Cristo Fernandez attends Elton John AIDS Foundation's 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 15, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Cristo Fernández is turning his on-screen soccer dreams into reality.
The actor best known for playing Dani Rojas on the hit Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso has signed a professional soccer contract with El Paso Locomotive FC, the club announced Tuesday.
Fernández, 35, joined the USL Championship side after completing what the club described as an "extensive" two-month trial.
During that stretch, the Mexican actor and forward trained regularly with the team and appeared in a preseason match against New Mexico United.
"Fútbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart," Fernández said in a statement released by the club.
Long before his acting career took off, Fernández played youth soccer for Mexican club Tecos FC. However, an injury forced him to step away from the sport when he was 15 years old.
He later shifted his focus to acting and became one of the breakout stars of Ted Lasso in 2020.
His character, Dani Rojas, became a fan favorite for his upbeat personality and memorable catchphrase, "Fútbol is life."
In recent years, Fernández has shared his journey back to soccer on social media, posting videos of himself training with professional clubs across the country, including teams connected to Major League Soccer organizations.
El Paso Locomotive FC head coach Junior Gonzalez said Fernández will bring both talent and leadership to the squad.
"Cristo is a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line," Gonzalez said. "His passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club."
Fernández said the opportunity represents more than just a return to soccer.
"This journey back to professional soccer is about believing in yourself, taking risks, and continuing to chase your dreams no matter how unexpected the path may be," he said.
SMITH COUNTY — As East Texas counties continue searching for solutions to protect their property and water rights, Van Zandt County is proposing a partnership with Smith County to better protect the region’s natural resources. According to our news partner KETK, Van Zandt County proposed a 391 commission, which would create a council including commissioners and residents from both counties. It would allow neighboring counties to work together to protect the region’s groundwater and property rights. The commission would oversee potential projects in the area and discuss developmental issues that affect both counties.
Following Tuesday’ s meeting, attended by several key lawmakers and public officials, Smith County Commissioners voted to table the decision until they obtained further information on the proposal. During a Smith County Commissioners Court meeting earlier this month, Van Zandt County resident David Dunigan said if Smith County entered the partnership, it would ensure better protection of the region’s natural resources.
“Your voice is going to tell people we can’t be predatory against East Texas counties anymore,” Dunigan said. “I really urge you guys to amplify your voice for the citizens of this county, and for the surrounding East Texas counties to be able to at least say yes, we want something, or no, we don’t.” Continue reading Natural resource protection motion tabled
TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK) — Two people are dead and one person is recovering at a hospital after a domestic dispute led to a shooting at Texarkana Aluminum early Tuesday morning, the Nash Police Department confirmed. According to Nash PD, the shooting occurred at the facility’s parking lot at around 6:37 a.m. 48-year-old Eddie Hill Jr. was attempting to intervene in what is believed to be a domestic dispute between 40-year-old Wendell Champion Jr. and his wife, who worked at Texarkana Aluminum.
Champion Jr. then shot and killed Hill Jr. and shot his wife. She was transported to a local Texarkana hospital and is in stable condition, the police department said. Champion Jr. then shot and killed himself, Nash PD said. Champion Jr. had been convicted of murder in Harris County in 2010 and was released on parole in 2025.
There is no danger to the public at this time, the police department said.
Both Hill and Champion Jr.’s wife were employees of Texarkana Aluminum, which will continue operations as normal but has counseling available for employees.
SMITH COUNTY — A person has been arrested after a traffic stop in Smith County led officers to the discovery of a suitcase containing over 27 pounds of marijuana on Monday afternoon.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-20 for traveling in the left-hand lane while not passing. The driver was identified as Reinaldo Hernandez.
Deputies detected the odor of marijuana while speaking to Hernandez. After getting consent to search and being denied, a detective and his K-9 partner conducted a free-air sniff, which resulted in a positive result. They then located a suitcase in the bed of the vehicle. The suitcase contained 25 vacuum-sealed bags containing marijuana. The bags totaled a weight of 27.5 pounds.
Hernandez was arrested for possessing marijuana in an amount equal to or less than 50 pounds but greater than 5 pounds. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on Monday and was later released after posting bond.
Jackson Olson plays the fans as the Savannah Bananas take on the Party Animals at Campanelli Stadium on August 16, 2023 in Brockton, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
Savannah Bananas second baseman and social media personality Jackson Olson is trading the baseball field for the dance floor.
Olson has officially joined Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars as a celebrity contestant, ABC announced during Disney's Upfront presentation on Tuesday.
The internet creator and baseball star is the latest celebrity revealed for the upcoming season, joining previously announced contestants Maura Higgins of The Traitors and Love Island and Ciara Miller of Summer House.
The full celebrity cast and professional dancer lineup will be announced Sept. 2 exclusively on Good Morning America.
Olson has gained a massive following online through his mix of baseball content, personal storytelling and behind-the-scenes moments from life with the Savannah Bananas, the viral exhibition baseball team known for its entertaining spin on the sport.
Along with sharing baseball insights and highlights from his career as a second baseman, Olson's content often focuses on relationships, family, food and everyday life experiences.
The Savannah Bananas have become a social media sensation in recent years for their fast-paced and comedic style of baseball, often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, with Olson emerging as one of the team's most recognizable personalities.
Dancing with the Stars is coming off a milestone Season 34, which marked the show's best finale performance in a decade, according to ABC.
The show will air live this fall on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
ABC’s The Oscars hosted by Conan O'Brien. (Disney/Mark Seliger)
Conan O'Brien will be reprising his hosting duties at the Oscars next year.
At Disney Upfront 2026 on Tuesday, Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts announced that the Emmy Award-winning television host, writer, producer and comedian will return for the 99th Oscars.
Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will also return as the show's executive producers for the fourth consecutive year. Joining them are Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, who will return as producers for the third time.
“We are thrilled to be working again with Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 99th Oscars,” said Kramer and Howell Taylor in a press release. “They are an incredible team and have produced such captivating, entertaining and heartfelt shows over the last two years. We are so grateful for their ongoing partnership as we honor our global film community — and we look forward to Conan superbly leading the celebration with his brilliance and humor.”
O'Brien made his Oscars hosting debut in 2025. He came back for the 98th Oscars this year, where he received positive reviews.
In a press release, Kapoor and Mullan said working with O'Brien for a third year is "really special."
"He brings that signature humor everyone loves, along with a real warmth and generosity that carry through the entire show,” they said. “He’s a true creative partner, someone we trust completely, and someone who makes the whole process genuinely fun, both behind the scenes and on stage. We’re incredibly grateful to keep building this together and can’t wait to share what’s next.”
The 99th Oscars will air live on ABC and Hulu on March 14, 2027, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
HENDERSON COUNTY – An East Texas county has passed a resolution asking the governor and a state representative to stop local officials from becoming “powerless observers” in the face of the fast growth of A.I. data centers. The resolution, which expressed concerns about the potential effects of large-scale data center projects on local infrastructure and natural resources, was read by the county’s attorney during a Henderson County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday morning.
Our news partners at KETK report that additionally, the resolution calls for an independent evaluation of the effects on natural resources before any new A.I. data centers are built. In order to address what the county refers to as “urgent reliability, water supply, and local governance concerns,” it also requests that state lawmakers investigate the matter and, if required, call a special session.
The decision was made almost a month after Data Factory showed interest in constructing a 10-megawatt facility in Athens. The company refers to its facilities as “flexible power farms,” a form of infrastructure that it claims can support high-performance computing while stabilizing strained power grids.
TYLER – Traffic signal work at the intersection of Troup Hwy and Loop 323 has now been completed. KTBB talked to Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh Tuesday afternoon and he made the confirmation.
TEXARKANA (KETK) – Two people are dead and one person is recovering at a hospital after a domestic dispute led to a shooting at Texarkana Aluminum early Tuesday morning, the Nash Police Department confirmed. According to our news partner KETK and the Nash PD, the shooting occurred at the facility’s parking lot at around 6:37 a.m. 48-year-old Eddie Hill Jr. was attempting to intervene in what is believed to be a domestic dispute between 40-year-old Wendell Champion Jr. and his wife, who worked at Texarkana Aluminum.
Champion Jr. then shot and killed Hill Jr. and shot his wife. She was transported to a local Texarkana hospital and is in stable condition, the police department said. Champion Jr. then shot and killed himself, Nash PD said. Champion Jr. had been convicted of murder in Harris County in 2010 and was released on parole in 2025.
There is no danger to the public at this time, the police department said. Both Hill and Champion Jr.’s wife were employees of Texarkana Aluminum, which will continue operations as normal but has counseling available for employees.
LIVINGSTON (KETK) – Two people have been arrested after law enforcement discovered a possible pipe bomb near a Livingston home on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, the Livingston Police Department said officers were notified of a possible pipe bomb on Banks Drive and several nearby homes were evacuated as a perimeter was secured.
With the help of the Montgomery County Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, technicians safely disabled the device and began an investigation.
A search warrant was conducted on a nearby home, leading Livingston PD officers to more explosive components. The home’s residents, 44-year-old Brian Humphreys and 37-year-old Shaney Humphreys, were arrested on the scene for possession of explosives and booked into the Polk County Jail.
“This investigation is still active and more charges are possible,” Livingston PD said. “At this time there is no threat to the public.”
Marty Makary attends an executive order signing in the Oval Office on April 18, 2026.(Allison Robbert/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) -- Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary intends to resign on Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
His departure was in the works after he clashed publicly with lawmakers, major pharmaceutical companies and President Donald Trump himself. He was scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Trump was asked by reporters about Makary's possible resignation on Tuesday and signaled that Deputy Commissioner Kyle Diamanta would temporarily take on the role.
The president said, "Marty is a great guy," but added that he was "having some difficulty."
"Everybody wants that job," Trump said.
The FDA and White House have not responded to requests for comment.
Makary, who is a surgeon by training, gained notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing against masks for children and vaccine mandates, and criticizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for citing Israeli data in recommending boosters rather than conducting its own research.
Since taking office in March 2025, the commissioner has focused his efforts on reshaping vaccine policy in the U.S. and transforming American diets.
Makary appeared in a video on X alongside Kennedy when the secretary announced in May 2025 the removal of the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC's immunization schedule for "healthy children and pregnant women."
"There's no evidence healthy kids need it today and most countries have stopped recommending it for children," Makary said at the time.
Last year, Makary appeared at a news conference announcing the HHS and FDA would be implementing a series of measures to phase out eight artificial food dyes and colorings from America's food supply by the end of 2026.
Makary said at the time that the agencies are looking to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings and to work with the food industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes used in cereal, ice cream, snacks, yogurts and more -- claiming American children "have been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals."
Makary also supported Kennedy's updated federal dietary guidelines earlier this year. The guidelines recommended that Americans limit highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates but also advocated for consuming red meat and full-fat dairy, a reversal of past nutrition guidance.
"For decades, we've been fed a corrupt food pyramid that has had a myopic focus on demonizing natural healthy saturated fats, telling you not to eat eggs and steak and ignoring a giant blind spot: refined carbohydrates, refined sugars, ultra-processed foods," Makary said. "In this new guidance, we are telling young people, kids, schools, you don't need to tiptoe around fat and dairy. ... You don't need to push low-fat milk to kids."
In early May, Trump criticized Makary for not moving quickly enough to ?approve flavored vape and nicotine products, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Trump's advisers informed him that Makary was delaying the president's effort to "save" vaping," a pledge Trump made on social media during his presidential campaign, according to the Journal.
The FDA announced its first authorization of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes intended for adult smokers on May 6. And last week, the FDA approved four new devices made by Glas, including classic menthol, fresh menthol, gold, and sapphire pods. "Gold" is mango flavored and "sapphire" is blueberry flavored.
The decision, which marked a significant policy shift from federal health officials, raised concerns from pediatrician groups and advocacy organizations about the potential impact on minors.
Makary had told ABC News' Linsey Davis in July, "There is not an approved vaping product in the United States that has one of these cutie-fruity flavors."
"What we're concerned about is kids who are starting vaping from scratch," he added. "I personally have met kids who know they're addicted, they don't want to be addicted, and they can't stop this addiction path that they're on."
TYLER – John Schnell of Tyler, a junior biochemistry major and Honors student at The University of Texas at Tyler, was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve a one-year term as the student representative on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Learning Technology Advisory Committee, effective June 1.
According to a release from UT Tyler, LTAC engages in policy research and discussion on technology use in higher education, making recommendations to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Student representative selection is based on academics, interests and leadership skills.
“We’re so proud of John and the great work he will do representing students across the state,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD.
Schnell will graduate from UT Tyler in May 2028, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. LTAC membership currently includes representatives from public community and technical colleges, universities and health-related institutions, as well as one student member.
A sign displays the prices of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel at a Chevron gas station in Los Angeles on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
(LOS ANGELES) -- A Chevron gas station in Los Angeles elicited headlines in recent weeks for charging an eye-popping $8.71 a gallon, becoming an emblem for the spike in fuel costs set off by the Iran war.
Sky-high gas prices nationwide owe primarily to a historic oil shock that followed Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But a lesser-known contributor helps account for just how high prices have gotten, at least at some name-brand stations selling fuel from the likes of Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil.
Branded stations, which make up almost half of gas stations nationwide, charge about 6 cents more per gallon on average than their unbranded counterparts, according to data from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), a Dow Jones company, for the week ending on May 2. That price gap marks little change from where it stood before the war, OPIS data showed.
In at least one state, the price disparity runs significantly higher. Gas at a Chevron station in California costs an average of 48 cents more per gallon than the price at an unbranded station, the California Energy Commission (CEC) found in 2024. After Chevron, the most expensive average gas prices in California were found at Shell, 76 and Arco-branded stations, the CEC said.
Some analysts said the higher price of branded gas is due to additional costs, such as proprietary additives in the fuel, as well as a producer’s marketing budget and the payment forked over by stations for guaranteed access to its gas – costs that are passed on to consumers.
Other analysts and a California state watchdog, however, have said that the price disparity may stem from the market dominance of a handful of companies, allowing them to drive up the retail price.
The scrutiny comes as some large oil companies like British Petroleum, Valero and Marathon Petroleum report soaring profits amid the Iran war, though Chevron and Exxon saw profits decline due in part to one-time paper losses stemming from financial hedges meant to protect them against a possible price drop.
The price of an average gallon of gas currently stands at $4.52, an increase of $1.54 per gallon since the war began on Feb. 28, AAA data showed. That amounts to a nearly 52% jump in about two-and-a-half months.
Patrick Penfield, a professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University, said the recent surge in prices could prompt a reexamination of the costs baked into the price at the pump, including the added charge for branded gas.
“When you see such big price increases for gasoline, everything should be looked at,” Penfield said.
Chevron did not directly respond to an ABC News request for comment. However, Jim Stanley, director of media relations at the Western States Petroleum Association, a industry trade group, contacted ABC News at Chevron's request.
Drivers choose branded gas stations as a matter of customer preference centered on issues like lighting, bathroom cleanliness or location, Stanley said.
"Any branded product – whether it’s medication or groceries or clothing – is going to generally cost more than a generic alternative," he added.
Stanley further said roughly 95% of branded gas stations operate as franchises, meaning they enter into agreements with big-name companies but retain self-ownership.
"Branded gas stations can have these brand standards that they hold their franchisees to: a higher standard than an independently owned store," Stanley added.
Kelly Davila, a spokesperson for Exxon, said the company doesn't "own or operate our retail stations."
Shell declined to respond to ABC News' request for comment.
Phillips 66, the parent company of 76, did not respond to ABC News' request for comment. Neither did Marathon Petroleum, the parent company of Arco.
Branded gas stations account for about 45% of stations nationwide, selling gas under the name of a major fuel company, OPIS data shows. Each of the brands touts a unique blend of additives that it says improves the gasoline and eases its effect on car engines. The extra ingredients go beyond the minimum standards mandated by federal and some state regulators, Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at Dow Jones Energy, told ABC News.
“At the end of the day, all gasoline has to meet a federal standard,” Cinquegrana said. “The branded gasoline goes above and beyond that minimum requirement.”
Higher prices charged by name-brand stations – a dynamic that stretches back decades – can be traced in part to spending on the development and production of the additives, Cinquegrana added: "They’re trying to recoup some of that investment.”
Some analysts, however, said it remains unclear whether the added ingredients deliver a meaningfully improved product.
“Regardless of each company’s claim, there is not sound evidence supporting the fact that additives do indeed improve the quality of gasoline, at least to the extent that the consumers perceive it to,” a study issued by the non-profit RAND corporation found in 2010.
The California Division of Petroleum Market Oversight (DPMO), a state watchdog agency, last year said it was "unable to independently verify claims that branded gasoline is superior to unbranded gasoline."
When asked about studies disputing the value of additives, Stanley, of the Western States Petroleum Association, declined to comment.
The higher price of branded gas also owes to marketing budgets borne by the big-name companies as well as elevated costs paid by retailers as part of agreements with the brands that guarantee them priority access in the event of a supply shortage, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a study of the issue published in 2005.
“Gas stations pay more for a contract for branded gasoline because they have a guarantee of supply. And they have a major global brand backing them up,” Cinquegrana said.
Some analysts and a California watchdog disputed those explanations. Rather, they said, the higher prices may reflect market power enjoyed by the large firms, giving them leeway to raise prices without fear of competition.
“My own reading of the data is that the branded companies are able to take advantage of a lack of a competitive market and are acting almost like an oligopoly,” Paasha Mahdavi, a professor of energy governance and political economy at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told ABC News, using a term that describes an industry dominated by a small number of companies.
Mahdavi focused on the relatively large price gap in California between branded and unbranded gas, which has widened in recent years.
In 2019, branded gas from companies like ExxonMobil, Arco, Valero and Chevron cost an average of 20 cents more per gallon in California; within five years, that price disparity had climbed to 31 cents, according to a DPMO study issued last year. Over that same period, the profitability of oil refiners in California has increased, DPMO said.
The rise in refinery profitability may be traced to the “exercise of market power by gasoline suppliers,” DPMO added, saying 90% of in-state refining capacity is controlled by four companies. As a result, elevated wholesale prices could be passed along the supply chain, DPMO said.
The largest companies appear to have “pretty strong control of not only upstream assets like oil and gas, but also control of the gas stations that are preferred by consumers based on location,” Mahdavi said. “They’re able to charge a higher premium.”
Valero did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.
Stanley, of the Western States Petroleum Association, said he is unsure why California features a larger gap in price between branded and unbranded gas than other states. One contributor, he said, could be the relatively low density of gas stations in the state.
"Competition brings down costs. When a retailer doesn't see that same level of competition, you can see that reflected in higher prices."
Stanley faulted environmental regulations in California for high overall gas prices.
"Branded or unbranded, gas in California is the most expensive in the country. That's because of supply constraints that have been created by state policies."
Mahdavi further said that the locations of branded gas stations may carry additional costs due to higher rents, accounting for some of the price gap.
The rise in prices during the Iran war offers an opportunity to revisit the factors that contribute to the price at the pump, according to Mahdavi.
“We can shine more light on what is driving these higher prices," he said.
In this photo illustration, the PayPal logo is displayed on the screen of a smart tablet. (Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) -- PayPal has agreed to waive $30 million in processing fees in order to resolve a federal investigation into an investment program that sought to boost Black and minority-owned businesses, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
The probe is just one of a number launched under the Trump Justice Department scrutinizing companies that launched diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that Republicans have cast as unlawful and discriminatory.
DOJ had been probing whether PayPal's program, which was launched in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd amid social unrest around the country, violated a federal law prohibiting creditors from discriminating against applicants based on race.
In order to avoid further investigation, the company has agreed to waive processing fees for roughly $1 billion in transactions — estimated at $30 million -- "for eligible American small businesses that are veteran-owned or engaged in farming, manufacturing, or technology."
The announcement by DOJ does not explain why PayPal's transaction fee waivers will be directed to those specific classes of small businesses.
It has also agreed to launch a new small business initiative that does not account for "the race or national origin of the business owners."
“This Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s vow to root out illegal DEI from every corner of corporate America,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement announcing the settlement. “American corporations are on notice: you will face our aggressive enforcement if you use race or national origin to discriminate against qualified Americans.”
The settlement does not include any admission of wrongdoing by PayPal, and under the agreement, the DOJ acknowledges it "has not made any determinations or findings regarding PayPal violating [the Equal Credit Opportunity Act] or any other federal law related to the economic opportunity fund."
“For more than two decades, PayPal has helped small businesses start, scale, and thrive by expanding access to digital financial tools," a PayPal spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. "We’re excited to launch the Small Business Initiative to infuse American small businesses with even more economic opportunity.”
