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Demonstrators protest the policies of President Donald Trump, the Congress, and the delay in the Epstein investigation as lawmakers return from the August recess, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2025-09-02T22:29:44Z WASHINGTON (AP) The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday publicly posted the files it has received from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, responding to mounting pressure in Congress to force more disclosure in the case.Still, the files mostly contain information that was already publicly known or available. The folders posted on Google Drive contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 as he faced charges for sexually abusing teenage girls, and Maxwell, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for assisting him.The files also included video appearing to be body cam footage from police searches as well as recordings and summaries of law enforcement interviews with victims detailing the abuse they said they suffered. The committees release of the files showed how lawmakers are eager to act on the issue as they return to Washington after a monthlong break. They quickly revived a political clash that has flummoxed House Republican leadership and roiled President Donald Trumps administration. House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quell an effort by Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all the information in the so-called Epstein files, with the exception of the victims personal information. Whats in the released filesIf the purpose of the release was to provide answers to a public still curious over the long concluded cases, the raw mechanics of the clunky rollout made that a challenge.The committee at 6 p.m. released thousands of pages and videos via the cumbersome Google Drive, leaving it to readers and viewers to decipher new and interesting tidbits on their own.The files released Tuesday included audio of an Epstein employee describing to a law enforcement official how there were a lot of girls that were very, very young visiting the home but couldnt say for sure if they were minors. Over the course of Epsteins visits to the home, the man said, more than a dozen girls might visit, and he was charged with cleaning the room where Epstein had massages, twice daily.Some pages were almost entirely redacted. Other documents related to Epsteins Florida prosecution that led to a plea deal that has long been criticized as too lenient, including emails between the defense and prosecutors over the conditions of his probation after his conviction. Barbara Burns, a Palm Beach County prosecutor, expressed frustration as the defense pushed for fewer restrictions on their client: I dont know how to convey to him anymore than I already have that his client is a registered sex offender that was fortunate to get the deal of the century.Some of the interviews with officers from the Palm Beach Police Department date to 2005, according to timestamps read out by officials at the beginning of the files.Most, if not all, of the text documents posted Tuesday had already been public. Notably, the probable cause affidavit and other records from the 2005 investigation into Epstein contained a notation indicating that theyd been previously released in a 2017 public records request. An internet search showed those files were posted to the website of the Palm Beach County State Attorneys Office in July 2017. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, chided Republicans on the panel for releasing material that he said consisted almost entirely of already available information.The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to release were already mostly public information. To the American people dont let this fool you, Garcia said in a statement.The disclosure also left open the question of why the Justice Department did not release the material directly to the public instead of operating through Capitol Hill. Survivors meet with lawmakersOn Capitol Hill Tuesday, the House speaker and a bipartisan group of lawmakers met with survivors of abuse by Epstein and Maxwell.The objective here is not just to uncover, investigate the Epstein evils, but also to ensure that this never happens again and ultimately to find out why justice has been delayed for these ladies for so very long, said Johnson, R-La., after he emerged from a two-hour meeting with six of the survivors.It is inexcusable. And it will stop now because the Congress is dialed in on this, he added.But there are still intense disagreements on how lawmakers should proceed. Johnson is pressing for the inquiry to be handled by the House Oversight Committee and supporting the committee as it releases its findings. Push for disclosure continuesMeanwhile, Democrats and some Republicans were still trying to maneuver around Johnsons control of the House floor to hold a vote on their bill to require the Justice Department to publicly release files. Democrats lined up in the House chamber Tuesday evening to sign a petition from Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, to force a vote. Three other Republicans also supported the maneuver, but Massie would need two more GOP lawmakers and every Democrat to be successful.If Massie, who is pressing for the bill alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is able to force a vote which could take weeks the legislation would still need to pass the Senate and be signed into law by Trump. The clash suggests little has changed in Congress since late July, when Johnson sent lawmakers home early in hopes of cooling the political battle over the Epstein case. Members of both parties remain dissatisfied and are demanding more details on the years-old investigation into Epstein, the wealthy and well-connected financier whose 2019 death has sparked wide-ranging conspiracy theories and speculation.We continue to bring the pressure. Were not going to stop until we get justice for all of the survivors and the victims, Garcia told reporters.___Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Kevin Freking and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington, Mike Sisak in New York and Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina, contributed. STEPHEN GROVES Groves covers Congress for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

Fire Island Pines said goodbye to summer with a weekend packed full of music, poolside fun and plenty of celebrity cameos. Tristan Schukraft and Tryst Hospitality once again transformed Labor Day into a Pines tradition, delivering parties that kept the island buzzing until sunrise.Sniffies Function Brings the HeatThe festivities kicked off Friday night at the Pavilion, where the Sniffies Function drew a wall-to-wall crowd. The dance floor pulsed into the early hours as partygoers celebrated the seasons last hurrah. Among those spotted letting loose were RuPauls Drag Race alum Kandy Muse and pop powerhouse Adam Lambert, blending seamlessly into a crowd ready for one final blowout.Lina Bradford Returns for High TeaSaturday afternoon belonged to Fire Island royalty. Lina Bradford, who hosted the very first High Tea in Pines history, returned to the Pavilion to close the season. Her set mixed nostalgic beats with new grooves, and fans showered her with love. Even Real Housewives of New York star Sonja Morgan made an appearance, keeping the momentum high as the drinks flowed and the dance floor stayed packed.Poolside Partying with Sonja MorganThe sun stayed out just long enough for the Tryst Pool Club Party to steal the spotlight later that day. Hosted by Morgan herself, the event featured games, performances and plenty of champagne-fueled antics. Drag favorite Pixie Aventura was crowned Queen of the Pool Club, while the Tryst Dancers worked the decks and the crowd. With towels tossed aside and beats blasting, it was a quintessential Pines afternoon.Looking Ahead to Next SeasonAs the last drinks were poured and the music wound down, Schukraft teased that the summer of 2026 will raise the bar even higher. Fire Island Pines has long been a destination for unforgettable weekends, and with new projects already in the works, partygoers can expect next years send-off to be bigger than ever.Source

Benoit Blanc is coming back just in time for the holidaysand yes, hes bringing a whole new roster of suspects with him. Netflix has confirmed that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will hit select theaters on Nov. 26 for a two-week run before streaming worldwide on Dec. 12.Meet the New Flock of SuspectsThis time, Blanc (Daniel Craig) trades tech billionaires and vacation villas for something a little holierthough no less shady. The official synopsis promises his darkest case yet as he unravels a murder inside a church congregation led by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). The parish roll call is stacked: Glenn Close as a sharp-tongued church lady, Kerry Washington as a tightly-wound lawyer, Jeremy Renner as the town doctor, Andrew Scott as a best-selling author, Cailee Spaeny as a concert cellist, and Josh OConnor as a young priest with secrets of his own. Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church round out the crew.And lets not forget: Blanc isnt just bringing his magnifying glasshes also bringing much-needed queer representation. Director Rian Johnson confirmed in 2022 that the detective is canonically queer after audiences saw him at home with his partner Phillip (played by Hugh Grant) in Glass Onion. Netflix says the new mystery leans heavily into its religious backdrop, with a young priest at the center of the drama. Director Rian Johnson explained why the setting felt so fitting: Themes of guilt, mystery, morality, and fallible humanity all feel right at home in a church, with a man of God in the center of the mix, he told Netflix. I have strong feelings about faith: both my own personal experience and how it intersects with our countrys cultural and civic life, and the ways that intersection touches all of us differently. So it felt like rich ground for a good story.Johnson Wants the Big ScreenWith this being Johnsons third film in the franchise, hes not holding back. Speaking to Business Insider, the filmmaker said hes pushing for Wake Up Dead Man to play in as many theaters for as long as possible. As he put it, I want as many people as possible to see it in that form.So mark your calendars: whether you catch it on the big screen or stream it at home, Blancs back, baby. See the new teaser art below. Source

The film received an 11-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

Venus Williams' first Grand Slam tournament in two years ended Tuesday when she and Leylah Fernandez lost in the US Open women's doubles quarterfinals to the top-seeded duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-2.

The vessel was transporting illegal narcotics through international waters to the United States, the president said.

The rapper and pop star had been accused in a lawsuit of scratching and spitting on a security guard in 2018.

A federal judges remedy stops short of making meaningful changes to how we use our phones, computers and the web.

The move came as Republican leaders pressed colleagues not to force a vote on disclosing all the material. Most of what was released Tuesday was not new.

Also, Google is ordered to share search data with rivals. Heres the latest at the end of Tuesday.

The Bills wide receiver helped local rescue, Nickel City Canine Rescue, with a transfer of dogs from Clarke County Animal Shelter.

The Rockies' Kyle Freeland along with the Giants' Matt Chapman and Willy Adames were ejected following a benches-clearing incident that started after Rafael Devers hit a two-run home run.

Front from left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)2025-09-03T00:58:52Z BEIJING (AP) Chinese leader Xi Jinping, speaking before a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, said Wednesday that humanity today must choose between peace and war and between dialogue and confrontation.Xi started a brief address by remembering the victims of the war and called for eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself.But Xis main message was forward looking: Today, China is strong, fears no one and is ready to take a leading role in the world.The Chinese people are a people that are not afraid of violence and are self-reliant and strong, he said. At the same time, We will adhere to the path of peaceful development and work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind.The parade began after he spoke with troops marching in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, for a review by Xi, who is also head of Chinas military as chairman of the Central Military Commission. The parade will showcase missiles, modern fighter jets and other military might as China seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage. Some of the military hardware is on public view for the first time. Before they started marching, Xi rode by the entire length of the formations along Beijings central Changan Avenue in a classic-style black limousine. He stood up through an opening in a roof with four microphones lined in front of him and greeted flanks of troops as he passed them and rows of missiles and military vehicles. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. They shouted back mottos in unison such as We serve the people. Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem, the March of the Volunteers, a song composed in 1935 during the early years of resistance against invading Japanese forces. Xi and his invited guests including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived earlier at the historic Tiananmen Gate to watch the parade. Xi shook hands individually with guests on a red carpet before they climbed the stairs up to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square.Putin and Kim flanked Xi as they made their way to the platform. They paused to shake hands with five WWII veterans, some older than 100.As the parade got underway, U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the big question is whether Xi will recognize the contributions of Americans who fought in the war. He added: Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.Xi, in his remarks, did not mention America by name but expressed his gratitude to foreign countries who helped China resist the Japanese invasion.Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show how far China has come. China was a major front in the war, a fact often overlooked in accounts that focus more on the fight for Europe and U.S. naval battles in the Pacific. A Japanese invasion before the war and the conflict itself killed millions of Chinese people. The military parade is also a show of strength to boost support for the Communist Party and its leader, Xi, domestically, and a way to portray itself as a global alternative to the American-dominated postwar era. The Chinese peoples rejuvenation cannot be blocked, and the noble goal of the peaceful development of human civilization must triumph, Xi said at the end of his speech. The ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem, the March of the Volunteers, a song composed in 1935 during the early years of resistance against Japanese forces in the country.A sea of people sat in clearly demarcated sections on the square across the wide avenue as the soldiers marched past. They waved small red flags as choirs sang patriotic songs including Defend the Yellow River and No New China without the Communist Party of China.___Associated Press writers Huizhong Wu in Beijing and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report. KEN MORITSUGU Moritsugu covers political, economic and social issues from Beijing for The Associated Press. He has also reported from New Delhi, Bangkok and Tokyo and is the APs former news director for Greater China and for Japan and the Koreas. twitter

Shohei Ohtani hit his 100th home run with the Dodgers in his 294th game with the team, the fastest in franchise history.

Kim Ju-aes presence at a major gathering of world leaders is the latest sign that North Koreas dictator considers her a successor, analysts said.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-09-03T03:21:13Z WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who argued the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation. Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: The Trump administrations use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administrations view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts. The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador where, it argued, U.S. courts could not order them freed. In a deal announced in July, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela. The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars in the War of 1812 and the two World Wars. The Trump administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the presidents determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuelas government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act. In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they found no invasion or predatory incursion in this case. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented. The majority opinion said Trumps allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act. A countrys encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States, the judges wrote.In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trumps conduct of foreign affairs, a realm where courts usually give the president great deference. The majoritys approach to this case is not only unprecedentedit is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent, Oldham wrote.The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights is appropriate. The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nolan McLean became the first Mets pitcher to win his first four career starts, retiring the final 14 batters he faced in a 12-5 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Novak Djokovic engaged in some back-and-forth with those in the crowd pulling for the last American man in the field as he advanced to a record-extending 53rd Grand Slam semifinal.

Dr. Shafik, who came under fire for her handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests last year, is now the chief economic adviser to Britains prime minister.

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois said the state was ready to fight the Trump administrations plan in court.

Armoured vehicles take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)2025-09-02T03:47:13Z BEIJING (AP) Some of the weapons and military units in Chinas major parade were being displayed for the first time.The parade on a central Beijing avenue Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Troops marched by President Xi Jinping, who heads the military as the chairman of the Central Military Commission. New units and equipmentMarching in the parade were traditional Peoples Liberation Army units from the navy and army, but also new ones like the cyberspace unit. The new unit is in charge of cybersecurity defense measures, according to the official Xinhua news agency, and also participated in live-fire drills.Another debut was the information support force, created in 2024 to build network information systems to support military combat readiness.Much of the weaponry and equipment in the parade was being shown to the public for the first time, according to Chinese military officials. They included land, sea and air-based strategic weapons, advanced precision warfare equipment and drones. Warplanes and helicopters flew in formation in the skies overhead. Chinese military helicopters fly over the central business district during a rehearsal ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Chinese military helicopters fly over the central business district during a rehearsal ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its the first major military parade in China since 2019 on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China. The parade aimed to instill pride in Chinas populace and assure them that the country is strong enough to ward off any attack. But Chinas growing military strength also concerns its Asian neighbors and the United States. Russia and North Korea headline guest list FILE - In this June 20, 2019, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, poses with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a photo at Kumsusan guest house in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) FILE - In this June 20, 2019, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, poses with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a photo at Kumsusan guest house in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More U.S. and Western European heads of state are staying away, as are the leaders of Japan, India and South Korea. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare foreign trip to attend. He was joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the president of Iran, among others.In all, about two dozen foreign leaders attended, including several from Southeast Asia and a few from Africa and South Asia. Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto arrived early Wednesday after being delayed by protests in his country over lawmakers perks.Parade mainly for invited guests A woman cycles past Tiananmen Gate where preparations are made ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A woman cycles past Tiananmen Gate where preparations are made ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The event was highly choreographed and tightly controlled. It wasnt the kind of parade where crowds line the streets to watch. Barriers were set up to keep the public one block away and commercial buildings along the parade route were emptied and closed until the parade ended. The subway system running along ChangAn ave was shut Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.For most people, the only way to watch was on television or a livestream.

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Nature, Published online: 03 September 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02750-0The worst excesses of industrial food production must be reined in, while ensuring people have access to adequate calories.

Nature, Published online: 03 September 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02754-wThese foods have been linked to obesity and other health troubles, but some scientists argue the grouping is too broad to guide dietary choices.

by Martha Pskowski, Inside Climate News, and Mark Olalde, ProPublica 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. Hakim Dermish moved to the small South Texas town of Catarina in 2002 in search of a rural lifestyle on a budget. The property where he lived with his wife didnt have electricity or sewer lines at first, but that didnt bother him.Even if we lived in a cardboard box, no one could kick us out, Dermish said. Back then, Catarina was a sleepy place. A decade later, oil and gas drilling picked up, and he welcomed the financial opportunities it brought. Dermish launched businesses to support the industry, offering everything from guards for drill sites to housing for oil field workers.The growth also brought flares flames burning off excess natural gas that blazed day and night at wells in the surrounding countryside. Initially enamored of the industrys potential, Dermish now worried that its pollution endangered the health of the towns 75 residents. He began lodging complaints with the state in 2023, asking it to push companies to control emissions.Inspectors with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigated, finding only a handful of violations, some of which the companies addressed. But that did little to allay the concerns of Dermish and his neighbors, who continued to see flares light up the sky and to smell gas wafting over the community.Starting first thing in the morning, talk about the stench. Then you call the state and nothing happens, Dermish said. They do absolutely nothing.His neighbor Lupe Campos, who worked in the oil fields for more than three decades, lives three blocks from a flare. Toxic hydrogen sulfide escapes from nearby wells, giving the air the smell of burnt rotten eggs, Campos said. Its hard to bear. Lupe Campos (Christopher Lee for ProPublica) While working to expand the nations oil and gas production, President Donald Trumps administration has maintained that drilling in the U.S. is cleaner than in other countries due to tighter environmental oversight. To mark Earth Day, for example, the White House boasted in a statement that increased natural gas exports meant the U.S. would be sharing cleaner energy with allies and reducing global emissions.But Texas, the heart of Americas oil and gas industry, tells a different story.Texas regulators tout their efforts to curtail oil field emissions by requiring drillers to obtain permits to release or burn gas from their wells.Yet a first-of-its-kind analysis of permit applications to the Railroad Commission of Texas, the states main oil and gas regulator, reveals a rubber-stamp system that allows drillers to emit vast amounts of natural gas into the atmosphere. Over 40 months from May 2021 to September 2024 oil companies applied for more than 12,000 flaring and venting permits, while the Railroad Commission rejected just 53 of them, a 99.6% approval rate, according to the data.Natural gas is composed mostly of climate-warming methane but also contains other gases such as hydrogen sulfide, which is deadly at high concentrations. Gas escapes as wells are drilled and before infrastructure is in place to capture it. It also can be intentionally released if pressure in the system poses a safety risk or if capturing and transporting it to be sold is not profitable. Typically, drillers burn the gas they dont capture, converting the methane to carbon dioxide, a less potent greenhouse gas, in a process called flaring. Sometimes, they release the gas without burning it, in a process called venting. The permit applications showed oil companies requested to flare or vent more than 195 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year, enough to power more than 3 million homes and generate millions of dollars of tax revenue had the gas been captured. Those emissions would have a climate-warming impact roughly equivalent to 27 gas-fired power plants operating year-round, even if the flares burned every molecule of methane released from the wells.Its a gargantuan amount of emissions, said Jack McDonald, senior analyst of energy policy and science for the environmental group Oilfield Witness. Because so much of this gas is methane and so much of it is either incompletely combusted or not combusted at all through the venting process, we see a huge climate impact. Oilfield Witness gathered and studied the Railroad Commission data on exemptions to the states flaring rules and shared it with ProPublica and Inside Climate News. The news organizations verified the data, including by soliciting input from professors at universities in Texas.Railroad Commission spokesperson R.J. DeSilva said in a statement that Texas has made significant progress in addressing methane emissions. Companies must provide evidence that flaring is necessary, and, when approving permits, the agency follows all applicable rules, he said. If an application lacks sufficient justification, it is returned with comments for clarification.I am proud of the progress that has been made to reduce the waste of our natural resources, Jim Wright, chair of the Railroad Commission, said in a statement, adding that there is always room for further improvement. Between May 2021 and September 2024, state regulators approved 280 permits to burn or vent natural gas in Dimmit County, which is home to the small town of Catarina and its 75 residents. (Christopher Lee for ProPublica) The analysis likely overstates emissions, since the near-guarantee that regulators will approve a permit gives companies an incentive to request authorization for amounts larger than they intend to emit to ensure theyre in compliance. For example, operators in four Texas counties flared about 70% of the volume of gas that their permits allowed, according to a recent effort to compare the states flaring data to information collected via satellite. And the Railroad Commission sometimes approves flaring smaller volumes than requested, which is not captured in the data.The Texas oil and natural gas industry is committed to ongoing progress in reducing flaring and methane emissions while continuing to meet the ever-growing demand for reliable oil and natural gas across the globe, Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, a trade group, told ProPublica and Inside Climate News in a statement.Residents of communities surrounded by flares and leaking wells, like Catarina, want the state and the industry to do more to control oil field emissions. The Railroad Commission approved eight flares within 5 miles of the town during the study period and 280 across surrounding Dimmit County, according to agency data.The danger posed by the gas became impossible to ignore on March 27, as a 30-inch steel pipeline a half-mile from Catarina failed. The rupture blasted more than 23 million cubic feet of gas into the air, as much as is used in 365 homes in a year, according to data the company that owns the pipeline, Energy Transfer, reported to the Railroad Commission. On March 27, a pipeline just outside Catarina failed, spewing a large volume of natural gas into the air. As his house shook, Hakim Dermish captured the aftermath on his cellphone. (Courtesy of Hakim Dermish) Watch video Dermish recorded the chaos with his cellphone. The house is shaking, he says in the video as the escaping gas roars, its concussions jostling the camera.Fearing for their safety, he and his wife evacuated, heading to a neighboring town for the day. After they returned home that evening, he called the sheriff to ask what had happened. During the conversation, Dermish could feel the gas causing him to slur his words. The next morning, Dermish noticed new gas flares, presumably lit to release pressure in the pipeline network by burning excess gas. A cellphone video he recorded shows a towering column of flame, taller than a nearby telephone pole, billowing and rippling.Have you ever seen Lord of the Rings? Do you remember the Fire of Mordor? Dermish said in an interview. Thats what we have here.An incident report submitted to the state by Energy Transfer attributed the pipeline failure to a technicians errors. Without objection from the Railroad Commission, the pipeline was repaired and back in service three days later. The agency did not assess Energy Transfer with a violation or a fine.Energy Transfer did not respond to a request for comment.After more than two decades in Catarina, Dermish and his wife are planning to move away. Its just too dangerous, he said. Hakim Dermish has for years urged Texas oil and gas regulatory agencies to more closely monitor the flares near Catarina. (Christopher Lee for ProPublica) Is American Oil and Gas Cleaner?While the Trump administration characterizes American oil and gas as cleaner than fossil fuels from other countries, it has rolled back rules regulating methane.The Environmental Protection Agency has, under Trump, delayed implementing previously finalized rules that wouldve mandated that the industry monitor for methane leaks and address them. He and Republicans in Congress also repealed the countrys first-ever tax on methane. And in June, Trump revoked a Biden administration guidance document laying out how companies should comply with a law aimed at reducing methane leaks from pipelines.The White House did not respond to a request for comment.As the nations highest-producing oil and gas state, Texas is a key barometer of the U.S. regulatory environment and whether it has created a cleaner fossil fuel industry.The Permian Basin the countrys largest oil field, which straddles the Texas-New Mexico border was estimated by a 2024 study to emit the second-most methane of any oil field in the world.The industry disputes that finding, pointing to a June report from S&P Global Commodity Insights that found that the rate of methane emissions in the Permian Basin dropped 29% between 2023 and 2024. Methane emissions management is increasingly a part of the industrys operations, Raoul LeBlanc, a vice president at S&P, said in a statement announcing the findings. However, S&Ps report acknowledged that satellite data showed a much more modest reduction of 4%, contradicting the companys own data, which was collected by airplane.We can say confidently that there is no evidence that methane emissions from the Permian Basin are low, said Steven Hamburg, who studies methane as the Environmental Defense Funds chief scientist. Companies dispose of oil field waste in this growing dump in Catarina. (Christopher Lee for ProPublica) Texas Attempt to Rein In FlaringIn Texas, State Rule 32 prohibits flaring and venting gas at wells, except under a few specific conditions: while the well is being drilled, during the first 10 days after the well is completed and when necessary to ensure safety. Otherwise, drillers must seek an exception.The Railroad Commission changed the application process for these exemptions in 2020 and issued new guidance in 2021. Operators would have to explain why they could not suspend drilling to avoid flaring and indicate that they had investigated all options for using the gas before flaring.Oilfield Witness gathered all exemption requests since 2021, which showed the agency repeatedly approving permits that failed to comply with its guidelines. In many cases, oil companies asked to flare indefinitely or didnt justify why they needed to flare, leaving blank the section of the application asking why the exemption was needed. Capturing the gas requires an expensive system of pipelines, compressors and other infrastructure that can cost more than the gas is worth. In their permit applications, companies cite this reality, often listing financial considerations as the reason for seeking exemptions, Oilfield Witness found. These were nearly always approved, even though the agency wrote that finances were an insufficient explanation in a presentation on the permitting process.The Railroad Commission seems very interested in devolving decision-making processes to the companies themselves, McDonald said.The data also showed that nearly 90% of the approved permit applications were backdated, retroactively giving permission for flares that were already burning. Oil companies typically asked the Railroad Commission for permission to flare 10 days after they had already burned the gas.A spokesperson said that when the commission revamped its guidelines in 2020, it allowed a longer period in which companies could file for a permit after theyd already started to flare. Even so, nearly 900 of the permits were applied for after the updated filing window and still accepted by the agency.The Railroad Commission also approved more than 7,000 flares within areas where the gas reservoir being drilled was known to be high in hydrogen sulfide, increasing the likelihood that the toxic gas could escape into the air. Of those flares, 600 were within a mile of a residence, the agencys data showed.Minimizing flaring permits is not a priority in any sense for the Railroad Commission, said Gunnar Schade, an associate professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University. The priority is oil produced, and that means revenue for the state. Oil and gas is a priority, so who cares about the flaring? Overstating the ProgressThe Railroad Commission and the states oil industry trumpet their work to reduce flaring. The agency points to state data showing flaring rates dropping dramatically, specifically since 2019. And the Texas Oil and Gas Association announced in early August that drillers in the Permian Basin slashed methane emission intensity by more than half in just two years.But such claims are misleading, according to experts such as David DiCarlo, an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austins petroleum engineering school. Using 2019 as a starting point leaves a false impression that theres been a sharp decline, he said, as methane emissions that year were staggeringly high due to booming production and inadequate pipeline capacity to gather the gas.DeSilva, the Railroad Commissions spokesperson, defended using 2019 as the baseline because about five years ago we began taking proactive steps to reduce flaring in Texas.Taking a longer view shows that a median of 2.2% of gas at Texas oil wells was flared or vented over the past decade, according to a ProPublica and Inside Climate News review of state data. (Flaring at gas wells is rare because those sites have the necessary pipeline infrastructure in place to collect the gas.) That figure hovered just north of 2% in the most recently available data, representing a much smaller drop than the state and industry claim. The industry still hasnt built sufficient pipeline networks to capture gas at oil wells, so, as production rises, so does flaring and venting. Not Much Recent Progress on Oil Well Flaring The Texas oil industry and its regulators have celebrated a reduction in the burning of climate-warming gases at oil wells, a practice known as flaring. However, state data shows that, while the flaring rate is below its 2019 peak, it has stayed relatively constant for the past several years. They cant get it below 2% because they keep drilling, DiCarlo said. Since emissions are highest when a well is being drilled, overall emissions will remain high as long as the industry is drilling new wells. Thats just the nature of the beast.Among the largest beneficiaries of the states lax permitting system was an oil company called Endeavor Energy Resources. More than half the approved permanent flaring exemptions went to Endeavor, which merged with the $40 billion Diamondback Energy in September 2024. Endeavor also applied for the longest flaring permit 6,300 days, or more than 17 years. The Railroad Commission approved the permit without shortening its duration.Diamondback Energy did not respond to a request for comment.The industry has simultaneously claimed that it is addressing methane while bristling at oversight. Natural gas, as seen through a specialized camera that captures infrared energy, streams out of a Diamondback Energy facility near Midland, Texas, in 2023. (Courtesy of Oilfield Witness) Watch video Steven Pruett is the president and CEO of Elevation Resources, a Permian Basin oil company, and the immediate past chair of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, one of the industrys main trade groups. His company saw a 2,408% increase in flaring immediately following new wells being drilled and a 692% increase in flaring overall in 2023, according to emails unearthed by environmental watchdog organization Fieldnotes and shared with ProPublica and Inside Climate News. In the email exchange with University of Texas faculty who were preparing a grant application for a federal methane-reduction program, Pruett blamed the increases on inadequate infrastructure to capture the gas.Just weeks later, Pruett participated in a tour of the oil field alongside EPA staff, where he echoed the claim that the American oil and gas industry is cleaner than others and that drilling companies were complying with efforts to reduce emissions.During his term at the helm of the national trade group, it spearheaded multiple lawsuits against the EPA over the governments methane rules.Pruett did not respond to a request for comment. A Constant RoarThose opposed to flaring face long odds in halting the practice, even in rare instances when the Railroad Commission hears objections.Consider the experience of Tom Pohlman, then sheriff of Fisher County, who had a flare burning next to his home in the Texas Panhandle starting in October 2023. The driller responsible for it, Patton Exploration, solicited companies to extend a pipeline to the oil well to capture the gas and evaluated whether the gas could be used to mine bitcoin. But by July 2024, it still had no deal, so the company sought another permit to continue flaring up to 1 million cubic feet of gas per day for 18 months. Patton is diligently pursuing every avenue possible to find a solution, but still needs more time, the company wrote in its application.When Pohlman learned that Patton Exploration had applied for a new permit, he and his neighbors urged the Railroad Commission to deny it.The sound that comes from the flame is a constant roar that we can hear throughout our property both day and night, the neighbors wrote in their objection. There is no peace and quiet since the day of its ignition.In September 2024, Pohlman became one of the few people to officially challenge a flaring permit in Texas, as he and Patton Exploration representatives went head-to-head in a hearing before a Railroad Commission administrative law judge.For approximately 20 of my residents in this area, it completely lights up their yard and everything else, Pohlman said, telling the judge that the flare was 45 feet high. I just need liveability for this neighborhood. Weve had nothing but issues here.Patton Explorations lawyer, David Gross, acknowledged the neighbors frustrations but emphasized the importance of keeping the well pumping.You cant produce the oil without producing the gas, he told the judge. Its the public policy of Texas that the recoverable oil and gas in the states reservoirs be recovered because it is in the public interest.In January, the three elected members of the Railroad Commission voted unanimously to approve the permit and allow flaring for another 12 months. A flare lights up the night sky in Catarina. (Christopher Lee for ProPublica)

Building bigger A.I. isnt leading to better A.I.

What comes next?

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walk after their meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)2025-09-03T09:33:02Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia fired more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, authorities said Wednesday, as Ukraines president and European leaders persevered with talks aimed at strengthening Ukrainian defenses and adding momentum to so far unsuccessful U.S.-led peace efforts.The main Russian nighttime targets were civilian infrastructure, especially energy facilities, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as another winter approaches three years after Russias all-out invasion of its neighbor. The attacks targeted mainly western and central Ukraine and injured at least five people, the Ukrainian air force said.Russian aerial assaults that hit civilian areas and the Russian armys drive to crush Ukrainian defenses along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line have not abated in recent months, despite U.S. President Donald Trumps attempts to stop the fighting. While Zelenskyy has accepted Trumps proposals for a ceasefire and face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has raised objections.Amid recent diplomatic maneuvering, Putin was in China meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Those countries are supporting Russias war effort, Washington says. Pyongyang has sent troops and ammunition to Russia. China and India have bought Russian oil, indirectly helping Russias war economy. Zelenskyy described the overnight strikes as demonstrative. Putin is demonstrating his impunity, Zelenskyy said on Telegram, urging tougher sanctions on Russia. Only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on the war economy, does Russia continue this aggression.In his daily video address on Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy said the number of Russian drone attacks is growing, including in broad daylight, and reported another buildup of Russian forces in some sectors of the front. Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark on Tuesday for talks with Northern European and Baltic countries about new military aid and further diplomatic support for Ukraine.British Defense Secretary John Healey, meanwhile, arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for meetings on how to strengthen Ukraines military.Zelenskyy was due later Wednesday in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of a Thursday meeting there of European countries assessing what kind of postwar security guarantees they might be able to provide with the United States.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

A makeshift tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches across an area near the Gaza City port, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)2025-09-03T09:15:15Z WHY THIS MATTERS: With Israel saying it will soon move to seize Gaza City, Palestinian residents are left with an impossible choice. They can leave the city, but they worry that could mean never returning. Or they can stay behind, which they fear could be deadly. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) As artillery and bombs pound around Gazas largest city and Israel promises a punishing new offensive, Palestinians in the city are paralyzed with fear unsure where to go, when to leave and if they will ever return.Israel has declared Gaza City, in the north of the territory, to be a combat zone while the military moves forward with plans to overtake it in a campaign to push Hamas into submission. Parts of the city are already considered red zones, where Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate ahead of expected heavy fighting.That has left residents on edge, including many who returned after fleeing the city in the initial stages of the Israel-Hamas war. With Israeli bulldozers razing the ground in occupied neighborhoods and Israeli leaders supporting the mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, departing the city now could mean leaving for good. Moving costs thousands of dollars and finding space in the overcrowded south to pitch a tent feels impossible. But staying behind, they say, could be deadly. The Israeli forces, when they mark any area by red color and they request the people to leave, they really will destroy it, said Mohammed Alkurdi, who is sheltering in Gaza City along with hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians.So its like you decide whether to live or die. Its very simple like that. An impossible choice between staying and fleeingSince Israel declared the area a combat zone on Friday, a small fraction some 14,840 Palestinians of the nearly 1 million the U.N. estimates are in Gaza City have left their homes in the city as of Monday, most to flee south, according to the Site Management Cluster, a joint humanitarian body that coordinates assistance for people in displacement sites.A fraction of them, about 2,200, have moved to new places within Gaza City after being displaced by Israeli attacks.Alkurdi, a project manager and consultant, said he can hear Israeli forces from the apartment where hes sheltering as they erase the area completely. Zeitoun was once Gaza Citys largest neighborhood, filled with markets, schools and clinics. Over the last month, large swaths of it and the neighboring area of Sabra have been flattened, according to satellite photos reviewed by The Associated Press from early August and early September. The photos show that entire blocks that have been pummeled or bulldozed into empty, sandy lots. This combination of satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC shows the neighborhoods of Zeitoun and Sabra in Gaza City on Jan. 1, 2025, Aug. 1, 2025, and Sept. 2, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) This combination of satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC shows the neighborhoods of Zeitoun and Sabra in Gaza City on Jan. 1, 2025, Aug. 1, 2025, and Sept. 2, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its not something partial like before. Its 100%, he said. The house, Im telling my friends, it keeps dancing all the day. It keeps dancing, going right and left like an earthquake.Many of the people in the city moved back to the north during a ceasefire in January, hoping to find their homes intact. Alkurdis home was completely destroyed, so hes now living alone in a western area of the city. His children and wife were able to leave Gaza last year. He said he would flee south if his home fell under an evacuation order.Amjad Shawa, the director of the Palestinian NGO network, left his home in the upscale Rimal neighborhood in the early days of the war and also returned there with his family in January. He, like Al Kurdi, said his family would likely leave Gaza City if their area receives an evacuation order.But leaving this time would be different, he said. Gaza will be leveled and destroyed. Last time, I had my car. There was fuel. Everyone had his income, his money. Back then, the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis still stood in southern Gaza. Now, after months of bombardment, there is no Rafah. Almost no Khan Younis, Shawa said. Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza Strip move with their belongings along the Sea Road, in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza Strip move with their belongings along the Sea Road, in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Leaving is nearly impossible for someFor others medical workers, older and sick people leaving Gaza City is nearly impossible.The elders, theyre saying we will die here, Shawa said. This has pushed the other members of the family to stay, not to leave.My aunt is elderly and cant walk, and my mother also struggles with mobility. We have so many belongings and no way to manage them. It feels unthinkable, said Norhan Almuzaini, medical program officer in northern Gaza for the group Medical Aid for Palestinians.Amal Seyam is the general director of the Womens Affairs Center in Gaza. Originally from the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, her home was destroyed by bombardment. For nearly four months, she has been sheltering in the Nasr neighborhood in the citys west, where she stays alongside her colleagues inside the womens center.Seyam has been displaced five times since the war began three times within the city and twice to the south, in Rafah and Khan Younis. Each time, she fled with nothing.When asked if she would consider leaving Gaza City, she said: I will only leave when everyone who needs me here leaves. As long as theres a woman who needs me, I am staying. All of Gaza feels like its in the red zone now anyway. The bombing is happening meters from us, not kilometers. She paused, her voice breaking into tears.Many people have started packing. Many have already left. Do you know what displacement means? It means moving once again, building your life once again, buying new things, blankets, tents, all over again. Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza Strip move with their belongings along the Sea Road, in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza Strip move with their belongings along the Sea Road, in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Dire conditions persist throughout GazaThose who have left Gaza City over the past few months have found dire conditions elsewhere in Gaza. Their arrival has crowded already overflowing tent camps and sent prices of basic goods up.Iman El-Naya, from Khan Younis, fled Gaza City three months ago. The beach is crowded. Everywhere is crowded. Theres no hygiene. Its a struggle to get water and food.I go and stand in line for water. Getting bread is a struggle. Everything is even more expensive after the people from the north came here.Shorouk Abu Eid, a pregnant woman from Gaza City, was displaced to Khan Younis four months ago. She said the arrival of more people from the north is creating an even more tragic situation. A makeshift tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches across an area near the shore in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) A makeshift tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches across an area near the shore in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More There is no privacy, no peace of mind. Places I used to walk to in five or 10 minutes are taking me around an hour now because of the congestion. Theres barely 10 centimeters between tents.Jamal Abu Reily lamented that the bathrooms are overflowing and that theres so little room for new arrivals.How are we going to all fit here? he asked. Where are they going to stay? In the sea?___Frankel reported from Jerusalem and Abou Aljoud from Beirut. JULIA FRANKEL Frankel, based in Jerusalem, has reported from across Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Her reporting focuses on war, human rights, displacement and criminal justice. twitter mailto

This GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image taken Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at 6 p.m. EDT and provided by NOAA, shows Tropical Storm Lorena, upper right, off Mexico's western coast, and Hurricane Kiko, left, in open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. (NOAA via AP)2025-09-03T09:40:38Z MIAMI (AP) Hurricane Lorena formed off the coast of Mexicos Baja California peninsula and a tropical storm warning has been issued for parts for of the area, forecasters said.The storm is expected to strengthen in the next 24 hours and heavy rain up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) was forecast for portions of the peninsula , the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.The weather agency warned of the risk of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides for the area, especially in higher terrain.Lorena was centered Wednesday about 120 miles (195 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving northwest at 14 mph (22 kph).Those living in southwestern Mexico and the Baja California peninsula were urged to monitor the progress of the storm.

Plus, a post-mortem on the summer box office.

Challenges to the administrations use of the 18th-century wartime law have gone all the way to the Supreme Court. Heres where they stand.

The Atlantic Coast leopard frog, first identified in an industrial section of Staten Island in 2012, is now on the states endangered species list. Conservation groups see an opportunity.

The lawmakers, led by a Republican majority, are expected to consider new maps that would help Republicans gain another seat in Congress. They already hold six of the states eight congressional seats.

Dan Kleban enters a crowded Democratic primary as party leaders wait for Maines Democratic governor, Janet Mills, who is seriously considering a run for Senate.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe speaks to attendees during the Governor's Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 in Sedalia, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)2025-09-03T11:01:59Z JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Missouri lawmakers are meeting in a special session to redraw the states U.S. House districts as part of President Donald Trumps effort to bolster Republicans chances of retaining control of Congress in next years elections.The special session called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe is scheduled to begin at noon Wednesday and will run at least a week.Missouri is the third state to pursue the unusual task of mid-decade redistricting for partisan advantage. Republican-led Texas, prodded by Trump, was the first to take up redistricting with a new map aimed at helping Republicans pick up five more congressional seats. But before Texas even completed its work, Democratic-led California already had fought back with its own redistricting plan designed to give Democrats a chance at winning five more seats. Californias plan still needs voter approval at a Nov. 4 election. Other states could follow with their own redistricting efforts. Nationally, Democrats need to gain three seats next year to take control of the House. Historically, the party of the president usually loses seats in the midterm congressional elections. What is redistricting? At the start of each decade, the Census Bureau collects population data that is used to allot the 435 U.S. House seats proportionally among states. States that grow relative to others may gain a House seat at the expense of states where populations stagnated or declined. Though some states may have their own restrictions, there is nothing nationally that prohibits states from redrawing districts in the middle of a decade.In many states, congressional redistricting is done by state lawmakers, subject to approval by the governor. Some states have special commissions responsible for redistricting. What is gerrymandering? Partisan gerrymandering occurs when a political party in charge of the redistricting process draws voting district boundaries to its advantage.One common method is for a majority party to draw a map that packs voters who support the opposing party into only a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing partys voters by spreading them thinly among multiple districts.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. But it said state courts still can decide such cases under their own laws. How could Missouris districts change?Missouri currently is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats. A revised map proposed by Kehoe would give Republicans a shot at winning seven seats in the 2026 elections. It targets a Kansas City district, currently held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, by stretching it eastward into Republican-leaning rural areas. Meanwhile, other parts of Cleavers district would be split off and folded into heavily Republican districts currently represented by GOP Reps. Mark Alford and Sam Graves. Districts also would be realigned in the St. Louis area but with comparatively minor changes to the district held by Democratic Rep. Wesley Bell. Republican lawmakers had considered a potential 7-1 map when originally drawing districts after the 2020 census. But the GOP majority opted against it because of concerns it could face legal challenges and create more competitive districts that could backfire in a poor election year by allowing Democrats to win up to three seats. Could other states join the redistricting battle? Mid-decade redistricting must occur in Ohio, according to its constitution, because Republicans there adopted congressional maps without sufficient bipartisan support. That could create an opening for Republicans to try to expand their 10-5 seat majority over Democrats. A court in Utah has ordered the Republican-controlled Legislature to draw new congressional districts after ruling that lawmakers circumvented an independent redistricting commission established by voters to ensure districts dont deliberately favor one party. A new map could help Democrats, because Republicans currently hold all four of the states U.S. House seats. Other Republican-led states, such as Indiana and Florida, are considering redistricting at Trumps urging. Officials in Democratic-led states, such as Illinois, Maryland and New York, also have talked of trying to counter the Republican push with their own revised maps. What else is at stake in Missouri?A special session agenda set by Kehoe also includes proposed changes to Missouris ballot measure process. One key change would make it harder for ballot initiatives to succeed. If approved by voters, Missouris constitution would be amended so that all future ballot measures would need not only a majority of the statewide vote but also a majority of the votes in each congressional district in order to pass.If such a standard had been in place last year, an abortion-rights amendment to the state constitution would have failed. That measure narrowly passed statewide on the strength of yes votes in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas but failed in rural congressional districts. DAVID A. LIEB Lieb covers issues and trends in state governments across the U.S. Hes reported about government and politics for The Associated Press for 30 years. twitter mailto

In this Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, photo provided by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, people gather at the site of a landslide from Aug. 31, that wiped out the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains of Central Darfur, Sudan. (Sudan Liberation Movement/Army via AP)2025-09-03T10:25:54Z CAIRO (AP) A devastating landslide that killed an estimated 1,000 people in Sudans Darfur region struck as the northeastern African nation reels from a civil war that pushed some of its parts into famine.The nation of over 50 million people has a long history of conflicts, including the one that created South Sudan in 2011. Its also known for its seasonal flooding that kills hundreds of people every year. Climate change has made the rainfall and flooding more deadly and destructive in recent years. The landslide After days of heavy rainfall, a landslide on Sunday wiped out the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains area, more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) west of the capital, Khartoum. At least 1,000 people were killed, and only one of the residents survived, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, a rebel group that controls the area.The groups spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nair said search efforts were underway and that about 100 bodies were recovered as of Tuesday evening. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, said between 300-1,000 people may have lost their lives, citing local sources. Marrah Mountains, where the village is located, are hard to reach. The UNESCO World Heritage site is located in a volcanic area with a summit of 3,000 meters (9,840 feet). The landslide happened in the peak of Sudans flooding season, which runs from July to October. Widespread damage have been reported in other areas in Sudan in recent weeks, including Sofia village in South Darfur province where 100 houses were destroyed also on Sunday, according to the International Organization for Migration. The civil warSudan plunged into chaos when simmering tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into street fighting in April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. The war has turned into a regional proxy conflict in which each side is backed by foreign governments.Darfur, which has suffered from decades of conflict and witnessed the first genocide in the 21st century, was among the worst hit areas in the ongoing war.The front lines have shifted following the militarys capture of Khartoum and its sister city of Omdurman, in a major setback to the paramilitaries. Most of the fighting have occurred in Darfur and the south-central region of Kordofan.The war was marked by atrocities including mass killings and rapes, which the International Criminal Court says it is investigating as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur.The RSF was blamed for most of the atrocities, and the former Biden administration accused the militia of committing genocide. The military was also accused of violating international law. The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, which were accused of genocide in the 2000s Darfur conflict. Famine and disease The war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 14 million others to flee, including over 4 million who crossed into neighboring countries, some of which have suffered from conflicts or economic crises.The war created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. It made Sudan one of four areas where famine was detected in the last 15 years, along with South Sudan, Somalia and the Gaza Strip. The five famine-stricken areas are in Darfur and Kordofan, and other areas are expected to join the fold, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).Many areas, including Marrah Mountains and other parts of Darfur and Kordofan, have been inaccessible due to clashes, blockade and looting. At least 25 million half the countrys population have been facing acute hunger, including over 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished, the U.N. says. There have also been deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria and dengue in the past two years. An ongoing cholera outbreak in Darfur killed about 400 people and sickened over 9,000, according to a local aid group. A March outbreak in the White Nile province killed about 100 people and sickened over 2,700 others, according to the Health Ministry. SAMY MAGDY Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. twitter facebook mailto

Nature, Published online: 03 September 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02751-zForeseeing clashes of cultures is the key to making industry-academic collaborations mutually beneficial.