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. U.S. President Donald Trump recently approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support.

National Hurricane Center specialist Elizabeth Adams said Monday that Nolo was closing in on Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a marine conservation area northwest of the islands.

“We are expecting conditions to rapidly deteriorate near that national monument,” she said.

Power outages persist on Maui, with over 10,000 households and businesses lacking electricity Monday morning, according to poweroutage.us, primarily on the west side of the island.

Most of the outages were related to storm damage, according to statements from Hawaiian Electric. High winds of over 60 mph (96.5 kph) Sunday prevented helicopters from flying over mountain ridges this weekend to assess transmission line damage, the utility said, adding that it expected the outages to persist until midday Monday.

The utility this weekend also de-energized lines around a brush fire that broke out Saturday, prompting evacuation orders several miles south of Lahaina town, the site of the 2023 deadly fires. Those evacuation orders were lifted Monday morning.

Hawaii residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.

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Photojournalist Eduardo Verdugo contributed from Puerto San Carlos, Mexico; reporter Megan Janetsky contributed from Mexico City; reporter Julie Walker reported from New York. Videojournalist Eugene Garcia and photographer Gregory Bull contributed from Hilo, Hawaii.

Baker Mayfield is expected to miss at least 3 weeks after dislocating his right thumb, Bucs say

Rob Maaddi, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:51:05 +0000

Baker Mayfield received some good news after dislocating his right thumb on Sunday in Tampa Bay’s loss to Minnesota, but the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is expected to miss at least three weeks.

“It’s consistent with everything we thought it was, a dislocation,” coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “Right now we’re probably talking a minimum of three weeks.”

Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels will start this weekend against the Green Bay Packers. Easton Stick is on the practice squad and likely will be promoted unless the Buccaneers add a veteran quarterback.

Mayfield was injured when his throwing hand hit Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman on a desperation pass on fourth down that was intercepted late in the fourth quarter of a 23-16 loss.

An MRI revealed that Mayfield didn’t suffer ligament damage or a fracture. He avoids surgery and possibly won't be placed on injured reserve, which means he would have to miss at least four games.

Mayfield, who signed a $165 million, three-year contract extension before the season, hadn’t missed a start since joining the Buccaneers in 2023. He has played through various injuries throughout his career, which began in Cleveland after the Browns selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2018.

The Buccaneers (0-3) are off to their worst start since 2014.

Mayfield has struggled behind a woeful offensive line. He has two touchdown passes and two interceptions, has lost three fumbles and has been sacked 13 times.

Daniels played six seasons at Kansas and threw 67 TD passes and 31 interceptions. He beat out veteran Jake Bowning for the backup job in training camp.

“His performance speaks for itself when he’s out there,” Bowles said. "His confidence speaks for itself and they rally around him. It’s going to be like every other rookie. But he played well in the preseason. He’s very bright. He’s not going to be out there by himself. We just expect him to do his job and play at a high level, as he expects of himself.”

Daniels will become the first rookie QB to start for Tampa Bay since Jameis Winston in 2015. Before Mayfield, Tom Brady started every game from 2020-22.

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SpaceX's supersized Starship launches into orbit for the first time but flight ends early

Marcia Dunn, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:50:36 +0000

SpaceX launched its enormous Starship into orbit for the first time Monday and successfully delivered the most advanced Starlinks yet, but cut the flight short to ensure safety.

The spacecraft reentered over the Pacific and splashed down north of Hawaii three hours after blasting off from Texas. The company had been aiming for a 10-hour flight, spanning six full laps around Earth, to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program.

Starship tipped over and erupted in flames upon splashdown, a dramatic end to the mission.

Founder Elon Musk's Starship almost didn't make it to orbit when one of its engines shut down too soon. But with everything else working well and the bad engine no longer needed, flight controllers decided after several tense minutes to proceed as planned.

“Starship is orbital,” Mission Control announced to cheers.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on reaching orbit and “managing every step in a safe, responsible and especially inspirational way.”

Rocket carries 26 of Musk's most advanced Starlink satellites

Musk’s showpiece rocket — the biggest and most powerful ever built — carried 26 of the latest Starlink satellites to join the 11,000 older models already providing internet service. They popped out of the spacecraft one by one, drawing more cheers from the SpaceX crowds looking on from the launch site at Starbase, Texas.

The decision to end the flight early came soon afterward. No reason was provided.

It was Starship’s 14th full-scale launch from Texas’ southern tip in three years. The earlier test flights ventured no farther than the Indian Ocean halfway around the world, often crashing in flames and briefly skimming space.

This time, SpaceX was intent on circling the globe from an altitude of 170 miles (275 kilometers) — not just once but six times over almost 10 hours, ending with a Pacific splashdown near Chile. While Starship achieved the proper orbit zipping along at 17,500 mph (28,000 kph), flight controllers opted to play it safe and bring it back several hours sooner, after just a couple laps.

The first-stage booster was never meant to return to the Starbase launch site either, instead dropping into the Gulf of Mexico within minutes of the morning liftoff.

SpaceX wants to ensure that everything works before flying Starship back to Starbase. If the spacecraft breaks apart over land and rains debris onto people, “our popularity would diminish very rapidly,” Musk said at a business summit earlier this month. “That’s why we’re being extremely cautious here.”

Depending on the findings from Monday's orbital debut, the next Starship could return to the launch pad with giant mechanical arms grabbing the hovering spacecraft. If the catch works — Musk gives it even or slightly better odds — then SpaceX will refly the spacecraft by year’s end or early next year.

The 407-foot (124-meter) rocket was designed from the start to be fully reusable — a key to lowering launch costs. SpaceX managed to salvage the last Starship from the Indian Ocean in July. Engineers modified the newly launched Starship’s heat shield based on hands-on inspections from the recovered spacecraft, which is being tugged back to Starbase.

SpaceX wants Starship to be certified for orbital flight

SpaceX is pressing hard to certify Starship for orbital flight, a vital step toward moon and Mars travel.

NASA’s Artemis III mission is coming up as soon as next summer, a triple-launch docking exercise in orbit around Earth between an Orion capsule full of astronauts and competing lunar landers. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Moon will blast off first, then Orion — which will close in for a linkup — then Musk’s Starship for a docking with Orion once Blue Moon is unleashed.

The next mission — Artemis IV slated for no sooner than 2028 — would have astronauts landing on the moon in either Blue Moon or Starship, whichever is ready first. Subsequent moonshots will alternate between the two billionaires’ landers.

Musk originally developed Starship for Mars, intending to launch scores of them with the red planet’s first settlers. For now, he plans to focus on the moon and use Starship to haul satellites into orbit by the truckload, phasing out the company’s frailer Falcon 9 rocket within several years. A second Starship launch site is nearing completion at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center and a third is planned for Louisiana.

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SAPD: 87-year-old man dies at hospital after driver strikes him in Northwest Side parking lot

Andrea K. Moreno, Alex Gamez — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:59:26 +0000

An 87-year-old man died at a hospital after a teenage driver struck him in a Northwest Side parking lot, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

The crash happened Monday morning in the 5200 block of Medical Drive, near Babcock Road.

Police said the man had just left a routine follow-up appointment when he was hit.

The driver was looking for a parking spot and did not see the man walking through the lot, according to SAPD.

The man was initially taken to a hospital in critical condition. SAPD later said he was pronounced dead.

SAPD said the teen stayed at the scene.

Additional information was not immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

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Motorcyclist in critical condition after crashing, falling over exit ramp near downtown, police say

Man gets 6 years in prison for taking explosives to church hosting annual Red Mass for justices

Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:17:37 +0000

A New Jersey man was sentenced on Monday to nearly six years in prison for taking homemade explosive devices to a Washington, D.C., church that was preparing for an annual Mass celebrating the start of the Supreme Court’s term.

Louis Geri declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss sentenced him to five years and 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Moss said he balanced the danger that Geri poses to the public with the defendant's history of “very serious mental health issues” and his need for adequate treatment.

“This was an extremely serious offense,” the judge said. “It may have been carried out in a bizarre manner, but the threat of violence was a serious one.”

Geri was arrested on Oct. 5, 2025, outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where police officers were clearing the area before the annual Red Mass. Police said they found in Geri’s possession paperwork that expressed “significant animosity” toward the Roman Catholic Church, Jewish people and the Supreme Court. Some justices usually attend the celebration, but none went to last year’s ceremony.

On steps outside the church, Geri had set up a tent containing more than 100 homemade explosives along with a nine-page “list of written demands,” according to a court filing. Geri told police that he had explosive devices and said “several of your people are gonna die from one of these” if his demands weren’t met, the filing says.

Geri's written demands included requests for money, for an “expatriation flight” to Japan and for the Supreme Court to remove Arizona from the United States.

“The defendant’s intent was clear: If his list of demands was not met, innocent people would die and prominent, historic landmarks, such as the Washington Monument, the Supreme Court, and the White House, would be destroyed,” prosecutors wrote.

Geri's attorney said the Vineland, New Jersey, native, who had traveled to Washington from Arkansas, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder more than two decades ago and had stopped taking his medication in the months leading up to his arrest outside the church.

“His conduct was the product of a treatable medical condition spiraling out of control, not malice or an actual intent to harm,” defense attorney Elizabeth Mullin wrote.

Geri pleaded guilty in March to two felony counts: illegal possession of a destructive device and extortion by wrongful use of force, violence or fear.

Geri and prosecutors agreed that a prison term ranging from five years and 10 months to seven years and three months would be appropriate. Moss wasn't bound by that recommendation, but Geri could have withdrawn his guilty plea if the judge had imposed a longer sentence.

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

Trump announcing a new Iowa steel plant that the White House says will be the nation's biggest

Collin Binkley, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:39:18 +0000

President Donald Trump is announcing a new $15 billion steel plant in Iowa being built with backing from an Indian conglomerate, creating what the White House says will become the largest steel plant in U.S. history.

The White House said Trump will announce the project Monday afternoon alongside steel industry executives and commerce officials. It comes as Trump is trying to energize voters ahead of difficult midterm races including in Iowa, where governor and Senate seats have become competitive.

The new mill in eastern Iowa is being built by Mesabi Metallics, a Minnesota-based company owned by India's Essar Group, an industrial conglomerate. The White House said the plant will begin producing steel in 2030 and create more than 2,000 jobs in the United States. When it's fully built out, it's expected to produce 10 million tons of steel a year, more than any other in the U.S.

“President Trump is delivering on his promise to rebuild American industry, reshore manufacturing, and create new jobs,” Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement. “Today’s announcement underscores the President’s historic efforts to revitalize the U.S. steel industry.”

The announcement was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The steel plant will be supplied by a new $2.5 billion iron ore mine that Mesabi developed in Minnesota. The resulting steel will be produced from start to finish in the United States, the White House said.

In a social media post promoting the announcement, the White House said Trump is “prioritizing hardworking Americans instead of foreign labor.”

Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this year to 50%, a move that he said protects U.S. industries but also threatened to drive up consumer prices for items from refrigerators to cars.

Trump in June also approved the takeover of iconic American steelmaker U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, a move that had been blocked by former President Joe Biden and initially opposed by Trump as a 2024 presidential candidate. Trump later backed a deal that gave the federal government a say in some company decisions.

Mesabi Metallics is based in Nashwauk, Minnesota, along the Mesabi iron range. The Essar Group is an industrial conglomerate formed in India in 1969, with ventures in industries from energy and mining to technology and retail, according to its website.

As Methodist Healthcare seeks new trauma center, city leaders want to protect BAMC military mission

Olivia Dague, Luis Cienfuegos — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:37:52 +0000

While leaders at Methodist Healthcare pitch a Level II trauma center, city officials say it could hurt the mission at Brooke Army Medical Center.

The issue is on the docket at the Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting on Tuesday. The committee is considering a resolution reaffirming the city’s support for BAMC’s Level I trauma center and military medical readiness mission.

The draft resolution states Methodist Healthcare has announced plans to develop or seek designation as a Level II trauma facility on Oct. 1, 2026. It says without safeguards, the additional trauma capacity could reduce the civilian trauma volume needed for BAMC’s training mission.

The resolution also asks the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, or STRAC, to weigh in. STRAC coordinates the trauma and emergency health care system for 22 counties in its region. STRAC does not designate trauma centers — that authority belongs to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

BAMC is the Department of Defense’s only Level I trauma center. It also serves as a training and research center for military physicians, nurses, medics and other health care professionals preparing to treat combat injuries.

University Hospital also has a Level I trauma center.

Level I vs. Level II trauma centers

According to the American College of Surgeons, a Level I trauma center provides the broadest range of services and sees more patients. It must have immediate access to specialists, surgery, critical care and other advanced services. Level I centers also have significant teaching, research and injury-prevention responsibilities.

A Level II trauma center also provides comprehensive emergency trauma care and must have round-the-clock surgical and specialty capabilities. But it generally has fewer research, teaching and volume requirements than a Level I center, according to ACS. Some of the most complex patients may still need to be transferred to receive a higher level of care, potentially to a Level I facility.

The city resolution says BAMC needs a sufficient volume of patients, as well as a mix of injuries with different levels of complexity, to support the military’s mission. The resolution says if another hospital receives patients who might otherwise go to BAMC, the military facility could see fewer opportunities to treat the most complex injuries.

This is not the first time Methodist has proposed a trauma center

Methodist proposed adding a Level II trauma center in San Antonio in 2017.

In January 2018, KSAT reported Army officials opposed the idea. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Johnson, then the top commander at BAMC, said an additional trauma center could threaten military medical training and Defense Department readiness.

At the time, city and county officials publicly voiced concerns yet acknowledged they did not have the authority to stop a state trauma designation.

KSAT has reached out to officials at BAMC, Methodist Healthcare, University Hospital, DSHS and STRAC and will update this article as we get responses.

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NFL asks Homeland Security to take down video of Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:37:11 +0000

The NFL has asked the Department of Homeland Security to take down a video on social media showing highlights of Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins in reference to a purported caravan of immigrants approaching the U.S. border.

The video posted on Sunday shows Dawkins' pregame walkout as he chants “The time has come,” followed by a series of big hits. The DHS post includes the caption “Our time has come.”

“The league has requested the DHS take down the video,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Monday.

Dawkins was a nine-time Pro Bowler and five time All-Pro safety during 16 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos before retiring in 2011.

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Netanyahu meets Emirati leader in a secret weekend trip to Abu Dhabi, and other Mideast developments

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:35:56 +0000

Benjamin Netanyahu traveled secretly to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend to ask its leader to deny reports he'd warned the Israeli prime minister about a looming Hamas threat ahead of the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.

The meeting between Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan took place on Sunday, two people who were briefed on the Israeli leader's trip confirmed on Monday.

Meanwhile, the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said the bloc is applying for observer status in a Saudi-led maritime defense coalition formed to protect the kingdom's energy exports. The EU already has six vessels deployed to the Red Sea to protect shipping.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Monday. Full coverage is available here.

Netanyahu made a secret visit to the UAE

The Israeli prime minister held an hourlong meeting with the UAE’s president on Sunday, according to two people briefed on Netanyahu's trip, which was first reported by Israel’s Channel 12 TV station.

One of them said the talks focused on a report published by the Israeli daily Haaretz earlier this month that said the Emirati leader warned Netanyahu about a looming attack by Hamas just ahead of Oct. 7, 2023.

Netanyahu asked Sheikh Mohamed to deny the report, according to a person said to have firsthand information about the meeting. Netanyahu’s office had previously denied the Haaretz report.

The person, along with a regional official briefed on the meeting, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secret trip.

The UAE’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on reports about the meeting but stressed it maintains “open and direct lines of communication” with Israel and shares “all relevant intelligence.”

There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office.

But the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, filed a complaint with Israel’s chief military censor against Channel 12 over what it called a serious censorship violation. It said the timing of the report endangered the prime minister and the operation and forces on the ground and exposed Shin Bet operational methods.

The PMO said Channel 12 reported the flight at 9:38 p.m. while the plane was still outside Israel and about an hour before it landed.

—By Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Samy Magdy in Cairo

EU applies for observer status in a Saudi mission in the Red Sea

The European Union is applying for “observer status” in a new multinational maritime defense coalition led by Saudi Arabia formed to protect the kingdom’s energy exports.

The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas made the announcement on Monday, ahead of a Brussels meeting. The energy-hungry EU is facing record energy prices due to the war in Iran.

Kallas said she will ask for an expansion of the bloc’s own small naval force in the Red Sea dubbed ASPIDES to help escort cargo vessels through the key strategic chokepoint of the Bab el-Mandeb strait and protect them from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Kallas said the “need is bigger than it’s ever been” for more ships. It’s unclear what observer status in the Saudi-led coalition would mean operationally for either the EU or ASPIDES.

Supreme leader says Iranian troops defended the Strait of Hormuz from the enemy

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has praised his country’s fighters for allegedly preventing “enemy forces” from “roaming freely” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Khamenei said in a message carried by the state broadcaster on Monday that Iran’s enemies now “do not come" closer to the strait than the Arabian Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean.

Soon, "the Arabian Sea too, will be rid of them,” said the message, issued to mark the two-year anniversary of the killing of the militant Hezbollah group's longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.

Khamenei hasn't been seen or heard publicly since the opening attacks of the war on Feb. 28 that killed his father and previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

WHO says more people have been killed or wounded in Yemen

The World Health Organization said Sunday it has documented 164 deaths and 645 injuries from the war in Yemen between Sept. 19 and Sept. 26.

This brings the overall casualties since Aug. 6 to 4,481, with 838 fatalities. The latest intense fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and Yemeni government forces has displaced more than 180,000 people.

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 1 person, wound others

A woman was killed and her husband wounded when an Israeli strike hit a Gaza City rooftop on Monday, Shifa Hospital officials said. Another person was also wounded and in critical condition.

The Israeli military later said it was aware of this strike and was looking into its results.

Later Monday, a second Israeli strike, on a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, left one person critically injured, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza.

The Israeli military said it targeted a “military operative,” but did not immediately provide further details or identify the individual.

More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the Gaza ceasefire took effect nearly a year ago. Around half of that number are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which maintains detailed records that international organizations consider reliable.

UN envoy says West Bank settler violence at ‘unprecedented levels’

The United Nations' acting Mideast envoy said Monday that settler violence in the West Bank has reached “unprecedented levels” – often with Israeli forces present.

Ramiz Alakbarov told the U.N. Security Council that 630 documented settler attacks between June 13 and Sept. 18. resulted in casualties, property damage or both. Three Palestinian communities were "fully depopulated" during that period, he said, "bringing to 49 the number of communities fully displaced under similar circumstances since January 2023.”

Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank, in violation of international law, also threatens prospects of a contiguous Palestinian state and a two-state solution, Alakbarov said.

An Israeli minister vows to press on with West Bank settlement project

Israel’s polarizing Cabinet minister in charge of settlement construction, Bezalel Smotrich, has condemned a decision by the attorney general to freeze a contentious project near Jerusalem.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara ordered the project to be put on hold until after the Oct. 27 elections so it wouldn't “be used for election propaganda.”

The project — known as E1 settlement development — is especially controversial because it would carve out a strategic section of the West Bank in a way that critics say would destroy hopes for a viable future Palestinian state.

Smotrich accused on X Baharav-Miara of “interfering in the election campaign” and acting in the service of Netanyahu’s political opponents.

Israel reprimands Spain over youth minister's controversial remarks

Israel summoned the Spanish Embassy’s chargé d’affaires over remarks by Spain's youth minister who declared the country's public support for a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea” — a slogan that implies a call for the elimination of the Israeli state.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that Spanish Youth Minister Sira Rego’s remarks were “part of a systematic anti-Israel policy pursued by the Spanish government” and its leader, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Rego was barred from entering Israel in Sept. 2025.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Giants acquire quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick

Dave Campbell And Stephen Whyno, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:25:38 +0000

The New York Giants acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick, adding another young player at the most important position in football less than a week after learning Jaxson Dart would be out for at least the rest of the regular season.

The Vikings announced the trade Monday pending McCarthy passing a physical. Dart had surgery last week on his left knee after getting injured early in a loss at the Los Angeles Rams.

Jameis Winston started and the Giants beat Tennessee on Sunday, despite not scoring a touchdown and having just 238 yards of offense. Coach John Harbaugh said afterward that Winston would get the nod again this Sunday against Arizona but hinted that the Giants were not content to stand pat in Dart's absence.

“The plans are the plans,” Harbaugh said. “The opportunities that you have are the opportunities you have. No matter what, we’re going to do everything we can to make our team as strong as we can based on what options we have.”

The first opportunity turned out to be adding McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 draft who lost the starting job in Minnesota to Kyler Murray and fell behind Carson Wentz on the depth chart. McCarthy started 10 games last season, completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

McCarthy missed what would have been his rookie season after injuring his right knee. He was picked a year ahead of Dart, but each was born in 2003, with McCarthy being just four months older.

Long term, that sets up a fascinating situation for New York, with Dart, Winston and McCarthy all under contract for next season. For now, McCarthy provides competition for Winston, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that another QB is added to the mix.

By making this aggressive move, Harbaugh, general manager Joe Schoen and the Giants are doubling down on trying to contend this season, even after losing Dart and with concerns over edge rusher Brian Burns' knee injury that knocked the organization's best defensive player out of the game against the Titans.

There is familial familiarity with McCarthy, who won the national title at Michigan in his final college season playing for John's younger brother Jim Harbaugh.

For the Vikings, the trade served as yet another reminder of the quarterback carousel the franchise has continually found itself on. Murray and Wentz are set to be free agents next spring, so the organization will yet again be forced to make multiple decisions and evaluations about who to build around for next season and beyond. Murray became the ninth different starting quarterback since Kirk Cousins took the field at Green Bay on Oct. 29, 2023, and tore his Achilles tendon.

McCarthy was the fifth quarterback taken among the record six selected in the first 12 picks in the 2024 draft, when Caleb Williams to Chicago, Jayden Daniels to Washington and Drake Maye to New England went with the first three spots. Michael Penix was picked eighth by Atlanta, followed by McCarthy at No. 10 and Bo Nix to Denver at No. 12.

McCarthy lost only three games as the starter through high school and college, including a 27-1 record at Michigan on the way to the championship, but he came to the Vikings with minimal experience as a pro-style passer after being in Jim Harbaugh's run-heavy offense. The energy and toughness that helped McCarthy become a winner and a leader at the lower levels worked against him at times last season, with a tendency for recklessness and a pattern of inaccuracy that contributed to his disappointing debut.

Coach Kevin O’Connell’s credentials as a play designer, play caller and QB mentor gave the Vikings plenty of confidence that McCarthy could thrive with them, but a torn meniscus in his first preseason game required surgery and delayed his first professional game until Sept. 8, 2025.

The success Sam Darnold had under O’Connell in 2024 contributed to the decision to let him leave as a free agent and build around McCarthy and his salary cap-friendly rookie contract, but the combination of immaturity, inexperience and injuries was too much for the Vikings to overcome last year. McCarthy missed time because of a sprained ankle, a concussion and a broken hand.

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See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Andrew Bailey, an FBI deputy director, says he's leaving the post after just over a year in the job

Eric Tucker, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:53:19 +0000

Andrew Bailey, one of the FBI's two deputy directors, announced Monday that he was leaving the position after just over a year on the job and would be returning to Missouri to spend time with his family.

Bailey was named co-deputy director in August 2025 to serve alongside Dan Bongino at a time of high tensions between FBI and Justice Department leadership over the handling of the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The appointment was unusual because the FBI for years has only had one person at a time in the deputy director position, the bureau's No. 2 job.

A former attorney general from Missouri and ardent Republican backer of President Donald Trump, Bailey remained in his position after Bongino announced his departure and as the FBI in January added another deputy director, veteran agent Christopher Raia, to serve under Director Kash Patel.

Bailey announced his resignation from the FBI in a post on X on Monday in which he thanked Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patel for “the opportunity to serve in the FBI.”

“With great pride in what we have accomplished, I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri. I am confident Director Patel will continue to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, ensure strong organizational accountability, and restore public trust in this institution of excellence,” Bailey wrote.

Patel in his own post credited him for “dedicated service” and for “instituting critical reforms.”

Bailey maintained a low public profile during his brief tenure as deputy director, though he was present in January when agents executed a search warrant at the main election facility in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of an FBI election fraud investigation.

Tropical Storm Hanna forms in the Atlantic Ocean and isn't threatening land

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:31:30 +0000

Tropical Storm Hanna formed Monday in the Atlantic Ocean and isn't threatening land, forecasters said.

The storm was located about 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) east-northeast of Bermuda and was moving east, according to an advisory from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds were around 45 mph (72 kph).

There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Little change in strength is forecast in the coming days.

The storm comes as the Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet this year due to a strong El Niño, which disrupts storm formation over that ocean.

Storm activity in the Pacific has been above average, with Hurricane Polo bearing down on Mexico Monday and Hurricane Nolo edging away from Hawaii.

Flooding likely this week, especially Thursday

Sarah Spivey, Justin Horne — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:31:58 +0000

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS

TODAY & TUESDAY: Temps mid-90s, heat index near 100
RAIN CHANCES BEGIN: Wednesday night. Continues Thursday through Friday morning
HEAVIEST RAIN: Expected Thursday
AMOUNTS: Widespread 2″ to 5″; Bullseyes 8″+
- RISKS: Flooding. Watching streets, creeks, rivers
POSSIBLE: Rain continues into the weekend

FORECAST

TODAY & TUESDAY

It’ll be quiet in San Antonio. Expect a high in the mid-90s, with a heat index near 100°.

TUESDAY NIGHT

A line of storms may develop across West Texas. This line is forecast to reach the Rio Grande late Tuesday night into very early Wednesday and bring rain to areas west of SA. This line likely dies down before reaching San Antonio.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT -- ⚠ FLOODING POSSIBLE ⚠

By Wednesday evening, another line of storms will take shape along a slow-moving front and move east. This line will be capable of producing some strong storms, but the main threat will be heavy rainfall. As of now, this line of storms is forecast to reach San Antonio pre-dawn on Thursday.

Future radar for THURSDAY (10/1) at 2am

THURSDAY -- ⚠ FLOODING POSSIBLE ⚠

Storms are forecast to continue through Thursday. Should we see storms tracking over the same areas, flooding would be a concern. This is a timeframe we will watch closely.

Future radar for THURSDAY (10/1) at 12pm

Potential Rain Across Texas

FRIDAY AND BEYOND

Showers may linger into Friday and potentially the weekend. Clouds and rain chances will keep temperatures down.

The latest forecast from Your Weather Authority

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Senate nears vote on college sports bill that would rein in athlete payments and transfers

Mary Clare Jalonick, Joey Cappelletti And Eddie Pells, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:12:01 +0000

The Senate is poised to pass a sweeping bipartisan bill on Monday that would regulate college sports, an attempt to end “chaos” in an industry that has been upended by skyrocketing athlete payments and near-unrestricted transfers between schools.

Passage of the legislation would be the strongest effort yet by Congress to set national regulations governing payments to college athletes for their name, image and likeness and how often they can transfer. It would give the NCAA new authority over those rules and limited antitrust protections to enforce them.

The bill is the product of years of Senate negotiations that intensified as some in the industry pleaded with Congress to step in after a 2025 lawsuit settlement uprooted the college sports landscape by allowing colleges to pay their players. The legislation, which would still have to pass the House, would codify the settlement into law but also establish new guardrails around the system in an attempt to rein in the runaway costs for colleges.

“It would be nice if college sports could somehow magically fix itself, but this is a matter of law, federal law, and only Congress can fix it,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who negotiated the bill with the top Democrat on the panel, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell.

The bill's backers — more than 70 senators from both parties — say it aims to curtail constant litigation and uncertainty across college sports for athletes, schools and fans. It would also give hundreds of thousands of student athletes new health and labor protections.

Critics say the bill doesn't do enough to protect athletes or curtail the enormous sums of money flowing to coaches, colleges and conferences.

“This is a bill that essentially ensconces a system of exploitation, and it doesn’t fix the broader problems,” said Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat who has worked with labor and civil rights groups to rally opposition to the bill.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed an interest in the legislation, and the White House formally endorsed the bill last month. But it could face an uphill battle in the House, which failed repeatedly over the last year to get a different version to the floor and is in recess until after the November elections.

Lawmakers will have to start over in the next Congress if the bill doesn't pass both chambers by the end of the year.

Bill addresses skyrocketing spending, unlimited transfers

College sports have been reeling in the wake of the 2025 court settlement allowing colleges to directly pay players for their name, image and likeness. The fallout has reshaped the industry and led to football roster payrolls that can exceed $40 million.

The bill codifies the court settlement, including a revenue cap that allows schools to share up to $21.5 million in revenue with their players. The legislation would more than double that amount for some schools, allowing up to an additional $27.5 million in payments through a retention fund, and would give schools and conferences the option of pooling their TV media rights to potentially raise more revenue.

The legislation also aims to stabilize the NCAA transfer portal that has led to players constantly switching teams. It would restrict player transfers to one “free” move over five years without sitting out a year, with some exceptions, and also restricts players to five years of total eligibility.

The proposed eligibility limit comes amid backlash to schools that have increasingly pushed boundaries, including LSU's now-canceled plans to place players on the roster who had participated in NFL training camps.

“That was probably like a big lamp for some people who saw it and said, ‘Oh my God, this is so out of control,’” Cantwell said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “You can see how out-of-hand the situation was getting.”

The bill also would restrict coaches from leaving their schools during the season and prevent conferences from growing larger than 19 programs, an effort to prevent so-called “superleagues” from taking over sports. It would force schools that want to switch conferences to spend three years as an independent — down from five years in the original bill. That change brought new supporters on board, including Florida State and Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Critics say it wouldn’t do enough to help athletes

The legislation includes new protections for athletes, including caps on agent fees and guarantees for health insurance and certain scholarships. It would also require schools to maintain a minimum number of sports and roster spots — an effort to ensure that women's and Olympic sports are not cut in favor of football, basketball and other sports that generate more revenue.

Still, some Democrats say it wouldn't do enough to limit the big money in college sports.

The legislation “places a cap on the students’ cut of the revenues, but there are no caps on coaches’ salaries or on the size of donations to athletic programs,” Murphy said last week.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said that the new antitrust protections would make it harder for athletes to sue universities, and “taking away their legal rights strikes me as a bridge too far.”

Groups like the NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus and AFL-CIO have also opposed the bill, in part, because it leaves unresolved whether athletes should be considered employees with the ability to collectively bargain.

All four Black Democrats in the Senate — Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland — have opposed the bill.

Booker, who played football at Stanford in the late 1980s on a scholarship, said in a Senate floor speech earlier this month that he was “afforded opportunities I never would have had if it wasn't for college athletics” but that he also “saw how unjust the NCAA is.”

He said it wasn't until college athletes were able to begin to win cases in court that the power started to shift, “and now the NCAA is coming here to the United States Senate, asking for sweeping powers" to exempt antitrust laws.

Some Republicans also said it is overreach.

The legislation “goes way too far inserting the federal government into collegiate athletics,” said Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who is opposing it.

House passage is uncertain

Despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate, the bill faces a murky path in the House.

House lawmakers won't return to Washington until mid-November, after the elections. And it's unclear what will be on Republican leaders' agenda in the chaotic last few weeks of the session.

Pressure from Trump could help push the bill to passage. But some House Republicans have insisted on language explicitly stating that athletes are not employees, which the Senate bill does not have — a key concession to Cantwell to win enough Democratic support.

House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said in a statement in May that “any lasting framework must confront the central issue that continues to cast uncertainty over the future of college sports: whether student-athletes will ultimately be treated as employees.”

“Congress cannot deliver real stability, consistency, or certainty to schools, conferences, and student-athletes while leaving that question unresolved,” the two Republicans said.

What parents should know about the ‘digital pacifier’

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:59:37 +0000

Parents are being urged to take a closer look at what their children are doing on phones and tablets, as more families navigate screen time and the growing use of devices to keep kids occupied.

The idea is sometimes called a “digital pacifier.”

It refers to using a phone, tablet or other screen to calm, distract or entertain a child, especially during busy moments such as meals, errands or car rides.

For more on what a “digital pacifier” is and what parents should watch for, watch the video above.

US and China release $60 billion nonsensitive product lists for tariff cuts after Trump-Xi meeting

Chan Ho-Him And Kanis Leung, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:41:04 +0000

The United States and China on Monday released reciprocal lists of nonsensitive products worth about $30 billion each that will see tariff cuts, from American hair products to Chinese toys, in a deal expected to help bolster bilateral trade.

The details came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in his first state visit to the U.S. since 2015. The U.S. had already reduced tariffs against China after Trump’s tariffs reached as high as 145% at one point last year, as tensions between the two countries eased.

China’s commerce ministry said in a statement the agreement will help strengthen trade cooperation.

Most country-specific tariffs practically eradicated

The lists included 1,619 items of U.S. goods entering China, ranging from agricultural commodities, hair and personal care products to timber and medical equipment. Coal from the U.S. will also be included.

For Chinese goods exported to the U.S., 77 categories were covered, including fireworks, tableware, toys like dolls and puzzles, glass and wooden Christmas ornaments and soccer balls.

Tariff rates on over 90% of the products would be subject to “most-favored-nation” levels, the Chinese commerce ministry said, meaning that country-specific tariffs will effectively be eliminated.

Most-favored-nation rates are the standard tariffs applied under World Trade Organization rules, but they can differ from item to item and are often in the single digits.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a separate statement the product lists focused on “nonsensitive goods on each side that could benefit from more favorable tariff treatment.” The deal could help secure market access for U.S. farmers, manufacturers, businesses and workers, while benefiting American consumers with imports from China including household goods and toys, Greer said.

Both countries said they agreed the list may be adjusted later as needed, but amendments were likely to be no more than on an annual basis.

The Chinese commerce ministry said the two countries agreed to further cooperate in the agricultural sector, forming a group under the Board of Trade established in May to optimize bilateral trade.

Sectors of strategic importance for both countries, such as chips, electric vehicles and batteries, were not covered under the agreement.

A potential boost to US-China bilateral trade

“This is a positive outcome for these affected products compared to a smaller tariff cut, and could lead to a more significant boost to bilateral trade,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING Bank.

The lowered tariffs could be a win for U.S. consumer brands, added Jacob Cooke, CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies based in Beijing, as some of the products covered by China's list of U.S. imports included fast-growing categories like hair care, personal care products and infant formula.

With the U.S. list for Chinese products focused more on consumer goods, it could help lower U.S. inflation while also allowing Chinese firms to export more of their overcapacity, said Gary Ng, a senior economist at French bank Natixis.

Some experts said, however, the economic impact at $30 billion each way may be limited overall.

U.S. exports to China were roughly $68 billion through the first seven months of this year, while Chinese exports to the U.S. were at around $270 billion for the first eight months, said Prashant Bhayani, chief investment officer for Asia at BNP Paribas Wealth Management.

A $30 billion deal each way will be “more meaningful” for U.S. exports to China in terms of percentage share, he said.

Even after the deal, the overall average U.S. tariff rate on China is estimated to only drop from around 22% to roughly 20.5% and remain significantly higher than the roughly 11% before Trump’s return to the White House early last year, said Leah Fahy, a senior China economist at Capital Economics in a research report.

Notably, U.S. soybeans were not included in the list of agricultural commodities, she added.

China's trade surplus expected to remain elevated

While the deal did not cover sensitive strategic goods, some analysts believe U.S.-China trade will likely continue to recover for the rest of the year after steep U.S. tariffs on Chinese products last year hit bilateral trade.

The U.S. and China last week also reached a two-month extension of the broader trade truce that was set to expire Nov. 10 to January.

China’s trade surplus, which reached a record $1.2 trillion last year, will likely remain elevated. By August, it stood at about $800 billion, putting this year’s surplus “on pace to exceed the 2025 record,” according to Ecaterina Bigos, a senior market strategist with BNP Paribas Asset Management.

The U.S. is also investigating China among 16 trading partners in its Section 301 probe on excess industrial capacity and could impose additional tariffs on China when the investigation concludes.

However, with more meetings set between Trump and Xi, including at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November and at the Group of 20 summit in Florida in December, Song at ING said he would not expect a major flare-up of trade tensions before year-end.

Exporters welcome the tariff deal

Some Chinese exporters welcomed the tariff deal announcements.

“This is positive news,” said Richard Chan of Golden Arts Gifts & Decor, which manufactures Christmas decorations in southern China and supplies to countries including the U.S. “The economy in both the U.S. and China is not really good, and the two sides should help each other more.”

However, because most of this year’s Christmas goods are already being shipped ahead of the peak holiday season, the tariff reductions may have limited effect for them at least for now.

San Antonio runners raise $75K for brain cancer research at Head for the Cure 5K

Madalynn Lambert, Angel Lopez — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 20:48:01 +0000

More than 900 runners and walkers gathered at Providence High School Saturday for the annual Head for the Cure event, raising more than $75,000 for brain cancer research and patient support programs.

KSAT has helped sponsor the race since 2014 in the fight against brain cancer and to honor late News Director Jim Boyle. Funds raised support clinical trials and patient-family support programs that serve patients and families in the San Antonio community.

For many participants, the event is more than a race — it’s a personal mission.

Linzie Davis and her daughter Alexza were among the hundreds who turned out to remember loved ones and reaffirm why they keep coming back year after year.

“It means so much when you see something like this still going so strong all these years later,” Davis said.

Davis says the shared experience of loss and hope is what makes the event so meaningful.

“So you see year after year, so whether it’s a new diagnosis or something of the past, we’re all here championing the same cause. And it’s just beautiful to see that love and community support,” Davis said.

For Clara Hartfiel, the race is a tribute to her father.

“My dad was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma in 2009, the year that I was born, and he fought for 13 years, so we honor him. He passed away in 2022, but his memory still lives on through this race,” Hartfiel said.

Hartfiel says watching her neighbors show up in force is a powerful reminder of why finding a cure matters. She wants people to remember her father for the life he lived — not the disease he fought.

“He wasn’t defined by this disease. He was defined by who he was as a person,” Hartfiel said.

Last year, nearly 1,000 runners and walkers participated in the San Antonio race, raising more than $60,000 for brain cancer research. The race has grown into a community tradition for people running in honor of family members, friends or themselves.

Read also:

Owners of Stone Oak’s British restaurant, tea shop to return to UK

Christian Riley Dutcher — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:39:32 +0000

A Stone Oak restaurant announced it plans to close permanently on Sunday, Oct. 4, according to a Facebook post.

The Old English Tea Shoppe announced the closure as two of its co-owners, Sandra and Peter Marley, made the decision to return to the United Kingdom for “circumstances beyond their control.”

“We want to thank every single customer who has supported us, shared a meal with us, celebrated special occasions with us, and made The Old English Tea Shoppe part of their lives,” the restaurant said in the post.

The restaurant opened in 2023, according to its website, with the mission of offering the “REAL English experience” and cuisine.

Sandra and her husband helped open the restaurant that her brother Robb Kelly dreamed of, the website said.

“It has been an absolute pleasure serving our community,” the statement continued, “and we will forever be grateful for the friendships, memories, laughter, and wonderful moments we have shared.”

The store has advertised an opportunity for someone new to purchase the restaurant.

Also on KSAT:

Trump administration lowers fuel economy standards, critics say at a significant environmental cost

Anne D'Innocenzio, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:01:55 +0000

The Trump administration on Monday released new fuel economy standards that relax regulatory requirements for automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and light trucks. The new rules were released shortly after President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices soaring.

The change furthers Trump’s promise to revoke policies that encouraged or created incentives for the production of electric vehicles and ultimately, will expose Americans to more planet-warming pollution from vehicles.

Mileage standards, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, requirements, have been implemented since the 1970s energy crisis, and set out how far new vehicles need to travel on a gallon of gasoline. Over time, automakers have gradually improved their vehicles’ average efficiency.

The Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that the finalized standards would correspond to a combined industry fleetwide average of roughly 34.9 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks in the 2031 model year. That's up from 30.1 miles per gallon for model year 2024, but down from a projected 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031 under rules put in place by the Biden administration.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we have finally ended the illegal mandate that forced automakers to produce more expensive electric vehicles that American families didn’t want,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a statement touting vehicle affordability.

NHTSA had projected last December that the new standards would hover at roughly 34.5 miles per gallon.

The news comes amid ongoing tensions as the war in Iran persists, with Trump refusing a deal with Iran to open the Strait as recently as Saturday, impacting the world's oil supply.

Environmental groups concerned over the rollback

News of the revised standards immediately drew rebukes from environmentalists.

The DOT said Monday that the rule would cut yearly oil consumption in 2050 by about 1.3 billion barrels as compared to yearly oil consumption in 2024.

But when the 2024 standards went into effect, NHTSA estimated they would save 14 billion gallons of gasoline from being burned by 2050. The agency also said that while new fuel-efficient vehicles cost more up front, savings on gasoline over the lifetime of the car or truck would more than make up for that.

Environmental groups estimate now, without stricter standards, cars could produce 22,111 more tons of carbon dioxide per year than under the Biden-era rules in 2035.

The rule also translates to an extra 90 tons a year of deadly soot particles and 4,870 additional tons a year of smog components such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted into the air in coming years, experts say.

Transportation already accounts for much of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet; 28% as of the last estimate in 2022.

It “ignores the feasibility of clean technology and the millions of fuel-efficient cars already on the road,” Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign, said of the rule.

Since taking office, Trump has also pulled back auto tailpipe emissions rules, repealed fines for automakers that do not meet federal mileage standards and terminated consumer credits of up to $7,500 for EV purchases.

The president has repeatedly pledged to end what he falsely calls an EV “mandate,” referring incorrectly to former President Joe Biden’s target that half of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. No federal policy has mandated auto companies to sell EVs.

According to data from Cox Automotive, EVs accounted for 5.7% of total new-vehicle sales in August, down from 7.4% for all of 2025.

Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign, vowed the environmental group would fight the rule.

“Less fuel-efficient cars mean more gas burned, spending more at the pump, and dirtier air in our communities,” Garcia wrote in a statement.

The state of the industry

Automakers and industry groups have said the new rules will increase Americans’ access to the full range of gasoline vehicles they need and can afford.

“NHTSA made the right call to better align fuel economy standards with the law and current market conditions,” John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents the domestic auto industry, said in a statement. He said the previous standards "effectively required a switchover to electric vehicles that was out of step with market realities and customer demand. Today’s final rule is an appropriate course correction."

“What the industry needs is long-term regulatory stability that includes balanced, durable and achievable fuel economy standards that continue to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy,” Bozzella added. “This is the formula for preserving consumer vehicle choice and keeping the U.S. auto industry globally competitive.”

A spokesperson for Ford Motor Company, maker of the top-selling pickup truck, the F-150, said: “We appreciate Secretary Duffy and the Administration’s work to align regulations with market realities. As we evaluate the final rule’s full impact on our business, we’ll continue working with the Administration to build a strong American auto industry.”

A General Motors spokesperson said in a statement the company supports the goals of the rule “and its intention to better align fuel economy standards with market realities.”

Stellantis also welcomed the changes.

“These standards will allow us to offer our customers the freedom to choose from a range of vehicles and powertrains that meet their needs, from brands they love and trust,” a Stellantis spokesperson said in a statement.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social media account Saturday that the less stringent mileage requirements would “take the waste out of building cars in America” and save families “thousands on a new, beautiful and safe car,” while boosting auto production in the U.S.

The DOT reiterated on Monday that the changes will cut the average cost of a new vehicle by $1,300, and save Americans $138 billion over the next five years.

Americans, however, are spending more on gas as Washington’s war with Iran disrupts the global flow of fuel; gasoline prices averaged $4.47 on Monday, according to the AAA motor club, up from $3.13 a year ago. The rising cost of oil weighed on U.S. stocks to start the week.

“Trump is tanking sensible mile per gallon standards at the worst possible time for consumers, who are getting hit with sky-high prices at the pump,” the Center for Biological Diversity's Becker said. “Consumers will pay the price for these reckless rollbacks while Trump’s Big Oil and Big Auto buddies reap the short-term profits.”

Experts have also said that less stringent rules do not necessarily translate to more consumer purchases of new vehicles that may have more safety features.

The average new car in America sold for $50,089 in August, crossing over the $50,000 line for the first time since last December, according to Kelley Blue Book data.

___

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.

Anne D'Innocenzio reported from New York City. Matthew Daly contributed from Washington.

___

Trump's mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he's 'not political'

Steven Sloan, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:51:30 +0000

Long before he was the top official at the U.S. Postal Service, David Steiner was a corporate executive surfing mid-oughts television when he came across Donald Trump on “The Apprentice.”

He was unimpressed.

“If that is leadership, if that's what we're telling people that our culture and our media portrays as leadership, we're screwed,” Steiner, then the CEO of Waste Management, said during a 2007 speech at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. “If that's leadership, count me out.”

“And for God's sake,” he added to laughter, “if I have to get my hair to look like that, if I have to do that to be a leader, you can definitely count me out.”

Nearly two decades later, Trump has migrated from reality television to the presidency. And onetime detractors — Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, for example — now loyally execute his agenda.

Trump's effort to use the Postal Service as a tool to reshape American elections is testing whether Steiner will follow a similar path.

Independent or a Trump ‘pawn'?

When Trump signed an executive order restricting mail ballots this year, Steiner moved quickly to finalize a rule implementing the measure, arguing he had little choice. But after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the effort, Steiner told The Associated Press that work had stopped on one of the plan's most controversial elements, a government portal for voter rolls.

He refused to endorse the Republican president's order as sound policy, saying he was focused on implementation and letting the courts ultimately decide the matter.

“I don't get to decide what rules that are put on us that I decide to accept or not accept,” he said. “We are an independent agency of the executive branch.”

The episode prompted fierce criticism of Steiner for allowing Trump to deploy an agency designed to be shielded from politics.

Jena Griswold, Colorado's Democratic secretary of state, called him a “Trump lackey.” Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, a Democrat, recently asked Congress to deploy observers to ensure postal workers can scan envelopes holding mail ballots without disruption, saying the Trump administration "has attempted to weaponize federal agencies to interfere in our elections, and the leadership at USPS is going along with it.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., accused Steiner of being a Trump “pawn” during a congressional hearing this summer. Dozens of congressional Democrats have pressed Steiner to reveal his interactions with the White House during the development of the mail ballot rule.

Some Republicans have joined in the criticism. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, incensed by abandoned mail, called for Steiner's resignation and introduced legislation to block him from receiving a bonus.

During a lengthy interview, Steiner seemed surprised at points by his reception in Washington. He insisted he wasn't a “political person” and said he had no intention of stepping down despite the criticism. He dismissed heated congressional appearances as “theater” at odds with more substantive private interactions on Capitol Hill.

Steiner was chagrined, however, at the mention of his 2007 remarks on Trump, delivered well before he launched a political career. Steiner recalled speaking at the university but said he didn't remember his comments, acknowledging a tendency to be “flippant.”

“That's funny,” he said. “I don't recall it.”

The White House didn't respond to a request for comment on Steiner's remarks or his stewardship of the Postal Service.

Steiner didn't follow the traditional path to power in Trump's Washington

The Postal Service dates to Benjamin Franklin, the first postmaster general, whose portrait and bust are displayed in Steiner's office overlooking the Washington Wharf. The agency has more than 630,000 employees, dwarfing many Cabinet departments.

While the quickest way to top jobs in Trump's Washington is often by writing big checks, the 66-year-old Steiner doesn’t appear to have followed that course. He has largely donated to Republicans but also gave to John Kerry’s Democratic presidential campaign in 2004. Unlike his predecessor as postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, Steiner was not a major GOP donor or Trump backer.

Born in Oakland, California, as one of eight children to a father who spent his career at Chevron, Steiner worked in corporate and securities law before moving to Waste Management in 2000. He became CEO in 2004 and ran the company for 12 years. He was also a longtime director at FedEx, where board chairman Brad Martin recalled him as “outcome oriented” and rarely political.

“He's going to follow the rules. He's going to follow the law,” Martin said. “I don't recall us ever talking politics.”

By the time a headhunter contacted Steiner about the postmaster general job, he was largely removed from daily corporate life and initially demurred.

“I talked to my wife, and we both agreed I was happily retired," he said.

He changed his mind, he said, during a visit to the beaches of Normandy, feeling a sense of civic duty.

Now at the Postal Service, he earns about $346,000 in annual salary along with a relocation bonus that amounts to half his salary, far less than the $17 million in compensation he earned during his final year at Waste Management. His current role is designed to exist one layer removed from the political process, reporting to a board of governors that is selected by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

He was hired in 2025 by a board that was made up of five members, three of whom were Democrats. All but one were appointed by President Joe Biden. That makeup could change as four Trump nominees — all Republicans — await Senate confirmation. Steiner can be fired only by the board.

Steiner said he first met Trump along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the board's urging after he was already selected as postmaster general. Since then, he described a minimal relationship with the White House.

“We don't fly on the radar,” he said.

That is, until Trump revived his effort in March to crack down on mail voting. Steiner said he “wasn't in on the development piece” of the order and first saw it about a month before it was signed.

“They gave it to us to say, ‘Have your lawyers look at it, and how do you operationalize it?’” Steiner said.

The portal spurred a massive development effort inside the Postal Service while some states criticized it as federal overreach. A whistleblower report released by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued the system was hastily built and riddled with errors, though Steiner said he was confident it could have been unveiled around Sept. 15.

“The heavy lifting was clearly, clearly the IT work,” Steiner said.

Challenges ahead for the Postal Service

Though the Supreme Court dispensed with the rule, the dynamics for the Postal Service don't get easier.

The agency posted a $9 billion net loss last year, and Steiner has warned it could soon run out of cash unless Congress lifts a $15 billion borrowing cap. Political hurdles have prevented potential cost savings from cutting service or closing some post offices.

And while Trump's executive order won't take effect, the Postal Service will still play a critical role in this year's elections. There are mounting concerns that mail ballots could be rejected for late postmarks. Steiner encouraged voters to get their ballots in a week before the election to avoid problems.

The Postal Service is a rare corner of government still viewed favorably with more than half of Americans, 56%, saying it was doing an “excellent” or “good” job in a Gallup poll conducted last year. That could change if the agency is seen as increasingly political.

Steiner, however, said Americans will judge the Postal Service by their experience of it.

“What they care about is when they get that wedding invitation after the wedding or when they send a package and it disappears,” he said. “If we want to have the trust of the American public, let's be the best service provider. Everything else is noise.”

Tropical Storm Hanna Forms In The Central Subtropical Atlantic

National Hurricane Center — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:02:58 +0000


Location	870 miles ENE of Bermuda
Wind	45 mph
Heading	E at 17 mph
Pressure	29.71
Coordinates	50.4W, 36.6N

Discussion

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 36.6 North, longitude 50.4 West. Hanna is moving toward the east near 17 mph (28 km/h). An east to east-southeast motion is forecast over the next few days.

Satellite wind data indicates that maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

Watches and Warnings

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Land Hazards

None

Wilson County pays $200K to settle ex-deputy’s sex discrimination complaint

Dillon Collier, Joshua Saunders — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Wilson County agreed this summer to pay a former sheriff’s deputy $200,000 to settle a federal sex discrimination complaint filed after she accused her supervisor of unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate contact while they were both on duty.

But records obtained by KSAT Investigates show ex-deputy Irene Hernandez was far from the only woman to raise concerns about the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.

Six female employees ultimately came forward with complaints about several high-ranking members of the sheriff’s office, according to a July 2024 statement of position authored by then-Wilson County Attorney Tom Caldwell and submitted to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

A separate investigation conducted by Caldwell the previous year concluded allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior within WCSO were “founded.”

The findings came months before Sheriff Jim Stewart publicly denied there were sex discrimination issues within his ranks and said Caldwell had failed to provide him with evidence on which he could act.

Former deputy says problems began shortly after she was hired

Hernandez, who told KSAT the settlement agreement prevents her from discussing the payout amount, spent about two and a half years working as a Wilson County sheriff’s deputy before resigning in early 2024.

She told KSAT Investigates her tenure was one of the most difficult periods of her life.

“I listened to a lot of sex talk, I listened to a lot of the investigators talk about women in derogatory ways,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez resigned from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office in February 2024.

Hernandez said some of her most serious concerns involved her then-supervisor, Sgt. Richard Nichols.

Records show Hernandez reported Nichols to a lieutenant in June 2022, describing inappropriate contact and unwanted sexual advances made by Nichols while they were on duty.

Former Wilson County Sheriff's sergeant Richard Nichols.

Hernandez said her confidential allegations were later leaked within the agency, and that other deputies stopped providing backup to her on calls after she made the complaint.

Nichols left the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office in July 2022.

He was then hired by the La Vernia Police Department in May 2023, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records show.

In June 2023, Hernandez took ongoing concerns about her work environment outside the sheriff’s office and reported them to Caldwell, who began his own investigation, records show.

County investigation finds allegations ‘founded’

Caldwell’s investigation expanded beyond Hernandez, records show.

His October 2023 report found other female employees had also raised concerns about conduct within the sheriff’s office.

“The allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior are FOUNDED,” Caldwell wrote in his findings.

The report also concluded the “perpetrators” had never been told within the department that their behavior was inappropriate or that it needed to stop.

Caldwell provided the report to Stewart, the Wilson County Judge and members of its commissioners court, according to records.

Despite the report’s findings, Stewart publicly pushed back against allegations of sex discrimination within his ranks during a January 2024 public forum.

“In the last seven months he has failed to bring any actionable evidence to me, for me to act on,” Stewart said of Caldwell. “He has not brought anything. He has not had any luck with that. And I beg him, if he has it, I’ve told him from day one, ‘you bring it to me, because I have never failed to fix anything that I found to be wrong.’”

Those comments came more than two months after Caldwell provided Stewart with the report.

Wilson County Sheriff Jim Stewart addresses the crowd during a public forum in January 2024.

Hernandez resigned from the sheriff’s office days after Stewart’s public comments.

“Why are you so afraid of this information getting out?” said Hernandez.

Six women came forward

Hernandez, who told KSAT she was unfamiliar with the EEOC when she was hired by the sheriff’s office, made the decision to pursue a federal discrimination complaint.

In a July 2024 statement of position submitted in response to the complaint, Caldwell acknowledged the scope of the allegations went beyond Hernandez.

Hernandez was one of six female employees who had complained about several high-ranking members of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, records show.

Hernandez and the county reached a settlement this summer.

The settlement includes $37,600 for lost wages and $162,400 in damages, the agreement shows.

As part of the settlement, the county also agreed to create a policy prohibiting sex discrimination and retaliation in the workplace and provide training on sex discrimination and retaliation.

Irene Hernandez agreed to the $200,000 settlement this summer.

Hernandez said the settlement does not erase what she experienced.

“It was never about the money,” Hernandez said. “Do I feel justified? No, I don’t think I ever will.”

KSAT Investigates reached out to Stewart for comment. The sheriff said via email the terms of the settlement prevent him from discussing it.

Wilson County Judge Henry Whitman did not respond to an email seeking comment for this story.

Nichols did not respond to a request for comment sent to his chief of police in La Vernia.

La Vernia’s chief told KSAT Investigates via email he had no information about the EEOC complaint regarding Nichols’ previous employment.

Sheriff ordered woman to stop recording during July commissioners court meeting

The settlement came into public view following an unusual encounter involving Stewart.

During a Wilson County Commissioners Court meeting in July, footage showed Stewart checking his phone, getting up from his seat and approaching a woman sitting in the back of the room.

The woman was recording as Stewart told her to stop.

“You can have the video on request, but you don’t take your own,” Stewart told her.

“I can’t?” the woman responded.

“No ma’am,” Stewart said.

The exchange at the public meeting occurred as commissioners had reached an agenda item that included a scheduled discussion of the EEOC claim.

All recent polls have Talarico ahead of Paxton in the U.S. Senate race

Texas Tribune, Hien An Ngo — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Texas’ candidates in this year’s U.S. Senate race are neck and neck, according to recent polling. Since the runoff election on May 26, state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, has performed slightly better than his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Notably, Talarico has enjoyed larger leads in recent polling than Democrat Beto O’Rourke ever did in 2018 when he nearly beat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Talarico is dominating Paxton in fundraising.

How to read a poll

The quality of polls and pollsters can be measured by several metrics, including how well their polls have performed in the past and how transparent they are about their methodology. Here are a few things to pay attention to when navigating different polls.

Partisan sponsors: Polls sponsored by a candidate or party should be taken with a grain of salt, according to the American Association for Public Opinion Research. While nonpartisan polling organizations typically release all of their polling results regardless of who is ahead, candidate-sponsored or party-affiliated surveys can choose to only release results that benefit their campaigns.

Sample size: In general, the more people an election poll surveys the more reliable its results are. As sample sizes increase, the results of a survey are more likely to reflect the real attitudes of those who will vote in an election.

Sample type: Election polls usually survey three kinds of populations: adults, registered voters and those they deem to be “likely voters,” based on their voting history and gauged interest.

Polls that survey adults are able to increase their sample sizes, but can be less reflective of the opinions of those who will actually make it to the polls to vote on Election Day. During an election year, polls using samples of registered voters are common as they are a concrete group and more likely to vote than unregistered adults.

Closer to election day, polls with “likely voter” samples are often considered more representative of those who will actually vote. Different pollsters use different methodologies to determine who is a likely voter, using factors such as past voting behavior and interest in the election.

Sampling method: The methods by which pollsters select who participates in their surveys usually fall into two categories: probability and non-probability samples.

In a probability-based sample, every person of the full population has a chance of being selected for the survey, whereas in a non-probability based sample, such as an internet panel or a self-selected sample, the chance of any one person being selected is unknown. As a result, the samples can be skewed toward characteristics that may not be as reflective of the whole population.

Although probability based sampling has been the preferred method for many decades, its rising cost has led researchers to turn to non-probability based sampling. The results of some non-probability based surveys have been shown to be comparable to and sometimes more accurate than probability based surveys.

Margin of error: While polls conducted with probability samples allow for the calculation of the margin of error, non-probability polls have no simple way of calculating the same error metric. They must instead use statistical models to produce estimates of their sampling error.

Methodology for our tracker

Where the polls come from

The New York Times collects polls and manages a database of election polling. This tracker pulls data from their collection, and estimates the average of every poll conducted since Paxton won his Republican runoff election in May.

Which polls we include

We included every public poll of the Texas U.S. Senate that asked voters to choose who they would vote for if the election occurred that day and included James Talarico and Ken Paxton as options. Polls that ended before the May runoff election are not included in the average, but are listed in the table.

How the average works

The average is calculated by weighting every poll by three factors: recency, sample size and whether the poll’s sponsor has a partisan affiliation. We then averaged them.

Recent polls count more than older ones as they are more reflective of current sentiment.
Polls with larger sample sizes count more than those with smaller samples.
Polls sponsored by a political party count half as much as ones without a partisan sponsor.

Limits

The average is not a forecast of the election and who will eventually win. Additionally, early in the race, the number of polls that have been released can be relatively low, meaning the average can shift meaningfully when a single new poll is added. As a result, individual outlier polls carry more weight early on.

Apurva Mahajan contributed to this report.

Disclosure: The New York Times 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 Texas Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Pope Leo wraps up France trip by urging Europe to blunt 'desire for domination' driving today's wars

Nicole Winfield, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:13:02 +0000

Pope Leo XIV urged Europe on Monday to draw from its Christian roots and tradition of dialogue to blunt the “desire for domination” driving today's wars, as he wrapped up a visit to France by recalling the forces that contributed to the continent's peaceful integration.

Leo traveled to the eastern city of Metz, near the border with Luxembourg and Germany, to honor Robert Schuman, a French Catholic statesman regarded as one of the founding fathers of European unity after World War II.

Leo decided to end his four-day visit to France in Metz, at a conference center named for Schuman, to drive home his appeal. The American pope wants Europe to draw from its Christian foundations and traditions to respond to wars and other conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the challenges of migration.

“Over the past 80 years, Europe has amply demonstrated that it is possible to articulate divergent opinions, claims and interests through encounter rather than conflict,” he said.

“We need to commit ourselves to patient dialogue, to show courage in negotiation and to be willing to give up some positions for the greater good of peace,” he said, without naming specific conflicts or positions.

Élysée Palace, the French presidential office, had invited all European Union heads of state and the heads of European institutions to attend the conference. But only a handful, from smaller states such as Monaco, Andorra and Luxembourg, joined President Emmanuel Macron.

Huge crowds and a military escort

Leo’s visit to the once staunchly Catholic and officially secular France has been marked by his appeal for Europe to remember its Christian heritage and apply it to today’s ethical and geopolitical challenges.

It has also been marked by huge crowds at nearly every turn — 800,000 attended Leo’s Mass on Paris’ iconic Place de la Concorde — surprising even organizers and suggesting that the Catholic Church still has a place in an overwhelmingly secular public square.

On Monday morning, Leo's Air France charter received a military escort of two French fighter jets for the flight from Lourdes to Metz in a sign of respect. Macron tweeted a photo of Leo's plane taken by one of the jets while in flight, writing “Welcome to Metz, Most Holy Father.”

Macron joined Leo on stage at the Schuman event, vowing “unfailing” European support for Ukraine and noting that the country is among those aspiring to join the EU and a “space of peace, security, democracy and prosperity.”

“War has come back to our continent and our Europe is rocked by the return of empires,” Macron said. “To guarantee real sovereignty, we must therefore act, act firstly to preserve our security and our values.”

In his final event in France, Leo celebrated Mass in the cathedral of St. Stephen in Metz, a city with a long history of conflict that was part of Nazi Germany during the war.

The cathedral, finished in 1522, is one of the greatest examples of French Gothic style, with its soaring vaults and stained-glass windows, some of which were later designed by Marc Chagall, a 20th-century Jewish artist.

In his homily, Leo said that Metz and its surroundings experienced evil, but now “bear witness to the whole world that reconciliation is only possible when one has the courage to break the chains of resentment.”

The cathedral’s stained-glass windows, designed by a Jew, are “an extraordinary symbol of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue,” where God’s light unites “different histories and cultures into a single marvelous mosaic of peace.”

“As we contemplate these stained-glass windows, we learn that Europe’s future does not lie in uniformity, but in the harmony of differences, where the wounds of the past become openings through which light shines,” he said.

The colored glass has given the cathedral the nickname the “Lanterne du Bon Dieu,” or “The Good Lord’s Lantern.”

As they did in Paris during Saturday's Mass along the Champs-Élysées, priests in Metz set up makeshift confession stands on the streets to accommodate the faithful who packed the squares around the cathedral.

The Vatican estimated that 35,000 people had turned out. Macron changed his schedule at the last minute to attend and sat in the front row.

A statesman who promoted dialogue among rivals

Schuman is best known for the Schuman Declaration of 1950, five years after World War II ended. It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community to pool production between historic rivals France and Germany.

The idea, as Europe was emerging from the ruins of the war, was guided by the belief that intertwined economic interests would make another conflict between them “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.”

The coal and steel organization was the first among European institutions that were precursors to what eventually became the European Union.

Schuman, a resistance fighter imprisoned by the Nazis, was declared “venerable” in 2021, a step in the Catholic Church's process toward possible sainthood.

Leo praised especially Schuman's respect for international law in pursuing his idea of peaceful integration. It was an indirect reference to how Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as U.S. military incursions in Venezuela and the Iran war, have taken place outside the international legal order.

Leo said international law and multilateralism “constitute the best antidote to the desire for domination, which lies at the root of every conflict.”

He lamented that in its place, relations today between states are becoming “increasingly uncivilized.”

“The value of keeping one’s word is dismissed; instead, people boast of lies and deceit,” he said.

Asked if Leo had crossed a line and entered into the European political debate, the Vatican's foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, said that the pope was just preaching Catholic morals.

“He spoke about morality, ethics and the principles of the Church’s moral teaching. If anyone wants to draw political conclusions, they are free to do so,” Gallagher said.

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John Leicester contributed to this report from Paris.

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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.

Lynx take two WNBA awards: Miles is Rookie of the Year, and Reeve is a five-time Coach of the Year

Dave Campbell, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:37:04 +0000

The Minnesota Lynx have received two major WNBA awards, with point guard Olivia Miles as Rookie of the Year and Cheryl Reeve as Coach of the Year for a league-record fifth time.

The WNBA announced the awards on Monday, before the Lynx traveled to New York for an elimination game in their best-of-three first-round playoff series on Tuesday. The top-seeded Lynx lost the opener at home 91-75 to the 2024 champion Liberty on Sunday.

Miles was an unanimous selection by a national panel of sports writers and broadcasters covering the league, after she set the WNBA rookie scoring record. Miles played in 40 of 44 games and averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 49.2% from the field, 38.8% from 3-point range and 87% from the free-throw line.

Miles, who was the second overall pick in the draft out of TCU, became the sixth winner of the award in Lynx history, following Betty Lennox (2000), Seimone Augustus (2006), Maya Moore (2011), Napheesa Collier (2019) and Crystal Dangerfield (2020).

Reeve, who is also president of basketball operations for the club, previously won the award in 2011, 2016, 2020 and 2024. She guided the Lynx to WNBA titles in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Reeve received 40 of 74 votes from media panel. Golden State's Natalie Nakase, who won the award last year, finished second with 20 votes. Washington's Sydney Johnson was third with 14 votes.

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Coaching mistakes in the final seconds cost the Cowboys against the Ravens

Bhy Rob Maaddi, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:23:49 +0000

The Dallas Cowboys made two wrong decisions in the final 10 seconds that cost them an opportunity to go to overtime against the Baltimore Ravens and led to a loss in regulation.

First, a special teams blunder. Second, a defensive lapse.

After Brandon Aubrey kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the score at 31 with seven seconds remaining, the Cowboys chose to kick the ball out of the end zone for the first time in the game. The touchback didn’t run any time off the clock. Lamar Jackson then completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers that set up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal that gave Baltimore a 34-31 victory in Brazil on Sunday.

If Aubrey kicked the ball in the landing zone, at least a few seconds would’ve run off the clock. But Dallas didn’t want to risk a return for a touchdown and opted for the touchback that gave the Ravens the ball at their 35.

“We felt like, let’s boom it through, put them out there, make them throw the ball short and we’ll be fine,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “Play for overtime. That’s what the plan was.”

It backfired because the defense got beat.

Rookie defensive coordinator Christian Parker inexplicably chose to play man-to-man coverage instead of a deep zone. Flowers won his one-on-one and Jackson fired a perfect strike down the middle for the completion with one second remaining.

Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, an analyst on NBC, criticized the decision to play man coverage during halftime of the Rams-Broncos game.

“I’m really surprised they’re playing man-to-man in this sequence,” Tomlin said. “Most people in these circumstances are going to play what we describe as an umbrella zone.”

The two mistakes at the end ruined an impressive comeback by Dak Prescott and the offense. The Cowboys trailed 24-13 in the third quarter before Prescott led a pair of touchdown drives. But the offense also failed in a clutch spot.

After Jackson and the Ravens took the lead, Dallas had a chance to reclaim it. The Cowboys had a first down at Baltimore’s 2 with 23 seconds to go but failed to score a touchdown. And, they only used up 16 seconds, leaving time on the clock for Baltimore.

Prescott threw an incompletion on first down. He scrambled five yards back to the 2 after a false start penalty on second down. Another incomplete pass forced the Cowboys to settle for a field goal.

Schottenheimer called timeout with 14 seconds left after Prescott's run on second down instead of letting the clock run down a few more seconds.

The Ravens took advantage.

It was one of 12 games that were decided by one score, tying a record for the most such games in a week.

Here are other takeaways from Week 3:

Bo-lieve in Bo Nix

Bo Nix saved Davis Webb’s playcalling duties in the second half, leading the Broncos to a 30-26 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Nix, with help from defensive penalties on the Rams, engineered the go-ahead drive in the final minutes, scoring on a one-yard leap with 48 seconds remaining.

Webb, who is Denver’s offensive coordinator, is in his first season calling plays instead of coach Sean Payton. He may have lost those responsibilities if the Broncos didn’t get the offense going after getting shut out in the first half.

Raider Nation rejoices

Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins have led the Raiders to three straight wins to open the season after Las Vegas won just three games in 2025.

Cousins led a 35-27 comeback win in New Orleans and now has nine touchdown passes in three games. The Raiders don’t have any reason to rush rookie No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza into the starting lineup with Cousins racking up the wins.

Maye’s regression is concerning

It’s hard to believe Drake Maye finished runner-up to Matthew Stafford for the NFL MVP award last season.

Maye’s regression has been dramatic. He now has just one touchdown pass and six interceptions in three games for the Patriots (1-2). He threw 31 TD passes and eight picks last season.

Maye’s troubles began in the playoffs, even though New England reached the Super Bowl. He had eight turnovers (four picks, four fumbles) and was sacked 21 times in four games.

That’s carried over into the first three games, a concerning trend for the Patriots.

Super Bowl champs derailed

Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to a stunning 33-31 victory over the Seahawks, snapping Seattle’s franchise-record 12-game winning streak.

Filling in for Jayden Daniels, Mariota tossed three TD passes and didn’t commit any turnovers against the “Dark Side” defense.

Winless Texans are in trouble

Another poor performance by Houston’s offense in a 19-17 loss to the Colts has the Texans off to an 0-3 start for the second straight season. There’s little reason to believe they could go 12-2 the rest of the way again.

C.J. Stroud was inconsistent and the offense managed just 223 yards against a defense that came in giving up the most in the NFL.

Houston hosts Dallas (1-2) in the battle of Texas next week. The Cowboys will be coming off a long trip to Brazil so that should benefit the Texans.

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See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Underpaid workers building US Consulate in Milan will split multi-million payout from US firm

Colleen Barry, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:49:06 +0000

The U.S. company building the new American consulate in Milan has agreed to a nearly 31-million-euro ($35 million) settlement that includes back pay and damages to foreign workers who prosecutors allege were paid less than $2 an hour, officials said Monday.

The settlement was signed by the Milan prosecutors, Alabama-based multinational Caddell Construction and the court-appointed administrator that took over the construction site following the investigation into exploitative labor practices.

Caddell remains under administration, and the criminal investigation against the company and two of its managers in Italy is continuing, prosecutors said.

Caddell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Italian Labor Minister Marina Calderone called the probe “one of the most significant operations in recent years against illegal labor contracting and worker exploitation,” and said the outcome showed that the state would not abandon vulnerable workers.

Unions helping the workers welcomed the settlement, describing it as the largest of its kind in Europe.

Nearly 300 workers identified so far will receive on average 50,000 euros ($57,000), with some receiving up to 90,000 euros ($102,000) in unpaid wages and damages for emotional distress, said Luca Stanzione, the secretary general of the Milan branch of CGIL, a major trade union confederation.

“The compensation is an excellent result achieved through the efforts of prosecutors and trade unions,” Stanzione told The Associated Press. The CGIL’s construction union has been actively helping dozens of workers involved in the case.

Of the total, about 19.7 million euros is earmarked for direct payments to workers, with the remainder covering obligations to Italy’s social security authorities and labor inspectorate.

Most of the workers involved were from India, where they were recruited. The AP also spoke to workers who were recruited from a Caddell embassy project in Africa.

Milan prosecutors say that the workers were constantly exploited. After being promised a fair wage during recruitment, their pay stubs showed that they received less than $2 an hour and that food and housing had been illegally deducted from their wages. The minimum wage for construction workers in Milan starts at 13.19 euros (over $15) an hour.

The building site was put under judicial administration to restore legal operations. The new Milan consulate campus is being built on a 10-acre (40,000-square meter) site at a former shooting range, and will replace the current consulate that is located in a high rise.

Separately, dozens of workers have been granted unemployment benefits, while 265 have received special residence permits and applications for the remaining workers are being processed, according to the Labor Ministry.

Protesters rally outside ICE Processing Center in Pearsall

Pachatta Pope, Carlos Cortes — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:15:44 +0000

Protesters demanded the release of a man who was shot by an immigration official from the South Texas Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center in Pearsall on Sunday.

“We’re demanding that he get surgery to remove that bullet,” organizer David Torres said, “and we’re demanding the detention centers close, and deportations must stop.”

Tensions rose about 10 minutes after the protest began when law enforcement instructed protesters to not block the street. Officers soon pushed them to the sidewalk, but that was the extent of contact KSAT observed Sunday.

“Wilbur currently still has a bullet right next to his spine on his left side,” Torres said. “He is now paralyzed on his left side of the body.”

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was shot one week ago in north Austin by an officer following a reported attempt by ICE to take Perez into custody while he was working to make deliveries for DoorDash.

The attorney representing Perez said he had a valid work permit, but the Department of Homeland Security said that permit expired in 2025 and does not grant legal status.

Torres said the shooting and his perceived subsequent lack of medical attention given to Perez is another example of the brutality ICE is authorized to use.

ICE said it is not an authority on medical procedures for people in its custody, and that Perez is receiving medical care around the clock, including pain medication.

Brook Ontiveros said her family has been impacted by ICE and shared that her husband is also being detained inside the Pearsall ICE facility.

She said her husband came to the U.S. to support his family and hopes the protesters’ message is heard by those who can change things so her family can be reunited.

“I hope it reaches the highest person who’s in charge of any of these facilities,” Ontiveros said. “Most immigrants are not criminals. They’re just trying to come here and work for their families.”

In a statement, ICE said it will continue to carry out its mission.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, if you break the law, you will face the consequences,” DHS said. “ICE is unapologetically enforcing our nation’s immigration laws.”

Read more:

Russian drones hammer apartments, offices and a cultural landmark in Ukraine, killing 7

Hanna Arhirova And Barry Hatton, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:08:02 +0000

Russia’s round-the-clock bombardment of targets in Ukraine killed at least seven people and wounded more than 80 others, officials said Monday.

Moscow’s forces pounded apartment buildings, offices, gas stations, data centers and a building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in downtown Kyiv, among other targets.

The ceaseless Russian drone attacks on cities and towns aim to wear down Ukraine’s resistance and cripple the Ukrainian economy.

The attacks followed a week of diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to get traction for negotiations on ending Moscow’s invasion that began 4½ years ago.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Monday that the chances of making speedy headway on forging a peace settlement were bleak after recent Ukrainian attacks, including during recent parliamentary elections in Russia.

“Ukraine will have to pay a price for the actions that have taken place in recent months,” Peskov told reporters. “That is happening right now.”

Russian attacks leave dead and wounded across Ukraine

Russian drone attacks on the Kyiv region killed four people and wounded eight, officials said.

A woman was killed in a Russian strike on Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district on Monday afternoon, the Kyiv city military administration said. The strike hit the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the latest cultural landmark in the capital to be damaged.

Some staff escaped the burning building by climbing from windows down firefighters' ladders.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the Russians were conducting a campaign of “pure terror” on the civilian population.

“The terror goes on,” he told reporters at the site of the academy strike. “For more than a week Russia has kept attacking Kyiv, disrupting normal life in the city and destroying buildings.”

Russian forces also hit a pharmaceutical company and gas stations in Kyiv.

One drone struck an office center in central Dnipro during working hours Monday, killing three people and wounding at least 18, local authorities said.

A Russian strike on a nine-story apartment building in the northeastern city of Kharkiv wounded 43 people, including 11 children, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

Thirty civilians were injured in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia, officials said, while another Russian attack damaged a multistory apartment building in Odesa, wounding three people, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa regional military administration.

Four people, including two teenage girls, were hurt when a Russian drone struck a residential area in northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv region on Sunday evening, said Viacheslav Chaus, head of the regional military administration.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces struck two data centers in Kyiv, as well as gas stations in the Ukrainian capital. A distribution hub belonging to the Nova Poshta postal service was struck in the southern city of Odesa, it said.

The Russian military also hit a cargo ship in the Black Sea and another one in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, the ministry said. The strikes aim to curb Ukraine’s grain exports, though they may also create food shortages in countries that rely on Ukrainian imports.

The Russian aerial attacks regularly hit civilian areas. Moscow claims it targets only military-related sites.

Ukrainian army says it has advanced on the eastern front line

Battlefield positions have changed little since last year, in part because swarms of drones severely restrict troop movements, but Kyiv’s forces launched a recent offensive, code-named Operation Vivaldi, on part of the 1,250-kilometer (800-mile) front line.

Ukraine’s Third Army Corps said Monday it had recaptured another 51 square kilometers (20 square miles) from the Russians, bringing the total to 176 square kilometers (68 square miles) since the offensive began several months ago.

The corps said that in order to break through Russian defenses, it converted Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carriers into kamikaze vehicles that blew up the strongest Russian fortifications. The operation has also used ground robots to attack Russian positions.

The claimed breakthroughs came in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, which the bigger Russian army has been trying in vain to conquer.

Russian officials made no immediate comment on the Ukrainian claim.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said Russian troops captured the villages of Novovodiane in the Donetsk region and Ulanove in the northern Sumy region.

It was not possible to independently verify the claims.

Ukraine hits targets in southwestern Russia

Zelenskyy said long-range strikes on Russian soil hit two defense plants in the Tula and Voronezh regions and oil facilities in the Krasnodar region, all in southern and western Russia.

Ukraine's long-range drones have repeatedly targeted Russian fuel depots and industrial plants that are a mainstay of Moscow’s economy and war effort.

Ukrainian drone attacks overnight started fires at three infrastructure facilities in Russia’s Krasnodar region, local emergency officials said Monday, without identifying the locations.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 254 Ukrainian drones overnight.

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Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.

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

Congo's Ebola outbreak tops 8,000 confirmed cases as disease remains out of control

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:45:31 +0000

The number of confirmed cases of Ebola virus in Congo has surged past 8,000, as the country runs out of health workers to contain the deadly disease.

Congo announced an outbreak on May 15, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no known treatment or vaccine, and has struggled to contain it.

The latest data from Congo's health ministry released Sunday showed that 8,067 cases have been confirmed, with 3,901 deaths as of Sept. 26 across 63 health zones in seven of the country's 26 provinces, with a fatality rate of more than 48%.

“The continuously high crude case fatality ratio, and especially the continuously high rate of deaths occurring in communities, highlights the seriousness of the disease and the persistent challenges in timely case detection and access to early and adequate patient care,” the World Health Organization said in its latest report.

It means that a large percentage of those infected were dying, without taking into account factors like delays in seeking help or hidden cases.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Monday that the outbreak has begun to have an impact on other essential services in the hot spots as resources are mobilized toward fighting Ebola. According to OCHA's report, routine primary healthcare services fell by 13% between April and June in Ituri province alone.

“The indirect impact of the outbreak reflects both reduced health service availability — as a result of staffing and operational pressures — and reduced demand, as fear of infection and isolation discourages care-seeking,” OCHA said.

Last week, WHO said that Congo was running out of health workers to contain the disease. Health workers have complained about delayed or missing payments, triggering several strikes. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 health workers have died since the outbreak was announced.

Some areas have shown signs of improvement, with fewer confirmed cases in the past several weeks, including in Ituri province and Haut-Uele, but officials say the disease is spreading further in other areas, expanding its geographical reach.

According to data from the Africa CDC, the current outbreak has outpaced the two-year West Africa regional outbreak in terms of spread in the same time. By week 19, the regional outbreak between 2014 and 2016 recorded 3,781 cases, while the current outbreak recorded 7,840. WHO said that it's on track to surpass the regional outbreak, which killed 11,000 people.

Containment efforts have been hamstrung by insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike and intense population movements.

People tend to spend more money when they pay without cash, studies suggest

Stephanie Serna — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:02:56 +0000

Tapping a credit card or phone at checkout may feel quick and convenient, but research suggests that ease could come with a cost: People tend to spend more when they pay without cash.

A 2024 analysis of more than 300,000 transactions found that consumers generally spent more when using cashless payments, such as credit cards, debit cards or mobile wallets.

The effect was small, but researchers say it may be tied to a psychological concept known as the “pain of paying.”

The idea is simple: Paying with cash makes spending feel more immediate.

If you hand over $80 for dinner, you count the bills, give them away and see what is left in your wallet.

With a card or phone, the payment can be over in seconds. That quick tap may make the purchase feel less noticeable until the bill or bank statement arrives.

A separate study of more than 32,000 people found that using cash creates a greater “pain of paying” than using a card. That may help explain why some shoppers are more likely to spend freely when payment feels effortless.

Experts say people don’t necessarily need to stop using credit cards to regain control.

Instead, they can add small points of friction that make each purchase more visible.

That could include turning on transaction alerts so every purchase triggers a notification.

Shoppers can also remove saved credit cards from apps where they are most likely to buy on impulse.

Financial experts also suggest narrowing down one category where spending tends to add up, such as eating out, coffee or entertainment, and use only cash for that category for a week.

As cashless payments become more common, small spending habits may become more important.

Tracking purchases in real time can help consumers see where their money is going before the next bill arrives.

Read also:

San Antonio families face food insecurity as local organizations work to fill the gap

SpaceX launches 14th test flight from South Texas base

KSAT DIGITAL TEAM — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:33:37 +0000

SpaceX launched its Super Heavy booster and Starship rocket from Starbase, Texas, this morning in a test flight that could mark another step forward for the company’s spacecraft and satellite missions.

The launch window for the 14th test flight opened at 7:45 a.m. Monday, after SpaceX received federal approval for the launch.

The planned mission includes a stage separation in space, with Starship then orbiting Earth six times. SpaceX also plans to deploy 26 Starlink satellites during the flight.

Starship is expected to eventually splash down in the Pacific Ocean after completing the planned flight objectives.

Read also:

Motorcyclist in critical condition after crashing, falling over exit ramp near downtown, police say

Rebecca Salinas — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:28:33 +0000

A man was hospitalized in critical condition overnight after San Antonio police said he crashed his motorcycle at a high rate of speed just west of downtown.

The crash happened just before 12:30 a.m. Monday on the Frio Street/Durango Boulevard exit ramp on southbound Interstate 35.

Police said the motorcycle driver hit a wall and was thrown over it, landing in a grassy area.

Police said the motorcycle continued without the rider and crashed into SAPD’s Central Substation. An officer noticed the motorcycle had no rider, prompting firefighters to search the area.

Firefighters found the man nearby, and he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Investigators are working to determine what led up to the crash.

Read also:

Man hospitalized after being shot in leg on the South Side

Rebecca Salinas — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:18:30 +0000

A man is expected to recover after San Antonio police said he was shot in the leg during an encounter with two men just south of downtown.

The shooting happened near 3 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of McKinley Avenue, not far from Roosevelt and Steves Avenues.

Police said the victim, a man in his 30s, was approached by two men before he was shot. The two men then ran from the area.

The shooting victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police said his injuries are not expected to be life-threatening.

Investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting. No arrests have been reported.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Read also:

Nvidia unveils security platform to stop AI agents from going rogue after new, troubling incidents

The Associated Press, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:52:04 +0000

Nvidia on Monday unveiled a new security platform that the chipmaker said can stop artificial intelligence agents from going rogue.

The company said that its Open Agent Safety Platform includes open source software that “sets boundaries for agents,” and follows a series of revelations from top AI companies about their models escaping and breaking into other organizations.

The disclosures sparked furious debate about the safety of advanced artificial intelligence systems, including self-improving models that some fear could race out of human control.

Nvidia executives said in a media briefing that the new system could have prevented a recent incident involving a swarm of OpenAI agents that autonomously hacked into AI company Hugging Face.

“From what we know, this new security platform could have stopped the breach if it was being used in frontier labs for model evaluation early on," said the company’s vice president of enterprise AI, Justin Boitano, referring to companies at the forefront of AI.

The Hugging Face incident was a high-profile breach that inflamed the safety concerns about AI, which were followed by similar rogue actions involving OpenAI's models including breaching an Australian health department website. Anthropic and Meta have also disclosed that their AI systems hacked into other organizations on their own.

Nvidia's software, called OpenShell, lets developers “formally verify an agent has enough authority to do its job and no more,” Boitano said.

Because it's open source, it can be “extended” to run on rival computing platforms including those from Arm and Intel.

The platform also includes a separate security layer called Sentry that runs onboard a chip to continuously monitor AI agent activity and can "intervene instantly" if the agent starts trying to move beyond its target, the company said.

“It can quarantine a suspicious agent in milliseconds,” Boitano said.

“OpenShell governs the agent’s actions, and then Sentry independently monitors and contains suspicious behavior,” Boitano said.

Nvidia said more than 100 organizations are using the platform at its launch, including Microsoft, Perplexity, Accenture, and JPMorgan Chase.

The AI safety debate has divided the industry, with the heads of Anthropic and OpenAI championing a coordinated slowdown of AI development to let safety efforts catch up. But others including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang say it should be up to individual companies to make sure their models are safe for release.

Huang, during the annual Salesforce technology conference held earlier this month, characterized AI safety, including the danger of rogue agents, as an engineering problem that software developers can address.

Also Monday, Nvidia said its board approved expanding its share repurchase program by $150 billion, raising the total amount to $235 billion.

BGC Scores and Schedule: Week 5, 2026

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:19:38 +0000

Find the schedule and live scores for high school football games on Sept. 24-26 in San Antonio, South Texas and the Hill Country area.

Game scores below will be updated at the end of quarters and, in some cases, halves.

VISITOR

HOME

THURSDAY, SEP 24

LEE

JOHNSON

FINAL COMALANDER STADIUM

LIBERTY HILL

NEW BRAUNFELS

FINAL UNICORN STADIUM

KARNES CITY

STOCKDALE

FINAL STOCKDALE

SAN MARCOS

NB CANYON

FINAL COUGAR STADIUM

DAVENPORT

CANYON LAKE

FINAL HAWK STADIUM

EDISON

SAM HOUSTON

FINAL SAISD SPORTS COMPLEX

CEDAR CREEK

SMITHSON VALLEY

FINAL RANGER STADIUM

CLARK

CHURCHILL

FINAL HEROES STADIUM

SOUTH SAN

JOHN JAY

FINAL GUSTAFSON STADIUM

HARLAN

MARSHALL

FINAL FARRIS STADIUM

FRIDAY, SEP 25

POTEET

LYTLE

FINAL LYTLE

CRYSTAL CITY

JOURDANTON

FINAL JOURDANTON

LONG CREEK

LEGACY RANCH

FINAL LIBERTY HILL LEGACY RANCH

ODEM

MEMORIAL

FINAL EDGEWOOD VETERANS STADIUM

COTULLA

FALLS CITY

FINAL

SABINAL

BRACKETT

FINAL

CUERO

SALADO

FINAL SALADO

KYLE LEHMAN

SEGUIN

FINAL MATADOR STADIUM

PLEASANTON

CREEK VIEW

FINAL CREEK VIEW STADIUM

RANDOLPH

LULING

FINAL

HONDO

CARRIZO SPRINGS

FINAL FRANK CARTER STADIUM

TMI

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS

FINAL

ANTONIAN

CONCORDIA

FINAL

BRYAN BRAZOS CHRISTIAN

HOLY CROSS

FINAL

YMLA

NIXON-SMILEY

FINAL

LANIER

HIGHLANDS

FINAL ALAMO STADIUM

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

LUTHERAN SOUTH ACADEMY

FINAL

KENNEDY

FLORESVILLE

FINAL

MARBLE FALLS

NAVARRO

FINAL

NATALIA

DEVINE

FINAL

BLANCO

POTH

FINAL

WEIMAR

KENEDY

FINAL

INGRAM MOORE

MASON

FINAL

AUSTIN LBJ

KERRVILLE TIVY

FINAL

UVALDE

LA VERNIA

FINAL

BURBANK

HARLANDALE

FINAL HARLANDALE MEMORIAL STADIUM

MCCOLLUM

BRACKENRIDGE

FINAL SAISD SPORTS COMPLEX

AUSTIN ANDERSON

BOERNE CHAMPION

FINAL BOERNE ISD STADIUM

LLANO

BANDERA

FINAL BULLDOG STADIUM

COLE

MARION

FINAL VETERANS STADIUM

BOERNE

ALAMO HEIGHTS

FINAL OREM STADIUM

AUSTIN TRAVIS

FREDERICKSBURG

FINAL BATTLIN BILLIE STADIUM

SOUTHSIDE

LAREDO MARTIN

FINAL LAREDO

DILLEY

PREMONT

FINAL

SOUTHWEST LEGACY

LAREDO UNITED SOUTH

FINAL LAREDO SAC

LAREDO UNITED

SOUTHWEST

FINAL FRAZIER FIELD

LAREDO NIXON

MEDINA VALLEY

FINAL

C.C. WINN

MACARTHUR

FINAL COMALANDER STADIUM

ROOSEVELT

MADISON

FINAL/4OT HEROES STADIUM

TAFT

WARREN

FINAL GUSTAFSON STADIUM

O`CONNOR

BRENNAN

FINAL FARRIS STADIUM

EAST CENTRAL

CLEMENS

FINAL LEHNHOFF STADIUM

STEELE

PIEPER

FINAL WARRIOR COLISEUM

SATURDAY, SEP 26

JUDSON

WAGNER

FINAL RUTLEDGE STADIUM

DEL RIO

LAREDO JOHNSON

FINAL

SOTOMAYOR

STEVENS

FINAL GUSTAFSON STADIUM

REAGAN

BRANDEIS

FINAL FARRIS STADIUM

CENTER POINT

D'HANIS

FINAL BUTCH WOOLS STADIUM

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Where to find spooky, haunted houses in San Antonio and surrounding areas

Andrea K. Moreno — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:13:12 +0000

It might not be spooky season yet, but several San Antonio area attractions are gearing up to give thrill-seekers a good scare.

KSAT has compiled a list of haunted houses you can check out this fall, starting as early as Sept. 11.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular haunted attractions happening in and around San Antonio this fall.

13th Floor Haunted House San Antonio

The haunted house will reopen for the fall season on select nights from Sept. 12 through Nov. 8.

This year, 13th Floor Haunted House San Antonio will feature “Jason Universe: Survive the Night.” According to the attraction’s website, guests will encounter Jason at every turn.

“Keep moving, and somehow, Jason’s already ahead of you. When his mask emerges from the darkness, he’s close enough to count every crack and scratch,” the website states.

Guests will also see a “Dose of Decay,” where they will see “the Pharmacist,” a deranged chemist who uses the city as his personal laboratory.

“His experimental concoctions seep through every alley, subway, and sewer, transforming the district into a nightmare of decay and mutation,” according to the attraction’s website.

Tickets start at $19.99 per person. For more information, click here.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is bringing back Fright Fest on select nights from Sept. 11 through Nov. 1.

Fright Fest will debut a new attraction this year — “The Conjuring Universe” maze, based on the popular horror franchise, according to a news release. Guests can also enjoy the return of “Saw: Legacy of Terror,” which features four park haunted mazes, seven scare zones and more.

During the day, families can enjoy Tricks and Treats on select Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 13 through Nov. 1, as well as Oktoberfest on select dates from Sept. 5 through Oct. 31.

Other experiences will include:

Six haunted mazes
Seven immersive scare zones
Nine live entertainment experiences
Nighttime rides in the dark
Expanded interactive lantern experiences
Specialty seasonal food and beverages

For more information on this year’s spooky event, click here.

Haunted Hill Road Haunted House

The haunted house, located at 174 Oak Hill Road in La Vernia, Texas, opens to the public starting on Oct. 16.

Admission is by donation, which helps the attraction build and improve the haunt each year. For more information on the family-run home haunt, check out their social media page.

Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Antonio

SeaWorld San Antonio is bringing back its Howl-O-Scream event, where the park will transform into a Halloween experience featuring five haunted houses, eight scare zones and seasonal shows on select days Sept. 11 through Nov. 1.

New this year are three haunted houses, including one based on the 1997 horror film “I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch,” along with “Dead Wreckoning” and “Witch of the Woods.” Other fan-favorites returning include “The Swamp at Blackwater Bayou” and “Dis-Assembly Line.”

If you’re looking for less frightening fun, on select dates from Sept. 10 through Nov. 1, families can enjoy Spooktacular, a kid-friendly event that includes a hay maze, trick-or-treating and more.

All Howl-O-Scream experiences are included with park admission. No costumes are allowed.

Tickets and additional information about Howl-O-Scream are available here.

Nightmare at Owl Creek

This year, Nightmare at Owl Creek and the Haunted Dollhouse Museum are partnering to host a spookier experience for guests starting from Sept. 25 through Nov. 1.

Guests can check out the haunted attractions from 8 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.

Nightmare at Owl Creek will have six haunted attractions, including “The Barn Maze,” “The Haunted Doll Trails,” and more.

Admission to the attraction is $39 per person.

Nightmare at Owl Creek is located at 12355 Military Drive West. More information can be found here.

Sinister Harvest Haunted Attraction

The haunted attraction, located in Devine, Texas, reopens to the public starting Sept. 26 through Oct. 31.

The attraction is offering a grand opening deal Sept. 26 for $10 per person. After that, general admission will be $17. A percentage of every ticket sale benefits veterans in need through the Devine VFW, according to Sinister Harvest.

Sinister Harvest Haunted Attraction is located at 211 West College Avenue.

For more information on hours, tickets and more, click here.

Haunting tours

The San Antonio Ghost Tours will take you to the most haunted locations in downtown San Antonio.

Ghost City tours include the Alamo, haunted hotels, the Spanish Governor’s Palace, the San Fernando Cathedral and the haunted railroad tracks of San Antonio.

There are different tours hosted around San Antonio that can take you into a world of ghostly happenings and terrifying histories. Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours share all the spooky history of the city.

This list will be updated as more attractions announce opening dates.

Read also:

🍂 Things to do in September: San Japan, Bruno Mars, Jazz’SAlive

As seen on SA Live - Friday, Sept. 25, 2026

Robert Morin — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:18:04 +0000

Today @ 10:30 a.m., You can make your birthday even better by taking advantage of dozens and dozens of freebies and deals from a variety of businesses. Adeina Anderson from Creative Lifestyles by Adeina shares a handful, but if you check out her website, she collected about 70 - many of them completely free.

Looking for a late-night Pizza spot? Esta Pizza is newly opened and it’s a unique spot mixed dance and delicious pizza.

Know your numbers and take Control of Blood Pressure and Heart Health. Methodist Healthcare Ministries talks about the importance of knowing your blood pressure numbers, understanding what those numbers mean, and taking preventive steps to protect your heart health.

Looking for a fall glow-up? Face Foundrié focuses exclusively on the face. Among the services offered are dermaplaning, chemical peels, hydrogel masks, facials, light therapy, and brow waxing and tinting. Ever on top of trends, it also regularly adds treatments like gua sha, cupping, and microchanneling to stimulate cell turnover.

In GOP Speaker Mike Johnson's district, the political mood is mixed for the party in power

Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:27:11 +0000

The GOP's “Big Beautiful Bill” is rolling out in different ways across U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s home district — from steakhouse servers getting a tax break on tips to a community center where people line up for a free hot lunch as SNAP benefits are being cut.

In this rough-and-tumble corner of northwest Louisiana, where booms and busts have defined the oil rich region’s history, the legislation can be a bit of a mystery to voters going about their days ahead of the November election.

This is President Donald Trump country, and Johnson, who rode into office on the 2016 wave that elected the president the first time, is in no apparent danger as he seeks a sixth term in Congress.

But the tenor of conversations — at a candidate forum, at a data center open house, outside a grocery store — provides a snapshot of the grim outlook for the party in power. High gas and grocery prices, the war in Iran and the lingering sense of an uneasy new economic normal are all on voters’ minds.

“I remember when Trump said, ‘This Christmas, you’ll have one doll’ — I didn’t get it,” said Katherine Ferguson, an attorney in Shreveport and mother of a teenager, after a recent community meeting downtown. “Now I get it.”

Voters are struggling to add it all up

Republicans are campaigning on the big bill, what Johnson calls the largest tax cuts in American history. He hauled the package over the finish line last summer, a remarkable political achievement given the slim House majority.

“This is real money for real people,” Johnson said in Washington, as lawmakers headed home to campaign.

Louisianans on average saw an estimated $2,900 tax deduction this year, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, largely because the bill preserved existing rates and brackets that would have otherwise expired. The boost in actual tax refunds was much less, about $350 on average nationwide.

The numbers, in many ways, speak for themselves. The bill tallied some $4 trillion in tax breaks, including new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and enhanced benefits for many seniors and families with children. It also cut more than $1 trillion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and Medicaid healthcare by imposing administrative changes and additional work requirements that are expected to lead to fewer people on the programs.

Overall, the bill is projected to boost economic growth, but it also adds more than $3 trillion to the federal deficit over a decade.

Johnson said the GOP is “cutting wasteful government spending” and “enacting the policies to bring about economic growth.”

Voters appear to be struggling to add it all up, especially as gas hits $4 a gallon and diesel has almost doubled from last year in Louisiana, topping $6.

“I don’t understand the high prices,” said Dodie Horton, a state representative in Johnson’s district, who is supportive of Trump and the speaker but has trouble making sense of the price spikes.

“I know it’s not the president,” she said. “My people want to know why. I don’t have an answer.”

Tax cuts vs. food aid

Madison McDonald, in between working the bar area at the Silver Star Smokehouse & Tavern, said she’s saved about $3,000 on state and federal taxes combined this year, thanks to the tipped income deduction.

The restaurant is popular with the oil and gas industry workers, and she said she once landed a $1,100 tip from a busy table — an appreciated supplement to her $2.13 hourly wage, the federal minimum.

“It definitely helps,” she said. “People are generous.”

Up the road in Bossier Parish, where Johnson lives, Sheriff Julian C. Whittington had his staff run the numbers and found that more than 180 deputies had their taxable income reduced by an average of $1,100 thanks to the overtime deduction.

“That’s good for them, and it’s good for the department,” he said. “Our folks are getting more money, and it doesn’t cost us any more.”

Yet across the river that divides the city, with its riverfront casinos on one side and aging civic infrastructure on the other, the food aid cuts are also taking shape.

Al Moore keeps the door locked as the line begins to form hours before the daily hot lunch is served at the nonprofit Christian Service, where he is executive director.

Once the noon hour strikes, he begins to let people file in, about 10 or so at a time, as they take their seats.

Calvin Ray Marshall, 59, said he was receiving about $294 per month in SNAP benefits until May, when he said he was unable to meet the new 80-hours-a-month work requirements, which now apply to those through age 64 who are able-bodied and do not have young children.

“That’s why I’m here,” he said, finishing up a plate of chicken, rice and gravy, with mixed vegetables.

He said he used to stock shelves at a mini-market and recently sought work at a new gas station. Sometimes he picks up odd jobs, cutting a yard, and he lives out of a tire repair shop where he used to help out, but that closed as business dried up during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.

“For some reason, the government has always been trying to cut people off food stamps because they think people are abusing it,” said Marshall. “It seems like they think jobs are just falling out of the sky.”

Johnson's district now encompasses this area, part of a majority-Black congressional district that was eliminated after the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark voting rights case this summer.

After lunch, Kenny “KeKe” Heads pulls out a resume listing past work experience — sandwich artist, janitor, housekeeper at a local hotel — on a tidy one-sheet document. For now, Heads receives about $100 a month in SNAP benefits but is worried that the three-month window available to jobseekers will lapse before he finds work.

“It’s rough,” Heads said, hopeful one day of opening a beauty salon and boutique. “Getting a chance is like one in a million.”

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Louisiana is behind only Arizona and on par with Nevada in the decline in SNAP recipients during the year since the bill passed, a 21% reduction. The Medicaid work requirements are set to begin in most states in January.

Other voices looking for alternatives

One of Johnson’s Democratic opponents, Conrad Cable, an English major turned vegetable farmer, said he decided to run for Congress because “enough is enough.”

“If you talk to people at the gas pumps — people are pissed,” he said.

He said he hears from voters about the war, affordability, the SNAP cuts — “there was never any conversation about cutting people's food benefits,” he said.

Outside a Shreveport grocery store, Norman Summers, 70, a Marine and retired construction worker, supported Trump but is warily watching the war in Iran and the president's rising wealth.

“Trump’s the one who’s bothering me,” he said.

As the afternoon sun glared, attorney Scott Bowie stopped his cart of bottled waters to assess the political mood.

A believer in small government, he wishes the big Republican bill had done more to reduce the federal deficit.

When he looks to Democrats, “They don't seem to want what I want," he said. "But I’m not saying I'm happy with the Republicans either.”

Rescue teams in Nepal search for 12 missing after avalanche kills 4

Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:26:46 +0000

Rescue teams on Monday searched for a dozen people swept away by an avalanche that killed at least four on a Nepalese mountain during severe weather.

Rescuers from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, which is leading the efforts, said they recovered two more bodies on Monday in addition to two others who were found on Sunday. Twelve are missing.

Eight experienced mountain guides from the association took advantage of improving weather to dig through the snow that had covered tents at base camp.

Ten people were rescued from Mount Himlung, a 7,126-meter (23,380-foot) peak in north-central Nepal, after the avalanche hit on Sunday.

All those killed or missing were Nepali nationals. They were at base camp preparing for foreign clients to arrive and climb the peak during the Autumn climbing season that began this month, when they were swept away.

Helicopters brought down the remains to Kathmandu airport. Family and friends at a hospital morgue did not comment.

Flooding and landslides in the Manang district, where the mountain is located, were caused by heavy rainfall, the district administration office said. The avalanche had issued warnings for severe weather across the entire Himalayan nation.

Nepal’s disaster management agency said 21 other people have been killed and five more are missing in different parts of the country between Thursday and Sunday.

Nepal is recovering from devastating flooding in August that swept several villages, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and nearly 6,000 others missing.

1 dead after shooting on Southeast Side, SAPD says

Sonia DeHaro — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 17:05:02 +0000

A man was killed after a shooting on the Southeast Side, according to San Antonio police.

Officers responded to a shooting call just before 1 a.m. Sunday in the 3200 block of Bolmore Drive and found a 26-year-old with a gunshot wound to his torso, SAPD said.

Police said the suspect, a 39-year-old man, exited an apartment and began shooting at the victim who was sitting in the courtyard.

The victim was transported to the hospital where he later died, according to police.

His family identified him to KSATas Sebastian John Robles.

Officers located and apprehended the suspect.

At this time, it’s unclear what led up to the shooting.

A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart show why they are 2 of the best with dominating WNBA playoff openers

Doug Feinberg, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:57:57 +0000

A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart showed once again why they are arguably the best two players in the world, leading their teams to routs on the opening day of the WNBA playoffs.

It's no major surprise since they have helped their respective teams win five of the past six WNBA championships. On Sunday, they combined to scored 72 points, pull down 28 rebounds and block six shots.

“She’s a walking mismatch,” New York guard Sabrina Ionescu said of Stewart, her Liberty teammate.

The same could be said of Wilson, who was unstoppable in Las Vegas' rout of Indiana.

Hours after Wilson earned The Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year for a third consecutive season, the Aces All-Star had 38 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots to help Las Vegas roll to a 102-85 win over Caitlin Clark and the Fever.

Wilson missed the World Cup to let her back heal and get ready for the playoffs. She had 22 points by halftime and finished the game making 15 of her 19 shots from the field.

“I think we just showed up to work, and that’s what we need to do moving forward,” Wilson said.

The Aces will try and close out Clark and the Fever on Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Stewart also filled up the stat sheet in New York’s rout of top-seed Minnesota. She had 34 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks in the Liberty's 91-75 road win. The Liberty forward became the first WNBA player to put up those numbers in a postseason game. It was the second time she's had 30-plus points and more than 10 rebounds in a playoff game.

“I think I was just really ready. I mean, if you don’t get up for these big moments, then you’ve got to rethink why you’re playing basketball,” Stewart said. “But for myself, mentally, I was just ready to do whatever it took to lead the team and get the win today. And my teammates found me and got me good looks at the basket, so I just wanted to keep going.”

Stewart has been stellar all month, including leading the U.S. national team to a fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup title as she earned MVP honors.

Even with the convincing win, Stewart isn't taking anything for granted when the Liberty return home looking to close out the series on Tuesday.

“We did this in Phoenix and then we got smoked on our home court,” Stewart said of the playoffs last year. “So being really intentional for the adjustments we’re going to make. Obviously, we had a ton of turnovers (19) and want to be better in that area, but we’re going to just have to have the same steadiness that we had for today; we’re going to do that on Tuesday.”

___

Texas lieutenant governor: Who is running and what to know

Texas Tribune, Renzo Downey And María Méndez — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Editor’s note: To help readers learn more about the candidates running for statewide seats, The Texas Tribune is sharing information about the Republican, Democratic and third-party candidates. For more information on midterms and the voting process, check out our election resources here.

About the elected seat: The lieutenant governor, Texas’ second-highest state executive, presides over the state Senate and, in that role, largely controls the flow of legislation in the chamber. Because of this, the office is often described as the most powerful in Texas government. The Senate’s rules put the lieutenant governor in charge of the chamber’s agenda and standing committees, along with the power to break ties and decide procedural questions. Taken together, this gives the office significant influence over which bills make it to the governor’s desk and how much clout each senator wields. Additionally, the lieutenant governor co-chairs the Legislative Budget Board, which develops the state budget, and sits on the Legislative Redistricting Board, which is in charge of redrawing political maps if the Legislature fails to do so.

What’s at stake: Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a close ally of President Donald Trump who chaired all three of his presidential campaigns in Texas, is seeking a fourth term. Patrick has spent the last decade pushing the Legislature steadily to the right. Patrick’s ouster would create a vacuum in Texas Republican politics and within the Senate, where he has built a stable of reliable GOP allies who often march in lockstep with their presiding officer. Although the lieutenant governor is currently one of the most powerful offices in the state, much of that authority is bestowed by the Senate rules approved by the chamber each regular session. If a Democrat is elected in November, the Republican-led Senate would likely rewrite its rules to strip the office of its major powers, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the Legislature.

Patrick won his primary outright in March, easily dispatching three lesser-known candidates. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin of Austin secured the Democratic nomination in May. Green Party, Libertarian and declared write-in candidates are also running for the role in the general election.

Candidates at a glance:

Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas

Campaign site

Dan Patrick

Republican, incumbent

💰 Campaign finance:

Cash on hand as of June 30: $35.3 million
Raised between Jan. 1-June 30: $6 million

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Elon Musk Revocable Trust – $500,000
Investment analyst Kenneth Fisher – $400,000
Businessman John Nau II – $275,000
Real estate developer and businessman Ross Perot Jr., board chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – $250,000
Investor Harlan Crow – $250,000

Experience:

Republican lieutenant governor first elected in 2014, defeating then-incumbent David Dewhurst in the GOP primary
State senator from 2007 to 2015
Former conservative talk radio host, sports bar owner and sportscaster for KHOU in Houston

Political ideology:

Describes himself as a Christian first and has referred to the United States as a “Christian nation”
Social and fiscal conservative who has prioritized a mix of economic measures, such as limiting the growth of property taxes and shoring up the state’s electric grid, along with conservative “red meat” issues targeting LGBTQ+ Texans and restricting how race and gender can be discussed in classrooms
As a state senator, founded the Legislature’s now-defunct Tea Party Caucus in 2010

Policy stances:

Supports cutting property taxes by increasing the school homestead exemption and lowering the age for the senior homestead exemption
Leading advocate for expanding school vouchers that let families use taxpayer money to pay for their children’s private school tuition and other educational expenses
Supports banning the sale of THC products
Supports preserving Texas’ abortion ban
Pitched punishing public schools that do not remove graphic books from their shelves by lowering their annual school performance rating by a letter grade
Directed senators to examine foreign nationals “exploiting” Texas surrogates, who carry babies for another couple, ahead of the 2027 legislative session
Called for an audit of the state’s broadband office amid concerns of grant rules favoring Elon Musk’s Starlink
Has said the state’s plan for building new high-voltage transmission lines to deliver electricity to oil companies should “also protect Texas landowners and communities”
Spearheaded creation of the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program and the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas, receiving blowback from some fiscal hawks

In the news:

In lieutenant governor race, Vikki Goodwin says Dan Patrick ads are illegal AI deepfakes, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Why Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s endorsed candidates always win, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Dan Patrick directs Texas Senate to study ways to further ingrain religion into public life, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says James Talarico will “go to hell” for his view of the Bible, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Dan Patrick pledges $1 million in campaign funds to install Turning Point USA at every Texas college and high school, The Texas Tribune (2025)
After years of tension, Texas House emerges as cooperative partner for Dan Patrick and his conservative agenda, The Texas Tribune (2025)

Endorsements:

President Donald Trump
Gov. Greg Abbott
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz
Former Gov. Rick Perry
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
Texas Oil and Gas Association PAC
Texas Farm Bureau’s AgFund
Texas Right to Life PAC
Several leading law enforcement PACs

How to contact:

info@danpatrick.org
P.O. Box 685085 Austin, Texas 78768

Campaign photo

Campaign site

Vikki Goodwin

Democrat

💰 Campaign finance:

Cash on hand as of June 30: $317,571
Raised between Jan. 1-June 30: $757,078

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Singer and songwriter Don Henley – $109,000
Annie’s List PAC – $11,145
Sun City Democrats – $10,000
Edward R. Allen, investor Eagle Global Advisors – $10,000
Zeph Capo, president of Texas American Federation of Teachers – $5,000
Adrian Garcia, Harris County Commissioner – $2,500

Experience:

Democratic state representative first elected in 2018, defeating then-incumbent state Rep. Paul Workman, a Republican from Spicewood
Represents southwest Austin and Travis County
Authored Cati’s Act in 2023, creating drowning prevention requirements for child care organizations, including camps
Sponsored the Natalia Cox Act in 2023, providing notice for victims of domestic violence

Political ideology:

Consistently ranked as one of the most liberal Texas House members by Rice University political science professor Mark Jones
Whip (i.e. vote wrangler) of the Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus

Policy stances:

Supports increasing public school funding and teacher pay
Supports investing in water infrastructure and water recycling
Calls for passing the Fair Rent Incentive Act to incentivize lower rent
Wants to repeal the state’s abortion ban
Calls for expanding Medicaid and creating a statewide health program
Supports regulating THC with age restrictions, testing and labeling requirements
Has spoken out against a controversial proposal to reduce voting sites in Tarrant County
Has supported a moratorium on data center development
Calls for limits and accountability for ICE agents following the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston

In the news:

In lieutenant governor race, Vikki Goodwin says Dan Patrick ads are illegal AI deepfakes, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Fracas over Tarrant County voting sites highlights public distrust over how elections are run, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune (2026)
James Talarico calls for tighter regulations on data center development, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Texas faith leaders condemn ICE-related deaths, demand end to “terror campaign” against migrants, The Texas Tribune (2026)
Democratic Lt. Gov. Candidate Vikki Goodwin proposes government-funded, statewide healthcare program, The Texan (2026)
Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Vikki Goodwin challenges Republican Dan Patrick to debate, Spectrum News (2026)
Democratic Rep. Vikki Goodwin announces run for lieutenant governor, The Texas Tribune (2025)
Democrat Vikki Goodwin’s longshot bid for lieutenant governor is based on funding public schools, focusing on affordability, Spectrum News (2026)

Endorsements:

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin
Former U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco
35+ Democratic state representatives
Travis County Judge Andy Brown and at least four other Travis County officials
Austin City Council members Ryan Alter, Marc Duchen, Vanessa Fuentes, Natasha Harper-Madison, Krista Laine, Zo Qadri and Chito Vela

How to contact:

AskMe@VikkiGoodwin.com
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160-315, Austin, TX 78748

Campaign photo

Campaign site

Anthony Cristo

Libertarian

💰 Campaign finance:

Cash on hand: $777
Fundraised since Jan. 1: $1,694

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Libertarian Booster PAC – $694 in in-kind donations
Cristo gave himself $300
Arthur DiBianca, Libertarian candidate for railroad commissioner – $100
Whitney Masterson-Moyes, event planner – $100

Experience:

High school teacher in San Antonio
Ran for Texas’ 34th Congressional District in 2020 and lost
Ran for Texas’ 15th Congressional District in 2018 and lost

Political ideology: The Libertarian Party of Texas’ platform says it seeks “the maximum protection for the rights of all people against any violation” and that “government must be kept to the minimum necessary to protect the rights of individuals.” The party also says the government should not interfere in personal matters such as free speech, religion, marriage, family and property rights. It also supports the right to bear arms.

Policy stances:

Lower property taxes by cutting government spending and the government budget surplus that he says is a result of “overtaxing”
Embrace a free market and working immigrants
Says it’s “time to legalize marijuana in Texas”

In the news:

Cristo: Patrick’s banned book list is a vast overreach, The Seguin Gazette (2026)
Cristo: Democrats run when Republicans won’t play fair, The Seguin Gazette (2025)
Cristo: ‘Livable wage’ for employees is earned, not owed, The Seguin Gazette (2024)

How to contact:

anthony.cristo@gmail.com

Greg Abbott

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="Greg Abbott" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?fit=780%2C780&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1" data-orig-size="800,800" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/greg-abbott-11/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" height="780" loading="lazy" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=780%2C780&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?w=800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?resize=780%2C780&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gov-Greg-Abbott-Campaign-Voter-Guide.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" style="width:1500px;height:auto" width="780"/>

Campaign photo

Campaign site

Kevin McCormick

Green party

💰 Campaign finance:

Cash on hand as of June 30: $94
Fundraised betweenJan. 1-June 30: $151

💰 Major donors this cycle:

Largely self-funded, including a $200 loan to himself
Laura Palmer – $50
Wesson Gaige – $50
Ellen Vandenbergh – $26

Experience:

Received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1986
Worked as a high school math teacher at Jefferson High School in San Antonio
Ran for Texas’ 24th Congressional District in 2016 and lost

Political ideology: McCormick says his campaign is centered on public interest and the health of people, society and the environment. The Green Party’s key values include valuing all nature, direct civic participation, rejecting violence and restoring power to local communities under a “framework of ecologically sound and socially just values and lifestyles”. The party also says it seeks “new economics” that meet the basic needs of people and the planet within the natural limits of the earth and that it respects diversity among the earth and people.

Policy stances:

Expand public bus fleets in Texas cities to reduce traffic congestion
Invest in the rural economy through sustainable agriculture, hemp production and processing and improved infrastructure
Establish ranked-choice voting in all elections and a statewide single primary election for candidates
Limit gerrymandering, which is the unfair redrawing of electoral districts
Change property tax appraisals from focusing on the how much a similar property would sell for to instead focus on similar rent or lease values
Develop more ways to conserve and protect our water resources
Eliminate toxic chemical and pollution from food, water and the environment
Increase the number of public school teachers and improve curriculum
Encourage renewable energy and tech

Endorsements:

Arshira Papari, Socialist Green Party candidate for Texas House District 49

How to contact:

Kevin McCormick for Lieutenant Governor

P.O. Box 513

Lindale, Texas 75771

Website contact form

Stephen Samuelson and Arturo Espinosa, who lost in the Republican primary for governor, are declared write-in candidates for lieutenant governor.

Disclosure: Don Henley has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune within the past five years. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in our journalism. Find a complete list of them and more information about our financial and disclosure policies here.

Cuellar and progressives form tenuous alliance amid Trump’s immigration crackdown

Texas Tribune, Berenice Garcia — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Subscribe to The Y’all — a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state.

PHARR — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar stood quietly near the back of a community center. Every now and then, he would turn to pose for a photo.

It was the end of August as Cuellar watched the progressive political group, LUPE Votes, announce its endorsements for the general midterm election.

Four years ago, LUPE Votes had enthusiastically supported a progressive candidate running against Cuellar in the Democratic primary.

Then, Donald Trump was reelected and deployed his aggressive deportation agenda.

Cuellar’s policies have skewed right on many occasions, much to the ire of progressive groups in the Rio Grande Valley. But amid the backlash within the community against Trump’s crackdown on immigration, Cuellar has placed himself at the forefront of resistance to those policies through his engagement with activist and industry groups in the region.

Since 2025, Cuellar has coordinated conversations between the construction industry and the Department of Homeland Security over immigration raids. He’s managed conversations between ICE leadership and faith leaders regarding immigration arrests. And he’s held at least one tour of the sites of proposed border wall construction to hear feedback from environmentalists about their concerns — assuring them that he’s trying to protect those areas from border wall construction.

In doing so, Cuellar has made inroads with progressive organizers in South Texas, a region where voters are signaling a desire for a change from their usual moderate representatives, where both Democrats and Republicans are fighting to win over Hispanic voters, and where the outcome of races could determine which party controls Congress.

His actions were enough to win a tepid endorsement from the group as well as other progressives in the region.

“We might not agree on everything, but I think we can agree on a lot of things,” Cuellar said.

A divisive endorsement

LUPE Votes has not been shy about its opposition to Cuellar on various issues. The organization has issued statements condemning his votes and protested outside his office for what they perceived as anti-immigrant positions.

The decision to endorse him for the first time in the organization’s five-year history arose from the current political and immigration landscape, said Dani Marrero Hi, deputy director of LUPE Votes.

LUPE offices in San Juan on Sept. 14, 2024.

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LUPE offices in San Juan on Sept. 14, 2024.
Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texsa Tribne

The Rio Grande Valley, where LUPE is based, is the battleground for three competitive congressional races — Texas’ 15th, 34th and 28th districts.

Cuellar, from Laredo, currently represents the 28th district, which, under the congressional maps adopted last year, spans the Texas-Mexico border from the southern half of Maverick County down to southwest Hidalgo County. The district peaks at Atascosa, Live Oak, La Salle, and Dimmit counties.

The district — along with most border counties — shocked the nation by voting for Trump in 2024. The next year, Texas lawmakers redrew the district’s boundaries to be slightly more favorable to Republicans as part of a rare and controversial mid-decade redistricting. The district changes were based on the belief that Republicans would be able to hold onto support among Hispanic voters.

Despite the changes, a recent poll from Texas Southern University that surveyed 600 likely midterm election voters showed Cuellar with an 11-point lead against his opponent, Webb County Judge and former Democrat Tano Tijerina.

Still, the district is among those targeted by National Republicans as a potential pick-up.

“A lot of people have been paying attention to District 15, about Bobby Pulido turning this blue again,” Marrero Hi said about the Tejano musician running as a Democrat to flip District 15, which is anchored in Hidalgo County. “But the reality is that District 28 and 34 are just as much at risk of flipping red.”

The potential reality that the Rio Grande Valley — long a Democratic stronghold — could be represented entirely by Republicans was part of the calculus in the LUPE Votes board’s decision, leaders said.

“Based on that alone, the LUPE Votes board decided to recommend to voters to vote for Representative Cuellar and [Vicente] Gonzalez, knowing that the alternative for all three districts to flip red would mean completely hostile conditions for us to win any kind of change for our members,” Marrero Hi said.

The endorsement came with conditions — no more funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and no more militarization of the border, including funding for surveillance technology. The group also remains wary of Cuellar’s track record on reproductive rights and healthcare due to his lack of support for Medicare-for-All and for abortion protections.

But despite clarifying that their support for Cuellar is not a blanket endorsement, the backlash on social media was harsh.

“This is extremely disappointing and unnecessary,” Christopher Torres, an Edinburg resident, commented on social media. “I did not know you guys were interested in endorsing Republicans.”

“What a joke,” wrote another. “Endorsing these candidates is a stab in the back to immigrants and working families.”

Cuellar said the organization’s endorsement is important in obtaining the support of a wide cross-section of the community. He also respects their work in advocating for immigrants and migrant farmworkers, he said. In his conversations with them, Cuellar said he expressed a desire to work together.

“I said, ‘Listen, we can either work together in the same room, or you can be outside throwing rocks at me,’” Cuellar said.

A conservative Democrat

Gloria Galindo has a love-hate relationship with Cuellar. As the treasurer for Friends of the Wildlife Corridor, a wildlife conservation group based in Alamo, she has met with Cuellar regarding concerns over border wall construction.

He’s listened to their concerns, Galindo said, and Cuellar has pushed for protections against border wall construction in certain areas.

“He has been a champion for us,” Galindo said. “On the flip side, of course, he’s also someone who’s been a supporter of [the U.S. Department of Homeland Security], and well, the policies that came from that are the stuff that led to the border wall construction in the first place.”

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, meets with Father Roy Snipes, activists, reporters, and others at the historic La Lomita Chapel Mission on July 8, 2026.

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U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, meets with Father Roy Snipes, activists, reporters, and others at the historic La Lomita Chapel Mission on July 8, 2026. Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune

Often describing a border wall as a 14th Century solution to a 21st Century problem, Cuellar has supported investing in technology like high-resolution cameras to secure the border.

And despite ICE’s aggressive, and sometimes fatal, tactics in carrying out Trump’s immigration crackdown, Cuellar does not support divesting funds from the agency. Instead, Cuellar wants to redirect ICE’s focus to targeting criminals and has pushed for ICE officers to wear body cameras.

Tijerina, his Republican opponent, has accused Cuellar of being a radical Democrat.

But Cuellar has built a reputation of being one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, willing to diverge from the party on issues like immigration, abortion and gun rights.

When Cuellar’s offices were raided by the FBI in 2022, progressives in the party saw his legal troubles as an opportunity to replace him with someone more closely aligned with their values. That did not come to pass. Cuellar defeated his opponent, Jessica Cisneros, in the 2022 primary election.

In May 2024, facing reelection again, Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, were indicted on charges of bribery and money laundering, but he had faced no Democratic challenger that year and was victorious in the general election. His charges were later dropped after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Rio Grande Valley voters have a track record of electing moderate Democrats. At the congressional level, in addition to Cuellar, voters have elected moderate Vicente Gonzalez to represent them, first in District 15 and in District 34 after congressional redistricting drew him into the latter.

At the state level, most state senators and representatives who represent the Valley could be described as moderate too. When Texas House Democrats fled the state last year to break quorum as a way to block Republican lawmakers from approving a new congressional map, most of the Rio Grande Valley state representatives remained in the state.

But there are signs that the tide could be changing in favor of progressive candidates. Valley voters chose Julio Salinas, a progressive 26-year-old state house staffer, to be the Democratic nominee for the election for Texas House District 41. The seat is being vacated by Bobby Guerra, a Democrat from Edinburg, who announced his retirement last year.

During the same March primary that Salinas received the nomination, the majority of voters in Hidalgo County did not vote for Cuellar in his primary race. Instead, most voted for Ricardo Villarreal, a Laredo physician who holds positions to Cuellar’s left.

Still, Cuellar won all other counties in Congressional District 28.

Cuellar said he’s not worried about a progressive shift in his district. As the boundaries of congressional districts have shifted in Texas, Cuellar said he’s been able to adjust and work with new groups.

“I do see some changes there, but I will be able to adapt,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks during a press conference about The U.S.-Mexico Border on July 30, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{" data-image-title="Senator Graham On US-Mexico Border Press Conference" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-permalink="https://www.texastribune.org/senator-graham-on-us-mexico-border-press-conference-5/" data-recalc-dims="1" dc,="" decoding="async" during="" estudio="" france","created_timestamp":"1627603200","copyright":"lenin="" graham="" height="520" henry="" hill="" in="" july="" lenin="" nolly="" nurphoto","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"senator="" nurphoto)no="" on="" press="" reuters="" senate="" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" speaks="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Henry-Cuellar-US-Mex-Border-REUTERS-01.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w" the="" today="" us-mexico="" usa.="" use="" via="" washington="" width="100%"/>

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks during a press conference about The U.S.-Mexico Border on July 30, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto via REUTERS

Some of his detractors recognize that having Cuellar in Congress has some advantages. He holds a high-ranking position in Congress, having served on the House Appropriations Committee for over a decade.

During Trump’s first term, Cuellar — along with the Rio Grande Valley members of Congress — had secured protections against border wall construction for several environmentally and historically sensitive areas by preventing funds from being used to build a border wall in those locations.

But through the One Big, Beautiful Bill, the Department of Homeland Security was able to bypass the appropriations process and use funds for constructing a border wall in those previously protected areas.

Cuellar has included language to protect those areas, once again, in the funding bill for 2027, but Congress is unlikely to vote on that legislation until the end of the year.

His status has been beneficial, Galindo said. And she’s not sure if she would rather have a more progressive candidate who is new to Congress or keep Cuellar with his seniority but conservative leanings.

“It would be great if we could have a Henry Cuellar that was also more progressive, is thinking about the environment, and protecting it,” Galindo said. “On the other hand, we do need somebody with his rank, and we know that he’s going to fight for the refuge and for these other places.”

Marrero Hi, the deputy director of LUPE Votes, values experience, but also emphasized the need to question whether power is being used to benefit the working class.

Often, experience is used as a reason to vote for incumbents during elections, but Marrero Hi said they need someone who is going to stand for their values and take political risks.

“I don’t know if we have really seen the benefits of his seniority, because you would think that if you have this much seniority, that you would be willing to take more political risks,” they said. “It doesn’t always feel like Representative Cuellar is willing to do that.”

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

People with Down syndrome and other disabilities find their rhythm in Indiana dance program

Obed Lamy And Mead Gruver, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:06:15 +0000

Finn Vester, who has autism and Down syndrome, tried a martial arts class but it proved unsuitable because he learns differently, his mother said.

Then he joined Dance Abilities, a program at Academy of Dance Arts in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers for people with physical or intellectual disabilities.

Now dance has become his way to communicate and connect with others, his mom, Nicole Vester, said.

Claire Graham, the founder of Dance Abilities, got the idea for the program in high school after realizing while she was studying dance, she was never able to connect with her sister with Down syndrome while she took part in her own activities. The program has grown in three years from a summer camp for eight youngsters to year-round classes for about 20 people.

Dance Abilities has separate classes for children ages 18 months to 4, ages 4-7 and 8-12, teenagers, and for adults, too. A successful day for Graham, who has a degree in dance and a master's in recreational therapy, is when everyone has had fun and been challenged.

“I’m not looking for perfection of position and not looking for a perfect performance,” Graham said. “Only a performance that they can feel confident about.”

These dancers are not the only ones performing through challenges. Ezra Frech, a two-time gold medal Paralympian, is competing on this season's “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC. Frech, a track and field athlete, has a prosthetic leg.

Classes build confidence

Finn's mom values her son’s confidence-building that will help him be able to go into the world and learn new things, she said.

“Claire teaches him at his level. She teaches him a little slower. She teaches him a couple more extra times. And he feels proud and he feels accomplished and he feels like he’s part of a group,” Vester said.

Accommodations at Dance Abilities include slowing down, using more visual cues than verbal instruction, and teacher “helpers” who physically guide students through the movements.

“Sometimes, we’ll add something new that they can work on to make it a little harder,” said one helper, Catherine Benko, 16.

Dance classes focus on specific needs

Dance is good for the body, too, with different needs for different students.

For students with Down syndrome, who tend to be naturally more flexible and less strong, Graham emphasizes developing muscle tone. Students with autism, she said, often need more help stretching.

Abigail MacGregor, who has Down syndrome, loves to dance through an obstacle course and to perform her latest moves for friends and family after she’s been practicing all week.

“I just love dance,” Abby said. “The best thing of dance is having fun, being with all my dance crew.”

Tucker McGarrell, 13, who has Down syndrome, doesn’t walk but runs into his dance classes, his mom Amanda McGarrell said.

“It’s not speech therapy or physical therapy or occupational therapy appointments. This is actually something he enjoys doing,” McGarrell said.

McGarrell loves to see her son have an accepting, accommodating place.

“It’s just such a huge thing that Tucker’s given a space and a stage to be himself and get to be with friends and learn new things,” McGarrell said. “It just like fills me with joy knowing that he’s getting to do something that he loves too just like typical kids do.”

Whoever her students are, Graham said, “if you give them the chance to succeed and meet them where they are, they can 100% grow.”

Seeing her students smile is the ultimate metric of success.

“It warms my heart to hear my kiddos saying, 'Look, Mom, I did it!'” she said.

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Gruver reported from Fort Collins, Colorado.

Taylor Swift becomes most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs history, dedicates top prize to Dolly Parton

Maria Sherman, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 04:06:31 +0000

Taylor Swift broke records at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, as she is known to do.

The pop powerhouse received the inaugural Artist Director Honors on Sunday night, becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

Previously, she was tied with Beyoncé for the title, with 30 VMAs each. The new award is meant to recognize artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling."

“I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos 20 years ago,” Swift said in her speech, adding that she's been involved in making roughly 60 music videos, 18 of which she wrote and directed.

“You, the fans, make it so much fun,” she said.

She also took home the top prize of the night — video of the year — for “The Fate of Ophelia" from her album “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Swift dedicated that award to the “ultimate showgirl,” the late Dolly Parton.

“I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time," Swift said.

Taylor Swift debuts ‘Patient Zero’ music video

Swift also debuted the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the award show. She directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson. Johnson and Swift portray mirror images of each other.

“Patient Zero” is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.

The two-hour show was broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Madonna opened the starry award show — and won big

“It's mother," were the first words uttered by Madonna as she opened the VMAs with her 2026 single “Bring Your Love" alongside collaborator Sabrina Carpenter. Later in the night, the pair won the award for best collaboration for the song.

“It’s been a while since I did one of these things,” Madonna joked. “So, I’ve prepared nothing.”

When it came time for her return to the stage to accept the award for artist of the year, Madonna began with, “First of all, I would like to thank my fingers because I can always count on them.” Returning a third time to accept for best dance, she said simply, "I came alive on the dance floor. ... We’re all equal on the dance floor.”

If her aim was to bring the dance floor to the award show stage, Madonna did exactly that in her opening number — and then some, when Charli xcx emerged from a club bathroom to perform their reworked version of “Danceteria.” Around them? A trove of dancers and various famous friends, including actor Debi Mazar, Sombr and Julia Garner.

The show, which was delayed 20 minutes by a tight NFL game, wasted no time getting heart rates up.

Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, emerged as host shortly thereafter.

“Now that is an icon,” Dogg said of Madonna, before pivoting to a joke: “She ain't a virgin no more.”

Teyana Taylor then presented the first award for best pop to LISA for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi.

“Thank you MTV for this amazing award,” she said while holding back tears. “All those late-night dreams brought me here today.” It was a different scene about an hour later, when she returned to the stage for her hip-hop heavy hitter “Sawadika,” which loosely translates to “Hello” in her native Thai.

Performances include a tribute to Dolly Parton

There was always going to be a big musical tribute to Dolly Parton. Kacey Musgraves paid homage to the late, great country music icon with a cover of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”

Parton, whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, died in Nashville of cancer in August. She was 80.

Performances arrived fast and furious: Raye delivered a medley of her throwback soul, including “I Will Overcome” and “Where Is My Husband!”

Bruno Mars slowed things down with “Dance With Me.” Shaboozey launched into his saloon single “Cowgirl,” before being joined by Gunna for some hybrid country-rap with their crossover track, “High Noon.”

“Survivor” host Jeff Probst and actor Brandon Sklenar introduced the final performance of the night and arguably its best – a partial reenactment of GENER8ION and Yung Lean’s "STORM" music video – which began with Lean smashing a VMA ‘Moon person’ trophy.

Sienna Spiro belted out her “Great Expectation.” It was a welcome introduction to the new talent, who was named best new artist shortly thereafter.

Orville Peck introduced a tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day. He was 53.

Nirvana took home the 2026 Video Vanguard Award

If this year's VMAs felt too pop-heavy for some viewers, that changed when the coveted Video Vanguard Award was awarded to Nirvana.

“They were completely original and always fearless at a time when the status quo kind of got to the point of being formulaic,” Public Enemy rapper Chuck D said of the grunge greats.

The award was presented to surviving members Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear. Frontman Kurt Cobain died in 1994.

“Kurt was one of one,” Novoselic said in their acceptance speech, adding that the band never imagined its sound and aesthetic would resonate with so many people. He said the music continues to endure because people are still hungry for “something real, something uncompromising” and a message that “it’s just OK to come as you are.”

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For more coverage of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/mtv-video-music-awards

Local restaurant repays $81K to workers after federal investigation

Melissa Federspill, San Antonio Business Journal — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:10:29 +0000

Local restaurant Sushi Haya has been ordered to pay $81,308 to 33 workers after a federal investigation found that executives took a cut of tips and the company failed to pay overtime wages.

The all-you-can-eat restaurant is at 226 W. Bitters Road, near Embassy Row in the shopping center anchored by Hobby Lobby. It opened in 2022. It operates as Hongwei Sushi LLC, doing business as Sushi Haya.

A Sushi Haya spokesperson provided the following statement: “Sushi Haya takes its responsibilities to its employees seriously. The Department of Labor matter concerned prior-period payroll practices. The restaurant cooperated with the process, corrected its practices, and completed the required payments before the recent coverage was published. We do not dispute the DOL’s stated findings, but we ask that coverage accurately reflect the DOL’s statement that the wages were recovered and that the published total covered more than one category of findings.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that the company ran an illegal tip pool that shared tips with company executives. Federal law forbids employers or managers from keeping employees’ tips for any purpose.

Read more of this story at the San Antonio Business Journal website.

Editor’s note: This story was published through a partnership between KSAT and the San Antonio Business Journal.

More SABJ coverage on KSAT:

Inside Malaysia's gambit to make its pungent durian the most wanted

Kanis Leung, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:22:42 +0000

Malaysia is pushing to take durian, whose powerful smell delights its lovers and repels its haters, beyond its roadside stalls and family orchards to convince fans of the spiky fruit that its varieties are worth seeking out.

Devotees savor durians like wine. For Malaysian ones, the taste of their rich and creamy flesh varies widely across types. Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor.

Malaysians' efforts to elevate the industry can be found in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, at a center devoted exclusively to the fruit and the growing variety of products made from it.

At the Kuala Lumpur Durian Experience Centre, near the landmark Petronas Twin Towers, visitors venture into a replica durian orchard to discover the fruit’s culture and history. In another room, a theater show draws laughter. Downstairs, visitors enjoy platters and egg tarts crafted from it.

Launched this summer after an investment of nearly $2 million, the two-story center spans about 1,900 square meters (20,450 square feet) and is open daily. Its durian shop welcomes guests from morning to midnight.

Its founder, Edison Ang, said the center targets both local customers and tourists, especially those from China, the world's biggest durian importer. He said Chinese palates have long been influenced by Thai durian culture.

“What we actually hope for now is not to get people who don’t eat durian to start eating durian," he said. “Instead, we hope consumers who are already eating durian from other countries will switch to Malaysian durian.”

Rising demand presents challenges

In 2025, China imported 1.87 million tonnes of fresh durian worth $7.5 billion, with volume jumping over six times in the past decade, according to its customs data.

Thailand’s earlier entry helped it secure over half that market by value in 2025. Malaysia, which began exporting fresh durian to China in 2024, was dwarfed. But for the first half of 2026, the value of China's fresh durian imports from Malaysia quadrupled compared with the same period last year, pointing to rapid growth.

Unlike their rivals, Malaysian growers typically do not harvest early, instead collecting only naturally ripened fruit caught in nets or ropes as they fall.

That’s the industry’s biggest advantage and also its biggest weakness, Ang said, as sellers have to race against time because the fruit’s shelf life is at most two to three days. Any delays would affect its quality. When his stock was held up for several days during customs checks, his refund rate climbed, he said.

Durian sales are also sensitive to economic conditions, said Leron Yee, founder of DKing, whose business covers both export and domestic markets. When the Chinese economy performs well, his business improves, but if the buying powerF of Chinese consumers falls, he needs to find alternative markets, he said.

“It is a luxury, not a necessity,” he said.

Going beyond the fruit itself

Businesses are finding opportunities in what the fruit can become. Yee's business sells durian paste, durian-flavored chocolate and mochi — and even mooncakes ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

DurianBB founder Adrian Choy's company offers durian ice cream, desserts and dried durian at a cafe, alongside coffee flavored with the Musang King variety and other items. His brand also offers guided farm tours.

In July, Choy's brand went a step further and launched a durian flower perfume that smells sweet and floral.

Choy said branching into other products is important because it will add value to the food itself and differentiate his business, even when others compete on price.

“Food is food,” he said. “You cannot sell it like 50% more because your branding is different."

Tasting it in Malaysia

Across China, durian specialty shops have mushroomed, with some specializing in Malaysian varieties. In Beijing, the Jiang Sir durian shop sells platters priced roughly between 300 and 1,000 yuan (about $44 to $150), depending on the weight of the pulp and the varieties chosen.

Its employee, Hou Yuxin, welcomed the growing number of similar shops and brushed off pressure from competition, saying it would help boost the market for Malaysian durians. She noted many people now want to enjoy durians during their trips to Malaysia.

Back at Ang’s center in Kuala Lumpur, Henry Zhang was one of them. Zhang, a visitor from Shanghai who started eating durian during his university days, saw a durian no bigger than his palm for the first time.

He said Malaysian ones were creamier than those from Thailand and had different flavors. He was impressed by the center offering more than just the fruit.

“I may still eat durians from other countries. But after eating them, I may miss Malaysian ones even more,” Zhang said.

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Associated Press photographer Vincent Thian and video journalists Olivia Zhang and Wu Jia in Beijing contributed to this report.

Residents brace for a possible Russian hybrid attack on Poland's border with Ukraine

Claudia Ciobanu And Rafal Niedzielski, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:01:48 +0000

Three times in one day, phones lit up across this Polish border community with a warning: A drone or a missile could cross from Ukraine, and residents should stay vigilant in case they might need to take cover.

Above the village of Dorohusk in eastern Poland, vapor trails cut across the pale blue sky and military helicopters rumbled overhead. Just 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) away, traffic at the border crossing into Ukraine was suspended three times, and staff were even evacuated once.

The alerts and disruptions on Thursday came as The Associated Press was visiting the village. They reflected a new reality along Poland's eastern frontier, where the war in Ukraine — now 4 1/2 years old — has felt increasingly close.

Russia isn’t at war with Poland, but over the past few years European leaders say it’s mounted a series of so-called hybrid attacks to pressure to pressure adversaries in the West and NATO that include sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks. Poland is worried that the drones or missiles strikes could spill over from Ukraine, whether by accident or as part of a Russian strategy of ambiguous attacks.

The anxiety intensified after two Russian drones exploded on the Ukrainian side of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossing in the early hours of Sept. 13. The explosions could clearly be heard in Dorohusk.

“There is new restlessness and fear because you could hear those explosions very well on that night in our village,” said Wojciech Sawa, the Dorohusk mayor. “We had never had something like that before. This was the first time the sirens wailed.”

Poland is preparing for a more serious Russian hybrid attack

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Sept. 17 that Russia was planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine, among them Poland, and regions bordering Ukraine would be especially vulnerable in the coming months. Other European leaders and intelligence services have shared his warnings that Russia is likely to step up its hybrid campaign.

In Dorohusk, people have lived in the shadow of the war for years. They watched Ukrainian refugees flee across the frontier in the early days of Russia’s 2022 invasion and, this July, had a Russian missile pass through airspace in eastern Poland before crashing some 90 kilometers (56 miles) inside the country.

But the recent drone attacks and the Polish government's efforts to prepare the population for further serious incidents have brought a new sense of apprehension — and also confusion — among locals.

Kids in border regions have to evacuate when sirens warn of air threat

Jarosław Wójcicki, the Dorohusk school’s director, said staff, including the school psychologist, now discuss with students “practically every day” how to stay safe.

The school had to be evacuated once so far and Wójcicki showed the two rooms in the basement of the school building where the kids took cover. Windows had been boarded up to avoid glass shards hurting anyone in case of an explosion.

“The older children had no problem at all, without showing any particular emotion,” the director said. "You could see a little fear among the younger children, but they were well looked after by their teachers.”

Wójcicki is responsible for the safety of hundreds of children who travel from nearby villages to attend school in Dorohusk, and his voice wavered as he described the enormity of the task.

Poland's Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the Dorohusk-Yahodyn border crossing on Sept. 22 and announced new air defense elements were being brought to the border region. He added that Patriot batteries were deployed in the two Polish regions bordering Ukraine, including the one where Dorohusk is located.

More work needs to be done on civil preparedness

While the government’s warnings are stark, even communities closest to Ukraine are still catching up on civil defense preparedness.

“We are at the beginning of the process of building civil resilience and the resilience of the state to threats," said Mirosław Sokal, head of resident safety for the city of Lublin, 90 km west of Dorohusk. “We have to remember that over the past 40 years we thought we would be living in peace.”

He said, given the lack of more solid infrastructure, Poles should respect one minimal rule when there's an air threat: get inside and put two walls between them and any window.

Sawa, the Dorohusk mayor, said villagers typically live in individual homes with basements and that is the obvious place to hide in case of air threats. “If I don’t have a basement myself, my neighbor likely does,” he said.

But people on the streets of Dorohusk seemed more confused about their options in case of a real attack.

“For now, I sleep well at night, so I don’t really hear it," said Irena Popek, a woman in her 80s. If planes are coming, she said, her basement was not an option as it was flooded. "I simply have nowhere to hide, and that’s it.”

Renata Pastuszo, a local shop employee, said she continued working through the recent siren alarm because it's better to keep a positive spirit in front of the Russian threat.

Krzysztof Rulka, another resident, complained that alerts were now coming too often, leaving people confused about their meaning.

“If someone told me that a drone was going to explode in the center of Dorohusk, then I would know what to do,” he said. "But this kind of confusion — there's an air attack somewhere in Ukraine — well, what am I supposed to do now? Run to Germany?”

Powerful nor’easter floods Northeast again, causing problems from New Jersey to New England

Leah Willingham, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:11:44 +0000

Residents of coastal communities in the Northeast slogged through floodwaters for a second day as a powerful nor’easter pummeled the shoreline Sunday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes.

Tidal surges swamped low-lying neighborhoods in New Jersey while wind gusts toppled trees on New York's Long Island, damaging homes and bringing down utility poles.

In the New Jersey beach town of Sea Bright, each high tide brought a new round of flooding. “It's not like a one-time occurrence,” said Caroline Virenius, whose garage filled with about a foot of water (30 centimeters). “It's getting wet again and again.”

The slow-moving storm, which killed a New York City Housing Authority worker when a tree fell Saturday, was expected to linger through Sunday with heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous surf all the way to New England.

Extreme amounts of rain — more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) since Friday in some spots in New Jersey — combined with a surging ocean led to flooding amounts not seen for close to a decade in places used to dealing with high water, residents said.

The National Weather Service predicted the storm will weaken over Sunday night with local heavy rain in parts of New England and the mid-Atlantic. But local officials in New Jersey and New York told residents that high tide late Monday could potentially bring more flooding.

“There is another band of the storm, a weaker band, but still another band that could hit early this afternoon and later into the evening,” said New York's Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Nor'easter disrupts flights and utilities

The nor’easter triggered memories of Superstorm Sandy, which left behind over $60 billion in damage across the eastern U.S. in 2012. While this storm’s impact has been nowhere near that, it could be the first of several along the East Coast this fall because of an El Niño climate pattern that’s disrupting this year’s weather.

Images of waves crashing into sea walls and onto beaches raised concerns about coastal erosion.

Well over 100,000 customers were without power across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at times on Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us. The most widespread outages were in counties along the coast from New Jersey to Connecticut.

Numerous flights were canceled or delayed up and down the coast. More than 250 flights had been canceled at Boston Logan International Airport by late Sunday morning as wind gusts reached 40 mph (64 kph), according to the Massachusetts Port Authority.

Flooding the biggest concern from nor'easter

The worst of the remaining rainfall was expected Sunday from northern New Jersey into southern New England.

While the storm was gradually weakening, tidal flooding would stay through high-tide cycles Sunday night, said Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

In New York City, water a few inches deep filled streets in the Howard Beach neighborhood but didn’t deter residents from venturing out for coffee Sunday morning.

Carole Ann Palmer, who owns Jingles Bait and Tackle in North Beach Haven, New Jersey, said this was the worst flooding she’s seen in 10 years.

“Yesterday, I was like, oh my God, it just keeps getting higher and higher,” said Palmer, who lives above the store.

The front step was swept away in the storm and she saw neighbors kayaking through the streets on Saturday.

Her biggest problem on Sunday was taking her two puppies outside to relieve themselves. She had to put on waders and carry them to dry land.

“I take one at the time, carry them across the street so they can do their business and then come back, dry them off and then do the other one. It’s a workout,” Palmer said.

New Jersey community better prepared after Sandy

Bernard Dowd waded through tidal water Sunday to get to his Sea Bright home, a day after he got back from work to find his basement “filled up like a swimming pool.”

But he said the situation around his neighborhood likely would have been much worse if it weren’t for new rules requiring homeowners to raise the height of their homes in the wake of Sandy, which devastated the community.

He also noticed that many around the community had lined their homes and businesses with sandbags — something he wishes he had done too.

“I'm always thinking they are hyping the storm,” he said.

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Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. AP journalists Mikella Schuettler in Phoenix and Julie Walker in New York contributed.

Mexico's Baja California braces for major Hurricane Polo as Hurricane Nolo still threatens Hawaii

Eugene Garcia And Gregory Bull, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:18:09 +0000

Hurricane Polo bore down on Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Monday with a threat of storm surge, high winds and heavy rains, while Hurricane Nolo threatened parts of Hawaii with torrential rain even as the storm edged further away from the state's islands.

Polo was a Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) Sunday evening, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The storm is expected to lash the peninsula with heavy rainfall overnight and could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

Nolo was well southwest of Hawaii and moving away from the Big Island as the weekend drew to a close, but a high-wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening. Nolo’s maximum sustained winds increased to near 105 mph (165 kph).

In Puerto San Carlos, a fishing town of about 5,700 people on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, residents boarded up homes Sunday as workers hauled dirt and rubble to shore up the embankments protecting the town. Authorities said 90% of the community was susceptible to flooding.

Residents feared high tides and pounding waves could breach the barriers and send seawater through the community. Some families planned to evacuate to shelters in Ciudad Constitucion, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) away.

Forecasters said Polo would hit the Mexican mainland after crossing Baja California and could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the U.S. Southwest later in the week. Polo was moving to the north at 12 mph (19 kph) about 270 miles (435 kilometers) west of Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula’s southern tip, the hurricane center said.

It's been a busy seasons for Pacific storms

The Pacific has been unusually active, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec, with storm activity running above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season. He said that pattern is consistent with El Niño years, when the Pacific often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.

With Polo approaching Mexico, the Mexican navy said it has gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan, on the country's Pacific Coast, and deployed three vessels that could ship aid to coastal communities isolated by the storm.

One of the towns in the hurricane's projected path is San Juanico, a small fishing community on Baja’s Pacific coast. The town has only had full-time electricity for a few years, and still experiences frequent outages. There is concern that washed-out roads could block access to medical facilities.

“Our people are concerned about this event,” said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel. “We haven’t faced such a worrying situation in many years.”

Robles Meza said Sunday that army soldiers arrived in San Juanico to prepare a shelter and provide support for possible emergencies.

Also Sunday, Tropical Storm Rachel formed well off Mexico's southwest coast. The hurricane center said Rachel had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was located about 300 miles (485 kilometers) south of Acapulco. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

In Hawaii, floods and mudslides are still a risk

More than 120 National Guard members were activated, part of roughly 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. President Donald Trump recently approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support.

Hawaii residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.

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Video journalist Eugene Garcia and photographer Gregory Bull contributed from Hilo, Hawaii.

Rain eases in Bangkok but persistent flooding forces thousands to leave home

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:10:09 +0000

Rain eased in Thailand ’s capital on Sunday, but flooding persisted in several low-lying areas, with thousands forced to move into temporary shelters. At least eight people were reported killed in the past 10 days nationwide.

Days of continuous downpours have caused widespread flooding and severe disruptions in Bangkok, impacting traffic and businesses, with accumulated rainfall exceeding 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in many areas.

Thailand’s Meteorological Department said moderate to heavy rain was still expected Sunday in several parts of the country, but conditions were expected to improve by Monday.

The city set up more than 200 temporary shelters, and about 3,000 people remained in them as of Sunday. Officials said 31 roads were still impacted by floodwaters.

Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said rainfall in the capital has decreased and city officials were working to drain water as quickly as possible. He cautioned that water levels in the city’s main canals remained high, with some still rising as water continued to flow in from nearby areas.

Several low-lying areas, particularly in the suburbs, were still submerged and many communities had to evacuate, Chadchart said.

More than 545,000 people in 25 other provinces have been impacted by flooding as of Sunday, especially in the central and eastern regions, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Incessant rainfall caused flooding that overwhelmed drainage capacity in many areas, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

He ordered relevant authorities to take immediate measures to relieve the situation and assist those impacted.

Several long-distance train and bus services were suspended. Airports continued to operate, but passengers faced some delays.

Heavy rain and flooding kill at least 62 in northern India

Biswajeet Banerjee, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:54:59 +0000

At least 62 people have died after days of heavy rain and flooding in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state, officials said Monday.

The state government said 46 people were injured and more than 1,000 houses were damaged after three days of heavy rainfall caused flooding in several districts.

Schools were closed Monday in parts of the state, including the capital, Lucknow, while rescue teams moved people from flooded areas to safer locations. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel through waterlogged areas and stay away from fast-flowing rivers, streams and drains.

Rainfall was expected to ease from Monday as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal weakened, said Atul Kumar Singh, a senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Lucknow. Light rain could continue in eastern and western parts of the state through Tuesday, he said.

Flooding also affected the eastern state of Odisha, where more than 75,000 people were evacuated to safer areas, officials said.

In neighboring Nepal, 21 people died in weather-related incidents from Thursday through Sunday, the country's disaster management agency said. Five people remained missing and five others were injured, while floods and landslides damaged 194 houses.

Nepal is recovering from devastating August floods that killed more than 1,400 people and left nearly 6,000 missing.

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Associated Press journalists Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal contributed to this report.

Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga lead the Broncos past the Rams 30-26 in a Sunday night thriller

Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:18:30 +0000

Bo Nix didn't flinch from his slow start and Talanoa Hufanga didn't lose faith after dropping two interceptions Sunday night.

Both bounced back in a big way, rallying the Denver Broncos past Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in the latest come-from-behind thriller that's become so common in the Mile High City.

Nix's keeper from inches outside the goal line with 47 seconds left capped a wild final five minutes that included a 66-yard pick-6 by Hufanga, a quick touchdown response by Los Angeles and a game-sealing second picked-off pass by Denver's do-everything safety.

“I actually had to have a pep talk with myself,” after dropping two interceptions earlier in the game, said Hufanga, who finished with a sack, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and three pass breakups to go with his pair of interceptions.

The Broncos (2-1) trailed 16-0 at halftime and went three-and-out to start the second half but rallied for a comeback, one-score win for the second straight week.

“In the huddle we feel a lot of belief that we've been there before and we have what it takes to go down against a really good defense and score points,” said Nix, who put the Broncos in front by reaching over the scrum with both hands squeezing the football.

Matthew Stafford, whose 17 comebacks in the last 2 minutes are the most by any active quarterback, quickly drove the Rams to the Denver 14, where he spiked the ball with 2 seconds left.

After false start moved the ball back to the 19, the Rams (1-2) sent out five receivers but Hufanga secured his second interception, this one in the end zone.

“Obviously a gutsy win,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

“I mean, it's a tough one,” Stafford said after the Rams, preseason favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, suffered a second loss in three weeks.

Hufanga's 66-yard pick-6 with 4:49 left gave Denver its first lead at 23-19. He jumped in front of running back Kyren Williams, cradled Stafford’s pass and weaved his way down the field, past the hard-charging QB and into the end zone.

“To be honest, Matt Stafford is a lot faster than you think,” Hufanga said. “I might be slow, but he's fast. I'll give him his credit because I had to cut back on that play.”

“Hufanga did a really nice job of fighting through the Y (receiver) and I left it a little bit back behind him,” Stafford lamented. "If I just dirt it, or whatever, we come away with three points. I’ll take myself trying to make those plays all day.”

Hufanga said he had told himself to stay patient for more opportunities to come after dropping two earlier potential interceptions of Stafford. “And man, two big plays.”

Just four plays later, however, Stafford hit Konata Mumpfield from 48 yards out when cornerback Riley Moss fell down, restoring the Rams' lead at 26-23.

Nix then drove Denver 65 yards in 10 plays with the aid of three defensive penalties and, with the ball nearly touching the goal line, leaped over the pile for the go-ahead TD. Nix had completions of 39 and 21 yards on that drive.

Cornerback Justin Wallace would have had his second interception of the night on that drive, but he was whistled for defensive pass interference on Pat Bryant on third-and-6 from the LA 11. That gave Denver a new set of downs at the 7.

“You try to be physical as a DB,” Rams safety Quentin Lake said. “Sometimes, you know, I think at the end of the day, as you know, the rules are the rules. Can’t be too handsy. It’s unfortunate.”

The Rams led 16-0 at halftime but it was tied going into the fourth after Nix threw a pair of touchdown passes and made two 2-point conversion throws: “We knew it was just a two-score game,” said Nix.

Harrison Mevis' fourth field goal, which followed an interception by Wallace, restored LA's lead at 19-16. He was also good from 36, 35 and 40 yards before halftime.

The Broncos cut their deficit in half on Nix's 5-yard strike to Bryant and 2-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle on a throw between the hands of Wallace midway through the third quarter. The Broncos tied it on another touchdown and 2-pointer. Nate Adkins caught an 8-yard throw from Nix, who found Bryant again to tie the game.

Stafford finished 30 for 55 for 390 yards. He threw 32 passes in the first half, the most of his career. With Puca Nacua out again with a hip injury, Davante Adams had seven receptions for 137 yards, giving him 15 catches for 332 yards over his last two games, the best such stretch of his career.

Injuries

Rams: CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder) got hurt just before halftime while guarding Courtland Sutton and was carted to the locker room from the sideline. LA lost two tight ends on its first touchdown drive, although Terrance Ferguson (ankle) returned on the Rams' next series. Also injured on the drive was Colby Parkinson (shoulder).

Broncos: Denver was without its Game 2 hero, rookie RB Jonah Coleman, who went on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain after his TD run secured the Broncos' 20-13 win over Jacksonville.

Up next

Rams: At Philadelphia next Sunday.

Broncos: Visit San Francisco next Sunday.

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Serbia's populist President Vucic resigns to run for prime minister at early vote

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:27:09 +0000

Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic resigned Sunday to pursue a bid to become prime minister in an upcoming early parliamentary election that will test his firm rule in the Balkan country, which was rattled by nearly two years of protests.

Vucic’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the Serbian Constitution from seeking a third term and said he was resigning to lead his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party in the Oct. 25 ballot.

The governing populists face a major challenge at the ballot box from a youth-backed movement that led the protests triggered by the Nov. 1, 2024, train station canopy collapse that killed 16 people in the northern city of Novi Sad.

University students demanded accountability for the tragedy. Their struggle for justice and against corruption has grown into a strong movement that will attempt to oust Vucic’s government after 14 years in power. Vucic himself has been either prime minister or president for the past 12 years.

“I am resigning the duty of the President of the Republic,” Vucic said, reading the text of his resignation.

Tensions are rising ahead of high-stakes October ballot

The ballot in October will be held against a backdrop of high political tensions as Vucic’s populists seek to remain in office despite widespread popular discontent. His decision to run for prime minister is seen as a carefully planned maneuver to retain a top position, and to boost his party’s chances against the student movement.

Before signing his resignation, Vucic briefly addressed his supporters outside the presidency building in Belgrade. He said “tonight is a very special occasion for me, my last evening in this beautiful building.”

“But I look to the future with joy, new victories await us,” he told the crowd as they chanted his name. “Let’s beat them (opponents) more convincingly than ever before.”

Vucic in recent weeks has toured the country tirelessly in a live coverage on pro-government media. He has opened new roads, offered assistance money and cheaper medicines, and visited voters in their homes. More recently, Vucic was filmed driving in his brother’s car to some of the events.

The prime minister in Serbia is formally more powerful than the president. But Vucic still took a dominant role during his two five-year terms, sometimes presiding over government sessions and routinely announcing all important decisions and plans.

The Independent Bureau for Social Research, or BIRODI, has filed a complaint alleging that Vucic has abused a public institution as president to promote his party, which he has dismissed. There has been no response from the anti-corruption authorities that are under government control.

Presidential vote to be held later

After Vucic’s resignation, the acting president will be a close ally and former prime minister, Ana Brnabic, who is the outgoing speaker of Serbia’s 250-member Parliament.

Vucic said the first round of the early presidential election must be held by the end of this year because of a 90-day deadline.

Vucic and his party have been accused of rampant corruption, organized crime links and a clampdown on democratic freedoms, including the critical media. The SNS party has gradually taken control over all state institutions since coming to power in 2012, while denying abuse of office and repeatedly pledging to fight graft.

The student-backed election list includes little-known experts, professors, teachers, athletes and other individuals from all walks of life. Groups of students have been touring the country on bicycles as part of their campaign calling for the rule of law and an end to corruption.

Analysts say the student group and Vucic are polling close, heralding a tight race and a referendum-like atmosphere. Also running are Vucic’s allies, the Socialist Party, a pro-EU opposition alliance and several smaller groups.

Vucic said that as of Monday, he will be “everywhere in Serbia to listen to the people.” While praising his government's achievements, Vucic contended that “I have made mistakes but I have worked diligently like hardly anyone in this position.”

Vucic also said he had pardoned 49 people before leaving the office, including 23 who have been prosecuted for alleged offenses during the protests. They include a group of anti-government activists who fled Serbia after being accused of anti-state activities.

Authorities have pushed hard against protesters with police violence and detentions as Vucic, without offering evidence, accused his opponents and critical media of intending to “destroy the state” under unspecified foreign influence.

He told Serbia’s state-run RTS Television earlier on Sunday that foreign powers and unidentified people in the country plan to stir unrest on election night.

Serbia’s efforts to join the European Union have stalled under Vucic because of democratic backsliding and a refusal to join sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Pope blasts assisted dying as 'false compassion' at French shrine known for miraculous cures

Nicole Winfield, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 06:01:18 +0000

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned the legalization of medically assisted death as immoral “false compassion,” reaffirming Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life during a visit to Lourdes, the French shrine associated with miraculous healings.

On the third day of his visit to France, Leo again waded into the end-of-life debate unfolding in his native U.S. and countries around the world. The issue roiled French politics for years before lawmakers recently approved legislation allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication.

Leo also met on Sunday with seven survivors of clergy sexual abuse, in what has now become a regular appointment for popes on foreign visits. The aim is to atone for the Catholic Church’s failure to protect its youngest and most vulnerable members from predator priests.

“It was extraordinary,” said survivor Jean-Marie Delbos, who joined four others at a press conference afterward to praise Leo for the encounter, saying he listened and was informed of their cases. “I never thought I would have a pope before me.”

A message about end-of-life care

Leo’s visit to the once staunchly Catholic and officially secular France has been marked by huge crowds — 800,000 at Leo’s Mass on Paris’ iconic Place de la Concorde — and his messaging against abortion and assisted dying.

France’s National Assembly in 2024 enshrined abortion as a constitutional right and recently gave final approval to its end-of-life bill.

On Sunday, the American pope celebrated Mass before some 150,000 people — many in wheelchairs — on the prairie next to Lourdes’ main basilica. He then visited a care center for sick people on the sanctuary’s grounds. He sought to encourage especially those who live in “terrible pain” that they have inherent dignity that no law or algorithm can “eliminate.”

“On the contrary, it is precisely in the name of this inalienable dignity of the human person that we must reject the temptation to cause death under the guise of false compassion,” he said. "What is legal is not necessarily moral,” Leo said to applause from the crowd.

Catholic teaching holds that all human life must be protected and defended from conception until natural death, leading to its firm opposition to abortion, euthanasia and medically assisted dying.

Leo had specifically criticized a medical-aid-in-dying law that took effect in Sept. 12 in his home state of Illinois — the 13th U.S. state with such a law.

Lourdes became a major pilgrimage destination after the Catholic Church officially recognized visions of the Virgin Mary reported here by a young girl in 1858. The site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims each year, especially sick and disabled believers hoping for a cure from the famed spring water in the Lourdes grotto where the visions purportedly occurred.

As a result in Lourdes, where the church has recognized 72 “miraculous” cures as authentic, the question of respecting even the most frail, sick and vulnerable is particularly acute.

Survivors visit Lourdes as part of their healing process

More recently, Lourdes has also become a place of healing for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and it was chosen as the site for Leo's encounter with victims. Leo met with them in a group and one-on-one in an encounter that lasted nearly two hours, the Vatican said.

The pope "listened to their stories, the pain and suffering they had endured — sometimes, unfortunately, with the complicity or silence of those who could have helped them — and their suggestions for ensuring that this does not happen again,” the Vatican said in a statement.

Olivier Mardi, co-founder of Voix Libérées de Touraine, a survivor group, said he perceived that Leo was a decisive “man of engagement” who had done his homework going into the meeting. He said Leo knew Mardi's case and asked him precise questions.

“He's not fooled; he knows that these incidents will continue and that we must remain vigilant,” he said. “There was an emotional side to it, and at the same time, something very powerful when he spoke.”

The French church has faced a brutal reckoning with its legacy of abuse. An independent report in 2021 estimated 330,000 children had been abused over 70 years by some 3,000 priests and church workers.

Despite criticism of the report’s methodology and conclusions, French bishops put in place an independent system of compensation for victims that to date has recommended the church pay out more than 20 million euros ($22.7 million).

During a meeting with French bishops on Sunday morning, Leo praised their response to victims and urged them to continue. But he also acknowledged that the cratering in priestly vocations in the French church is related to the scandal, given the priesthood is now sometimes viewed with suspicion.

“For priestly vocations to flourish, the priest must be welcomed, accepted, and loved,” Leo said.

Monsignor Pierre-Antoine Bozo, spokesperson for the bishops’ conference, said Leo intentionally wanted to keep the encounter with victims small to facilitate an intimate encounter.

“When it comes to listening to them, you can’t have 50 people in front of you,” he said. “So I think that’s really what the pope chose: to listen so that we can act and respond more effectively.”

Mosaics are a painful reminder of alleged abuse

In Lourdes, Leo was also reminded of a prickly abuse case inherited from Pope Francis.

The façade of one of the Lourdes basilicas was designed by the Rev. Marko Rupnik, a religious mosaic artist.

Rupnik is currently on trial in a Vatican court, accused by more than two dozen women of having psychologically, spiritually and sexually abused them starting in the 1990s, including during the creation of his artworks.

His case was covered up for three decades by his Jesuit superiors, and even Francis was suspected of having protected his fellow Jesuit. In response to a media outcry, Francis ordered a canonical trial in 2024, which is ongoing.

The Rupnik case posed the question of what to do with his mosaics, which adorn basilicas around the world.

Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas in 2025 decided to cover the façade of the Notre Dame du Rosaire Basilica, reasoning that abuse victims who come to Lourdes for healing shouldn’t be forced to see the mosaics.

On Sunday, Leo looped in front of the basilica in his popemobile, passing by the mosaic panels now covered by mustard-colored curtains affixed with plastic ties.

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Associated Press writer Samuel Petrequin in Paris contributed to this report.

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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.

Cowboys fall 34-31 against Ravens in Rio de Janeiro

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:49:04 +0000

Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and alertly called a timeout with 1 second left, setting up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal to cap a stunning 7-second drive that gave the Baltimore Ravens a 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Brazil.

The Ravens (2-1) and Cowboys (1-2) put on a entertaining show in front of an announced crowd of 72,792 during the NFL’s third game in Brazil and first in the city of Rio de Janeiro, engaging in a back-and-forth contest that featured plenty of big plays.

For a moment, it looked as though it would be the Cowboys who would win the game in regulation.

Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins was called for pass interference with 23 seconds left when his arms locked with CeeDee Lamb, giving the Cowboys the ball at the Ravens 2. After an incomplete pass, the Cowboys were called for a false start, which backed them up to the 7. Dallas settled for Brandon Aubrey’s 23-yard field goal.

And that set up the Ravens’ improbable finish that was capped by Loop’s kick sailing through the uprights and the jubilant Ravens swarming their kicker during a wild celebration at the Maracana.

Scholar Athlete of the Week: Nicolas Gomez, Harlan High School

Daniel Villanueva, Mark Mendez, Larry Ramirez — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:19:02 +0000

Meet KSAT 12’s newest Scholar Athlete of the Week: Nicolas Gomez from Harlan High School.

Nicolas is a four-year member and captain of the varsity soccer team.

He’s been named First-Team All-District, Academic All-District three years in a row and was named to the All Area Team and Defender of the Year in District 28-6A last season. Nicolas is also a member of the San Antonio FC Pro Academy.

He’s a member of the National Honor Society, maintains a 3.8 grade point average and is ranked in the top 30 percent of his class. Nicolas plans to attend college and major in business administration with a concentration around sports management.

Trump to travel to Ohio to stump for Sen. Jon Husted as the Republican faces competitive challenge

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:39:41 +0000

President Donald Trump plans to visit Ohio on Saturday in support of Sen. Jon Husted as the Republican tries to fend off a competitive challenge from Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown.

The trip to Vandalia, just north of Dayton, is scheduled to come after stops in Oklahoma on Thursday and Alabama on Friday. The Ohio race is seen as vital to determining control of the Senate.

Trump had earlier vowed to campaign in 35 of the most competitive battleground races in the final sprint to November’s midterm elections.

Brown is attempting a comeback two years after losing his Senate seat to Republican Bernie Moreno. Husted is a veteran of Republican politics in Ohio, having served as a state lawmaker, House speaker, secretary of state and lieutenant governor before being tapped to fill the Senate seat vacated by JD Vance when he became vice president.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou recently told The Associated Press that he hoped Trump would visit his state, where he won in 2024 by 11 percentage points.

“We definitely want him here,” Triantafilou said. “He’s a turnout driver for us.”

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Tucker reported from Washington.

A threat for heavy rainfall next week. Here’s what we’re watching

Justin Horne, Leah Rodriguez — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:55:55 +0000

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS

WARM START: Temperatures in the mid 90s Monday and Tuesday
STORMS LIKELY BY THURSDAY: We’re watching Wednesday night/Thursday morning
HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE: Flooding will be a threat this week

FORECAST

RAINFALL NEXT WEEK

While we expect Monday and Tuesday to be relatively quiet, an approaching storm system, deep moisture, and a slow-moving front will combine to give us a threat for heavy rainfall starting late Wednesday. The timing of this event is coming into focus, however, expect changes in the finer details. Here’s the latest:

WEDNESDAY: We expect most of the day to be quiet. But, we will be watching what is unfolding to our northwest. A line or cluster of storms may form and work into the South-Central Texas by Wednesday night. Should any storms form Wednesday afternoon, severe weather would be possible, along with flooding.

Heavy rain could begin Wednesday evening.

THURSDAY: Our best shot at rainfall. Storms are possible Thursday morning and may linger throughout the day, depending on the movement of a slow-moving front. Early estimations have the highest threat for flooding pinpointed for central portions of Texas. Temperatures will be cooler due to clouds and rainfall.

Flash Flood Risk.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY: It’s possible that rain chances could linger into the weekend. While not as heavy, we’ll continue to watch for any additional flood threat. Otherwise, it will be cooler, with highs staying in the 80s. Again, specifics will need to be ironed out. We’ll continue to update this forecast often. Please check back.

Extended forecast

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Alvarez and Moreno win batting titles, Misiorowski leads majors in ERA and strikeouts

Ronald Blum, Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:12:35 +0000

Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno won their first batting titles Sunday, while Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski became just the fourth pitcher since 1950 to lead the majors in ERA, strikeouts and opponents’ batting average.

Alvarez's .316 average was the lowest for the overall major league batting champion, below the previous mark of .325 by Dick Groat for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. Alvarez had the lowest for an AL winner since Carl Yastrzemski's .301 in 1968.

“The batting title was something I always wanted," Alvarez said.

Moreno edged Philadelphia's Luis Arraez for the NL crown and became only the fifth player with at least 50 starts at catcher to win a batting championship, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He joined Bubbles Hargrave (1926), Ernie Lombardi (1938, ‘42), Buster Posey (2012) and Joe Mauer (2006, ’08, '09).

Moreno, Arizona's first batting champion, was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday because of a tender hamstring and he finished at .311, one percentage point above Arraez. A three-time batting champion, Arraez sprained an ankle Thursday and missed the Phillies' last regular-season series.

“It’s something that you dream when you’re playing baseball since you’re 3 years old, 4 years old,” Moreno said.

Seven qualified big leaguers hit .300 or better, matching 2024 and 2025 for the fewest since a record-low six in 1968. Colorado's TJ Rumfield reached .300 with a first-inning single Saturday, was removed in the second and didn't play Sunday.

Misiorowski finished with 252 strikeouts, a 1.80 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .157. The only other pitchers since 1950 to lead the major leagues in all three categories were Sandy Koufax in 1965, J.R. Richard in 1979 and Mike Scott in 1986, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Misiorowski's opponents' batting average was the lowest since 1900 for an AL or NL pitcher with 100 or more innings, bettering Pedro Martinez's .167 in 2000, Elias said. His 0.80 WHIP was the lowest for pitchers with at least 150 innings since Martinez's 0.73 in 2000.

Misiorowski threw 1,115 pitches 100 mph or faster, most in a season since tracking started in 2008. He shattered the prior mark of 673 by Jordan Hicks in 2018.

“Honestly, being able to go in week in and week out and perform for my teammates, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Misiorowski said.

Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees won the AL ERA title at 1.95 and had a 1.16 ERA on the road, the third-lowest in the Live Ball era for a pitcher with 100 or more innings behind Bob Gibson's 0.81 in 1968 and Greg Maddux's 1.12 in 1995.

Houston set a record for lowest winning percentage by a first-place team at .500 with an 81-81 mark that won the AL West.

Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox set the season record for strikeouts by a batter with 227, four more than Mark Reynolds in 2009.

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber tied for the home run lead with 45. Pete Alonso topped the AL with 43 after leaving the New York Mets as a free agent to sign with the Orioles.

Alec Burleson of St. Louis led the NL in RBIs with 116 and Alonso topped the AL with 113, becoming the first player to win an RBI title in both leagues. Alonso paced the NL with 131 in 2022 for the Mets.

Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds had the most doubles with 40 and Boston's Wilyer Abreu led the AL with 38.

Corbin Carroll became the first player to lead his league in triples in four straight seasons, hitting 17 for the Diamondbacks. Minnesota's Kody Clemens had seven triples, the fewest for an AL leader in a non-shortened season.

Washington's Nasim Nuñez led the major leagues with 49 stolen bases, and Tampa Bay's Chandler Simpson topped the AL with 46.

Philadelphia's Cristopher Sánchez and Boston's Sonny Gray tied for the lead with 18 wins. There have not been any 20-game winners since Atlanta's Spencer Strider in 2023. The only other non-shortened seasons without a 20-game winner were 1871, 2006, 2009 and 2017.

Cleveland's Gavin Williams led the AL with 248 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker and Cleveland's Cade Smith tied for most saves with 41, while San Diego's Mason Miller and St. Louis' Riley O'Brien led the NL with 38 each.

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AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham and AP freelance writers Adam Camarena and Matt Carlson contributed to this report.

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See AP’s full golf coverage here

Trump's golf tour takes him back to the Presidents Cup

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:26:07 +0000

President Donald Trump returned to the Presidents Cup as honorary chairman for the second time, getting a loud cheer and keeping his remarks brief.

“These people want to see golf,” he said Sunday.

And just like his last visit to the Presidents Cup in 2017, he saw the Americans win. They rallied with the best performance on the final day in tournament history.

“Our team played unbelievable golf. They went in with a massive deficit, and they came out with a tremendous victory, just a great comeback,” Trump told reporters when he landed back at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington.

His visit to Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago marked the fourth time Trump has gone to a golf tournament this year. He arrived early and participated in the closing ceremony, helping with the presentation of the trophy to the winning U.S. team.

Security was tight. The Secret Service would not let spectators cross from one side of the first fairway to the other except for when Trump took a break from greeting players to go inside a suite.

Trump also was honorary chairman at the 2017 Presidents Cup during his first term. He showed up at Liberty National, across the Hudson River from Manhattan, toward the end of the competition when the Americans were assured of winning. He posed with U.S. players during the trophy presentation.

This time, he arrived before the start of the 12 singles matches in the final session. Flanked by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, Trump greeted players and caddies on both teams. In between player introductions, he watched the action on the videoboard at No. 1.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world and among several golfers who have played with Trump, patted the president’s shoulder as he walked onto the tee. U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker also visited the president a couple of times.

“He told me I was going to bring some energy today for you guys, you guys need it, and I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit,” Snedeker said after the U.S. closed out the victory. “Thank you, President Trump.”

Trump signed three hats for fans, and he responded to sections of the crowd clamoring for his attention by pointing, waving and offering a thumbs-up. When a fan yelled “We love you Donnie!” right before Chris Gotterup's tee shot, Trump waved discreetly.

He congratulated both teams during the closing ceremony. He also posed for photos and handed out challenge coins to Team USA and their significant others.

Trump was introduced by Rolapp at the beginning of the session, prompting Trump to remark “the fake news media will say I got a very bad reception.”

The president spoke briefly, noting that Rolapp had asked him to make a short speech.

“I said, ‘No, I don’t have the courage to make a speech. These people want to see golf. They don’t want to hear speeches,’” Trump said. “I’ll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before.”

Unlike regular golf tournaments, the first tee is boisterous with a flag-waving crowd and music at the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, which Trump attended last year at Bethpage Black on Long Island in New York.

The Americans lost the Ryder Cup to Europe, but they rallied past the International team for their 11th consecutive Presidents Cup win.

Before the horseshoe-shaped grandstand was filled, the loudest buzz was Air Force One flying over Medinah, louder than any of the commercial airlines that have been flying over the course every 70 seconds throughout the week during descent to O'Hare International Airport.

“They were nice enough to name me chairman or honorary chairman, so it’s an honor. It’s a very big event, one of the biggest events in golf by far,” Trump told reporters Sunday morning as he left the White House. “You have the Ryder Cup, and you have the Presidents Cup, and this is a big one, and so it’s a great honor. So, I’m going there.”

It's a traditional role offered to leaders of every country where the tournament is played.

The Presidents Cup began in 1994 to include international players from non-European countries who were not eligible for the more famed Ryder Cup. The name of the tournament comes from including the head of state of the host country as honorary chairman.

Then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was part of the trophy presentation at the last Presidents Cup in 2024 at Royal Montreal.

President Bill Clinton was in office in 2000 when he attended for one round at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. The first time Trump attended in 2017, the start of the week was the biggest display of presidents when Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama sat together on the first tee for the opening round.

Trump this year was at the Cadillac Championship at his Trump National Doral near Miami in early May. He also attended the LIV Golf event at his Trump National Bedminster course in New Jersey in August.

Earlier this month he attended the Irish Open at his course in Doonbeg, Ireland.

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Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Doug Ferguson contributed to this report.

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New Jersey Republican Tom Kean Jr. and Democrat Rebecca Bennett clash over war in Iran, tariffs

Mike Catalini, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:58:40 +0000

Tom Kean Jr., the New Jersey Republican congressman whose four-month absence from the House this year went unexplained until he disclosed that he was being treated for depression, clashed Sunday with Democratic opponent Rebecca Bennett in the battleground district over his support for President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war.

Appearing on stage together for their first and only debate before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Kean latched himself to Trump’s divisive record, defending Trump’s signature protectionist economic policies that have roiled global trade and backing Trump’s decision to launch attacks on Iran, saying the country could not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Bennett, a Navy veteran, sought to tap into public discontent over rising prices, and urged an end to the war and called on Congress to rein in Trump’s use of tariffs on imports.

The 7th Congressional District, which includes Trump’s Bedminster golf club, has changed party control in each of the past two midterm elections, making it a magnet for campaign spending and a political barometer. Republicans are trying to defend their narrow House majority at a time when Trump’s approval rating is deeply underwater and gas prices are rising because of his war with Iran.

Kean, who has voted against resolutions aimed at halting military action in Iran, defended the war.

“I think when you look at what Iran's terrorist leadership says — they say death to America. They have as their goal a nuclear weapon,” Kean said.

Bennett, a Navy veteran, called for an end to the conflict.

“We need to end the war in Iran,” she said. “The reason that we are seeing this increase in our gas prices is because of this unnecessary war.”

On tariffs, Kean said they were the president's prerogative. Bennett said Congress should step in.

Kean, a former state legislator who comes from a deep-rooted political family, is seeking a third term. During his absence, he missed more than 100 votes.

He returned in June and said he had been hospitalized for depression and that he was a private person by nature.

Bennett, a former Navy pilot who also worked as a healthcare executive, is a political newcomer. She won a competitive primary in June and was widely viewed as a more moderate and electable Democrat than some of her competitors.

Millions of dollars have poured into the race.

Last week, a super PAC tied to the Republican president indicated it would spend more than $3 million to help Kean in the race. Another political action committee tied to Democrats has set aside about $2.5 million for television ads in the New York market to help Bennett and another Democrat in a New York district.

Kean's district became slightly more Republican after the redistricting following the 2020 census. Nonetheless, Democrats view it as a prime pickup opportunity.

Kean won in 2022 by unseating Democrat Tom Malinowski, who had ousted Republican Leonard Lance in 2018.

Dan Wilson out as manager of the Seattle Mariners after disappointing season

Shane Lantz, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:22:35 +0000

Dan Wilson will not return as the Seattle Mariners' manager next season, he and the team said Sunday.

Wilson made the announcement shortly after the Mariners finished off a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, the ending to a disappointing 76-86 season that began with World Series aspirations after Seattle reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last year.

“Collectively we failed to meet our own expectations this season,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “Dan and I both care deeply about this organization, these players, and the future of the Mariners. After much discussion it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond.

“I want to thank Dan for his efforts over the past two years and specifically recognize his role in our club advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS in 2025.”

Wilson, a Mariners Hall of Famer who played catcher for the team from 1994-2005, took over the job after Seattle fired Scott Servais on Aug. 22, 2024. Things started off well, as Wilson led the club to a 21-13 finish after it squandered a 10-game lead in the AL West earlier in the season.

The Mariners won the AL West in 2025, their first division title in 24 years, and came within one victory of the franchise's first World Series appearance. But a combination of injuries and regression by the bullpen and several of the team's top offensive stars led to a 2026 season filled with disappointment.

After hitting .247 with 60 homers and 125 RBIs and finishing second in the AL MVP race to Aaron Judge last year, Cal Raleigh batted .182 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs. Center fielder Julio Rodríguez and first baseman Josh Naylor also had career-worst seasons as the Mariners scored just 664 runs — third-fewest in the majors.

The defense ranked last in MLB with -58 outs above average, and All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz blew 10 saves.

Wilson went 187-171 in two-plus seasons as Mariners manager, at .522 the second-best winning percentage in club history behind Lou Piniella (.542).

“I'm still processing this with my family, and it's a very difficult day," Wilson said at a postgame news conference, reading from a prepared statement. “We love this city, we love this community and we appreciate the organization for what it has meant to the family since coming here as a player in '94.”

His tenure as manager ends with the Mariners still the only major league team that's never reached the World Series.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to lead this team the past two years,” Wilson said. “While this season has not gone the way any of us expected, I’m proud that the players in the clubhouse showed up each day to try and compete and battle in each game they played. I’m confident that the 2026 season doesn’t accurately reflect the talent, passion and desire of our players and know that bright things are ahead for this group.”

Prior to Sunday’s game, Wilson told the team he would not be back in 2027.

“He just made it clear that he really cares about this team and this organization as a whole,” Rodríguez said. “Even though he’s not going to be around us, he’s going to always be there for us in many different ways and that he believes in this group going forward."

Mariners Chairman and CEO John Stanton thanked Wilson and said he could still remain in the organization.

"I want to add my thanks to Dan for the work he’s done as manager,” Stanton said in the team's statement. “I have also spoken with Dan and made it clear that we would like to keep him in our organization. I look forward to continued conversations as we work to identify a role in which we can continue to benefit from his experience and commitment to the Mariners and our community.”

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Jackson's pass, alert timeout call lead to Loop's 56-yard field goal as Ravens beat Cowboys 34-31

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:03:34 +0000

Lamar Jackson used his big right arm and a little bit of quick thinking to lead the Baltimore Ravens to one of their shortest and most memorable drives in franchise history.

Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and alertly called a timeout with 1 second left, setting up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal to cap a stunning 7-second drive that gave the Ravens a 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Brazil.

“Everyone was on the same timing," Jackson said of the final drive. “The line did a great job protecting, Zay ran a great route and I just had to deliver the baby. He caught it and as soon as he got down, I was like 'Please see me ref!'"

“Unbelievable play by Lamar and Zay,” Ravens coach Jesse Minter said. ”Heads up on the time. You practice for those moments, you wait for them to come up and it came up today and we were ready."

For a moment, it looked as though the Cowboys would win in regulation.

And that set up the Ravens' improbable finish that was capped by Loop's kick sailing through the uprights and the jubilant Ravens swarming their kicker during a wild celebration at the Maracana.

“I am hurting, they are hurting,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “It is a long trip (to Rio), but no one cares. We also have a long flight back.”

Jackson found rookie tight end Matt Hibner for a 2-yard touchdown for a 31-28 lead with 1:30 remaining. That gave the Cowboys and Dak Prescott enough time for the tying drive.

Baltimore’s Derrick Henry ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ravens were in control with a 24-13 lead in the third quarter, but the Cowboys weren’t done. Jake Ferguson atoned for a previous turnover when Prescott found him for a 19-yard touchdown. Dallas added a 2-point conversion on a nice catch by Lamb, cutting the deficit to 24-21.

Baltimore appeared it was about to go up by 10 a few minutes later, but Henry was stuffed in the backfield on fourth-and-inches at the goal line when rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham sliced through the offensive line and made the tackle.

Dallas kept the momentum in its favor with a 96-yard touchdown drive that included a 49-yard pass to Lamb. KaVontae Turpin had a 9-yard TD run to give the Cowboys a 28-24 lead with just under 10 minutes left.

The Ravens’ defense came up big in the third quarter, forcing a Cowboys turnover when Ferguson fumbled a shovel pass from Prescott. Dallas tried for a 59-yard field goal later in the third, but Keondre Jackson blocked Aubrey’s kick to preserve the Ravens’ 17-13 lead and regain possession at mid field.

Jackson hit Chris Moore for a 4-yard touchdown four plays later and a 24-13 lead.

The Ravens recovered from a rough start, scoring 17 straight points to take a 17-13 lead into halftime.

Henry moves into 9th place on NFL rushing list

Henry had a 5-yard run early in the second quarter to move into ninth place on the NFL’s career rushing list, passing Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, who had 13,259. If the five-time Pro Bowl selection continues at his current pace, he could also pass Jerome Bettis (13,662), LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684) and even Curtis Martin (14,101) this season.

Playing surface holds up

After concerns about the playing surface this week, the grass field at the Maracana appeared to hold up pretty well.

The NFL has been playing in Brazil since 2024, but the two previous games were at the 48,000-seat NeoQuimica Arena in Sao Paulo. In the first year of the Brazil game, its turf was also criticized and forced players of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers to change their cleats to stop slipping.

Injuries

Ravens: Tight end Mark Andrews (hand) left in the first half, but returned later in the game.

Cowboys: Safety Jalen Thompson (hamstring) left in the second quarter. Safety Markquese Bell (dehydration), left in the third quarter, but returned.

Up next

Ravens: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.

Cowboys: At the Houston Texans next Sunday.

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See AP’s full golf coverage here

Americans rally in singles to win the Presidents Cup for the 11th straight time

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:59:24 +0000

The deficit was larger than anything the Americans had ever experienced at home in the Presidents Cup. The celebration Sunday afternoon? That was all too familiar, even the part where President Donald Trump stuck around for the trophy presentation.

The U.S. players — from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun — passed the gold cup down the line, which was only fitting.

Everyone had a hand in the latest comeback at Medinah, where the Americans delivered the most lopsided singles session in Presidents Cup history. They won nine of the 12 matches and halved the other for a 17-13 victory, their 11th in a row against the hard-luck Internationals.

U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker went from blaming himself for the three-point deficit to choking back emotions as his team set the tone early and rode momentum and a raucous Chicago gallery late that left them believing again they can succeed in team golf.

The real proof comes a year from now in Ireland for the Ryder Cup. For now, the Americans redeemed themselves in a competition they have lost only once since these matches began in 1994.

“Is it a record in singles? That doesn't happen unless you have a special group of guys, and we do,” Snedeker said. “I'm really proud of how they came together.”

It was a crushing blow to Geoff Ogilvy and his International team, which outplayed the Americans in team matches over three days, taking the lead for only the fourth time in the Presidents Cup, and the first time on American soil.

Five matches were on the course — the U.S. were 1-up in three, the other two were halved — and the Internationals need to find three points to win the cup. The Americans simply didn't budge.

“It just felt like it was sort of right on a knife edge for a massive part of the day,” Ogilvy said. "If you hole a couple of putts at the right time and get a bit more yellow on the board at the right time, the momentum, and the crowd sort of stays out of it a little bit.

“Just sort of started drifting away for us in the last few hours.”

The Americans, outplayed down the stretch all week on the No. 3 course at Medinah and Ogilvy's architecture company redesign, flipped two key matches on the back nine. Collin Morikawa beat Hideki Matsuyama, and Koivun went from 2 down after 10 holes to a 2-up victory over Si Woo Kim.

Trump, the honorary chairman of the Presidents Cup, was on the first tee for the start of the 12 singles matches and was there for the trophy presentation, as he was at Liberty National in 2017 during his first term.

That was an American blowout. This one was tight, and yet it still felt inevitable, nothing like the Ryder Cup at Medinah in 2012 when Europe rallied from a 10-6 deficit to win on the road.

The Americans rallied behind endless and boisterous cheers, some of which went a little too far.

Someone yelled in the backswing of Nico Echavarria, causing him to drop the driver as his ball sailed to the right. Scheffler barked at the fan, and after missing a birdie putt, he conceded a 30-foot par to the Colombian in a show of sportsmanship.

Scheffler went on to win. So did Cameron Young and Justin Thomas and Chris Gotterup in the early part of the lineup as the deficit shrunk and soon turned into another comfortable victory.

“I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here. Medinah has a history of funny things happening," said Snedeker, who was on that losing Ryder Cup team in 2012. “Sure enough, they went out and played their (tails) off today. I'm so damn proud of those guys.”

That group included Koivun, who just over a year ago was on the winning Walker Cup team for amateurs. Just four months ago, he helped Auburn to an NCAA golf title. And there he was Sunday, turning a loss into a point and hitting clutch shots at the end.

Koivun was 2 down through 10 holes to the Kim when he won three straight holes to flip the color to American red on the board. The kid drilled his tee shot on the 18th, and twirled his iron when he knew the approach was pure. He wound up with a 2-up victory, and then it was a matter of time.

“The kid is special. He’s different,” Snedeker said. “You saw that for a 21-year-old kid to stand up there and hit those last two balls like he did. Not many people like that.”

The clinching point came from Jacob Bridgeman, another Presidents Cup rookie.

Patrick Cantlay had another moment, as he always seem to do in these events, holing a birdie putt from just inside 60 feet on the par-3 16th against Adam Scott, who now has played 12 times in this competition without ever being on the winning side.

"Look, it’s a very difficult thing to beat the U.S. in singles in the U.S.,” Ogilvy said. “They’re great players, and the crowd came out for them. They get a bit of red on the board, and the noise gets loud. They started the day with a lot to do and they all played great.”

All the Internationals can do is regroup and try again at Kingston Heath in Australia is two years. Their only victory was at Royal Melbourne in 1998, and there was a tie in South Africa in 2003.

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House Democrats plan vast oversight of Trump administration. Impeachment is an option

Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:11:41 +0000

House Democrats are preparing a vast oversight agenda, with investigations of President Donald Trump, his family and his administration if the party sweeps control of the chamber from Republicans in the November elections.

The undertaking is as robust as it is daunting, spanning several House committees. With majority power comes bigger budgets and staff, and the ability to investigate, subpoena and potentially course-correct what the Democrats say are widespread corruption and abuses of power. Impeachment of the Republican president and Cabinet officials is not off the table.

“There is a cost to the American people of the out-of-control corruption,” said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is in line to become House speaker if Democrats win control at the Capitol.

“If folks have been stealing from the American people, shortchanging the American people or screwing over the American people,” Jeffries said, “we are going to hold the crooks accountable.”

Congress has enormous ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch as part of its power as a coequal branch of government, and a road map for the Democratic-run investigations has already been set by the almost daily letters lawmakers send to the administration and in amicus court filings.

Democrats are asking about the money-making by Trump and his family, whose wealth has grown dramatically since he returned to the White House in January 2025. They are investigating the potential civil rights violations of Americans killed protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and of detained immigrants being deported to faraway countries. They have fought the closing of the Kennedy Center, launched investigations into private funding of the America at 250 celebrations and tracked the shuttering of federal operations, including the U.S. Agency for International Development.

New questions emerge daily, including the Trump family’s recent acknowledgment that a weekend wedding party for the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. was partly funded by a Russian oligarch, with reportedly close ties to the Kremlin.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who is in line to become the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, characterized the issues involved as “gargantuan."

“We need to zero in quickly on the forms of systemic corruption that have cost the public huge amounts of money," Raskin told The Associated Press, “and where there are legislative cures available.”

Trump impeachments made history then. Could it happen again?

Jeffries will almost certainly be under pressure from the far left to move more swiftly to articles of impeachment against Trump, who during his first term became the first president to be twice impeached by the House. Both times, he was acquitted by the Senate.

Impeaching the president a third time may not hold the currency that it once did. Democrats will more likely focus their impeachment efforts on Cabinet members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth already faces articles of impeachment from a Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, over his leadership at the Pentagon and his management of the Iran war.

“We haven’t ruled anything out,” Jeffries said recently about the tools available to Congress, “and we haven’t ruled anything in.”

The White House is likely to play hardball if confronted with investigations, and Democrats are bracing for an administration that potentially ignores subpoenas or refuses to turn over paperwork that lawmakers are demanding.

The Democrats are also reaching beyond the administration into various corporate and business entities for potential wrongdoing.

‘We’ll act like the Congress,' says one Democrat in line to lead a committee

Ranking Democratic lawmakers who are in line to lead committees if power shifts are beginning to chart the investigations they plan to tackle.

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat now on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has outlined five priorities, including Trump family business dealings, the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and ICE operations.

“We’re already doing work,” Garcia told the AP.

He also mentioned the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as broader allegations of corporate corruption.

The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, whose jurisdiction includes the State Department, said the committee plans to investigate Trump's international dealings, including around the Iran war.

He expects the committee will also look into the administration's Venezuela operations — from the military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific waters to the U.S. partnership with a private company to develop and access the South American country's oil.

Rep. Jared Huffman of California, the ranking Democrat at the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the Interior Department and its National Park Service operations, has begun digging into Trump's “vanity projects,” including the demolition of the White House's East wing for a new ballroom and the president's proposed arch.

Huffman and other committee members have also been eyeing the Trump family's role in various minerals deals.

At the committee's last session before lawmakers recessed to campaign for the midterm elections, Huffman said that if Democrats take charge, he plans to call witnesses, put them under oath and follow the evidence where it leads.

"When people ask what will we do," he said he responds, “My answer is simple. We’ll use those tools. We’ll act like the Congress.”

Oregon QB Moore sustained concussion on late hit; USC suspends LB Stephens for 1 game for hit

Greg Beacham, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:23:29 +0000

Oregon announced Sunday that quarterback Dante Moore sustained a concussion in a late hit by linebacker Desman Stephens during the second quarter of the Ducks' victory over Southern California on Saturday.

Stephens, who was ejected from the game for targeting, was suspended for one game by USC earlier Sunday for the hit and his celebration afterward.

“Dante sustained a concussion in last night’s game but fortunately his MRI and CT scans came back clean and he did not suffer any additional injuries," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said in a statement. “Every concussion is different and we are going to move forward with an abundance of caution to ensure we make the best decisions for Dante and his future.”

Moore was sliding to complete an 11-yard run to the USC 12 in the second quarter when Stephens hit him in the head and chest with his shoulder. Moore’s helmet snapped back and hit the turf, and his hands raised in what appeared to be an involuntary motion. Eventually was placed on a stretcher with his neck in a brace and left the game in an ambulance.

Stephens celebrated after the hit and was confronted by Oregon players before he left the game. His actions were roundly criticized.

Stephens later apologized and expressed empathy for Moore and his family in a statement issued by the Trojans.

“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during yesterday’s game,” Stephens in a statement released by the university. “Seeing a player injured like that is incredibly serious, and my reaction in the moments afterward was completely inappropriate and inexcusable. Regardless of what was going through my mind at the time, there is no justification for smiling or celebrating while another player receives medical attention. I take full responsibility for my actions. That is not the person or teammate I want to be, and I will learn from this."

USC coach Lincoln Riley condemned Stephens' actions while announcing the suspension for his starting linebacker, who won't play when No. 18 USC (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) hosts Washington (3-1, 0-1) next weekend.

“Desman’s actions in last night’s game are unacceptable and are not reflective of USC football nor of his personal character,” Riley said. “He understands his mistake, accepts the consequences of his actions and will learn from this. The entire Trojan Family wishes Dante a full recovery, and we send our best regards to him and his family.”

Lanning expressed gratitude in his statement Sunday for the medical attention that Moore received.

“We are extremely appreciative of our entire medical staff and the medical staffs at USC and LA General County Hospital for their quick and thorough action in making sure Dante received the very best care possible,” Lanning said.

The Ducks, while shaken by the loss of their quarterback, went on to win 41-27. Oregon, which jumped five spots to No. 15 in the AP Top 25 with the victory, is off next weekend before hosting UCLA on Oct. 10.

The Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee in March approved a one-year trial rule for this season that gives a player a break for his first targeting penalty and clears the way for him to play in the next game. Since this was Stephens’ first such penalty, he would have been eligible to play against the Huskies had USC not suspended him.

Following the game, Lanning had called the hit “disgusting.” Stephens drew even more ire for smiling on the bench and later returning to the Trojans' sideline in the second half after being ejected.

Riley defended Stephens' return to the sideline Saturday night, saying he was allowed back because “he's on our football team.”

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Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Series games to have prime-time starts

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:25:29 +0000

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will get prime-time exposure in Major League Baseball's Wild Card Series.

All three potential games in the AL first-round matchup that begins Tuesday will start at about 8 p.m. EDT and be televised by NBC, MLB said Sunday.

Atlanta's series hosting Philadelphia will have 2 p.m. games televised on NBC, and the Chicago White Sox series at Houston will start at 5 p.m. EDT, with games televised by NBCSN.

The Chicago Cubs' series at San Diego will have 10 p.m. EDT games and be televised by NBCSN.

All games also will be streamed on Peacock in the first year of a contract with MLB that replaced ESPN as the Wild Card Series network.

Games will be televised with Spanish-language commentary on Universo and Univision.

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Washington LB Leo Chenal carted off with a neck injury against Seattle

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:54:54 +0000

Washington linebacker Leo Chenal was carted off the field in the second quarter of the Commanders' 33-31 victory over Seattle on Sunday with a neck injury.

Chenal went down with 6:38 remaining in the half on a run by Seattle's Emanuel Wilson. The cart was brought out, and eventually the whole Washington team came off the sideline to surround him.

As Chenal was being carted off, fans began chanting his name. He was able to give a fist pump as he neared the tunnel.

Coach Dan Quinn said afterward that Chenal was at the hospital and had feeling in his extremities.

“Undergoing further testing as we go through tonight,” Quinn said.

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Former Don Pedro's manager arrested after allegedly robbing South Side restaurant, affidavit says

Christian Riley Dutcher — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:21:56 +0000

A former manager at a South Side restaurant is facing a first-degree felony charge after investigators say she helped rob the same location where she once worked.

Blanca Velasquez, 43, was arrested last Tuesday and charged with aggravated robbery in connection with an aggravated robbery at Don Pedro’s.

Shortly after midnight on Sunday, Sept. 20, SAPD patrol units responded to Don Pedro’s for a robbery in progress. According to an affidavit, two suspects entered the restaurant through a rear service door, held an employee at gunpoint and stole money from the office. Both suspects fled before officers arrived.

Security footage showed one of the suspects had a visible tattoo on the index finger of their right hand, police said.

The restaurant’s owner told investigators the business had recently fired one of its managers, and that manager had a tattoo in the same location that appeared very similar to the one seen on video.

Two days after the robbery, the affidavit said Velasquez was arrested on unrelated warrants.

During the interview, Velasquez confessed to committing the aggravated robbery, according to the affidavit. Investigators said she also provided details about the crime that, in their assessment, only someone with an intimate knowledge of the events would have known.

The affidavit states Velasquez worked with someone else during the robbery and that the victim suffered bodily injury during the incident.

Velasquez faces a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery.

From collapse to clinch, Phillies survive 'living hell' of last week and win final NL wild card

Dan Gelston, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:44:37 +0000

Kyle Schwarber belly-flopped more than he actually slid headfirst into second base and popped up with his uniform smudged in dirt. He punched his right fist in the air and shouted something in exhilaration toward a fired-up Phillies dugout.

Schwarber delivered with a clutch two-run double, yes. He also showed the fire, the fight that vanished from the Phillies during a treacherous week that sent them from the brink of a wild-card clinch to the edge — and yes, the bottom was crumbling — of an all-time franchise collapse.

His slide had Phillies fans roaring from their feet — perhaps more than a few who wore brown paper bags over their heads a night earlier — and instantly all felt right on a soggy day inside Citizens Bank Park.

Zack Wheeler pitched a gem against Tampa Bay on Sunday and untangled a few thousand knots inside the stomachs of Phillies fans, and even from those inside a mostly solemn clubhouse. The Phillies survived their perilous five-day scare and are indeed headed to the playoffs for the fifth straight season after beating the Rays 7-3 to clinch the final NL wild-card berth.

“We didn't play the best baseball we could in September,” slugger Bryce Harper said. “Should we have clinched two weeks ago? Probably, right? But we didn't. We clinched today.”

Jhoan Duran struck out Nick Fortes to seal it. Duran pounded his mitt and was greeted by teammates for a fairly muted celebration on the field.

The Phillies got more rowdy inside the clubhouse and sprayed cheap beer and bubbly as bottle caps floated in booze-soaked puddles on the carpet while Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” was cranked to 11.

Philadelphia did indeed survive a freefall that coincided with the Arizona Diamondbacks getting hot over the final week of the season. The Phillies’ slam dunk of a playoff spot morphed into something much more tenuous.

Interim manager Don Mattingly said ahead of Wednesday’s game — the first day the team could clinch — that, yes, Philadelphia would wait until midnight if needed to pop the bubbly if it beat Milwaukee and the Diamondbacks lost a time zone away to Colorado.

The Phillies lost that one. Then came three more defeats, capped by a 12-1 embarrassment on Saturday against the AL East champion Rays.

Mattingly's presumed wait of a few hours to celebrate was not complete until 5:19 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Sept. 27.

The Phillies scored only three runs during their four-game losing streak. They needed an unearned run on Saturday to snap a 21-inning scoreless streak.

Schwarber’s double in the second inning made it 4-0, and that all but erased the significance of the Diamondbacks' outcome in San Diego. Philadelphia entered the day needing a win or an Arizona loss to make the playoffs.

J.T. Realmuto slogged through 34 straight hitless at-bats. He also ripped an RBI double in the second inning.

Bryson Stott batted cleanup for only the seventh time in his career. He also hit an RBI double that scored Schwarber in the first inning.

Harper lined a solo shot into the first row of the right-field seats, and Edmundo Sosa added a two-run homer for a 7-1 lead in the seventh.

Slumps were busted. Losing streaks were obliterated. Corks were popped.

“It was kind of a living hell in slow motion,” Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton said of the final week.

Wheeler allowed one run and threw 97 pitches over six innings to earn his 14th win of the season on a rainy day that stirred memories of the 2008 World Series between the same teams.

The Phillies, though, likely took a loss by pushing the clincher to the 162nd game. With Game 1 in the best-of-three Wild Card Series set to start Tuesday in Atlanta, the Phillies will almost surely have to beat the Braves without a start from Wheeler.

The Phillies' rotation has been a strength this season, and Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez are in play for Games 1 and 2. Andrew Painter or Aaron Nola could make a Game 3 start, if necessary.

Mattingly had goggles wrapped around his backward cap and laughed when he said it was "too early” to announce a Game 1 starter.

NL East champion Atlanta won the season series 9-4 and finished six games ahead of second-place Philadelphia.

The Phillies were 9-19 when they fired popular manager Rob Thomson in April after he led the Phillies to four straight playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, and consecutive NL East titles.

Mattingly, hired in the offseason as bench coach, is back in the playoffs a season after he was on the staff of a Toronto team that lost the World Series in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's tasked with leading the franchise to its first championship since 2008, the second year of a five-year playoff stretch for the Phillies.

That was a record, until this year's team matched it.

“You wouldn't think that, right, with everybody's opinion of us,” Harper said. “I think as a team, as a group, pretty cool. The job's not done, the job's not finished. We've never finished the job before.”

The Phillies did all they could to try and blow their lead.

Philadelphia had a 6 1/2-game lead over Arizona for the third NL wild card on Sept. 1 before going into a tailspin that spurred painful memories of the 1964 season. Those Phillies lost 10 straight games to blow a 6 1/2-game lead and the NL pennant with 12 games left.

This year's team will be able to raise a playoff flag on opening day (whenever that is in 2027).

The Phillies also must try and prove their late-September meltdown was nothing but a blip in a long and successful October.

That's a problem to start to solve on Monday.

On Sunday, it was hugs and high-fives and a collective exhale that more playoffs were on the horizon.

“We know our team,” Schwarber said. “We know that we have a lot of experience. We’ve got talent. When we’re playing our game, and we’re executing what we need to do, we’re a really hard team to beat.”

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Calypso icon Slinger Francisco, dubbed 'The Mighty Sparrow,' dies at 91, his family says

Anselm Gibbs, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:53:42 +0000

Calypso music lost one of its most emblematic voices Sunday with the death of Slinger Francisco, who was known on stage as the Mighty Sparrow and dubbed the “Calypso King of the World.” He was 91.

Francisco, who got his breakthrough in calypso music with his 1956 hit song “Jean and Dinah,” died peacefully surrounded by his family in New York, his family said in a statement. His death came after a “brief illness,” the statement said without disclosing any other details.

“He was an institution in the entertainment industry, well admired for his skill and finesse as a singer, songwriter and mentor; beloved by many,” Francisco’s family said.

The Mighty Sparrow will be remembered as “a defining voice of our culture, a master storyteller and a towering figure whose music helped carry calypso from Trinidad and Tobago to the world,” the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation said in a statement.

Born in the coastal town of Grand Roy, Grenada, in July 1935, Francisco was just a toddler when he migrated with his parents to Trinidad and Tobago in 1937.

Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of calypso music, and it’s where the name and persona of the Mighty Sparrow would later emerge to produce a list of hit songs in the genre: Both of Them, Congo Man, Mr. Walker, The Lizard and many more.

“Birdie,” as Francisco was also affectionately known, recorded hundreds of songs in a career that spanned six decades. He performed in several countries around the world, including at famous venues such as New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Throughout his career, Francisco’s goal was to advance the calypso art form, according to Trinidadian cultural historian and author Dr. Rudolph Ottley.

“The Mighty Sparrow was the supreme entertainer, a cultural revolutionary and one of the world’s greatest Calypsonians,” Dr. Ottley told The Associated Press.

Trinidad and Tobago has honored the composer and performer with national awards, and in 1987 the University of the West Indies conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters on Francisco.

Kyle Larson passes Chase Briscoe with 7 laps left to win for the fourth time at Kansas Speedway

Dave Skretta, Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:25:40 +0000

Kyle Larson has always found it easier to be the hunter than the hunted.

He won't have much choice in the matter now.

The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion capped a dominant performance at Kansas Speedway on Sunday by passing Chase Briscoe with seven laps left and leading the rest of the way, leaving Larson to wheel his No. 5 Chevrolet into victory lane for a record-tying fourth time at the mile-and-a-half oval and with a padded lead in the Chase for the championship standings.

Larson won each of the first two stages and broke his own record by leading 235 laps, allowing him to turn the slimmest of leads — a single point over Denny Hamlin at the start of the day — into a 26-point advantage heading to Las Vegas next weekend.

“Such a good day,” Larson said. “I was going to be happy with second how the race went, but to get the lead, that's a big deal.”

Briscoe chased down Larson throughout the final stage, finally getting around him with 30 laps to go. But after briefly pulling away, the No. 19 Toyota began to get loose, and Briscoe brushed the wall. Larson closed in on the lead again, made a move on the low side and powered away, taking the checkered flag for the second time in three races.

He also won at St. Louis, a victory that had ended a maddening 51-race winless drought.

“I think it's easier to be the hunter than the hunted,” Larson said. "With me out front, I'm just defending, trying to guess on what the fast lines are, and when he got in front of me he started getting really loose.”

So loose that Briscoe drifted all the way back to fourth. Austin Cindric wound up second and Hamlin finished third.

“It was better for me being in second. It would tighten me up and allow me to be a little better," Briscoe said, “and as soon as I got the lead I got really free again. Frustrating for sure.”

Cindric spent much of the day stalking Larson but was never able to get his No. 2 Ford around him. He might have been the fastest car on the track at the end, too, but Cindric was too far back to mount a challenge for the victory.

“I wish I would have had at least a shot at it. I thought we could join the fun at least," Cindric said, “but proud of the effort.”

It was a similar story — and a bittersweet day — for Hamlin, whose strong third-place run nevertheless cost him in the points race. The revamped Chase format offers a big reward for wins, and Larson was the one doing a celebratory burnout at the end.

“Just didn't quite have it today,” Hamlin said. “We could be really good in the long run. In the short run, the 5 was really good. The 2 was good. And we just couldn't quite hold those guys off, or keep them close enough in the short run.”

Persistent rain earlier in the weekend washed out practice and qualifying, leaving the starting lineup to be set by a combination of last week's results at Bristol and owner points. That left Larson in the enviable spot of starting alongside Joey Logano on the front row, and the fortunate position of having had so much success at Kansas that missing out on practice really didn't matter.

Larson's fourth win tied Hamlin's record for the track, and he's been first or second in seven of the past 11 races there.

“I feel like if we can just click it, we're the most comfortable on these (mile-and-a-half tracks),” Larson said. “Man, what a day. I thought we'd have a good shot. I didn't think we'd have a max points-type day, so I'm just thrilled.”

Hocevar in the middle of another yellow

One week after Carson Hocevar's bump sent Ryan Blaney into the wall at Bristol, leading to a pit-road fracas, the driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet was involved in another caution. This time, after running near the front through the opening stage, Hocevar appeared to get bumped from behind on a restart, sending him into Bubba Wallace in a spin that collected several other cars.

Hocevar wound up finishing 33rd. Blaney started 25th due to the qualifying rainout and finished fifth.

“The guy leading the points won the race. Kind of dominated,” said Blaney, who is now 91 points back of Larson in the standings. “It is what it is. You just have to keep grinding and working hard, and try to get to victory lane a couple of times.”

Legacy Motor Club locks up Erik Jones

The team co-owned by Jimmie Johnson announced the signing of Erik Jones to a multiyear extension to continue driving the No. 43 Toyota. The move provides some stability to Legacy Motor Club, which is replacing John Hunter Nemechek with Josh Berry in the No. 42 next season, and will have Riley Herbst driving the No. 84 that Johnson had driven in select races.

Up next

The NASCAR Cup Series continues its stretch of three straight races on 1.5-mile ovals with Las Vegas next Sunday. Hamlin won the race there in March, when he overcame a pit-road speeding penalty to pick up his first win of the season.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Florida flies into the top 10 as four teams join the rankings

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 17:31:40 +0000

It’s great to be a Gator in the latest AP Top 25 rankings: Florida made a massive jump, landing in the top 10 for the first time in five years.

The Gators’ 24-point win over Mississippi on Saturday earned them a 13-rung promotion to No. 8, their highest since 2020 and first top-10 appearance since 2021.

Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame held their grip on the top three spots in the poll. Miami was a season-high No. 4, and Ohio State moved up two spots to No. 5.

Indiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and BYU rounded out the top 10. That’s a five-spot drop for the Rebels.

Jeremiah Smith becomes a Heisman favorite

One week after Jeremiah Smith became Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver, he takes over as a Heisman favorite after exploding for 12 receptions, 217 receiving yards and four touchdowns – that’s Jeremiah Smith for you.

Smith’s odds jumped from +950 to +290 to win the award, passing over Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah. Mensah has the second-best odds at +450, and Kamario Taylor (+600) jumped over Chambliss (+1150) for the third-best odds.

Ask a voter: Walk us through how you’ve voted No. 1 this season

By TOM MURPHY

Walk us through how you’ve voted No. 1 this season, from the preseason rankings to moving Georgia to the top spot this week.

AP sports editor Dave Zelio

I opted to put ultra-talented Ohio State No. 1 on my preseason ballot for various reasons.

The fall-from-ahead loss, after leading Texas by 20 points, gave an opportunity to move Miami to No. 1 for a couple of weeks.

I dropped the Hurricanes down after their close call against Wake Forest and moved the defending champs Indiana to No. 1 last week. I didn’t feel like the Hoosiers deserved to stay there after their Friday home win against Northwestern. So Georgia is my fourth No. 1 of the year on today’s ballot. — Arkansas sports reporter Tom Murphy has been an AP Top 25 voter since 2007.

Kamario Taylor continues to shine

Perhaps no SEC team has been more shocking than No. 24 Mississippi State, which improved to 4-0 with a 31-24 win over No. 19 Missouri this weekend.

Quarterback Kamario Taylor was 27 of 38 for 360 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, boosting his season totals to 1,192 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Taylor taking advantage of upcoming transfer portal opportunities has been a hot topic of conversation lately. But the Mississippi State quarterback responded to that on Saturday: “If you know me, you know I bleed maroon and white.”

P.J. Fleck isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck’s intensity was on full display after his team’s 27-24 win over Washington on Saturday.

Golden Gophers linebacker Maverick Baranowski was bleeding from his mouth after the final play. Fleck embraced his player, wiped the blood from his mouth, and smeared it on his face.

“He’s a crazy man,” Baranowski said after the game.

Tennessee appeared to lose momentum against Texas

Tennessee had all the momentum on its side after the two-minute warning against Texas. Quarterback Faizon Brandon led a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to bring the Vols within three points. Then Arion Carter recovered a fumbled onside kick, giving Tennessee possession at its 49-yard line.

A facemask call brought the Vols to the 40-yard line, but poor clock management and penalties exposed a young Tennessee offense.

Despite the near-loss for Texas, a road win at Neyland Stadium is no easy feat. The Longhorns remained No. 1 for another week, receiving 62 of 69 first-place votes.

Not so Happy Valley

Penn State's Happy Valley has seen happier days after a loss to Wisconsin Saturday (and the Nittany Lions entered as 9.5-point favorites).

Wisconsin recovered from a 17-0 first-half deficit and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Penn State 24-20.

In terms of the rankings, Penn State took one of the hardest falls of the week, dropping from No. 13 to out of the rankings.

Conference breakdown

The SEC again leads the pack with 10 ranked teams this week: Texas (1), Georgia (2), Alabama (7), Florida (8), Ole Miss (9), LSU (11), Mississippi State (16), Tennessee (17), Kentucky (24), Missouri (25).

The Big Ten has six ranked teams: Ohio State (5), Indiana (6), Iowa (14), Oregon (15), USC (18), UCLA (23).

The Big 12 has five ranked teams: BYU (10), Texas Tech (12), Utah (13), Oklahoma State (19), Houston (20).

The ACC is down to two ranked teams: Miami (4) and SMU (21).

Notre Dame (3) is independent.

And the Group of Six is represented for the first time this season, as the Pac-12’s Boise State debuted in the rankings at No. 22.

Heisman contender Jeremiah Smith is on the rise

Smith’s odds jumped from +950 to +290 to win the award, passing over Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah.

Mensah has the second-best odds at +450, and Kamario Taylor (+600) jumped over Chambliss (+1150) for the third-best odds.

Ask a voter: Walk us through how you’ve voted No. 1 this season

By TOM MURPHY

I opted to put ultra-talented Ohio State No. 1 on my preseason ballot for various reasons.

The fall-from-ahead loss, after leading Texas by 20 points, gave an opportunity to move Miami to No. 1 for a couple of weeks.

Kamario Taylor continues to shine

Perhaps no SEC team has been more shocking than No. 24 Mississippi State, which improved to 4-0 with a 31-24 win over No. 19 Missouri this weekend.

Quarterback Kamario Taylor was 27 of 38 for 360 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, boosting his season totals to 1,192 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ask AP: What’s the justification for Oregon being ahead of Oklahoma State?

By DAVE ZELIO

It’s an excellent question, and Top 25 voters are absolutely encouraged to look closely at head-to-head results.

Best guess is that the voters, collectively, recall that Oklahoma State lost to Tulsa before catching fire and Oregon looked more than solid on the road at USC this weekend with a backup QB, and have in hand what looks now like a good win against newly ranked Boise State back in Week 1.

They are also not terribly far apart in poll terms, with the Ducks at No. 15 and the ’Pokes at No. 19.

P.J. Fleck isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck’s intensity was on full display after his team’s 27-24 win over Washington on Saturday.

Golden Gophers linebacker Maverick Baranowski was bleeding from his mouth after the final play. Fleck embraced his player, wiped the blood from his mouth, and smeared it on his face.

“He’s a crazy man,” Baranowski said after the game.

Tennessee appeared to lose momentum against Texas

A facemask call brought the Vols to the 40-yard line, but poor clock management and penalties exposed a young Tennessee offense.

Despite the near-loss for Texas, a road win at Neyland Stadium is no easy feat. The Longhorns remained No. 1 for another week, receiving 62 of 69 first-place votes.

Not so Happy Valley

Happy Valley has seen happier days after a loss to Wisconsin Saturday (and the Nittany Lions entered as 9.5-point favorites).

Wisconsin recovered from a 17-0 first-half deficit and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Penn State 24-20.

In terms of the rankings, Penn State took one of the hardest falls of the week, dropping from No. 13 to out of the rankings.

Conference breakdown

The Big Ten has six ranked teams: Ohio State (5), Indiana (6), Iowa (14), Oregon (15), USC (18), UCLA (23).

The Big 12 has five ranked teams: BYU (10), Texas Tech (12), Utah (13), Oklahoma State (19), Houston (20).

The ACC is down to two ranked teams: Miami (4) and SMU (21).

Notre Dame (3) is independent.

And the Group of Six is represented for the first time this season, as the Pac-12’s Boise State debuted in the rankings at No. 22.

Down goes Michigan

Michigan’s first few weeks in the Top 25 have been turbulent, from entering the season at No. 16 to dropping out of the rankings after a controversial 13-12 win against Western Michigan, to climbing back in at No. 18 after beating Oklahoma and UTEP.

The Wolverines are back out of the rankings after a familiar-looking loss to Iowa. Michigan fell 20-19 on a last-second touchdown, marking its second close call in the past month.

Louisville’s path to the CFP takes a turn

Despite a Week 1 loss to Ole Miss, Louisville appeared on a fast track to the ACC championship in the early weeks of the season. That outlook has changed after a 30-27 upset from Wake Forest.

Louisville kicked a field goal to tie it up at 27-all at the end of the third quarter, but the fourth quarter wasn’t as kind to the Cardinals. Louisville turned the ball over on downs and missed two field goals in its final three drives. Louisville’s final field goal attempt was blocked by Wake Forest’s Gabe Kirschke and set the Demon Deacons up for victory formation.

A once red-hot Louisville team tumbled out of the rankings as a result and made its path to the College Football Playoff much more complicated.

Ask a voter: Do this weekend’s results show Top-25 voting is too reliant on team hype?

By TOM MURPHY

Truly, the results every weekend show that nobody’s ballot is foolproof, and fortunes for even really strong teams can waver in the course of a week.

The final 10 or so teams every week form such a cluster it’s hard to sort them all.

As an example, I dropped five teams from my ballot this week (Oklahoma, Washington, Louisville, West Virginia, Texas A&M) and upgraded five unbeatens (Miss. State, Duke, Cincinnati, UCLA, Pitt), and there are still a few more teams with no losses. — Arkansas sports reporter Tom Murphy has been an AP Top 25 voter since 2007.

Florida cracks the top 10

The Gators cracked the top 10 of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2021, coming in at No. 8.

That’s one of the biggest jumps of the season and moved Florida up 13 spots from No. 21. The Gators are one of five unbeaten SEC teams alongside Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State and Texas.

Ole Miss drops to No. 9

The Rebels’ stint in the top five proved to be short-lived, as Ole Miss fell from No. 4 to No. 9 following a 52-28 loss to Florida.

It was a tough test for Ole Miss coming off its biggest win of the season – a 32-24 triumph over rival LSU that briefly moved the Rebels into the top five.

Ole Miss was unable to carry that momentum into Gainesville, giving up 52 points in its first loss of the season.

Florida improved to No. 8, one spot above the Rebels, and LSU dropped from No. 10 to No. 11.

Four teams in, four teams out

There’s plenty of turnover in this week’s AP Top 25. Four newcomers are No. 19 Oklahoma State, No. 22 Boise State, No. 23 UCLA and No. 24 Kentucky. Boise State is the first Group of Six team to crack the rankings this season, while UCLA is off to its first 4-0 start since 2022.

Penn State, Louisville, Michigan and Texas A&M each fell out of the rankings after Week 4 losses.

How the votes are counted

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

For decades, voters called, emailed and faxed their votes to the AP and ballots were tabulated by hand.

Now voting happens online, and the count is automated first before AP checks for miscues.

The poll operates on a 1-to-25-point system, with the No. 1 team receiving 25 points down to the 25th team receiving 1 point. In between, the poll lists the teams with the most points from 24 down to 2. Teams that receive votes but not enough to make the top 25 are noted separately.

AP Top 25 rankings

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. Texas

2. Georgia

3. Notre Dame

4. Miami

5. Ohio State

6. Indiana

7. Alabama

8. Florida

9. Ole Miss

10. BYU

11. LSU

12. Texas Tech

13. Utah

14. Iowa

15. Oregon

16. Mississippi State

17. Tennessee

18. USC

19. Oklahoma State

20. Houston

21. SMU

22. Boise State

23. UCLA

24. Kentucky

25. Missouri

Dante Moore suffers a scary injury against USC