TYLER – An illegal alien and a Smith County man have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in East Texas, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced Wednesday.
Daniel Garibay-Barriga, 39, an illegal alien from Mexico, and 50-year-old Craig Allen Wallace, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Tuesday, Garibay-Barriga was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison, Wallace was sentenced to 165 months on the same day. Continue reading Federal time for drug violators
Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall on southern Louisiana with threatening winds
MIAMI (AP) – Tropical Storm Bertha crawled onto the southern tip of Louisiana on Wednesday, making landfall and packing strong winds far from its center after closing beaches from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of New Orleans and 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Biloxi, Mississippi.
The wind and storm surge were the main threats for the Deep South states. Parks and piers were closed up and down the coast, as were some low-lying roads. A tropical storm warning stretched from the Alabama-Florida border over to Louisiana, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, National Hurricane Center said.
Tropical storm force winds extend over 100 miles (160 kilometers) out from the center of Bertha. Storm surge up to 3 feet (1 meter) is possible in Louisiana as well as heavy rain in some areas, forecasters said. Rain totals were forecast between 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters), with higher amounts possible in isolated areas.
Bertha is expected to continue losing strength over the next few days as it heads toward Texas after the storm earlier trudged past the Florida Panhandle and the tips of Alabama and Mississippi. At landfall, the storm’s maximum sustained winds were around 45 mph.
Elsewhere in the U.S. this week, a line of storms generated reports of tornadoes stretching from Cincinnati to New Jersey. Torrential rains caused flash floods Tuesday night that swamped homes, washed out bridges and led to water rescues in West Virginia, authorities said.
Sandbag distribution sites are set up
Authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida opened sites to provide sandbags to residents who may be impacted by Tropical Storm Bertha. Double-red flag warnings were posted along some beaches, closing them to swimmers.
“For locals, this is just another storm,” said Candice Henderson, manager of the Crab Trap, a beachside restaurant that was packed Tuesday on Pensacola, Florida’s Perdido Key. “When you’re on vacation and it’s raining, you either shop or you go out to eat.”
Bertha is the second tropical storm of Atlantic season
Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arthur in June brought heavy rainfall to the southeastern U.S.
Bertha could dump heavy rain on coastal areas of Mississippi that are still recovering from flooding brought by Arthur that destroyed and damaged homes.
Hurricane Fausto in the Pacific is far from land
In the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Fausto churned far from land Wednesday. The hurricane was hundreds of miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph).
It was forecast to gradually strengthen and the hurricane center warned that ocean swells generated by Fausto could cause life-threatening surf and rip tide conditions on the Baja California coast.
Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall on southern Louisiana with threatening winds
MIAMI (AP) – Tropical Storm Bertha crawled onto the southern tip of Louisiana on Wednesday, making landfall and packing strong winds far from its center after closing beaches from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of New Orleans and 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Biloxi, Mississippi.
The wind and storm surge were the main threats for the Deep South states. Parks and piers were closed up and down the coast, as were some low-lying roads. A tropical storm warning stretched from the Alabama-Florida border over to Louisiana, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, National Hurricane Center said.
Tropical storm force winds extend over 100 miles (160 kilometers) out from the center of Bertha. Storm surge up to 3 feet (1 meter) is possible in Louisiana as well as heavy rain in some areas, forecasters said. Rain totals were forecast between 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters), with higher amounts possible in isolated areas.
Bertha is expected to continue losing strength over the next few days as it heads toward Texas after the storm earlier trudged past the Florida Panhandle and the tips of Alabama and Mississippi. At landfall, the storm’s maximum sustained winds were around 45 mph.
Elsewhere in the U.S. this week, a line of storms generated reports of tornadoes stretching from Cincinnati to New Jersey. Torrential rains caused flash floods Tuesday night that swamped homes, washed out bridges and led to water rescues in West Virginia, authorities said.
Sandbag distribution sites are set up
Authorities in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida opened sites to provide sandbags to residents who may be impacted by Tropical Storm Bertha. Double-red flag warnings were posted along some beaches, closing them to swimmers.
“For locals, this is just another storm,” said Candice Henderson, manager of the Crab Trap, a beachside restaurant that was packed Tuesday on Pensacola, Florida’s Perdido Key. “When you’re on vacation and it’s raining, you either shop or you go out to eat.”
Bertha is the second tropical storm of Atlantic season
Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arthur in June brought heavy rainfall to the southeastern U.S.
Bertha could dump heavy rain on coastal areas of Mississippi that are still recovering from flooding brought by Arthur that destroyed and damaged homes.
Hurricane Fausto in the Pacific is far from land
In the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Fausto churned far from land Wednesday. The hurricane was hundreds of miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph).
It was forecast to gradually strengthen and the hurricane center warned that ocean swells generated by Fausto could cause life-threatening surf and rip tide conditions on the Baja California coast.
Glen Powell to star as Lou Gehrig in new film directed by Richard Linklater
Glen Powell is taking on the role of Lou Gehrig.
The actor is set to star in a film about the baseball legend for Universal Pictures directed by Richard Linklater, ABC Audio has confirmed.
This currently untitled project will be produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels alongside Erin David for Broadway Video's first-look deal with Universal.
Powell will also produce the film, while Linklater is in talks to produce it. Saturday Night Live and Artificial writer Simon Rich is attached to write the movie's screenplay.
Gehrig is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He spent all of his 17-year career playing for the New York Yankees, where he won six World Series titles.
In 1939, the athlete was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He died at age 37 in 1941.
Powell and Linklater first collaborated on the 2016 film Everybody Wants Some!! Powell was directed by Linklater on the film, which follows Texan college baseball players in the year 1980.
The pair then produced and co-wrote the script of the 2024 romantic comedy Hit Man, which Linklater directed and Powell starred in.
Powell's relationship with Universal Pictures started with the 2024 film Twisters. According to the studio, that film "overperformed against all industry expectations" and became the biggest opening for a natural disaster film ever at the domestic box office. It grossed $267.8 million overall in the domestic box office.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Women jailed for pups death
PALESTINE – As parts of East Texas reached 100-degree temperatures on Tuesday, two Palestine women have been arrested for allegedly leaving a puppy locked in a cage in direct sunlight, causing its death, according to our news partner KETK.
The Palestine Police Department said that at around 4 p.m., they responded to a residence on West Park Avenue after receiving reports that a puppy was locked in a cage with no shade or water. Upon arrival, the puppy was found dead by officers.
Officers were able to make contact with the owners of the dogs, 29-year-old Daisy Guity and 31-year-old Lisbeth Guity. According to the police department, the owners said they put the puppy in the cage at around 1 p.m. before leaving the residence. The heat index in Palestine reached 107 to 110 degrees on Tuesday. Continue reading Women jailed for pups death
Dairy plant starts new build
LONGVIEW – After competing against multiple East Texas cities, Longview officials are excited to see a foundation begin for a new dairy processing facility aimed at creating hundreds of jobs in the community.
According to our news partner KETK, a California-based company named Ninth Avenue Foods is setting up shop in East Texas as construction begins for a dairy processing facility. The site may just be a patch of dirt for now, but Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) President & CEO Wayne Mansfield says it could be a major boost for the city’s economy.
“This will be a significant impact, creating one hundred and fifty jobs,” Mansfield said. Continue reading Dairy plant starts new build
Nacogdoches approves updated water conservation plan
NACOGDOCHES (KETK)– A motion was passed during the Nacogdoches City Council meeting on Tuesday evening that will allow the city to change its current water conservation and drought contingency plan.
The revised plan was agreed on after the city council found that making these modifications will better promote efficient use of the city’s water supplies while also supporting long?term reliability of its municipal water service.
The modifications approved by the city council will now be submitted to the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for approval
City staff will also continue annual reporting based on the plan and efforts to maintain compliance with state regulations.
Napheesa Collier probable for Lynx at Storm in her first action since last year’s playoffs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Five-time All-Star Napheesa Collier is listed as probable for Minnesota’s game at Seattle on Wednesday, which would be her first action since injuring her left ankle in last year’s playoffs.
The return of Collier, a four-time All-WNBA selection, is a major boost for a Lynx team that has more than coped with her absence. Led by All-Star rookie Olivia Miles, the Lynx are on a six-game winning streak and their 21-6 record is the league’s best.
Collier was second last season to Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson in MVP voting for the second year in a row. She averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks and became only the second player ever to making at least 50% of her field goals, 40% of 3-pointers and 90% of free throws in a season.
An injury to her right ankle in August forced Collier to miss three weeks. She tore three ligaments in her left ankle in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against Phoenix.
Collier underwent surgery on both ankles in the offseason.
She signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract in April.
Jason Robertson signs $12 million deal with Dallas Stars to avoid arbitration hearing
FRISCO (AP) — Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars will avoid a salary arbitration hearing after the high-scoring forward signed a $12 million contract for next season.
The Stars announced the deal Tuesday night, a day before Robertson’s 27th birthday and 2 1/2 weeks after he had filed for arbitration.
“Jason has been a cornerstone of our franchise since he was drafted in 2017,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “A dynamic and skilled player, he has been one of the league’s top offensive threats since making his NHL debut.”
Robertson, who has 490 points (213 goals and 277 assists) in his 456 regular-season career games with the Stars, could become an unrestricted free agent for the first time next summer.
His $12 million salary for 2026-27 matches forward Mikko Rantanen for the highest on the Stars. Rantanen just completed the first season of the $96 million, eight-year extension he signed to facilitate the deadline trade that brought him to Dallas from Carolina in March 2025.
Nill had acknowledged at the conclusion of the NHL draft that the Stars had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson couldn’t veto that trade, he wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Kraken — a reported $120 million over eight years ($15 million a season).
Robertson had a team-high 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) this past season. It was his third 40-goal season, and completed a $31 million, four-year deal he got in 2022.
The Stars drafted Robertson 39th overall in the second round of the 2017 draft. He has played all 328 of their regular-season games the past four seasons, scoring 365 points (155 goals and 210 assists) in that span.
Chase Burns gets $2 million signing bonus as part of $105 million, 7-year contract with Reds
CINCINNATI (AP) – Chase Burns will receive a $2 million signing bonus on Sept. 1 as part of his $105 million, seven-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds that starts next year.
Burns’ deal, announced Saturday, calls for him to receive salaries of $2.5 million next year, $8 million in 2028, $12.5 million in 2029, $15 million in 2030, $17 million in 2031, $23 million in 2032 and $25 million in 2033.
A first-time All-Star, the 23-year-old right-hander is 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 19 starts, striking out 124 and walking 39 in 107 2/3 innings. He is 12-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances over parts of two major league seasons.
Burns was selected second overall by Cincinnati in the 2024 amateur draft and agreed to a minor league contract with a $9.25 million signing bonus.
Burns has a $785,000 salary while in the major leagues this year and $198,173 in the unlikely event he is sent to the minors. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, his new deal covers three seasons of arbitration eligibility and the first two years after he would have been eligible for free agency.
Orioles’ Kyle Bradish gets $23 million over remaining arbitration years in $50 million, 5-year deal
BALTIMORE (AP) — Right-hander Kyle Bradish will receive $23 million to cover his final two seasons of arbitration eligibility as part of his $90 million, five-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles that starts next year.
Bradish gets salaries of $10 million in 2027, $13 million in 2028, $17 million in 2029, $22 million in 2030 and $28 million in 2031 under the deal announced Saturday.
He would get a $1 million assignment bonus if traded, payable by the acquiring team. He also receives a suite on road trips.
Bradish has a $3.55 million salary this year after beating the team in arbitration. The new deal covers what would have been Bradish’s final two years of arbitration eligibility under the rules of the current labor contract.
The 29-year-old is 6-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 19 starts this year, his first full season back from Tommy John surgery in 2024. He finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2023 and is 25-24 with a 3.50 ERA in five major league seasons, all with the Orioles.
Olympic rowing great Olaf Tufte who competed at seven Summer Games has died at age 50
OSLO, Norway (AP) — Olympic rowing great Olaf Tufte, who competed at seven straight Summer Games and won two gold medals, has died. He was aged 50.
Norwegian media reported a statement by Tufte’s family on Tuesday that he was found unconscious at their farm and died at a hospital in Oslo. He is survived by his wife and two children.
“Tufte brought immense joy through sport to us as a nation,” Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement. “He was one of Norway’s greatest sporting heroes, a decorated Summer Olympian, one of the finest rowers we have ever had, and a great role model to many.”
The two-time champion in single sculls competed at each Summer Games from Atlanta in 1996 through the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. He won back-to-back titles at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. In double sculls, Tufte took silver in Sydney in 2000 and bronze in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro.
“He closed out his competitive career at the Tokyo Olympics at age 45, rowing in the men’s quadruple sculls alongside teammates young enough to have been born after his own Olympic debut,” World Rowing said in a statement. “The veteran mentor, still on the water, still leading by example.”
Tufte also was in Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games and coached Birgit Skarstein to a silver medal in single sculls.
“Alongside his rowing, Tufte ran the family farm, worked as a volunteer firefighter, and built businesses including a concrete company, the clothing brand Tufte Wear and a brewery,” World Rowing said.
The governing body cited a quote from Tufte who once said: “I’m not made for resting. I need to do other stuff otherwise I get bored.”
MLBPA calls to preserve draft system after owners’ proposal
NEW YORK (AP) – The players’ union made its proposal for the domestic draft on Tuesday, one that runs in stark contrast to what Major League Baseball’s owners proposed in bargaining last month.
Thirty-three days after the league proposed cutting the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, slashing amateur signing bonuses by more than $150 million and preventing high school players from entering, the MLBPA called to preserve the current system while also opening more doors to younger players.
The MLBPA proposed not only to maintain draft eligibility for high school and junior college players but also for those from four-year universities to be eligible after their sophomore years, regardless of age. College sophomores are currently only eligible if they are at least 21 years old by Aug. 1 of their draft year.
The MLBPA wants to maintain a system where signing bonus pools grow with industry revenues — it was $358.7 million in 2026, up from $350.4 million in 2025 — and provide small-market teams with the ability to increase them. Under their proposal, teams designated as “small market” under the collective bargaining agreement could add $2 million to their bonus pools in one draft over the next five years. A small-market team would also get an additional $1 million in bonus pool money for making the playoffs the prior year.
The MLBPA wants to preserve competitive balance picks, whereby low-revenue and small-market teams are eligible to receive a pick in Round A (between the first and second rounds) or Round B (between the second and third rounds).
The union also proposed reducing the tax penalties levied at teams that go over their allotted pools. The current CBA includes a 75% overage tax and the loss of a first-round pick for teams that outspend their pool by more than 5% (it increases to a 100% tax and the loss of a first- and second-round pick for those over by more than 10%). Under the MLBPA’s proposal, teams could go over their allotted spending pools by as much as 15% without losing a draft pick and wouldn’t lose a first-round pick unless they go over by more than 20%.
A team has never gone over its pool by more than 5%, but the MLBPA wants to give clubs the flexibility to do so in order to attract younger amateurs who could otherwise be lured by colleges offering NIL money and perhaps pivot to basketball or football. To further incentivize those amateurs, the union’s proposal allows small-market teams to sign up to two players taken before the third round to major league contracts, whereby the slot value associated with that selection would be removed from their pool. Teams were allowed to do that before signing bonus pools were introduced in 2012.
The MLBPA also wants the draft moved up from July to June, and to allow for the trading of picks in the first 10 rounds up until two hours before the start of the draft.
On June 18, MLB proposed a 12-round, hard-slot domestic draft with signing bonus pools totaling $200 million in 2027. It also proposed an international draft under the same parameters, all of which would be part of a broader package highlighted by a cap-and-floor system at the major league level.
The MLBPA has yet to make its proposal for international amateurs, which constitutes players born outside the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Chiefs unveil renderings of planned $3B domed stadium in Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs unveiled Wednesday the first renderings for their new stadium in Kansas that is scheduled to open for the NFL’s 2031 season.
One of the biggest aspects of the design from MANICA, an architecture firm in Kansas City, Kansas, is that the $3 billion, fully enclosed dome will feature a ceiling of translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene panels. The new stadium’s design also pays homage to Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ longtime home venue in Missouri, which opened in 1972. Similar to Arrowhead, the dome will be built with a symmetrical and curved exterior, including a scalloped upper deck in each end zone, continuing the Chiefs’ unique look when compared with other NFL stadiums.
In a statement released by the Chiefs, club owner Clark Hunt said the stadium will hold 70,000 seats and will be built with the intention of amplifying crowd noise, a request that he heard from several season-ticket members in multiple surveys. In 2014, Arrowhead regained the Guinness world record for loudest stadium — after fans for the Seattle Seahawks broke the record — with the fans’ collective voices generating 142.2 decibels.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that [improves] the gameday experience for every single fan,” Hunt said in the statement. “This new stadium will do just that. It’s spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom.”
In late December, Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously to allow for sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds to be issued to cover up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and the accompanying mixed-use district, including the Chiefs’ new training facility. Hunt said he and his family will commit $1 billion in additional development, a portion that will be incentivized by the STAR bonds.
In the team’s statement, Hunt said the new stadium will still be an ideal place for Chiefs fans to tailgate, which has been a distinct aesthetic surrounding Arrowhead. The atmosphere hours before kickoff — with tantalizing smells of barbecue — is similar to that of a major college football campus. The new stadium will be surrounded by more than 20,000 parking spots.
“I’ve been thrilled with what I’ve seen,” Hunt said in late March of the dome’s potential. “It’s very, very exciting. Our fanbase is going to get an incredible stadium, something that’ll be iconic and serve the community well for a minimum of 30 years — and hopefully closer to 60.”
The site for the new dome has still not been decided. In late December, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the stadium will be in Wyandotte County. In the past, the Chiefs have been interested in having the dome built in Kansas City, Kansas, near the Kansas Speedway and a retail and entertainment district known as The Legends. The area is also the home to Children’s Mercy Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City.
The dome, according to the team’s statement, will include a seating bowl that is reminiscent of Arrowhead. The Chiefs’ ring of honor will be placed above the bowl, their hall of honor will be twice the size of the one inside Arrowhead and the team’s store is expected to be four times larger. The new stadium is also expected to increase the Chiefs’ luxury suites and other amenities to help boost the franchise’s revenue.
Starting for the 2032 calendar, the Chiefs intend to bid on hosting several major sporting events, the biggest prize being Kansas City hosting its first Super Bowl.
“When the World Cup comes back [to America] in 25 or 30 years, the field will be designed so that we don’t have to do the work that we had to do to [expand the field’s width] on Arrowhead in order to host the World Cup,” Hunt said during the NFL draft. “We’ll plan on bidding on Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, bowl games and, of course, a Super Bowl. The construction of the stadium is going to coincide with the construction of several other new NFL buildings, so we are going to have some competition.
“I’ll make sure that the Chiefs and Kansas City put their best foot forward in that process.”
Rocker allows 1 hit over 6 innings and Rangers get season-high 18 hits in 10-0 rout of White Sox
ARLINGTON (AP) – Kumar Rocker pitched one-hit ball over six innings for his first win in his last 10 games, Brandon Nimmo homered among his four hits and the Texas Rangers routed the Chicago White Sox 10-0 on Tuesday night.
Nimmo’s two-run shot in the first inning, his 10th homer of the season, put the Rangers ahead. No. 9 batter Alejandro Osuna drove in three runs and had three singles, and Wyatt Langford also hit a two-run homer.
A night after losing the series opener 10-3, the Rangers (51-50) finished with a season-high 18 hits and avoided falling below .500 for the first time since June 27. They are 9-4 following a loss of at least six runs.
Rocker (3-8) struck out six and walked two. The only hit off him was rookie All-Star Munetaka Murakami’s single leading off the fourth.
Marco Gonzales allowed two hits over the final three innings for his first career save to wrap up the Rangers’ ninth shutout this season.
Chicago starter Noah Schultz (3-6) yielded five runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
The White Sox (53-47) were blanked for the sixth time and are a percentage point in front of Cleveland atop the AL Central.
The previous win for Rocker was also a 10-0 victory in which Nimmo homered, at Colorado on May 19 when the right-hander permitted only three hits over 7 2/3 innings. He went 0-4 over his next nine games, including two when he threw six scoreless innings and got no-decisions.
Up next
In the series finale Wednesday night, right-hander Cal Qauntrill (3-2, 3.93 ERA) is expected to make his sixth consecutive start for Texas since Jack Leiter went on the injured list a month ago. Left-hander Anthony Kay (6-4, 4.24) goes for the White Sox.
Peña and Paredes homer, Imai fans eight as Astros get by Marlins 5-3
HOUSTON (AP) – Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes hit home runs, Tatsuya Imai struck out eight in six innings, and the Houston Astros beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Imai (6-4) worked his fifth start with eight or more strikeouts and allowed one run on four hits and three walks. The 28-year-old rookie from Japan has surrendered three or fewer runs in four of his last five outings.
Peña’s first-inning homer was originally a double, but the call was overturned by the umpires after video showed the ball hit a railing in left-center.
Lucas Spence extended the lead with a second-inning RBI double, but Kyle Stowers got the Marlins within one in the fifth with an RBI double.
The rally was short-lived, as Christian Vázquez reached on an error, Yordan Alvarez ran out a third-strike wild pitch, and Paredes swung on the first pitch he saw with two outs in the fifth for a 388-foot three-run homer to left field.
Joe Mack hit a 435-foot solo homer for the Marlins in the seventh.
The Marlins turned a 5-4-3 triple play in the eighth, after Jose Altuve hit a soft grounder directly to Leo Jiménez at third. Jiménez fired to Xavier Edwards at second, and Kyle Stowers took the throw at first. It was the first time the Astros hit into a triple play since 2019, and just the second time in franchise history the Marlins turned three.
Tyler Phillips (2-5) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
The Astros won their second in a row and are 2/3 since the All-Star break, while the Marlins have lost five straight since the break.
Up next
Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (10-5, 3.89 ERA) takes the hill against Astros RHP Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.03) in the final game of the series.
Luke Skywalker’s ‘Empire Strikes Back’ lightsaber with severed hand attached auctioned for $3.75M
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lightsaber with Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” has sold for $3.75 million at auction.
Heritage Auctions announced the results of its Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction on Monday.
The lightsaber, used onscreen by Mark Hamill in the climactic Cloud City fight where Darth Vader declares “I am your father” in the 1980 “Star Wars” sequel, included a severed hand effects rig used for when Vader sliced it off.
Heritage said the price was the highest ever fetched for a prop used in a “Star Wars” film.
A Wicked Witch of the West hat worn by actor Margaret Hamilton in 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” brought in $550,000 at the auction, and the cocoa-colored top hat worn by Gene Wilder as the title character in 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” went for $350,000.
Daenerys Targaryen’s chest with dragon eggs inside from the first season of “Game of Thrones” brought in $312,500.
Two rugs essential to the convoluted plot of “The Big Lebowski” also sold. The one belonging to Jeff Bridges’ the Dude that “really tied the room together” and is soiled at the beginning of the 1998 film went for $350,000. And the nicer one that he takes from his wealthy namesake outdid it with a price of $375,000. The rugs went for far more than expected. Bidding began on each at $15,000.
The items’ buyers and sellers were not identified.
‘Love Island USA’ stars Olandria Carthen, Nic Vansteenberghe break up after one year together
Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe have gone their separate ways.
The fan-favorite couple from Love Island USA season 7 have broken up one year after meeting on the reality dating competition show, ABC Audio has learned.
The pair, who the internet dubbed "Nicolandria," have "decided to part ways" a little over a year after leaving the Love Island USA Fijian villa together, a source told People.
“The distance between them and their busy schedules made it challenging to maintain their connection,” the source said. “They still remain close friends. They share a deep love and respect for each other and will always support one another whenever possible.”
Carthen and Vansteenberghe were the Love Island USA season 7 runners-up, coming in second place behind winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales.
They originally coupled up in a surprise twist. After the pair were both individually dumped from Casa Amor, they were given the chance to return to the villa — but only if they decided to couple up with each other. Carthen and Vansteenberghe decided to give it a shot, leading to them ultimately making it to the finale.
Love Island USA season 8 ended its run on July 12. Fan-favorite contestants Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff were crowned the winners.
The season 8 Islanders are set to reunite at the Love Island USA reunion special, which will be co-hosted by Emmy-nominated host Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen.
According to Peacock, the reunion special will bring together "this season’s winners, fan-favorite couples, and this year’s bombshells for an up close and personal look back at their experience in the villa."
The season 8 reunion special will premiere Aug. 31 on Peacock.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Oil prices rise another 3%, while Wall Street drifts in mixed trading
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market is drifting in mixed trading Wednesday, while oil prices climb another 3% as fighting continues in the war with Iran.
The S&P 500 added 0.2%, coming off its best day in three weeks, after swinging between modest losses and gains at the start of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 161 points, or 0.3%, as of 12:56 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% lower.
The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 rose after more companies reported strong profits for the spring. Expectations are high for the reports, and companies will need to match them after their stock prices already neared records on anticipation for them.
Philip Morris International rose 4.1% after the seller of Marlboro cigarettes reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than expected. Its shipments of smoke-free products rose 7.5%.
U.S. stocks are drifting in mixed trading.
AT&T climbed 3% after reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. CEO John Stankey also said the telecom is accelerating plans to send roughly $10 billion to its shareholders this year through the buybacks of its stock.
Super Micro Computer soared 23.8% after the seller of AI servers said it expects to report stronger profit margins for the latest quarter than it had earlier forecast. It, though, also said that revenue will likely come in at the low end of its forecasted range of $11 billion to $12.5 billion.
They helped offset a 7.5% drop for GE Vernova, which reported a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
Alphabet ticked 0.2% higher ahead of its earnings report, which is scheduled to arrive after trading ends for the day. Anticipation is high, and not just because the parent company of Google is one of the largest stocks on Wall Street. It’s also one of the biggest spenders on artificial-intelligence technology.
Investors are looking for signs that the deluge of dollars going into processors, computer memory and other building blocks of the AI boom are producing the kinds of productivity and profits that would make the investments worth it. If that isn’t the case, stocks of chip companies and other AI winners would look very expensive following their rushes higher.
Such worries have kept AI stocks at the center of Wall Street’s swings for weeks.
Micron Technology swung between a loss of 3.6% and a gain of 0.8% Wednesday. That’s after it jumped 14.4% in the first two days of this week to reclaim nearly all its 13.3% plunge from the week before. It’s still up roughly 241% for the year so far.
Stocks broadly also felt pressure from continuing climbs for oil prices, which raise costs for most businesses and erode their profits.
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 2.8% to $93.54 after briefly topping $95 in the morning to touch its highest price in nearly six weeks. That’s up from less than $72 early this month, which is roughly where it was before the war with Iran.
Rising oil prices are threatening a reacceleration of inflation. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged up to 4.65% from 4.63% late Tuesday and from just 3.97% before the war with Iran began. It’s already helped bring long-term U.S. mortgage rates to their highest levels in nearly a year.
Oil prices have climbed as fighting across the Middle East keeps oil tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz to exit the Persian Gulf. Normally, a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded passes through the narrow strait.
The auto club AAA said Wednesday that the average price for a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. jumped again overnight to $4.06. That’s still below highs of around $4.56 per gallon in May, but it had been below $3 before the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
In stock markets abroad, indexes climbed in Europe following a mixed session in Asia.
London’s FTSE 100 rose 1.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1% for two of the world’s bigger moves.
Need backup power? Automakers want you to look no further than their vehicles in your driveway
DETROIT (AP) — Winter Storm Uri, the multiday freeze that slammed Texas in February 2021 and pummeled the state’s power grid, has been on Kenneth Kovar’s mind ever since. Though the resident of New Braunfels, northeast of San Antonio, didn’t lose power at the time, he wasn’t able to run his septic tank — it is independent from local systems. He had to fill his toilets with water from his backyard pool.
So when Kovar, 64, bought a Ford F-150 last fall, his hope was to be better prepared for any new crisis.
“I was interested in trying to find some sort of power backup situation,” he said.
Now, Kovar has a setup from Ford that allows drivers of certain F-150 models to plug their vehicle directly into their electric meter to power parts of their home during an outage.
It is the latest example of automakers broadly adapting their electrification technologies to the home energy business, especially as demand on the grid increases and sales of electric vehicles slow. Car companies are looking to leverage their multibillion dollar EV investments to tap into a promising market in vehicle, home and grid technology, both for backup power and for supporting electrical grid resiliency.
“They’re trying to look for other businesses that they might sell into,” said Parth Vaishnav, assistant professor of sustainable systems at the University of Michigan.
Ford’s latest connects F-150 drivers to their meter
Drivers of the F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks can now plug in a one-foot long adapter to a 240-volt outlet onboard. That adapter — which Ford made with company Global Power Products — makes the vehicle compatible to plug into a longer, separate cable. That cable connects to a transfer switch installed directly on one’s electric meter.
Through the adapter and cable series, homeowners can connect their vehicle essentially right to their home’s breaker box. The homeowner simply turns on and off which breaker switches they want for which devices they want powered.
“The way we think about it, especially for customers who already have a compatible vehicle is, you already own the power source, it’s in your driveway,” said Amanda Roraff, Ford’s grid and energy services business acceleration lead.
The Lightning might provide power for two to three days, depending on what home devices are being used, and the PowerBoost Hybrid, up to five days on a single tank of gas.
The automaker says its solution is a less expensive way to supply backup power. Conventional, diesel-powered portable generators and full-home standby setups require expensive installation, costing several thousands of dollars. This solution, which also requires professional installation at the meter, starts around $1,100.
The setup only applies to about 200,000 vehicles so far, and it is also exclusively for outages. Ford also offers its Home Integration System for bidirectionality, sending power both from the vehicle to the home and from the home to the vehicle, while also being able to feed the grid.
Other automakers are boosting their energy solutions
Over 630,000 U.S. vehicles already have this functionality, estimates say, and automakers are rapidly expanding their available options with the goal of full vehicle-to-grid support in the long run.
South Korean auto brand Kia and Wallbox, an EV charging company, have teamed up so that drivers of eligible compatible vehicles can have home power backup during outages or during periods of high demand, to cut their utility use. They can send power back to the grid.
Tesla’s technology is similar — allowing drivers of equipped vehicles to connect to their home using additional Tesla hardware. The Cybertruck provides full vehicle-to-home capability, where other Tesla models can only connect to and power specific devices or appliances.
General Motors is also in the energy space.
A recent partnership with WeaveGrid, for instance, allows homeowners who drive certain GM EVs — and have the automaker’s home system and a proper grid interconnection — to enroll in some grid reliability utility programs. Once an outage is detected, GM’s vehicle-to-home tech has the capability to disconnect one’s home from the grid and start supplying power from their GM EV.
“If you can imagine the future as we go forward, it’s having the ability — now that we have this single platform — that allows our customer to experience our system,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM energy, “but also can have the full control of the energy.”
The capability is an important lifeline amid EV sales slowdown
Not only is this business critical amid growing grid demand and increasing power outages, experts say automakers need to pivot with the EV market less active under current U.S. federal policy. Pure EV sales in the U.S. year-over-year are down 23.8%, according to a July Cox Automotive report on the first half of 2026. This demonstrates what an asset that EV and hybrid ownership can be.
The tech is not without challenges.
On the industry side, these systems have to undergo third-party testing to ensure they meet safety standards, and the vehicle and the charger need to be programmed to communicate. It also requires the approval of the utility where the capability is being used. It could take years to get an interconnect agreement.
On the customer side, homeowners need to understand their vehicles’ abilities and how to self-manage their system. It also just brings another generator of power into the home mix.
Still, experts see opportunity, especially with interest in EV sales high outside of the U.S.
“We already know during an outage, its impact, providing electricity to the home,” said Scott Samuelsen, engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine. “This is going to become very, very popular.”
Trump pays respects to 4 US service members killed in the Middle East
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday honored the lives of four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East and returned to their families at an air force base in Delaware.
The president saluted as four transfer cases were escorted off an airplane during the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base. The ritual is one of the most somber duties of a commander-in-chief. It was the third Trump has attended since he launched the war in Iran in February.
Trump was scheduled to meet privately with the grieving families. Speaking to reporters on his way to Dover, Trump called the ritual “one of the hardest things to do as a president.” His message to the families, he said, was, “We love you. We love your child.”
“There’s no games, there’s no nothing — that’s their child,” Trump said. “And all you can do is throw out your heart.”
Trump was accompanied by administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also present were Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to awaiting vehicles to take them to the mortuary facility at the base. There, the service members are prepared for their final resting place.
Fallen troops came from Hawaii, Texas, New York and North Carolina
Two U.S. Army soldiers killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan were returned during the dignified transfer. The remains of a third service member who is believed to be the soldier missing after the Jordan attacks was also returned, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in Iraq during a detonation of an Iranian drone.
The soldiers killed in Jordan were identified by the Defense Department as Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. The soldier who disappeared after the Jordan attacks is Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, the Defense Department said.
The soldier killed in Iraq was identified as Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, who lived in Spring Lake, North Carolina.
The White House said Feehan’s family would be joining on Air Force One later on Wednesday as Trump travels to Georgia for an event promoting his administration’s investment accounts for children.
Trump previously said the soldiers died while protecting America and other nations from Iran.
“We feel very badly, but you know, those great people, those great patriots were out there fighting so that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters on Sunday. He added that the U.S. was striking Iran “in honor” of the fallen troops.
Trump vows to retaliate for each US death
The U.S. has launched multiple retaliatory strikes against Iran as an interim agreement to end the war falls apart. Trump on Monday said that every time Iran kills an American soldier, “they will pay for that killing many times over!”
Since the war began on Feb. 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed.
Trump on Tuesday said that while almost all the incoming fire in Jordan was stopped, some made it through.
“They did slip something through in Jordan,” he said. “If we had other operators, you know, it would have not happened, unfortunately.”
He went on: “We’ve stopped almost everything, but when you let other people do your job with the United States — we let other people do the job — and sometimes it doesn’t work out so well.”
Trump did not elaborate on his comments, and it was not immediately clear who he was saying was responsible for protecting U.S. forces in Jordan.
Trump attended two previous dignified transfers since the outset of the war, most recently in March.
Soldier had planned to marry fiance and attend law school
Feehan, a first lieutenant who was killed Saturday, will be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain and awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge. He was assigned out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
Feehan’s family said in a statement that their hearts were shattered by his loss. They remembered Feehan, who went by “Tivo,” as someone who “packed in more living” in his 25 years than most do in a lifetime.
“He chased adventure relentlessly,” the statement said. “He believed deeply in the power of military service, especially what it builds in a person: discipline, leadership, character.”
He planned to marry his fiance and attend law school after his deployment. The family said they’re starting a scholarship in his name.
Gonzales, who was killed Friday, was a private with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany. She graduated last year from Hebron High School in Carrollton, near Dallas, school officials said.
Rampersad, a sergeant who was believed to have been killed in Friday’s attacks, was assigned to the 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.
Swinton, a sergeant who was killed Sunday, will receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and will be promoted to staff sergeant. He enlisted in the Army in 2017 and was assigned to the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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David Rancken’s App of the Day 07/22/26 – ToS;DR!
You know those “Terms Of Service” agreements you get on everything online? David Rancken’s App Of The Day can help you understand if you’ve given up any of your privacy. Go get ToS;DR. You can find ToS;DR in the Apple Store and Google Play below.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow takes legal action against his mother for $1.2 million
A year after his death, Malcolm-Jamal Warner's widow, Dr. Tenisha Delilah Warner, is taking legal action against his mother, Pamela Warner.
In a lawsuit filed on July 20 in DeKalb County Superior Court in Georgia, Tenisha Delilah Warner claims that she is owed more than $1.2 million under a premarital agreement, including a $1 million life insurance policy that was never put in place by her late husband, who died in July 2025.
Tenisha Warner also alleges that The Cosby Show actor agreed to pay her $16,000 tax-free each year on their wedding anniversary, fund her Roth IRA for as long as they remained married, and pay her $5,000 a month for working as his chief of staff and assistant.
As a result, Tenisha Warner has named Pamela Warner in the lawsuit because she is the successor trustee of the Warner Family Trust.
“For the last year, I have attempted to privately settle my beloved husband’s complicated estate and honor his last wishes," Tenisha Delilah Warner told ABC News in a statement. "Malcolm had every intention to provide for our nine-year-old daughter and me."
She continued, "He was close to finalizing a new estate plan to replace the stale plan created in 1996 when he was 26 years old, 20 years before we met and well before we gave birth to our beautiful daughter. Sadly, he was unable to do so before we lost him."
"I have been struggling to care for our daughter as a single mom and now as her sole provider," she added. "Legally, I had no choice but to take action to protect our rights before any potential statute of limitations expired. We thank you for your support, love, and understanding as we work through this painful process while honoring Malcolm’s life on the first anniversary of his death.”
Tenisha Warner is asking a judge to prevent any trust assets from being distributed while the case moves forward.
ABC News has reached out to Pamela Warner for comment but she did not immediately respond.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who is known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, died on July 20, 2025, while swimming during a family vacation in Costa Rica. The actor was caught by a strong rip current. He was 54.
On the anniversary of his death, Pamela Warner took to Instagram to pay tribute to her son in a lengthy message.
"He was not just my son, but my go-to person, my confidant, my brother and sometimes he had to parent me," Pamela Warner wrote.
She added, "As I look back, I have no regrets. Perhaps a little more time. Perhaps one more chance to cook his favorite meals, have one last good conversation, one last good deep belly laugh, the kind that produces those tears of pure joy, one last kiss, one last hug."
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Woman arrested with protected wildlife
ANDERSON COUNTY – The Texas Game Wardens have charged a woman after several dead animals were found in her home, including federally protected birds.
Earlier in July, an Anderson County game warden received a tip from Operation Game Thief about someone who was in possession of protected wildlife illegally. After receiving the tip, the Anderson County game warden and a Navarro County game warden interviewed the woman who allegedly had the illegal animals. Continue reading Woman arrested with protected wildlife
Salvation Army opens cooling station
TYLER– The Salvation Army of Tyler has activated a cooling station, offering residents a refuge from soaring temperatures and a forecast of triple-digit heat across East Texas, according to our news partner, KETK.
The station, located on 633 North Broadway Avenue, provides a place for individuals to cool off and re-hydrate. The facility is open to the public and available to anyone seeking to escape the heat and drink water. The Salvation Army has initiated this service in direct response to the triple-digit temperatures beginning to appear in East Texas and encourages anyone who needs a break from the heat to utilize the facility.
Trump approves U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear energy agreement, officials say
(WASHINGTON) -- President Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia to partner on developing the Kingdom's civil nuclear energy program, according to two U.S. officials.
The deal leaves open the possibility that Saudi Arabia will enrich uranium domestically in the future, the officials said, a prospect that could raise concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation.
In the deal, the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to safeguards to inhibit any weaponization effort, the sources said. But that framework would be governed by the two countries themselves, instead of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conventionally oversees nuclear pacts.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the agreement on Wednesday. He declined to comment on the contours of the plan but said that the Trump administration would work with Congress to formalize the deal.
“Suffice it to say, the U.S. is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” Rubio said.
The agreement, under which U.S. industry would help develop Iranian nuclear infrastructure, spans 30 years and is valued at tens of billions of dollars, the officials said.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia discussed details of the proposal during a visit to Washington, D.C. by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last fall. The administration is expected to submit the deal to Congress, which is required by federal law.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that the president had approved the deal.
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Trump says he will ‘honor our heroes’ and attend dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base Wednesday
(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump will travel to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday to attend a dignified transfer of U.S. service members killed in the war in Iran.
"Heading to Dover Air Force Base to HONOR OUR HEROES!" Trump posted to his social media platform Wednesday morning.
Overnight, the Pentagon identified the third person believed to have been killed in action during Friday's Iranian strike on a U.S. base in Jordan as Army Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York.
Two other American soldiers died in the Iranian attack on the U.S. base: Pfc. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
A fourth soldier. Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, died Sunday following the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian attack drone at Erbil Air Base in Iraq, the Army said.
Since the U.S. war in Iran began in late February, at least 18 soldiers have been killed and roughly 500 wounded, according to the Department of Defense.
Fighting has intensified after a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran reached in mid-June broke down. There has now been 11 consecutive nights of strikes.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Sen. Warnock urges Democrats to investigate officials who redrew maps
(WASHINGTON) -- Senator Raphael Warnock, D-Ga, is calling for Democrats to investigate officials who he says have "manipulated their maps to silence the voices of Black voters," as soon as they flip the House or Senate in the midterms.
In the plan, first reviewed by ABC News, Warnock said, "Here is what Democrats must do as soon as we regain power: investigate craven politicians, ban partisan gerrymandering, stop billionaires from buying our elections, expand our democracy and guarantee the right to vote for all Americans."
Warnock has not ruled out a run for the White House in 2028. That possibility comes as roughly a third of the Congressional Black Caucus risks losing its seats before 2028, with GOP-led Southern legislatures redrawing maps after the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais ruling gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
In Louisiana, where Black residents make up roughly one-third of the population, a federal court had found that a post-2020 congressional map with only one majority-Black district likely diluted Black voting power. The legislature responded by drawing a second majority-Black district as courts had required in similar circumstances.
Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the Supreme Court opinion, which said that states only violate the Voting Rights Act when "evidence supports a strong inference that the State intentionally drew its districts to afford minority voters less opportunity because of their race."
Republicans have argued that they are redrawing congressional maps to comply with the Supreme Court or to remedy unfairly-drawn districts, and that the districts that could be changed may still elect Black representatives to Congress.
Calling for officials who he says have engaged in gerrymandering to decimate minority voices is a position Warnock hasn't called for until now, and he said in a phone interview with ABC News that the Callais decision was an "inflection point" for him to do so.
"A Democratic majority in either chamber must immediately investigate these officials, including through Congressional hearings, document requests, depositions, testimony, and, if necessary, subpoenas," Warnock's plan states. "We must analyze their statements, actions, and contributions to determine if there is any evidence that they broke any laws in their race to gerrymander and silence Black voices."
Asked whether Democrats who've engaged in partisan gerrymandering -- in California, for example -- should face investigation, Warnock said that the state's redistricting came in direct response to President Donald Trump pushing Texas to gerrymander five seats.
"There's a significant difference between that and an open process in which Californians got to vote," Warnock said. "This was not done in a smoky, dark room. They had a referendum. Again, if I had my druthers, there would be no gerrymandering."
"There are only 22 districts out of 435 in this country in which a Democrat or a Republican could win the seat. I'm a Democrat. I think that's a sad state of affairs," Warnock added.
Warnock said that he's been pushing his party to prioritize voting rights since he was first elected. In 2021, during negotiations over the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Warnock urged then-President Joe Biden in a phone call that legislative action on voting rights should be prioritized alongside the package.
Warnock said he tried to convince former Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to amend the filibuster so the party could pass voting rights legislation four years ago, arguing voting rights mattered more than a procedural rule.
"I said to my caucus then, as the newcomer, that I was afraid that if we don't do something ... we would cross a Rubicon in this country that we wouldn't be able to get back," Warnock said. "I said that then, and sadly, it didn't get done."
Looking ahead, Warnock said if Democrats flip even just one chamber, the party should break up pieces of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and "force everybody to vote on it."
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DOJ investigating Rep. Cory Mills: Sources
(WASHINGTON) -- The Justice Department is investigating embattled Republican Florida Rep. Cory Mills, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
The investigation is in part about his finances, according to sources. Mills' office did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.
MS NOW first reported the investigation.
Further details about the investigation were not immediately clear.
Mills was elected to the House to represent Florida's 7th District in 2022 and reelected in 2024. He serves on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees.
Last November, the House Ethics Committee voted to establish an investigative subcommittee to examine allegations that Mills violated campaign finance laws and engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.
Regarding allegations of sexual misconduct, Mills issued a statement last year, before the ethics committee probe was lauched, stating in part: "These claims are false and misrepresent the nature of my interactions," and he accused a former Florida primary opponent of "weaponizing the legal system to launch a political attack against the man who beat him."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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New Jersey accidentally registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote years ago, governor says
(NEW YORK) -- About 6,600 people in New Jersey who said they were not U.S. citizens had been incorrectly registered to vote due to a technical error during the previous gubernatorial administration, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who took office this year, said Tuesday. She added that fewer than 400 were found to have actually voted and that the state is taking action to remove them from its voter rolls.
The admission came less than a week after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to New Jersey and three other states alleging that those states might have tens of thousands of noncitizens registered to vote, although Mullin did not explain how precisely DHS got those numbers.
Mullin and DHS had alleged that New Jersey could have "as many as ... 35,152 non-citizens registered to vote in New Jersey."
Sherrill said in a statement on Tuesday, "Last week I learned that a serious software error in New Jersey's Motor Vehicle System led to the registration of roughly 6,600 people who indicated that they were not U.S. citizens between June 2023 and June 2024, almost three years prior to my taking office. These individuals answered 'no' when asked on a keypad whether they were a U.S. citizen when applying for drivers' licenses and identification cards, but through no fault of their own, the system registered them anyway."
The governor's statement said that the state's "preliminary analysis" found that less than 400 people who were erroneously registered to vote had voted in elections and were not tied to just one party; they were registered as Democrats, Republicans, or unaffiliated voters.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Sherrill said those voters could have potentially voted in any election since being registered, but the state has "no evidence at this time that any elections were swayed" because of those voters
Sherrill said that she has ordered an independent investigation about what happened, the removal of any New Jersey residents from the state's voter rolls who should not have been registered to vote, and that the new administrator of New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission is starting to replace the vendor tasked with running the faulty system.
The governor also said she will present the state's findings after it investigates, and that the state is taking care to protect the identities of noncitizens who were registered inadvertently so that their immigration status does not get imperiled.
In a statement, IDEMIA, the company that runs the system faulted by the governor, said: "IDEMIA works with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and has for more than 40 years, to support the process through which eligible individuals may indicate their interest in registering to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license or state-issued identification card. IDEMIA's role is to transmit information through the motor vehicle system. The voter registration information is transmitted to the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which is ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote. Information submitted by IDEMIA must still be validated and adjudicated by the Division of Elections."
At her press conference, Sherill pushed back against any insinuation that the finding validates claims the Trump administration has made about New Jersey's voter rolls.
"Let me be clear: Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of election integrity. For the past 10 years, he's cried wolf and peddled bizarre conspiracy theories about fraud with no evidence," she told reporters during the press conference.
Sherrill also briefly referenced the DHS letter, saying that the number of alleged noncitizen voters appears to be unrelated to the number of noncitizen voters New Jersey uncovered. She confirmed New Jersey received the DHS letter, but said the state asked the administration for any evidence of there being that many noncitizen voters and has not gotten anything back yet.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said Tuesday that is investigating the matter.
In a letter to Sherrill shared on social media, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, wrote: "Ensuring that U.S. citizens' votes are not illegally diluted by noncitizens votes is of paramount importance. We therefore write to formally request additional information to assess New Jersey's compliance with various federal statutes." Dhillon asked for the state to provide within five business days personal information on the registered noncitizens the state identified and details on the around 400 who voted.
The White House said Tuesday's announcement from Sherrill bolsters the need for Congress to pass the president's signature SAVE America Act, which would significantly retool the administration of American elections.
"Democrats and their media allies have repeatedly said it is impossible for noncitizens to register to vote, let alone cast a ballot," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
"As President Trump has said, there is nothing more important than the integrity of our elections. And this latest incident underscores the absolute necessity of the SAVE America Act," she added. "American voters deserve to have confidence that our elections are safe and secure -- President Trump will never stop fighting to make that happen and all patriotic Americans should join in his effort."
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