Jonathan Van Ness is heading to Australia and New Zealand this fall with their highly anticipated Hot & Healed tour, giving fans in the Southern Hemisphere the chance to experience the comedians latest stand-up comedy show. The beloved Queer Eye star and grooming expert, who is known for their unapologetic authenticity, made the exciting announcement on Instagram, revealing that theyll beSource

Camden Dempsey, who launched an insurance company on Thursday got some extra help in a team meeting.

The successes this season by Bruce Pearl at Auburn and Rick Pitino at St. John's led to the first tie in the 58-year history of The Associated Press men's college basketball Coach of the Year award.

There goes all of his clothes!After boldly coming out nearly four years ago, David Archuleta is finally embracing his sexy side with the release of his steamy new single "Crme Brule."In the accompanying music video, Archuleta is serving looks, choreography, and even fluent Spanglish in the sensual new bop. While attending the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, the talented singer dished on stepping more into his sexuality for his current era."I haven't [embraced sexiness] ever before! It's time for me to get the hang of this sh*t. I need to feel sexy, especially with my Latin side," Archuleta tells PRIDE. See on Instagram The handsome musician has been very vulnerable over the years as he's come to terms with his fluid sexuality. Plus, he's even had fun online teasing some sexual adventures he's experienced as a newly out man."Every time I'm in touch with the Latin side of me, I feel sexier. I'm trying to catch up with everybody else out there who's killing it!"Archuleta even posted an adorable Instagram video where he's wearing nothing but underwear as the first line of the chorus plays in the background. Fans can hopefully more expect more revealing photos and videos from the crooner in the near future."I mean, why not? I can show more skin!"Fans can keep up with David Archuleta by following him on Instagram. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Our first look at the long-anticipated second season of Nine Perfect Strangers has finally arrived, courtesy of new promotional pictures that just dropped. Between the phenomenal casting choices and the general vibe going on here, we can already tell that lesbians are going to be all over this one.While the first season leaned into sun-drenched spiritual chaos, season two swaps the wellness retreats tropical backdrop for a wintry escape that somehow feels even more emotionally volatile and undeniably sapphic. Whether its the promise of trauma bonding in thermal layers or just the sheer queer energy radiating from the cast, its safe to say we will be seated when it hits Hulu on May 21.1. Nicole Kidman's cult leader vibes (@) Masha is back and still giving ethereal cult leader youd follow off the edge of a cliff just 'cause she asked. Never mind that she's running a wellness retreat and not an actual cult it just is what it is. Nicole Kidmans energy remains unmatched as always, and lesbihonest sapphics are total suckers for a mysterious yet commanding older woman with secrets.2. Group therapy + trauma bondingSee on InstagramWhat could be more lesbian-coded than people who have barely just met processing decades of trauma alone in the wilderness together? If season one is any indication, surely we'll have even more of that to go around.3. King Princess's acting debut (@) Yes, sapphic music royalty King Princess is making her screen debut this alone guarantees every queer woman with a Hulu password will be watching. Surely she's going to play gay in this, right? Right??4. Cozy winter fashion (@) Keep your warm, tropical weather to yourself. Lesbians die for cottagecore aesthetics. Oversized sweaters, knit scarves, beanies of all types we know where it's at. And this is basically the elevated, wealthy people interpretation of that, which feels aspirational on top of everything else. Can we live here? Can this become a theme park of sorts? It looks wonderful.5. Annie frickin' Murphy (@) Emmy Award winner Annie Murphy! (IYKYK.) Despite playing a bunch of presumably straight characters, Murphy is somehow one of ours. We claim her. Maybe it's the Canadian flannel, maybe it's the pitch perfect chaotic bisexual vibes she brought to Schitt's Creek despite, again, ostensibly playing a hetero. We will follow her into any storm, and welcome her with open arms into the Sad Hot People Emotionally Unraveling in Nature Cinematic Universe.6. Maisie Richardson-Sellers!See on InstagramMaisie Richardson-Sellers is an absolute delight every time she shows up on our screens! From The Originals to Legends of Tomorrow to Jagged Mind she brings that queer energy to characters whether the story goes there or not. Fingers crossed Nine Perfect Strangers doesn't end up with a cut sapphic kiss like some show we'll never get over, or we may just have to riot.7. Memories of 'Mamma Mia!' (@) Gay guys and lesbians basically have shared custody over Christine Baranski. We all love her. Who wouldn't love her? We're thrilled to see every fabulous moment she's bringing to the new season of the show, and we absolutely will be seated for a double feature rewatch of both Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again after more than one episode.

Nature, Published online: 04 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01056-5Arrests of scholars by US President Donald Trumps administration prompts lawsuit alleging free-speech violations.

Pep Guardiola has lauded Kevin De Bruyne's impact on the Premier League, adding the midfielder's exit is a "sad day" for the club.

Ruben Amorim said he would be "crazy" to think Manchester United can win the Premier League next season.

In the two-person play Conversations with Mother, Tony Award-winning actor Matt Doyle plays the character of Bobby opposite Caroline Aaron who plays Maria Collavechio Bobbys mother. The comedy directed by Noah Himmelstein navigates the relationship between the conventional Italian matriarch and her free-spirited gay son over five decades. Conversations with Mother is a very [...]The post Matt Doyle Talks Comedy Conversations with Mother and the Importance of Keeping Queer Stories Alive first appeared on GLAAD.

The new season of The White Lotus has brought its own round of quotable dialogue, shocking revelations, and memorable characters, but perhaps none as memorable as Parker Poseys Victoria Ratliff (which is saying a lot). And a new video from The Hollywood Reporter has the rest of the cast hilariously paying homage to just that.Any fan of Poseys knows how quickly she can make a character leap off the page and become something immortal and iconic. When stepping into Victorias shoes, shes given us the kind of character The White Lotus has become known for rich, out of touch, and perpetually moments away from saying something vaguely (or outright) offensive. And she does it with a style thats both delicious and horrifying to watch.THR recently got the season three cast members together to celebrate just that, compiling a video of them giving their best impressions of Poseys role. (@) Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Sam Nivola, Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Jon Gries, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Sarah Catherine Hook all took part, giving it their all in mimicking some of the most notable phrases or words Victoria has uttered so far this season.All of this came together to form the same conclusion as fans Parker Posey is a legend, and so are the characters she plays. (@) "The Jennifer Coolidge of the Taiwan Cycle . . ." (@) "I have been in love with Parker Posey ever since I saw her play Fiona in the Josie and the Pussycats movie." (@) Amusingly, of the cast members that appeared, only Michelle Monaghan declined on camera, noting, "I dont know if I can muster it. I think only Parker can do Parker."

There goes all of his clothes!After boldly coming out nearly four years ago, David Archuleta is finally embracing his sexy side with the release of his steamy new single "Crme Brule."In the accompanying music video, Archuleta is serving looks, choreography, and even fluent Spanglish in the sensual new bop. While attending the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, the talented singer dished on stepping more into his sexuality for his current era."I haven't [embraced sexiness] ever before! It's time for me to get the hang of this sh*t. I need to feel sexy, especially with my Latin side," Archuleta tells PRIDE. See on Instagram The handsome musician has been very vulnerable over the years as he's come to terms with his fluid sexuality. Plus, he's even had fun online teasing some sexual adventures he's experienced as a newly out man."Every time I'm in touch with the Latin side of me, I feel sexier. I'm trying to catch up with everybody else out there who's killing it!"Archuleta even posted an adorable Instagram video where he's wearing nothing but underwear as the first line of the chorus plays in the background. Fans can hopefully more expect more revealing photos and videos from the crooner in the near future."I mean, why not? I can show more skin!"Fans can keep up with David Archuleta by following him on Instagram. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

As the highly anticipated season 3 finale of The White Lotus approaches, fans arent the only ones eagerly awaiting the dramatic conclusion to the hit HBO series. Cast members, including Parker Posey, who portrays Victoria Ratliff, are also on edge, eager to uncover the fate of their characters. Posey admitted during a recent interview that although she might have known how the season would end atSource

Before embarking on her upcoming space journey, CBS Mornings host Gayle King has found herself at the center of attention on Earth after quoting a comedians uncensored gay slur during a live TV interview. The taping, which occurred on Thursdays episode of CBS Mornings, has sparked widespread discussion, with reactions ranging from shock to praise. King interviewed comedian Matteo Lane toSource

Korn Ferry Tour golfer Ryan McCormick decided to control his anger by taping his mouth shut during Friday's round. Said McCormick: "I just figured I'd shut myself up."

Orioles All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson has been activated from the 10-day injured list after suffering a right intercostal strain in spring training.

Jonathan Wright, 39, holds up the T-shirt he was given when he first went to MacLaren Children's Center in El Monte as an 8-year-old during a news conference in Los Angeles, June 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Christopher Weber, File)2025-04-04T19:06:26Z LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles County has reached a $4 billion agreement to settle nearly 7,000 claims of sexual abuse in juvenile facilities since 1959, officials said Friday.The agreement, which still needs approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, would be the largest of its kind and have long-lasting financial effects for the county, officials said.On behalf of the County, I apologize wholeheartedly to everyone who was harmed by these reprehensible acts, Fesia Davenport, the countys chief executive, said in a statement.The agreement would settle lawsuits filed by thousands of people who alleged they were mistreated and sexually abused in foster care and juvenile detention facilities in Los Angeles County. The plaintiffs were able to sue because of a California law that took effect in 2020 and suspended the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse victims to bring cases for three years. Many of the claims involved the MacLaren Childrens Center, which was closed in 2003. The facility, which was intended to be a safe space for children awaiting placement in foster homes, opened in 1961 and was overseen by probation officials until it was placed under the countys Department of Children and Family Services in 1976. One man said he was sexually abused by a physician at the facility when he was 8 years old, while another said he was assaulted by a male staff member in a bathroom when he was 5. Children were routinely placed in solitary confinement, drugged and restrained in chairs at the facility, according to court papers filed by plaintiffs. It is bittersweet for the survivors, because nothing is ever going to take away what was done to them, and how badly their lives were altered and how much they have suffered, said Adam Slater, one of the plaintiffs attorneys. However, the settlement hopefully gives them some measure of justice and provides them with some measure of closure. The agreement by Los Angeles County would surpass the Boy Scouts of Americas 2022 settlement for $2.6 billion with more than 80,000 men who said they were molested as children by Scout leaders and others. At the time, that was considered the largest aggregate sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.Last year, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $800 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse, bringing the total payout to more than $1.5 billion.Disclosure of the massive tentative payout comes at a time when the nations largest county home to about 10 million residents is facing a tightening bind of financial obligations on its $49 billion annual budget. County officials fear hundreds of millions of dollars for public services could vanish in Trump administration cutbacks, while the county has seen additional costs from Januarys historic wildfires as it also deals with an ongoing homeless crisis.Davenport recently said the county is facing a large amount of uncertainty with its budget some agencies are largely funded by federal dollars. The proposed agreement includes creating a countywide hotline for reporting child sexual abuse allegations against county employees and developing a system to expedite investigations, county officials said.By balancing justice for the victims with a commitment to reform, this resolution ensures both acknowledgment of past wrongs and a pathway to a safer, more accountable future, Patrick McNicholas, one of the plaintiffs attorneys, said in a statement. The countys claims board will consider the proposed settlement Monday. If approved, it would be considered by the Board of Supervisors on April 29.___Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California. Associated Press writer Olga R. Rodrguez in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Sometimes being bad is oh-so good!We all love a good girl, but sometimes we want to root for (and lust after) the bad girl!Being a hero all the time is boring, so sometimes we crave breaking out of our rule following life and embracing our villain era. Only instead of committing crimes ourselves, were living vicariously through these chaotic, campy, and truly evil lesbian characters. These bad girls are hawt and so much fun to watch. From blood sucking vampires to action movie baddies to dastardly criminals, there so so many lesbian villains to satisfy our sapphic cravings!Mrs. Danvers 'Rebecca'The lesbian subtext is strong in this one! Alfred Hitchcock was known for his queer-coded villains (think Norman Bates in Psycho, Brandon and Phillip in Rope, and Bruno Antony in Strangers on a Train), but Mrs. Danvers is perhaps the most delightfully campy villain he ever put to screen.Judith Anderson plays the evil housekeeper to rival all others that followed this archetype. Her obsession with the late Mrs. de Winter even causes her to all but sniffs the late woman's lingerie, the Advocate once wrote.Where to watch: Purchase on Prime VideoMaria Grayson I Care a LotMaria Grayson is compulsively watchable in I Care a Lot as she bilks senior citizens out of their life savings. Is she a terrible person? Of course. But shes also played by the effortlessly cool and sexy Rosamond Pike, and shes a blast to watch twirling her metaphorical mustache. Where to watch: NetflixRoxy Richter Scott Pilgrim vs the WorldRoxy Richter is the only lesbian lover among the main character Ramona Flowers seven evil exes in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Being an angry lesbian in love with Mary Elizabeth Winstead is such relatable content. Where to watch: MaxDiane LaFanu The Velvet VampireStephanie Rothmans campy, psychedelic horror drama has one of the best scene-stealing vampire put to screen. Diane LaFanu manages to be both evil and relatable, and her 70s wardrobe is to die for. You need to watch for the surrealistic sapphic desert sex scene alone!Where to watch: tubiMiriam Blaylock The HungerQuite possibly the sexiest and queerest vampire movie ever made (which is saying a lot), The Hunger stars Catherine Deneuve as Miriam who is David Bowies lover, who ends up setting her sights on Susan Sarandon. Thats a tough choice, but we would have become obsessed with Sarandon too!Where to watch: Rent of Amazon PrimeLucy Diamond D.E.B.S.Played by the always sexy Jordana Brewster, Lucy Diamond is one of the villains in the campy, lesbian, early aughts movie D.E.B.S. Despite being a crafty jewel thief, she falls for one of the titular D.E.B.S, Amy, who ends up sleeping with the enemy before the film is over.Where to watch: Roku ChannelRuby Neon DemonIn this polarizing and hypnotic horror movie, Jena Malones villainous character Ruby is so obsessed with Elle Fannings Jesse that when she turns her down, Ruby gets it on with a dead woman at the mortuary she works at instead. Talk about having it down bad for someone!Where to watch: Prime VideoJobu Tupaki Everything Everywhere All At OnceOk, so Jobu Tupaki in Everything Everywhere All At Once is pure evil. We get it. But between her chaotic lesbian energy and fierce fits, shes also kind of our dream girl. Listen, we dont have to explain ourselves to you!Where to watch: MaxMarcilla and Camilla The Vampire LoversOlder vampire movies tended to be very straight, despite the camp and elaborate costumes often involved, but then 1970 brought us delightfully sapphic The Vampire Lovers. Between the c*nty gowns and the daring (for the times) depiction of lesbians, youre going to want to check this one out.Where to watch: tubiMay MayIn this truly bizarre gem of an indie horror movie, May has a brief relationship with her lesbian colleague Polly after a failed relationship with a man. Does this sapphic affair end in bloody tragedy? Yes. But first, Polly gifts May a cat, which has to be one of the most lesbian gifts ever (a Subaru might top it).Where to watch: Prime Video

Plastique Tiara, the Vietnamese queen fromRuPauls Drag Race season 11 and All Stars 9, has reached a major milestone, crossing 4 million followers on Instagram. This achievement makes her the second queen in Drag Raceherstory to hit the milestone, only trailing behind Trixie Mattel. Plastique Tiara Joins Exclusive Instagram Club Plastique Tiara, who has built an impressive online presenceSource

Its been nearly two decades since Brokeback Mountain changed the landscape of LGBTQ+ cinema forever. Released in 2005, the film follows the forbidden love between ranchers Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) in the rugged Wyoming wilderness. Directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain was not just a film; it was a cultural moment, sparking discussions about love, identitySource

Duke's Maliq Brown, after dislocating his left shoulder, said he's ready for a bigger role in the Final Four following limited minutes in NCAA tournament wins last weekend.

Former Cowboys and 49ers quarterback Trey Lance reached agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million with the Chargers, sources told ESPN.

Lady Gaga is reflecting on a special moment from the 2025 Grammy Awards when she met up-and-coming queer artist Chappell Roan and shared an encouraging message of support. On the cusp of headlining Coachella and preparing for her Mayhem Ball tour, Gaga continues to use her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and give a voice to marginalized communities. In an interview with OutSource

Samford's Bucky McMillan is set to take over for Buzz Williams as Texas A&M's men's basketball coach, with the two sides finalizing a five-year deal, sources told ESPN.

Julio Jones, a 7-time Pro Bowl pick who is the Falcons' all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, has retired. He last played for the Eagles in 2023.

Don Herneisen, a 77-year-old retired school counselor from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, spoke in Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, while visiting family in the area. (AP Photo/Heather Hollingsworth)2025-04-04T22:15:42Z KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) When retired school counselor Don Herneisen meets up with friends each week for breakfast at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the conversation often turns to the economy. With financial markets in turmoil as President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariffs this week, the popularity of that topic is unlikely to change anytime soon.Theres political uncertainty, theres economic uncertainty, and if youre retired, you dont much like uncertainty at this point, said Herneisen, 77, as he and his wife made a stop at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday while visiting family. Stock markets worldwide careened even lower Friday after China matched Trumps big raise in tariffs in an escalating trade war. The sweeping new tariffs, on top of previous levies and retaliation worldwide, are also expected to increase prices for everyday items. Herneisen, who lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Cathy Herneisen, a 74-year-old retired Verizon worker, are living on a mix of pension, Social Security and an individual retirement account, or IRA. He said that for now they arent cutting back, but his wife clarified that even holding steady means cutting back. Prices are higher, but I am still spending the same amount of money, she said. I am sticking with the grocery budget, and that means that Im cutting back on prepared food, so Im buying the products themselves so it is hurting people who run a small business that sell their pre-made food. They live in a Republican-leaning area of the swing state but neither voted for Trump, who has said Americans may feel some pain because of tariffs, but that the long-term goals, including getting more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., are worth it. Chad NeSmith, a portfolio manager at Tobias Financial Advisors in Plantation, Florida, just outside of Fort Lauderdale, said that theyd been fielding calls from clients for the last couple of days and the calls were increasing on Friday. Fear is really picking up, especially since we have the retaliatory tariff from China, he said.NeSmith said most clients just had general questions, checking up on what they should be doing with their portfolios. Were taking it on a call-by-call basis, he said.NeSmith said retirees generally have a little bit less risk in their portfolios and bonds have been performing well in the volatility.The overall theme that were really getting at is you really have to be aware of your risk tolerance and your financial plan, and you needed to do that going into this so that way you can ride through this volatility that were seeing right now, he said.Colleen Power, a 57-year-old payroll specialist from Kansas City, Missouri, is hopeful the market will recover before she retires.We have our things situated in a way that we will probably survive, she said. Now, in general, yes, I am definitely worried for the country. But I mean, on a personal level, I dont have a whole lot of stress about that at the moment. But Power, a Democrat, finds the situation frustrating nonetheless. None of this is in any way surprising on any level, in any way, and all I can do is do the best I can in my local area and hope for the best, she said. Paul Brahim, an advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group in Pittsburgh, said, Uncertainty is frightening, not knowing is scary and people are asking the same question all the time: Am I going to be OK?He said that for a recent retiree who hasnt started taking Social Security yet and is living off the cash flow from assets, watching that value decline in just a few days is frightening.But, he said, if they have prepared well, there should be reserves in place. We should have cash in reserve that we can use while we allow that portfolio to heal, he said. Brahim, president of the Financial Planning Association, a membership organization for certified financial planners, said most of his clients have broadly diversified portfolios and, looking back over the last year, theyve had positive returns. Its good to just put it into perspective, that helps with the fear, he said. I think its important that we take a breath and that we pause through uncertainty before we make adjustments to our portfolio, he said. Let the dust settle.___Stengle contributed to this story from Dallas.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks during a news conference at CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)2025-04-04T04:02:53Z GREENBELT, Md. (AP) A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to arrange for the return of a Maryland man to the United States after he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison, while a U.S. government attorney was at a loss to explain what happened.The ruling rejected the White Houses claim that it lacks the power to retrieve Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, because he is no longer in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has corrected deportation errors in previous years, according to Abrego Garcias attorney and legal experts. This undated photo provided by CASA, an immigrant advocacy organization, in April 2025, shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (CASA via AP) This undated photo provided by CASA, an immigrant advocacy organization, in April 2025, shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (CASA via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The government filed an appeal immediately after the decision, while Trump administration officials repeated assertions that Abrego Garcia is a dangerous gang member and that U.S. courts have no control over the matter. We are unaware of the judge having jurisdiction or authority over the country of El Salvador, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement following the ruling by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis.ICE expelled the 29-year-old Abrego Garcia last month despite an immigration judges 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to El Salvador, where he faced likely persecution by local gangs. His mistaken deportation, described by the White House as an administrative error, has outraged many and raised concerns about expelling noncitizens who were granted permission to be in the U.S. The record reflects that Abrego Garcia was apprehended in Maryland without legal basis ... and without further process or legal justification was removed to El Salvador, Xinis wrote in her order. Before she issued the ruling, Xinis described the deportation as an illegal act and pressed Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni for answers, many of which he didnt have. Reuveni conceded to Xinis that Abrego Garcia should not have been removed from the U.S. and shouldnt have been sent to El Salvador. He couldnt tell the judge upon what authority he was arrested in Maryland. Im also frustrated that I have no answers for you for a lot of these questions, he said.The judge also questioned why Abrego Garcia was sent to the prison in El Salvador, which observers say is rife with human rights abuses.Why is he there, of all places? asked Xinis, who was nominated by President Barack Obama.I dont know, Reuveni replied. That information has not been given to me. Reuveni had asked the judge for more time 24 hours for the government to possibly broker Abrego Garcias return. Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, right, stands with supporters during a news conference at CASAs Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, right, stands with supporters during a news conference at CASAs Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Abrego Garcias attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, told the judge he was dismayed that the government had done nothing to get his client back, even after admitting its errors. Plenty of tweets. Plenty of White House press conferences. But no actual steps taken with the government of El Salvador to make it right, he said.Sandoval-Moshenberg said the governments response to its error was essentially to say, Weve tried nothing, and were all out of options.This is not something thats outside of the governments power, he said, noting that the U.S. routinely extradites gang leaders, drug traffickers and other imprisoned people from other countries.In legal briefs, Sandoval-Moshenberg asked the court to remove Abrego Garcia from the torture prison and return him to the custody of the United States. The White House has cast Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 gang member and doubled down on that claim after Fridays hearing. Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, stated that the U.S. has intelligence reports that he is involved in human trafficking. Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks during a news conference at CASAs Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks during a news conference at CASAs Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In this undated photo provided by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, a man identified by Jennifer Vasquez Sura as her husband, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is led by force by guards through the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland via AP) In this undated photo provided by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, a man identified by Jennifer Vasquez Sura as her husband, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is led by force by guards through the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More McLaughlin did not comment on whether the administration would comply with the judges order or when and where Abrego Garcia might be returned to the U.S. But she said that he would be locked up and off Americas streets. MS-13 gang members murder, rape, and maim for sport, she said. Its shameful that the mainstream media chooses to do the bidding of these vicious gangs while ignoring their victims.Abrego Garcias attorneys have countered that there is no evidence he was in MS-13. The allegation is based on a confidential informants claim in 2019 that Abrego Garcia was a member of a chapter in New York, where he has never lived.Abrego Garcia had a permit from DHS to legally work in the U.S., his attorney said. He served as a sheet metal apprentice and was pursuing his journeyman license. This undated photo provided by Murray Osorio PLLC shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Murray Osorio PLLC via AP) This undated photo provided by Murray Osorio PLLC shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Murray Osorio PLLC via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More He fled El Salvador around 2011 because he and his family were facing threats by local gangs. In 2019, a U.S. immigration judge granted him protection from deportation to El Salvador. He was released and ICE did not appeal the decision or try to deport him to another country. Abrego Garcia later married Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen. The couple are parents to their son and her two children from a previous relationship.The judges ruling on Friday came shortly after Vasquez Sura joined dozens of supporters at a rally in the city of Hyattsville to urge her husbands immediate return.Vasquez Sura, who hasnt spoken to her husband since his deportation, urged her supporters to keep fighting for him and all the Kilmars out there whose stories are still waiting to be heard.To all the wives, mothers, children who also face this cruel separation, I stand with you in this bond of pain, she said during the rally at a community center. Its a journey that no one ever should ever have to suffer, a nightmare that feels endless.___Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia. Associated Press reporters Rebecca Santana and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper loves L.A. -- well, at least the World Series champion Dodgers' freewheeling spending on their way to a nearly $320 million payroll.

Deion Sanders says quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter -- the marquee players of Friday's Colorado Showcase -- have confirmed that they are the top two players in this year's NFL draft.

An entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Md., is seen Jan. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)2025-04-05T00:07:45Z WASHINGTON (AP) Books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelous famous autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, were among the nearly 400 volumes removed from the U.S. Naval Academys library this week after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths office ordered the school to get rid of ones that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.The Navy late Friday provided the list of 391 books that have been taken out of its library. The move marks another step in the Trump administrations far-reaching effort to purge so-called DEI content from federal agencies, including policies, programs, online and social media postings and curriculum at schools. In addition to Angelous award-winning tome, the list includes Memorializing the Holocaust, which deals with Holocaust memorials; Half American, about African Americans in World War II; A Respectable Woman, about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and Pursuing Trayvon Martin, about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling. Other books clearly deal with subjects that have been stridently targeted by the Trump administration, including gender identity, sexuality and transgender issues. A wide array of books on race and gender were targeted, dealing with such topics as African American women poets, entertainers who wore blackface and the treatment of women in Islamic countries. Also on the list were historical books on racism, the Ku Klux Klan and the treatment of women, gender and race in art and literature. In a statement, the Navy said officials went through the Nimitz Library catalog, using keyword searches, to identify books that required further review. About 900 books were identified in the search.Departmental officials then closely examined the preliminary list to determine which books required removal, said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, Navy spokesman. Nearly 400 books were removed from Nimitz Library to comply with directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President. The books were removed shortly before Hegseth arrived Tuesday for a visit to the academy, which had already been planned and was not connected to the library purge, officials said.The Pentagon has said the academies are fully committed to executing and implementing President Trumps Executive Orders.The Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, had not been included in President Donald Trumps executive order in January that banned DEI instruction, programs or curriculum in kindergarten through 12th grade schools that receive federal funding. That is because the academies are colleges.Pentagon leaders, however, turned their attention to the Naval Academy last week when a media report noted that the school had not removed books promoting DEI. A U.S. official said the academy was told late last week to conduct the review and removal. It isnt clear if the order was directed by Hegseth or someone else on his staff. A West Point official confirmed earlier this week that the school had completed a review of its curriculum and was prepared to review library content if directed by the Army. The Air Force and Naval academies had also done curriculum reviews as had been required.An Air Force Academy official said the school continually reviews its curriculum, coursework and other materials to ensure it all complies with executive orders and Defense Department policies. Last week, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, the Air Force Academy superintendent, told Congress that the school was in the middle of its course review, but there was no mention of books.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss academy policies.Hegseth has aggressively pushed the department to erase DEI programs and online content, but the campaign has been met with questions from angry lawmakers, local leaders and citizens over the removal of military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department websites and social media pages. LOLITA C. BALDOR Baldor has covered the Pentagon and national security issues for The Associated Press since 2005. She has reported from all over the world including warzones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. twitter mailto TARA COPP Copp covers the Pentagon and national security for the Associated Press. She has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, throughout the Middle East, Europe and Asia. twitter mailto

Donna Cooper holds up a dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss, at her home in Front Royal, Va., on Friday, March 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)2025-04-04T22:27:54Z President Donald Trumps administration has decided not to cover expensive, high-demand obesity treatments under the federal governments Medicare program.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said late Friday that it would not cover the medications under Medicares Part D prescription drug coverage. Medicare covers health care expenses mainly for people age 65 and older.Trumps predecessor, Joe Biden, proposed a rule in late November after Trump won re-election that would have extended coverage of drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy. The rule was not expected to be finalized until Trump took office.Trump returned to office in January. The Senate confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday. CMS did not offer an explanation Friday for its decision, and federal spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trumps Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been an outspoken opponent of the injectable drugs, which have exploded in popularity due to the potentially life-changing weight loss that some patients experience. Polls show Americans favor having Medicaid and Medicare cover the costs. But many insurers, employers and other bill payers have been reluctant to pay for the drugs, which can be used by a wide swath of the population and can cost hundreds of dollars a month. Bidens proposal was expensive: It would have included coverage for all state- and federally funded Medicaid programs for people with low incomes, costing taxpayers as much as $35 billion over next decade. Proponents of the coverage have argued that treating obesity can actually reduce longer-term costs by cutting down on heart attacks and other expensive health complications that can arise from the disease. The benefits consultant Mercer has said that 44% of U.S. companies with 500 or more employees covered obesity drugs last year. Medicare does pay for drugs like Wegovy for patients who have heart disease and need to reduce their risk of future heart attacks, strokes and other serious problems. The federal program also covers versions of the drugs that treat diabetes.More than a dozen state Medicaid programs already cover the drugs for obesity. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. TOM MURPHY Murphy covers how people and businesses navigate the U.S. health care system. He is a member of APs Health and Science team. mailto

Alex Ovechkin has tied Wayne Gretzky's NHL goals record by scoring the 894th of his career, setting off a wild celebration on the ice with his teammates and chants of "Ovi! Ovi!" in a crowd that included the "Great One" himself.

USWNT coach Emma Hayes said she feels confident in her team's defensive personnel ahead of an Olympic gold medal-game rematch against Brazil, despite the "extremely unfortunate" injury to center-back Tierna Davidson.

Director Paul Schrader poses for a portrait for the film 'Oh, Canada', at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)2025-04-05T00:33:14Z NEW YORK (AP) Paul Schrader, the writer of Taxi Driver and director of American Gigolo, has been accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting his former personal assistant, firing her when she wouldnt acquiesce to advances and reneging on a settlement that was meant to keep the allegations confidential.The former assistant, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, sued the filmmaker and his production company on Thursday. She is seeking a judges order to enforce the agreement after Schrader said he couldnt go through with it. The terms, including a monetary payment, were not disclosed.This is an open-and-shut settlement enforcement matter, Does lawyer, Gregory Chiarello, wrote in court papers accompanying the breach of contract claim.Schraders lawyer, Philip J. Kessler, deemed the lawsuit desperate, opportunistic and frivolous and said many of the allegations in it are false or materially misleading. We absolutely deny that there was ever a sexual relationship of any kind between Mr. Schrader and his former assistant, and we deny that Mr. Schrader ever made an attempt to have a sexual relationship of any kind with his former assistant, Kessler said. The lawsuit, filed in a New York court, laid bare allegations that the confidential settlement between Doe, 26, and Schrader, 78, had been intended to keep under wraps.They include her claim that the filmmaker trapped her in his hotel room, grabbed her arms and kissed her against her will last year while they were promoting his latest film, Oh, Canada, at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Two days later, the lawsuit said, Schrader called Doe repeatedly and sent her angry text messages claiming he was dying and couldnt pack his bags. When Doe arrived to help, the lawsuit said, Schrader exposed his genitals to her as he opened his hotel room door wearing nothing but an open bathrobe. Doe alleges Schrader fired her last September after she again rejected his advances. Soon after, the lawsuit said, he sent her an email expressing fear that hed become a Harvey Weinstein in her mind. Weinstein, the movie mogul turned #MeToo villain, was convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and is awaiting an April 15 retrial in his New York rape case.According to the lawsuit, Schrader agreed to the settlement on Feb. 5 but changed his mind after an illness and soul searching. Schrader conveyed through his lawyers last month that he could not live with the settlement, the lawsuit said. Kessler disputed that.The agreement that theyre trying to enforce against Mr. Schrader, in plain English, required both parties to sign it before it became legally effective, Kessler said. Mr. Schrader declined to sign it. Its frankly as simple as that.Doe worked for Schrader from 2021 until 2024, according to the lawsuit. During that time, Kessler said, she posted on social media about how much she loved her job and referred to Schrader as an extraordinary mentor and my man.Schrader rose to fame through his collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, beginning with Taxi Driver in 1976. Robert De Niros iconic line, You talkin to me, is seared into the lexicon and ranked among the American Film Institutes all-time greatest movie quotes. Schrader co-wrote Scorseses 1980 boxing drama Raging Bull, also starring De Niro, and authored his 1988 religious epic The Last Temptation of Christ and his 1999 paramedic drama Bringing Out the Dead.Hes also directed 23 of his own films, highlighted by 1980s American Gigolo, which he also wrote. He received his only Academy Award nomination for writing First Reformed, a 2017 thriller about a small-town minister that he also directed.Schrader told The Associated Press last year that he made Oh, Canada the film that Doe said brought them to Cannes as he reconciled his own mortality after a string of hospitalizations for long COVID.In 2016, Schrader told The Hollywood Reporter police visited him after he ranted on Facebook about Donald Trumps then-looming presidency. Schrader wrote Trumps election was a call to violence and said people should be willing to take arms. In 2023, he trashed the Oscars as scrambling to be woke with diversity efforts and more international voters. And in 2021, in the wake of #MeToo, he decried so-called cancel culture, telling Deadline it was so infectious, its like the Delta virus.If your friend says, Theyre saying these terrible things about me that arent true, youre afraid to come to their defense, because you might catch that virus too, Schrader told the entertainment news outlet. MICHAEL R. SISAK Sisak is an Associated Press reporter covering law enforcement and courts in New York City, including former President Donald Trumps criminal and civil cases and problems plaguing the federal prison system. twitter mailto

Bryant Kagay, part owner of Kagay farms in Amity, Missouri, works on equipment to get ready for planting his crops this year while worrying about the effects of President Donald Trump's tariffs, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nick Ingram)2025-04-04T22:52:27Z OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Heading into this year, most U.S. farmers were hoping to break even or maybe record a small profit if they could find a way to limit their sky-high costs. But now they are faced with losing the biggest export market for many of their crops after China retaliated against President Donald Trumps tariffs.Theres just not any margin for error in the current farm economy, said Kentucky farmer Caleb Ragland, who serves as president of the American Soybean Association.Soybean and sorghum farmers have particular reason to worry because at least half of those crops are exported and China has long been the biggest buyer. China has also bought a lot of American corn, beef, chicken and other crops as part of spending $24.65 billion on U.S. agricultural products last year. Now with China slapping 34% tariffs on all American products Friday on top of other tariffs it imposed earlier this year all of those products will be significantly more expensive in China Crop prices, much like the stock market, dropped after Trump announced his tariffs earlier this week. Tim Dufault, whose farm is in northwest Minnesota only about 80 miles south of Canada, said in a good year soybean farmers might make $50 to $75 an acre. But this isnt a good year because crop prices arent high enough to cover soaring costs, and the price drop in the past two days cost them about $25 an acre, he said. Dufault said he is worried that these new tariffs might put many farmers out of business, including the young farmers he rented his land to heading into this year as he retired because they likely wont make anything in 2025. I just I hope to God they can stay in business, said Dufault, who is active with the Farmers for Free Trade group that pushes for open markets.One of the biggest long-term concerns is that American farmers and ranchers will lose market share as China turns to Brazil and other countries to buy the soybeans, beef, chicken and other crops it consumes. China will buy lots of sorghum because it is distilled into the drink baijiu that is as popular there as whiskey is in the United States, but they will get it from other countries. Farmers endured Trumps previous trade war with China during his first term. But this time, Trumps tariffs extend around the globe, so China likely wont be the last country to retaliate with tariffs of its own. Could farmers get government aid? The only way most farmers survived Trumps last trade war was with tens of billions of government aid payments, but its not clear if he will do that this time. He gave them more than $22 billion in aid payments in 2019 and nearly $46 billion in 2020, though that year also included aid related to the COVID pandemic.Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Fox News this week that right now she doesnt believe massive aid payments will be necessary, although she wont know that for several months. But if it is, then this president has always said and he is resolute in his commitment to our farmers and our ranchers and our great rural communities in America, so we will well make sure were ready if in fact that is necessary, she said. But none of us like that, said farmer Andy Hineman, who is vice president of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. We dont want to live on government handouts. Wed rather sell the crops we grow.But farmer Bryant Kagay, part owner of Kagay farms in Amity, Missouri, said he doesnt have a lot of faith that these tariffs the way they are laid out today will stick around long term.He also doesnt like the idea of getting aid from the government. I really hate that seems to be the solution that, well, well just pay farmers some just off-the-cuff payment to help offset this, Kagay said. I think a federal government thats vastly overspending today, like this is not the way to solve that problem.The hope for farmers is that Trumps tariffs will lead to negotiations with other countries that will lower tariffs and other trade barriers.Thats the type of positive development that we can do thats good for everybody involved, and thats what we need to look for, Ragland said. Instead of beating each other up with higher and higher tariffs its just like punching each other in the face. Were not going to gain anything from it. Its just going to cause us to hurt. That would be my encouragement to the administration, is to look for opportunities and get some great deals done proactively.___Associated Press writer Nick Ingram contributed to this report from Missouri. JOSH FUNK Funk is an Associated Press reporter who covers all the major freight railroads including Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX, Canadian National and CPKC. Funk also covers Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway and has been attending Buffetts Woodstock for Capitalists annual meeting every spring in Omaha, Nebraska, for 19 years. twitter mailto

No matter where she's called home, the Final Four coach's story is held close by those who watched her rise.

Dwight Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, sources told ESPN.

The SEC Player of the Year is chasing history -- for himself and Auburn -- as the Tigers head into Final Four.

South Carolina and UConn advanced to Sunday's NCAA title game. We tracked all the action live from Tampa.

Prisoners look out from their cell as the Costa Rica Justice and Peace minister tours the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)2025-04-04T19:48:33Z TECOLUCA, El Salvador (AP) Costa Ricas security minister toured El Salvadors maximum-security gang prison on Friday as part of his review of the measures that El Salvador has taken to reduce violence caused by powerful street gangs during a now three-year offensive under a state of emergency.Costa Rica Justice and Peace Minister Gerald Campos Valverde said he was visiting on orders of President Rodrigo Chaves to see the good practices of the Salvadoran people with the goal of combating crime and to returning rights to all citizens.In November, Costa Rica bestowed its highest diplomatic honor on El Salvador President Nayib Bukele for his success in lowering levels of violence during his three-year campaign against powerful street gangs.El Salvador has lived under a state of emergency that suspends fundamental rights like access to a lawyer. Some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties. Homicides have plummeted in El Salvador and the improved security has fueled Bukeles popularity.El Salvadors rescue from those nefarious claws is also helping the peace in our region, Chaves said when he presented Bukele with the recognition last year. The fight against organized crime in any part of Central America is welcome. The reach and influence and bad example of the gangs must be reduced. Campos came away impressed by the gang prison Bukele built at the start of the state of emergency where Campos said he saw fundamental rights being respected. The prisons director Belarmino Garca showed Campos one of the cells holding about 70 inmates. The prison director instructed the inmates to remove their shirts to show their tattooed torsos and asked some to identify their gang affiliation to show that members of rival gangs were sharing the same cell.After his tour, Campos said that Costa Rica would not continue allowing criminals to be arrest by police only to see them quickly freed by the judicial system. We are going to take all of the good practices back to Costa Rica to give Costa Ricans a place of peace and tranquility, he said.El Salvador Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro said earlier Friday that El Salvador was pleased to share its experience with Costa Rica, a country that until recently had been a reference for peace, but now struggles with bloodshed like El Salvador once had.This is not a question of copy and paste, but rather of learning what we have done and implementing in each country what precisely can be done to rescue thousands of Costa Ricans, thousands of Salvadorans and imprisoning hundreds, Villatoro said.El Salvadors new gang prison, where inmates are held in large cells and never allowed outside, has gained more attention in recent weeks after the U.S. government sent nearly 300 migrants, including more than 200 Venezuelans, it accused of having gang ties to be held there.Costa Rica continues to struggle with historically high homicide numbers.In 2023, Costa Rica set a homicide record with 907, down somewhat in 2024 to 880. So far this year, the country is on nearly the same homicide pace as last year, according to government data. Unlike Bukele, Chaves does not hold a majority in Congress and has not remade Costa Ricas courts to remove opposition.Costa Rica long applauded for a robust ecotourism industry, environmental conservation and relative peace has been wracked by violence in recent years, largely attributed to drug trafficking. Costa Rica has become a key way station for cocaine exports to Europe and the United States.___Associated Press writer Javier Cordoba in San Jose, Costa Rica contributed to this report.

Protesters carry signs and chant slogans in protest to the policies of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk across from the Federal Building in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)2025-04-05T04:14:33Z WASHINGTON (AP) Opponents of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk plan to rally across the U.S. on Saturday to protest the administrations actions on government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues.More than 1,200 Hands Off! demonstrations have been planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and fair-elections activists. The protests are planned for the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols and other locations in all 50 states.The White House did not return an email message seeking comment about the protests. Trump has promoted his policies as being in the best interest of the U.S.Protesters are assailing the Trump administrations moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs. Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars. Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump or Musk multiple times since the new administration took power. But the opposition movement has yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Womens March in 2017, which brought thousands of women to Washington, D.C., after Trumps first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyds killing in 2020.Organizers say they hope Saturdays demonstrations will be the largest since Trump returned to office in January. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the second half, including a penalty, to guide Al-Nassr to a 3-1 win over Al-Hilal in the race for the Saudi Pro League title on Friday.

U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson said the federation would strongly support expansion of the Women's World Cup to 48 teams in 2031.

Floodwaters cover Kentucky Route 39 in Lincoln County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)2025-04-05T04:52:45Z HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) Another round of torrential rain and flash flooding was expected to hit Saturday in parts of the South and Midwest already heavily waterlogged by days of severe storms that in some cases spawned deadly tornadoes. Floodwaters cover the entryway to the Weather Stone subdivision off Russellville Road in Bowling Green, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Grace McDowell/Daily News via AP) Floodwaters cover the entryway to the Weather Stone subdivision off Russellville Road in Bowling Green, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Grace McDowell/Daily News via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Round after round of heavy rains have pounded the central U.S., leading to rapidly rising waterways and prompting a series of flash flood emergencies Friday night in Missouri, Texas and Arkansas. Meanwhile, many communities were still reeling from tornadoes that destroyed entire neighborhoods and killed at least seven people earlier this week. In Frankfort, Kentucky, floodwaters swept a 9-year-old boy away while he was walking to a school bus stop Friday morning, Gov. Andy Beshear said on social media. Officials said Gabriel Andrews body was found about a half-mile from where he went missing.The downtown area of Hopkinsville, Kentucky a city of 31,000 residents 72 miles (116 kilometers) northwest of Nashville was submerged Friday. A dozen people were rescued from homes, and dozens of pets were moved away from rising water, a fire official said.Tony Kirves and some friends used sandbags and a vacuum to try to hold back rising waters that covered the basement and seeped into the ground floor of his photography business in Hopkinsville. Downtown was like a lake, he said. Were holding ground, he said. Were trying to maintain and keep it out the best we can. Marquetta Wheeler, right, with Samaria Williams and Jemaria Shaw walk through flood waters as they leave their home on Marietta Drive in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Marquetta Wheeler, right, with Samaria Williams and Jemaria Shaw walk through flood waters as they leave their home on Marietta Drive in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Drew's on the River Sports Bar and Grill manager, Carrie Haines, right, Frank left, and Steve Schmidt son of owner Ron Schmidt, center load furnature on to trailer in the rain as the Ohio River rises, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Drew's on the River Sports Bar and Grill manager, Carrie Haines, right, Frank left, and Steve Schmidt son of owner Ron Schmidt, center load furnature on to trailer in the rain as the Ohio River rises, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The Green River floods in Casey County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP) The Green River floods in Casey County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Flood waters rise around homes on Bell Street in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Flood waters rise around homes on Bell Street in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Flash flood threat looms over many states Flash flood emergencies were issued Friday night in at least seven cities in Missouri, Texas and Arkansas, according to the National Weather Service. One was in Van Buren, Missouri, where there were at least 15 water rescues amid heavy rainfall and a rapidly rising Current River, said Justin Gibbs, weather service meteorologist. Another was in Texarkana, Texas, where the flooded streets resulted in several people having to be rescued from their vehicles, according to the citys police department. If you dont have darn good reason for being out (like one that involves a visit to the emergency room), please stay home and off the roads!! the police department said on social media.Heavy rains were expected to continue in parts of Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky and elsewhere Saturday and could produce dangerous flash floods. The weather service said 45 river locations in multiple states were expected to reach major flood stage, with extensive flooding of structures, roads and other critical infrastructure possible. City of Owensboro workers put sandbags to protect the fountains in preparation for flooding of the Ohio River in Smothers Park in Owensboro, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Alan Warren/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP) City of Owensboro workers put sandbags to protect the fountains in preparation for flooding of the Ohio River in Smothers Park in Owensboro, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Alan Warren/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Floodwaters cover Kentucky Route 39 in Lincoln County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP) Floodwaters cover Kentucky Route 39 in Lincoln County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Floodwaters cover Kentucky Route 39 in Lincoln County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP) Floodwaters cover Kentucky Route 39 in Lincoln County, Ky., on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Cars sit in a flooded street in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Cars sit in a flooded street in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Brandon Sanderson, left, Josh Brashears set up sandbags after flooding in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Brandon Sanderson, left, Josh Brashears set up sandbags after flooding in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Signs at Basil Griffin Park in Bowling Green, Ky., stand in flooded waters on Friday, April 4, 2025, after excessive rainfall Thursday into Friday drenched southcentral Kentucky with more than four and a half inches of rain. (Grace McDowell /Daily News via AP) Signs at Basil Griffin Park in Bowling Green, Ky., stand in flooded waters on Friday, April 4, 2025, after excessive rainfall Thursday into Friday drenched southcentral Kentucky with more than four and a half inches of rain. (Grace McDowell /Daily News via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In Christian County, Kentucky, which includes Hopkinsville, 6 to 10 inches (15.2 to 25.4 centimeters) fell since Wednesday evening, the NWS said Friday afternoon. The rain caused the Little River to surge over its banks, and 4 to 8 inches (10.2 to 20.3 centimeters) more could fall by Sunday, it said. Hundreds of Kentucky roads were impassable Friday because of floodwaters, downed trees or mud and rock slides, and the number of closures were likely to increase with more rain Saturday, Beshear said. Flash flooding is particularly worrisome in rural Kentucky where water can rush off the mountains into the hollows. Less than four years ago, dozens died in flooding in the eastern part of the state.Extreme flooding across a corridor that includes Louisville, Kentucky and Memphis which have major cargo hubs could also lead to shipping and supply chain delays, said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.Swollen rivers and tributaries also swamped some parts in Ohio on Friday, and Gov. Mike DeWine said about 70 roads were closed. The southern half of the state was expected to see moderate flooding, which has not happened in four years, he added.Forecasters attributed the violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming from the Gulf. At least 318 tornado warnings have been issued by the NWS since this weeks outbreak began Wednesday.The outburst comes at a time when nearly half of NWS forecast offices have 20% vacancy rates after Trump administration job cuts twice that of just a decade ago. Tornadoes leave a path of damage, and more could be comingAt least two reports of observed tornadoes were noted Friday evening in Missouri and Arkansas, according to the NWS.TAKE COVER NOW! the weather service said on X in response to the one on the ground around the small Missouri town of Advance.Earlier in the week, seven people were killed in the initial wave of storms that spawned powerful tornadoes on Wednesday and early Thursday in Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana. Workers clear landslide debris, caused by heavy rains overnight, from Mary Ingles Highway, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Newport, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Workers clear landslide debris, caused by heavy rains overnight, from Mary Ingles Highway, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Newport, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A person rides a bike in a flooded street in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) A person rides a bike in a flooded street in Hopkinsville, Ky., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said entire neighborhoods in the hard-hit town of Selmer were completely wiped out, after it was hit by a tornado with winds estimated by the NWS of up to 160 mph (257 kph). Advance warning of storms likely saved lives as hundreds of people sheltered at a courthouse, the governor said.In neighboring Arkansas, a tornado near Blytheville lofted debris at least 25,000 feet (7.6 kilometers) high, according to weather service meteorologist Chelly Amin. The states emergency management office reported damage in 22 counties from tornadoes, wind, hail and flash flooding.Mississippis governor said at least 60 homes were damaged. And in far western Kentucky, four people were injured while taking shelter in a vehicle under a church carport, according to the emergency management office in Ballard County.___Schreiner reported from Shelbyville, Kentucky. Associated Press writers Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia; Obed Lamy in Hopkinsville; John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

A man looks at the heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, at the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)2025-04-05T05:04:14Z ASSISI, Italy (AP) With the upcoming canonization of its first millennial saint, the Catholic Church has turned to police in Italy to investigate the online sale of some purported relics of Carlo Acutis, who already has been drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to his shrine. Rev. Cristopher Pujol prays at the heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, at the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Rev. Cristopher Pujol prays at the heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, at the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Since the early days of the faith, many Catholics have prayed for intercession to saints relics usually small parts of their body or clothing that are authenticated by ecclesiastical authorities and preserved in churches. But their sale is strictly forbidden.Its not just despicable, but its also a sin, said the Rev. Enzo Fortunato, who leads the Vaticans World Childrens Day committee and has a tiny fragment of Acutis hair in a chapel by his office for veneration by visiting youth. Every kind of commerce over faith is a sin.An anonymous seller had put up for online auction some supposedly authenticated locks of Acutis hair that were fetching upward of 2,000 euros ($2,200 US), according to the Diocese of Assisi, before being taken down. Last month, Bishop Domenico Sorrentino asked authorities to confiscate the items and added that if fraudulent, the sale would constitute a great offense to religious belief. Young boys pray in front of the heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, in the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Young boys pray in front of the heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, in the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Photos of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, are displayed at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Photos of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, are displayed at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Acutis was precocious in developing and sharing his faithAcutis died of leukemia in 2006, when he was only 15 but had already developed a precocious faith life centered on devotion to the Eucharist which for Catholics holds the real presence of Christ. Savvy with technology, he had created an online exhibit about eucharistic miracles through the centuries.He will formally be declared a saint at a Mass in front of the Vaticans St. Peters Basilica on April 27. Over the past year, about 1 million pilgrims have flocked to the central Italian town of Assisi, where his body wearing sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt lies in a shrine in a church dedicated to a key moment in the life of medieval hometown saint, St. Francis. Souvenirs of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, are displayed in a shop in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Souvenirs of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, are displayed in a shop in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A hair relic of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020 is shown to the Associated Press during an interview in Rome, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A hair relic of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020 is shown to the Associated Press during an interview in Rome, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Acutis body was exhumed during the more-than-decade-long canonization process and treated so it could be preserved for public showing, including by removing certain organs. His face, which looks as if he were asleep, was reconstructed with a silicone mask, Sorrentino said. Acutis heart has been preserved at a dedicated altar in another Assisi church; it will be taken to Rome for the canonization Mass.The relics are little, little fragments of the body, to say that that body is blessed, and it explains to us the closeness of God, Sorrentino said.Handling of relics is a painstaking task for the churchThere are different classes of relics the most important are major body parts, such as the heart. Sorrentino gave Acutis pericardium the membrane enclosing the heart to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2022 for the duration of its multi-year Eucharistic Revival.The bishop in charge of the saints body works with requests from other bishops around the world to give or lend relics always for free to be exhibited for veneration at parishes and other churches. People pray in front of the body of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, in the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) People pray in front of the body of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, in the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More We give this to communities, to parishes, to priests using the relics for the cult in their parish, Sorrentino said. Its not something magic. Its not something that works automatically, it works through faith.The practice of gathering relics dates to the earliest days of the church, when many faithful Christians died as martyrs in religious persecutions. Witnesses to the killings would collect blood or fragments of clothing to memorialize their sacrifice and to pray for the saints intercession, Fortunato said.In Acutis case, the first miracle in his canonization process was the healing of a boy in Brazil after a prayer service invoking his intercession with the presence of a relic, he added.For clergy and pilgrims who have been visiting Acutis shrine in Assisi this week, the relics take second place to the example of faith and the power of assisting with prayer that saints provide.I would never buy one, said Amelia Simone, an 18-year-old from Chicago who has been studying in Rome and credits Acutis for help smoothing out tricky visa paperwork. I think the intercession aspect is very cool, but I dont think Id ever want to own a first-class relic. It just would feel a bit weird to me. Two clergy leading a Holy Year pilgrimage to Italy from the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, said it was a great tragedy that online relic sales were happening. The heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020 is shown at the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) The heart relic of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020 is shown at the San Rufino Cathedral in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Souvenirs of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, are displayed in a shop in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Souvenirs of Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, are displayed in a shop in Assisi, Italy, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More We continue to pray for peoples conversion, said the Rev. Christopher Pujol.Bishop Larry Kulick added that relics are very reverent and very solemn for us as Catholics. And they are not only inspirational for us, but they are really ... opportunities to help us to pray.And so its unfortunate that such a thing would happen, because thats really a misuse of the relics and actually a disrespect to him and to his memory, he added. Some mixed views on this sainthood processAlready, the uncommon devotion and attention that Acutis canonization process has generated has been met with some skepticism. In hundreds of social media comments to a recent Associated Press article about the phenomenon, some called his sainthood a marketing ploy by the church to lure more young people back into the pews. Many others and those making pilgrimage to Assisi praised Acutis for his devotion and were glad hes become a role model for members of his generation.Its a joy for me to have encountered Carlo Acutis body, and especially to ask for his intercession for the transformation and the conversion of many youth, said Juana de Dios Euceda, a missionary nun from Honduras.___DellOrto reported from Miami.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

National Women's Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman said Friday that she thinks the league could grow to be the size of the NFL, which has 32 teams.

Jamal Musiala is set to miss the first leg of Bayern Munich's Champions League quarterfinal against Inter Milan on Tuesday, adding to the Bundesliga side's injury woes at a crucial stage of the season.

UConn center Jana El Alfy (8) and UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) react during the first half of a national semifinal Final Four game against UCLA during the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)2025-04-05T03:38:18Z Follow APs full coverage of March Madness. Get the AP Top 25 womens college basketball poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didnt even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the womens NCAA Tournament.Strong finished with 22 points and Fudd scored all of her 19 points in the first half for the second-seeded Huskies, who are one win away from their 12th national championship and first since the team won four straight from 2013-16, led by Breanna Stewart. The eight-year title drought is the longest for the Huskies since they won their first in 1995.We arent worried about the past. Every single day you walk into the gym and live up to the standard of playing UConn basketball, Bueckers said. Not comparing yourself to other teams and players before. We want to fill their shoes and make them proud. Wear the jersey with pride. UConn will face defending champion South Carolina on Sunday for the title after the Gamecocks beat Texas 74-57 earlier Friday night. Its a rematch of the 2022 championship game, which the Gamecocks won 64-49. The teams met in February and UConn shocked South Carolina with a 29-point road victory. Theyve played basketball at an exceptionally high level when you think about the Final Fours theyve been too and the consistency in their program, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. The ability to win national championships multiple times and (they) are in a position to win back-to-back ones. Bueckers, the likely top pick in the WNBA draft on April 14, finished with 16 points after topping 30 in each of the previous three games for the Huskies (36-3).If Paige had 16 last year, we wouldnt have made it to the Final Four, Auriemma said. If she had the game she had today the previous year, it would be almost impossible for us to win. All-America center Lauren Betts scored 26 points for top overall seed UCLA (34-3).UConn got off to a hot start with Strong and Fudd leading the way. Even when shots looked off, they found their way in. Fudd, one of the best shooters in the country whose career at UConn has been interrupted by multiple injuries, banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key, prompting Auriemma to throw his arms in the air and smile.Its just so much fun to watch her play with joy and be at this stage, Bueckers said of Fudd. You see all the ups and downs, the bad days, the good days and to be at this spot where its the light at the end of the tunnel and for her to perform and be at this stage, it means everything to us.The Huskies led 23-13 at the end of the first quarter. They continued the onslaught behind Fudd to open a 42-22 advantage at the break. Bueckers had the play of the half with a touch pass in the air to Kaitlyn Chen for a layup late in the second quarter.UCLA never threated in the second half as the 6-foot-7 Betts had little help. UConn ended up breaking its own record for margin of victory in the Final Four or national title game the Huskies won the 2013 championship by 33 points over Louisville. UCLAs run endsThe Bruins fell short in their first appearance in the NCAA Final Four. UCLA won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of womens basketball. The Bruins were looking to become the first team from the Big Ten, a conference they joined this season, to win a championship since Purdue did it in 1999.UCLA cruised through its best regular season, earning the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 for the first time and holding the spot for 14 weeks.The Bruins only lost twice this year before Friday, both to JuJu Watkins and USC. UCLA got a measure of revenge by beating USC to win the Big Ten Tournament in its first year in the league after the dismantling of the Pac-12. The Bruins set a program record for wins in a season and won 23 consecutive games, including 22 in a row by double digits. Weve obviously gone to new heights this year, but we got to let the pain of this hopefully teach us to go to new heights next year, UCLA coach Cori Close said. Learn from this and be better the next time. (Its) really unusual to be in this position at the Final Four and have zero seniors in your locker room and have an opportunity to come back stronger, more connected, learning from this experience and be better the next time.___AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

Rob Blackwell stands next to an EV he started leasing right before U.S. President Donald Trump announced expansive new import tariffs, in Richmond, Va., on April 3, 2025. (Maia Curtis via AP)2025-04-05T04:10:39Z John Gutierrez had been thinking about buying a new laptop for the past year. The Austin, Texas, resident needed a computer with faster processing and increased storage for his photography work and had his sights set on a product from a Taiwanese brand.Then President Donald Trump announced expansive new import tariffs Wednesday, including a 32% tax on imports from Taiwan. That same day, Gutierrez ordered the laptop, with a base price of $2,400, from a retailer in New York specializing in photo and video gear.I thought Id bite the bullet, buy it now, and then that way Ill have the latest technology on my laptop and dont have to worry about the tariffs, he said.Gutierrez was among the U.S. consumers rushing to buy big-ticket items before the tariffs take effect. Economists say the tariffs are expected to increase prices for everyday items, warning of potentially weakened U.S. economic growth. The White House hopes the tariffs prod countries to open their economies to more American exports, leading to negotiations that could reduce tariffs, or that companies increase their production in the U.S. to avoid higher import taxes. Rob Blackwell and his wife needed a new car that could handle long drives from Arlington, Virginia, to their sons college. Their current electric vehicle is older with a limited range, and it will soon be used by his daughter, who is on the verge of getting her drivers license. I have been telling my wife that for some time we were going to need to do it, he said, and I was watching to see what the president did with tariffs.Blackwell wanted another EV, but said leasing made more economic sense because the technology is ever-changing. He had his eye on the new General Motors Optiq; its an American car but made in Mexico, which could be subject to tariffs on supply chains that might increase the cost. After hearing that tariffs would be announced, they made plans the weekend before to lease the car. He said the dealership honored the agreement they worked out before the tariffs were finalized. And although he said the salespeople were a pleasure to deal with, Blackwell sensed a shift in their stance.They know what we know, which is suddenly it flips from a buyers market to a sellers market very quickly, Blackwell said, adding that he is happy with his choice. It was just a simple rational decision, he said. If this is what the governments going to do, I need to get my act together.Lee Wochner, CEO of the Burbank, California-based Counterintuity marketing and strategy firm, also needed a new vehicle. He wanted a more presentable car for business meetings, but kept putting it off because of his busy work schedule.On March 27, a Thursday, he told his firms car broker: Ed, I need a car pronto and its got to happen by Sunday.The broker gave him some car and pricing options and he leased an Audi Q3, which was delivered Sunday to his house by a nearby dealership.A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation showed how much he saved by leasing before the tariffs were implemented. If he had waited, Wochner said, it would have cost about another $4,300. One of the things my car broker said was that deals that were already written, some of the dealerships were ripping them up already and renegotiating them because they were afraid that they werent going to be able to get enough new inventory at a price anybody would buy, he said.He believes prices will continue to increase because the U.S. has lost the trust of the international trade market.If you need a new car, if you can get that pre-tariff deal still, you should go get it, he said, because who knows what next Wednesday might be like. CLAIRE RUSH Rush is an Associated Press reporter covering Oregon state government and general news in the Pacific Northwest more broadly. twitter mailto MARK THIESSEN Thiessen is an Associated Press all-formats reporter based in Anchorage, Alaska. He covers Alaska Native issues and other general assignments. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The Warriors won their fifth straight game with Friday's 118-104 victory over the Nuggets, and Stephen Curry said the team is playing with a "sense of urgency down the stretch."

The Celtics broke the NBA record for 3-pointers in a season Friday night against the Suns, connecting on their 1,364th to pass the Warriors' mark set in 2022-23.