Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is offering to assist two ongoing state investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, marking his first official involvement in the matter since leaving office in 2022, he exclusively tells Scripps News.

Balderas, who launched New Mexicos investigation into Epstein in 2019, says federal authorities effectively shut his office out after he began pursuing evidence related to allegations connected to Epsteins Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, owned the sprawling Zorro Ranch near Stanley, New Mexico, where multiple women have alleged they were abused as young girls and women.

RELATED STORY | 'Forced to be with us': Blanche meets with Epstein survivors but women say he showed no sympathy

In letters sent Monday evening, Balderas reached out to current New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and the chairwoman of the states Truth Commission, the state legislatures committee examining how state and local officials handled matters related to Epsteins property and activities in New Mexico.

Balderas decision to publicly offer assistance adds a new dimension to the states ongoing efforts to determine whether additional records could shed light on Epsteins activities in New Mexico and the extent of communication between state and federal authorities during the investigation.

The former attorney general provided a detailed timeline of his offices investigation, including communications with attorney Brad Edwards, who represents numerous Epstein survivors. According to Balderas, Edwards connected his office with two alleged victims for interviews.

RELATED STORY | Lawmakers cast doubt on Kathryn Ruemmler's testimony about Epstein ties

Balderas said his office was only able to interview one survivor on July 2, 2019, before federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York intervened.

Based on the statements we obtained from [victim], we began to formulate a charging theory of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree against Jeffrey Epstein, Balderas wrote in his correspondence.

The letter to the attorney general also includes a handwritten note from federal authorities indicating they would share information with Balderas team. Scripps News reporting found the Department of Justice ignored Balderas team as it continually reached out to assist in the investigation. The SDNY never shared information with Balderas team.

We put survivors first by backing the DOJs human trafficking prosecution, trusting them to honor their word to share records once their case closed, Balderas told Scripps News in an exclusive statement. Instead, they went dark. It is deeply frustrating to see federal officials obstruct the New Mexico Attorney General by withholding the very evidence he needs to fight for justice.

The revelations come as New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez continues his efforts to obtain federal records related to Epstein. Torrez, who reopened the state investigation, has repeatedly requested documents from the Department of Justice.

Last week, Torrez threatened legal action if the DOJ does not comply with requests for specific unredacted files.

The Department of Defense identified the soldier killed on Sunday in northern Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian attack drone.

The U.S. Defense Department said 30-year-old Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in action on July 19 at the Erbil Air Base in Iraq.

The incident is under investigation, according to the department.

Read the full U.S. Defense Department statement here.

The U.S. military on Tuesday identified the soldier who died in Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of an Iranian drone.

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed on July 19 while serving at Erbil Air Base. Swinton is one of at least three U.S. soldiers killed in the last week.

RELATED STORY | State Department issues warning for Americans traveling or living abroad as Iran conflict escalates

President Donald Trump issued an ominous warning to Iran in response to the U.S. casualties.

"Every time Iran kills an American Soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over!" Trump said. "This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military."

RELATED STORY | Why has the US restarted strikes against Iran now?

Trump had been expected to attend a dignified transfer service Tuesday night at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The White House has since announced that event will be moved to another date, likely later this week.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is facing mounting questions about whether it's being transparent about the number of troops injured in the conflict. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell revealed on Monday that nearly 100 service members sustained some degree of injury since July 7.

Parnell said 96% have returned to duty, with the vast majority experiencing minor concussions.

Tampa International Airport will privatize most Transportation Security Administration operations, just months after President Donald Trump unveiled a 2027 budget proposal that called for handing more airport security over to private companies.

In a statement to Tampa Bay 28 TPA said it opted in to the program:

"TPA has opted in to the TSA Gold+ program, which is the TSAs new public-private partnership screening program. The TSA will continue to have regulatory oversight of TPAs screening operations, just as it does now, but with a private workforce instead of a federal workforce conducting screening.

TPAs decision to join TSA Gold+ reflects the Airports strong commitment to modernization, innovation, and operational resilience in aviation security. The change to privatization not only reduces disruption risks caused by lapses in federal appropriations or government shutdowns but also allows greater flexibility in exploring new screening checkpoint infrastructure and technology to enhance the customer experience."

The news was first reported by aviation newsletter Gate Access.

The change is targeted for May 31, 2027, a TSA employee in Tampa said they were told during a town hall Monday led by Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator. Many now face the difficult choice of applying to work at the private contractor, finding other government jobs, transferring to another airport, resigning or taking retirement earlier than they might have planned.

Some employees were sad, some were crying and others were visibly upset, the staffer said, noting that workers were told in May that the airport had put in an application for the TSA Gold+ program. Others put in their retirement paperwork right away.

TSA officers in Tampa will get the first right of refusal for jobs when a private security vendor is selected, the employee was told.

The latest White House budget proposal, released in April, would require small airports to enroll in TSAs Screening Partnership Program, under which TSA pays for private screeners. The administration says the move would save $52 million and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency.

The Gold+ program expands upon an existing program that has been used by a handful of airports featuring privatized screening by also allowing them to manage the screening technology.

There are 20 airports in the United States that have private companies operating the security checkpoints supervised by the TSA under the Screening Partnership Program. San Francisco International, Kansas City International, Orlando Sanford and 17 smaller airports participate.

Privatizing TSA airport screening became a talking point among lawmakers and the president over the last year after government shutdowns disrupted air travel. When TSA employees werent being paid some didnt come to work, leaving some travelers stuck in hours-long lines at airports.

Privatization has been a major concern for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 47,000 TSA officers nationwide. The union expected the White House would propose such a move, which was outlined in Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations conservative blueprint for the second Trump term, an AFGE spokesperson told CNN earlier this year.

AFGE union leaders said in a March news conference that the administration was trying to use the chaos that erupted at airports during the shutdown to show that TSA is in mission failure.

Its very important that people understand what privatization is, Johnny Jones, secretary treasurer for AFGE TSA Council 100, said at the news conference. It has nothing to do with your security or your safety. It has everything to do with somebody making a profit.

CNN has reached out to TSA for more information.

Arizona Republicans are choosing nominees Tuesday to challenge Democrats who hold top offices as the GOP searches for a path back to power in a battleground state it used to dominate.

U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, who represent neighboring districts in metro Phoenix, offer a clash of styles in the race to take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, considered the most endangered Democratic governor in the country this election cycle.

With President Donald Trump's endorsement and support from the grassroots turnout machine of the conservative group Turning Point Action, Biggs says he can unite the party going into a general election.

Schweikert says his low key, pro-business, fiscal conservatism can win back voters turned off by a string of Trump loyalists like Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor four years ago.

Both parties have hotly contested primaries to replace Schweikert in the highly competitive 1st Congressional District.

RELATED STORY | Lindsey Grahams sister Darlene encouraged by Trump to seek full Senate term

Republicans also are picking nominees for secretary of state and attorney general, key posts with power over elections in a state that was pivotal for Trump's efforts to overturn his loss in 2020.

Biggs and Schweikert responded differently to Trump's GOP takeover

Biggs built a national profile as chair of the House Freedom Caucus from 2019 to 2022 and as a staunch defender of Trump. He assisted the presidents attempt to block the certification of his loss in the 2020 election, voting against accepting Electoral College votes from Arizona and other battleground states after the Jan. 6 riot.

He has always represented safe Republican seats and is a veteran of factional brawls within the GOP. Before going to Congress, he nearly lost his post as state Senate president during a confrontation with then-Gov. Jan Brewer, also a Republican, over her push to expand Medicaid.

Schweikert has walked a tightrope with Trump, carefully keeping his distance without antagonizing him. That has helped him win a string of tough races in a competitive House district a track record he says will help him win over swing voters and beat Hobbs but has left him isolated from Trump's Make America Great Again base.

Democrats have focused their attacks on Biggs, whom they plan to portray as an extremist focused on helping Trump and not Arizonans.

Primaries will set the field for a top House battleground

Schweikerts 1st District is a top battleground in the fight for a congressional majority. Anchored in Scottsdale, it is home to many of the white, highly educated and affluent voters who have soured on the GOP under Trump.

RELATED STORY | Judge blocks Trump order creating federal voter list, limiting mail-in ballots

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee controversially threw its support behind Marlene Galn-Woods, a former television news anchor who used to be a Republican. Her late husband, Grant Woods, was the Republican attorney general in the 1990s and later became a vocal Trump critic.

Galn-Woods chief opponent, Amish Shah, is an emergency medicine doctor and former state legislator who was the nominee in 2024 but lost narrowly to Schweikert.

On the Republican side, former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feeley has Trumps endorsement. But he has been dogged by criticism for living outside the district he resides in Biggs district and originally was running there until Trump endorsed a rival in that contest.

Feeley faces Joseph Chaplik, a former state legislator popular with many of the GOPs grassroots activists, and businessperson John Trobough.

In Tucson, retired Marine drill instructor JoAnna Mendoza is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to challenge second-term Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who also has no primary opponent. The seat is perennially competitive in general elections and is a top pickup target for Democrats in November.

Meanwhile, the GOP primary for the safe Republican seat Biggs is vacating has turned salacious: Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is endorsed by Trump, came under scrutiny for alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

The county attorney cleared him of criminal wrongdoing, and Trump reiterated his endorsement this month. Lamb dismissed the allegations as slander and lies.

He faces Daniel Keenan, who owns a construction company.

Are you still waiting for a friend to pay for their share of a girls' weekend or boys' golf outing? That feeling of frustration is more familiar than you might think. 

From airfare to bar tabs, someone usually ends up fronting the money for group trips or other shared expenses. The problem? Trying to get friends to actually pay you back. 

RELATED STORY | Flight canceled? Here's what you're owed and what you might still have to pay

A new Zelle report found that 76% of Gen Z consumers who covered a group expense were never fully repaid. Nearly half, 47%, say they've gone into debt because of it. 

"You're waiting for that money back -- that then delays your own financial responsibilities and goals, like paying your bills for instance," said Dr. Traci Williams, a board-certified psychologist and certified financial therapist.

Hurting finances and friendships

Williams explained that delayed payments don't just hurt your bank account. They can also damage relationships. 

"If you're not repaid, you can then develop feelings towards your friends, like resentment or anger, and that can impact the relationship," Williams said. 

Ways to avoid unpaid IOUs

Before volunteering to cover a group expense, Williams said it's important to set expectations up front. Make sure everyone in the group is aware of how much they owe, how to send payment, and the payment deadline. 

"If you're clear about the deadlines that you're expecting as well as how much each person is responsible for and you get a verbal agreement from everybody, I think that can make it a little smoother," Williams said. 

If a friend or family member still owes you money, be direct about why repayment matters and set a deadline. 

"Set a date versus leaving it open-ended," Williams added. "That may be the end of the week. And then you can explain why it's really important to you." 

RELATED STORY | Air travel is becoming more luxurious for some, more miserable for others

On the flip side, Williams pointed out it's important to know what you can realistically afford before agreeing to pay someone back. 

"Stop and think first about the true cost of attending something, even though you really want to go," she said. 

Digital payment apps like Zelle and Venmo can make splitting costs easier, as long as everyone follows through. 

Zelle also found that about 20% of young people have canceled plans, or even muted and ignored group chats, to avoid paying someone back. 

Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the northeastern Gulf and is expected to hit portions of the Gulf Coast from Florida to Louisiana, and possibly as far west as Texas.

Heavy rain, coastal flooding and tropical storm-force winds are all possible through the week in its path.

The second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season had winds of 50 mph as of Tuesday morning and additional strengthening is possible.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for areas of the Gulf Coast from the Alabama/Florida border to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the coast of the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida westward to the Florida/Alabama border, west of the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border to Morgan City, Louisiana, and metropolitan New Orleans. In these locations, tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 24 to 48 hours. Additional watches could be issued farther west along the Louisiana and Texas coast in the next day or two.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Tropical Storm Arthur, first of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, makes landfall

Atlantic hurricane season has gotten off to a slow start compared to recent years as El Nio tightens its grip on parts of the basin.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a lower-than-average number of named systems in the Atlantic this season because of it.

Storm track, intensity

Bertha will most likely track along or make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast near southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi by Wednesday.

This would prevent it from intensifying much because tropical systems weaken over land. It would also face an increasing amount of storm-killing wind shear, which is the change in speed or direction of winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere.

Those unfavorable factors could even cause the system to dissipate over Louisiana, but the latest forecast calls for it to reach the Upper Texas Coast as a tropical depression by late week.

Impacts expected on Gulf Coast

Regardless of the systems fate, heavy rainfall, gusty winds and some coastal flooding will impact the northern Gulf Coast through at least midweek.

Heres what to expect:

Rainfall: Widespread totals of 2 to 4 inches, with up to 8 inches in the strongest thunderstorms, are possible from the western Florida Panhandle to southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and possibly the Texas coast. This could trigger flash flooding, especially in urban areas like New Orleans.

Wind: Tropical storm conditions sustained winds of 39+ mph are possible in the tropical storm watch area of the Florida Panhandle Monday night into Tuesday. Locations farther west in a tropical storm watch could see those conditions late Tuesday night into Wednesday. Higher gusts in thunderstorms could cause isolated power outages.

Storm surge: Water levels could rise 2 to 4 feet above normal from the mouth of the Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border. A storm surge watch is in effect for this area, which means life-threatening inundation of ocean water is possible in the next 48 hours.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have just a handful of legislative days left before their August recess to advance spending bills, nominations, or any other political priorities.

President Donald Trump on Monday again pushed lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act, which would reform U.S. elections by requiring Americans to provide ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register to vote.

"We need Voter Photo ID (Identification!), Proof of Citizenship and, hopefully, No Corrupt Mail In Ballots (except for illness, disability, Military, or travel)," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I am asking all House Republicans to VOTE YES this week on the Budget Resolution, which is an important first step towards getting a Budget Bill. House Republicans must UNIFY, and fight for THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!"

RELATED STORY | What's in the voting bill that Republicans are pushing to the Senate floor

Only Republican lawmakers have voiced support for the bill. No Democrats have been willing to cross the aisle not even moderates like Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.

"Until I see evidence that over a quarter of a million migrants are registered to vote, then yeah that would make me reconsider some of these things," Fetterman said over the weekend. "But there's no evidence and I don't expect that we'll see any of that."

"I don't know why the president is dragging up all this stuff," he added. "You're the president. Do something positive. And you're talking about 2020 that's been settled over six years ago."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump cancels housing affordability bill signing, urges Congress to pass election measure

The SAVE America Act could potentially pass in the House, but it does not currently have enough support to make it through the Senate. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has raised concerns about it curbing mail-in voting, particularly in her state of Maine.

Therefor, it appears unlikely the SAVE America Act will gain congressional approval this week. When lawmakers return in September, passing government funding bills to prevent a government shutdown will likely be the top priority. That timeline leaves little room to get the SAVE America Act across the finish line before the midterm elections.

President Donald Trump is insisting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested if he visits the U.S., pushing back on threats from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Netanyahu won't be arrested "in any way, shape, or form" if he travels to Manhattan for a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.

"[Netanyahu] is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others," Trump wrote. "The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, something that should have been dealt with years ago, by previous Presidents!"

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Mamdani says hes still looking into arresting Netanyahu if Israeli leader visits New York

Over the weekend, Mamdani said on a podcast that his administration's legal department is looking into the possible arrest of Netanyahu, something he vowed to pursue while he was campaigning. Mamdani has been a fierce critic of the Israeli government and referred to the country's war in Gaza as a "genocide" something Israel has denied.

"I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," Mamdani said. "He's a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years."

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, alleging war crimes during Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Both Trump and former President Joe Biden have denounced the warrant. The U.S. has also not ratified the Rome Statute, which requires countries to arrest individuals who have ICC warrants against them.

President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products.

The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump's return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump's previous tariffs and must be held accountable.

RELATED NEWS | Federal court rules against new global tariffs Trump imposed after loss at the Supreme Court

The official insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to preview the president's actions and said that Trump signed three proclamations to launch the tariffs under Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act. Several Democratic lawmakers last year proposed repealing the section because they said Trump could use it to destabilize the economy.

The 50% tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That 2020 trade pact recently expired and triggered a new set of negotiations that could run until 2036.

The official said that Trump had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada because its wildfires hurt air quality in the U.S.

President Donald Trump has ordered additional strikes on Iran, the military announced Monday, marking the 10th consecutive night of U.S. attacks in a push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a critical waterway that typically sees about 20% of the world's oil pass through it.

"Today at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began a new round of strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction," U.S. Central Command said in a statement. "The strikes are designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

RELATED STORY | Why has the US restarted strikes against Iran now?

The new strikes follow a weekend in which 3 U.S. service members were killed in the region one in northern Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone, and two others at a U.S. base in Jordan hit by Iranian drone and missile strikes. One other service member remains missing, though the military said "unidentified remains" were found Sunday and were being evaluated.

Seventeen U.S. service members have died since the war began in late February.

The ongoing escalation has ultimately voided a memorandum of understanding agreed to by both countries to bring an end to the war. The U.S. military has said the strikes are intended to degrade Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Although Iran's military has been weakened by the strikes, it has continued to maintain control of the strait.

Five people have died on a river in Ohio after several of them went into the water to help another person who was struggling to swim, authorities said Monday.

A motorist called 911 after spotting a frightened child who had been with the group and was running on a nearby road, Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference Monday.

Two children under age 10 have been placed in the care of family services, the sheriff said, including the child who ran for help.

The group had gathered Sunday along the Scioto River in the Columbus suburb of Powell when one of them went into the river to go swimming. And thats when the tragedy started to occur, Balzer said, as the others who jumped in to help also began struggling.

Rescue crews searching the water on Sunday found two women, who were pronounced dead at a hospital, Balzer said. The bodies of three men were found in the river on Monday, said Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriffs Department.

Sen. Darline Graham announced that she will run for her late brothers seat this November, after being appointed last week to serve out the rest of Lindsey Grahams term.

Ive made a decision. Im in, she said in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

Graham acknowledged the tremendous amount of pressure shes felt to make up her mind quickly, with a filing deadline looming and President Donald Trump posting on Truth Social that he would like her to run for the seat.

RELATED STORY | Lindsey Graham, influential GOP senator and Trump confidant, dies at age 71

Ive been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff I know Im a hard worker, I learned that from Lindsey, she added. He cared about the people of this state. Ive worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state. I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes, absolutely.

Graham is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. She was appointed to the seat by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to serve until January 2027. A special primary election will take place August 11 to determine who will next hold the seat for the upcoming six-year term.

Multiple influential South Carolina Republicans told CNN the initial reports last week that Darline Graham planned to seek a full Senate term came as a surprise, as it was understood by them she would only complete the remainder of Lindsey Grahams term.

A source with knowledge of the matter said that at the time McMaster appointed her to serve the remainder of her late brothers current term, he was not under the impression Darline Graham would run as a candidate in the special primary election for a full term.

RELATED STORY | Sen. Lindsey Graham's death leaves a void in the Senate

Graham, 62, has not previously held elected office. After she and Lindsey Grahams parents died within 15 months of each other, she became orphaned at age 13 in 1976. Lindsey Graham the first in his family to attend college, and a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps became his sisters legal guardian.

Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican from South Carolina and ally of President Donald Trump, died following an aortic dissection, according to a preliminary finding from the Washington, DC, medical examiner. He was 71.

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America's national parks are facing a steep repair bill of roughly $24 billion. This includes costs for aging roads, trails and bridges and in many cases, these repairs have been delayed for years.

This has raised concerns about safety and access during the busy summer travel season, and senior officer of the U.S. Conservation at the Pew Charitable Trust Rebekah Knuffe says infrastructure repair needs impacts not only the national parks but other public lands such as the Bureau of Land Management.

In 2020, the president signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act which was focused on addressing billions in deferred maintenance. It also guarantees permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support public access and outdoor recreation.

RELATED STORY | Judge orders Trump administration to restore censored National Park exhibits

This established for five years a bill that funded $1.9 billion a year roughly from energy development revenues to federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service, to clear maintenance backlogs.

While they've repaired over 3,800 assets across all public lands, legacy restoration funding and contributed to thousands of jobs, there are things that have not been fixed.

Knuffe added that families who are traveling this summer to national parks may notice that parking lots or bathrooms may be under repair.

Although the initial five-year fund has since expired, lawmakers have introduced bipartisan efforts to extend the fund and increase its annual capacity to tackle the backlog.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds is calling for three statewide debates with Democrat David Jolly ahead of Floridas general election campaign.

Donalds announced this debate challenge Monday, saying the events should focus on issues affecting Floridians, including affordability, property insurance, education, public safety, immigration, economic growth and the role of government.

According to the Donalds campaign, television, radio and streaming outlets across Florida have been formally invited to submit proposals to host the debates.

The proposed debates would take place during the general election campaign for Florida governor.

Tampa Bay 28 reporter Jada Williams caught up with David Jolly in Orlando over the weekend at the Leadership Blue 2026 convention.

Family and supporters of Nolan Xavier Wells gathered in a Mississippi church Monday to mourn and celebrate the 18-year-old, whose death following a July 4 boat trip with friends has captured national attention and prompted calls for an independent investigation.

The ceremony began with tearful remarks from Wells' parents, who described their son as a warm and gentle presence, a gifted athlete and a role model to his younger siblings.

"He had a way of making people feel seen, welcomed and valued," said Christine Wonsley, the teenager's mother. "He could lift your confidence with just a few words and make you feel like you belong."

RELATED STORY | Family continues search for answers after Mississippi teen found dead following July 4 boat trip

In a fiery eulogy, the Rev. Al Sharpton then promised a $50,000 reward for any new information about the circumstances around Wells' death. The teenager, who was Black, traveled with a group of white friends to Horn Island, off the Gulf Coast, but did not return with them.

"There's too many unanswered questions," Sharpton said. "We can't have someone in law enforcement saying there was no foul play before there was an investigation."

He then invoked the history of racist violence in Mississippi, including the lynching of Emmett Till and assassination of Medgar Evers.

"The reason why a lot of people in the nation are looking at this Nolan situation is that we've looked at history in Mississippi. Some of us remember what happened in Mississippi," Sharpton continued, to loud applause in the church. "Before we can medicate and heal today, we've got to look at your history."

The family's attorney, Ben Crump, then led the crowd in a chant of "Nolan's life mattered," as Wells' mother sobbed into the shoulder of her husband, Elmore Wonsley.

Wells' death has captured national attention, galvanizing Black leaders and touching off fraught discussions of racial tension and mistrust of law enforcement in the Deep South. Among those in attendance Monday were the director Spike Lee and the former football player Terrell Owens. Actor and producer Tyler Perry helped pay for the funeral.

RELATED STORY | Body found during search for missing Texas teen identified as Camila Mendoza Olmos

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has said Wells' friends are cooperating with the investigation, which remains ongoing. He said initial interviews suggested Wells chose to stay on the island and that his friends believed he would get a ride with someone else. His body was found off the island's coast two days after he was last seen.

The still-unknown circumstances leading to Wells' disappearance have fueled rampant online speculation, along with questions from his parents about why he was left behind.

Crump has said another witness reported Wells planned to leave on the boat with his friends, contradicting the sheriff's statement. He also alleged that messages appeared to have been deleted from the phone, which was found with Wells' friends, along with his keys.

The attorney, who is leading his own investigation into the death, said he would work alongside the local prosecutor to inspect the device. The prosecutor agreed last week to present the results of the investigation to a grand jury once it is completed, Crump said.

"Our lived experiences tell us that we must question everything, everybody's role, law enforcement's role," Crump said. "That is the lived experience as Black people in America."

Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, played wide receiver on the football team at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Mississippi, and had aspirations of playing at a high-level Division I program.

"He was very sociable with everyone, didn't meet a stranger," his coach, Les George, told WAPT-TV. "He would pop up at my office and come sit on the couch just to hang out and talk."

In a joint statement last week, members of the Congressional Black Caucus called for an independent and transparent investigation into Wells' death, adding that "too many questions remain unanswered."

"We hope the outpouring of concern and support from people across the country in recent days brings them some comfort in the days ahead," they said.

The State Department issued a warning on Saturday to all Americans traveling or living abroad due to "heightened tensions" in the Middle East.

The alert advises "Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution," and to follow security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

"U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted," the alert stated.

ICYMI | US soldiers killed in Iranian attacks were from Hawaii and Texas

The State Department also said there may be flight cancellations or "periodic airspace closures" that may cause travel disruptions due to the ongoing conflict.

The United States and Iran have traded strikes for several days despite both countries signing a memorandum of understanding last month that was intended to end the fighting.

RELATED STORY | Why has the US restarted strikes against Iran now?

"Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world," the State Department said.

Travelers are encouraged to sign up for State Department security alerts through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, and follow official updates on social media.

The State Department issued a similar security alert in March.

When the Eaton fire swept through the Los Angeles neighborhood of Altadena last year, it claimed 19 lives and incinerated thousands of buildings one of which was the home of Kaitlyn Trudeaus grandfather. His house burned to the ground; he lost everything. But while he grappled with trauma, others saw dollar signs in the disaster.

In January 2025, as the LA wildfires raged, people placed bets on Polymarket, one of the leading prediction market platforms. They waged money on how how many acres the fires would consume, which locations the flames would reach and when they would be contained.

It was pretty dystopian, said Trudeau, a California-based climate scientist, who works at the non-profit Climate Central. Its not just easy to start a fire now theres potentially a financial incentive, she told CNN this week, as she traveled to Altadena to see her grandfathers house for the first time since it burned down.

Polymarket is part of a booming, multibillion-dollar industry, which allows people to bet on the outcome of almost any future event, from the results of football games and elections, to the number of social media posts Elon Musk makes.

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Some prediction markets also allow people to bet on wildfires, as well as other climate change-fueled extreme weather events an issue previously reported by High Country News. Experts are sounding the alarm. They fear it risks incentivizing arson and, more generally, that it will distance people from the suffering fires bring.

I worry that it encourages people to think about these events like they are video games, not real-world disasters, Trudeau said.

Polymarket says its platform is a valuable source of information during disasters. People turn to the news for commentary and they come to Polymarket for information, a spokesperson said. While we are not blind to the risks, removing these markets does not prevent a tragedy but makes the most accurate information less accessible to the people who need it most.

People have been betting on the weather long before the dawn of the internet, said Lauren Ducat, a clinical and forensic psychologist based in Australia who studies firesetting. But the accessibility of online platforms has the potential to make these wagers more pervasive and open them to larger markets, she said.

Polymarket says what it does is distinct from gambling. The company doesnt use the term bets, instead people trade on future event outcomes, and users compete against each other not against the house.

The Polymarket team creates markets, with input from users, by formulating questions to which the answer is usually yes or no. Users buy shares in an outcome for between $0 and $1. If yes shares are trading at $0.65 each, for example, that means the market thinks theres a 65% chance of that outcome happening. Shares in the correct outcome are paid out at $1 each.

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Polymarket may be one of the biggest platforms of its kind, but its not alone. Another site called WyldFyre focuses on California fires and has the tagline: You cant predict fire. But you can trade on it. It doesnt use any form of real-world currency yet, but experts are still worried about the signal these sites send.

The problem with wildfires unlike hurricanes or earthquakes is that humans can directly influence them. Anybody can set a wildfire, said Ed Nordskog, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriffs arson investigator and profiler.

Nordskog said he would normally play something like this down, especially as only a tiny number of people ever commit arson. But through his work he has noticed a strong connection between obsessive gambling and fire setting. A surprising number of (arsonists) set their fires near casinos that they frequent on a daily basis, he said.

There is still little data on the topic, Nordskog added, but this has some disturbing possibilities.

Arson is not the sole concern. People could choose to influence fires that have already started. A firefighter, for example, could be incentivized to let a fire burn a little longer to win a bet on acres burned.

There have already been suggestions people may be going to some lengths to secure payouts. On April 6, evening temperatures at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris suddenly spiked by several degrees Fahrenheit, according to sensors located on the site. It happened again on April 15.

This data was being used for Polymarket trades, and the unusual heat resulted in some big payouts for those who had bet on Paris reaching seemingly unlikely levels of heat. Speculation was rife; one unproven theory was that someone had heated the sensor with a hairdryer.

French national weather service Mto-France has filed a police complaint for alteration of the operation of an automated data processing system, a spokesperson said.

Polymarket said we comprehensively surveil for illegal activity and the transparency of its blockchain-based platform allows it to efficiently identify and trace potential wrongdoers.

There are also ethical questions at play. Betting on someones potential death or harm devalues human life, said Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at Santa Clara University.

It could also minimize the seriousness of fires, potentially even blocking community efforts to reduce them by normalizing fire and distancing people from its effects, said Theresa Gannon, a professor of forensic psychology at the University of Kent in the UK.

However, there can also be benefits to these markets, experts say. Research by Kim Kaivanto, an economist at Lancaster University Management School, found expert prediction markets can be valuable tools for climate forecasting if they have guardrails.

Kaivanto is the director of CRUCIAL, a prediction market designed to forecast climate-related risks such as hurricanes. Its markets are made up of teams of experts who dont pay to play, but are rewarded with credits in proportion to how much accurate information they bring in, Kaivanto said.

Whether prediction markets could aggregate useful data for forecasting wildfires remains an open question.

Its unclear how betting could improve a forecast, said Craig B. Clements, director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center based at San Jos State University, there are many complexities to fire spread.

A spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said its fire modeling is not informed by markets, wagering systems, crowd predictions, or any other form of predictionmarket mechanism and it is not currently considering using this kind of data.

The US Forest Service said the same. We do not rely on any system that treats wildfire as an event for speculation, a spokesperson said.

Some proponents suggest that prediction markets could be an alternative to insurance, especially as insurers pull out of regions at high-risk for wildfire. Trudeau senses danger, though. It could so easily be used to prey on people who cant insure their homes, to play off their fear and make money from it, she said.

One other surprising benefit could be to shift peoples attitudes to climate change, according to recent research. Taking part in prediction markets actually changes your brain on the topic, said Moran Cerf, a neuroscientist at Columbia Business School, who co-authored the study.

If climate deniers make money betting on climate disasters happening, they start to see that theres truth out there, which otherwise you reject, Cerf said. Eventually it leaks into your psyche.

That doesnt mean hes an unwavering proponent of the prediction market platforms in their current form, however. Its the Wild West, he said. They basically chase whatever makes money.

There are attempts to apply some guardrails. In March, California Governor Gavin Newsom strengthened a ban on insider trading by state officials on prediction market platforms. And representatives from Utah and California introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit trades on terrorism, assassination, war, gaming or illegal activity.

But for now, the sector is booming and people continue to put their money on deadly climate disasters happening.

In the comments section of a trade last year on the Palisades fire, one Polymarket user wrote: That was fun. Thanks everyone. Until the next time!

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked Paramount's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

U.S. District Judge Araceli Martnez-Olgun granted a 14-day temporary restraining order, which stops the companies from immediately closing the $110 billion deal.

The lawsuit, brought by California and a coalition of other states, argues the merger would reduce competition by combining two of Hollywood's major film studios and some of the nation's largest television and streaming assets.

History tells the tale of what happens when a few people have great power over markets that are central to Americans' lives: fewer opportunities for more people, worse products and services for all people," said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. "With our lawsuit, were fighting for a free and fair market and a thriving film and television industry that serves creatives and audiences alike. We have a full tank of gas, the law on our side, and look forward to continuing to make our case.

Paramount has vowed to fight the lawsuit, maintaining the merger would not substantially lessen competition.

An Army veteran set off fireworks and started a fire Monday morning outside a New York building housing an immigration court and other government offices, according to federal authorities.

As the flames erupted outside an entrance to the building at 26 Federal Plaza, the man was tackled by a security officer and taken into custody, video shows.

During a press conference Monday afternoon, officials identified the suspect as 43-year-old Andrew Arrabaca who served for four years in the U.S. Army.

Officials said Arrabaca admitted he was targeting the building and that "anti-American" statements were made.

The lower Manhattan building, 26 Federal Plaza, has become a focal point for demonstrations against the immigration policies of President Donald Trump's administration.

The individual in custody was carrying anti-ICE material, according to preliminary information gathered by law enforcement and described by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name.

The Department of Homeland Security accused the person of being an "anti-ICE rioter" and said the incident took place around 8:20 a.m., when the person allegedly launched fireworks outside the building and then poured what's believed to be gasoline on the stairs to an entrance and set it on fire.

DHS said the person had what appeared to be two pellet guns in their bag.

A bystander was grazed by the fireworks, and the security officer who tackled the person sustained minor injuries, the agency said. The New York Fire Department said one person was transported to the hospital, but their injuries weren't life-threatening.

Later on, officials said the civilian who was injured was an immigrant heading into the building for a hearing.

"What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing," New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media. "I'm relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody."

Mamdani said his team was in touch with police and will support the federal investigation. The FBI said its New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating.

The building houses several government offices including the New York office of the FBI and the immigration court where agents have carried out chaotic and sometimes violent arrests in the hallway as migrants leave hearings.

Videos and photos from the scene showed a fire with a plume of smoke on the sidewalk outside the building, as well as officers restraining a person and taking them away.

Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments.

The numbers have spiked since payments came due again following a lengthy pause intended to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, around 9.5 million people 1 in 5 federal student loan borrowers are in default, meaning they are more than nine months behind on their payments.

While credit scores can suffer when borrowers are just a few months behind, entering default brings the possibility of more serious consequences, including garnished wages or Social Security payments. For now, the Trump administration has held off on such involuntary collections.

Despair is on the rise, advocates say.

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"Folks are struggling to make ends meet and cover all the rising costs of everything else. The growing student loan bills are making things worse and folks are falling behind," said Aissa Canchola Baez, policy director for the advocacy group Protect Borrowers.

Here are some takeaways from an Associated Press analysis of student loan defaults.

The U.S. Education Department allowed borrowers to suspend federal student loan payments during the economic tumult of the pandemic. Though payments technically started coming due again in 2023, the Biden administration provided a one-year buffer period that ended in the fall of 2024.

Loans couldn't enter default during this time, and federal programs designed to help delinquent borrowers and debt forgiveness initiatives brought millions out of default.

Starting in June 2025, with the pause having ended nine months prior, borrowers began defaulting again for the first time since the pandemic.

Since then, the number of defaulted borrowers has exploded from 5.3 million to around 9.5 million, according to data from the Office of Federal Student Aid. Out of $1.7 trillion in federally backed student loans nationwide, $233.3 billion is in default.

Another wave of defaults could be on the way. The Trump administration has eliminated the most generous income-driven repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, as part of its overhaul of the federal student loan system. The millions of borrowers who had been enrolled in SAVE now will face the strain of paying more each month.

Starting this month, new borrowers pick between one standard repayment plan and one income-driven option, as opposed to having several options. The Education Department has described the changes as a simplification of a "fragmented and confusing" system.

Many of the states with the highest concentrations of defaulted borrowers are in the South, an AP analysis found.

Mississippi has the nation's highest default rate at 28.3%, and others near the top include Louisiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas. Rounding out the 15 states with the highest default rates are Alaska, Arizona, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico and Nevada.

Of those states, New Mexico was the only one Republican President Donald Trump didn't win in 2024.

"These are folks who live in states that President Trump won in the previous election," Baez said. "And why I bring that up is, you know, there's a lot of misconceptions and tropes about who student loan borrowers are, and who are the ones who are falling behind."

She said many are "working-class folks who just cannot keep up with these bills on top of everything else."

Meanwhile, the territory of Puerto Rico had a 30.9% default rate, higher than any of the states.

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Students who attended for-profit colleges struggle more than others to pay back their loans. Thirty-three percent of those borrowers were 90 days or more behind on their student loan payments, a rate more than double that of borrowers who attended public schools, according to data by the Office of Federal Student Aid released this year to help schools understand and identify default risks.

Out of the schools in the top quarter for nonpayment rates, 76% were for-profit schools.

The FSA argues that a high nonpayment rate represents a "serious risk" of developing a high default rate.

An association for private trade schools and career colleges is so concerned it has created a task force to reach out to students about the importance of loan repayment.

Jason Altmire, the head of the group, Career Education Colleges and Universities, said some of it can be chalked up to the pandemic. Other borrowers are confused over the Biden administration's failed loan forgiveness effort. Still, he said the issue will be discussed at the association's summer convention.

"We take it seriously," he said. "It's a real problem."

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the Qatari-donated jet that has served as Air Force One will be sent for upgrades, appearing to acknowledge the plane is not as thoroughly outfitted as older aircraft.

Stepping off the plane on his return from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump was asked about the newly renovated planes missile-defense capabilities, amid reports that the new jet is not as secure as the old one.

It has a lot of capability but, as I understand it, in about a month or so theyre going to send it to have it be maxed out, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.

Trump has privately seethed over reporting on the planes security deficiencies, and his government has moved aggressively to investigate who talked to reporters about them. Chief of staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel have been personally involved in that effort. A little over a week ago, officials were asked to turn over their phones at the White House.

The New York Times, which first reported on the security issues with the plane, said that four of its reporters were subpoenaed by the government.

Now despite continuing to fly on the plane Trump appears to be acknowledging the security concerns are real.

Theyre going to be sending it, and theyll have it be maxed out. Itll take about a month, he said.

Concerns about the new, $400 million Qatari-gifted jet first drew renewed scrutiny earlier this month when Trump unexpectedly ditched the jet during his return from a NATO summit in Turkey and said he was sending the new plane ahead to Mildenhall air base in England.

Trump said at the time that the change in planes was simply to give US service members stationed at the base a chance to tour the Aircraft, downplaying the idea that security concerns were to blame.

But two sources familiar with the matter told CNN the newer plane did not possess the same capabilities to ensure its safety in international settings, though a third said it was equipped with many of the same features as the older plane. Security personnel felt more comfortable with the president aboard the older plane which was built from scratch with the commander-in-chiefs safety in mind rather than the plane that had recently been retrofitted after it was donated by Qatar, officials told CNN.

This story has been updated with additional context.

The-CNN-Wire & 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Jury selection begins Monday in the trial of a Massachusetts mother who strangled her three children while undergoing medical treatment for psychiatric problems that developed after she gave birth.

Lindsay Clancy has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, who was 8 months old when the siblings were killed on Jan. 24, 2023.

Clancy, now 36, threw herself out a window after killing the children and was paralyzed in the fall. She is being held at a state hospital.

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The trial is expected to explore the complicated and rare phenomenon of postpartum psychosis, which afflicts a very small percentage of women who develop delusions and sometimes hallucinations after giving birth. Clancy's lawyers and her husband say she was not responsible for her actions.

Prosecutors say the killings were intentional and well planned, not the work of someone who had lost control.

On the day it happened, Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, asked her husband, Patrick Clancy, to go out for takeout food and pick up something at the pharmacy. Then, she used exercise bands to strangle her children in the family's home in Duxbury, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Boston.

Eighteen jurors, including six alternates, are expected to be chosen over several days. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, doesn't dispute that she killed the children but plans to raise an insanity defense.

"This whole case is an extreme tragedy," he said.

Clancy and her husband filed lawsuits earlier this year accusing her medical providers of failing to properly diagnose, treat and monitor for her for a "severe postpartum psychiatric condition."

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Lindsay Clancy's lawsuit detailed how she was depressed, having trouble sleeping and repeatedly hearing voices urging her to harm her children and herself. She spent several days at a psychiatric hospital just weeks before the killings.

"Lindsay Clancy did everything a mother in her situation could do. She recognized something was wrong with her. She sought medical treatment. She went to emergency rooms. She called crisis hotlines. She admitted herself to hospitals. She took the medication prescribed to her. She communicated her worsening symptoms to her providers. She told them the medications were making her worse," the lawsuit said.

On the day of the killings, Clancy said she heard voices saying, "This is your last chance. Kill the children so you can kill yourself."

Both sides have Clancy's husband on their list of witnesses. He has said in interviews that he forgives his wife.

In a post on GoFundMe several days after the killings, Patrick Clancy wrote that the "shock and pain is excruciating and relentless," but he urged the public to see Lindsay Clancy as he did before the killings.

"The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring toward everyone me, our kids, family, friends, and her patients. The very fibers of her soul are loving. All I wish for her now is that she can somehow find peace," it said.

BERLIN (AP) The Womens Tennis Association is introducing one-off mandatory gene-testing for all players effective from Tuesday a requirement to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The WTA updated its womens eligibility policy to include gender screening based on biological sex this week to preserve the integrity of womens professional tennis and maintain fair competition conditions for all players.

The new policy takes the organization in line with the eligibility policy introduced by the International Olympic Committee in March to align with U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Games.

The WTA is complying with what is effectively an order from the IOC that Olympic sports bodies are following, though it remained unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at Games level.

Players are to be tested for the SRY gene, a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes.

In this policy, biological male means an individual who, regardless of their legal sex or gender identity, has an SRY gene and therefore has or previously had testes or streak testes; and biological female means an individual who, regardless of their legal sex or gender identity, has no SRY gene and therefore has or previously had ovaries or streak ovaries.

The WTA said the policy distinguishes between biological sex and gender identity, and that there is no intent to disrespect or question the gender identity or the dignity of any person.

The mandatory gender screening already conducted by the governing bodies of track and field, skiing and boxing has been criticized by human rights experts and activist groups.

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

Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate in Miami on Monday after they were arrested to face rape and sex trafficking charges in the United Kingdom.

The Tates are being held in federal detention following their arrest on Saturday. In the coming weeks, a U.S. district judge will consider whether they meet the conditions for extradition.

An attorney for the brothers, Joseph McBride, blasted the latest charges as filth and slander. On Sunday, McBride said he was confident the extradition request would be denied.

Prosecutors in Britain said the new charges relate to four new victims and were brought after authorities received evidence from Bedfordshire Police in southeastern England. The allegations, spanning 2010 to 2017, include rape, assault, trafficking and offenses relating to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.

The brothers are already charged with rape, bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain relating to three other alleged victims in the U.K. between 2012 and 2015.

Their lawyer said in a statement Saturday that he believed the arrests were greenlighted by a low-level functionary at the Justice Department without input from leadership.

But the Justice Department told The Associated Press that the arrests were approved by leadership of its Criminal Division.

The new allegations are the latest in a long-running international legal saga involving the Tates that has spanned the U.S., Britain and Romania. The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Their social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny has made them among the worlds most polarizing internet personalities.

The dual U.S. and British citizens moved to Romania in 2016. They were arrested there in 2022, accused of participating in schemes to lure women for sexual exploitation. They denied those allegations and the Romanian case hasn't gone forward because of legal and procedural problems.

Last year, they were allowed to leave Romania and flew to Florida.

Lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms that initially tested positive for Cyclospora was a false positive, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The agency said laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample because of the complexity of detecting Cyclospora and determined the result "does not represent true amplification" and should not be considered a confirmed positive.

There are now no confirmed positive product test results for Cyclospora, as investigators continue trying to determine the source of an outbreak that has sickened more than 1,500 people.

Taylor Farms said the FDA apologized after informing the company that the initial test result was incorrect.

"To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora," the company said in a statement.

Taylor Farms said it voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico out of an abundance of caution after receiving the FDA's initial notification. The company said the recall was limited to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and does not involve any other Taylor Farms products, including products sold under the Taylor Farms brand.

The outbreak has sickened people in multiple states, including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora. People typically become infected by consuming contaminated food or water, particularly fresh produce.

Common symptoms include diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, on Sunday announced the birth of their fourth child, the first born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years.

Born Sunday, Alec Neel Vance joins older siblings Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4.

Vance announced the birth on social media with a statement signed by him and his wife.

"We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother," the statement said.

They thanked doctors and staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and with the White House medical team.

The Republican vice president's growing family is in keeping with his passionate advocacy for Americans to have more children. He has also suggested that the 2025 killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was his friend, factored into the decision to have another child.

Vance, a former U.S. Marine, repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates in America as he launched his political career in 2021 with a bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio. As vice president, he said in Washington at the 2025 March for Life anti-abortion rally, "I want more babies in the United States of America."

The vice president, who's 41, has been accompanied on overseas trips by Usha Vance, 40, and their children, with the kids often pajama-clad as they board Air Force Two for the overnight flights.

Usha Vance, the daughter of immigrants from India, had already been the subject of some public fascination because of her husband. Her pregnancy, which was announced in January, amplified that spotlight since it is rare for occupants of the United States' highest public offices to add to their families while serving.

The last time a sitting vice president became a new father was in the 1800s.

ICYMI | Vance announces new book about finding his way back to faith

Schuyler Colfax and his second wife, Ellen Wade, had a son, Schuyler Colfax III, in 1870 when Colfax was serving as vice president, according to the White House Historical Association. Decades before that, John C. Calhoun and his wife, Floride Bonneau, had a son, William, in 1829 when Calhoun was vice president, the association said.

The newest addition to Vance's family was part of a recent mini baby boom among top members of President Donald Trump's administration. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller's wife, Katie Miller, recently gave birth to the couple's fourth child, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had her second child with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, in May.

Usha Vance recently came under scrutiny after The New York Times' fashion critic called attention to the stomach-hugging, coral maternity dress she wore for a Father's Day episode of "Storytime with the Second Lady," a video podcast she launched during the pregnancy.

The Times wrote that the attention that Vance, Miller and Leavitt had put on their pregnancies offered "an image of idealized womanhood that gives literal shape to the pronatalist movement," which encourages couples to have as many children as possible to counter declining birth rates.

The second lady responded on social media, writing, "Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can't wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks! In the meantime, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof) and a good story with your kids on Storytime with the Second Lady." She later shared the receipt for the dress, and her husband applauded her frugality.

"She bought a $50 dress for $8.75. America: meet your next director of the federal budget!" the vice president wrote on social media.

JD Vance has said it was Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, telling them that she wished she'd had more than two children with her husband before he was assassinated last September in Utah that led him and the second lady to decide to grow their family. Usha Vance, a former attorney who once clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, concurred in part.

"It was very powerful, what (Erika) said about her own family, and certainly very moving to both of us. I think I had already started to open my mind to the possibility," Usha Vance said during a joint interview with her husband for "CBS Sunday Morning" that aired in June. "I wouldn't say that this was, for me in any way, the decisive factor. But it came in the middle of a conversation that we were already having."

Ukraine fired more than 400 drones toward Moscow in its latest major attack on the Russian capital, the citys mayor said Monday.

The blitz came hours after Russia bombarded Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles in a relentless cycle of tit-for-tat strikes that make a settlement to end Moscows more than 4-year-old all-out invasion appear a distant possibility.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said he would hold key talks on Monday as he tries to defuse a domestic political crisis, after last weeks government reshuffle exposed a deep split between the militarys old guard and young innovators over how to fight the war.

Zelenskyy needs to reassure Ukrainians that sacrificing 35-year-old Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and keeping faith with 60-year-old Soviet-trained Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as armed forces chief wont derail the fight against Russia.

Days of street protests in favor of Fedorov and against Syrskyi followed Zelenskyy's decision.

Ukraine hits another Russian oil depot

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that over 400 Ukrainian drones were sent toward the Russian capital from late Sunday until early Monday. He said most were downed far from the capital and 85 were intercepted near Moscow.

Andrei Vorobyov, the head of the region around Moscow, said that 10 people were wounded by Ukrainian drones. He said that several residential buildings and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged.

The attack started a fire at the Yuzhnye Vrata industrial park, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Moscow, according to Yevgeniya Khrustaleva, the head of the Domodedovo area of the Moscow region.

The Astra news outlet reported that the assault also caused a fire at an oil depot in Podolsk, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Moscow but there was no official confirmation of the strike.

Ukrainian forces struck logistics facilities and an oil depot in the Moscow region, more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Ukraines border, Zelenskyy said. He also said Ukrainian forces hit two vessels belonging to Russias so-called shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil and four dry cargo ships in the Black Sea.

It was not possible to independently verify either side's claims.

Ukraines long-range drone technology has swiftly evolved during the war, posing a problem for Russia, whose huge land mass is hard to fully protect. Kyivs forces have aimed especially at Russian oil facilities, causing fuel shortages and embarrassing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In May, the Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 1,054 Ukrainian drones in a 24-hour period.

Russia uses ballistic missiles more frequently

As Kyiv pleads with foreign partners to supply it with sophisticated interceptors that can counter Russian ballistic missiles, which are much harder to stop than drones or cruise missiles, Moscows forces have sought to take advantage of weaknesses in Ukraines air defenses.

Ballistic missiles fly faster than the speed of sound and can reach Kyiv in minutes, giving air defenses little time to react and civilians to reach shelter.

Russia has in recent weeks stepped up its use of ballistic missiles, and on Sunday used them in a bombardment that Ukrainian officials said killed at least six people and wounded dozens.

Russian forces have launched more ballistic missiles against Ukraine thus far in July than Russia reportedly produces each month, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said late Sunday.

Russia appears to be dipping into its stockpiles to continue increasing the number of ballistic missiles it launches against Ukraine, as these missiles have a higher success rate than drones and cruise missiles, it noted.

A Russian strike on Pavlohrad in Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region injured 13 people, military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha said. Eleven people were hospitalized, including a 13-year-old girl, he said.

Russias Defense Ministry said Monday that its forces struck fuel tanks in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa overnight.

Russia fired two missiles and 94 long-range strike drones at the territory of Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraines air force. It said air defenses jammed or intercepted 81 drones, while nine drones and a missile caused damage at nine locations.

U.S. gas prices jumped to an average of $4 a gallon again Monday as the U.S. and Iran launched more attacks.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now back to $4. The average price a year ago was $3.14 a gallon.

The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now, while others pay less. Prices vary between states due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | US soldiers killed in Iranian attacks were from Hawaii and Texas

People around the world are also dealing with high gas prices as a result of the war.

Gas prices first went over $4 a gallon on average at the end of March. They dipped below that in mid-June and continued to fall as crude oil prices eased when the U.S. and Iran reached an interim deal. Even then, President Donald Trump expressed frustration that gas prices werent falling as quickly as oil prices.

Affordability is likely to be a key issue for voters in the U.S. midterm elections, and higher gas and oil prices can help push up prices for groceries and other goods.

Oil prices have climbed again in recent days as the U.S. and Iran move closer to resuming an all-out war.

Brent crude, the international standard, rose 3.2% to $90.95 per barrel Monday and benchmark U.S. crude climbed 2.8% to $84.04 per barrel.

The U.S. has identified the soldiers killed in Iranian attacks on an American base in Jordan as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas.

In a statement Monday, the Defense Department said Feehan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Gonzales was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.

Their deaths were among three U.S. service members killed over the weekend. Seventeen U.S. service members have died since the war began in late February.

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Another soldier was killed Saturday in northern Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian attack drone, according to U.S. Central Command.

The United States and Iran have traded strikes for several days despite both countries signing a memorandum of understanding that was intended to end the fighting.

The U.S. military said Sunday its strikes were intended to degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Although Iran's military has been weakened by the strikes, it has continued to maintain control of the strait, which had transported more than one-fifth of the world's oil supply before the war began.