Francisco Oropesa, 38, fled after the shooting Friday night that left five people dead, including an 8-year-old boy. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Saturday evening that authorities had widened the search to as far as 20 miles from the scene of the shooting.

Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said.

Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropesa allegedly used in the shootings but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said.

“He could be anywhere now,” Capers said.

The reward was announced at a press conference Sunday afternoon when authorities continued to say they had no tips about Oropesa’s whereabouts.

“We’re asking everyone for your help until we can bring this suspect, or this monster I will call him, to justice,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Smith. 

“Right now we’re running into dead ends,” he said.

The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns.

Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot “from the neck up,” he said.

Two hundred officers were going door to door in the search for Oropesa, asking questions and looking for tips, Capers said.

“This $80,000 is in my opinion a real good motivator to have somebody turn him in,” he said.

Billboard posters are being made with information about the reward in Spanish, he said.

The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles.

The mass killings have played out in a variety of places — a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home.

Capers said there were 10 people in the house — some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week — but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them.

A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said.

“They were covered in blood from the same ladies that were laying on top of them trying to protect them,” he said Sunday.

Capers said the children were safe with family.

FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.

The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle.

The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim’s home, while in the front yard of Oropeza’s house a dog and chickens wandered.

Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn’t think anything of it.

“It’s a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work,” Arevalo said. “They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there.”

Capers said his deputies had been to Oropesa’s home at least once before and spoken with him about “shooting his gun in the yard.” It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropesa had previously broken the law.

Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there.

Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas.

Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year’s attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017.

Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde.

A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropesa threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck.

“I tell my wife all the time, ‘Stay away from the neighbors. Don’t argue with them. You never know how they’re going to react,’” Arevalo said. “I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don’t know who has a gun and who is going to react that way.”

Family and mourners gathered at Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth to say their goodbyes much sooner than any of them could have imagined.

Aybar’s aunt, Rebecca Canelon, says it’s difficult to see her sister in so much pain.

“It’s unbearable,” she said. “It’s overwhelming knowing that my sister now has to process to carry his remains back to the Dominican Republic.”

The family says the 30-year-old had more life to live and plans with his young son and family.

“He was a kind soul. Carlos was a gentle giant,” said Canelon.

According to Fort Worth police, Aybar was found with multiple gunshot wounds at an apartment complex on Arch Adams Lane where he worked in maintenance. Officers were able to locate the person responsible for the shooting, later identified as Devin Deron Smith.

Police say Smith, came to the leasing office upset over documents left on his door. A witness called Aybar to help with the situation and that’s when he was shot. Now, his family is left with memories and unfulfilled plans.

“He wanted to be here with cousins and family,” Canelon said.

According to jail records, Smith remains in jail on a $150,000 bond.

Aybar’s family tells NBC 5 they are considering legal action after hearing reports of several complaints against Smith at the apartment complex prior to the shooting.

A representative for CWS Apartment Homes, which operates The Marq on West 7^th, referred NBC 5 to a previous statement when we asked for a comment Wednesday:

“CWS Apartment Homes is devastated by the senseless and untimely loss of our dedicated team member and friend, Carlos Aybar.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.  CWS is also focused on ensuring that our local team members have the support they need at this difficult time.  We want to assure our residents, employees, and our Fort Worth community that safety is our top priority and that we are fully cooperating with and supporting law enforcement’s investigation.” 

Fort Worth Apr 26

Family of Fort Worth Apartment Shooting Victim Considering Legal Action, Attorneys Say

About 58 names were etched into the Texas Peace Officers’ Memorial, including at least 6 officers from North Texas.

“This is a very difficult time of year for all Texas police officers, especially for those of us at Grand Prairie Police Department who are here at the State Capitol honoring fallen officer Brandon Tsai. Quite frankly, I hope it’s something we never have to do again and I hope that this ceremony becomes something that’s not necessary in Texas,” said Grand Prairie Police Chief Daniel Scesney who attended the ceremony.

Grand Prairie Officer Brandon Tsai was killed while pursuing a suspect with fake paper tags in Nov. 2022.

Another local officer remembered Sunday night was Officer Steve Nothem from the Carrollton Police Department. He died in the line of duty last September when his patrol unit was struck on the George Bush Turnpike while assisting with a DUI investigation.

His father, who is from Wisconsin, was at the ceremony in Austin and said he was too emotional to speak but shared pictures of where his son’s name is now forever etched into the wall. He expressed his appreciation for the honors his son has received at the local and state level in Texas.

Gov. Abbott also spoke about honoring the heroes who died while wearing the badge.

“In Texas, we support our law enforcement officers, period,” said Abbot.

He said the memorial is an eternal reminder of the Texas heroes and it’s a tangible way to honor the men and women who gave everything to protect and serve.

North Texas officers honored:

• Officer Christopher Gibson, Dallas Police (Jan. 2, 2022)
• Corporal Albert Gomez, White Settlement Police (July 27, 2021)
• Sr. Corporal Arnulfo Pargas, Dallas Police (Sept. 23, 2021)
• Detective Rodney Mooneyham, Denton Police (Oct.16, 2021)
• Officer Brandon Tsai, Grand Prairie Police (Jan. 14, 2022)
• Officer Steve Nothem, Carrollton Police (Sept. 18, 2022)

Cortes (3-2) had the worst outing of his Yankees career, allowing seven runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings along with four of New York’s eight walks. His ERA climbed from 3.49 to 4.91, double his 2.88 last season when he became a first-time All-Star.

Fellow All-Star Martín Pérez (4-1) gave up one run and six hits in six innings for Texas, which has won three straight following a four-game losing streak. Jung tied his career high with five RBIs.

“Nestor is a really good pitcher and it felt like we kind of suffocated him there,” Jung said. “If we can do that day in and day out, that’s like October baseball stuff. So, truly one through nine, it was just a great day for us.”

New York allowed its most runs since a 19-5 defeat to Cleveland on Aug. 15, 2019. The Yankees are 15-14 following a 2-5 trip, tied for last in the AL East and eight games behind first-place Tampa Bay.

“Adversity is coming for us. We know it and we will get through it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The league waits for no one, and no one is going to feel sorry for us for what we’re going through. Even though we are beat up a little bit, we’re still capable of going out there and winning ballgames. That’s what we’ve got to find a way to do right now.”

Yankees captain Aaron Judge missed his third straight game with a mild hip strain, joining Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain), Harrison Bader (left oblique strain) and third baseman Josh Donaldson (right hamstring strain) on the sidelines. New York has totaled eight runs during its last six losses.

Cortes issued consecutive one-out walks to Robbie Grossman and Lowe in the first, and García singled down the right-field line with Oswaldo Cabrera shifted to right-center. Jung hit an opposite-field drive over the right-field wall on a 2-2 slider for his first career slam. Cortes had not allowed a slam since Sept. 28, 2019, at the Rangers’ old ballpark.

“It was tough today to find the fastball,” Cortes said. “I thought the cutter worked really well, but when you don’t have your fastball and you can’t control both sides of the plate, it’s difficult to pitch.”

Lowe and García homered in a three-pitch span of the fifth. After Cortes retired Jung, Albert Abreu relieved and gave up a home run to his first batter, Jonah Heim.

Heim had three hits and three RBIs, and Grossman extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The 13-run win matched the Rangers’ second-largest ever over the Yankees, and it was their first four-game series win over New York since July 1995.

“We pitched well, we swung the bats well, good defense,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “Just a great series for us.”

SPEEDING ALONG

The game took 2 hours, 30 minutes, a day after Nathan Eovaldi pitched a three-hit shutout in 2 hours, 6 minutes, the fastest nine-inning Yankees game since a 2:04 game against Minnesota on June 18, 1996.

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In America’s hottest big metro, older people like the Sun Lakes mobile home resident accounted for most of the 77 people who died last summer in broiling heat inside their homes, almost all without air conditioning. Now, the heat dangers long known in greater Phoenix are becoming familiar nationwide as global warming creates new challenges to protect the aged.

From the Pacific Northwest to Chicago to North Carolina, health clinics, utilities and local governments are being tested to keep older people safe when temperatures soar. They’re adopting rules for disconnecting electricity, mandating when to switch on communal air conditioning and improving communication with at-risk people living alone.

Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix and its suburbs are ground zero for heat-associated deaths in the U.S. Such fatalities are so common that Arizona’s largest county keeps a weekly online tally during the six-month hot season from May through October. Temperatures this year were already hitting the high 90s the first week of April.

A WARMING WORLD

“Phoenix really is the model for what we’ll be seeing in other places,” said researcher Jennifer Ailshire, a native of the desert city now at the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology where she studies how environmental factors affect health and aging. “The world is changing rapidly and I fear we are not acting fast enough to teach people how harmful rising temperatures can be.”

A 2021 study estimated more than a third of U.S. heat deaths each year can be attributed to human-caused global warming. It found more than 1,100 deaths a year from climate change-caused heat in some 200 U.S. cities, many in the East and Midwest, where people often don’t have air conditioning or are not acclimated to hot weather. Another study showed that in coming decades dangerous heat will hit much of the world at least three times as hard as climate change worsens.

Isolated and vulnerable, the heat victims last year during Maricopa County’s deadliest summer on record included a couple in their 80s without known relatives, an 83-year-old woman with dementia living alone after her husband entered hospice care and a 62-year-old Rwandan refugee whose air conditioner broke down.

While most of the county’s confirmed 378 heat-associated deaths were outdoors, those who died indoors were especially vulnerable because of isolation, mobility issues or medical problems as outside summertime highs hit 115 degrees.

Older people of color, with a greater tendency for chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are especially at risk.

In Chicago, three African American women in their 60s and 70s died in spring 2022 when the centrally controlled heating in their housing complex remained on and the air conditioning was off despite unseasonable 90-degree weather in mid-May.

An undetermined number of older people died during the summer of 2021 when an unexpected heat wave swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Canada reported that coroners confirmed more than 600 people died from the heat in neighboring British Columbia.

CHECKING ON OLDER PEOPLE

Many U.S. cities, including Phoenix, have plans to protect people during heat waves, opening cooling centers and distributing bottled water.

But many older people need personalized attention, said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, who directs the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“If you are elderly and sick you are unlikely to get into an Uber or bus to get to a cooling center,” said Bernstein, who vividly recalls a 1995 heat wave that killed 739 mostly older people in Chicago, his hometown. “So many were socially isolated and at tremendous risk.”

Sociologist Eric M. Klinenberg, who wrote about the catastrophe in his book “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago,” has noted social contacts can protect older people during disasters.

“Older people are more prone to live alone,” he said, “and they are the most likely to die.”

That’s true of all extreme weather.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, around half of the 1,000 people killed were 75 or older, most of them drowned when their homes flooded.

Chicago encourages residents to check on older relatives and neighbors on hot days and city workers visit people’s home. But last year’s deaths at a Chicago apartment house shows more is needed.

COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS CAN HELP

Bernstein’s center is working with relief organization Americares to help community health clinics prepare vulnerable patients for heat waves and other extreme weather.

A “climate resilience tool kit” includes tips like making sure patients have wall thermometers and know how to check weather forecasts on a smart phone. Patients learn simple ways to beat the heat, like taking a shower or sponge bath to cool off and drinking plenty of water.

Alexis Hodges, a family nurse practitioner at the Community Care Clinic of Dare in coastal North Carolina, said rising temperatures can cause renal failure in patients with kidney problems and exacerbate dehydration from medications like diuretics.

Hodges contributed to the climate kit from a region that experiences all the weather events it covers: extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires.

At the nonprofit Mountain Park Health centers that annually serve 100,000 patients in greater Phoenix, nurse practitioner Anthony Carano has written numerous letters to utility companies for low-income patients with chronic conditions, asking them not to turn off power despite missed payments.

“This is such an at-risk population,” Carano said of the overwhelmingly Latino patient population that suffer from diabetes and other ailments aggravated by warm weather. About one-tenth of the patients are 60 and older.

Francisca Canes, a 77-year-old patient visiting for back pain, said she’s fortunate to live with two daughters who take care of her during hot spells. In the summertime, she stays in shape by joining several women friends at 4 a.m. most mornings for a 4-mile walk.

AIR CONDITIONER REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR

Maricopa County in April used federal funds to to allocate another $10 million to its air conditioner replacement and repair program for people who qualify, brining total funding to $13.65 million. In greater Phoenix and several rural Arizona counties, older low-income people can apply for free repair or replacement of air conditioners through a separate non-profit program.

The Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program run by the nonprofit Foundation for Senior Living last summer ensured about 30 people got new air conditioners or repairs and helped others with home improvements.

Priority goes to older people, those with disabilities and families with very small children, who are also vulnerable to the heat. A person living alone must earn $27,180 or less, said Laura Simone, program coordinator for FSL Home Improvements.

The program recently installed energy efficient windows in the 1930s home of 81-year-old widow Socorro Silvas.

“I am so grateful they are taking care of low-income people like me,” said Silvas, who got her air conditioner in the middle of a sweltering summer several years ago through a program run by Tolleson, a suburb west of Phoenix.

Utility companies can also help protect vulnerable people by halting power disconnections during hot periods.

“In Arizona, air conditioning is a matter of life and death, especially if you are older,” said Dana Kennedy, the state director of AARP, which has fought for stricter regulations preventing summertime power cutoffs.

STRICTER REGULATIONS

New rules for Arizona utilities were adopted after 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman died in August 2018 at her Phoenix area home as outside temperatures reached 107 degrees.

The medical examiner’s office said Pullman died from “environmental heat exposure” combined with cardiovascular disease after her power was shut off over a $176.84. debt.

The Arizona agency that regulates utilities now bans electricity cutoffs for nonpayment during the hottest months.

After the three Chicago women died last year, residential buildings for older people in the city now must provide air-conditioned common areas and administrators no longer have to keep centrally controlled heat on during unseasonably warm weather. The Illinois state Senate recently passed legislation requiring that all affordable housing have air-conditioning operating when the temperature is 80 degrees (26.6 C) or higher and must be operable by residents.

Kennedy said mobile homes are especially dangerous as high temperatures transform them into a hot metal containers.

“A lot are not insulated,” said Kennedy, who has advised an Arizona State University group working to make mobile homes safer with more surrounding shade and on-site cooling centers. “These heat deaths truly are heartbreaking. But in many cases we can help prevent them.”

____

The former first lady joined the rock icon onstage during his concert April 28 in Barcelona, Spain. She sang the background vocals and jammed on a tambourine alongside Springsteen during his performance of “Glory Days.”

The “Becoming” author performed in a purple ensemble with a black blazer overtop. She was all smiles and sang passionately into the mic alongside actor Kate Capshaw and band member Patti Scialfa.

Alfonso Gomis Duyos, @todoestoexiste on Twitter, shared the sweet moment on social media and captioned the video, “Wow there! @MichelleObama giving it everything” in Spanish.

Michelle Obama and her husband, Barack Obama, were in Barcelona with Steven Spielberg, who is married to Capshaw, for the Springsteen concert. According to Reuters, the group visited some of the city’s famous sites, including the Sagrada Família basilica and the Picasso museum, before the show Friday.

Springsteen, Spielberg and Barack Obama also had dinner together at the Amar restaurant April 27, according to Reuters.

Springsteen and Barack Obama are longtime friends. The singer performed at rallies for the then-presidential candidate during his 2008 campaign. Barack Obama also awarded Springsteen the nation’s highest honor for civilians, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2016.

In 2021, the two teamed up to record a podcast together called “Renegades: Born in the USA,” in which they discussed the origins of their friendship, race in the U.S. and fatherhood.

Friday’s concert comes as Springsteen kicked off his international tour, following a concert in Newark, New Jersey, April 14, which wrapped his U.S. concert series. Springsteen and the E Street Band play next April 30 in Barcelona before heading to Dublin, Ireland.

“Glory Days” is one of the hits from Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” album, released in 1984. The song was one of seven singles from the album to break the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1985.

Michelle Obama wasn’t the only one to add flair to “Glory Days” in April. Kelly Clarkson and Charles Esten gave the song a country twang when they performed it together during the “Kellyoke” segment of her show April 10.

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They are the first team in the common draft era, which began in 1967, to take a quarterback and multiple skill position players from the same school in a single draft.

Los Angeles capped off its draft by taking TCU quarterback Max Duggan in the seventh round. It began the draft on Thursday by taking Horned Frogs wide receiver Quentin Johnston with the 21st overall pick and added teammate Derius Davis in the fourth round on Saturday.

“To reunite with Q and Derius, and we all get to be out there and be a part of a great franchise and be a part of a great team with a great coaching staff, that is going to be fun,” Duggan said.

Duggan was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and led the Horned Frogs to an appearance in the College Football Playoff title game against Georgia, which took place at the Chargers’ home, SoFi Stadium.

Duggan was the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Year after accounting for 41 touchdowns (32 passing, nine rushing). With Justin Herbert entrenched as the Chargers’ quarterback, Duggan would presumably compete with Easton Stick for the backup spot.

“He’s tall, strong, physical, and fast, which typically aren’t the first four traits you would say about a quarterback,” Telesco said. “He has played at a high level and has good arm strength. He has a grittiness and toughness that is hard to find.”

Davis had 42 receptions for 531 yards and five touchdowns last season, but his biggest asset is as a return specialist. He ran back five punts and one kickoff for scores during his career, including two last season. His 15.0-yard career average on punt returns was third nationally among players with at least 40 returns.

“We’re really comfortable with him,” coach Brandon Staley said when asked if Davis would be his kickoff and punt returner going into the season. “We drafted him in the fourth round because we feel like he was one of the top returners in the country. And then looking at the landscape of both pro and college football, we felt like this guy has some special qualities.”

STRANGE, BUT TRUE

It’s the first time in 40 years the Chargers have drafted three players from the same school. In 1983, they selected linebacker Billy Ray Smith, running back Gary Anderson and cornerback Danny Walters from Arkansas.

The last time Los Angeles drafted two players from the same school who play the same position was in 1997, when they took North Carolina A&T linebackers Michael Hamilton and Toran James.

WHO ELSE THEY GOT

Jordan McFadden, who went in the fifth round, started 39 games at offensive tackle for Clemson and was voted the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top lineman. He will likely be moved to guard and provide depth for Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer.

Sixth-round pick Scott Matlock was a five-year starter on the defensive line at Boise State. He adds some special teams versatility after blocking a pair of kicks in 2020.

Southern California defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu (second round) and Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley (third round) also add depth.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Chargers did well last year after the draft, adding some veteran depth at defensive line and linebacker. They are likely to be in the market for those areas again, as well as a tight end.

Los Angeles is trying to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2009.

“Going into this draft, I felt was a little bit different than my first two drafts where we felt like there’s still some starting positions that are up for grabs and some things we needed to address,” Staley said. “I feel good about our starting 22, and the people we have coming back are really good. I felt like this was the draft where you can start to get in a rhythm of just picking the best players on the board that fit your team and culture.”

The retailer, which in February filed a second bankruptcy in three years, has been closing stores in recent years, but it still has 59 stores in Texas, including 18 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The closings come as Bed Bath & Beyond is also shutting down operations. That’s a lot of inventory hitting the market, possibly putting a dent in home goods sales at other retailers for the next few months.

The sale of Tuesday Morning, founded in Dallas in 1974 as a closeout retailer of gift and home merchandise, was approved at an afternoon hearing Thursday before Judge Edward L. Morris in the Fort Worth division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Hilco Merchant Resources is paying more than $32 million for the company. The liquidation means a couple thousand employees at Tuesday Morning’s North Dallas headquarters and stores will be terminated as store operations wind down over the next few weeks.

To read the full article, visit our partners at the Dallas Morning News.

House Bill 3556, sponsored by Texas Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Sanger, would allow the head of local law enforcement to issue a localized alert when a child is missing without confirmation of an abduction. That is the high threshold requirement needed to issue an Amber Alert.

Dubbed an “Athena Alert”, the bill unanimously passed the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety. It was named after Athena Strand, the 7-year-old girl who vanished from her Paradise home in Nov. 2022 and found dead two days later.

A Wise County grand jury charged Tanner Horner, a package delivery who delivered packages to Strand’s home the day she disappeared, with kidnapping and murder. According to police, Horner confessed that he accidentally hit the girl with his truck and panicked when she said she would tell her dad. Horner said he killed the girl with his bare hands and then dumped her body.

Strand’s mother Maitlyn Gandy testified before the Texas House committee this week and recalled asking for an Amber Alert to be issued as soon as she found out her daughter was missing.

“Unfortunately, I kept getting met with the same response that she, in her case, did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued,” Gandy said. “I don’t want someone to feel how I feel. I don’t want a mother to have to carry home an urn with her children’s ashes. I don’t want to watch another grandparent mourn the way my dad did.”

The legislation, if passed, would allow law enforcement to activate an alert in a localized area within a 100-mile radius and neighboring counties shortly after a child goes missing. Benson Varghese, Gandy’s attorney, also testified in Austin this week.

Issuing the ‘Athena alert’ would be up to the discretion of law enforcement officials, Varghese said.

“There’s a reason the threshold is so high for an Amber Alert. It’s because it is a statewide notification that could even go to multiple states,” he said. “Now having this tool that allows law enforcement to get the word out would be really helpful, particularly in rural areas. In an urban environment, you’ve got lots of media coverage but the farther out you, the less coverage you might have. Less systems you’ll have in place to get a word out like this.”

With the bill passing the committee without objection, supporters of the bill are hoping it will be fast-tracked for a House vote.

“I’m available to do anything,” Francis said during an airborne press conference en route home from Hungary. “There’s a mission that’s not public that’s underway; when it’s public I’ll talk about it.”

Francis gave no details when asked whether he spoke about peace initiatives during his talks in Budapest this weekend with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary.

Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Francis said the Holy See had already helped mediate some prisoner exchanges and would do “all that is humanly possible” to reunite families.

“All human gestures help. Gestures of cruelty don’t help,” Francis said.

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The International Criminal Court in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s children’s commissioner, accusing them of war crimes for abducting children from Ukraine. Russia has denied any wrongdoing, contending the children were moved for their safety.

Last week Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Francis at the Vatican and asked him to help return Ukrainian children taken following the Russian invasion.

“I asked His Holiness to help us return home Ukrainians, Ukrainian children who are detained, arrested, and criminally deported to Russia,″ Shmyhal told the Foreign Press Association after the audience.

Francis recalled that the Holy See had facilitated some prisoner exchanges, working through embassies, and was open to Ukraine’s request to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.

The prisoner exchanges “went well. I think it could go well also for this. It’s important,” he said of the family reunifications. “The Holy See is available to do it because it’s the right thing,” he added. “We have to do all that is humanly possible.” ___

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.

Cameron Everest Brand of Pass Christian is charged with murder and aggravated assault, jail records show. Bay St. Louis Police Chief Toby Schwartz said in a news release that police identified Brand as the sole shooter through witness and victim statements.

An 18-year-old and a 16-year-old died in a New Orleans hospital, Schwartz said. The Orleans Parish coroner did not return a phone call seeking to confirm their identities.

Friends and family identified them as De’Arreis “DD” Smith, 18, and Haeleigh Stamper, 16, classmates at Hancock High School.

Smith was a senior getting ready to graduate, according to Kecia Sams, who considered him an adopted member of her family.

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“De’Arreis Smith was an amazing soul, a loyal friend, brother and uncle,” Sams told Nola.com. “He was loved by many and will be missed so very much by his family.”

A GoFundMe account was set up to help with funeral expenses for Stamper. In the posting, the organizer, Lillie Smith, described the teen as a “sweet soul.”

“Her beautiful smile would light the whole room up,” Smith said.

Brand was arrested at his home in neighboring Pass Christian and taken to jail, Schwartz said. Bay St. Louis Municipal Court Judge Stephen Maggio denied Brand bail, and he was being held in the Hancock County jail. It is unclear if Brand has a lawyer who could speak for him.

Students had gathered for a party at the home on a sparsely populated road after Bay High School’s prom. Local news outlets reported that trails of blood could be seen on the pavement Sunday outside the home, while cars were peppered with bullet holes. The home is less than a mile from Bay High.

Police said the six victims wounded by gunfire ranged in age from 15 to 18. All were taken to area hospitals, some by helicopter.

Casey Woods, an 18-year-old student at Pass Christian High School, told the Sun Herald of Biloxi that he was at the party with a girlfriend. He told the paper he saw Brand talking to people and then walking away before he returned and the shooting started.

“Me and my girl looked up and saw sparks coming from the gun,” Woods said, adding many people ran into the woods.

Both of the teens who died had attended nearby Hancock High School in Kiln, officials in that school district said. Two more Hancock High students were shot and wounded, as were two students from Bay High. Those are the only two public high schools in Hancock County, on the western end of the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport.

“Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of two Hancock High School students who were victims of the shooting in Bay St. Louis last night,” the Hancock County school district said in a statement, saying counselors would be available Monday at school. “Let us come together as a community to show our support and love during this difficult time.”

Sandra Reed, superintendent of the Bay St. Louis-Waveland school district, said both of the wounded Bay High students were expected to recover. Bay High Principal Amy Necaise said the school was making faculty and staff available on campus Sunday afternoon to counsel students.

The National Weather Service in Miami said the tornado hit late Saturday afternoon with winds of 100 mph (160 kph) near Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and headed northeast toward the coast.

Storm damage forced authorities in the coastal city to close major roadways as workers cleared debris and inspected wreckage. Images from the scene showed cars flipped over on top of each other, cracked tree limbs resting on vehicles and homes, as well as other debris littering streets.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department has not reported any major injuries or fatalities. A spokeswoman for the city said officials have deactivated emergency protocols and were working through lingering issues Sunday.

The National Weather Service had placed a large stretch of central Florida under a tornado watch on Saturday afternoon as thunderstorms were cutting across the state.

On April 25, Jet-Puffed, the brand responsible for such spongy confections as red-and-green Holiday Mallows and Candy Corn Marshmallows (hey, don’t knock it till you try it) have launched a new type of marshmallow that changes color when heated. The new, first-of-its-kind, squishy, chameleonic treat is called Jet-Puffed Color Changing Marshmallows.

“This is the first time the brand has used the secret color changing ingredient in combination with their jet-puffing technology designed to make the fluffiest and puffiest treats to step up your roasting game,” a Jet-Puffed representative told TODAY.com over email. “The never-before-seen color changing marshmallows are igniting families’ campfire fun by bringing pops of color to delicious, ooey gooey s’mores.”

Jet-Puffed says these new confections will transform right before our eyes as the treats change color. While all marshmallows achieve that deliciously delectable caramelized crunch thanks to the Maillard reaction, these color-changing treats have an additional reaction that starts approximately 10 seconds after heating them up.

Once fire — or the microwave, or a blowdryer, any heat source really — hits the marshmallow, the blue marshmallow will turn green and the pink marshmallow will turn orange.

While these marshmallows are Jet-Puffed’s first foray into the land of color-changing food, the candy does join a select few foods that utilize this neat little trick. Anyone who has been on beverage TikTok has seen butterfly pea flower tea change as if by magic from a deep blue color to a bright violet hue when an acidic liquid like lemon juice is added to it. 

In addition, sunbutter cookies, made with sunflower seed butter, are known to change color from brown to a deep, grassy green, though this change happens as the cookies cool.

Jet-Puffed says its mesmerizing new marshmallows are set to come in two color-changing varieties per pack: pink to orange and blue to green. The unique treat is available to purchase for $2.99 in grocery stores nationwide until the end of September.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

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Chris Vaughn is the assistant director of college scouting for Dallas, and he and his son had for months avoided conversations about how the Cowboys viewed the younger Vaughn going into the NFL draft.

Father and son can talk about whatever they want now.

“To see him react the way that he did,” Deuce Vaughn said of his father hugging Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones and Jones’ son Stephen, the executive vice president of personnel. “I’m not going to lie, it was a tear-jerker.”

Chris Vaughn has been with the Cowboys since 2017 after an 18-year career in college coaching, including with the Texas Longhorns. Deuce Vaughn went to high school in the Austin area.

“I’ve never had an experience like that in the draft room,” said Jerry Jones, who bought the Cowboys in 1989.

Forget the family ties for a moment. Vaughn is the first running back drafted by Dallas since releasing two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott in March.

While Tony Pollard is set to be the lead back playing on the $10.1 million franchise tag, Vaughn will always be the first draft pick of a new era in the Dallas backfield.

“Zeke for the past seven years I believe was the cornerstone of this franchise,” said Vaughn, showing he was up on his history. “Not only the way he runs the football, but protects the quarterback, does everything. I have some big shoes to fill as the next running back to be taken by the Cowboys.”

Playmaking was never the issue for Vaughn, who was a two-time Associated Press All-American as an all-purpose player with 2,962 yards rushing and 34 total touchdowns over the past two seasons for the Wildcats.

Size was an issue. Listed at 5-foot-6 in his Kansas State bio, the official number with the NFL is 5-5. He brings quick comparisons to another Kansas State star in Darren Sproles, who had a long NFL career as an elite kick returner.

Sproles, listed at 5-6 in his playing days, had already texted Vaughn before Vaughn’s telephone conversation with the team’s beat reporters.

“He said keep the short backs alive,” Vaughn said. “He said to go out there and make him proud.”

Vaughn was lightly recruited out of high school in the Austin suburb of Round Rock, and he was in Austin when he got the call from the Cowboys.

He said his mom was the first to see it was the Cowboys, and she started crying. Then word quickly spread to everybody else in the room.

“It got pretty loud, I’m not going to lie to you,” Vaughn said. “Just a great scene. Family, friends, everybody that kind of had a helping hand in getting me here was in that room.”

When the Cowboys were deciding, Stephen Jones said meetings had to be held away from Chris Vaughn because they knew the conversation would be awkward for him.

They tried to have a little fun with Chris Vaughn before realizing the moment was genuine enough to carry itself.

“It was a surprise to him as well when we made the decision,” Stephen Jones said. “It was really neat to see the look on his face.”

The drafting of Vaughn was the most exciting moment of a less-than-flashy draft for the Cowboys.

San Jose State defensive end Viliami Fehoko was the first pick of the final day for Dallas in the fourth round, followed by tackle Asim Richards of North Carolina in the fifth.

Before taking Vaughn 212th overall, the Cowboys traded up for the first pick of the sixth round and got Southern Miss cornerback Eric Scott Jr. Kansas City received a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft.

Dallas’ final pick was South Carolina receiver Jalen Brooks in the seventh round.

The Cowboys took Michigan players with their first two picks, getting defensive tackle Mazi Smith in the first round and tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the second. Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was the third-round choice.

“We’re very satisfied and fired up about our draft class,” Stephen Jones. “We accomplished about everything we wanted to get done. There’s no question we made our football team better.”

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The split-screen messaging of Ohio’s Frank LaRose, West Virginia’s Mac Warner and Missouri’s Jay Ashcroft shows just how deeply election lies have burrowed into the Republican Party, where more than half of voters believe Democrat Joe Biden was not legitimately elected president. Even election officials who tout running clean elections at home are routinely pushing for more voting restrictions and additional scrutiny on the process as they prepare to face GOP primary voters next year.

All three withdrew their states last month from the Electronic Registration Information Center, a bipartisan, multistate effort to ensure accurate voter lists. LaRose did so less than a month after calling the group “one of the best fraud-fighting tools that we have” and vowing to maintain Ohio’s membership. He defied backlash against the organization stoked by former President Donald Trump before relenting.

The three also have supported increased voter restrictions in their states — part of a national trend for Republicans that they say is intend to boost public confidence. Those bills impose new voter ID requirements, shrink windows for processing ballots or ease the ability to consolidate voting precincts.

For Republicans aspiring to higher office, “it’s kind of hard to skip some of these things if you want to succeed” in GOP primaries, said Nancy Martorano Miller, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton.

That includes appearing responsive to Republican voters’ belief in Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election at the same time they promote the job they’re doing in their own states.

“You’re secretary of state, so it’s your job to run elections and make sure they’re fraud-fee,” Martorano Miller said. “You’re kind of stuck between, ‘I need to show I’m doing these things to battle fraud,’ but at the same time, ‘if I make it seem like there’s too much fraud, it looks like I’m not doing my job.’”

Warner and Ashcroft have announced campaigns for governor while LaRose is considering a U.S. Senate run.

When he unveiled legislation in February aimed at standardizing election data, LaRose said it was all about providing transparency so voters would “have confidence in knowing that when the election is over, that the true voice of the people was heard.”

A couple weeks later, he was sitting on an elections panel titled “They Stole It From Us Legally” at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

LaRose’s spokesperson said the panel was renamed at the last minute, but the secretary used the opportunity to promote the integrity of Ohio elections.

“Voter fraud is exceedingly rare in Ohio because we take election security very seriously, aggressively pursue those who commit it and refer the potential crime to the attorney general and county prosecutors,” Rob Nichols said.

Similarly, Ashcroft has said Missouri has secure elections and praised Gov. Mike Parson for signing a package of election law changes last year that included a new photo ID requirement.

“Missouri voters are passionate about their right to vote,” he said. “This bill makes Missouri elections safer and more transparent, which instills confidence and trust.”

Then in January, Ashcroft hosted a meeting at his office with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a conspiracy theorist who travels the country fueling distrust in elections. The meeting alarmed some voting rights advocates in the state.

Warner has defended Trump’s false claims of a fraudulent 2020 election and demonstrated alongside “Stop the Steal” protesters, while also promoting the integrity of West Virginia’s elections.

He said in a recent interview that he is working to strike a balance between those on the right who believe the 2020 election was stolen and those on the left who argue “there’s nothing to see here.”

“The truth is obviously somewhere in the middle,” he said, while adding: “I will admit Biden won the election, but did he do it legitimately? Or did that happen outside the election laws that legislatures in certain states had put in place? That’s where I balk and say no.”

Warner said he would like to see an “after-action review” of the 2020 election, like those conducted in the military, to ease citizens’ minds and make elections better.

Trump and others have criticized the expansion of mail voting in 2020 in the COVID-19 pandemic, although there is no evidence of any widespread fraud and multiple reviews in the battleground states where Trump contested his loss have upheld the results. The House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol found that Trump advisers and administration officials repeatedly debunked allegations of fraud in the weeks after the 2020 election, but Trump continued to push the lies, anyway.

In a recently settled defamation case against Fox News, a Delaware Superior Court judge ruled it was “CRYSTAL clear” that none of the claims repeatedly aired on the network about Dominion Voting Systems machines rigging votes against Trump was true.

Christopher McKnight Nichols, an Ohio State University professor of history, said it’s confusing for voters when secretaries of state claim elections they run are fair but then raise questions or hint at problems, without evidence, about elections elsewhere.

An earlier era of Republicans “absolutely would have been chagrined, embarrassed, and perhaps pushed out fellow Republicans who flip-flopped so radically, or promoted lies,” he said. “Their brand was the principled and consistent politician.”

In Ohio, LaRose spent years assuring the public that voter fraud represents a tiny fraction of Ohio’s cast ballots and that election tallies were nearly perfect. Then during his reelection campaign last year, he said Trump “is right to say that voter fraud is a serious problem” and blamed the mainstream media for “trying to minimize voter fraud to suit their narrative.”

In October, he joined a national Republican trend by opening a unit to investigate election law violations in Ohio, among other duties. He said that day that Ohio has a “strong national reputation for secure, accurate and accessible elections” — but added that anything short of “absolute confidence” in election integrity “weakens the very foundation of our democracy.”

In recent months, unexpected demand spikes, manufacturing problems and tight ingredient supplies have contributed to shortages that stress patients, parents and doctors. For some drugs, such as stimulants that treat ADHD, several factors fueled a shortage and make it hard to predict when it will end.

Shortages, particularly of generic drugs, have been a longstanding problem. The industry has consolidated and some manufacturers have little incentive to solve shortages because cheap generics generate thin profits.

Here’s a deeper look at the issue.

HOW MANY DRUG SHORTAGES ARE THERE?

There were 301 active national drug shortages through this year’s first quarter, according to the University of Utah Drug Information Service. That’s 49% higher than the 202 recorded in the first three months of 2018.

Patients don’t feel all drug shortages because doctors may be able to substitute different medications or because other parts of the drug supply system mask the issue, said Stephen Schondelmeyer, a University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy professor.

“But there are more shortages now, and they’re becoming more visible,” he said.

WHICH DRUGS ARE IN SHORTAGE?

In the fall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a shortage of the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment Adderall due to a manufacturing problem. That has persisted and grown at times to include other stimulants that treat the condition.

That situation seems to be improving, said University of Utah Health researcher Erin Fox. But several extended-release doses of the medication, its most popular form, remain in short supply.

The FDA also has tracked a shortage of the diabetes treatment Ozempic, which doctors also prescribe for weight loss. Prescriptions for Ozempic — touted by celebrities and others on social media — have doubled since the summer of 2021 to more than 1.2 million, according to the health data firm IQVIA.

A spokeswoman for Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk says all doses of the drug are now available at pharmacies nationwide.

Last year, a spike in respiratory illnesses forced drugstore chains to temporarily limit purchases of fever-reducing medicines for children. A shortage of the antibiotic amoxicillin also cropped up around then.

Injectable drugs used in hospitals and clinics, such as IV saline and some cancer treatments, are more than twice as likely as tablets or topical treatments to experience a shortage, according to a recent report written by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

WHY DO DRUG SHORTAGES DEVELOP?

Reasons can vary, and a combination of factors fuels many shortages.

The Adderall manufacturing problem hit as more people started taking the drug.

During the pandemic, prescriptions climbed as regulators started allowing doctors to prescribe the drug without first seeing a patient in person. Prescriptions for Adderall and its generic equivalents jumped 20% between February 2020 and the end of last year, according to IQVIA.

Adderall supplies face an additional challenge when demand spikes. Federal regulators limit supplies for the drug each year because it is a controlled substance.

Pricing might also be a factor with some drugs.

Ozempic is a diabetes drug. The same medication, semaglutide, is sold under a different brand name, Wegovy, for weight loss. Schondelmeyer noted the per-milligram price for Wegovy can be more than twice as much as Ozempic.

“They’ve been having a run on Ozempic because people don’t want to spend that much on Wegovy,” Schondelmeyer said.

Novo Nordisk spokeswoman Allison Schneider said price was not connected to the shortage. She tied that to a combination of demand and global supply constraints.

Another factor driving shortages: Medications like Adderall and amoxicillin generate thin profits so companies don’t have an incentive to make and store large amounts in case a shortage develops, Fox said.

“Once a shortage starts with something you make just in time anyway, it’s really hard to resolve it unless all the suppliers are back,” she said.

HOW ARE PATIENTS AFFECTED BY DRUG SHORTAGES?

Shortages might lead to treatment delays, which can hurt patients dealing with time-sensitive conditions like cancer.

Doctors are sometimes forced to prescribe alternatives that might not be as effective. That also can lead to medication errors if the doctor is less familiar with the other medication.

Patients also may run out of their prescriptions or be forced to hunt for a pharmacy that has enough supply to refill it.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

It’s tough to predict when many shortages may be resolved, partly because measuring demand is hard.

“You can estimate you’re going to increase your production by 10%,” said Mike Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, “but is that going to be enough?”

Meanwhile, conditions that could feed future shortages still exist. The Senate report cited an overreliance on foreign sources as a concern.

Factories in China and India supply most of the raw materials used in American medicines. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, India restricted exports of 13 active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drugs made from those chemicals, to protect its domestic drug supply.

Once shortages develop, they can last years. And it can be tough for patients to get reliable information. Fox said there is no legal requirement for drugmakers to update the public.

The Senate report notes that “no federal agency or private industry partner has end-to-end visibility into the entire U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.”

Fox says the stimulant shortage has been particularly frustrating. Companies have said they aren’t getting enough raw materials to make the drugs, and the federal government says companies aren’t using what they have.

“There’s been a lot of finger pointing back and forth,” Fox said.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Stille, 26, sent a $300 bank transfer to a Taiwan-based supplier for a 6-month supply of estrogen patches and androgen-blocking pills. For three weeks she feared she’d been scammed but breathed a sigh of relief when a large package arrived at her home in St. Peters.

“It’s definitely a little scary,” Stille said. “Taking a chance like this, I could have my money stolen and there’s not much I can do about it. But I figured, at this point, that the benefits outweigh the risks.”

Stille, and others nationwide, are scrambling to form contingency plans as Republican politicians rapidly erode access to the gender-affirming treatments many credit as life-saving.

Fears became even more pronounced in Missouri this month after Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a first-of-its-kind emergency rule that places strict restrictions on that care for minors — and adults.

While some doctors say self-medicating trans health care is dangerous, Stille is among a growing population who say they see no other option.

If enacted, the Missouri rule will require people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over 18 months or more before receiving puberty blockers, hormones, surgery or other treatment.

Patients also must first be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues will have to be treated and resolved. Some people will be able to maintain their prescriptions while undergoing the required assessments, which aren’t affordable for many.

Some transgender Missourians and health care providers sued to overthrow the rule, and a St. Louis judge pushed back its effective date from last Thursday to Monday at 5 p.m. as she weighs whether to block its enforcement as the lawsuit proceeds in court. A ruling is expected Monday.

Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield residents, especially minors, from what he describes as experimental treatments, but puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades and are widely considered medically necessary for many trans people.

Some gender-affirming treatment providers in Missouri are already planning to cut back on care.

Vivent Health Interim President and CEO Brandon Hill said doctors are worried about meeting documentation requirements for new patients, so clinics in St. Louis and Kansas City will only provide gender-affirming health care to current patients. Vivent Health provides HIV-focused and LGBTQ+ friendly health care in St. Louis, Kansas City and other states.

“Do-it-yourself hormone replacement therapy” has become an increasingly common way for trans residents of restrictive states to avoid involuntarily stopping hormone treatment. Trans people like Stille have been discreetly circulating a comprehensive a guide and a digital master list of hormone suppliers, some more reliable than others, through social media.

This online marketplace, known as the gray market, is comprised of unregulated suppliers who sell legitimate medications, sometimes name-brand, outside the distribution channels authorized by the manufacturers. Some trans people in GOP-controlled states that have not yet enacted bans are buying from these suppliers to build an emergency stockpile.

But self-administering hormones without adequate supervision can be “extraordinarily dangerous,” especially for those taking testosterone, said Dr. Robert Lash, chief medical officer at the Endocrine Society, which represents specialists who treat hormone conditions.

Although taking testosterone can help trans men develop some desired physical features, it also increases their risk of a blood clot or stroke. Lash said doctors need to closely monitor a patient’s red blood cell count, lipids and liver function and adjust their dosage accordingly. Estrogen use can also increase risk of blood clots, he said.

“These are powerful medications with a lot of effects on a lot of body systems, not all of which are good,” Lash said. “Taking these hormones on your own is just an invitation to running into problems. People need to be extraordinarily careful when using them and really shouldn’t without medical supervision.”

He cautioned against taking hormones from any unregulated pharmacy, veterinary source or overseas provider.

Even for those willing to assume the risks, not all trans people have the same level of access. Trans men like Levi Sobel, a 30-year-old from Springfield, are finding it much more difficult to source testosterone than other hormones.

Testosterone is classified in the U.S. as a Schedule III controlled substance, along with ketamine and some opioids, and is subjected to more regulations that the typical prescription drug.

Sobel said unregulated testosterone providers are “pretty much nonexistent” in the U.S., and it’s unwise to buy from international sellers because of the higher likelihood of the hormone being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“This makes it essentially impossible for me to stockpile in the same ways my transfeminine friends can,” Sobel said. “The best I can do to stretch it is to make sure I’m using every last drop from every vial.”

Stacy Cay, an autistic trans woman and comedian in Kansas City, has already saved up enough injectable estrogen to last about a year. The more she can stockpile, the more time she has to prepare her plan to relocate if the emergency rule isn’t blocked in court, she said.

“This feels like the end of Kansas City being my home,” Cay said. “It feels like it’s being taken away.”

Others, like Ellie Bridgman, a gas station attendant in Union, are employing a unique strategy to stockpile hormones. The 23-year-old, who said the attorney general’s rule would cut off her treatment access because she’s autistic and has depression, started injecting only a half dose of estrogen before her routine blood tests so her hormone levels would read low.

This led her doctor to increase her prescription.

Bridgman said she may consider decreasing her dosage to conserve medication or supplement her supply with an unregulated purchase. Stockpiling is her “No. 1 priority.” Without hormone replacement therapy, she said, “the suicidal thoughts and ideation comes back stronger than ever. This is my lifeline.”

___

Schoenbaum reported from Raleigh, North Carolina.

The pace of arrivals in Brownsville appeared to catch the city on the southernmost tip of Texas off guard, stretching social services and putting an overnight shelter in an uncommon position of turning people away. Officials say more than 15,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have illegally crossed the river near Brownsville since last week.

That is a sharp rise from the 1,700 migrants that Border Patrol agents encountered in the first two weeks of April, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

“It’s a quite concerning because the logistical challenge that we encounter is massive for us,” said Gloria Chavez, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector.

Immigration Apr 27

Biden Plan Aims to Stem Border Migration as Restrictions End

Immigration Apr 7

US to Test Expedited Asylum Screenings at Mexico Border

The reason for the increase was not immediately clear. Chavez said migrants have been frustrated by relying on a glitch-plagued government app that can allow them to seek asylum at a port of entry. Some migrants who crossed this week cited other motivators, including cartel threats that immediately preceded the sudden increment.

The uptick comes as the Biden administration plans for the end of pandemic-era asylum restrictions. U.S. authorities have said daily illegal crossings from Mexico could climb as high as 13,000 from about 5,200 in March.

Other cities — some far away from the southern U.S. border — are also grappling with suddenly large influxes of migrants. In Chicago, authorities reported this week a tenfold increase in the arrival of migrants in the city, where as many as 100 migrants have begun arriving daily and begun sheltering in police stations.

Brownsville is across the Rio Grande from Matamoros, Mexico, where a sprawling encampment of makeshift tents has housed about 2,000 people waiting to enter the U.S.

Last week, some tents were set ablaze and destroyed. Some migrants have said cartel-backed gangs were responsible, but a government official suggested the fires could have been set by a group of migrants frustrated over their long wait.

“It was desperation, the cartel,” said Roxana Aguirre, 24, a Venezuelan migrant who sat outside a Brownsville bus station Friday afternoon. “You couldn’t be on the street without looking over your shoulder.”

In downtown Brownsville, families from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and China walked aimlessly, carrying their belongings and talking on their cellphones.

Some waited for their buses while others were in limbo, waiting for relatives before making plans to leave but finding no shelter in the meantime. One Venezuelan couple said they slept in a parking lot after being turned away at an overnight shelter.

Officials in Brownsville issued a disaster declaration this week, following other Texas border cities that have done the same in the face of suddenly large influxes of migrants, including last year in El Paso.

“We’ve never seen these numbers before,” said Martin Sandoval, spokesperson for the Brownsville Police Department.

The reshuffling of resources at the border — in one of the busiest sectors with robust Border Patrol staffing levels — comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security prepares to end the use of a public health authority known as Title 42, which allowed them to reject asylum claims.

The administration has expelled migrants 2.7 million times under a rule in effect since March 2020 that denies rights to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Title 42, as the public health rule is known, is scheduled to end May 11 when the U.S. lifts its last COVID-related restrictions.

The exact number of people who died in the crash on Interstate 25 near Hatch was not available.

“Police can confirm that there was a single vehicle accident with multiple fatalities involving undocumented individuals,” New Mexico State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver said.

No additional details about the crash or the victims were immediately available.

The crash closed the highway in both directions for much of the day, according to NBC affiliate KTSM of Albuquerque, but the roadway reopened in the evening.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com here.

Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said his department received a report around 7:40 p.m. of a roof collapse on East 13th Avenue and arrived to find the roof above a front porch had collapsed while the rest of the home remained intact.

“The few people that were trapped, I believe, were probably unpinned,” Martin said. “It was like their leg was caught under some of the structure and some of the students lifted that off the students. So everybody was kind of out.”

First responders initially found 10 injured people and eventually transported 14 accident victims to area hospitals with “various states of injuries” but they all were in stable condition, Martin said.

“It appears the roof was overloaded with students,” Martin said, with estimates ranging from 15 to 45 people on a rooftop “that was not designed to have anybody on it, and it gave way.”

The names of the home owner or occupants were not immediately available.

The home is not on the property of The Ohio State University. The main campus in Columbus has an enrolled student population of 61,677 for the 2022-2023 school year, according to the university’s website.

The helicopters were headed to Fort Wainwright from a mission in the Donnelly Training Area when they crashed at 1:39 p.m. Thursday, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Healy.

The U.S. Army announced Friday that it has grounded aviation units for training after 12 soldiers died within the last month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky.

“The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training,” the Army said in a statement.

Killed in Thursday’s crash were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah.

A fourth soldier was injured and was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and was listed in stable condition. He was not identified Saturday.

“The battalion is devastated and mourning the loss of three of our best,” said Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, the 1-25th AB commander. Their loss can’t be compared to the suffering felt by the soldiers’ families, he said.

“The entire team has come together to focus our thoughts, prayers, and actions to provide and sustain them with whatever comfort and support they need at this time, and I promise that this will continue long into the future,” he said.

A Safety Investigation Team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, based at Fort Novosel, Alabama, is leading the safety investigation, officials said in an email.

Department of Defense instructions and Army regulations prohibit the investigators from releasing any information to the public concerning the causes, analysis or internal recommendations, the statement said.

“The loss of these Soldiers is devastating and is being felt by family, friends and military communities across Alaska,” said Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. “The families of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as strong a team as I’ve ever seen. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and loved ones of the fallen.”

Yankees captain Aaron Judge missed his second straight game with a mild hip strain, joining Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Harrison Bader on the sidelines. New York was shut out for the first time this season and has scored two runs or fewer in five of its last seven games.

“Classic Nate when he’s really on top of it. He kind of bullied us,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He used both sides of the plate, was a little bit unpredictable between slowing us down a little bit with the curveball.”

Jake Bauers didn’t make it past the first inning of his Yankees debut, crashing headfirst into the left-field wall in a full sprint while catching Adolis García’s drive and leaving with a bruised right knee.

The 27-year-old fell to the ground and held onto the ball for the final out of the inning, stranding Travis Jankowski on second base. New York said X-rays were negative.

Before 40,027, a record crowd at Globe Life Field, Eovaldi (3-2) struck out a season-high eight and walked none against one of his former teams.

“It means a lot to me,” Eovaldi said of the shutout. “I think it’s just being able to use all of my pitches at all times. I was able to get some outs with my slider tonight, which I usually never … I usually hang that pitch, and they end up hitting it.”

His only previous shutout was a five-inning, rain-shortened game for Boston against Tampa Bay last Oct. 4. It was the third career complete game for Eovaldi and the first shutout by a Texas pitcher at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020.

“I’ve faced these guys a lot and know they’re aggressive,” Eovaldi said. “We wanted to make sure we established the inside part of the plate early, and once we were able to do that, we were able to mix in the splitters first pitch, second pitch the second time around and got some quick outs.”

Rookie Jhony Brito (2-3) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: Boone said the team will evaluate Judge through the weekend before determining whether the reigning AL MVP will go on the injured list.

angers: RHP Jacob deGrom was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation after early exits in two of his last three starts. … SS Corey Seager (left hamstring) took some grounders Saturday. He has been on the IL since he got hurt running bases April 11.

UP NEXT

In a matchup of All-Star left-handers with 3-1 records, Martín Pérez starts Sunday for the Rangers and Nestor Cortes for the Yankees. 

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On average, the Texas Retired Teachers Association says a Teacher Retirement System of Texas Retiree’s monthly annuity is $2,145.

“I’m making the same annuity that I made in 2006, and obviously things have changed a lot in 17 years,” said Judy Bryant.

Bryan is a retiree from Dallas ISD.

Today, she supplements her pension and social security through work with the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans, helping to lobby lawmakers for a cost-of-living adjustment or COLA.

“We’re tired of having to go beg the legislature every other year, and that’s what we’ve been doing. That’s why I’ve been doing it for so long,” she said.

But thanks to a recent decision by Texas lawmakers, that soon could change.  

“This is the most bold effort to address our retired public school employee pension we’ve ever done,” said Texas Representative Greg Bonnen.

Friday, the House voted unanimously to approve a constitutional amendment to provide an ongoing cost of living adjustment to pensions of two, four or six percent. It would be based on the number of years since a teacher retired.

The plan would also include a supplemental payment for those over the age of 70, funded in part by Texas’s surplus along with a small increase in contributions from active employees.

Bryant argues the COLA shouldn’t burden those still working. She’d also like to see it increased to match inflation.

Still, she says it’s a step in the right direction.

“We are thankful that we have gotten this far this time because we never have before. “It’s a matter of respect for us as retired educators of all types,” said Bryant.

That bill now goes back to the Senate and then a conference committee where the two bodies will work out some differences between their versions of the bill.

Under the House plan, voters would get the final say come fall.  

Elon Musk expects SpaceX to spend about $2 billion on its Starship rocket development this year, as the company pushes to build on its first launch earlier this month.

“My expectation for the next flight would be to reach orbit,” Musk said, speaking during a discussion on Twitter Spaces on Saturday.

While SpaceX does secondary rounds about twice a year, to give employees and other company shareholders a chance to sell stock, Musk said the company does “not anticipate needing to raise funding” to further bolster the Starship program and its other ventures.

“To my knowledge, we do not need to raise incremental funding for SpaceX,” Musk said.

As for the dramatic first fully stacked Starship rocket launch on April 20,” the SpaceX CEO said, “The outcome was roughly in what I expected, and maybe slightly exceeding my expectations.”

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SpaceX has multiple further prototypes in various stages of assembly and aims to launch the next attempt at reaching space with the towering rocket within a few months.

“The goal of these missions is just information. Like, we don’t have any payload or anything — it’s just to learn as much as possible,” Musk said.

He put the probability of reaching orbit with a Starship flight this year at “probably” 80%, but espoused that he thinks there is a “100% chance of reaching orbit within 12 months.”

Launch review

The Starship flight got off the launchpad and achieved several milestones, but Musk gave more details on a variety of the problems the rocket suffered.

The rocket took off with only 30 of the 33 Raptor engines ignited at the base of the Super Heavy booster. Musk said SpaceX “chose not to start” three engines, as they were not “healthy enough to bring them to full thrust. Starship slid laterally off the launchpad as it climbed into the sky, which Musk said was “because of the engine failures.”

About 27 seconds into the flight, SpaceX “lost communications” with another engine — an incident that happened “with some kind of energetic event” that removed the heat shield around several other engines. “Things really hit the fan” around 85 seconds into the launch, when SpaceX lost “thrust vector control” — or the ability to steer the rocket.

Additionally, Musk reported that it took about 40 seconds for the rocket’s AFTS (Autonomous Flight Termination System, which destroys the vehicle in the event it flies off course) to kick in, which SpaceX will need to correct before the next launch attempt.

The strongest part of the rocket’s performance was how well it held together, including passing through a launch milestone called “Max Q,” or the moment when atmospheric pressure is strongest on the rocket.

“The vehicle’s structural margins appear to be better than we expected, as we can tell from the vehicle actually doing somersaults towards the end and still staying intact,” Musk said.

Looking forward, Musk said SpaceX has “made so many improvements” to future prototypes. The company needs to ensure “that we don’t lose thrust vector control” with the next launch.

‘Rock tornado’

Back on the ground, Musk said the booster created a “rock tornado” underneath the rocket as it was lifting off. While SpaceX has not seen “evidence that the rock tornado actually damaged engines or heat shields in a material way,” Musk noted that the company “certainly didn’t expect” to destroy the launch pad’s concrete and create a crater in its wake.

“One of the more plausible explanations is that … we may have compressed the sand underneath the concrete to such a degree that the concrete effectively bent and then cracked,” Musk said.

A priority for the next flight will be starting the 33 Raptor engines “faster and get off the pad faster,” Musk said. It took about five seconds for SpaceX to start the engines and launch the rocket, which Musk noted “is a really long time to be blasting the pad.” The company aims to cut that time in half for the next attempt.

Photos of the aftermath have shown the violent result of the Super Heavy booster’s engines. A report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the launch flung concrete and metal “thousands of feet away” and created a cloud of dust and pulverized concrete that fell as far as 6.5 miles from the launch site.

On Saturday, Musk said “the pad damage is actually quite small” and should “be repaired quickly.” He estimated the needed repairs mean SpaceX will be “probably ready to launch in six to eight weeks.” SpaceX will replace some of the propellant tanks near the launchpad. The 500-foot tall tower “is in good shape,” with “no meaningful damage” even though it was struck by “some pretty big chunks of concrete.”

Musk believes the biggest hurdle to flying again “is probably requalification” of the AFTS that destroyed the rocket, since “it took way too long” to detonate.

SpaceX is moving forward with a plan to put steel plates, which will be cooled by a water system, underneath the launch tower for the next Starship rocket.

Environmental activists and researchers have raised alarms about the cloud of pulverized concrete and dust that the launch created. Musk argued that the debris was “not toxic at all,” but said that “we don’t want to do that again.”

“To the best of our knowledge there has not been any meaningful damage to the environment that we’re aware of,” Musk said.

Full list of every pick from the 2023 NFL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books.

From Thursday through Saturday, 259 prospects heard their names called as they officially became NFL players.

It started on Thursday night, when the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner will join a rebuilding team with first-year head coach Frank Reich, who previously led the Indianapolis Colts.

After 31 picks on Thursday, action continued on Friday with the second and third rounds. The final four rounds took place on Saturday, with the Los Angeles Rams taking DE Desjuan Johnson out of Toledo as “Mr. Irrelevant” — the last pick of the event. 

Here’s a complete look at every pick from the 2023 NFL Draft:

Round 1

1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

3. Houston Texans (from Arizona): Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

6. Arizona Cardinals (from L.A. Rams through Detroit): Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

9. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina through Chicago): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

10. Chicago Bears (from New Orleans through Philadelphia): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

11. Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

12. Detroit Lions (from Cleveland through Houston and Arizona): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

13. Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (from New England): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

15. New York Jets (from Green Bay): Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

16. Washington Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

17. New England Patriots (from Pittsburgh): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

18. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt

20. Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

22. Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

23. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

24. New York Giants (from Jacksonville): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

25. Buffalo Bills (from Jacksonville through N.Y. Giants): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

26. Dallas Cowboys: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Buffalo): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Miami and Denver): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State

Round 2

32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chicago): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

33. Tennessee Titans (from Houston through Arizona): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

34. Detroit Lions (from Arizona): Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

35. Las Vegas Raiders (from Indianapolis): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

36. Los Angeles Rams: Steve Avila, OL, TCU

37. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn

38. Atlanta Falcons (from Las Vegas through Indianapolis): Matt Bergeron, OL, Syracuse

39. Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

40. New Orleans Saints: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

41. Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee): BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU

42. Green Bay Packers (from Cleveland through N.Y. Jets): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

43. New York Jets: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin

44. Indianapolis Colts (from Atlanta): Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

45. Detroit Lions (from Green Bay): Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

46. New England Patriots: Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech

47. Washington Commanders: Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois

48. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Detroit through Green Bay): Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State

49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

50. Green Bay Packers (from Tampa Bay): Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State

51. Miami Dolphins: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

52. Seattle Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA

53. Chicago Bears (from Baltimore): Gervon Dexter Sr., DT, Florida

54. Los Angeles Chargers: Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC

55. Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota through Detroit): Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

56. Chicago Bears (from Jacksonville): Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami (FL)

57. New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

58. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan

59. Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

60. Cincinnati Bengals: D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan

61. Jacksonville Jaguars (from San Francisco through Carolina and Chicago): Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State

62. Houston Texans (from Philadelphia): Juice Scruggs, C, Penn State

63. Denver Broncos (from Kansas City through Detroit): Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma

Round 3

64. Chicago Bears: Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina 

65. Philadelphia Eagles (from Houston): Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama

66. Philadelphia Eagles (from Arizona): Sydney Brown, S, Illinois 

67. Denver Broncos (from Indianapolis):  Drew Sanders, ILB, Arkansas 

68. Detroit Lions (from Denver): Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

69. Los Angeles Rams: Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston

70. Las Vegas Raiders: Byron Young, DT, Alabama

71. New Orleans Saints: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU

72. Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee): Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse

73. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

74. Cleveland Browns (from N.Y. Jets): Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee

75. Atlanta Falcons: Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State

76. New England Patriots (from Carolina): Marte Mapu, ILB, Sacramento State

77. Los Angeles Rams (from New England through Miami): Byron Young, DE, Tennessee

78. Green Bay Packers: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

79. Indianapolis Colts (from Washington): Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

80. Carolina Panthers (from Pittsburgh): DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon

81. Tennessee Titans (from Detroit through Arizona): Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane

82. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: YaYa Diaby, DE, Louisville

83. Denver Broncos (from Seattle): Riley Moss, CB, Iowa

84. Miami Dolphins: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M

85. Los Angeles Chargers: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State

86. Baltimore Ravens: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

87. San Francisco 49ers (from Minnesota): Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State

88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn

89. Los Angeles Rams (from N.Y. Giants): Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest

90. Dallas Cowboys: LB DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

91. Buffalo Bills: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane

92. Kansas City Chiefs (from Cincinnati): Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma

93. Pittsburgh Steelers (from San Francisco through Carolina): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

94. Arizona Cardinals (from Philadelphia): Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford

95. Cincinnati Bengals (from Kansas City): Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

96. Detriot Lions (compensatory selection from Arizona): Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky

97. Washington Commanders (compensatory selection): Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas

98. Cleveland Browns (special compensatory selection): Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor

99. San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory selection): Jake Moody, K, Michigan

100. Las Vegas Raiders (special compensatory selection from Kansas City through N.Y. Giants): Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati

101. San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory selection): Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama

102. Minnesota Vikings (special compensatory selection from San Francisco): Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC

Round 4

103. New Orleans Saints (from Chicago): Nick Saldiveri, OG, Old Dominion

104. Las Vegas Raiders (from Houston): Jakorian Bennett, DB, Maryland

105. Philadelphia Eagles (from Arizona through Houston): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

106. Indianapolis Colts: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU

107. New England Patriots (from L.A. Rams): Jake Andrews, C, Troy

108. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Anthony Bradford, OG, LSU

109. Houston Texans (from Las Vegas): Dylan Horton, EDGE, TCU

110. Indianapolis Colts (from Tennessee through Atlanta): Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern

111. Cleveland Browns: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

112. New England Patriots (from N.Y. Jets): Chad Ryland, K, Maryland

113. Atlanta Falcons: Clark Phillips, CB, Utah

114. Carolina Panthers: Chandler Zavala, OG, NC State

115. Chicago Bears (from New Orleans): Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

116. Green Bay Packers: Colby Wooden, DT, Auburn

117. New England Patriots: Sidy Sow, OG, Eastern Michigan

118. Washington Commanders: Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah

119. Kansas City Chiefs (from Detroit through Minnesota): Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech

120. New York Jets (from Pittsburgh through New England): Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh

121. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Tampa Bay): Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida

122. Arizona Cardinals (from Miami through Kansas City and Detroit): Jon Gaines II, OG, UCLA

123. Seattle Seahawks: Cameron Young, DT, Mississippi State

124. Baltimore Ravens: Tavius Robinson, EDGE, Ole Miss

125. Los Angeles Chargers: Derius Davis, WR, TCU

126. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota): Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri

127. New Orleans Saints (from Jacksonville): Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State

128. Los Angeles Rams (from N.Y. Giants): Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia

129. Dallas Cowboys: Viliami Fehoko Jr., DE, San Jose State

130. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Buffalo): Tyler Lacy, DE, Oklahoma State

131. Cincinnati Bengals: Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue

132. Pittsburgh Steelers (from San Francisco through Carolina): Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin

133. Chicago Bears (from Philadelphia): Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

134. Minnesota Vikings (from Kansas City): Jay Ward, CB, LSU

135. Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory selection from New England): Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue

Round 5

136. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Chicago): Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville

137. Washington Commanders (from Arizona through Buffalo): K.J. Henry, DE, Clemson

138. Indianapolis Colts: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina

139. Arizona Cardinals (from Denver through Detroit): Clayton Tune, QB, Houston

140. Cleveland Browns (from L.A. Rams): Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA

141. Minnesota Vikings (from Las Vegas through Indianapolis): Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU

142. Cleveland Browns: Cam Mitchell, CB, Northwestern

143. New York Jets: Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh

144. New England Patriots (from Atlanta through Las Vegas): Atonio Mafi, OG, UCLA

145. Carolina Panthers: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

146. New Orleans Saints: Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota

147. Tennessee Titans: Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati

148. Chicago Bears (from New England through Baltimore): Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon

149. Green Bay Packers: Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State

150. Buffalo Bills (from Washington): Justin Shorter, WR, Florida

151. Seattle Seahawks (from Pittsburgh): Mike Morris, EDGE, Michigan

152. Detroit Lions: Colby Sorsdal, OT, William & Mary

153. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh

154. Seattle Seahawks: Oluseun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan

155. San Francisco 49ers (from Miami): Darrell Luter Jr., CB, South Alabama

156. Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan McFadden, OG, Clemson

157. Baltimore Ravens: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford

158. Indianapolis Colts (from Minnesota): Daniel Scott, S, California

159. Green Bay Packers (from Jacksonville through Atlanta and Detroit): Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia

160. Jacksonville Jaguars (from N.Y. Giants): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M

161. Los Angeles Rams (from Dallas through Houston): Nick Hampton, OLB, Appalachian State

162. Indianapolis Colts (from Buffalo): Will Mallory, TE, Miami (FL)

163. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Brown, RB, Illinois

164. Minnesota Vikings (from San Francisco): Jaren Hall, QB, BYU

165. Chicago Bears (from Philadelphia through New Orleans): Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota

166. Kansas City Chiefs: BJ Thompson, OLB, Stephen F. Austin

167. Houston Texans (compensatory selection from L.A. Rams): Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama

168. Arizona Cardinals (compensatory selection): Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn

169. Dallas Cowboys (compensatory selection): Asim Richards, OT, North Carolina

170. Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory selection from Green Bay through New York): Christopher Smith, S, Georgia

171. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory selection from L.A. Rams): Payne Durham, TE, Purdue

172. New York Giants (compensatory selection): Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma

173. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection): Robert Beal Jr., DE, Georgia

174. Los Angeles Rams (compensatory selection from Las Vegas through Houston): Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia

175. Los Angeles Rams (compensatory selection from Tampa Bay): Davis Allen, TE, Clemson

176. Indianapolis Colts from Dallas Cowboys (compensatory selection): Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern

177. Los Angeles Rams (compensatory selection): Puka Nacua, WR, BYU

Round 6

178. Dallas Cowboys (from Chicago through Miami and Kansas City): Eric Scott Jr., CB, Southern Miss

179. Green Bay Packers (from Houston through Tampa Bay): Karl Brooks, DE, Bowling Green

180. Arizona Cardinals: Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville

181. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Indianapolis): Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas State

182. Los Angeles Rams: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU

183. Denver Broncos: JL Skinner, S, Boise State

184. New York Jets (from Las Vegas through New England): Zaire Barnes, OLB, Western Michigan

185. Jacksonville Jaguars (from N.Y. Jets): Parker Washington, WR, Penn State

186. Tennessee Titans (from Atlanta): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

187. New England Patriots (from Carolina): Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

188. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans through Houston): Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford

189. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee): Ochaun Mathis, DE, Nebraska

190. Cleveland Browns: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State

191. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Green Bay through L.A. Rams, Houston and Philadelphia): Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

192. New England Patriots: Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State

193. Washington Commanders: Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky

194. Kansas City Chiefs (from Detroit): Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas

195. New Orleans Saints (from Pittsburgh through Denver): A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest

196. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jose Ramirez, OLB, Eastern Michigan

197. Miami Dolphins: Elijah Higgins, WR, Stanford

198. Seattle Seahawks: Jerrick Reed II, S, New Mexico

199. Baltimore Ravens: Sala Aumavae-Laulu, OL, Oregon

200. Los Angeles Chargers: Scott Matlock, DT, Boise State

201. Houston Texans (from Minnesota): Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame

202. Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Braswell, CB, Rutgers

203. Las Vegas Raiders (from N.Y. Giants through Houston): Amari Burney, OLB, Florida

204. New York Jets (from Dallas through Las Vegas): Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU

205. Houston Texans (from Buffalo): Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State

206. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton

207. Green Bay Packers (from San Francisco through Houston and N.Y. Jets): Anders Carlson, K, Auburn

208. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Philadelphia): Erick Hallett II, S, Pittsburgh

209. New York Giants (from Kansas City): Tre Hawkins III, CB, Old Dominion

210. New England Patriots (compensatory selection): Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty

211. Indianapolis Colts (compensatory selection from Minnesota): Titus Leo, LB, Wagner

212. Dallas Cowboys (compensatory selection): Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State

213. Arizona Cardinals (compensatory selection): Dante Stills, DT, West Virginia

214. New England Patriots (compensatory selection from Las Vegas): Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State

215. Los Angeles Rams (compensatory selection from Washington through Buffalo): Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss

216. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection): Dee Winters, LB, TCU

217. Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory selection from Kansas City): Brad Robbins, P, Michigan

Round 7

218. Chicago Bears: Travis Bell, DT, Kennesaw State

219. Detroit Lions (from Houston through Minnesota and Philadelphia): Antoine Green, WR, North Carolina

220. New York Jets (from Arizona through Las Vegas): Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion

221. Indianapolis Colts: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M

222. Minnesota Vikings (from Denver through San Francisco): DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB

223. Los Angeles Rams: Ethan Evans, P, Wingate

224. Atlanta Falcons (from Las Vegas): DeMarcco Hellams, S, Alabama

225. Atlanta Falcons: Jovaughn Gwyn, OL, South Carolina

226. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Carolina): Cooper Hodgers, OL, Appalachian State

227. Jacksonville Jaguars (from New Orleans): Raymond Vohasek, DT, North Carolina

228. Tennessee Titans: Colton Dowell, WR, UT Martin

229. Baltimore Ravens (from Cleveland): Andrew Vorhees, OG, USC

230. Buffalo Bills (from N.Y. Jets through Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Houston): Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss

231. Las Vegas Raiders (from New England): Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State

232. Green Bay Packers: Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky

233. Washington Commanders: Andre Jones Jr., EDGE, Louisiana

234. Los Angeles Rams (from Pittsburgh): Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State

235. Green Bay Packers (from Detroit through L.A. Rams): Lew Nichols III, RB, Central Michigan

236. Indianapolis Colts (from Tampa Bay): Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan

237. Seattle Seahawks: Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia

238. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan

239. Los Angeles Chargers: Max Duggan, QB, TCU

240. Jacksonville Jaguars (from N.Y. Giants through Baltimore): Derek Parish, EDGE, Houston

241. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Minnesota through Denver): Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue

242. Green Bay Packers (from Jacksonville): Anthony Johnson, CB, Virginia

243. New York Giants: Jordon Riley, DT, Oregon

244. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina

245. New England Patriots (from Buffalo through Atlanta): Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State

246. Cincinnati Bengals: D.J. Ivey, DB, Miami

247. San Francisco 49ers: Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma

248. Houston Texans (from Philadelphia): Brandon Hill, S, Pittsburgh

249. Philadelphia Eagles (from Kansas City through Detroit): Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas

250. Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory selection): Nic Jones, CB, Ball State

251. Pittsburgh Steelers (compensatory selection from L.A. Rams): Spencer Anderson, G, Maryland

252. Buffalo Bills (compensatory selection from Tampa Bay through L.A. Rams): Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State

253. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection): Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan

254. New York Giants (compensatory selection): Gervarrius Owens, S, Houston

255. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection): Jalen Graham, LB, Purdue

256. Green Bay Packers (compensatory selection): Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte

257. Denver Broncos (compensatory selection from New Orleans): Alex Forsyth, C, Oregon

258. Chicago Bears (compensatory selection): Kendall Williamson, DB, Stanford

259. Los Angeles Rams (compensatory selection from Houston): Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo

Duggan will join two TCU teammates, wide receivers Quentin Johnson and Derius Davis, both of whom were also drafted by the Chargers.

He decided to skip his available extra season with the third-ranked Horned Frogs and make himself eligible for the NFL draft after the College Football Playoff. In December, when he announced his decision on social media that he was declaring for the NFL draft, Duggan wrote, “But first, we still have business to take care of.”

Duggan won the Davey O’Brien Award as the best quarterback in college football last season, finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, and was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He led TCU to the College Football National Championship Game, losing to Georgia at SoFi Stadium, which will now be his NFL home.

Duggan said being a student-athlete at TCU has been the greatest experience of his life, helping him develop as a football player and a man while earning a business degree. The Iowa native also thanked his family, teammate, coaches and fans for their support.

“My experience at TCU and, in turn, Amon G. Carter Stadium, has been filled with great memories, passion and pride,” Duggan wrote. “I have learned many lessons through the highs and the lows. I’ve built lifelong relationships that will last forever.”

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“His parents and large extended family are standing together in solidarity and support of Jack Teixeira through this very difficult and confusing ordeal,” the statement read.

Teixeira was arrested on April 13 for reportedly sharing top-secret information about the Ukraine war — among other international developments — with users on the social platform Discord. He’s since been charged under the Espionage Act and faces 25 years in prison, “potentially far more,” according to a memo filed by the Justice Department on Wednesday.

Judge David Hennessy, a magistrate judge in Massachusetts, took arguments from prosecutors and Teixeira’s defense, but did not rule and declined to release Teixeira on Thursday.

Prosecutors allege that Teixeira published the government information back in December and raised concerns that the former cyber transport systems journeyman — essentially an information technology specialist — could have access to other classified documents that have not surfaced publicly.

The family statement also thanked friends and family for their support.

“We know there are more questions now than answers and are hopeful that Jack will receive the fair and just treatment to which he is entitled during this investigation,” the statement said. “His health and safety are now and will be our top priority.”

King Charles III, keen to show that he can be a unifying figure for everyone in the United Kingdom, will be crowned in a ceremony that will for the first time include the active participation of faiths other than the Church of England.

Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders will take part in various aspects of the coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office said Saturday, as it revealed details of a service it described as an act of Christian worship that will reflect contemporary society.

The ceremony also will include female bishops for the first time, as well as hymns and prayers sung in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, as well as English.

“The service contains new elements that reflect the diversity of our contemporary society,’’ Archbishop Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Church of England, said in a statement. “It is my prayer that all who share in this service, whether they are of faith or no faith, will find ancient wisdom and new hope that brings inspiration and joy.”

The coronation ceremony reflects Charles’ efforts to show that the 1,000-year-old monarchy is still relevant in a country that is much more diverse than it was when his mother was crowned 70 years ago. While the king is the supreme governor of the Church of England, the latest census showed that less than half of the population now describe themselves as Christian.

Built around the theme “Called to Serve,” the coronation service will begin with one of the youngest members of the congregation — a Chapel Royal chorister — greeting the king. Charles will respond by saying, “In His name and after His example, I come not to be served but to serve.”

The moment is meant to underscore the importance of young people in the world today, according to Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The service will also include many historic elements underscoring the ancient traditions through which power has been passed on to new kings and queens throughout the centuries.

In the most sacred part of the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint the king with oil, consecrating him and setting him apart from his subjects.

A screen will cover Charles at this moment, and the anointing won’t be visible on television or to most people in the abbey, except for a few senior members of the clergy.

“When the screen which will surround the coronation chair is removed, the king is revealed to us all as someone who has taken on the responsibility of serving God and serving the people,” a Lambeth Palace spokesperson said while speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

This will be followed by the presentation of the coronation regalia, sacred objects like the orb and scepter that symbolize the monarch’s power and responsibilities.

In another innovation that reflects the changed religious landscape in Britain, members of the House of Lords from the Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions will present the king with objects with no explicit Christian symbolism.

The new king will then be crowned and the refrain “God Save the King’’ will echo through the Abbey.

After Charles is crowned, the traditional homage of the peers will be replaced by an “homage of the people,” in which people in the Abbey and those watching on television will be invited to affirm their allegiance to the king.

Camilla will then be anointed, in a form similar to that of Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, in 1937. However, Camilla’s anointing won’t be hidden behind a screen.

The congregation will also be invited to say the Lord’s Prayer’ in the language of their choice.

Just before Charles sets off in the Gold State Coach for a procession on the streets of London, the leaders and representatives of faith communities will deliver a greeting in unison. The greeting won’t be amplified out of respect for those who are observing the Jewish sabbath and are barred from using electrical devices, Lambeth Palace said.

American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 500 miles or 800 kilometers to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, U.S. officials said.

The U.S., which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation, has been criticized by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation for those among an estimated 16,000 Americans in Sudan who wish to leave.

U.S. special operations troops briefly flew to the capital, Khartoum, April 22 to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other American government personnel. More than a dozen other nations have already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on the ground personnel.

A wide-ranging group of international mediators — including African and Arab nations, the United Nations and the United States — has only managed to achieve a series of fragile temporary cease-fires that failed to stop clashes but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate thousands of their citizens by land, air and sea.

Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out April 15, the U.S. has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country, though U.S. officials have tried to link up Americans with other nations’ evacuation efforts. But that changed as U.S. officials exploited a relative lull in the fighting and, from afar, organized their own convoy for Americans, officials said.

Without the evacuation flights near the capital that other countries have been offering their citizens, many U.S. citizens have been left to make the dangerous overland journey from Khartoum to the country’s main Red Sea port, Port Sudan. One Sudanese-American family that made the trip earlier described passing through numerous checkpoints manned by armed men and passing bodies lying in the street and vehicles of other fleeing families who had been killed along the way.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the convoy carried U.S. citizens, local people employed by the U.S. and citizens of allied countries. “We reiterate our warning to Americans not to travel to Sudan,” he said.

From Port Sudan, away from the fighting, the Americans in the convoy can seek spots on vessels crossing the Red Sea to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. U.S. officials also are working with Saudi Arabia to see if one of the kingdom’s naval vessels can carry a larger number of Americans to Jeddah.

U.S. consular officials will be waiting for the Americans once they reach the dock in Jeddah, but there are no U.S. personnel in Port Sudan, officials said.

Two Americans are confirmed killed in the fighting that erupted April 15. One was a U.S. civilian whom officials said was caught in crossfire. The other was an Iowa City, Iowa, doctor, who was stabbed to death in front of his house and family in Khartoum, in the lawless violence that has accompanied the fighting.

In all, the fighting in the east African country has killed more than 500 people,.

The U.S. airlifted out all its diplomats and military personnel and closed its embassy April 22. It left behind several thousand U.S. citizens still in Sudan, many of them dual-nationals.

The Biden administration had warned it had no plans to join other countries in organizing evacuation for ordinary U.S. citizens who wanted out, calling it too dangerous. There were no known U.S. government personnel on the ground in Sudan assisting the convoy.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, posted videos and photos of the blaze on his Telegram channel.

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Razvozhayev said the fire at the city’s harbor was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. However, he reported that the open blaze had been contained.

Razvozhayev said the oil depot was attacked by “two enemy drones,” and four oil tanks burned down. A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means, according to Crimea’s Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview this week that his country will seek to reclaim the peninsula in the upcoming counteroffensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Crimea last month to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine. Putin’s visit took place the day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader accusing him of war crimes.

The attack reported in Sevastopol comes a day after Russia fired more than 20 cruise missiles and two drones at Ukraine, killing at least 23 people. Almost all of the victims died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city of Uman, located in central Ukraine.

Six children were among the dead, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Saturday, adding that 22 of the 23 bodies recovered have been identified. Two women remained missing, Klymenko said.

Russian forces launched more drones at Ukraine overnight. Ukraine’s Air Force Command said two Iranian-made self-exploding Shahed drones were intercepted, and a reconnaissance drone was shot down on Saturday morning.

Razvozhayev said the oil depot fire did not cause any casualties and would not hinder fuel supplies in Sevastopol. The city has been subject to regular attack attempts with drones, especially in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, Razvozhayev reported that the Russian military destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that attempted to attack the harbor and another one blew up, shattering windows in several apartment buildings, but not inflicting any other damage.

Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, told the RBC Ukraine news site on Saturday that the oil depot fire was “God’s punishment” for “the murdered civilians in Uman, including five children.”

He said that more than 10 tanks containing oil products for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet were destroyed in Sevastopol, but stopped short of acknowledging Ukraine’s responsibility for a drone attack. The difference between the number of tanks Yusov and Razvozhayev gave could not be immediately reconciled.

After previous attacks on Crimea, Kyiv also wouldn’t openly claim responsibility, but emphasized that the country had the right to strike any target in response to Russian aggression.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces shelled the city of Nova Kakhovka, according to Moscow-installed authorities in the Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraine’s Kherson province. “Severe artillery fire” cut off power in the city, the officials said.

The Ukrainian-controlled part of the province also came under fire on Saturday. Russian shelling in the area of the village of Bilozerka killed one person and wounded another, according to the Kherson prosecutor’s office.

Jefferson County commissioners approved the settlement last week with Floyd Bledsoe, who was released from prison in 2015 after DNA evidence showed he could not have been the killer of 14-year-old Camille Arfmann in Oskaloosa.

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Bledsoe will receive $1.5 million initially, with the rest to be paid over the next 10 years, The Kansas City Star reported.

Bledsoe, who is now 46, was 23 when he was convicted in 2000 of killing the girl. He was arrested even though his brother, Tom, confessed to the killing in 1999, turned himself in and led authorities to the girl’s body.

According to a lawsuit Floyd Bledsoe filed in 2016, Jefferson County authorities persuaded Tom Bledsoe to recant his confession and “framed” his brother by hiding evidence of his innocence.

In 2015, DNA testing revealed Tom Bledsoe was the likely source of sperm found in the victim. Tom Bledsoe died by suicide that year after writing a note again confessing to killing Arfmann.

The charges against Floyd Bledsoe were dismissed and he was freed from prison that year.

One of Bledsoe’s attorneys, Russell Ainsworth of Loevy & Loevy in Chicago, said Jefferson County was facing up to $40 million in liability if the case went to trial.

Jefferson County Commissioner Richard Malm said the county’s annual budget is about $20 million and the commission would have had to propose a bond if Bledsoe had not agreed to have the payment spread over 10 years.

In 2019, the state agreed to pay Bledsoe $1.03 million under a mistaken conviction law.

There’s a second wife, an embarrassing brother, and an angry son and daughter-in-law, all with allies who aren’t shy about whispering family secrets in the ears of friendly reporters.

The new king will hope to keep a lid on those tensions when his royally blended family joins as many as 2,800 guests for Charles’ coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. All except Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are attending.

How Charles manages his family drama over the coming weeks and years is crucial to the king’s efforts to preserve and protect the 1,000-year-old hereditary monarchy he now embodies. Without the respect of the public, the House of Windsor risks being lumped together with pop stars, social media influencers and reality TV contestants as fodder for the British tabloids, undermining the cachet that underpins its role in public life.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers says people should look past the sensational headlines and focus on what Charles accomplishes now that he is king.

“In a sense, he sort of becomes a new man when he becomes king,” said Vickers, author of “Coronation: The Crowning of Elizabeth II.”

“Look at him as he is now, look at him the way he is approaching everything, look at his positivity and look at how right he’s been on so many issues,” he added. “Unfortunately, he had those difficult times with his marriages and some of the other issues, but we live in a very tricky era.”

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The horror show came back to haunt Charles last week, when the king’s estranged younger son, Prince Harry, dropped a new round of allegations Tuesday about the royal family into the middle of the coronation buildup.

In written evidence for his invasion of privacy claim against a British newspaper, Harry claimed his father prevented him from filing the lawsuit a decade ago. The prince said Charles didn’t want to dredge up graphic testimony about his extramarital affair with the former Camilla Parker-Bowles when he was married to the late Princess Diana.

Diana was the mother of Harry and his elder brother and heir to the throne, William, the Prince of Wales. Camilla, now the queen consort, went on to marry Charles in 2005 and will be crowned alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey.

If the past is any indication, attention will now shift to body language, seating plans and even wardrobe choices during the coronation, as royal watchers look for any signs of a thaw in the family tensions.

But Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, doesn’t expect Harry to have a lot of contact with the rest of his family. In any case, Harry won’t be in the U.K. for long, so there’s not much time for fence mending.

“The stuff that we discovered (Tuesday) is really not going to help his cause,” Little said. “But, you know, will there be time to go over all that with the king and the Prince of Wales? Unlikely.”

The royal soap opera didn’t begin with the current generation of royals. After all, Edward VIII sparked a constitutional crisis in 1936 when he abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.

Charles’ grandfather, George VI, is credited with saving the monarchy with a life of low-key public service after he replaced his flamboyant elder brother. The late Queen Elizabeth II burnished the family’s reputation during a 70-year reign, in which she became a symbol of stability who cheered the nation’s victories and comforted it during darker times.

But Charles grew up in a different era, under the glare of media attention as deference to the monarchy faded.

He has been a controversial figure ever since the very public breakdown of his marriage to Diana, who was revered by many people for her looks and her compassion.

Diana alleged that there had been “three people” in the marriage, pointing the finger at Charles’ longtime love Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Camilla, initially reviled by Diana’s fans, has worked hard to rehabilitate her image. Her ex-husband and their children are expected to attend the coronation, with her grandsons serving as pages of honor.

She supports a raft of causes, ranging from adult literacy to protecting the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. But even that effort has sparked tensions.

Harry claimed in his memoir “Spare” that the senior royals leaked unflattering stories about him to the news media in return for more favorable coverage, particularly to improve Camilla’s image.

At the time of their marriage in 2018, Harry and Meghan were celebrated as the new face of the monarchy. Meghan, a biracial American actress, brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the royal family and many observers hoped she would help the Windsors connect with younger people in an increasingly multicultural nation.

Those hopes quickly crumbled amid allegations that palace officials were insensitive to Meghan’s mental health struggles as she adjusted to royal life.

Harry and Meghan walked away from frontline royal duties three years ago and moved to California, from which they have lobbed repeated critiques at the House of Windsor.

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey they hinted at racism in the palace, alleging that one unidentified member of the royal family had inquired about the color of their unborn son’s skin before his birth.

Harry, in a Netflix series broadcast last year, said the episode was an example of unconscious bias and that the royal family needed to “learn and grow” so it could be “part of the solution rather than part of the problem.”

The repeated attacks led to months of speculation about whether the couple would be invited to the coronation. The palace finally answered that question two weeks ago when it announced that Harry would attend but Meghan would remain in California with their two children.

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And then there is Charles’ brother Prince Andrew, who became a toxic time bomb inside the royal family when the world learned about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the financier’s long-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in 2008, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on a second set of charges. Maxwell was convicted last year of helping procure young girls for Epstein and is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Florida.

Andrew gave up his royal duties in 2019 after a disastrous interview with the BBC in which he tried to explain away his links to Epstein and Maxwell. He was stripped of his honorary military titles and patronages as he prepared to defend a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who said she was forced to have sex with the prince when she was a teenager.

Andrew denied the allegations but settled the suit last year before it came to trial. While terms of the agreement weren’t released, The Sun newspaper reported that Charles and the late queen paid the bulk of the estimated 7 million pound ($8.7 million) settlement.

“I think it was inevitable that when Charles became king, a lot of the personal stuff would come back to haunt him,″ Little said. “I think as far as the king is concerned, he just has to shrug his shoulders and get on with the job in hand.”

The national recall affects two-, five- and 10-pound bags of Gold Medal bleached and unbleached all-purpose flour with a “better if used by” date of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024.

The presence of Salmonella Infantis was detected in a sampling of a five-pound bag, triggering the recall.

All other types of Gold Medal flour are unaffected by the recall.

Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of any recalled flour that may have been purchased. Those who have had to discard flour can contact General Mills customer relations at 1-800-230-8103.

Listed below are the UPC codes and “better if used by” dates for the affected products.

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5LB Flour

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 10LB Flour

Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 2LB Flour

Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 5LB Flour

Kim Yo Jong also lobbed personal insults toward U.S. President Joe Biden, who after a summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday stated that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would “result in the end of whatever regime” took such action.

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Biden’s meeting with Yoon in Washington came amid heightened tensions in the Korean Peninsula as the pace of both the North Korean weapons demonstrations and the combined U.S.-South Korean military exercises have increased in a cycle of tit-for-tat.

Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles, including multiple demonstrations of intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the U.S. mainland and a slew of short-range launches the North described as simulated nuclear strikes on South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is widely expected to up the ante in coming weeks or months as he continues to accelerate a campaign aimed at cementing the North’s status as a nuclear power and eventually negotiating U.S. economic and security concessions from a position of strength.

During their summit, Biden and Yoon announced new nuclear deterrence efforts that call for periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in decades and bolstering training between the two countries. They also committed to plans for bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, the establishment of a nuclear consultative group and improved sharing of information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans.

In her comments published on state media, Kim Yo Jong said the U.S.-South Korean agreement reflected the allies’ “most hostile and aggressive will of action” against the North and will push regional peace and security into “more serious danger.”

Kim, who is one of her brother’s top foreign policy officials, said the summit further strengthened the North’s conviction to enhance its nuclear arms capabilities. She said it would be especially important for the North to perfect the “second mission of the nuclear war deterrent,” in an apparent reference to the country’s escalatory nuclear doctrine that calls for preemptive nuclear strikes over a broad range of scenarios where it may perceive its leadership as under threat.

She lashed out at Biden over his blunt warning that North Korean nuclear aggression would result in the end of its regime, calling him senile and “too miscalculating and irresponsibly brave.” However, she said the North wouldn’t simply dismiss his words as a “nonsensical remark from the person in his dotage.”

“When we consider that this expression was personally used by the president of the U.S., our most hostile adversary, it is threatening rhetoric for which he should be prepared for far too great an after-storm,” she said.

“The more the enemies are dead set on staging nuclear war exercises, and the more nuclear assets they deploy in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula, the stronger the exercise of our right to self-defense will become in direct proportion to them.”

She called Yoon a “fool” over his efforts to strengthen South Korea’s defense in conjunction with its alliance with the United States and bolster the South’s own conventional missile capabilities, saying he was putting his absolute trust in the U.S. despite getting only “nominal” promises in return.

“The pipe dream of the U.S. and (South) Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength,” she said.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, described her comments as “absurd” and insisted that they convey the North’s “nervousness and frustration” over the allies’ efforts to strengthen nuclear deterrence.

Kim Yo Jong’s comments toward Biden were reminiscent of when her brother called former U.S. President Donald Trump a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard” while they exchanged verbal threats during a North Korean testing spree in 2017 that included flight tests of ICBMs and the North’s sixth nuclear test.

Kim Jong Un later shifted toward diplomacy and held his first summit with Trump in Singapore in June 2018, where they issued aspirational goals for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur.

But their diplomacy never recovered from the collapse of their second summit in February 2019 in Vietnam, where the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a limited surrender of their nuclear capabilities.

Kim Yo Jong did not specify the actions the North is planning to take in response to the outcome of the U.S.-South Korea summit.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the North will likely dial up military exercises involving its purported nuclear-capable missiles to demonstrate pre-emptive strike capabilities. The North may also stage tests of submarine-launched ballistic missile systems in response to the U.S. plans to send nuclear-armed submarines to the South, he said.

Kim Jong Un said this month that the country has built its first military spy satellite, which will be launched at an unspecified date. The launch would almost certainly be seen by its rivals as a banned test of long-range missile technology.

In March, he called for his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make bombs to put on his increasing range of nuclear-capable missiles, as the North unveiled what appeared to be a new warhead possibly designed to fit on a variety of delivery systems. That raised questions on whether the North was moving closer to its next nuclear test, which U.S. and South Korean officials have been predicting for months.

North Korea has long described the United States’ regular military exercises with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, although the allies described those drills as defensive. Many experts say Kim likely uses his rivals’ military drills as a pretext to advance his weapons programs and solidify his domestic leadership amid economic troubles.

Facing growing North Korean threats, Yoon has been seeking stronger reassurances from the United States that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons if the South comes under a North Korean nuclear attack.

His government has also been expanding military training with the U.S., which included the allies’ biggest field exercises in years last month and separate drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group and advanced warplanes, including nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and F-35 fighter jets.

Finding an apartment on a budget wasn’t easy. The average cost of a one-bedroom in Southwark, a borough in South London, is around $1,850 a month. That’s more than 75% of my income as an architectural designer.

At 28, my goal is to save up to buy a house of my own one day. But I didn’t want to move to the outskirts of the city, so I started looking into the possibility of living in a skip — or, as it’s called in the U.S., a dumpster.

How I turned a waste container into a tiny home

I run a small architecture company called CAUKIN Studio. We’ve done work with SKIP Gallery, which commissions emerging artists to create artwork in the confines of a dumpster.

After hearing about my project, an arts charity called Antepavilion granted me an empty, grassy lot in Southwark to put my house on. I currently rent the dumpster base from a waste management company for only $62 a month (although I have not been charged for it yet).

The building process, which began in December 2022, took three weeks. I had worked on similar projects in the past as an architect, so I had all the tools and knowledge I needed. On most days, my friends would come by and help.

It cost me roughly $5,000 to build the home:

• Building supplies (including timber, insulation and fixings): $4,620
• Interior furnishings (including storage and foam mattress): $380

I used my savings to fund the expenses, and paid movers $635 to transport the dumpster from the manufacturer to the construction site, then to the lot where it stands today.

My electricity bill is so small that it is included in my land sponsorship, and my water supply consists of a hose pipe that runs from a neighbor’s property.

For Wi-Fi, I use a dongle connected to mobile data to watch Netflix and take Zoom calls on my laptop. This costs $20 a month.

A look inside my tiny home

The base of the dumpster is only 25 square feet, so I had to make the most out of the volume to make the space livable.

I have four built-in wooden boxes to put my clothes in. I’ve always lived a minimal lifestyle and traveled a lot for work, so the limited storage space works for me. I didn’t have to give away any items.

Up above is my raised, mezzanine-style bed.

On the other end is the kitchen. I have an eight-can portable mini fridge, a small sink and an induction cooktop. 

Windows on both sides of the home provide plenty of natural light and ventilation, making the space feel less claustrophobic.

The toilet is outside, so I need to leave my house every time I use it. There’s no shower either, so I’ll be using the one at work and at the gym for the foreseeable future. I do my laundry at a laundromat.

Getting used to the skip life

I’ve been living here for a few months now, and managing its inconveniences has slowly gotten easier.

But this is a great location in London. It’s a 15-minute bike ride to work, and I love spending my free time exploring the area or meeting up with friends. 

My biggest challenge has been adjusting to all the attention. Many people stop by because they’ve seen me on the news.

With its ups and downs, I’ve turned my living situation into an art piece. It shines light on the absurdity of London’s housing crisis in a way that makes people smile and think.

This has been a unique experience, and I’m grateful that it was sponsored. But I don’t recommend replicating it. I hope that I can move out soon, but I certainly won’t be swapping it for no savings and a small, damp room. It’s weirdly comfortable.

Harrison Marshall is the co-founder of CAUKIN Studio, a design studio that specializes in community and impact-based projects. He holds a master’s degree in architecture and has worked on more than 50 projects worldwide. Harrison combines his background with his passion for social impact to create experiences that spark joy and thought. Follow him on Instagram @caukinstudio and @theskiphouse. 

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There was a frenzy of activity in the first three rounds of the NFL draft.

It began with two quarterbacks being selected with the first two picks for just the ninth time in modern draft history, with Bryce Young going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers and C.J. Stroud going second to the Houston Texans. 

There were a series of trades, including the Texans trading up to the No. 3 pick to take defensive end Will Anderson with the second of their back-to-back picks.

RELATED: Full list of every pick from the 2023 NFL Draft

The Indianapolis Colts then used the fourth pick to select quarterback Anthony Richardson, making it the fourth time in modern draft history that QBs were selected with three of the first four picks, and the first time in history that three black quarterbacks were selected in the top 10. 

The Detroit Lions made the surprise selection of the first round, using the No. 12 pick to add running back Jahmyr Gibbs to their crowded backfield.

It all made for some very clear winners and losers after day one of the draft.

With talented prospects still on the board heading into Day 3, expect more trades and surprises as the draft concludes on Saturday with the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. Here’s what to know about this year’s event:

When is the 2023 NFL Draft?

The 2023 NFL Draft will be held throughout a three-day span starting on Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. Here are when the rounds will start for each day:

• Round 1 (Thursday): 8 p.m. ET
• Rounds 2-3 (Friday): 7 p.m. ET
• Rounds 4-7 (Saturday): 12 p.m. ET

Where is the NFL draft in 2023?

Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., is the host location of the 2023 NFL Draft. It is the city’s first time hosting the event. 

How to watch the 2023 NFL Draft

ESPN, ABC and NFL Network will broadcast the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Where to stream the 2023 NFL Draft

The draft will be available to stream on WatchESPN, CBS Sports HQ, NFL.com and fuboTV (free trial).

Owner and pitmaster at Austin’s Interstellar BBQ, John Bates, explains how important brisket is to Texas culture.

“Texas barbecue is definitely built around a few key concepts,” he said. “It’s very much driven by offset smokers. Our style is typically very low and slow with a lot of smoke and clean flavors going through the pits. It’s also built on mostly brisket. It’s definitely the most important item in all Texas barbecue.”

Pitmaster at Corkscrew BBQ in Spring, Will Buckman, discusses why he left his career in communications to open the restaurant.

“I was spending a lot of time out in the driveway cooking these things for free to share with friends and family,” Buckman said. “It wasn’t until my wife stepped in because she was fighting for my time that said, you know, you should really be charging for these efforts.”

And Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn tells host Baylee Friday what he looks for when he reviews a new restaurant.

“Almost every barbecue joint in the state has sliced brisket, ribs, pork ribs, and sausage. So I usually start there,” Vaughn said. “I’ll ask if the sausage is housemade. If not, I’ll probably look for something else on the menu. Like maybe a smoked turkey, which has gotten a lot more popular in Texas over the last decade.”

Listen to Texas Wants to Know in the Audacy app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting and authorities warned that he might still be armed. The attack happened just before midnight Friday near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say it is not uncommon to hear neighbors unwind by firing off guns.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle, and as the search for him dragged into Saturday evening, authorities had widened their efforts to as far as “10 to 20 miles” from the murder scene. He said Oropeza may still have a weapon but that he believes authorities have the rifle used in the shooting.

Capers said they found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest but that tracking dogs had lost the scent.

“He could be anywhere now,” Capers said.

Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot “from the neck up,” he said.

The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles.

The mass killings have played out in a variety of places — a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home.

Capers said there were 10 people in the house — some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week — but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them.

A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said.

FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.

The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle.

The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim’s home, while in the front yard of Oropeza’s house a dog and chickens wandered.

Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn’t think anything of it.

“It’s a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work,” Arevalo said. “They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there.”

Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza’s home at least once before and spoken with him about “shooting his gun in the yard.” It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law.

Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there.

Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas.

Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year’s attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017.

Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde.

A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck.

“I tell my wife all the time, ‘Stay away from the neighbors. Don’t argue with them. You never know how they’re going to react,’” Arevalo said. “I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don’t know who has a gun and who is going to react that way.”

The billionaire entrepreneur and investor says his follower count on the social media platform is declining by 800 to 1,000 each day, and that his tweets are reaching “considerably” fewer people than they did a few months ago.

And his experiment to fix the problem — paying for Twitter Blue, which costs $8 per month, to give his account the blue checkmark it used to sport for free — isn’t working.

“I figured I was/am on some Twitter s— list that doesn’t show me to new or existing users as a possible follow,” Cuban told CNBC Make It in an email. “I thought maybe, by paying the annual contract, that would change. It didn’t.”

Normally, Cuban wouldn’t care about his online follower count, he added — he has 8.8 million Twitter followers, as of Friday evening — but it matters at the moment, as he’s trying to spread the word about his online pharmacy Cost Plus Drugs.

The topic has been on Cuban’s mind for at least a few weeks. Last month, he asked Twitter CEO Elon Musk in a tweet for suggestions on how to “retain or grow” his follower count. Musk didn’t reply, at least publicly.

Cuban’s theory of a “Twitter s— list” centers around the idea that Twitter shadow-bans some users, altering the platform’s algorithm so those accounts’ tweets are less visible on other people’s timelines.

In December, Musk tweeted Twitter was “working on a software update” where users would be able to see if their accounts were shadow-banned or not. Twitter, which has yet to unveil that feature, didn’t immediately respond to CNBC Make It’s request for comment.

“We’re rapidly improving transparency & fairness on this platform, but there is still a lot of work to do,” Musk tweeted on Monday.

Another potential explanation for Cuban’s drop in followers and reach: Twitter could be getting less popular.

Musk has also complained about his posts getting fewer likes and retweets than usual, and allegedly fired a software engineer for offering the explanation that “public interest in his antics is waning,” Platformer reported in February.

But Cuban’s criticism of Twitter doesn’t stop with his own account. Last week, he tweeted that the company’s new “approach to legacy checks is a huge mistake,” after Twitter removed countless blue checkmarks from previously verified accounts and gave them to subscribers only.

The act damaged the blue checks’ value by making them both less exclusive and less credible, Cuban suggested.

“There were 100 ways [Musk] could have asked legacy checks for $100,” Cuban wrote. “Egalitarianism was the worst of them all.”

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank,” which features Mark Cuban as a panelist.

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Ryan Suter had the satisfaction of beating his former team that bought out his contract two years ago.

The Stars had all kinds of reasons to cherish this victory, including a little extra rest.

Roope Hintz got Dallas going early, Oettinger stonewalled his home-state team again and the Stars eliminated the Wild 4-1 in Game 6 of their first-round NHL playoff series on Friday night.

“I think the guys knew how important it was for both of us,” Suter said, “and everyone really stepped up and competed hard for us.”

Wyatt Johnston and Mason Marchment scored in the second period when a burst by the Stars — swooping in for the finish — outshot the Wild 18-5. Max Domi had an empty netter in the final minute.

Oettinger made 22 saves for the Stars, who advanced to face the Colorado-Seattle winner. The Avalanche beat the Kraken on Friday to force Game 7.

Oettinger was bidding for his second shutout of the series before Freddy Gaudreau scored for the Wild with 7:07 left.

“He’s our brick wall back there, and we trust him. Any time we make mistakes, he’s there for us,” Marchment said. “We wouldn’t be here without him.”

Filip Gustavsson, starting a fourth consecutive game for the first time in his first season with Minnesota, stopped 23 shots in two periods. Marc-Andre Fleury, who was in net for a 7-3 loss at Dallas in Game 2, took over in the third.

The Wild fell to 5-14 on home ice in the playoffs since the last time they advanced, a first-round win over St. Louis in 2015. They are 4-13 in franchise history in postseason series.

The Stars lost in seven games in the first round to Calgary last year. With center Joe Pavelski expected back for the next round after missing the last five games with a concussion, they’re in the position to make another push for the Stanley Cup Finals they reached in the 2020 pandemic bubble.

STRONG START

The raucous crowd was buzzing early, but the fans just never got rewarded. Ryan Hartman had an open net for a rebound that rolled just out of reach for a clean shot, and Oettinger and Suter immediately covered up the crease to prevent another try. Just seconds later, Hintz went the other way to deliver a top-shelf shot that sailed over Gustavsson’s glove.

“They’re so good around the net. That was a focal point for us in the series, and I thought tonight was our best defensive game,” Oettinger said.

Hintz has five goals and leads the NHL playoffs with 12 points, helping the top line continue to thrive without Pavelski while Tyler Seguin deftly moved up to join him and Jason Robertson.

“We wouldn’t be sitting here moving on to the next round tonight without Tyler Seguin’s contributions in this series,” coach Peter DeBoer said.

The team that scored first won all six games in the series.

POWER FAILURE

The Wild finally stayed out of the penalty box, rendering a Stars power play that was 9 for 22 over the first five games a nonfactor. But the Wild might as well have declined the penalties called on the Stars because their power play — 0 for 2 in the game and 4 for 22 in the series — was again a momentum-killer instead of a momentum-builder. The crowd booed toward the end of their first 5-on-4 dud.

“Sick to my stomach about it,” Hartman said. “This city deserves better than what we gave them. The fans, they’ve shown up for us all year and we failed them.”

The Wild consistently created good looks at the net, but their passing and shooting touch was off the mark all series and ran out of steam after the first intermission. Evgenii Dadonov flipped a no-look pass from behind the net into the slot, where an uncontested Johnston scored his first goal of the series.

Soon after Mats Zuccarello’s open shot sailed over the crossbar, the Stars delivered a big blow when Marchment scored with just 0.5 seconds left before the second intermission.

BROKEN RECORD

The Wild took a 2-1 lead on St. Louis in the playoffs last year before dropping three straight games, too.

Kirill Kaprizov was the heartbeat of that series against the Blues, but the superstar left wing struggled to get going this year after a goal in Game 1. Suter and fellow blue-liner Miro Heiskanen made Kaprizov work for every inch of ice and frequently met him with punishing checks.

“For the most of the games, I thought we were the better team and we still ended up losing. That’s probably the most frustrating,” Zuccarello said. “Maybe last year I think you have a feeling you lost to a better team.”

A judge at The Hague District Court ordered the halt in an injunction brought by the mother of a child conceived with the donor’s sperm and a foundation representing other parents.

The mother, identified by the foundation only as Eva, welcomed the court’s decision.

“I hope that this ruling leads to a ban on mass donation and spreads like an oil slick to other countries. We must stand hand in hand around our children and protect them against this injustice,” she said in a statement.

The court noted that under Dutch guidelines, sperm donors are allowed to produce a maximum of 25 children with 12 mothers and that the donor lied to prospective parents about his donation history.

The donor, identified as Jonathan M. under Dutch privacy guidelines, provided sperm to several Dutch fertility clinics and to a clinic in Denmark as well as to many other people he connected with through advertisements and online forums, the court said in its written judgment.

The donor’s lawyer said in a court hearing that he wanted to help parents who would otherwise be unable to conceive.

The judge who heard the civil case said that the donor “deliberately lied about this in order to persuade the parents to take him as a donor,” the court said in a statement.

“All these parents are now confronted with the fact that the children in their family are part of a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, which they did not choose,” the court said, adding that this “has or could possibly have negative psychosocial consequences for the children. It is therefore in their interest that this kinship network is not extended any further.”

The court said in a statement that the case was about “conflicting fundamental rights. On the one hand, the right to respect for the privacy of the parents and the donor children … and on the other hand, the same right of the donor.”

The court ruled that “the interests of the donor children and their parents outweigh the interest of the donor in continuing to donate sperm to new prospective parents.”

The court ordered him immediately to halt all donations and said he must pay 100,000 euros ($110,000) per case if he breaches the ban.

Lawyer Mark de Hek called the ruling “a clear signal and, as far as I am concerned, a final warning to other mass donors.”

Ryan Donner, a real estate broker in the Pacific coast resort city of Puerto Vallarta, said the fraud was infrequent but very sophisticated.

The Jalisco cartel is better known for producing millions of doses of deadly fentanyl and smuggling them into the United States disguised to look like Xanax, Percocet or oxycodone. Such pills cause about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States.

But cartel members and associates apparently decided to branch out into scamming millions of dollars from people looking to sell their timeshares in Mexico. The scam focused on Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco state, an area dominated by the cartel, known by its initials as the CJNG. The gang inspires so much fear in Mexico it is often simply referred to as “the four letters.”

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The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, sanctioned Eduardo Pardo Espino — a fugitive from a U.S. drug trafficking charge — as well as six other people and 19 Mexican tourism or real estate companies. The sanctions freeze any assets the individuals or companies have in the United States and prohibits U.S. citizens or companies from having any transactions with them.

Brian E. Nelson, the U.S. under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said “CJNG’s deep involvement in timeshare fraud in the Puerto Vallarta area and elsewhere, which often targets elder U.S. citizens and can defraud victims of their life savings, is an important revenue stream supporting the group’s overall criminal enterprise.”

The scammers contacted people — often Americans — seeking to sell timeshares in Puerto Vallarta properties.

In a 2023 alert, the FBI said sellers were contacted via email by scammers who said they had a buyer lined up, but the seller needed to pay taxes or other fees before the deal could go through. Apparently, once the money was paid, the deals evaporated.

The FBI report said that in 2022, the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center “received over 600 complaints with losses of approximately $39.6 million from victims contacted by scammers regarding timeshares owned in Mexico.”

Donner, a broker at Ryan Donner & Associates, a real estate firm in Puerto Vallarta, said his firm had been asked for assistance by two people over the last two years who were apparently targeted by the scam.

“It’s infrequent, but yes, we have had it happen,” said Donner, who was able to steer both people away from the scam before they paid any money.

He said the scammers sent prospective sellers fake contracts and official-looking documents from the Mexican tax authority apparently saying taxes were due on the prospective sale.

“They have contracts, they have documents that appear to be official documents, it would be very easy to fall into the trap of paying them,” Donner said.

“If a company contacts someone to say that they have a buyer for a property and all they need is money, that is a huge red flag for it being some sort of scam,” Donner said. “That’s not how companies usually work.”

He said neither he nor the potential victims had realized a drug cartel might be involved.

The small overall uptick is significantly less than the 13% jump the Defense Department saw in 2021, but it’s overshadowed by the fact the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps all had more reports last year than the previous year.

Because the Army is much larger than the other three services, its 9% drop in reported sexual assaults last year drove the overall military increase down. That large decrease comes a year after Army leaders saw a nearly 26% jump in reports involving soldiers — the largest increase for that service since 2013.

The Air Force saw the largest increase in reported assaults during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, at 13%, while the Navy had a 9% jump and the Marine Corps went up by about 4%.

Overall, there were more than 8,942 reports of sexual assaults involving service members during the 2022 fiscal year, a slight increase over the 8,866 the year before.

The Pentagon and the military services have come under increasing criticism and pressure from members of Congress to reduce sexual assaults and harassment in the military. The services have long struggled to come up with programs to prevent sexual assaults and to encourage reporting, including a number of new initiatives over the past year.

Defense officials have long argued that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend because so many people are reluctant to report them, both in the military and in society as a whole. Greater reporting, they say, shows there is more confidence in the reporting system, greater comfort with the support for victims, and a growing number of offenders who are being held accountable.

Nate Galbreath, acting director of the Pentagon’s sexual assault prevention and response office, said the department is using a budget infusion of $479 million this year to hire as many as 2,400 personnel for a new “prevention workforce.” He said about 350 have already been hired and as the number grows they will be placed in military installations around the world to help commanders address some of the risk factors that lead to sexual assault.

“This is the first time in the 15 years that I’ve been working this issue for the Department of Defense that I have a fully funded and fully staffed way forward,” he told The Associated Press. “I think this is the thing that’s going to allow us to really address this. Everybody needs to hold us accountable. They need to watch this space, and we will make good on our promise to address this.”

It’s unclear whether the latest increase in reports represents a growing problem or whether those who say they were assaulted were just more willing to come forward.

While the military has made inroads in making it easier and safer for service members to come forward, it has had far less success reducing the assaults, which have increased nearly every year since 2006. And Army leaders, as an example, have acknowledged that issues such as sexual assaults, suicides and other problems have an impact on recruiting. All of the services have been struggling to meet recruiting goals.

Asked about the latest report, Heather Hagan, an Army spokeswoman, said Thursday that “while encouraging, we know the Army has much more work to do to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment.”

Army officials were alarmed as they saw the growing numbers last year and began trying to implement new programs, and by late fall they said that some changes were starting to work.

They said one change involved a training program that soldiers get when they report to their first duty station. It is rolled out right away, and it has soldiers acting out dangerous situations and emphasizes training on how to respond.

The Army officials also said they were beefing up evaluation programs that grade unit leaders, including randomly picking peers and others to do the assessments.

Galbreath said the rate of sexual assault in the military is about the same as that of the civilian population. But he acknowledged that, “everyone expects more from the military — that when they send their son or daughter off to serve their nation, we have an environment that allows dignity and respect, and everyone has a chance to serve without fear of having to experience a sexual assault.”

Galbreath also noted that in December the military will begin using independent attorneys to review and prosecute sexual assault cases, rather than unit commanders. That change was forced by members of Congress who believed that some commanders were biased or were opting not to prosecute or punish their troops, and as a result victims were reluctant to come forward.

According to the Pentagon report, the number of Air Force sexual assault reports increased from 1,701 in 2021 to 1,928 last year, while the Navy went from 1,883 to 2,052, the Marine Corps went from 1,201 to 1,244 and the Army decreased from 4,081 to 3,718.

The Pentagon releases a report every year on the number of sexual assaults reported by or about troops. But because sexual assault is a highly underreported crime, the department also does a confidential survey every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem. The most recent survey was released last year, so it won’t come out again until next year.

Rates of the disease have soared in recent decades, spurred by the complex interaction of genes that make people more likely to store food as fat, a food system that provides easy and cheap access to processed treats explicitly designed to be overconsumed, and social settings that limit access to healthy options and exercise for many people.

Obesity is linked to scores of health problems that can lead to disability or even death, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and joint problems.

Researchers have long looked for medications that can help people lose weight, mostly with disappointing and, in some cases, dangerous results. In recent years, however, drugs designed to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels have had the added effect of paring pounds.

Ozempic, a Novo Nordisk drug approved to treat diabetes in 2017, skyrocketed in use after celebrities and ordinary people on TikTok reported that their doctors prescribed it “off label” for weight loss. Wegovy, a higher dose version of the same medication, called semaglutide, was approved for weight loss for adults in 2021 and for children aged 12 and older late last year.

Now, a new drug made by Eli Lilly and Co., called tirzepatide, is poised to become the most potent obesity drug on the market, promising users losses of more than 30 to 50 pounds over time. Already approved under the brand name Mounjaro to treat type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide is being considered for fast-track approval as a weight-loss drug based on the results of key trials, with the latest announced on Thursday.

The new study found that patients with diabetes — who find it notoriously difficult to lose weight — could shed about 16% of their body weight, or more than 34 pounds using tirzepatide. An earlier study found that people without diabetes lost up to 22% of their body weight, or more than 50 pounds on the highest dose of the drug.

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The drugs that have drawn the most attention have been a class of medications that activate a hormone known as GLP-1. They include Ozempic and Wegovy, which are two versions of the same medication, semaglutide.

Tirzepatide targets GLP-1, but also affects a second hormone, called GIP, which developers say contributes to its increased effectiveness. Mounjaro was approved to treat diabetes in May 2022.

The drugs are delivered through once-weekly injections. Users are advised to follow a healthful, reduced-calorie diet and to exercise regularly while using the drugs.

How Do Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro Work?

The drugs work by mimicking the actions of hormones, found primarily in the gut, that kick in after people eat. The hormones help regulate blood sugar by triggering the pancreas to release insulin, another hormone, and slowing the release of sugar from the liver. People who are overweight or have obesity can become insulin-resistant, which means the body doesn’t respond to insulin properly.

The obesity drugs lower blood sugar and slow down digestion, so people feel full longer. They also affect signals in the brain linked to feelings of fullness and satisfaction, tamping down appetite, food-related thoughts and cravings.

Because people feel full longer, they eat less and lose weight.

How Effective Are the Drugs?

In a trial, adults who took Wegovy saw a weight loss of nearly 35 pounds, or about 15% of their body weight. Adolescents lost about 16% of their body weight.

The latest study of tirzepatide studied the drug in more than 900 patients with diabetes who were overweight or had obesity over nearly 17 months. It showed weight loss of up to 16% of body weight, more than 34 pounds, when using the highest dose of the drug. Patients who received placebo, or dummy injections, lost about 3% of their body weight, or 7 pounds.

An earlier trial of tirzepatide showed weight loss of between about 15% and about 22% of body weight, or about 35 pounds to about 52 pounds, depending on the dose.

The drugs appear effective for chronic weight management over many months. In addition to weight loss, they also reduce health problems associated with obesity, such as high blood sugar and markers of heart and metabolic disease.

However, it appears that if people taking the drugs stop, they regain the weight they lost — and the health problems that came with it.

Why Not Just Diet and Exercise?

In a typical weight-loss program where participants rely only on diet and exercise, research shows only about a third of people will lose 5% or more of their body weight, said Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Many people find it difficult to lose weight because of the body’s biological reactions to eating less, he said. There are several hormones that respond to reduced calorie intake by ramping up hunger to maintain body mass.

What Are the Side Effects of the Drugs?

The most common side effects are short-lived gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and stomach pain. Other possible effects include serious issues such as inflammation of the pancreas, kidney, gallbladder and eye problems. People with a history of certain thyroid cancers or a rare, genetic endocrine disorder should avoid the drugs, because it is not clear if tirzepatide causes thyroid problems, including cancer.

How Much Do These Drugs Cost?

The new anti-obesity medications are expensive. Wegovy costs about $1,300 a month and Mounjaro starts at about $1,000 a month. People with private insurance may be able to receive the drugs with only a small co-payment. However, many insurers don’t pay for the medications or they have restrictions regarding coverage. Medicare doesn’t cover most weight-loss drugs. Medicaid and the military insurer Tricare may cover them in some cases with prior approval.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Friday marked what would have been Ja’Shawn Poirier’s 17^th birthday. Poirier was killed on March 20 after he was shot outside Lamar High School before classes started.

“It doesn’t feel right. It’s off. He’s missing when he’s supposed to be here,” his mother Rashone Jacob said Friday.

According to Arlington Police, Poirier was sitting on the steps at Lamar High School when another student walked up and pulled out a shotgun before shooting. The 15-year-old suspect was detained and taken into custody.

Poirier’s older sister Nautica Jacob dropped him off at school that morning. Jacob recalled getting home about 10 minutes later before she got the call that he had been shot.

“It’s been very hard for me. I have not been able to sleep,” she said. “I never really knew how other people’s pain felt when it happened to them until it happened to me. Like, now I actually understand their pain and how they feel. Now I can relate.”

Lamar High School principal Andy Hagman recalled rushing to the teen.

“When you hear that shots were fired on the east side of the school, it’s stunning. But you quickly move into action. From there, it was just a race,” Hagman recalled. “To see one of your kids in what was very clearly a life or death situation was just unreal, but you just fall into action.”

Part of the ceremony Friday included a balloon release for Poirier. The crowd wished him a happy birthday as green balloons filled the sky.

Kim Cardwell, the mother of a Lamar High School senior, did not know Poirier’s family prior to the March 20 shooting. Cardwell held onto her son Dalton during the ceremony and said she felt the need to attend to show support as a parent.

“Could have been any one of us,” Cardwell said. “Such sadness for her [Jacob] That she won’t have her son anymore.”

A motive for the shooting has not been released.

Families believe changes in the law can save lives, but there’s only a month left to get it done. The Legislative session ends on Memorial Day.

Many North Texans have been involved in the progress some bills are making in the Capitol, including Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo.

“I have never come to the Capitol, to testify on anything,” he said in front of lawmakers during a House committee hearing on Tuesday.

But Arredondo says he’s doing it for the future of his city.

“We’re fighting the good fight,” he told NBC 5 on Friday.

He spoke this week in support of House Bill 1581, which would increase felony offenses for drug dealers tied to overdoses or deaths. The bill’s next step is to move off to the House floor.

“I know they get it and they understand the struggles and our plight. I felt very good coming away from that committee meeting that they were going to act in our favor,” said Arredondo.

Carrollton has seen nearly a dozen overdoses and three deaths among school children in a matter of months earlier this year.

“What’s frustrating about it is people know what it does. But the addiction to the opioid is so strong that they can’t fight it, as they should,” he said.

Arredondo says this bill and ones like it can’t pass soon enough.

“We’re depending on them to give us the resources we need so that we can rid our great communities of this poison,” he said. “We need to have stronger laws that will help us prosecute these manufacturers and dealers that are supplying our kids with this.”

Debbie Petersen of Carrollton also testified with the chief this week, sharing the loss of her adult son Matt last year.

“He stopped breathing within one minute and all of his dreams were crushed,” she said. “I am hoping that Austin will step up and be the voice of my child, Matt Harvey, as well as the hundreds and thousands that have died due to fentanyl.”

With just weeks to go before the session ends, time is running out to address numerous fentanyl bills in Austin.

“We’re in crunch time right now. We’re needing bills to get through the House as well as the Senate on harm reduction and as well as prevention and education,” said Stefanie Turner, founder of Texas Against Fentanyl.

Turner lost her 19-year-old son, Tucker Roe, to an illicit Percocet pill that was bought from a peer on social media. After his passing, she immediately began sharing Tucker’s story to help prevent others from suffering the deadly effects of this dangerous drug that is devastating our communities.

She has also been busy this session connecting with other mothers and lawmakers, following the progress of the bills that can alter the fentanyl crisis. She’s pushing for a bill that would require fentanyl education in schools.

“My son, the first time that he used, he did not know what fentanyl was and neither did I,” said Turner.

Another bill, House Bill 6, calls for prosecuting fentanyl deaths as murder. Both the education bills and HB6 are making progress in the House and Senate.

But a key senate bill calling to legalize fentanyl detecting test strips is stalling. It led to protesters taking over parts of the Capitol on Thursday, demanding more action before the session ends in a month.

“I don’t feel that it’s happening fast enough,” said Turner. “We know fentanyl was a priority item and we’re still not making much headway through the Senate yet. So we need those bills to get on through.”

Montana is one of at least 15 states with laws to ban such care despite protests from the families of transgender youth that the care is essential.

Debate over Montana’s bill drew national attention after Republicans punished Zephyr for her remarks, saying her words were personally offensive. House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let Zephyr speak on the House floor until she apologized. She has not.

Zephyr decried the bill’s signing, saying “it is unconscionable to deprive Montanans of the care that we need.”

“I know that this is an unconstitutional bill. It is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. And it will go down in the courts,” Zephyr said. To trans youth she added: “There’s an understandable inclination towards despair in these moments, but know that we are going to win and until then, lean on community, because we will have one another’s backs.”

On Monday, Zephyr had stood defiantly on the House floor with her microphone raised as protesters shouted “Let her speak,” disrupting House proceedings for at least 30 minutes. Zephyr was then banned from the House and its gallery and voted on bills from a bench in the hallway outside the House on Thursday and Friday.

Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana have said they would file a court challenge against the ban, which is set to take effect on Oct. 1, starting a five-month clock in which Montana youth can try to find a way to work around the ban or to transition off of hormone treatment.

“This bill is an overly broad blanket ban that takes decisions that should be made by families and physicians and puts them in the hands of politicians,” the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has said.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signaled his willingness to sign the bill on April 17 when he offered some amendments to make it clear that public funds could not be used to pay for hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones or surgical procedures.

The bill “protects Montana children from permanent, life-altering medical procedures until they are adults, mature enough to make such serious decisions,” Gianforte wrote in his letter accompanying the amendments.

Debate over the amendments led Zephyr to admonish supporters the following day. House Majority Leader Sue Vinton said Zephyr’s language was “entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for.”

The Montana Freedom Caucus deliberately misgendered Zephyr, using male pronouns in a letter saying she should be censured. After Monday’s protest, the caucus said she should be further disciplined.

Under the new law, health professionals who provide care banned by the measure could have their medical licenses suspended for at least a year. They could also be sued in the 25 years following a banned procedure if a patient suffers physical, psychological, emotional or physiological harm. Physicians could not hold malpractice insurance against such lawsuits. The law also prohibits public property and employees from being involved in gender-affirming treatment.

During hours of emotional committee hearings, opponents testified that hormone treatments, and in some cases, surgery, are evidence-based care, supported by numerous medical associations and can be life-saving for someone with gender dysphoria — the clinically significant distress or impairment caused by feeling that one’s gender identity does not match one’s biological sex.

Parents of transgender children testified that the bill infringed on their parental rights to seek medical care for their children.

Opponents also noted that treatments such as puberty-blockers and breast-reduction surgery would still be legal for minors who are not suffering from gender dysphoria, a difference they argue is unconstitutional.

In the letter to legislative leaders accompanying his proposed amendments, Gianforte said he met with transgender residents, understands that their struggles are real and said Montanans who struggle with gender identity deserve love, compassion and respect.

“That’s not what trans Montanans need from you,” Zephyr said as the House considered his amendments. “We need access to the medical care that saves our lives.”

This was the second legislative session in which Sen. John Fuller brought the bill to ban gender-affirming care for transgender children. In 2021, when he was a member of the House, he brought a bill to ban surgical and hormone treatments for transgender children, which was voted down. He brought a second bill to ban surgical treatments which was also rejected. He was successful in 2021 in passing a bill to ban transgender females from participating in girls and women’s sports. The part of the bill that applied to colleges was ruled unconstitutional.

The suspension of air operations was effective immediately, with units grounded until they complete the training, said Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, an Army spokesperson. For active-duty units, the training is to take place between May 1 and 5. Army National Guard and Reserve units will have until May 31 to complete the training.

“The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training,” the Army said in a statement.

On Thursday, two Army helicopters collided near Healy, Alaska, killing three soldiers and injuring a fourth. The aircraft from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, near Fairbanks, were returning from training at the time of the crash, according to the Army. The unit is part of the 11th Airborne Division, which is nicknamed the “Arctic Angels.”

Military investigators were making their way to Alaska’s interior, with a team from Fort Novosel, Alabama, expected to arrive at the crash site by Saturday, said John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska. Little new information about the crash was released Friday.

The Army on Thursday said two of the soldiers died at the site and the third on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. The injured fourth soldier was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition Friday, Pennell said. The names of those who were killed were not immediately released.

“The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel,” Army Chief of Staff James McConville said of the decision to ground flight units for training.

The crash is the second accident involving military helicopters in Alaska this year.

In February, two soldiers were injured when an Apache helicopter rolled after taking off from Talkeetna. The aircraft was one of four traveling to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage from Fort Wainwright.

In March, nine soldiers were killed when two U.S. Army Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed during a routine nighttime training exercise about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The Army said that while Thursday’s crash and the one in Kentucky remain under investigation, “there is no indication of any pattern between the two mishaps.”

Healy is home to about 1,000 people roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Denali National Park and Preserve, or about 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of Anchorage.

Located on the Parks Highway, the community is a popular place for people to spend the night while visiting Denali Park, which is home to the continent’s tallest mountain.

Healy is also famous for being the town closest to the former bus that had been abandoned in the backcountry and was popularized by the book “Into the Wild” and the movie of the same name. The bus was removed and taken to Fairbanks in 2020.

Evan Ray Nielsen had been walking through a grove of juniper trees in Diamond Fork Canyon during the early afternoon on April 27 when a cougar jumped at him, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources spokesman Scott Root told NBC’s local affiliate KSL.com.

Nielsen then threw a rock at the cougar, scaring it away. He hiked down the canyon and drove away. He was later treated at Spanish Fork Hospital for lacerations on his arm and head, Root said.

Nielsen later told reporters the mountain lion “blindsided” him from his left side, saying he saw it out of the corner of his eye.

“I put my arm up, but that’s where the claws got me on this side,” he said. “And I just went down the hill down there, quite a way because it’s pretty steep. And I just rolled up like that and out of the corner of my eye I saw it going around. I just hit it with a rock and it took off.”  

Utah wildlife conservation officers deployed K-9 units to search for the cougar. They found Nielsen’s cell phone and cougar tracks on a ridge line above where the phone was recovered, Root said.

The search was called off Friday, with signs placed in the Diamond Fork area saying a mountain lion had been seen in the area.

“I don’t know what happened to it, but it never really attacked me,” Nielsen said. “It didn’t act like it was going to bite me or do anything like that or anything. Nothing. I’m sure glad.”

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Top officials confirm the new approach to service in the far southeast Dallas County community of Sand Branch.

Bottled water always sits close to residents there.

“When the church and other people come around they bring water and we use this for drinking water,” resident Norma Ghant said.

In the 17 years she said she has lived there it was never safe to drink water from wells that became contaminated decades ago.

Resident Johnny Chambers said he has lived in Sand Branch since 1988 and heard many past conversations about adding utilities that residents with very low incomes could not afford to install themselves.

“There’s been so many times, everybody be coming here talking, talking, nothing was ever done,” Chambers said.

A former Freedman’s Town community, Sand Branch was a refuge for former slaves. It once had hundreds of families.

Chambers said he stayed as others left.

“I got to where I’m older, there ain’t too much I can do anymore and I just enjoy being here with my friends,” Chambers said.

When groundwater contamination was confirmed in the early 1980s, long before his time in office, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said buyouts were offered, but they fell short of what most families needed for new homes.

“Most homeowners ended up with an average of $350 to go find a place to live,” Jenkins said.

The county judge recently volunteered to deliver bottled water in Sand Branch. Jenkins said he visited the community Saturday with the regional Environmental Protection Agency administrator to help draft a new plan for the state and federal money necessary for utility lines.

“There’s a renewed interest in getting something done and getting it done quickly,” Jenkins said. “We’re all working together to see what those next steps are. The money will come from a variety of sources.”

Jenkins said connections could come from the Dallas Water Utilities Plant that’s right beside Sand Branch. But the community is in an unincorporated area with no city to receive the funds and oversee the work.

A special utility corporation may need to be created to accomplish the task.

Jenkins said the estimated cost of $6 million years ago is likely more than double that much today.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas, District 30), who took office in January, now represents the community.

“It’s a situation that the majority of us wouldn’t even contemplate, not in today’s time,” Crockett said.

She confirmed Friday that she has been working with Jenkins and other officials on funding and solutions.

“This area actually qualifies as rural and actually there may be some more opportunities to help out this project for funding through USDA as well,” Crockett said. “If it’s something that somebody can lay out in a very clear plan then it’s my job to look at it.”

Affordable housing developer Derek Avery said he has been involved in the talks. He said utility service could support new homes in Sand Branch.

Ghant said she believes all the people involved now will make a difference in running water for Sand Branch.

“I got faith and I think it’s going to happen,” she said.

Johnny Chambers said it would be a welcome improvement.

“I would like it,” he said.

Jenkins said a community meeting on the project is scheduled for May 20 in Sand Branch.