How would you like to take new smartphone videos and give them an antique look? Download David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Cassette Home Video Player. You can find Cassette Home Video Player in the Apple Store.
Pizza Hut, overtaken by the arrival of delivery culture, will be sold for $2.7 billion
PLANO (AP) – Pizza Hut, the 68-year-old chain that has long struggled with growing competition and outdated restaurants, will be sold for $2.7 billion by parent company Yum Brands.
Yum Brands said this week that the private equity firm LongRange Capital will buy Pizza Hut, excluding the mainland China business, for about $1.5 billion.
In mainland China, Pizza Hut will be purchased by Yum China Holdings Inc. for approximately $1.2 billion, the company said. China is Pizza Hut’s second-largest market outside the U.S., accounting for 19% of sales. Yum China Holdings Inc. spun off from Yum Brands and became an independent company in 2016.
Yum Brands, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell, began to explore its options for Pizza Hut in November. Last year, Yum Brands’ global sales rose 5% but Pizza Hut’s sales fell 2%.
In February, Yum Brands announced plans to close 250 U.S. Pizza Hut locations. Pizza Hut had 19,974 restaurants worldwide at the end of last year.
“Pizza Hut has long been the weak link in Yum’s portfolio,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, wrote Tuesday. “Despite efforts to revitalize the brand and shut underperforming locations, it has become increasingly clear that pushing the division back into growth will require a level of investment and patience that Yum is just not prepared to commit to.”
Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, by two brothers who borrowed $600 from their mother to open the store. They chose the name because their sign only had room for eight letters.
Pizza Hut’s familiar red roof debuted in 1969 and by 1971 it was the top pizza chain in the world by sales. PepsiCo acquired Pizza Hut in 1977 but spun off its restaurant division — which became Yum Brands — in 1997.
By the 1980s, Domino’s was the fastest-growing U.S. pizza company, buoyed by its promise of 30-minute delivery. As pizza carryout and delivery grew in popularity, Pizza Hut was saddled with large, dine-in restaurants. In 2020, even as pizza delivery boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pizza Hut closed 300 U.S. restaurants.
The chain has been further pinched in recent years by the growth of DoorDash, Uber Eats and other restaurant delivery companies which marketed access to a slew of cuisines besides pizza.
U.S. pizza sales have slowed considerably since the pandemic, growing less than 1% in 2024 and falling less than 1% in 2025, according to Technomic, a restaurant consulting company. But Pizza Hut performed worse than average, with U.S. sales down 8.2% last year, Technomic said.
By selling Pizza Hut, Yum Brands can focus more on its brands with stronger sales, Yum CEO Chris Turner said.
“Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry,” Turner said in a statement.
Connecticut-based LongRange Capital was founded in 2019 by Bob Berlin, who previously engineered a turnaround at Arby’s when he led private equity investments at The Baupost Group. Berlin said Tuesday he looked forward to working with Pizza Hut’s executive team and franchisees “to drive its next phase of growth.”
“Pizza Hut is a beloved global brand with a rich heritage and a loyal customer base that few brands can match,” Berlin said in a statement.
Asked Tuesday if LongRange planned to close any Pizza Hut locations, the company said it had no comment beyond Berlin’s statement.
Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Kentucky, expects the sale in U.S. and China to close in the third quarter. The global corporate headquarters for Pizza Hut is in Plano, Texas.
Luigi Mangione’s attorneys plan to present ‘affirmative psychiatric defense’
(NEW YORK) -- Attorneys for Luigi Mangione plan to present an "affirmative psychiatric defense" at his state trial, alleging he was suffering an "extreme emotional disturbance" at the time of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Judge Gregory Carro said at a hearing Wednesday.
Carro ordered Mangione's attorneys to turn over his psychiatric records to prosecutors immediately.
Carro also agreed to dismiss one of the criminal counts related to possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine.
Prosecutors consented to drop the charge after a ruling earlier this year that prohibited them from using the magazine at trial because it was improperly searched by the officers who arrested Mangione in Pennsylvania.
Mangione pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges after he was arrested for allegedly gunning down Thompson, a husband and father of two, on a Midtown Manhattan street in December 2024.
Mangione's state trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8 and his federal trial is set for next year.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Identity released fatal wreck
RUSK COUNTY — The White Oak Community Church has created a fundraiser to help the family of Tracy Fears after he was killed in a car crash in Rusk on Saturday.
According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Department of Public Safety said the crash was caused when Tanner Templeton was driving westbound on FM 1639 and while he was approaching the intersection, he drove past a stop sign without stopping and was struck by a pickup truck traveling northbound on FM 3053.
After striking Templeton’s car, one of the trucks driven by Tracey Fears was pushed into oncoming southbound traffic and struck head-on by another truck. After being hit by the truck, Fears was pronounced dead on the scene and his two passengers were taken by helicopter to a local hospital after suffering serious injury.
Following the crash, the trooper noticed that Templeton had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath, along with glassy eyes and slurred speech, prompting the trooper to issue a field sobriety test. Continue reading Identity released fatal wreck
George Pickens joins Cowboys for minicamp after receiver skipped voluntary offseason workouts
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — George Pickens said he followed the advice of his agent in staying away from the voluntary portion of offseason workouts with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Pro Bowl receiver showed up for mandatory minicamp Tuesday, and sounded as if agent David Mulugheta played a role in that as well.
Pickens’ presence was expected once he signed the $27.3 million franchise tag and became subject to fines for missing the three-day minicamp, or training camp that opens next month in California.
“He’s in control,” Pickens said of Mulugheta. “He’s like your boss, so it’s no (issue of) trust or anything there. He controls what you do.”
Pickens waited two months before signing the one-year contract that’s worth about three times what the 25-year-old earned on his four-year rookie contract.
Pickens told the Cowboys before the draft in April that he intended to sign the franchise tag, prompting speculation that Dallas might try to trade him. The Cowboys made it clear they had no such plans. He signed the tag about a week later, in early May.
“Personally, what’s important to me is winning,” Pickens said. “I want to bring a Super Bowl to a group of guys that’s never had that feeling. Everything else is what they control.”
Pickens said he never questioned owner and general manager Jerry Jones over why the club decided not to negotiate a long-term deal and forced him to play on the franchise tag.
Under the one-year tender of the franchise tag, the sides still have until mid-July to work out a longer contract, but the Cowboys made it clear they weren’t even considering pushing that deadline. Any multiyear deal will have to wait until next offseason.
“The tag and all that, it’s football first,” Pickens said. “So, definitely play football first, kind of like I did last year and then worry about. Well, let my agent worry about it, really.”
Acquired last year in a trade after a tumultuous first three NFL seasons with Pittsburgh, Pickens thrived alongside CeeDee Lamb, finishing with career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season.
Lamb is going into the second year of a $136 million, four-year contract that ranks him fifth among NFL receivers with an average annual value of $34 million. The latest to surpass Lamb was Jaxon Smith-Njigba of reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle. His $42.2 million average annual value is the highest for a receiver.
Pickens’ breakout year pushed aside issues that led his former coach, Mike Tomlin, to question the former Georgia standout’s maturity. He might have to do it again to become the next receiver to surpass Lamb’s deal.
“If you keep showing it, or they already have a hint of who you are, that’s when they’ll start speaking on (Smith-Njigba) contracts and stuff like that,” Pickens said. “I just keep doing what’s best for me.”
Pickens was limited with his work on the field, as coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated before practice. Still, Schottenheimer said Pickens wouldn’t necessarily need time to ramp up when camp starts in late July.
Pickens said he will be there in California.
“Even at the Steelers, I wanted to help the guys win,” Pickens said. “Here, it was tenfold, same thing. Just trying to do it to the best of my ability.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Saints all-time sack leader Cam Jordan agrees to 1-year deal for a 16th season with New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints all-time sack leader Cameron Jordan agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract to remain with the club for what the 16th-year veteran says will be his final NFL season.
“I definitely am going to take to this like every game is my last,” Jordan said. “I’m going to treat it like it’s the final season.”
Jordan, a free agent since the end of last season, said ending his career with New Orleans — and spending the entirety of it with one franchise — was important to him.
“There’s no amount of money in the league that can make me say, ‘Just turn your back on everything that you built,’” said Jordan, who posted a team-high 10 1/2 sacks last season. “This is where I wanted to be and got back here.”
Financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed, but Jordan, who turns 37 on July 10, suggested the deal he accepted from the Saints was not as lucrative as offers he received from other teams.
“There was no match,” Jordan said, adding, “The loyalty streak has always run deep with me.
“It was mutual benefit for us to come back. The way that I want to affect this city. I don’t think that’s ever going to stop,” Jordan said, mentioning the longstanding charitable work of his foundation in the area.
Jordan also noted that his four children have been born and raised in New Orleans and wanted to stay.
“It’s become home for us,” he said, adding that it would “feel wrong to be in another city, not giving back to this city.”
A Saints first-round draft choice in 2011 and a defensive captain for the past decade, Jordan has 132 career sacks, which ranks 17th in NFL history.
Jordan also has 17 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, three interceptions, 67 pass breakups, 175 tackles for loss, 248 quarterback hits and blocked one kick in his career.
In 2017, Jordan was an AP All-Pro. His eight Pro Bowl selections is a franchise high for a defensive player.
While Jordan’s contract agreement came on the first day of Saints mandatory minicamp, he did not practice and was unsure if he would practice on Wednesday. He said he still has to undergo a physical and expects to at least attend meetings this week.
Jordan joined the Saints two seasons after their only championship.
New Orleans’ 2018 squad got close to making it back to the Super Bowl, falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime of an NFC title game affected by what the league later acknowledged was a missed call by officials in the final two minutes of regulation.
Rather than chase a championship with a team favored to contend this season, Jordan decided he preferred to help the Saints improve on their six victories in 2025.
Jordan has been part of six Saints playoffs teams (2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) and said he would not sell short his chances of being part of a seventh this season.
“When you look at our roster, you see the growth,” Jordan said. “If I can push my teammates to be the best version of them, how much farther can we go as a team?
“I’m going to keep on believing,” he said.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Kansas’ Darryn Peterson is the headliner among top-flight 1-and-done guards in NBA draft
Darryn Peterson looked every bit like a possible No. 1 overall NBA draft pick as a Kansas freshman — when he was on the court.
The 6-foot-5, 199-pound combo guard averaged 20.2 points but missed 11 games with a variety of injuries and illnesses. He headlines a position featuring freshman top-10 prospects in Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston’s Kingston Flemings.
Here’s a look at the some of the top guards entering Tuesday’s first round:
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
STRENGTHS: The scoring playmaker can attack off the dribble, in the halfcourt and in transition.
He shot 38.2% on 3-pointers, hitting six 3s in a win at Oklahoma State. He shot 82.6% at the foul line and got there often, logging six games with at least eight attempts — including one with 16 ( against TCU in the Big 12 Tournament ) and another with 15 (while scoring a season-high 32 points in an overtime comeback win in his first meeting with TCU ). He also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
CONCERNS: The frequent uncertainty about his day-to-day status is a variable NBA teams will evaluate. He had a full-body cramping issue requiring hospitalization before the season. Beyond missing time, he sometimes had limited minutes — even abruptly checking out of games — to create headaches despite the high-end talent.
There was at least a positive finish: he logged 37 minutes ( against Cal Baptist ) and 36 minutes ( against St. John’s ) in two NCAA Tournament games.
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
STRENGTHS: Offense stands out for the 6-2, 186-pound freshman and first-team Associated Press All-American. He led the Razorbacks to their first Southeastern Conference Tournament title in 26 years and the Sweet 16.
Acuff ranked third nationally in scoring (23.5) and 14th in assists (6.4). He thrived as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll plays (rated “Excellent” in the 89th percentile by Synergy) and in isolation (rated “Very good” in the 74th percentile). He was electric in scoring a program freshman-record 49 points in a double-overtime loss at Alabama, along with posting 91 points and 12 3-pointers in three SEC Tournament wins.
CONCERNS: Defense is a significant question, including handling matchups against bigger guards.
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
STRENGTHS: The 6-5, 188-pound freshman went from a four-star recruit to second-team AP All-American in the Illini’s first Final Four trip in 21 years. He showed an all-around skillset with the size to play on or off the ball.
He averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He shot 39.7% on 3s, including hitting nine 3s in a 46-point outburst against Purdue. He earned “Excellent” ratings from Synergy as the pick-and-roll ballhandler and with his jumper in off-the-dribble, catch-and-shoot and contested opportunities.
CONCERNS: He has a slim build that could cause him to struggle against stronger opponents and he lacks elite athleticism.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
STRENGTHS: The Louisville freshman offers big scoring potential with good size (6-5, 180) after averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists. The highlight was his 45 points and 10 3-pointers in a blowout of N.C. State, breaking the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman scoring record set by 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
CONCERNS: He’ll need time to add strength and grow into his frame. He also battled back issues that sidelined him for eight games at midseason and then resurfaced to sideline him for the last six, including two March Madness games.
Kingston Flemings, Houston
STRENGTHS: The 6-3, 183-pound freshman was a third-team AP All-American as a lead guard with potential to be disruptive defensively.
He averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 47.6% overall, 38.7% on 3s and 84.5% on free throws. He showed the ability to pressure teams in transition or off the bounce. He had a Cougars freshman-record 42 points in a loss to Texas Tech and finished with a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Flemings ranked in the top six among tested combine players in lane-agility time, shuttle run and three-quarter-court sprint.
CONCERNS: He’ll need to add strength to handle physical play, while shot mechanics have been discussed as an area needing refinement.
Others of note:
— BRAYDEN BURRIES: The 6-4, 215-pound freshman from Arizona is a combo guard with a sturdy frame and two-way potential. He’s a top-10 prospect who shot 39.1% from 3-point range and was fourth at the combine in standing vertical leap (35 inches).
— LABARON PHILON JR.: The 6-3, 176-pound sophomore from Alabama was a third-team AP All-American after averaging 22.0 points and 5.0 assists. The potential late-lottery prospect boosted his shooting efficiency (50.1% overall, 39.9% on 3s) while thriving as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls (94th percentile in Synergy).
— CAMERON CARR: The 6-5, 184-pound sophomore transferred from Tennessee to Baylor, averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The first-round prospect ranked among combine leaders in standing vertical leap (second, 38 inches) and max vertical leap (third, 42.5).
— BENNETT STIRTZ: The 6-3, 186-pound point guard went from Division II to Drake to Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight since 1987. The first-round prospect averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals. Synergy rated him as “Excellent” as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls (91st percentile) and finishing at the rim (90th).
— DAILYN SWAIN: The 6-7, 211-pound wing transferred from Xavier to Texas, where he averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The first-round prospect showed active hands by averaging 1.6 steals but shot just 29.3% on 3s through three seasons.
— CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: The 6-1, 180-pound sophomore from Texas Tech was a third-team AP All-American who averaged 18.5 points while ranking fifth nationally in assists (7.4). He’s a bit small but projects as a scoring playmaker who shot 40% on 3s over two seasons.
— EBUKA OKORIE: The four-star prospect was a surprise freshman star for Stanford, ranking seventh nationally in scoring (23.2) with a high of 40 points in a win against Georgia Tech. The first-round prospect is a bit undersized (6-1, 186) but had the burst to score in transition and the halfcourt.
— ISAIAH EVANS: The Duke sophomore is a late first-round prospect who can heat up outside after shooting 38% on 3s through two seasons, including a clutch winner to beat reigning national champion Florida. He needs to add strength to a 6-6, 186-pound frame.
— MELEEK THOMAS: The 6-3, 190-pound freshman from Arkansas is a late first-round prospect who averaged 15.6 points. He shot 47.9% from 3-point range after Christmas, a 25-game stretch spanning a run to the SEC Tournament title and the NCAA Sweet 16.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Larnach leads off with homer and Twins go on to 12-2 win to clinch another series in Texas
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot, and the Minnesota Twins clinched another series in Texas with an 12-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.
Larnach drove the game’s second pitch 425 feet deep into the right-field seats. The 10 leadoff homers allowed by the Rangers this season are twice as many as any other team.
Clemens’ 11th homer made it 5-0 in the third. Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had two hits and two RBIs.
Minnesota right-hander Zebby Matthews (3-4) struck out four without a walk in seven innings. He allowed both Texas runs and threw 68 of 93 pitches for strikes.
The Twins have won the first two in this three-game set for their fourth consecutive series win at Texas. Their 13-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best by any opposing American League team since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (2-6) was done after 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned). His 2.77 ERA at home had the best for any Texas pitcher in his first 15 career home starts, but that spiked to 3.32 after his 16th.
Minnesota extended its lead to 10-0 with a five-run fourth in which right fielder Brandon Nimmo was charged with two errors, on a dropped flyball and a bad throw. It was the first two-error game in Nimmo’s 1,065 career games in the outfield. He has only 17 errors total in 11 seasons.
Up next
After an unusual break in the series Wednesday, when England and Croatia play in a World Cup game across the street, the finale is Thursday. Joe Ryan (4-3, 3.17 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Twins, and Jack Leiter (3-6, 4.97) goes for Texas.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Raynel Delgado drives in 2 in the eighth as the Astros beat the Tigers 4-2
HOUSTON (AP) — Raynel Delgado drove in two runs in the eighth inning in his second major league game to help lift the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
With Houston down 2-1, Delgado hit a single to center field that sent Yainer Diaz and Cam Smith home.
The Astros added another run later in the inning, after Joey Loperfido ran home on Jeremy Peña’s groundout to first. After review, Peña was ruled safe at first and the run counted.
Diaz returned from the injured list after being out for more than two months with an oblique strain. Starting pitcher Hunter Brown also returned from the injured list after sustaining a shoulder strain in April. Brown pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven. He gave up three hits and walked three, and gave up a run.
Bryan King (2-1) pitched the eighth inning, throwing 11 pitches, seven of them strikes. He walked one and gave up a run. Josh Hader earned his third save of the season, striking out Jake Rogers to end the game.
Hao-Yu Lee hit an RBI single in the second for the Tigers for a 1-0 lead. The Astros tied the game in the fifth after Delgado made it home on a passed ball by Dillon Dingler at the plate. Lee scored on Dingler’s flyout in the eighth.
Kieder Montero (3-5) entered the game in the seventh for the Tigers. He pitched 1 1/3 innings, striking out two, giving up two hits, and one run.
Colt Keith was scratched from the Tigers’ lineup due to a sore right wrist.
Up next
RHP Casey Mize (2-3, 2.27 ERA) is scheduled to make his return from the injured list for the Tigers on Wednesday for the final game of the series. RHP Peter Lambert (5-4, 3.47) will start for the Astros.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice released after 30-day jail stint for car crash probation violation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was released from a Dallas County jail on Tuesday after serving a 30-day sentence for violating the terms of his probation, which stemmed from his role in a car crash that left multiple people injured on a Texas highway.
The 26-year-old Rice had been booked into the jail on May 19 after testing positive for THC. Upon his release, Rice made a quick dash past a handful of reporters and into a waiting SUV, which whisked him away from the facility.
Rice had surgery about a week before he was sentenced to clean up debris in his right knee, which had been causing inflammation. A judge approved a request from his lawyers to allow him to receive treatment at Parkland Hospital while serving his sentence.
Rice missed all of the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason workouts and their mandatory minicamp, which concluded last week. But Chiefs coach Andy Reid said recently that he expects him to report on time to training camp at the end of July.
“(Chiefs trainer) Rick (Burkholder) has talked to him more than what I have,” Reid said, “just making sure that everything was set there where he could do some rehab with it and still do the time that he needed to take care of. So he’s on top of that, and thank goodness that they’re allowing him to do that. So, they’ve been great with that.”
The Chiefs are counting on Rice to help an offense that often struggled during a disappointing 6-11 finish last season.
He’s been valuable when he’s been available, catching 156 passes for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns and helping the Chiefs win the Super Bowl in the 2023 season. But he’s also missed games because of suspension and injuries, resulting in just 28 played in three seasons.
“We’re moving forward as normal as we go here,” Reid said during voluntary workouts. “When he gets back, we’ve got to get him caught up in doing what he needs to do, and make sure he gets it. It’s not an easy thing he’s going through.
“Life lessons are important,” Reid added, “but we’re all given chances to learn, and he’s in that position now.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
MLB ballparks are a friendly neighbor to the World Cup, bringing fans and soccer energy to The Show
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — When St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol saw his team had an unusual Saturday off during the season, and in the middle of a series, he had one question: “Can I make it to the soccer game?”
Not just any soccer game, a World Cup match.
The international soccer tournament, held every four years, is ongoing at 16 sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Those include 11 markets that are also home to a combined 13 Major League Baseball teams.
Kansas City, where the Cardinals open a three-game series Thursday, is hosting six World Cup matches at the NFL stadium in the same complex with the Royals’ ballpark. The Cardinals and Royals will be off Saturday, when Ecuador plays Curaçao.
“That is the goal, yes,” Marmol said when asked if he was going to that match.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and his wife, who played soccer at Old Dominion, plan to be there.
“It’s strange, but it’s special circumstances,” Pasquantino said. “It’s awesome that Kansas City got access to World Cup games. So, however many years until the United States hosts again, we’ll be all right with some off days like that.”
World Cup matches are being played in the United States for the first time since 1994.
Getting their kicks in Texas
A tournament-high nine matches are being played at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys that is adjacent to Globe Life Field. The neighboring Texas Rangers will host two split series, but also have a Monday off between home series on July 6, the day of a round of 16 match.
Texas is now in a three-game series against Minnesota that will finish Thursday, after a pause Wednesday when powerhouse England plays its Cup opener against Croatia.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson, who played soccer as a kid in California.
The Rangers completed a road trip Sunday in Boston, with thousands of Scottish fans chanting and singing at Fenway Park the night after Scotland won the opener of its first World Cup appearance in 28 years. That win over Haiti was at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 30 miles away.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said the presence of the Tartan Army made it feel like a European soccer game. He and members of his staff now want to attend the World Cup.
“It was so much fun that on the off day the majority of our staff is trying to find a way to get tickets to go to a game that they know really nothing about because of the atmosphere that was so incredible,” Schumaker said. “The passion was insane.”
In Philadelphia, the Phillies will be off Friday during their home series against the New York Mets since Brazil plays Haiti at nearby Lincoln Financial Field.
Like for the Rangers, Royals and Seattle Mariners, the home of the Phillies is next to an NFL stadium hosting some of the 104 matches during the nearly six-week tournament with teams from 48 nations. Those stadiums all have shared parking lots.
Texas and Kansas City are both off for round of 32 Cup matches on July 3, a Friday. The Rangers will have already opened a series against Detroit, while the Royals wait to start an unusual Saturday through Monday series against the Phillies.
Not all of the matches are next door
Either the Mets or Yankees have a home game on each of the eight dates World Cup matches are at MetLife Stadium across the river in New Jersey, including the championship finale July 19, when the Yankees also host Shohei Ohtani and the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Yankee Stadium is about 14 miles from the Meadowlands, with Citi Field about 24 miles away.
World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium will be about 13 miles from Dodger Stadium and 35 miles from Angel Stadium. Either the Dodgers or Angels play at home on six of the eight match dates in Inglewood. Those other two dates fall on normal off days during a homestand, one for each team.
With separation between stadiums, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Miami and Toronto all will play multiple home games that concur with World Cup matches in their markets.
Mariners and Red Sox almost played two
There will still be a split series for the Angels when they go to Seattle, with a midweek break July 1 for a round of 16 Cup match.
The Mariners were originally scheduled to have a home doubleheader Saturday against Boston with the United States playing Australia in Seattle. But when match time at Lumen Field was set at noon local Friday, the Mariners and Red Sox switched to a traditional three-game series with the opener that night, instead of playing MLB’s first scheduled doubleheader in two years.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Reports of stolen dogs under investigation
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two reports of dogs stolen from their homes over the weekend. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, on Saturday, they were notified that a Blue Merle Australian Shepherd named “Pickles” was stolen from its owners’ backyard on FM 850.
Later that day, the sheriff’s office received an additional report that a 14-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd named “Molly” had been stolen from her owner’s residence on County Road 43.
The sheriff’s office does not believe there is any connection between the two thefts at this time, as they occurred on opposite sides of Smith County. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of either of these two dogs, please call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.
G7 leaders back Trump’s plan to end Iran war that faces skepticism at home
In a declaration issued overnight, the leaders called the deal a “historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities.” The leaders said that they were “ready to contribute to its implementation,” although neither the White House nor Iran has released the text of the agreement.
The final day of summit talks started late with Trump, the last to arrive, saying “I’m the boss” as he entered the room and sat next to host French President Emmanuel Macron. The assembled leaders laughed, and Trump grinned.
The G7 leaders were closing the formal talks of the leading industrial democracies at a lakeside resort in the French Alps on Wednesday with sessions on the future of artificial intelligence and fostering economic growth.
They discussed concerns that China is flooding export markets with subsidized products, unfairly out-competing their own industries and destroying jobs. Leaders of India, South Korea, Kenya and Brazil also joined the meeting.
The U.S. leader later plans to make a stop for a glitzy dinner at the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris before he jets back to Washington.
But first, Trump finds himself trying to quell skepticism about the Iran agreement that U.S. and Iranian officials are set to formally sign at a ceremony on Friday at a stunning resort on Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne. He also faces jitteriness from key ally Israel about ending the conflict under these terms.
“Here’s what it says: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. It won’t have one to buy, to develop — it will not have a nuclear weapon. And I would say that’s about 99.9% of what I wanted,” he said.
What’s in the deal
While G7 leaders gave it their backing, Trump still has to sell the deal to some members of his own party who doubt it will defang Iran’s nuclear program. At the same time, he faces an anxious international community looking for him to follow through on his promise that the deal will reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic, and keep it open.
The leaders meeting in the Alps said that an international maritime mission led by France and the U.K. “can play an important role to facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial shipping operators, and supporting verification that all mines are removed.”
Before the Iran war, a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint that Iran has effectively shuttered since the first days of the conflict that began on Feb. 28.
White House and Iranian officials have sometimes offered contradictory interpretations of what is in the agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s continued occupation of southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, would violate the deal.
“Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end,” Araghchi said.
In their declaration, G7 leaders said they supported “through an immediate robust ceasefire” Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and protect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he did not think an attack on Hezbollah by Israel would necessarily sink the agreement, though he said he was “not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah.”
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed nearly 4,000 people, including hundreds of civilians, and displaced more than 1 million since fighting there began on March 2. “Israel’s fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people are being killed,” Trump said.
Trump’s relationship with Modi has been impacted by the Iran war
Trump on Wednesday is also expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a choppy moment in the U.S.-India relationship, in part because of the war in the Middle East.
The leaders’ meeting comes just a week after three Indian sailors were killed in a U.S. military strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman in the midst of the American blockade targeting oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Indian Foreign Ministry has formally protested the incident.
Trump and Modi had a warm relationship during the U.S. president’s first term, but it’s become more complicated since Trump’s return to office.
The president hiked tariffs on India, before lowering them, over its reliance on cheap Russian oil, and the Iran war has disrupted energy supplies to India. There’s some angst as well in New Delhi that Trump’s recent efforts to forge a trade truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping could undercut India’s appeal as an alternative manufacturing hub.
Trump was also holding one-on-one talks on Wednesday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, one of the three Middle Eastern leaders who are attending the summit at the invitation of Macron.
Leaders vow to support Ukraine, tackle global drug gangs and migrant smugglers
In a flurry of declarations issued in the early hours of Wednesday, the G7 leaders stressed their support for Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion and agreed to increase deliveries of air defense systems. They also said they would bolster sanctions on Moscow, including on Russia’s oil and gas industries.
Leaders also pledged to step up the fight against the multibillion dollar international drug trade. The statement comes as Trump has been waging his own battle against drug traffickers.
United States military strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats transiting in Latin America have killed more than 200 people since September, when the Trump administration began an operation it has justified as necessary to stem the flow of drugs.
Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes.
In a separate declaration, the G7 leaders reaffirmed their efforts to halt migrant smuggling and human trafficking, which they said “constitute serious transnational crimes that erode the sovereign right of States to control their borders and expose smuggled and trafficked persons to life-threatening risks.”
___
AP writers John Leicester in Evian-les-Bains, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed reporting.
SFA discrimination lawsuit moves forward
NACOGDOCHES — A lawsuit filed in 2025 against Stephen F. Austin State University, claiming to have violated the Title IX rights of student athletes, continues to move forward in court, despite Monday’s ruling to remove five plaintiffs as individuals.
Last year, SFA decided to axe three women’s sports teams: beach volleyball, bowling and golf. According to SFA, the programs were eliminated because of budget deficits and upcoming revenue-sharing requirements.
Consequently, seven student-athletes filed a lawsuit against the institution, claiming that the university discriminated against its female student-athletes by eliminating the teams. Continue reading SFA discrimination lawsuit moves forward
Grants to reimburse states for border security costs through working families tax cuts
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator John Cornyn released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice officially opened s Cornyn-created program for applications from eligible states. In addition to the nearly $10 billion fund announced earlier this month by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the $3 billion fund was authorized through a provision led by Sen. Cornyn as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. A total of $13.5 billion in funding will be reimbursed to secure the border.
“For four years, President Biden’s disastrous open-border policies wreaked havoc on our nation, and no state did more during that time to fill in the gaps to try to protect and defend the southern border than Texas,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m glad the Department of Justice has followed through on my reimbursement provision by opening the application process for funding to reimburse states like Texas for the billions of dollars spent to try and secure the border after Joe Biden’s dereliction of this federal responsibility. Coupled with the funding delegated to the Department of Homeland Security, states who pitched in on border security efforts can now apply for reimbursement for costs incurred by their taxpayers during the Biden administration.”
Background:
Senator Cornyn has led the fight in Washington to secure federal reimbursement for Texas by, swiftly backing Governor Abbott’s request for Texas to be reimbursed for the taxpayer dollars spent on Operation Lone Star, calling attention to the on-going reimbursement effort on the Senate floor, meeting with the governor and members of the Texas congressional delegation to discuss the legislative strategy for the reimbursement push, holding on-going meetings and phone calls with Gov. Abbott, Senate and House leadership, and congressional colleagues regarding the effort, leading legislation in the Senate to set aside $13.5 billion in funds to reimburse states for costs they incurred to secure the border as ‘a result of the Biden Administration’s disastrous immigration policies’, and, leading a letter with members of the Texas congressional delegation to the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security – urging them to prioritize the release of funds set aside to reimburse Texas for the more than $11 billion spent on border security efforts.