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Sen. Cornyn wins over Texas GOP after censure for gun safety bill

WASHINGTON — In 2022, Abraham George was coming after John Cornyn.

Texas’ senior senator had just played a central role in passing the first gun safety bill in a generation — a move that the party’s right wing denounced as capitulating to Democrats. Members of the state party viciously booed him during their summer meeting that year. George, then leading the Collin County Republican Party in a censure motion against Cornyn, said the senator had crossed over with the Democrats too much and needed to be ousted from office.

“The censure calls for his immediate resignation, and also calls for the state party to take actions on it,” George said of Cornyn at the time, echoing a sentiment across the right wing within the party that George represented.

When George was elected to lead the state party last year on a hard-right platform, he had the support of some of the most vocal Cornyn nay-sayers in the state, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

But as chair of the Republican Party of Texas and an influential spokesperson for the ultra-conservative faction of the party loyal to Donald Trump and skeptical of any wavering, George is not joining the anti-Cornyn chorus. Quite the opposite.

“Ever since I was elected, Senator Cornyn has been an ally to the party,” George said in a statement for this story, in which he praised the senator for showing up before the State Republican Executive Committee. Cornyn “promised to support President Trump’s agenda and confirm his nominees. He has followed through on that promise. We will continue to work with all Republicans to advance a conservative agenda for our state and nation.”

The pair met in Cornyn’s Capitol Hill office last September to discuss election strategy — a meeting where George lauded Cornyn for “all your efforts in what is such a pivotal election in our nation’s history.” Cornyn hosted the Republican Party’s December Christmas party, where in a stark contrast to the boos of the 2022 state party meeting, he got a standing ovation. They met again when Cornyn invited George to be his guest to President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress and discussed ways to get the federal government to reimburse Texas for its border security efforts.

That could neutralize a potential threat as Cornyn faces a challenging primary terrain. The right wing of the party has continued to blast him for his role in the gun safety bill, his doubts about Trump’s electability in last year’s elections and his support for the Ukrainian effort in its war against Russia. Paxton is openly considering a run against Cornyn, and George continues to organize and collaborate with the attorney general, including a statewide tour campaigning for state Rep. David Cook to be House speaker.

Officially, the party is staying neutral in the primary. But its leadership has previously weighed in and gone after Republicans they did not perceive as sufficiently conservative. The party censured U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in 2022 and then-state House Speaker Dade Phelan in 2024. Gonzales was censured for his votes for the same gun safety bill that sparked the backlash against Cornyn, and Phelan was censured for the impeachment of Attorney General Paxton and the appointment of Democratic committee chairs.

Even before the censure against Phelan, the state party launched radio ads blasting him for continuing the tradition of allowing Democrats to serve as committee chairs. The move prompted criticism against then-party Chair Matt Rinaldi from other Republicans who did not think it productive to go after one of their own. Rinaldi did not seek reelection for the position during the state party convention last year.

George has also expressed a willingness to call out members of his party in the past. He said at a news conference last November that there would be a “bloody” Republican primary in 2026 if state House members continue to support Democratic committee chairs in the lower chamber.

If they support a speaker who appoints Democrats to committee chairs, “it’s time for them to go,” George said at the time. “We will definitely try our best to work with them, but we have primaries coming in a few months after this, after the session, and I can promise you, if I’m the chair, the party will be involved in those.”

Cornyn and George both declined requests for interviews. They both declined to comment when asked about how their relationship has evolved from the 2022 censure motion to now.

Rinaldi said George appeared to be taking the position he had taken as party chair — support Cornyn as part of the party’s team, even if there are some policy disagreements along the way.

“Our goal in the Republican Party of Texas is to have a team that’s striving to enact conservative policy, and Sen. Cornyn, as our senior senator right now, is a member of that team,” Rinaldi said. “We had a relationship when I was chair, and Abraham George is continuing that relationship. There will be agreements and disagreements over policy but we have an open channel of communication.”

Rinaldi didn’t say whom he would support in next year’s Senate primary, saying when he sees who will run, he will support “the most conservative candidate that I think will serve Texas and the country best.” He has cast doubt that Cornyn would win in a primary, writing on social media last November that “Cornyn needs to go.”

Cornyn leads a formidable organizing and fundraising operation that benefits Texas Republicans down ballot. During the 2020 cycle when Cornyn was at the top of the ticket, he and the Republican Party of Texas worked together to send 40 million letters, texts and other messages to voters and register almost 320,000 new Republican voters. Voter contacts that year were important for the party as it was the first election after the state removed straight-ticket voting. He also raised $3.8 million for the Republican Party of Texas that year.

“Democrats should be running scared with my friend Abraham George at the helm of the Republican Party of Texas,” Cornyn said in a statement for this story. “I’ve worked hand-in-glove with RPT every time I’ve been on the ballot, and raised money for RPT when I’m not on the ballot, to provide record-setting support for conservatives and turn out millions of Republican voters across Texas, and I’m looking forward to reprising our successful partnership this cycle.”

There is still tension with Cornyn in some corners of the state party that feel his brand of conservatism is at odds with the MAGA movement. Many Republicans in Texas can’t shake off his 2023 prediction that Trump’s “time has passed him by” and that Trump potentially would not be able to win in the 2024 general election (Cornyn later endorsed Trump after the New Hampshire primary). Kelly Perry, a member of the SREC, said Cornyn “could do better at times and that leaves many of us questioning his intent when he votes on occasion.”

“He is a great politician but there seems to be times where he gets lost and loses sight of who puts him in office,” Perry said. “I’d like to know that the Republicans’ best interest is his first priority. We are all very clear where we stand, it’s just we question at times where he stands. “

Perry said that SREC members gave Cornyn a standing ovation at last year’s Christmas party only because he vowed to support Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Defense Secretary. Perry stressed she was giving her personal opinion and not speaking on behalf of the SREC or the Republican Party of Texas.

Cornyn has been heavily emphasizing his support for Trump since the election. He vowed to support all of Trump’s nominations this year. In his official campaign launch video, Cornyn leaned into his time as Republican whip, securing the votes for Trump’s legislative agenda. He supported all of Trump’s judicial and executive nominees during Trump’s first term and voted with the president over 92% of the time.

Paxton is the most vocal advocate for a primary challenge against Cornyn from the right and said an announcement on his own run could come in the next few months.

“I think it’s just time,” Paxton told Punchbowl of a Cornyn challenge. “He’s had his chance. He hasn’t performed well, and the voters know it. You can go a long time without people paying attention. And they’re paying attention now.”

Other potential candidates include U.S. Reps. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, and Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, who have both made moves to increase their name-ID outside of their home districts. Neither has announced plans to run.

Article originally published by The Texas Tribune. To read the originally published article, click here.

Texas AG wants school officials under oath on transgender policy

DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants to question Dallas Independent School District officials under oath as part of his investigation into the district’s policy on transgender athletes.

Paxton on Monday announced his office has filed a legal petition to do so. Earlier this year, Paxton’s office launched an investigation of the district’s “unwritten policy” that allegedly encouraged parents of transgender students to alter their child’s birth certificates in other states.

Paxton initially requested several records regarding the district’s compliance with a 2021 state law that bans transgender students from competing in sports matching their identifying gender. The request came after the district’s LGBT Youth Program Coordinator, Mahoganie Gaston, suggested in a video published by Accuracy in Media, a Washington-based nonprofit that students could play in sports matching updated birth certificates.

In a statement, Dallas ISD said it was following state law and is cooperating with Paxton’s information requests.

“We are cooperating with the Attorney General’s office to provide information that confirms Dallas ISD’s ongoing compliance with federal and state laws,” the district said. “The district is committed to continue following both the spirit and intent of the law.”

Changes to a person’s gender on birth certificates is illegal in Texas, but can still be done in other states. In the January video, Gaston suggests changing a child’s certificate in another state is a “loophole” to the Texas law. Paxton’s petition requests several Dallas ISD officials to appear for depositions, including Gaston, district superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and members of the school board.

“ISD officials who have participated in this madness will be held accountable,” Paxton said in a news release Monday. “The systematic effort by Dallas ISD officials to circumvent Texas law will be exposed and stopped.”

Dallas ISD is not the only school district affected by the undercover videos and subsequent inquiries from the attorney general. Paxton also sent a letter in February to Irving Independent School District after Accuracy in Media filmed a separate video similarly sending an undercover representative to ask about the district’s policy on student athletes.

Gov. Greg Abbott posted about the video on X, calling for Irving ISD to be investigated, and the district administrator featured in the video resigned shortly after.

Article originally published by The Texas Tribune. To read the originally published article, click here.

Canada vows retaliatory tariffs if Trump escalates trade war: ‘We will respond’

(NEW YORK) -- Canada vowed to respond with retaliatory tariffs if President Donald Trump slaps additional levies on Canadian goods as part of an expected announcement of sweeping new tariffs on Wednesday.

"We will respond to additional measures," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Tuesday. "We will put in place retaliatory measures if there are additional measures put against Canada tomorrow."

Speaking to reporters minutes later, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated Trump's plan to announce wide-ranging new tariffs on April 2, which Trump has dubbed "liberation day."

"Our country has been one of the most open economies in the world and we have the best consumer base," Leavitt said. "But too many foreign countries have their markets closed to our exports."

The details of the forthcoming U.S. tariffs remain unknown.

When asked whether Trump would be open to negotiations with target countries about the tariffs, Leavitt said, "The president is always open to taking calls."

The Trump administration last month imposed 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada. Initially, the tariffs applied to all Canadian goods, but a day later Trump issued a carve-out for goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, a free trade agreement.

In response to U.S. tariffs, Canada slapped a 25% retaliatory duty on $30 billion worth of goods and pledged additional measures.

Despite the trade turbulence on Tuesday, U.S. stocks rallied.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked up 30 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P 500 climbed 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq increased 0.8%.

Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Monday that he had settled on a course of action for the fresh round of tariffs set to take effect on April 2, though he declined to offer details.

Additional U.S. tariffs could elicit countermeasures from trade partners, exacerbating global trade tensions that erupted in response to a previous set of tariffs issued by the Trump administration last month.

Europe has a "strong plan" to retaliate against Trump's planned tariffs, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in a speech on Tuesday.

"We will approach these negotiations from a position of strength. Europe holds a lot of cards, from trade to technology to the size of our market,” von der Leyen said.

Days earlier, Trump told reporters over the weekend that his tariffs could affect "all the countries."

"The tariffs will be far more generous than those countries were to us, meaning they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America," he said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

UT Tyler awarded 2025-26 silver military friendly school honor

TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the University of Texas at Tyler has earned the 2025-26 Silver Military Friendly School designation.

This places UT Tyler within the top 20% of participating schools nationwide in the Tier 2 Research Institutions category.

“This designation is a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensure the academic, professional, and personal success of our military-affiliated student population,” Coby Dillard, UT Tyler Director of Military and Veterans Affairs said.

A celebration hosted by the UT Tyler Military and Veterans Success Center will soon be announced. The center supports nearly 700 military-affiliated students. The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide and from participating institutions.

Visit militaryfriendly.com to learn more.

Texarkana man arrested after hit-and-run, victim hospitalized

TEXARKANA – According to our news partner, KETK, the Texarkana Police Department has arrested a 32-year-old man for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to a Sunday night hit-and-run.

Texarkana PD said detectives used video from nearby cameras to determine that a man was walking through a church parking lot in the 300 block of W. 25th Street at around 6 p.m. on Sunday when a silver Kia left the road and accelerated before hitting him.

According to a report from the Texarkana Police Department, the man hit was found across the street from where the incident occurred, outside of Highland Park Elementary. He had severe injuries and was taken to a local ICU where he’s currently in critical condition.

A Texarkana PD detective was canvassing a neighborhood four blocks away from the crash scene when officials said they found a heavily-damaged Kia at the residence of Patrick Cridell, Jr., 32.

Texarkana PD said their investigation progressed enough to arrest Cridell for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Cridell was then booked into the Bi-State Jail.

ICE admits to an ‘administrative error’ after Maryland man sent to El Salvador prison

(WASHINGTON) -- A Maryland man with protected legal status was sent to the notorious prison in El Salvador following an "administrative error," a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official admitted in a sworn declaration on Monday.

Kilmer Armado Abrego-Garcia who has a U.S. citizen wife and 5-year-old child is currently at CECOT, the notorious prison in El Salvador.

The filing is part of a new lawsuit filed by Abrego-Garcia's attorneys who are requesting that the government of El Salvador return him to the U.S. after being sent there "because of an administrative error."

Abrego-Garcia's attorneys said that he "is not a member of or has no affiliation with Tren de Aragua, MS-13, or any other criminal or street gang" and said that the U.S. government "has never produced an iota of evidence to support this unfounded accusation."

In response to the error, the government has acknowledged the error but said in a filing that because Abrego-Garcia is no longer in U.S. custody, the court cannot order him to be returned to the U.S. nor can the court order El Salvador to return him.

According to Abrego-Garcia's attorneys, in 2019, a confidential informant "had advised that Abrego Garcia was an active member" of the gang MS-13. He later filed an I-589 application for asylum and although Abrego-Garcia was found removable, an immigration judge "granted him withholding of removal to El Salvador."

But earlier this month, Abrego-Garcia was stopped by ICE officers who "informed him that his immigration status had changed." After being detained over gang affiliations, he was transferred to a detention center in Texas. He was then sent to El Salvador on March 15.

"Abrego-Garcia, a native and citizen of El Salvador, was on the third flight and thus had his removal order to El Salvador executed," said Robert L. Cerna, acting field office director for ICE in a sworn declaration. "This removal was an error."

In response, the government said Abrego-Garcia had the opportunity to present evidence to show he was not a part of MS-13. "Abrego Garcia had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue," the government said. "He had the opportunity to give evidence tending to show he was not part of MS-13, which he did not proffer."

Vice President JD Vance said in a statement on X that Abrego-Garcia was a "convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right" to be in the U.S. Vance added that "it's gross to get fired up about gang members getting deported while ignoring citizens they victimize."

In the filing, Yaakov M. Roth Acting Assistant Attorney General Civil Division for the Department of Justice said the court lacks jurisdiction to review the removal of Abrego-Garcia and said that the plaintiffs are seeking his release from Salvadoran custody by "financial pressure and diplomacy."

Roth also added in the filing that there is no clear showing that "Abrego Garcia himself is likely to be tortured or killed in CECOT."

"While there may be allegations of abuses in other Salvadoran prisons -- very few in relation to the large number of detainees -- there is no clear showing that Abrego Garcia himself is likely to be tortured or killed in CECOT," Roth said. "More fundamentally, this Court should defer to the government's determination that Abrego Garcia will not likely be tortured or killed in El Salvador."

In the sworn declaration, Cerna said the removal was "carried out in good faith."

"This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego-Garcia's purported membership in MS-13," Cerna said.

ABC News' Justin Gomez contributed to this report.

Lawmaker files bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote

TYLER – Senate Bill 16, which was filed by East Texas State Sen. Bryan Hughes on March 11, requires proof of citizenship when registered to vote.

According to our news partner, KETK, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs passed the bill and now it will head to the full Senate chamber for discussion.

“Senate Bill 16 says we’re going to require proof of citizenship when you register to vote,” Hughes, a Republican representing Mineola in the Texas State Senate, said. Continue reading Lawmaker files bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote

Portion of Rose Rudman trail to be closed

TYLER — A section of the Rose Rudman Trail in Tyler will be closed due to maintenance on Thursday and Friday. According to our news partner KETK, tree maintenance will be conducted on part of the trail that’s parallel to South Donnybrook Avenue next to Tyler Legacy High School. Until construction is completed, residents are advised to stay away from this part of the trail. Maintenance will begin starting on Thursday and will continue until midday Friday.

Cast for Sam Mendes’ Beatles films confirmed; movies coming in April 2028

L-R: Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Joseph Quinn; Photo by: John Russo

After months of rumors and speculation, Sony has finally confirmed the four actors who’ll play The Beatles in Sam Mendes’ four separate films about the legendary group.

As the rumors had previously suggested, Harris Dickinson has been cast to play John Lennon, with Paul Mescal playing Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.

While each Beatle will be getting their own film, it doesn’t sound like moviegoers will have to wait too long to see each one. The studio revealed all four pictures will be released in April 2028, describing the project as a “four film cinematic event.”

Mendes’ Beatles project was first announced back in February 2024. “I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Mendes, best known for such films as American Beauty and Skyfall, said at the time.

The Sony films will mark the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted a studio the rights to the life stories of band members and their legendary catalog of music.

While this is the first time The Beatles have supported a movie about the band, it isn't the first time they have been depicted on screen. The 1994 film Backbeat chronicled the early days of The Beatles, and in 2009, Aaron Taylor-Johnson played Lennon in the film Nowhere Boy, which focused on the singer's teenage years.

The Beatles were also subject of the 2019 comedy Yesterday, about a struggling musician who wakes up after an accident and discovers he's the only one in the world who remembers The Beatles.

High levels of carbon monoxide found in Miller Gardner’s hotel room: Costa Rican police

This undated photo posted by the New York Yankees on the social media site X shows 14-year-old Miller Gardner, the son of former Yankees players Brett Gardner, who died, Mar. 21, 2025, from a sudden illness while on a family vacation. (@Yankees/X)

(MANUEL ANTONIO, COSTA RICA) -- High levels of carbon monoxide were detected in 14-year-old Miller Gardner's hotel room, Costa Rican police revealed more than one week after the son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner mysteriously died on a family vacation.

The carbon monoxide was discovered while conducting tests last week in Miller Gardner's room at the exclusive Arenas Del Mar resort in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rican police said Monday.

Miller Gardner's cause of death is not known and investigators are still waiting for final toxicology results.

"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss," a spokesperson for the Arenas Del Mar resort said in a statement. "We trust that the forensic process will objectively, clearly, and conclusively clarify the causes of this unfortunate incident."

"Out of respect for the ongoing judicial process and the family's privacy, we will refrain from commenting on any unconfirmed hypotheses or possible causes," the spokesperson continued.

Miller Gardner died in his sleep on the morning of March 21, according to the family.

The night before, the Gardners went out to dinner at a restaurant close to the resort, and they felt sick when they returned to the hotel, according to a Costa Rican source close to the investigation.

A hotel spokesperson said the staff "dispatched a medical team immediately, including a licensed doctor, which arrived to handle the emergency situation."

"Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile," the Gardners said. "We are so thankful to all who have reached out to offer support and encouragement during this difficult time and we are confident our faith, family, and friends will help us navigate this unimaginable loss."

Booker stages Senate filibuster to protest ‘crisis’ he says Trump and Musk created

(WASHINGTON) -- New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker was still speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, staging an overnight filibuster in what he called a protest against the national "crisis" he said President Donald Trump and Elon Musk had created.

On Monday night, he said he was set to last "as long as [he is] physically able."

Booker has now been holding the floor for more than 16 hours, and hasn't showed any signs of stopping soon.

"I've got fuel in the tank man," Booker said during the 15-hour mark.

The senator has been occupying the small square of space surrounding his desk on the far-left side of the chamber since 7 p.m. on Monday night. He cannot eat, sit down or leave the space surrounding his desk.

There have been a number of lengthy filibusters in recent years, but the record belongs to Sen. Strom Thurmond, who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes.

Booker's comments have addressed a wide range of topics, including the Russia-Ukraine war, USAID relief in foreign countries, concerns about cuts to Medicaid, slashes in Social Security offices, among other issues.

He's also read aloud letters that he said were from constituents and quoted speeches from figures such as the late Sen. John Lewis, who famously advocated for "good trouble" in the fight for justice and equality.

Booker said at the top of his speech on Monday that he rose "with the intention of disrupting the normal business" of the chamber because he said he believes the country is in "crisis" due to the actions of the White House since Trump started his second term.

"I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis, and I believe that not in a partisan sense, because so many of the people that have been reaching out to my office in pain, in fear, having their lives upended -- so many of them identify themselves as Republicans," Booker said.

"In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans' safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy and even our aspirations as a people [for] our highest offices, a sense of common decency," Booker said. "These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such."

So long as Booker is holding the floor, the Senate won't be able to conduct other business unless he temporarily yields.

He has been joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Peter Welch of Vermont, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Chris Coons of Delaware, Mark Warner of Virginia, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and some others.

Booker has entertained questions from the lawmakers, allowing him short breaks in speaking, but he's been careful to note that he's "retaining the floor" so as not to break his continuous hold according to Senate procedural rules. He's had to remain standing during these "question" periods.

In brief: James Gunn shares behind-the-scenes look at ‘Supergirl’ film and more

James Gunn has shared a new behind-the-scenes photo from the set of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The co-head of DC Studios shared a photo of actress Milly Alcock, who is playing the superhero in the upcoming film, reading a Supergirl comic book. "Today we celebrate #Supergirl and all her various incarnations. Can’t wait for you to see the latest version, portrayed by the indomitable @millyalcock, in June 2026," Gunn wrote on Instagram. The photo comes one day before the Warner Bros. Discovery panel will take place at CinemaCon 2025, where more about the film is expected to be revealed ...

Zack Snyder has been tapped to direct Brawler, a film about the world of Ultimate Fighting Championship. Variety reports that Snyder will also co-write and produce the film, about a man who rises up in the world of UFC. Snyder is teaming up with Dana White's UFC and Turki Alashikh, who is chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia and owner of boxing magazine The Ring, for the film ...

Michael Mann has finished the script for Heat 2. Vulture reports the director has finished writing the screenplay for the sequel to his 1995 crime film. According to the outlet, Mann said he has “just finished the screenplay and handed in the first draft” to Warner Bros. While he said he can't talk more about it, he made sure to say "it's an exciting project." ...

Woman pulled alive out of Myanmar earthquake rubble after 91 hours: Officials

(MANDALAY CITY, MYANMAR) -- A 63-year-old woman was pulled alive from under the rubble Tuesday about 91 hours after Myanmar was struck by a devastating, 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the Myanmar Fire Services Department said on social media.

At least 2,719 people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of Friday's massive earthquake in Myanmar, a government official reportedly told local media on Tuesday.

Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the country's military junta, also said during a televised broadcast that another 4,521 people were injured, according to The Associated Press and Reuters.

"Among the missing, most are assumed to be dead," he said on state television. "There is a narrow chance for them to remain alive as it has been over 72 hours."

Rescues efforts were still underway on Tuesday, according to the Myanmar Fire Services Department.

With many areas hit by Friday's earthquake still not reached by rescue crews, the number of people injured or dead is still expected to rise.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in Mandalay, Myanmar, the country's second-largest city. Even Bangkok, some 600 miles away, felt widespread shaking and saw significant damage from the quake -- including the total collapse of a skyscraper under construction. More than a dozen people were killed in the collapse, officials said, with recovery efforts for the construction workers still ongoing.

The International Rescue Committee, an aid group, has reported "staggering humanitarian needs on the ground."

"People require urgent medical care, clean drinking water, tents, food and other basic necessities," the IRC said in a statement.

The IRC said it may be weeks before the full extent of the destruction is understood.

Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president of international programs at the IRC, told ABC News Live that teams are dealing with an "unimaginably horrendous situation on the ground," with 80% of buildings destroyed in some towns.

"The challenges are immense. You've got infrastructure that's been destroyed, airports and roads that have been damaged, supply chains disrupted," Donnelly said.

After the U.S. State Department said Monday that it was "in the process" of sending disaster relief experts to Myanmar, a leading aid group said in a statement to ABC News on Tuesday that the U.S. has already "missed the first urgent window to help find survivors."

"With USAID effectively gutted and critical staff receiving their final notices in the midst of an emergency, the US Government's ability to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and future crises is severely compromised. Speed, collaboration, and resources are life and death matters when disaster strikes. The illegal decision to dismantle USAID means the U.S. will be unable to show up like it has in past emergencies," said Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America.

"The U.S. has already missed the first urgent window to help find survivors. The second wave of crisis is the millions of people displaced who will soon face threats of disease, hunger, and more without access to clean water, food, shelter and other resources. The Trump administration must step up and continue the U.S. legacy of providing partnership and leadership right now for the communities who need urgent support," Maxman said.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti, Guy Davies and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.

Russia launches no strike drones into Ukraine for first time since December

Hnat Holyk/Gwara Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

(LONDON) -- Russia launched no long-range strike drones into Ukraine on Monday night and into Tuesday morning, Ukraine's air force said, marking the first night since December 2024 in which zero such craft targeted the country.

Ukraine's air force reported two missiles launched into the southern Zaporizhzhia region, both of which were shot down. The air force sent out no drone warnings during the night.

The air force also said that Russia attacked frontline communities in Zaporizhzhia with five guided bombs on Monday evening, killing one person and injuring five others.

The absence of attack drones represented a notable departure from recent weeks, which have seen Russia launch massed drone attacks -- often of more than 100 drones in the course of a night -- against Ukrainian cities.

"There were no strike UAVs," Andriy Kovalenko -- the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center operating as part of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council -- wrote on Telegram. "We are monitoring the situation, but this doesn't mean anything yet."

Both Kyiv and Moscow have continued to launch massed cross-border drone strikes in recent months, despite U.S. efforts to facilitate a ceasefire and eventual peace deal to end Russia's 3-year-old invasion of its neighbor.

Last week, all three parties -- the U.S., Ukraine and Russia -- said they agreed to pause any attacks in the Black Sea and freeze strikes on energy infrastructure. Both Kyiv and Moscow have since accused the other of violating the pause on energy attacks.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that its forces downed three Ukrainian drones overnight over the territory of its western Bryansk region. The ministry also alleged that Ukrainian drones targeted energy facilities twice over the previous 24 hours.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also accused Russia of attacking energy infrastructure, telling journalists Monday that a strike on a facility in the southern Kherson region left 45,000 residents without power.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly cited Russia's near-nightly bombardments as evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no real interest in the ceasefire and peace being proposed by President Donald Trump and his administration.

In a Sunday evening video address, Zelenskyy reported "more strikes and shelling" in seven Ukrainian regions. "The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldn't care less about diplomacy," he said.

"For several weeks now, there has been a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire," Zelenskyy added. "And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling and ballistic strikes."

In recent days, Trump hinted at frustration with Moscow, telling reporters he was "very angry" at Putin after the Russian leader again criticized Zelenskyy and called for his removal in favor of a transitional government.

Trump added he would consider applying new sanctions on Russia's lucrative oil exports and on any nations purchasing its oil. China and India are among the most significant customers for Russian oil products.

The president later told reporters on Air Force One that his administration was making significant progress toward ending the war. Asked about his relationship with Putin, Trump responded, "I don't think he's going to go back on his word."

Asked if there was a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Trump suggested there was a "psychological deadline."

He added, "If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it."

Democrats renew push to expand IVF access for military service members

(WASHINGTON) -- Congressional Democrats are renewing their push to expand in vitro fertilization access for military service members by introducing legislation that would require the Department of Defense's health care program to fund access to IVF for military service members.

The legislative effort, being led in the Senate by Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth and in the House by Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs, would bring IVF access afforded to military service members in parity with the services available to members of Congress. It would also modify current requirements that service members prove that their infertility challenges are directly connected to service, a barrier that the lawmakers say is often cumbersome or impossible to overcome.

The legislation, Jacobs said in an exclusive interview with ABC News, could be "life-changing" for military service members who are often forced to choose between continuing their military service and starting a family.

"I think it will be huge. We know so many military families are struggling to make ends meet as it is, and are facing really significant fertility challenges. It would be life-changing," Jacobs told ABC News. "We shouldn't make them choose between serving our country and building their families."

Duckworth and Jacobs say that some members of the military have been forced to abandon their military careers because of the lack of infertility treatment coverage by their health care program, called TRICARE. It could present a risk to military readiness, they told ABC News.

"For too many service members, the lack of TRICARE coverage of IVF has left them with only a few choices: beat the odds and prove that their infertility is directly related to their service, pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a chance at a family, forgo having children, or leave the military. This is wrong," Duckworth said.

It's also about parity, they said: Starting this year, members of Congress are afforded access to plans that offer coverage for infertility treatments. Jacobs and Duckworth say the same should be true for military service members.

"It makes no sense that members of Congress and the rest of the federal workforce will get this, but military families still won't," Jacobs said.

This is not the first time that Jacobs and Duckworth have attempted to expand IVF access for military service members. They tried to get this same provision included in the massive military spending package, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, last year as both parties tried to reassure voters of their support for IVF and other infertility treatments.

Though the proposal made it through the House Armed Services Committee, it never made it into the final version of the bill that President Joe Biden signed into law during the waning days of his presidency.

Similar legislation was separately blocked in the Senate by Republican Sen. James Lankford last year. At the time, Lankford said that while he supports IVF, he was concerned about the indefinite cost of the legislation and the possibility it opened for "future definitions for gene editing or for cloning."

Duckworth and Jacobs' newest effort, however, is a stand-alone bill that could be voted on not as an amendment, but as it's own legislation.

Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, has been vocal about her own experiences using IVF to conceive her two children. She was involved in multiple efforts to expand IVF access last Congress that were ultimately blocked by Republicans.

She said this new proposal would give Republicans the opportunity to make good on President Donald Trump's pro-IVF rhetoric that he's used on the campaign trail and at the White House.

"President Trump pledged to voters on the campaign trail that he would go even further by making IVF free if elected and has repeated the bold-faced lie that he is governing on the principle of 'promises made, promises kept,'" Duckworth said in a statement. "Republicans can now help him partially fulfill his broken IVF promise by joining our commonsense legislation that would make sure those who answer the call to serve have access to the care they need to build their family."

No Republican has yet signed on as a cosponsor, but Duckworth and Jacobs are pointing to Trump's comments as recently as last week touting his support for IVF as a possible boon to their efforts.

On the campaign trail, as an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling temporarily threw IVF access into question, Trump was vocal about his hope to make IVF continually accessible. He referred to himself as the "father of IVF" and issued a statement that said "I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby."

Trump has continued to make his support for IVF known. As recently as Wednesday when, during a Women's History Month event, he referred to himself as the "fertilization president."

"Fertilization. I'm still very proud of it, I don't care. I'll be known as the fertilization president, and that's OK," Trump said. "That's not bad. I've been called much worse. Actually, I like it, right?"

It's at this point unclear if the bill, which if pushed by Democrats to the Senate floor as a stand-alone bill would require the unanimous support of the Republican conference, would have the support it needs to pass. It's also unclear if efforts to include it in this year's National Defense Authorization Act or other major legislative pushes could lead to passage.