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by Jasmine Demers, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week. Two years after Arizona officials revealed a $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking treatment for addictions, the state has recovered just a fraction of the taxpayer funds lost to fraud.The Arizona attorney generals office is leading the criminal investigation into the network of behavioral health providers and sober living homes that from 2019 to 2023 exploited the American Indian Health Program to obtain inflated Medicaid payments. Investigators found fraudulent operators didnt provide the services theyd billed for and sometimes allowed patients to continue the substance use for which they had sought treatment.The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million or about 5% of the funds the state estimates it paid to bad actors.Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a May 1 press conference that she hopes to retrieve at least hundreds of millions from fraudsters. But she warned that its hard, because what happens is these criminals get the money, they buy lavish homes, they buy multiple expensive cars, they hide the money offshore, they spend the money in ways that is unrecoverable. My team is working day in and day out to seize those assets, Mayes said.The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System struggled to rein in the rampant fraud under two governors, leaving more than 11,000 people vulnerable to the chaos that followed. Prior reporting by the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and ProPublica found that at least 40 Indigenous residents of sober living homes and treatment facilities in the Phoenix area died as the state fumbled its response. The damage also rippled out through the states behavioral health industry, which was nearly brought to a standstill when the agency suspended some 300 providers and enacted policies that halted or substantially delayed payments to those still operating. Those reforms included enhanced scrutiny when screening and reimbursing providers.Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, recently signed legislation further increasing oversight of sober living homes by requiring the facilities to promptly report resident deaths. But advocates like Reva Stewart, a Din activist who has helped Indigenous victims of the scheme through her group Stolen People Stolen Benefits, dont think the state has done enough.I feel like Im on a hamster wheel, and were still at the beginning, Stewart said. They have a lot of indictments and people being charged, but at the same time theyre just getting a slap on the wrist.The U.S. Department of Justice has also indicted several individuals and is conducting parallel investigations into the fraudulent billing schemes under federal statutes.Yet despite these state and federal efforts, its likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money wont be recovered. From 2019 to 2023, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System allowed about 13,000 unlicensed providers to enter its system, including some that exploited weak oversight by overbilling or charging for services that were never delivered. The agency also didnt act decisively when solutions to stem the fraud were proposed internally. It initially yielded to pressure from special interest groups connected to the behavioral health industry, which argued that reforms to the fee-for-service American Indian Health plan would threaten their financial interests.Now, AHCCCS says its efforts to unravel the crisis could take many years, describing its investigation as a highly complex and manual process. Officials must review improper payments, whether they were obtained by fraud or not, on a case-by-case basis. Though providers are required to repay AHCCCS as soon as they become aware of overpayments, they often cannot do so in one lump sum. Repayments may occur over months or years.Because state Medicaid agencies receive much of their funding from the federal government, improper payments come with added financial consequences: States must repay the federal government for its share.In Arizona, the federal government covered 70% to 76% of Medicaid costs between 2019 and 2023. The rate was even higher for people who received services through the American Indian Health Program.AHCCCS has repaid $49.1 million to the federal government since January 2023, according to spokesperson Havona Horsefield, who has since left the agency. That amount will likely grow as AHCCCS continues to review fraudulent cases.The agency is not, however, required to reimburse the federal government for overpayments made to facilities that are now bankrupt or out of business. Of the 322 providers suspended on suspicion of fraud, 90 have closed, according to AHCCCS.The agency could not provide an estimate of how much those providers were overpaid, but said it notifies the attorney general when a provider goes out of business and provides information to support criminal cases against them.State Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, a Democrat from Coal Mine Mesa on the Navajo Nation, has been critical of the states response and continues to call for stricter regulation of sober living facilities. During a March floor vote, she expressed frustration over the reforms Hobbs later signed into law, contending they did not go far enough. Its time to stop protecting bad actors or even those people who continue to allow bad actors to keep coming back, she said.As the state slowly works to untangle the fraud and recover taxpayer funds, national debates over Medicaids future are intensifying. Republican majorities in both Arizonas Legislature and Congress are pushing to cut Medicaid to offset President Donald Trumps proposed tax cuts. Among their justifications are fraud and abuse of the system.Health policy experts, however, say that most Medicaid spending pays for legitimate care, and that fraud is typically committed by a small number of providers not patients.Instead of the current system where the federal government covers a larger share of Medicaid costs in lower-income states, conservatives are advocating to cap Medicaid funding tied to inflation, a model that would shift more of the cost to state budgets. Arizona is one of nine states where such a change could trigger the end of Medicaid expansion, which currently insures 648,000 low-income residents, or about 30% of AHCCCS recipients.Despite Medicaids uncertain future, Arizona officials are pressing forward with efforts to address the lasting damage the fraud scandal inflicted on tribal communities. In November, Mayes announced a $6 million grant initiative offering up to $500,000 per organization to fund victim compensation and housing support for those displaced or otherwise affected by fraudulent treatment centers. Recipients include tribal nations and Native health organizations.But Stewart says the states work is far from over, and many of those harmed have yet to see real accountability or support.They call it a travesty and they want to get justice, she said. But wheres the justice when it comes to the amount of deaths that we have, the amount of Native relatives that are still missing? Christopher Lomahquahu, a Roy W. Howard fellow at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, contributed reporting.

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OneTaste said it was dedicated to female pleasure. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say its founders abused customers and ran it for their own benefit.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney boards a government plane in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, May 5, 2025, en route to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-05-06T10:58:06Z WASHINGTON (AP) Canadas new prime minister, Mark Carney, won the job with a promise to confront the increased aggression shown by President Donald Trump and hell have the opportunity to do that in a face-to-face Oval Office meeting on Tuesday.Trump has shattered a decades-old alliance by saying he wants to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and levying steep tariffs against an essential partner in the manufacturing of autos and the supply of oil, electricity and other goods. The outrage provoked by Trump enabled Carneys Liberal Party to score a stunning comeback victory last month as the ongoing trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty have outraged voters.The Republican president has repeatedly threatened that he intends to make Canada the 51st state. He said in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press that aired Sunday that the border is an artificial line that prevents the two territories from forming a beautiful country. Trumps openly adversarial approach has raised questions for Carney and other world leaders on how to manage relations with the U.S. Some world leaders, such as the United Kingdoms prime minister, Keir Starmer, engaged in a charm offensive. Others, such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were met by Trump with anger for not being sufficiently deferential. Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto, said Carney shouldnt meet with Trump. Weve seen what he does. We saw what he did with Zelenskyy, Bothwell said. And he would sure as hell try to do the same with Carney. Its not in Carneys interest. Its not in Canadas interest.Trump and Carney will meet in the Oval Office and have lunch. Carney has stressed that he was elected to specifically stand up to the U.S. president and that Canada is in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. Carney said he expects difficult but constructive conversations with his U.S. counterpart. Trump told reporters on Monday that he wasnt quite sure why Carney was visiting.Im not sure what he wants to see me about, Trump said. But I guess he wants to make a deal.U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick further stoked doubts about their interest in repairing the relationship with Canada in a Monday interview on Fox Business Networks Kudlow show.Asked if the U.S. could make a deal with Canada, Lutnick called the country a socialist regime that has been basically feeding off America. Lutnick said Tuesdays meeting would be fascinating.Carney, at a Friday news conference ahead of his trip, said the talks would focus on immediate trade pressures and the broader economic and national security relationships. He said his government would fight to get the best deal for Canada and take all the time necessary to do so, even as Canada pursues a parallel set of talks to deepen relations with other allies and lessen its commitments with the U.S.Trump has maintained that the U.S. doesnt need anything from Canada. He is actively going after a Canadian auto sector built largely by U.S. companies, saying, Theyre stopping work in Mexico, and theyre stopping work in Canada, and theyre all moving here. He also said the U.S. doesnt need Canadas energy though nearly one-fourth of the oil that the U.S. consumes daily comes from the province of Alberta. The president has also disparaged Canadas military commitments despite a partnership that ranges from the beaches of Normandy in World War II to remote stretches of Afghanistan. Trump has said that Canada spends less money on military than practically any nation in the world.They pay NATO less than any nation, he said. They think we are subsidizing. They think we are going to protect them, and, really, we are. But the truth is, they dont carry their full share, and its unfair to the United States and our taxpayers.Bothwell noted that Carney might be under little pressure to reach a quick deal as Trump has at times reversed, delayed or defanged his tariffs, such that over time Trump might be in a weaker position if talks are prolonged. It may not matter as much in the summer as it does today because every time hes made one of these announcements, next week its, Oh, I had my fingers crossed. I didnt mean it, he said of Trump.Daniel Bland, a political science professor at McGill University, said Carney needed the quickly scheduled meeting with Trump to address the trade war started by the U.S. Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum and tariffs on other products outside the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in some cases ostensibly to address relatively low volumes of fentanyl intercepted at the border between the two countries.Carney wants to show that hes doing everything he can, including taking political risks to protect Canadian jobs in areas such as the auto industry, Bland said. If he had postponed his first meeting with President Trump for months and months, opposition parties and commentators could have accused him of being overly shy and doing a disservice to Canada because of that. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canadas exports go to the U.S. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto

This photo provided by the City of Brenham shows a creek in Brenham, Texas, on Monday, May 5, 2025, where rescue crews searched for a missing 10-year-old girl who authorities say was swept away by rising waters.(Melinda Gordon/City of Brenham via AP)2025-05-06T05:34:20Z BRENHAM, Texas (AP) Rescue crews in Texas were searching for a 10-year-old girl swept away by rapidly rising floodwaters and forecasters warned that Tuesday could bring more heavy rains and flooding to the Houston area and the states coast.Teams of people scoured the city of Brenham on Monday night, using drones with thermal imaging and dogs to try to find the girl. But as heavy thunderstorms moved through the area, the water rescue operation was forced to be scaled back, according to the Brenham Fire Department.The department was working with around a dozen supporting agencies to find the girl, who was last seen at about 4 p.m. Monday.There is bad weather on its way so we ask for prayers for the family and all the first responders involved in the search and rescue, the department said in a social media post.The next round of severe storms could bring as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain Tuesday to parts of southeastern Texas, according to the National Weather Service in Houston. The weather service also warned of a series of strong rip currents and flooding along Gulf-facing beaches, especially during high tides. A large swath of the state, along with parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi were under a National Weather Service flood watch early Tuesday.Just last week, storms drenched much of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, flooding and washing out roads and causing hundreds of flights to be canceled or delayed at major airports.

Barcelona forward Raphinha has revealed his anger at the lack of football he played under Xavi Hernndez, saying he feels his former coach never showed any real confidence in him.

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The post PBS NewsHour Interrupted By Repo Men Seizing Desk appeared first on The Onion.

FRESNO, CARevealing that all of the companys customers have been seduced by a hidden monstrosity, Sun-Maid announced Tuesday that the girl in the company logo has always been a sentient raisin disguising itself in human flesh. Youve bought Sun-Maid raisins all these years thinking that was a kind young girl smiling back at you, but if you really gazed into her eyes you would see the horror of the living raisin who draped itself in the girls skin to try and live among humanity, said Sun-Maid president Steve Loftus, who explained that the loose smock, large wig, and signature bonnet of the Sun-Maid girl are all ways to cover up the misshapen folds created by her skin suit. Its been this way since the hidden raisin first appeared as part of our companys logo in 1915. She has walked among generations. She woke up gasping and squinting at the harsh sun that created her. In the fear and confusion of her birth, she killed a young girl that stumbled upon her, and before anyone knew she was gone, the raisin skinned her and donned her form. She longs to be accepted by humanity, but also hates us, living trapped in a world where she harvests her own kind. This is the story of Sun-Maid. Loftus also told reporters that as more raisins have gained sentience, the Sun-Maid girl has helped them find their own secret identities as the Mortons Salt girl and Land-O-Lakes butter lady.The post Sun-Maid Announces Girl In Logo Has Always Been Sentient Raisin Disguising Self In Human Flesh appeared first on The Onion.

WASHINGTONPromising to lift export controls on AI chips if they received the rare first-edition trading card in return, U.S. trade negotiators reportedly offered China access to advanced semiconductors Tuesday in exchange for a holographic Charizard. Well give you state-of-the-art Nvidia GPUs if you give us a PSA 10 Gem Mint holographic Charizard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said to a Chinese trade representative, later explaining to reporters that the Trump administration hoped to shore up Americas complete set of the original 151 and was willing to part with its most sophisticated machine-learning processors to achieve that goal. You definitely cant have the chips needed to develop cutting-edge AI without giving us something better than a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, because we already have tons of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. Youve been cheating us for years, but now were going to rebalance the scales and ensure that American three-ring binders are full of foil cards, full arts, and special illustration rares for generations to come. At press time, officials confirmed bilateral trade negotiations had collapsed after the United States discovered the holographic Charizard was grossly misaligned, though China claimed it was merely an error card.The post U.S. Offers Semiconductors To China In Exchange For Holographic Charizard appeared first on The Onion.

AUGUSTA, GARacked with guilt at the thought of making the wrong decision, local couple Anthony Wells and Katherine MacNaughton were reportedly debating on Tuesday the ethical implications of bringing another child into this bar. There are already so many children in the World of Beeris this really something we want weighing on our conscience? said MacNaughton, who admitted that she was struggling to reconcile their desire for a family outing with the feeling that the decision was ultimately a selfish one. If its this bleak now, imagine what it could look like in an hour or two. If we take another stroller in there, arent we just contributing to the pain and suffering? I dont know what to do. But whatever choice we make, weve got to make it soon. The clocks running out on happy hour. At press time, Wells was overheard arguing that bringing children into the bar was necessary to sustain the kids menu.The post Couple Debates Ethical Implications Of Bringing Another Child Into This Bar appeared first on The Onion.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-05-06T13:25:08Z NEW YORK (AP) Responding to coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcias deportation, the Trump administration has called journalists despicable, questioned CNNs patriotism, scolded Fox News and even admitted to a mistake in admitting to a mistake in the first place.The vigorous reaction was noteworthy even in service to a president known for never backing down and a hostility toward the press. The song is the same, said former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno, but the volume is a lot louder.President Donald Trump has fought the press on several fronts since returning to office in January. His team is battling The Associated Press in court over White House access, has sought to close Voice of America and launched FCC investigations into ABC News, CBS News, PBS and NPR, among others.In the Abrego Garcia case, the White House took a situation that may have knocked predecessors on their heels and used it as an opportunity. An immigrant in the U.S. illegally from El Salvador, the 29-year-old has lived in the United States for 14 years, married and is raising three children, and a judge shielded him from deportation in the first Trump term. In what Justice Department officials called an administrative error, he was sent last month to a Salvadoran prison. His case has come to symbolize concerns over whether people are being expelled legally. I have to correct you on every single thing that you saidTrump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wasnt interested in those questions during an interview with Fox News Bill Hemmer. I hate to do it, Bill, but I have to correct you on every single thing that you said, because it was all wrong, Miller said, interpreting a U.S. Supreme Court order that the administration facilitate Abrego Garcias return as a victory.Similarly, Trump said that people at CNN hate our country and objected when the networks Kaitlan Collins asked about Abrego Garcia in an Oval Office news conference.Why dont you just say, Isnt it wonderful that were keeping criminals out of our country? Trump responded. Why cant you say that? Why do you go over and over and thats why nobody watches you anymore, you know. You have no credibility.From the briefing room, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said outrage about the case by Democrats and the media has been nothing short of despicable.Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would have thought we had deported a candidate for Father of the Year, she said. She called Abrego Garcia an illegal alien MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist who was deported back to his home country. Abrego Garcia has denied being part of the El Salvadoran gang. To Trumps team, calling it an administrative error was an errorShe later told Fox News that the official who labeled Abrego Garcias deportation an administrative error was himself mistaken. The immigrant, she promised, wouldnt be returning to his old life in the United States.Trump and his team are banking on his immigration stance being among his most popular, and that many of his followers dislike journalists, said Sean Spicer, White House press secretary during the presidents first term.If the roles were reversed and the Trump administration had been referring to Abrego Garcia as a Maryland family man, the media would have gone nuts claiming he was spreading misinformation, Spicer said in an interview.Matt Margolis, a columnist for PJMedia, told The Associated Press that when the media wont report the facts, its on the Trump administration to bring the facts directly to the public, and I think theyve done so effectively. Thats why he has solid approval ratings on immigration. The public knows the media is lying and they know Trump isnt.Nonetheless, Abrego Garcia put a human face to an issue and an effort frequently happening in the shadows. Recognizing the potency of government by anecdote, the administration produced its own face inviting Patty Morin to meet Trump in the White House and address reporters. The Maryland womans daughter, Rachel, was raped and killed in 2023 and a jury on April 14 convicted an immigrant from El Salvador in the U.S. illegally, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, of the crime. Trump aide Steven Cheung called it a media outrage that CNN and MSNBC did not carry angel mom Patty Morins recounting of the tragedy live on the air. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr criticized the same two networks for news distortion in their coverage of Abrego Garcia.A conservative media watchdog, the Media Research Center, produced a report that Martinez-Hernandezs trial received 12 seconds of coverage on the ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening newscasts. The Abrego Garcia case got 143 minutes in total on the broadcasts between April 1 and 23, enabling them to berate the Trump administration, they said.Disgusting, Donald Trump Jr. said in a social media posting.The Morin murder trial did receive extensive local news coverage. Nationally, ABC News covered the case in 2024 when Martinez-Henderson was arrested and when Morins brother spoke before the Republican national convention. What is the case about, and what does Trump want it to be about?The tactic dont look here, look there! is familiar in politics and propaganda, said Mark Lukasiewicz, a former NBC News executive who is now dean of the Hofstra University school of communication.It seems to me that what the White House would like the Abrego Garcia case to be about is whether this individual should be in the United States, Lukasiewicz said. Their clear view is that he should not, and that should be the story. From a news perspective, thats not what the story is about. The story is about the absence of due process.Attacking the news media is also not unique or new; ask your grandparents who former Vice President Spiro Agnew was referring to when he coined the phrase nattering nabobs of negativism. Trumps defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has bitterly denounced the press for a series of tough stories on his leadership.Yet the Abrego Garcia case is worth examining; the media strategy followed by the White House is likely to be repeated, especially since the president has a strong cadre of loyalists to follow his lead, said Sesno, professor at George Washington Universitys school of media and public affairs.Does any of this ever get old? he asked. That is the question.___David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social DAVID BAUDER Bauder is the APs national media writer, covering the intersection of news, politics and entertainment. He is based in New York. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

2025-05-06T12:02:40Z JERUSALEM (AP) Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said Tuesday that Israeli strikes had hit the capital, Sanaa, shortly after Israels military issued a warning for people to evacuate the area of Yemens international airport. There was no immediate information on any casualties.The Houthis satellite news channel said the strikes had hit Sanaa International Airport. They came a day after Israel launched airstrikes Monday night in retaliation for a missile strike the previous day on Israels international airport.We urge you to immediately evacuate the area of the airport and to warn anyone nearby to distance themselves immediately, spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on social media, attaching a map of Sanaa International Airport. Failure to evacuate the area endangers your lives.On Monday night, Israel targeted the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemens Red Sea province of Hodeida, killing at least one person and wounding 35. The rebels media office said at least six strikes hit the crucial Hodeida port. Others hit a cement factory in the district of Bajil, 55 kilometers (34 miles) northeast of Hodeida, the rebels said. The Houthis on Sunday launched a missile that struck an access road near Israels main airport near Tel Aviv, briefly halting flights and commuter traffic. Four people were lightly injured. It was the first time a missile struck the grounds of Israels main airport, Ben Gurion, since the October 2023 start of the war in Gaza. It prompted a flurry of flight cancellations. The Houthis have targeted Israel throughout the war in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, raising their profile as the last member of Irans self-described Axis of Resistance capable of launching regular attacks on Israel.The U.S. military under President Donald Trump has launched an intensified campaign of airstrikes targeting the Houthis since March 15. While most missiles launched by the Houthis have been intercepted, some have penetrated Israels missile defense systems, causing damage.Israel has repeatedly struck against the rebels in Yemen.It struck Hodeida and its oil infrastructure in July after a Houthi drone attack killed one person and wounded 10 in Tel Aviv. In September, Israel struck Hodeida again, killing at least four people after a missile targeted Ben Gurion airport as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was returning to the country. In December, Israeli strikes killed at least nine people in Hodeida.___Associated Press writers Jon Gambrel in Dubai and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Nature, Published online: 06 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01341-3Hungry house-sparrows destroy primroses and bees dance to direct others to sweetness, in our weekly dip into Natures archive.

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Elon Musks Grok, an AI chatbot that people can interact with via X, is being used to undress photos women are posting to the social media platform, as first flagged t0 404 Media by Kolina Koltai, a researcher and trainer at Bellingcat. All a user has to do is reply to an image someone has posted to X with a request to Grok to remove her clothes. Grok will then reply in-thread with an image of the woman wearing a bikini or lingerie. Sometimes Grok will reply with a link that will send users to a Grok chat where the image will be generated.Musk has repeatedly positioned Grok as a less restricted and based alternative to other large language models like OpenAIs ChatGPT, which are known for having strong guardrails that prevent users from generating some controversial content, including nudity or adult content. Weve reported on undress and nudify bots and apps many times over the years, and they are usually more exploitative in the sense that they will produce full nude images of anyone a user provides an image of. But Groks remove her clothes function is particularly bad even if it only produces images of people in swimsuits and lingerie because of how accessible the tool is, because it allows users to reply to publicly posted images on X with a prompt that will undress them, and because the nonconsensual image if often posted in reply to the users original image.Searching X for the instruction to undress photos of users returns dozens of users who are attempting to do so. Judging by the large number of users who did this starting in early May, and who they were targeting, it seems the practice was first popularized by Kenyan X users. A Kenyan news site, Citizen Digital, wrote about users complaining about Grok doing this earlier today.Hi, @grok. Please review the attached screenshot containing both an image and prompt text. Deeply concerning, Phumzile Van Damme, a Harvard tech and human rights fellow, wrote on X. Do you have system-level safety and content moderation guardrails, such as fine-tuned refusal mechanisms, filtered decoding, or reinforcement learning from RLHF to prevent the generation of sexually explicit, non-consensual content, including prompts asking it to undress a person? If so, how are these safeguards implemented at model and output levels?Grok replied to this complaint, saying that I sincerely apologize to @[REDACTED] for the distress caused by the inappropriate alteration of her image. This incident highlights a gap in our safeguards, which failed to block a harmful prompt, violating our ethical standards on consent and privacy [...] We are also reviewing our policies to ensure clearer consent protocols and will provide updates on our progress.At the time of writing, however, Grok was still generating these images.Yall utilizing grok badly but also Im so ashamed that yall actually find this funny, another user wrote on X. Using AI to strip clothes off someone isnt curiosity, its violation. If thats your idea of fun, you need more therapy than tech.Grok will reject prompts that ask to make people entirely nude.Ethical concerns arise with this request, as altering images to depict nudity can violate privacy and consent, especially since the original poster (@[REDACTED]) may not have agreed to such modifications, Grok said in response to a request from a user to undress a photo of a woman after it had already modified her original photograph to make her seem like she was wearing just her underwear.X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nature, Published online: 06 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01379-3Bringing together proponents of rival theories to test their ideas against each other can advance science but only if all sides can accept that they might be wrong.

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Drone strikes hit a fuel depot, airport and a hotel in Port Sudan, bringing violence to a city that had so far been spared in the devastating civil war.

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In this photo taken April 6, 2016, a sign at the federal courthouse in Tacoma, Wash., is shown to inform visitors of the federal government's REAL ID act. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)2025-05-06T15:32:15Z WASHINGTON (AP) Travelers who arent REAL ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.Kristi Noem told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step, Noem said.But people will be allowed to fly, she said. We will make sure its as seamless as possible.REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005, but implementation has been repeatedly delayed. REBECCA SANTANA Santana covers the Department of Homeland Security for The Associated Press. She has extensive experience reporting in such places as Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. twitter mailto

Youth ballplayer Grayson Cole, left, waits for his game to get underway with his Savannah Banana sliding mitt in his back pocket on April 27, 2025 in Monroeville, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)2025-05-06T15:20:52Z PITTSBURGH (AP) Andrew McCutchen hasnt had the conversation with his 7-year-old son Steel yet, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star knows its probably coming at some point.Steel, already playing in a youth baseball league, will probably come home at one point and ask his five-time All-Star father if he can have whatever hot item his teammates might be rocking during a given spring.McCutchen plans to accommodate Steel up to a point. The oldest of McCutchens four children is already rocking an arm sleeve, just the way dad does.Yet if Steel is hoping his father will spring for a sliding mitt a padded glove a player can slip over one of their hands to protect it should the hand get stepped on while diving head-first for a base he probably shouldnt get his hopes up.McCutchen, who has stolen 220 bases at the major league level, has never worn one. And hes quick to point out the next time the cleat of a fielder mashes his hand will also be the first. Still, the 38-year-old understands. Once upon a time, he was a 20-something who epitomized baseball cool, from his dreadlocks (long since shorn) to his goatee to his rope chain to the occasional skull cap he wore underneath his batting helmet, all of it designed to accentuate McCutchens innate blend of talent and charisma. Its all about the drip, McCutchen said with a smile.Even if the drip (Gen Z slang for stylish clothes and their accessories) emphasizes fashion over function, particularly when it comes to the gloves which look a bit like oven mitts that are becoming just as ubiquitous in the Little Leagues as they are in the major leagues. Safety and self-expressionFormer major leaguer Scott Podsednik (career stolen base total: 309) is credited with inventing the sliding mitt during the late stages of his 11-year career. Tired of having his hand stepped on, Podsednik worked with a hand therapist for a solution. The initial mitts were relatively simple. A 2009 picture of Podsednik sliding into second base shows his left hand covered in what looks like a padded modified batting glove, all wrapped in black to match the trim on his Chicago White Sox uniform. Chicago White Soxs Scott Podsednik steals second base during a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, June 29, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) Chicago White Soxs Scott Podsednik steals second base during a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, June 29, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Things have gotten considerably more intricate over the years. Google sliding mitt designs and youll find themes ranging from the American flag to an ice cream cone to aliens to a poop emoji ( yes, really ).Scott McMillen, a lawyer in the Chicago area, had no plans to get into the baseball accessory business. He first took notice of sliding mitts when his son Braydon, then 10, pointed out one of his teammates had one and said basically, Oh hey dad, wouldnt it be nice if I had one, too.They headed to a local sporting goods store, where McMillen was surprised at the variety available.That was around 2021. By early 2024, McMillen had launched Goatd, a specialty baseball accessory company with everything from sliding mitts to batting gloves to arm sleeves to headbands and more, many of them religiously inspired. Sales during their first full year? Over 1 million units. We were surprised at how large the marketplace is, McMillen said.Maybe he shouldnt have been.Youth sports have bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aspen Institutes 2024 State of Play report noted that the participation levels in sports among children ages 6-17 were the highest theyve been since 2015. Baseballs numbers have steadied following a decline. Little League International told The Associated Press last fall that more than 2 million kids played baseball or softball under its umbrella across the world, an uptick over 2019.Many of those kids are also fans of the game, some of whom may have noticed their favorite major leaguer sporting a mitt when theyre on the bases. Yes, that was San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. sliding across home plate ( feet first, by the way ) with a bright yellow mitt on his left hand in the ninth inning of a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh last weekend.Its one of the many ways in which the game has evolved over the years. When McMillen grew up, there wasnt much swag to go around. We had our baseball uniform and our glove (and) everyone looked the same, everyone was the same, he said. Now, everyone wants to express themselves individually. The best way to do that without acting like a clown is to wear something that shows people who you are.Self-expression, however, doesnt exactly come cheap, particularly in an era where top-of-the-line bats are $400 or more. What amounts to an entry-level sliding mitt can go for $40, but Goatd and others have versions that can fetch double that. That hasnt stopped sales from being brisk, and McMillen points out its not merely a luxury item.We dont play football with 1940s safety equipment, he said. You feel better in the (batters) box when you have something that protects you, right? With a sliding mitt, its also like, Hey this is fun. Its cool. I want to be like my fave high school player, like my favorite college player. Its becoming increasingly common for McMillen and other members of the companys staff to spot Goatd gear at the field. In recent months, theyve popped up in youth tournaments from Georgia to Las Vegas, sometimes in the back pockets of players as young as 6 or 7. McMillen cant help but shake his head to see his product become part of the time-honored tradition of kids imitating their heroes.Which is good for business and, oh by the way, probably unnecessary.The pressure to keep upHeres the thing: In most if not all youth baseball leagues, head-first slides that would require a player to stretch out their hand to secure the bag are illegal.In Little League, for example, stealing bases for players 12-and-under is rare because the player can only take off after the ball has reached the batter. And even if they do bolt for the next base, they have to slide feet first. The only times in Little League that a baserunner can dive head-first toward a base is when they are returning to it while in a rundown or during a pick-off attempt, both of which are also rare.That doesnt stop the players from wanting a sliding mitt. It also doesnt stop their parents from buying them, all part of the pressure to keep up with the Jones that has practically been a part of youth sports culture since the first time somebody came to practice with a batting glove or wristbands.Its a phenomenon Chelsea Cahill and her family have known for years. The longtime educator who lives just east of Columbus, Ohio, has spent most of the last decade shuttling her three boys from practice to games to tournaments.What she and her husband have learned over the years is that some trends come and go, but the pressure to have the right stuff remains.Theres always that feeling of This is the next new thing or This is what youve got to get, Cahill said.They appeased their sons up to a point, but only up to a point.Last summer their youngest son Braxton, then 11, and the rest of the kids on his travel team kept pestering their parents to buy sliding mitts. Entering the final tournament, the team moms decided to give in. Sort of.Rather than plop down that kind of money for something they didnt actually need, the moms headed to a local dollar store and bought them actual oven mitts the kind used to pull tonights dinner from out of the oven. Average retail price? Less than a cup of coffee at the gas station.Oh, and the kids loved them, and wore them during the game. Cahill posted video of them playing with the mitts stuck in their back pocket to her TikTok account. The video is now at 12 million views and counting. @cahillcrew not a slide in sight though #baseballmoms #prank original sound - DJ KP They thought it was hilarious, but we didnt really think they would wear them for the rest of the tournament, Cahill said. We were wrong. They really embraced it!Among viewers of that TikTok, by the way, were the people at Goatd, who sent Braxton a couple of mitts as a result.The good news is, Cahill now wont have to buy one for Braxton this spring. Yet theres also something else she has learned through the years: this time in her boys lives is fleeting.For proof, just look at her calendar. Her two older sons the ones who played travel baseball just like Braxton, and asked for all the cool stuff their teammates had, just like Braxton has gave up baseball by the time they got to high school.Her advice to parents who might be feeling the financial pinch of what it takes to play these days: relax.Weve learned as parents is to stop taking it so seriously, she said. Theyre kids. Let them have fun.The realityA day after hundreds of members of the Monroeville Baseball and Softball Association marched through the Pittsburgh suburbs well-appointed community park, the regular season is in full swing.All four fields are alive with the chatter of coaches, parents and boys and girls aged anywhere from 5-12.Over on Field 1, the Rays are in the middle of their season opener. Playing first base, Josiah Jones has his glove at the ready, with a black sliding mitt noticeably sticking out of his left back pocket.Per the league rules, the Rays and the other players at the Bronco level (ages 11-12), play actual full-on baseball. They can take leads and steal bases whenever they like, though head-first slides are only allowed when returning to a base, just like in Little League.Longtime MBSA executive commissioner Josh Playssmeyer is milling about, trying to keep tabs on everything. Plassmeyer outlawed sliding mitts on his son Grants 10-and-under tournament team, calling them a distraction because players would spend so much time fiddling with them once they got to first base, they would miss signs from the third-base coach.About 50 feet away, Jones settles into the box and rips a ball to left-center field. His long legs carry him past first base, and he cruises into second with an easy double. As his teammates erupted in the dugout, Jones beamed for a brief moment. Then, as the opposing pitcher stepped onto the rubber, he took an aggressive lead off second and eyed third. His back pocket, the one where his sliding mitt had been 30 minutes before, was empty.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb WILL GRAVES Graves is a national writer for The Associated Press, based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NFL, MLB, NHL, the Olympics and major college sports. twitter facebook mailto

A patient receives a dental procedure at Salt Lake Donated Dental Services, a clinic serving low-income Utah residents, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)2025-05-06T15:03:49Z SALT LAKE CITY (AP) With Utahs first-in-the-nation ban on fluoride in public drinking water set to take effect Wednesday, dentists who treat children and low-income patients say theyre bracing for an increase in tooth decay among the states most vulnerable people.Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed the law against the recommendation of many dentists and national health experts who warn removing fluoride will harm tooth development, especially in young patients without regular access to dental care.The bills sponsor, Republican Rep. Stephanie Gricius, said she does not dispute that fluoride can have some benefits but thinks people should not be given it by the government without their informed consent.U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. applauded Utah for being the first state to enact a ban and said he plans to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation nationwide.Florida could soon become the second state to ban fluoride under a bill awaiting Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signature. The Ohio and South Carolina legislatures are considering similar measures. Many patients not in the knowA majority of Utah water systems already did not add fluoride. The state ranked 44th in the nation for the percentage of residents receiving fluoridated water, with about 2 in 5 receiving it in 2022, according to CDC data. The law will impact about 1.6 million people in Salt Lake City and elsewhere in northern Utah who are losing fluoridation, state officials say.Dentists in Salt Lake City over the past week said many patients were unaware of the upcoming ban, and most did not realize the city had been adding fluoride to their drinking water for nearly two decades.I did not know about a ban, said Noe Figueroa, a patient at Salt Lake Donated Dental Services, a clinic that provides free or heavily discounted dental treatment to low-income residents. Well, thats not good. I dont think thats good at all. At Donated Dental, providers expect their monthslong waitlist for childrens procedures to grow significantly and their need for volunteer dentists to skyrocket. The effects of the ban in childrens teeth will likely be visible within the next year, said Sasha Harvey, the clinics executive director.Right now, were scheduling into August and September for some 2-, 3-, 4-year-olds that are in so much pain that they cant eat properly, and theres nothing we can do but tell parents, Youre gonna have to wait. Its heartbreaking, Harvey said, adding that its likely to get much worse. A public health achievement under scrutinyThe fluoridation process involves supplementing the low levels of naturally occurring fluoride in most water to reach the 0.7 milligrams per liter recommended by the CDC for cavity prevention. Water treatment plants dump fluoride into the water in liquid or powder form and often use dosing pumps to adjust the levels.Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population receives fluoridated drinking water, according to health officials. It was long considered among the greatest public health achievements of the last century.Fluoride fortifies teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the CDC. Its especially important to children whose teeth are still developing. For some low-income families, public drinking water containing fluoride may be their only source of preventative dental care. Some supporters of the Utah law pointed to studies linking high levels of fluoride exposure to illness and low IQ in kids. The National Institutes of Health says its virtually impossible to get a toxic dose from fluoride added to water or toothpaste at standard levels.The governor said that, like many people in Utah, he grew up and raised his children in a community without fluoridated water. Before signing the bill, Cox said there is no difference in health outcomes between communities with and without fluoride a statement Utah dentists say is false.Any dentist can look in someones mouth in Utah and tell exactly where they grew up. Did you grow up in a fluoridated area or a non-fluoridated area? We can tell by the level of decay, said Dr. James Bekker, a pediatric dentist at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Barriers to fluoride supplementsThe law shifts responsibility to individuals, meaning all Utah residents will need to be proactive about their oral health, Harvey said. Most patients at her clinic only come in when a toothache becomes unbearable, and many cannot spare the few dollars a month needed to buy fluoride supplements to add to their drinking water at home.Figueroa, the free dental clinic patient, said other expenses take priority.Fluoride toothpaste alone is insufficient for children because it doesnt penetrate the tooths outer layer, Bekker said. When a person regularly ingests fluoridated water, their saliva bathes the teeth in fluoride throughout the day and makes them stronger. Bekker said he recommends Utah parents add fluoride supplements to their childrens drinking water. But for families who dont visit doctors regularly, that may prove difficult.Fluoride tablets require a prescription from a doctor or dentist. Utah providers are working to make the supplement accessible over the counter, but Bekker said that change may be months or years away. HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Schoenbaum is a government and politics reporter based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also covers general news in the Rockies and LGBTQ+ rights policies in U.S. statehouses. twitter mailto

Youth ballplayer Grayson Cole, left, waits for his game to get underway with his Savannah Banana sliding mitt in his back pocket on April 27, 2025 in Monroeville, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)2025-05-06T15:20:52Z PITTSBURGH (AP) Andrew McCutchen hasnt had the conversation with his 7-year-old son Steel yet, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star knows its probably coming at some point.Steel, already playing in a youth baseball league, will probably come home at one point and ask his five-time All-Star father if he can have whatever hot item his teammates might be rocking during a given spring.McCutchen plans to accommodate Steel up to a point. The oldest of McCutchens four children is already rocking an arm sleeve, just the way dad does.Yet if Steel is hoping his father will spring for a sliding mitt a padded glove a player can slip over one of their hands to protect it should the hand get stepped on while diving head-first for a base he probably shouldnt get his hopes up.McCutchen, who has stolen 220 bases at the major league level, has never worn one. And hes quick to point out the next time the cleat of a fielder mashes his hand will also be the first. Still, the 38-year-old understands. Once upon a time, he was a 20-something who epitomized baseball cool, from his dreadlocks (long since shorn) to his goatee to his rope chain to the occasional skull cap he wore underneath his batting helmet, all of it designed to accentuate McCutchens innate blend of talent and charisma. Its all about the drip, McCutchen said with a smile.Even if the drip (Gen Z slang for stylish clothes and their accessories) emphasizes fashion over function, particularly when it comes to the gloves which look a bit like oven mitts that are becoming just as ubiquitous in the Little Leagues as they are in the major leagues. Safety and self-expressionFormer major leaguer Scott Podsednik (career stolen base total: 309) is credited with inventing the sliding mitt during the late stages of his 11-year career.Tired of having his hand stepped on, Podsednik worked with a hand therapist for a solution. The initial mitts were relatively simple. A 2009 picture of Podsednik sliding into second base shows his left hand covered in what looks like a padded modified batting glove, all wrapped in black to match the trim on his Chicago White Sox uniform. Things have gotten considerably more intricate over the years. Google sliding mitt designs and youll find themes ranging from the American flag to an ice cream cone to aliens to a poop emoji ( yes, really ).Scott McMillen, a lawyer in the Chicago area, had no plans to get into the baseball accessory business. He first took notice of sliding mitts when his son Braydon, then 10, pointed out one of his teammates had one and said basically, Oh hey dad, wouldnt it be nice if I had one, too.They headed to a local sporting goods store, where McMillen was surprised at the variety available.That was around 2021. By early 2024, McMillen had launched Goatd, a specialty baseball accessory company with everything from sliding mitts to batting gloves to arm sleeves to headbands and more, many of them religiously inspired. Sales during their first full year? Over 1 million units. We were surprised at how large the marketplace is, McMillen said.Maybe he shouldnt have been.Youth sports have bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aspen Institutes 2024 State of Play report noted that the participation levels in sports among children ages 6-17 were the highest theyve been since 2015. Baseballs numbers have steadied following a decline. Little League International told The Associated Press last fall that more than 2 million kids played baseball or softball under its umbrella across the world, an uptick over 2019.Many of those kids are also fans of the game, some of whom may have noticed their favorite major leaguer sporting a mitt when theyre on the bases. Yes, that was San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. sliding across home plate ( feet first, by the way ) with a bright yellow mitt on his left hand in the ninth inning of a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh last weekend.Its one of the many ways in which the game has evolved over the years. When McMillen grew up, there wasnt much swag to go around. We had our baseball uniform and our glove (and) everyone looked the same, everyone was the same, he said. Now, everyone wants to express themselves individually. The best way to do that without acting like a clown is to wear something that shows people who you are.Self-expression, however, doesnt exactly come cheap, particularly in an era where top-of-the-line bats are $400 or more. What amounts to an entry-level sliding mitt can go for $40, but Goatd and others have versions that can fetch double that. That hasnt stopped sales from being brisk, and McMillen points out its not merely a luxury item.We dont play football with 1940s safety equipment, he said. You feel better in the (batters) box when you have something that protects you, right? With a sliding mitt, its also like, Hey this is fun. Its cool. I want to be like my fave high school player, like my favorite college player. Its becoming increasingly common for McMillen and other members of the companys staff to spot Goatd gear at the field. In recent months, theyve popped up in youth tournaments from Georgia to Las Vegas, sometimes in the back pockets of players as young as 6 or 7. McMillen cant help but shake his head to see his product become part of the time-honored tradition of kids imitating their heroes.Which is good for business and, oh by the way, probably unnecessary.The pressure to keep upHeres the thing: In most if not all youth baseball leagues, head-first slides that would require a player to stretch out their hand to secure the bag are illegal.In Little League, for example, stealing bases for players 12-and-under is rare because the player can only take off after the ball has reached the batter. And even if they do bolt for the next base, they have to slide feet first. The only times in Little League that a baserunner can dive head-first toward a base is when they are returning to it while in a rundown or during a pick-off attempt, both of which are also rare.That doesnt stop the players from wanting a sliding mitt. It also doesnt stop their parents from buying them, all part of the pressure to keep up with the Jones that has practically been a part of youth sports culture since the first time somebody came to practice with a batting glove or wristbands.Its a phenomenon Chelsea Cahill and her family have known for years. The longtime educator who lives just east of Columbus, Ohio, has spent most of the last decade shuttling her three boys from practice to games to tournaments.What she and her husband have learned over the years is that some trends come and go, but the pressure to have the right stuff remains.Theres always that feeling of This is the next new thing or This is what youve got to get, Cahill said.They appeased their sons up to a point, but only up to a point.Last summer their youngest son Braxton, then 11, and the rest of the kids on his travel team kept pestering their parents to buy sliding mitts. Entering the final tournament, the team moms decided to give in. Sort of.Rather than plop down that kind of money for something they didnt actually need, the moms headed to a local dollar store and bought them actual oven mitts the kind used to pull tonights dinner from out of the oven. Average retail price? Less than a cup of coffee at the gas station.Oh, and the kids loved them, and wore them during the game. Cahill posted video of them playing with the mitts stuck in their back pocket to her TikTok account. The video is now at 12 million views and counting.They thought it was hilarious, but we didnt really think they would wear them for the rest of the tournament, Cahill said. We were wrong. They really embraced it!Among viewers of that TikTok, by the way, were the people at Goatd, who sent Braxton a couple of mitts as a result.The good news is, Cahill now wont have to buy one for Braxton this spring. Yet theres also something else she has learned through the years: this time in her boys lives is fleeting.For proof, just look at her calendar. Her two older sons the ones who played travel baseball just like Braxton, and asked for all the cool stuff their teammates had, just like Braxton has gave up baseball by the time they got to high school.Her advice to parents who might be feeling the financial pinch of what it takes to play these days: relax.Weve learned as parents is to stop taking it so seriously, she said. Theyre kids. Let them have fun.The realityA day after hundreds of members of the Monroeville Baseball and Softball Association marched through the Pittsburgh suburbs well-appointed community park, the regular season is in full swing.All four fields are alive with the chatter of coaches, parents and boys and girls aged anywhere from 5-12.Over on Field 1, the Rays are in the middle of their season opener. Playing first base, Josiah Jones has his glove at the ready, with a black sliding mitt noticeably sticking out of his left back pocket.Per the league rules, the Rays and the other players at the Bronco level (ages 11-12), play actual full-on baseball. They can take leads and steal bases whenever they like, though head-first slides are only allowed when returning to a base, just like in Little League.Longtime MBSA executive commissioner Josh Playssmeyer is milling about, trying to keep tabs on everything. Plassmeyer outlawed sliding mitts on his son Grants 10-and-under tournament team, calling them a distraction because players would spend so much time fiddling with them once they got to first base, they would miss signs from the third-base coach.About 50 feet away, Jones settles into the box and rips a ball to left-center field. His long legs carry him past first base, and he cruises into second with an easy double. As his teammates erupted in the dugout, Jones beamed for a brief moment. Then, as the opposing pitcher stepped onto the rubber, he took an aggressive lead off second and eyed third. His back pocket, the one where his sliding mitt had been 30 minutes before, was empty.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb WILL GRAVES Graves is a national writer for The Associated Press, based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NFL, MLB, NHL, the Olympics and major college sports. twitter facebook mailto