06/28/26 – Laurel Maynard, president of Smith County Young Republicans w/Geoff Roark
In Focus: 06/28/26 – Laurel Maynard, president of Smith County Young Republicans
Trump says he is nominating former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday said he is nominating Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, as the next director of Immigration and Customs and Enforcement.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that his new pick for the immigration enforcement agency is a former U.S. Marine and a “PATRIOT with real operational experience.” He called Schroyer a “proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.”
Schroyer hails from the same home state as the new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a former congressman. Earlier this month, Mullin brought Schroyer onstage at a National Sheriffs’ Association event, calling him a “good friend of mine” and noting DHS had recently hired him.
On Saturday, Mullin quickly praised Schroyer in a statement highlighting the former trooper’s 29-year career and his work with federal and state partners on a U.S. immigration enforcement program.
“President Trump made a great pick, and I’m confident Lance’s strong leadership and firsthand experience will empower the men and women of ICE to deport criminal illegal aliens, secure the homeland, and protect the American people,” Mullin said.
If confirmed, Schroyer will lead ICE at a time when the public mood has soured on Trump’s immigration crackdown, which sent surges of federal immigration officers into American cities to round up immigrants. Those raids sent tensions soaring and prompted clashes between protesters and law enforcement, leading to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Trump returned to the White House on a promise of mass deportations, and ICE has been a central executor of that vision. The agency is undergoing massive growth from a one-time injection of $75 billion last year, which has allowed for the hiring of 12,000 officers and increased detention capacity.
Mullin, who started in his role in March, has promised to keep his department out of the headlines and has indicated a softer tone on immigration, although he is expected to align with the president’s priorities on mass deportations.
Claire Trickler-McNulty, a former senior ICE official, said prior confirmed ICE directors have often been attorneys, though some state and local law enforcement officials have also been nominated. She said his background in Oklahoma suggests Mullin likely had influence over the pick.
“I think probably given the attention on ICE, he wants to feel like he has somebody he can trust in there,” she said in an interview.
John Torres, another senior ICE official, said Schroyer faces an uphill climb toward Senate confirmation but his experience being at the state and local level instead of the federal level might help.
“He won’t have any of that baggage, where they’re going to turn around and say, oh, well, he worked for this administration or that,” Torres said.
Schroyer’s nomination comes after former ICE director Todd Lyons resigned at the end of May. David Venturella, a former executive at a private prison operator, has been serving as the acting head of the agency. Venturella is expected to stay on as the acting director until Schroyer is Senate confirmed, according to a DHS official speaking on condition of anonymity.
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, a result of polarizing politics around the agency and immigration policy.
March to end gun violence
TYLER — Tyler residents got together on Saturday to march for an end to ongoing violence in the community after a local 5-year-old boy was recently shot.
“Recent acts of violence have shaken our community and left many families asking difficult questions about the future of our neighborhoods,” Smith County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 Derrick Choice said.
“When innocent children become victims of violence, it is a reminder that the consequences of conflict extend far beyond those directly involved. They reach into our homes, our schools, our churches, and our collective sense of security.”
Saturday’s Tyler Community Unity Day events started at the Texas African American American Museum at around 11 a.m. when residents started a peace walk to Woldert Park. Continue reading March to end gun violence
Teen drowns in Lake Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE — A 15-year-old drowned in Lake Jacksonville on Saturday while trying to retrieve a 5-year-old whose inflation device had floated them out into deep water. According to the Jacksonville Police Department and our news partner KETK, officers responded to the Lake Jacksonville Campgrounds at around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday for a reported drowning.
Jacksonville PD’s investigation found that teen drowned while he was attempting to retrieve a 5-year-old that was on an inflatable flotation device floating out into deeper parts of Lake Jacksonville. The teen had called for help before he disappeared beneath the surface of the lake. Nearby citizens and boaters immediately responded and pulled him from the water. They attempted to save his life until Jacksonville PD arrived with EMS and Jacksonville Fire Department, who took over lifesaving measures.
The 15-year-old was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to Jacksonville PD. The boy’s family has been contacted and Jacksonville PD said there’s no indication of foul play in this case. Continue reading Teen drowns in Lake Jacksonville
Astros rally for 8-6 win over Tigers, keeping AJ Hinch at 999 career victories
DETROIT (AP) – Isaac Paredes hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros spoiled their former manager’s opportunity at a milestone victory by rallying for an 8-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch entered the game with 999 victories, including 481 with Houston between 2015 and 2019, but his bullpen couldn’t get him to 1,000.
The Astros trailed 6-5 going into the eighth, but Jeremy Peña’s RBI single off Will Vest tied the game, with center fielder James Outman’s error putting runners on second and third with two outs. Paredes, who started his career with the Tigers, followed with a two-run double to right, giving Houston an 8-6 lead.
Bryan King pitched a perfect eighth and Josh Hader retired the Tigers in order in the ninth for his seventh save.
Houston took a 2-0 lead on Cam Smith’s homer in the second inning and added another run in the third when Jose Altuve hit into a run-scoring double play.
Detroit, though, loaded the bases with one out in the third on a walk, Altuve’s fielding error and a hit batter. Kai-Wei Teng then hung a 1-2 curveball to Kerry Carpenter, who launched it over the right-field fence for his third career grand slam.
Peña’s RBI single made it 4-4 in the fourth, but Spencer Torkelson’s two-out double gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the inning and ended Teng’s afternoon.
Hao-Yu Lee’s home run off Steven Okert put the Tigers up 6-4 in the fifth, but Christian Walker’s RBI single made it 6-5 in the seventh.
Up next
The teams play for the seventh time in 14 days to finish their four-game weekend series.
Houston RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.40) will start in his hometown, about two miles from the campus of Wayne State University, where he played Division II baseball. RHP Jack Flaherty (1-8, 5.34) is expected to be activated off the injured list to start for Detroit.
Seager hits solo HR, Burger has 3 hits and 2 RBIs as Rangers beat Blue Jays 7-4
TORONTO (AP) — Corey Seager hit a solo home run, Jake Burger had three hits and drove in two runs and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 on Saturday.
Alejandro Osuna added a two-run hit as the Rangers won for the sixth time in their past nine.
Seager connected off Braydon Fisher in the sixth, his 10th. Texas has homered in a season-high 10 straight games.
Peyton Gray (3-0) got seven outs for the win and Tyler Alexander finished for his third save in four chances.
Yohendrick Piñango hit a two-run homer and Alejandro Kirk added a solo shot but the Blue Jays lost their fifth straight.
Toronto’s 2-3-4 hitters, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho and Kazuma Okamoto, went 0 for 13 with seven strikeouts.
Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (4-4) allowed four runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out 10.
Cease has won just once in seven starts.
Burger opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the first, and the Rangers added five more two-out runs in the fifth. After Burger chased Cease with an RBI single, Osuna and Elias Díaz each had two-RBI hits off Mason Fluharty.
Piñango homered off Robby Ahlstrom in the bottom of the fifth, his fifth. Kirk homered off Joe Ross to begin the sixth, his second. Andrés Giménez chased Ross with an RBI single.
Rangers right-hander Cal Quantrill allowed two hits, both singles, in four shutout innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford was scratched from the lineup because of left hamstring tightness. Osuna started in center.
Piñango was recalled from Triple-A while Davis Schneider was optioned to the Bisons. Outfielder Jesús Sánchez (right ankle) went on the 10-day IL.
Up next
Rangers RHP Kumar Rocker (2-6, 4.14 ERA) is scheduled to face Blue Jays RHP Shane Bieber (0-0, 9.82) in Sunday’s series finale.
Residents on notice as fast-moving fire in Utah, the largest in the US, blackens more forestland
MARYSVALE, Utah (AP) — The largest fire in the United States is marching through deep canyons and over steep mountainsides, blackening an already parched landscape in Utah as residents of sparsely populated areas wait for word in case they have to evacuate.
The Cottonwood Fire already has severely damaged the Eagle Point ski resort in Beaver County and forced campground closures in Fishlake National Forest. Other public lands in the area have been closed as a precaution.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, in a social media post early Saturday, asked for prayers for firefighters and “the rains we desperately need.”
“More property destroyed. It’s as bleak as it’s ever been … and yet there were several miraculous stops and saves,” Cox said, referring to the work of the hundreds of firefighters assigned to the blaze.
They are among the crews that have been pouring into Utah as more wildfires in the arid state gain steam thanks to consecutive days of what forecasters call critical fire weather, or dangerously low humidity levels, warm temperatures and gusty winds.
Utah is coming off a record-low snowpack and the warmest winter on record, which helped to elevate the fire danger. Much of the West is grappling with similar conditions, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which reported that the lack of snow over the winter resulted in unusual fire activity early in the season.
Nationally, nearly 3 million acres have burned since the start of the year, pushing the U.S. ahead of the 10-year average. From Alaska to Florida, crews were busy Saturday working to corral dozens of fires, including three dozen that were classified as large and uncontained.
Air tankers and helicopters took to the skies again Saturday, hoping to put a dent in the flames before afternoon winds kicked up again. On Friday, they were grounded because of weather conditions that prompted weather forecasters to issue a rare warning that highlighted a “particularly dangerous situation.”
“Weather conditions are slightly better for fire behavior today, but extreme fire behavior may occur in the afternoon as temperatures and wind speeds increase,” the U.S. Forest Service said Saturday in a statement on Facebook.
The fire ballooned to more than 144 square miles (373 square kilometers) on Saturday.
The blaze prompted Cox to declare an emergency, and the state on Friday restricted fireworks, saying Utah is experiencing one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent history and that the recent blazes are stretching the state’s wildland firefighting capabilities.
“These fires are starting closer to homes and communities,” said State Forester Jamie Barnes. “One human-caused fire is one too many.”
The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, but state officials say the majority of those sparked so far this year have been human-caused. Forecasters also note that lightning strikes around the West have resulted in fires.
Elsewhere in Utah, evacuations were ordered Friday for several small communities southwest of Salt Lake City, including in Eureka, with a population under 1,000, and the Vernon Reservoir area, officials said. Highways running through the area have been closed.
Two wildfires in that area — the Iron and Cherry fires — cover a combined 111 square miles (287 square kilometers), fire officials said.
Visitors are undeterred by wildfires
The towering column of smoke from the Cottonwood Fire was visible Friday from miles away, even from Bryce Canyon National Park to the south and Colorado to the east. It was hazy Saturday as the smoke drifted to the northeast, leaving air quality in places like Bryce and other popular vacation spots to the south unaffected.
Bob Miller was staying at an RV park in Marysvale and was prepared to evacuate if needed. He said the evenings especially have been smoky, but he and his family have still be able to enjoy the area, where they have vacationed for almost two decades.
“It’s still gorgeous,” said Miller, who lives in Yucaipa, California.
“Fires happen around here. When you come every year, you kind of get used to that,” Miller said.
“After you’ve been through burned areas a few times, you look at it and you understand what nature can do,” he added.
Firefighters gather near the Cottonwood Fire near Junction, Utah, on Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)
Firefighters gather near the Cottonwood Fire near Junction, Utah, on Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)
Red flag warnings cover the West
Conditions including low humidity and strong winds triggered red flag warnings across a wide swath stretching from California to southern Arizona and New Mexico. Some forecasts for the weekend predicted winds of 25 to 35 miles an hour (40 kph to 56 kph), with the worst conditions expected from northern Arizona into central and southern Utah.
At Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, visitors were met with a power outage Saturday. The utility that serves the area initiated a safety outage in hopes of lessening wildfire risk in that area.
Visitors will be able to purchase park passes at entrance stations as long as backup power systems remain operational, but park officials said people should come prepared. That means downloading maps before arriving and ensuring that phones and other devices are fully charged.
Power shutoffs have become more common in the West as wildfire risk has expanded. It is usually a last resort after utility forecasters weigh factors like sustained wind and gust speeds, available fuels and topography.
With extreme fire conditions persisting in Utah, Rocky Mountain Power said power lines serving Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Millard, San Juan and Washington counties were shut off Saturday.
Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — Tensions flared Saturday as desperation grew in Venezuela’s state of La Guaira as rescuers and civilians searched for earthquake survivors and the death toll rose sharply to 1,430.
Families reported at least 68,900 people missing Saturday, three days after the one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes devastated the South American nation.
Venezuelans looking for loved ones and neighbors used shovels, heavy equipment, ropes and bare hands atop mounds of toppled concrete throughout La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit states. They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams who began to climb through the rubble, offering a small glint of hope to anguished families.
Tensions peaked over what many Venezuelans viewed as an inadequate response by the government, whose soldiers, firefighters, police and military cadets were evidently underprepared to respond to the scope of the tragedy. Frustration was amplified by efforts to project the image of a robust state response.
Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours as crucial for retrieving people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water. Venezuelan officials said 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue team members had touched down by Saturday.
As 72 hours passed since the earthquakes struck, many felt every minute ticking away as they ran out of time to rescue people alive.
“There’s a pile of bodies over there from last night. Newborn babies,” said Mileidy Romero, who was among those searching in the seaside town of Caraballeada. “At 8 p.m. (yesterday) there were people alive down there, and they haven’t bothered to rescue them. We’ve located several bodies, and they haven’t helped us recover them either. What are they waiting for?”
Tension mounts during rescue efforts
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on state television that more than 14,000 members of the military and police are patrolling the area, where access is now blocked and special permits are required to enter. But many in disaster zones said they had seen little of their government.
Some people climbed the remnants of buildings and cried out names, hoping for any proof of life. Dust coated coastal communities. In punishing heat, more people wore masks as the stench of decomposition spread. In other parts of La Guaira, teams loaded stacks of bodies – some in white bags, other naked – onto white trucks from the ground of a dirt hospital parking lot, where they were being identified.
Without hard hats or other gear, rescuers and civilians instead wore motorcycle helmets as they searched piles of debris that were once people’s belongings: Eddie Murphy and Nemo DVDs, a kitchen sink, mattresses and shoes.
Some, frustrated by the government’s response, blocked an excavator from leaving the site of a collapse and pulled the operator from its cabin shortly after state workers took selfies in front of flattened buildings and left without helping. The ruling party’s officials often take selfies to show participation in government-related events.
A few feet away, at least five bodies wrapped in blankets.
A member of the crowd, Yeison Marcano, said those searching had received some assistance from an investigations unit but neither police nor the National Guard helped.
“They came to eat arepas and take pictures to make it look like they were working,” Marcano said. “They didn’t even get their uniforms dirty like we have. We’ve been here for three days.”
A minute later, a man tried to grab a firefighter, shouting and cursing. “Silence! Silence!” rescuers shouted as they tried to confirm whether someone was trapped alive.
Meanwhile, an older man was pulled from the rubble of a public housing building. Visibly disoriented, he begged a nurse for water. He fought with personnel who put him into a pickup truck, screaming, “My family! My family!”
Searches mix with uncertainty
The International Organization for Migration said over 6 million people could be affected, some 2 million in the capital, Caracas, alone.
Experts said the destruction was amplified by the quick succession of shallow quakes. For days, smaller aftershocks occasionally shook the capital, Caracas and areas hit by the quakes, including one measuring 4.8 on Saturday.
The disaster poses a huge challenge for Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after the U.S. capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents.
Search teams and foreign aid continued to arrive from Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, El Salvador, France and elsewhere.
On Saturday, Mexican rescue teams climbed over collapsed buildings and pushed their heads into holes in the pancaked concrete to search for signs of life, occasionally hearing movement.
“We’re rescuers from the Mexican military, if there’s anyone down there still alive, make noise or scream. Now!” one man shouted.
A glimmer of hope
For many, the images of international aid teams arriving and climbing through the rubble alongside them offered a glimmer of hope. Yonahí Regalado has been calling out the names of her sister and 1-year-old nephew and godson since 1 a.m. the day after the earthquakes until aid workers began to arrive.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, whoever, whether it’s family or somebody else. If there is anyone alive, let’s get them out,” she said, as helicopters circled overhead.
Rescue teams carefully handed down a 18-day-old swaddled in pink blankets from a building after 12 hours of searching for the baby boy and his mother, Telemundo reported. One 69-year-old woman, saved by Salvadoran teams, asked for a Coca-Cola upon being pulled out of the rubble, Salvadoran authorities said.
One video showed a Venezuelan rescuer comforting an elderly woman trapped beneath the rubble, scared that the structure would cave in if she moved.
“The roof won’t cave in. If it falls, I’ll be here with you,” he said.
Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, was badly damaged. One runway was operational as U.S. teams worked to repair the crucial throughway, Jeremy Lewin, a senior State Department official in charge of foreign assistance, told reporters.
Lewin said a U.S. Navy transport ship was docked off the coast, ready to receive airlifted survivors in need of medical attention. Lewin said it is a “race against the clock” to find people injured in the quakes.
Belgium clinch knockout spot as New Zealand exit World Cup
VANCOUVER (AP) – Leandro Trossard scored a pair of goals and Belgium overcame a slow start at the World Cup to advance to the knockout round with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Friday night.
With a scoring outburst, Belgium finished atop Group G and will face a third-place finisher on Wednesday in Seattle. The match was played simultaneously to the other group finale in Seattle between Egypt and Iran, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Belgians went into the match a surprising third in its group after opening the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a scoreless draw against Iran.
Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also scored for the Belgians, who were eliminated in the group stage in Qatar four years ago after finishing third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Elijah Just scored for New Zealand, which needed to win outright to have a chance at advancing. The All Whites head home without a first-ever World Cup win.
Should Belgium win their knockout round opener, it will face the winner of the match against the United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 16.
Trossard came oh-so-close to scoring early in the match, but goal-line technology determined that the ball did not cross the line.
New Zealand defender Finn Surman was called for a handball in the box in the 23rd minute, giving Belgium a penalty kick, but video determined that his arm was in a natural position and play continued.
In a scramble in front of the net from a corner, Trossard fired the ball high into the net to put Belgium in front in the 28th minute.
It was Belgium’s first goal at the World Cup since Michy Batshuayi’s goal against Canada in the group opener in Qatar in 2022. Belgium’s goal in its 1-1 draw against Egypt in the opener of this tournament was an own goal.
Trossard scored his second early in the second half, striking a rebound off a New Zealand player past goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
De Bruyne added a stunning strike from outside the box in the 66th minute to all but put the game away for Belgium. He celebrated by making a heart with his hands for the sellout Vancouver crowd.
There was a flurry of late goals. Elijah Just’s goal avoided the shutout for New Zealand in the 84th minute, but two minutes later Romelu Lukaku scored on a header for Belgium and blew a kiss to the fans. Saelemaekers scored in stoppage time.
Winger Jérémy Doku started for Belgium after missing Sunday’s scoreless draw with Iran with an illness. He then flew to London for the birth of his son. He had only trained with the team once in seven days.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made his 18th World Cup appearance for Belgium, breaking the mark set by Enzo Scifo.
New Zealand fell 3-1 to Egypt on Sunday in Vancouver, as the Pharaohs won for the first time at a World Cup. The All Whites tied 2-2 with Iran in their group opener.
Egypt advance as Iran left to wait after VAR denies late winner
SEATTLE (AP) – Egypt advanced past the group stage at the World Cup for the first time while Iran, who had a potential winning goal called back due to an offside, will have to wait one day to find out its fate after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.
At the conclusion of what was promoted as a “Pride Match” in Seattle, one which neither Iran nor Egypt wanted any part in, the Pharaohs finished in second place in Group G. Belgium, which played to a 1-1 draw against Egypt on June 15, beat New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver, British Columbia to win the group outright.
Egypt will face Australia in the round of 32 in Arlington, Texas, on July 3.
Iran could still advance to the knockout round for the first time in the expanded 48-team pool at this year’s tournament. But, they no longer control their own destiny after Friday’s game.
Egypt took an early lead on a goal by Mahmoud Saber in the fifth minute. Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah provided some strong play in the box before Saber fired a shot between the legs of Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Iran tied the match nine minutes later on a goal by Ramin Rezaeian, and nearly won the game in stoppage time. Shoja Khalilzadeh fired a shot past Beiranvand in the 93rd minute, but it was overturned for offside after a video review.
Had the goal counted, Iran would have clinched a berth to the knockout round.
Spain win World Cup group with 1-0 win over Uruguay
GUADALAJARA, Mx. (AP) – Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 after another goalkeeping mistake by Fernando Muslera to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup and eliminate the South American powerhouse on Friday.
Uruguay, a two-time champion, will go home without any victories in its three Group H games. Spain, the European champion, won the group with seven points and will face the second-place team from Group J – either Austria or Algeria – on Thursday in Inglewood, California.
Álex Baena scored in the 42nd minute after Muslera couldn’t fully swat away his shot from inside the area. It was the third blunder of the tournament by the 40-year-old Muslera, who was pulled at halftime by coach Marcelo Bielsa.
At 19th in the FIFA rankings, Uruguay is the highest-ranked team to be eliminated so far.
Cape Verde, which played Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw in the other group game on Friday, finished second in the group with three points, one more than both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Uruguay finished third but without enough points to be among the best eight third-place teams that will advance.
A few Uruguay players cried on the field after the final whistle. Many fans booed the team as it left.
The match was one of the most anticipated of the group stage, but it featured few significant scoring chances by either team.
Uruguay players loudly advocated for a penalty in the final minutes after Federico Viñas went down inside the area.
There was some tension near the end. Uruguay’s Agustín Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time for a tackle on Spain defender Paul Cubarsi. His teammates had to escort him off the field, and after the final whistle he returned to try to talk to the referee.
Uruguay, the World Cup winner in 1930 and 1950, came into the final group match in turmoil after draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Uruguayan media said there were reports of players not being happy with veteran Argentine coach Bielsa.
Spain, seeking its second World Cup title, opened with a shocking 0-0 draw against Cape Verde but was coming off a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. La Roja haven’t made it past the round of 16 since winning their lone title in 2010.
Spain striker Lamine Yamal, who entered the tournament nursing a left hamstring injury, had a lackluster outing and again didn’t play the entire match, being replaced by Ferran Torres in the 76th. The 18-year-old Yamal was replaced at halftime against Saudi Arabia and came off the bench in the second half against Cape Verde.
Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte had to replaced because of an apparent knee injury near the end of the first half. He was on the ground seeking medical assistance when Spain opened the scoring, and was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher.
King Felipe VI of Spain was among the crowd of 45,065 at Estadio Akron.
A moment of silence was observed before the match in memory of those who died when back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela late Wednesday.
Cape Verde’s dream run continues, will face Argentina in R32
HOUSTON (AP) – Cape Verde completed an improbable run through the group stage with a third straight World Cup draw to become the smallest country to earn a spot in a FIFA World Cup knockout round following a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night.
The small island nation off the western coast of Africa, which is making its debut on the game’s grandest stage, had already held 2010 champion Spain to a 0-0 draw and then came from behind to get a 2-2 result against Uruguay.
Cape Verde’s three points put the team in second place behind Spain, who beat Uruguay on Friday night and won the group.
Cape Verde will play reigning World Champions Argentina in Miami on July 3.
On the eve of the match, Cape Verde coach Bubista mused, “everyone is entitled to dream and nothing is impossible.”
The Blue Sharks proved him right, overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds as this country of just more than 500,000 reached the round of 32.
A woman, her face painted with a flag of the archipelago, held a sign that read: “Small Islands, Big Dreams.”
A dream that these underdogs have made reality as they continue their charmed run on the world stage.
They did it with another strong game from Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper whose tournament success has helped him amass more than 16 million Instagram followers.
He had a save in first half stoppage time, grabbing a header from Mohamed Kanno to keep Saudi Arabia scoreless. Another save came in the 66th minute when he leaped to deflect a shot from Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat. A third came in the 92nd minute when he stopped a shot by Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
Cape Verde had a chance to score in the 50th minute, but Kevin Pina’s shot from distance was just above the crossbar. Another chance came in the 74th minute when Laros Duarte’s shot from the middle of the box was stopped by goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais.
A last chance to score came in the final seconds when Nuno da Costa sent a shot from the middle of the box wide left.
But it didn’t matter because a couple of minutes after the final whistle, Spain completed its victory over Uruguay and set off a joyous celebration among Cape Verde’s players and fans, many of whom cried as they rejoiced.
Senegal thrash Iraq 5-0, on course for World Cup knockouts
TORONTO (AP) – Senegal racked up the goals on 10-man Iraq in a 5-0 victory Friday that boosted its hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stages.
Pape Gueye scored two second-half goals as the Senegalese — vying to advance as from third place in Group I — took advantage of a first-half red card on Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka for preventing Sadio Mané from going in on goal alone.
Habib Diarra scored in the fourth minute and even though Sulaka was sent off in the 13th, Senegal didn’t find the net again until Ismaila Sarr’s goal in the 56th minute.
Gueye then added his two goals and fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye netted Senegal’s fifth.
Senegal now has three points and a plus-two goal differential.
The eight best third-place teams advance to the round of 32, with ties broken by goals scored and goal differential if necessary.
Iraq was eliminated without a point in its first World Cup appearance since 1986.
Ousmane Dembélé hits first half hat trick as France cruise past much-changed Norway
FOXBOROUGH, Mass — France forward Ousmane Dembélé scored a first-half hat trick, including one off a feed from Kylian Mbappé, to help his team beat Norway 4-1 at the World Cup on Friday.
Dembélé’s goals came in the seventh, 20th and 32nd minutes. It was the first first-half hat trick at the World Cup since Russia forward Oleg Salenko scored three of his five goals in the opening 45 minutes against Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Désiré Doué scored France’s final goal in second-half injury time.
Dembélé, who won Ballon d’Or as Europe’s top player in 2025 and has now scored four goals at this year’s World Cup, left the game in the 65th minute. He was replaced by Bradley Barcola.
Thelo Aasgaard got Norway on the scoreboard after Dembélé’s second goal, finding the back of the net only 14 seconds after the restart. But Dembélé added his third goal less than nine minutes later to push the lead back to two.
Dembélé increased his international goal total to eight while Mbappe now has 16 goals and four assists in 17 World Cup matches. He scored two goals in each of France’s wins over Senegal and Iraq.
Erling Haaland was among 10 regular starters absent from Norway’s starting lineup, presumably to rest. The wholesale changes included Egil Selvik starting in goal in place of Orjan Nyland.
France, which won the World Cup in 2018 and lost in the final four years ago, had already secured its place in the knockout round before Friday’s match. Norway was also assured of a spot in the round of 32 and ended up in second place in the group.
The fastest World Cup hat trick took only 7 minutes, 42 seconds. Hungary striker Laszlo Kiss, who had come on as a substitute, managed that feat late in the match against El Salvador at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
The quickest World Cup hat trick from the start of the match occurred at the 1954 tournament in Switzerland when Austria striker Erich Probst scored his three goals in the opening 24 minutes against Czechoslovakia.
Mbappé nearly got France on the scoreboard only 21 seconds into the game. He sprinted up the right side and sent a hard shot that hit the crossbar beyond the outstretched arm of Selvik.
Dembélé was operating in space for his first goal when he took took a pass from Mbappé and blasted a right-footed shot across Selvik.
On the Paris Saint-Germain player’s second goal, Dembélé found space between three defenders at the top of the box and fired in a left-footer beyond Selvik’s diving save attempt.
Norway had a chance to close the gap back to one goal in the 49th when France defender Theo Hernández was whistled for tripping Oscar Bobb in the box. But Jorgen Strand Larsen’s penalty shot toward the right corner was batted away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Venezuelan pitchers Montero and De Jesus combine for a 5-hitter as the Tigers beat the Astros 8-0
DETROIT (AP) + Keider Montero and Emmanuel De Jesus combined for a five-hitter while both Venezuelans wore hats embroidered with “VZ” after this week’s earthquakes, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 8-0 on Friday night.
James Outman hit a three-run homer, and Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith also homered for the Tigers.
Montero (4-5) took the mound shortly after a moment of silence for the victims of the earthquakes that struck Wednesday and left more 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing as of Friday night. He pitched seven innings and gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one.
De Jesus pitched the final two innings, striking out one and walking one.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the third inning, after Outman ran home on a throwing error by Astros catcher Yandier Diaz, who threw the ball into the outfield in an attempt to get Kevin McGonigle out stealing second. Carpenter hit a two-run homer over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead.
Keith hit a solo shot to right in the fourth. Zach McKinstry walked and Matt Vierling singled before Outman hit his second homer of the year to make it 7-0.
McGonigle scored his second run of the game on Dylan Dingler’s RBI single to complete a five-run inning for the Tigers.
Spencer Arrighetti (7-4) pitched three innings for the Astros and gave up all eight runs. He struck out seven, walked five and gave up five hits.
Up next
RHP Kai-Wei Teng (4-6, 4.03 ERA) will start for the Astros on Saturday. LHP Framber Valez (5-4, 3.91) will start for the Tigers.
Rangers beat the Blue Jays 5-4 as Nathan Eovaldi wins his third straight start
TORONTO (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi struck out nine in seven shutout innings to win his third straight start, Justin Foscue homered and drove in three runs, and the Texas Rangers held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday night.
Jacob Latz pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances as Texas survived a late Toronto rally to win for the fifth time in eight games.
Eovaldi (8-7) walked Daulton Varsho in the second and didn’t allow a hit until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled in the fourth. Eovaldi allowed five hits.
The Rangers led 5-0 after seven, but after Robby Ahlstrom retired one of the three batters he faced in the eighth, Jakob Junis came on and gave up Guerrero’s two-run single that made it 5-2. Kazuma Okamoto followed with a two-run homer to make it 5-4.
The Rangers opened the scoring before Blue Jays left-hander Patrick Corbin recorded an out. Wyatt Langford singled and stole second, Josh Jung was hit by a pitch and Brandon Nimmo followed with an RBI double.
Foscue and Ezequiel Duran added RBI singles in the first.
Foscue drove in Jake Burger with a one-out homer in the third.
Corbin (2-4) allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, extending his winless streak to six starts.
Duran stole second on a pitchout in the sixth, pulling his hand back to evade Ernie Clement’s tag attempt, then reaching over Clement to touch the base.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager got the day off after returning from the concussion list Thursday. He’s expected to start Saturday.
Toronto outfielder Jesús Sánchez was shaken up when he crashed into the wall after catching Nimmo’s drive to end the seventh. Davis Schneider pinch hit in the bottom half.
Up next
Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease (4-3, 2.75 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday against Rangers RHP Cal Quantrill (3-0, 3.73).
Saks officially emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with less debt and a new name
NEW YORK (AP) — Saks Global, the parent company of Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, officially emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday with fewer stores, less debt, a more focused strategy to pamper the affluent — and a new name.
The company said Friday that the new entity will be called Exemplar Luxury Group, and with an improved balance sheet, including a nearly 75% debt reduction and $500 million in extra financing. Its CEO, Geoffroy van Raemdonck, said the New York-based company is ready for its next chapter after navigating several tumultuous years.
“Today is really a brand new day for the organization and a new day where these three iconic banners have the right funding, the right equity and a bright future ahead of them,” van Raemdonck told The Associated Press on Friday during a phone interview.
Van Raemdonck said that the new name signifies the company’s focus on having an exemplary shopping experience — the best merchandise, and better personalized service with customers, with help from its sales associates and the treasure trove of data it has on its customers. The company employs more than 1,500 sales associates who have sold more than $1 million of goods each, he said.
Saks Global had filed for bankruptcy protection in January of this year, buffeted by rising competition and the massive debt it took on to buy its rival in the luxury sector, Neiman Marcus, in July 2024.
Before the bankruptcy, there were 33 Saks stores and 36 Neiman Marcus locations, according to the company, as well as its Bergdorf Goodman store on Fifth Avenue and roughly 70 Saks Off 5th discount stores.
Now, there are a total of 49 stores — 15 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 33 Neiman Marcus stores and its Bergdorf Goodman store. The company shuttered most of its Saks Off Fifth discount stores, and it now has 12 outlets, the company said.
Exemplar Luxury Group said it has been teaming up with Pentwater Capital Management and Bracebridge Capital throughout its restructuring process. Both firms will have two representatives on the seven-person board. In addition, van Raemdonck as well as former Ulta Beauty CEO Dave Kimbell and Philippe Schaus, who most recently served as Global CEO of Moët Hennessy, will serve on the board, the company said.
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Three arrested in Crockett for Royse City robbery after Flock AI camera spots vehicle
CROCKETT, Texas (KETK) – Three men were arrested in connection to a Royse City robbery on Friday after officials said a Flock AI camera spotted their vehicle heading through East Texas.
The Crockett Police Department put out a press release on Saturday stating that Houston County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers were notified that a vehicle involved with the robbery of $40,000 in Royse City was spotted by an artificial intelligence powered Flock camera in Anderson County.
The vehicle was reportedly spotted by the camera on Friday why traveling towards Houston County by way of Elkhart.
A deputy with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office saw the vehicle turn off of US Highway 297 North and onto Loop 304 before it continued onward towards FM 229. Crockett PD said one of their officers near FM 2076 then stopped the vehicle near Loop 304 and State Highway 7 West because it was reportedly speeding.
One of three people in the vehicle was reportedly arrested first because officers found out he had a warrant from Harris County. Crockett PD said the vehicle was then searched and around $40,000 in cash was found hidden along with a black mask and black gloves.
The officers continued to search the vehicle and found more masks, gloves and dark clothes that matched a description from the Royse City Police Department.
After the stop, Edward Davion Cannon of Houston, James Hoyd White of Houston and Aaron Oscar Carter of Houston were all arrested for engaging in organized criminal activity. They were booked into the Hunt County Jail where they’re currently being held on $75,000 bonds.
New city council member in office
LONGVIEW – The newest member of the Longview City Council took his oath of office on Thursday evening. According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Smith, who was elected earlier this month to represent District 3, was sworn into office during the Longview City Council Meeting.
District 3 covers the southeastern part of the city from Interstate 20 to north of Highway 80, including neighborhoods along Highway 259.
During Thursday night’s council meeting, Smith said he wants to focus on repairing roads and youth programs and emphasized that he is ready to work for the people in the district.
“We have to work together and we have to do what we are called to do,” Smith said. “We have to be responsible and make the right decisions for the City of Longview and for every citizen in Longview.”
Interim city manager named
GUN BARREL – Gun Barrel City has named its new interim city manager on Friday as they continue their nationwide search to find someone to permanently fill the position.
According to our news partner KETK, city officials say as the search continues, Steven Norwood will begin serving in the interim role immediately and assist the City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) operations until a permanent EDC Director is hired.
“Mr. Norwood has more than three decades of experience in municipal government, having served in leadership positions across Texas, including as City Manager in multiple communities,” Gun Barrel City officials said. “Throughout his career, he has overseen municipal operations, economic development initiatives, infrastructure projects, strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational leadership.”
The city said Norwood’s appointment was made to ensure continuity of services while officials continue their search for a permanent city manager. The city manager and EDC director positions are expected to be filled in the upcoming months.
Two dead in Marshall shooting
MARSHALL – Police in Marshall are investigating an early Saturday morning shooting that left two people dead and two others injured at a Marshall Whataburger.
The Marshall Police Department said officers responded to the Whataburger on Victory Drive at around 1:50 a.m. when a 911 call was received reporting a shooting at the location. When officers arrived, they found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot. Continue reading Two dead in Marshall shooting
Extremely critical fire danger to impact Four Corners region this weekend
(LOS ANGELES) -- As several wildfires burn across the West, parts of the Four Corners region will once again see an extremely critical fire weather danger which could help current or new fires rapidly grow and become more dangerous.
The largest wildfire in Utah, the Cottonwood Fire, has burned more than 71,000 acres and remains 0% contained. Meanwhile, the Iron Fire has burned more than 40,000 acres and is 38% contained, while the Cherry Fire -- a merger of the Maple Peak Fire and the original Cherry Fire -- has burned an estimated 20,000 acres and is 0% contained.
Six states in the West are under Red Flag Warnings for dangerous fire weather conditions today, with some continuing to see them through Sunday.
The greatest risk area for fire weather conditions later Saturday is for parts of the Four Corners: eastern Utah, western Colorado, northeast Arizona and northwest New Mexico. This area is under the level 3 of 3 threat with an extremely critical fire weather risk in place. Hot, extremely dry and windy conditions are bringing favorable conditions for new fires to spark and spread rapidly.
Vegetation in the area is incredibly dry, providing ample, quick-burning fuel for wildfires. In the extreme risk area, sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 55 mph are forecast with relative humidity values dipping into the single digits.
These conditions will promote extreme fire behavior in an area already dealing with large uncontrolled wildfires. Existing wildfires could explode in size and move erratically with new fires potentially growing rapidly as well.
Breezy and dry conditions will continue across this portion of the West this weekend; however, cooler temperatures will be settling in.
All of this comes after many states in the West, including Utah, saw their lowest snowpack on record this winter and are now under extreme drought conditions, which is furthering the critical fire weather danger in the region.
Severe thunderstorms and flooding
The threat for flash flooding and severe storms continues in parts of the country on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, rounds of heavy rain are moving through parts of southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, and these areas remain under a Flood Watch until later this morning for the potential of flash flooding.
Flood Watches extend from southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas to northern West Virginia and southern Ohio for potentially heavy rain today into tomorrow. This includes places such as Charleston, West Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; Evansville, Indiana; and Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Some of these pockets of rain could have strong storms that produce gusty winds and lightning.
Two pockets of severe weather for Saturday include those centered over North Carolina and the other up towards the northern High Plains.
For much of North Carolina, a level 2 of 5 threat for severe storms is up for later Saturday into the evening for the potential for storms producing damaging winds.
Back towards the northern High Plains, a level 3 of 5 “enhanced risk” of severe storms is up for parts of west-central North Dakota, eastern Montana and northwest South Dakota – including Minot, North Dakota, and Glendive, Montana.
A level 2 of 5 threat for severe storms extends further into Montana and the Dakotas and also reaches down to western Nebraska, which includes Bismarck, North Dakota; Rapid City, South Dakota; Sheridan, Wyoming; and Valentine, Nebraska.
Storms here could produce damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes.
Extreme heat on the move
Over the weekend, extreme heat will be building in the center of the country, starting in the southern Plains on Saturday and becoming more expansive across the central U.S. by Sunday.
There is growing confidence that a dangerous heat wave will impact millions across the Midwest early next week, with big heat also building across much of the East Coast by midweek.
By Monday, widespread highs in the 90s are forecast across the Midwest, with afternoon temperatures soaring into the upper 90s in Minneapolis.
Humid conditions will make it feel even hotter with heat index values potential reaching the triple digits in many areas.
Chicago and Detroit will see highs reaching the mid-to- upper 90s by Tuesday and Wednesday.
And a large swath of the I-95 corridor is set for a heat wave beginning Tuesday as the heat builds east, with temperatures at or above 90 from Washington, D.C., to New York and stay through at least midweek.
Meanwhile in the West, below average temperatures arriving this weekend will likely linger across the region through at least the first half of next week.
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12-year-old injured by bison at Yellowstone National Park
(NEW YORK) -- A child visiting Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming was injured by a bison on Friday, according to park officials.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. local time near Mud Volcano, just north of Fishing Bridge.
The 12-year-old visitor was transported by emergency medical personnel to a nearby hospital, according to a release from Yellowstone National Park, which did not detail the extent of the injuries.
No further details on the encounter were released. The incident remains under investigation.
Park officials warned that the wildlife in Yellowstone, including bison, can be dangerous and become aggressive if people "do not respect their space."
"Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal," the park said. "They are unpredictable, can run three times faster than humans and will defend their space when threatened."
Last year, park officials reported two separate incidents of a person being gored by a bison in Yellowstone after approaching it too closely.
There were two reported incidents of a person injured by a bison in 2024 and one in 2023, park officials said.
Park goers are advised to stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals -- including bison, as well as elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes -- and at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves and cougars.
"If wildlife approach you, move away to maintain the required distance," the park said. "Never approach, touch, feed or crowd wildlife, even if an animal appears calm."
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Small plane crashes into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper
(BEIJING) -- A small aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper Friday before falling down in front of the building, according to eyewitnesses who spoke with Reuters and the Associated Press and videos posted online and verified by ABC News.
Videos taken by people near the Citic Tower appeared to show the plane striking a high floor before it spun downward and crashed to the ground in front of the tower's entrance.
Photos showed what appeared to be a hole or broken glass on one side of the building.
Videos, images and search results about the crash are actively being scrubbed from the Chinese internet.
Chinese authorities confirmed the plane crash on Saturday. A short WeChat statement was issued by the local Chaoyang District government, saying that only the pilot was on board the aircraft and was the killed in the collision.
Authorities in their post did not identify the pilot nor a potential motive. In addition, 13 individuals were injured in the building and on the ground, officials said.
The 109-story tower, which opened in 2019, is the tallest building in Beijing and the 10th tallest building in the world, standing 1,732 feet tall. It is a mixed-use building with offices, luxury apartments and hotel rooms.
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Gracie the Giraffe, who went missing after wandering off a Texas ranch, is finally found
UVALDE COUNTY (AP) – Gracie the Giraffe, who went missing for about two weeks in Texas after wandering off a remote private ranch, was finally found Friday — and the open range appeared to have agreed with her.
The giraffe was spotted about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) south of her enclosure during an aerial search in the Texas Hill Country, according to Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson. He said Gracie’s owner, Vick Jones, contacted a veterinarian and began putting together a team to bring the giraffe safely back to the ranch.
“She’s in good shape,” Jones said. “She’s standing there, swishing her tail.”
Gracie, who is about 3 years old and weighs at least 1,200 pounds, was found within a half-mile of a pond and creek and had plenty of vegetation to feed on, said Jones, adding that she appeared to have been in that area for about a week.
Getting the 10-foot-tall giraffe home to the Cedar Hollow Ranch, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of San Antonio, was taking some work.
Veterinarians needed time to sedate Gracie and put a hood over her eyes, Jones said. From there, Gracie will be moved with an open-pasture trailer to a taller, enclosed trailer made for giraffes for the trip back to the ranch.
Parts of the remote area cannot be reached by car, which prompted the search by helicopter. While Real County’s 2,700 residents were urged to keep an eye out for her, Gracie was found on private property where no one lives, Jones said.
“We didn’t bother her,” Jones said of the sighting. “She’s got water. She looked in really good shape.”
The Texas Hill Country has one of the largest concentrations of exotic captive animals in the U.S.
Johnson said this week he’s had reports of missing wildebeests, water buffalo, zebras and monkeys, though never a giraffe previously.
The area has a mild climate and rugged terrain — and plenty of vegetation for Gracie to eat. In Africa, giraffes thrive best in dry and semidry savannahs and grasslands.
Jones believes that Gracie, who arrived at the ranch in May, didn’t mean to leave it. She had been wandering up to a rocky area to feed on trees growing out of the rock and had always come back to the ranch’s giraffe enclosure.
Jones said Gracie wandered into the rocky area, fed, and came down on the wrong side of the gate. At that point, he said, it was easier for her to keep walking in the same direction than to try to go back.
The area wasn’t fenced because giraffes had not been going there until Gracie did — and building a fence requires jackhammering through rock to put up the posts. But Jones said he plans to have a fence put up now, and Gracie will stay in the ranch’s giraffe enclosure until it’s ready.
Despite Gracie’s size, she wouldn’t have harmed a person who encountered her off the ranch, Jones said.
“If you move toward her, she’s taking off,” he said.
Suspects arrested for injury to child
SMITH COUNTY – Investigators were notified by Child Protective Services and hospital staff regarding a two-month-old baby brought to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital with head trauma consistent with child abuse, according to a news release. Medical personnel reported the infant was suffering from brain bleeding, seizures, and facial bruising. The baby was later airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas for specialized treatment.
Investigators conducted interviews with the baby’s mother, other adults, and the children residing in the home, and discovered the home lacked air conditioning and was infested with flies. The floor was heavily littered with rat feces, diapers, and clothing.
The investigation also revealed that several of the children were routinely locked in a room when the mother left the residence, leaving another adult in charge. Investigators learned on the night of June 16, the two mothers of the children, identified as Sidney Whitt, 21, and Jacqulun Morales, 29, left the residence and placed Morales’s sister, Shelby Munoz, 18, in charge of the children. Prior to leaving, they locked the baby and two other children in a bedroom. Continue reading Suspects arrested for injury to child
UT Tyler offers buyouts to staff
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler announced on Friday that they’ve offered a “voluntary separation incentive” or buyout to around a quarter of its total employees. The university told our news partner KETK News that the buyouts are being offered to “ensure the university remains affordable and prepared for the future while continuing to advance our teaching and research mission.”
Their “voluntary separation incentive program” has reportedly been designed to take into account their staff’s “meaningful contributions and dedicated service.” According to UT Tyler, the buyouts are not expected to impact its course catalog or student services in any way. The UT Tyler faculty directory listed around 1,200 staff as of Friday. Continue reading UT Tyler offers buyouts to staff
Gavin Newsom proposes national ‘billionaires’ tax’ after opposing state’s wealth tax initiative
(CALIFORNIA) -- As he gears up for a possible presidential bid, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday proposed a national "billionaires' tax," -- a day after the state wealth tax measure he opposes qualified for the November ballot.
Newsom's counter proposal calls for a federal minimum tax rate on Americans worth more than $100 million, rather than a state level one-time 5% wealth tax that the governor argues could be dodged by billionaires who could leave the state for another.
Newsom, who said earlier this month that he is "considering running for president," said the country should return to pre-2017 corporate tax rates and close offshore loopholes that allow multinationals to shift profits and pay less in taxes. He also said inheritance rules need to be rewritten.
"Over the next twenty years, this country will live through the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in human history, with roughly $124 trillion changing hands. If we do not act, that transfer of wealth among the ultra-wealthy will lock in a permanent American aristocracy of inherited wealth,” Newsom wrote in a Substack post announcing the proposal on Friday morning.
The announcement comes a day after California's own billionaire tax qualified for the November ballot, having collected more than double the signatures needed. The measure, a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth introduced by healthcare workers union SEIU-UHW, in response to steep healthcare funding cuts resulting from President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill,” has faced opposition from Newsom, California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra and major lobbying organizations.
"We can’t let a single advocacy organization, however well-intentioned, write the state's tax code on its own terms," Newsom wrote, calling out the SEIU-UHW.
The measure has also led to heavy spending from billionaires, who oppose the tax. The nonprofit, Building a Better California, which supports committees promoting two competing ballot initiatives that would nullify the billionaire tax initiative, if passed, has raised more $118 million -- and $80 million of that comes from Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Newsom says that he understands the "anxiety driving the wealth tax proposal in California," but that he’s voting no on the California proposal, because he argues the measure dedicates almost all of the revenue to just state-funded healthcare services.
SEIU-UHW Vice President Debru Carthan said Thursday that the coalition supporting the tax would not back down.
"The billionaire tax will be on the November ballot," said Carthan. "And we intend to win."
About 250 billionaires would be taxed under the California measure, and the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office says it’s likely that some billionaires would leave the state.
"You may not be able to pick up and move to Texas or Florida to shelter your income from taxation, but I promise you that billionaires can, and do," Newsom writes. "Wealth is movable, and it shops for the state with the lowest taxes. The fight belongs at the federal level, where this broken system was created in the first place."
Dan Schnur, a political science professor at UC Berkeley, called Newsom's tax proposal "savvy political positioning" as it helps him enter the 2028 field without being seen as an opponent to taxing the rich.
"He's not against taxing billionaires, he just has a different way of doing it," Schnur said. "He now has an answer for progressive Democrats, whether in California or in early primary states, as to why he didn't support the ballot measure."
In Washington, another 2028 contender, California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, joined Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders -- both of whom supported the California's initiative -- in introducing legislation that would establish an annual 5% wealth tax on billionaires nationwide.
Newsom is also proposing a national public equity fund, giving Americans a stake in economic gains generated by artificial intelligence companies. The fund -- aimed at workers left behind by automation -- would support universal child care, free higher education, career training and healthcare.
"Part of this fund could provide a real transition for the laid-off factory worker in Ohio or the 25-year-old coder in San Francisco who sent out a thousand resumes and got zero callbacks," Newsom wrote. "This could include significant severance and portable benefits while we support them through the transition and into new jobs with programs like enhanced employment insurance."
“As artificial intelligence reshapes the country, every American should own a piece of the future it builds,” Newsom wrote.
Other potential 2028 contenders are also beginning to stake out their positions on AI. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has introduced legislation proposing a nationwide moratorium on AI data center construction, which would create a temporary prohibition on the construction and expansion of data centers until Congress passes legislation to address the economic, environmental and safety impacts of artificial intelligence.
ABC News' Will Lennon contributed to this report.
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US soldier dies after being run over by armored vehicle in training incident
(CALIFORNIA) -- A U.S. soldier died earlier this month after being struck by an M2 Bradley fighting vehicle during a large-scale training exercise in California, an Army spokesperson said.
Adrian Bonsey, 29, was a combat engineer assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
Bonsey was on foot June 10 in a training area in the Mojave Desert during hours of limited visibility when he was run over by the 27-ton armored vehicle at about 4:30 a.m., the spokesperson said. The incident remains under investigation.
"This is a devastating loss for our entire division," Maj. Gen. John Lubas, the 3rd Infantry Division commander, said in a statement. "Adrian was an exceptional soldier who was committed to our mission and proudly serving our nation. We are heartbroken and will wrap our arms around his family, loved ones and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time."
Bonsey, a New York native, joined the Army in 2023, and was stationed at Fort Stewart for two months, the Army said. He previously served at Fort Carson, Colorado, and deployed to Poland in 2024.
The Bradley is manned by a three-soldier main crew and built to carry six additional troops into combat while providing fire support with its 25mm chain gun and M240C 7.62mm machine gun. It is also armed with TOW anti-tank missiles. The vehicles were heavily relied upon during the early years of the Iraq war.
Bonsey was taking part in a significant training exercise at the National Training Center, located in the Mojave Desert, the Army's premier combat training venue, where units spend about a month conducting large-scale exercises designed to replicate war conditions. The rotations serve as the Army's final validation before units are considered ready for potential combat deployments abroad.
The Army lost 31 soldiers in training accidents in 2025, with fatalities split between aircraft crashes and ground incidents, Army figures show. Most of the ground deaths involved military vehicles, often in rollover incidents.
Since 2020, the service has averaged roughly two vehicle-related fatalities each month, but have been on a downward trend since the mid-2000s when deaths were triple, coinciding with frantic scrambles to train units to pour them into the Iraq war surge.
Army investigations have repeatedly pointed to the same factors contributing to fatal training incidents including sleep deprivation, inadequate training and inexperienced leaders supervising high-risk exercises. In some cases, commanders overseeing the training had only recently assumed their positions, the investigations found.
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