<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[WSLS 10]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com</link><atom:link href="https://www.wsls.com/arc/outboundfeeds/google-news-feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><description><![CDATA[WSLS 10 News Feed]]></description><lastBuildDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:35:43 +0000</lastBuildDate><language>en</language><ttl>1</ttl><sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod><sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency><item><title><![CDATA[Leaders keep a wary eye on Belarus after Russia’s biggest missile attack of the year on Ukraine]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/05/25/leaders-keep-a-wary-eye-on-belarus-after-russias-biggest-missile-attack-of-the-year-on-ukraine/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/05/25/leaders-keep-a-wary-eye-on-belarus-after-russias-biggest-missile-attack-of-the-year-on-ukraine/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Hanna Arhirova And Yuras Karmanau, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The exiled opposition leader of Belarus is visiting Kyiv a day after Russia's largest missile attack on Ukraine this year.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:24:55 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Belarus' exiled opposition leader visited Kyiv on Monday as the Ukrainian capital cleaned up after Russia’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-missile-drone-attack-998aeaab5833ca397290d9ee2737b0e5">biggest missile attack of the year</a>, and world leaders kept a close eye on how much support the Belarusian government is ready to provide for <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Moscow’s all-out invasion</a> of Ukraine.</p><p>Belarusian opposition leader <a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-crackdown-tsikhanouski-freed-da71d80a59dae78d5e8c1ebfcd4fc2e1">Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya</a> arrived by train in Kyiv for her first visit to the city, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with President Alexander Lukashenko, who has governed Belarus with an iron fist for more than three decades.</p><p>The French leader “underscored the risks for Belarus of allowing itself to be dragged into Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” according to a presidential aide in Macron’s office who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with the presidential palace’s practices.</p><p>Macron also spoke Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who in recent days has increasingly warned that Belarus could provide a launchpad for Russia to open a new front in northern Ukraine.</p><p>With the full-scale invasion more than four years old, the Russian army is locked in a hard and costly slog on the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-iran-drones-us-talks-b7267b71dda7a7f5b7fd10770ac04ae8">front line</a> that mostly snakes through eastern and southern Ukraine. With American-made air defense missiles in short supply because of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran war</a>, Russian missiles are harder for Ukraine to stop.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-summit-drone-attack-dcd076caeda4cf67f5592274beed6364">U.S. efforts</a> to stop the fighting made little progress and have now stalled.</p><p>Russia fires hypersonic missile at Ukraine</p><p>Sunday’s heavy bombardment included Russia’s powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, which can carry multiple warheads. Russian President Vladimir Putin <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-belarus-putin-lukashenko-oreshnik-missile-ukraine-f8d30cb15b6b1022f2e63263480df3b2">has boasted</a> it can plunge to a target at speeds up to Mach 10.</p><p>Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence services had received tipoffs from the United States and European countries that Russia was preparing to launch an Oreshnik.</p><p>At least 87 people were wounded in Kyiv, including three children, in the barrage, Zelenskyy said Monday. Twenty-one people were hospitalized.</p><p>The intense assault damaged buildings across the city, including near government offices, residential buildings, schools and a market, Ukrainian authorities said. Shattered glass still littered sidewalks on Monday.</p><p>Countries keep a wary eye on Belarus</p><p>Macron’s call with Lukashenko was their first since 2022, shortly after Russia launched the all-out invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, when Belarus' government allowed Moscow to use the country's territory as a platform to send troops into neighboring Ukraine.</p><p>A terse readout released by the Belarusian presidential press service said that the call took place “on the French side’s initiative” and that the two leaders discussed “regional issues” and the relations of Belarus with the European Union and France.</p><p>Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader in exile, said Sunday that France is trying to prevent Belarus being dragged into the Russia-Ukraine war.</p><p>“The main goal — to warn Lukashenko that dragging Belarus into the war would be unacceptable,” Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press.</p><p>“Lukashenko’s regime knows well what needs to be done to improve ties with the European Union, but it isn’t happening, instead hybrid attacks, nuclear blackmail and threats to the entire region continue,” she said.</p><p>Lukashenko relies on the Kremlin for cheap energy, loans and other support. Russia and Belarus held <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-nuclear-drill-belarus-ukraine-cce4ba1be04956f7a91222a24c61a819">joint nuclear drills</a> last week.</p><p>Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that Belarus could increase its support for Moscow.</p><p>___</p><p>John Leicester contributed to this report from Paris.</p><p>___</p><p>Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/J7SHFB5dY3oouQLmqtxj4dGEUIw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/N5L2DXI3BJFX3FBL2FRBUCQBZ4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5577" width="8365"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Red Cross volunteers help an injured woman in a shelter after a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Evgeniy Maloletka</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/h6p4R8_zwdLhqEOU-KkkNJN2KqQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KK7DD4VZ5FCA3OQZZXQEIM2TKU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Rescue workers try to put out a fire at a residential building after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Evgeniy Maloletka</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ciJvIJQ8HgSE22pYhtI9yONL_CM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CMU2S6I4IJCEBAYYF6K67ILT2A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Ukrainian servicemen of the Cerberus Ground Unmanned Systems Company of the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Third Army Corps, conduct a drill with a combat ground drone during a training at the polygon in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrii Marienko</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tQ69-NqslPC2ey1ZzV99tjxpeb8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CGGVNA4LCVB3VBUHW44NZG6DAA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Ukrainian servicemen of the Cerberus Ground Unmanned Systems Company of the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Third Army Corps, conduct a drill with a combat ground drone during a training at the polygon in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrii Marienko</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ugandan health officials report new Ebola virus infections, bringing cases to 7]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/25/ugandan-health-officials-report-new-ebola-virus-infections-bringing-cases-to-7/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/25/ugandan-health-officials-report-new-ebola-virus-infections-bringing-cases-to-7/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rodney Muhumuza, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Ugandan health authorities on Monday reported two new Ebola cases, bringing the number of infections to seven.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:11:15 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ugandan health authorities on Monday reported two new <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ebola-virus">Ebola</a> cases, bringing the number of infections to seven. </p><p>All the cases are linked to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-congo-mongbwalu-funeral-bodies-attack-9c4237e6ed4e26dff22b242749e37e33">outbreak in neighboring Congo,</a> which appears to have started several days or weeks before Congolese <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-outbreak-congo-who-africa-disease-80ce505825171f2babe389c50452a7be">authorities declared it on May 15. </a></p><p>A 59-year-old Congolese man was admitted to a hospital in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, on May 11, and died three days later, before it was known he was suffering from the Ebola virus. Two other Congolese nationals who sought medical care in Uganda later tested positive for Ebola.</p><p>Ugandan health authorities on Saturday confirmed the first local infections: a driver and a health worker exposed to the Congolese patient who died on May 11. Two more health workers at a private hospital in Kampala have tested positive, the Ministry of Health said Monday.</p><p>In Congo, suspected Ebola cases have topped 900, mainly in eastern Ituri province, where the ongoing outbreak is centered, authorities said Sunday. The response has been hampered by fear, anger and frustration among locals including attacks on treatment centers, as well as distrust of authorities in a region long plagued by armed violence. </p><p>The outbreak has been declared a global health emergency. The Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus responsible for the outbreak has no approved vaccine or treatment.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qSvAaho05S4eiiIIKmDBO8tVhDo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SLDRF5JVL5EHZOEZ5WRNS7PUII.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3648" width="5472"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[People walk out of the Ministry of Health's Headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Hajarah Nalwadda</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dEm-6L8y4F2luvDO1Nv5MvFNy9U=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/63FUXP3Y2ZFNZHDTTAIKAA7LRY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3648" width="5472"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A general view of a busy street in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Hajarah Nalwadda</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/pope-calls-for-robust-regulation-of-ai-in-manifesto-that-ponders-the-future-of-humanity/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/pope-calls-for-robust-regulation-of-ai-in-manifesto-that-ponders-the-future-of-humanity/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nicole Winfield, Kaitlyn Houmani And Paolo Santalucia, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV has called for robust regulation of artificial intelligence and for its developers to work for the common good rather than profit.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 09:31:58 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a> called Monday for robust regulation of artificial intelligence and for its developers to work for the common good rather than profit, issuing a sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humankind as the technology impacts everything from work to war.</p><p>“Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-artificial-intelligence-pope-musk-nvidia-trump-889c0066f0d5ce784c07abb72b33e24c">Leo’s first encyclical</a>, has been eagerly awaited ever since history’s first U.S.-born pope announced days after his election that he considered AI to be the biggest challenge facing humanity today.</p><p>In the text, Leo denounced the “culture of power” driving the AI race, especially in developing ever more sophisticated methods of remote warfare. He declared that it was “not permissible” to entrust irreversible, lethal decisions to AI systems, setting up another flash point between the American pope and the Trump administration, which has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ai-executive-order-ee318f35acc8a2c43e47f3ebf26cb459">worked aggressively to deregulate AI development.</a></p><p>Experts in the tech industry, academia and Catholic morality said the document will likely become a benchmark in the debate over AI, a point of reference for policymakers, researchers and ordinary folk alike. It comes as the near-daily developments in the technology trigger concerns rise over AI replacing human jobs and even human intelligence.</p><p>“It lends itself to people who are at the forefront of these tools and able to see the incredible things that they’re able to do, to have questions about their own ‘What does it mean to be human?’” said Taylor Black, a Microsoft AI executive and director of Catholic University of America’s AI institute.</p><p>Pope calls out AI companies even as he hosts Anthropic</p><p>The pope was to present the text at a Vatican launch Monday that featured the co-founder of Anthropic, which is currently locked in a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-anthropic-trump-security-risk-a8cfd07b4d975ddfc5be7e016ed3ddce">legal battle with the Trump administration</a> over access to its AI technology. The Vatican decided to involve Anthropic as part of its decade-long effort to engage Silicon Valley in dialogue over the human cost of AI.</p><p>And yet in his text, Leo repeatedly blasted the concentration of power and data in the hands of so few people in the private sector as a danger, especially to children and the most vulnerable, and called for external regulation of their work.</p><p>“It is not enough to invoke ethics in the abstract; robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility are required,” he wrote. “A more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few.” </p><p>Leo appealed several times to AI developers and political leaders responsible for regulating them to just slow down and reflect on what they are doing. He urged them to use ethical and spiritual guidelines to make the choice to work not for their own profit or power, but the betterment of humanity.</p><p>AI competitors OpenAI and Anthropic are the second- and third-most valuable U.S. private companies, each valued at hundreds of billions of dollars, more than the GDP of many nations. </p><p>Experts say the text will become a benchmark</p><p>In a methodical text, the math major pope traced the history of the Catholic Church’s social teaching and applied its core concepts — justice, solidarity, the dignity of work and the universal destination of resources — to the digital revolution.</p><p>“I am convinced that this will prove to be a defining document for our era, a profound and prophetic document,” said Paolo Carozza, law professor at Notre Dame Law School and chair of the Meta oversight board.</p><p>“Pope Leo is offering a clear, comprehensive, and coherent voice urging us to take responsibility for constructing a world in which technology will serve humans rather than degrade them,” he said.</p><p>In its strongest chapters, Leo denounced how AI had helped accelerate the “normalization of war” by desensitizing people to its cost. He didn’t name specific conflicts, but cited “opposing imperialisms, between powers that wish to preserve their supremacy, and those that aspire to seize that supremacy.”</p><p>He demanded transparency and accountability by AI developers so that the chain of decision-making command in ordering strikes with AI weaponry is always known. He declared that the Catholic Church’s “just war” theory, which provides specific criteria for when force can be justified, was now “outdated” given the technological advances of warfare.</p><p>A text in the church’s social justice tradition</p><p>Leo signed the text May 15, the 135th anniversary of the publication of “Rerum Novarum” (Of New Things), the most important teaching document of Leo’s hero and namesake, Pope Leo XIII. That document addressed workers’ rights, the limits of capitalism, and the obligations that states and employers owed workers as the Industrial Revolution was underway.</p><p>It became the foundation of modern Catholic social thought, and the current pope cited it at the start of his pontificate in relation to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-documentaries-sam-altman-8ed278203fce377199ea3eb93776c56c">AI revolution</a>, which he believes poses the same existential questions that the Industrial Revolution posed over a century ago. “Magnifica Humanitas” thus becomes the latest chapter in a century-long history of popes adapting “Rerum Novarum” to the social questions of their times, often dwelling on the dignity of work for human flourishing.</p><p>AI is evoking both <a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-documentaries-sam-altman-8ed278203fce377199ea3eb93776c56c">existential fears and utopian vision</a> amid an intensifying debate on whether it will become a catalyst that enriches humanity or a technological toxin that dulls human intelligence while wiping out millions of high-paying jobs.</p><p>“The pursuit of greater profits cannot justify choices that systematically sacrifice jobs, because the human person is an end, not a means, and the economic order must remain subordinate to human dignity and the common good,” Leo wrote.</p><p>Leo extended his concern for upholding human dignity in labor to issue the first-ever papal apology for the Holy See’s own <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-apologizes-slavery-role-holy-see-vatican-78df993c5604eb098b19f255b89b3155">role in legitimizing slavery.</a></p><p>Past popes have apologized for Christians’ involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. But no pope has ever publicly acknowledged, much less apologized for, the role that popes themselves played in giving European sovereigns explicit authority to subjugate and enslave “infidels.”</p><p>A decade-long dialogue with Silicon Valley</p><p>Vatican officials declined to say who exactly contributed to Leo’s encyclical. But Vatican and church officials have been engaged in a dialogue with Silicon Valley tech firms for a decade. Toward the end of his pontificate, Pope Francis began <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-ai-g7-italy-610b8f16aac4d36aa8a56c88de2ca09f">speaking out more</a> about AI and the risks it poses to humanity.</p><p>The decision to include Anthropic at the Vatican launch was criticized by some who considered it a papal stamp of approval of the AI firm.</p><p>In February, the Trump administration ordered all U.S. agencies to <a href="https://apnews.com/eb59a72f46996f765711d4262b1ed6c5">stop using</a> Anthropic’s technology after it refused to allow the U.S. military unrestricted use of it. Anthropic, which bills itself as the AI company that puts safety and risk-mitigation at the forefront of its research, is currently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/anthropic-security-risk-trump-artificial-intelligence-8478be7d5e275dee43d9814ebb2a69d3">suing the administration</a>.</p><p>Brian Boyd, U.S. faith liaison for the nonprofit Future of Life Institute, read the inclusion of Anthropic’s co-founder Christopher Olah as similar to a papal audience with a head of state: not an endorsement. </p><p>“I think it’s more like a recognition of (how) this is an extremely powerful company that’s currently winning this race to replace human workers,” Boyd said. </p><p>Anthropic is an “enormous corporation that is taking onto itself an enormous risk and responsibility,” Boyd continued, but said the company has “demonstrated genuine goodwill and integrity and interest in dialogue.”</p><p>___</p><p>Winfield reported from Middletown, Connecticut, and Houmani reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Kelvin Chan in London and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s <a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/FRQfP41OpuBSBGLJHPvA1dsKc7U=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GLM2HI467FHB5LTYLQCH3G77Q4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3101" width="4651"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV waves to faithful at the end of the Pentecost Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Gregorio Borgia</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for Holy See's own role in legitimizing slavery]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/pope-leo-xiv-makes-historic-apology-for-holy-sees-own-role-in-legitimizing-slavery/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/pope-leo-xiv-makes-historic-apology-for-holy-sees-own-role-in-legitimizing-slavery/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nicole Winfield And Paolo Santalucia, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV has made a historic apology for the role the Holy See itself played in legitimizing slavery.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 09:31:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vatican-africa-race-082b240dc063e5e382a76bf278cb18e8">Pope Leo XIV</a> made a historic apology on Monday for the role the Holy See itself played in legitimizing slavery and for having failed to condemn it for centuries, calling the Vatican’s record a “wound in Christian memory.”</p><p>Past popes have apologized for Christians’ involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. But no pope has ever publicly acknowledged, much less apologized for, the role that past popes themselves played in giving European sovereigns explicit authority to subjugate and enslave “infidels.”</p><p>History’s first U.S.-born pope, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-creole-roots-new-orleans-black-b5794961d9582941413fe3154b30cc87">whose family history</a> includes both enslaved people and slave owners, delivered the apology in his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” (Magnificent Humanity), which was released Monday.</p><p>The sweeping manifesto is about safeguarding humanity in an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-ai-tech-trump-vatican-anthropic-d92d0108730d146baa46da041b8523da">era of increasing reliance on artificial intelligence</a>. Leo raised the trans-Atlantic slave trade in relation to what he called the new forms of slavery and colonialism that the digital revolution is fueling, such as the unregulated labor required to procure rare minerals needed for AI chips.</p><p>In doing so, Leo responded to decades of calls by Black American Catholics, activists and scholars for the Holy See to atone for its own role in the colonial-era trade in human beings.</p><p>“It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord,” Leo wrote. “For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.” </p><p>Centuries of legitimizing slavery for European colonizers</p><p>The Vatican has insisted that it always upheld the dignity of all human beings as children of God. But a series of 15th-century directives from <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-international-news-62f2f24b782f415b9da319da30dcc16d">the Vatican</a> authorized Portuguese sovereigns to conquer Africa and the Americas and enslave non-Christians.</p><p>In 1452, for example, Pope Nicholas V issued the papal bull Dum Diversas, which gave the Portuguese king and his successors the right “to invade, conquer, fight and subjugate” and take all possessions — including land — of “Saracens, and pagans, and other infidels, and enemies of the name of Christ” anywhere.</p><p>The bull also gave the Portuguese permission “to reduce their persons to perpetual slavery.”</p><p>That bull and another issued three years later, Romanus Pontifex, formed the basis of the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-latin-america-canada-world-news-religion-9e266815081da9f7b38710b6b6e4dec6">Doctrine of Discovery</a>, the theory that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of land in Africa and the Americas.</p><p>Nicholas V’s permissions to the Portuguese were confirmed or renewed by Pope Callixtus III in 1456, Pope Sixtus IV in 1481, and Pope Leo X in 1514, according to the Rev. Christopher J. Kellerman, a Jesuit priest and author of “All Oppression Shall Cease: A History of Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Catholic Church.”</p><p>Spanish kings received the rights for the Americas.</p><p>In 2023, the Vatican formally repudiated the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-indigenous-papal-bulls-pope-francis-062e39ce5f7594a81bb80d0417b3f902">Doctrine of Discovery</a>, but it never formally rescinded, abrogated or rejected the bulls themselves. The Vatican insists that a later bull, Sublimis Deus in 1537, reaffirmed that Indigenous peoples shouldn’t be deprived of their liberty or the possession of their property, and weren't to be enslaved.</p><p>Holy See late to condemn slavery, Leo says</p><p>In his encyclical, Leo recalled that his namesake, Pope Leo XIII was the first pope to explicitly condemn slavery in 1888, though that was long after many countries had already abolished it. Before that, in antiquity and the Middle Ages, even church institutions had slaves.</p><p>In acknowledging the Holy See’s own role and the 15th-century papal bulls, Leo wrote in his encyclical: “Already in the early modern period, the Apostolic See of Rome, responding to the requests of sovereigns, intervened several times in order to regulate and legitimize forms of subjugation, and, in certain cases, including the enslavement of ‘infidels.’”</p><p>Leo said that it wasn't possible to judge the morality of the decisions with today’s standards.</p><p>“Yet neither can we deny or diminish the delay with which both society and the church came to denounce the scourge of slavery,” he said.</p><p>The pope said that the church has long affirmed the dignity of every human being as the basis of its doctrine, “even if it took eighteen centuries for its full incompatibility with slavery to be explicitly recognized.”</p><p>“This constitutes a wound in Christian memory, one from which we cannot consider ourselves detached,” he said.</p><p>Leo said that the church today must firmly condemn all forms of trafficking related to the digital technological revolution “if we want to avoid the need to ask for pardon again in the future for having failed to respect the treasure of human dignity that is required by our faith.”</p><p>Leo’s own family history and past apologies</p><p>During a 1985 visit to Cameroon, St. John Paul II asked forgiveness of Africans for the slave trade on behalf of Christians who participated in it, but not for the popes’ own role in it. In a 1992 visit to Goree Island, Senegal, which was the largest slave-trading center in West Africa, he denounced the injustice of slavery and called it a “tragedy of a civilization that called itself Christian.”</p><p>According to genealogical research published by Henry Louis Gates Jr., 17 of Leo’s American ancestors were Black, listed in census records as mulatto, Black, Creole or a free person of color. His family tree includes slaveholders and enslaved people, Gates wrote in The New York Times.</p><p>During a visit to Angola last month, Leo prayed at a Catholic shrine located at the site of an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-angola-africa-slavery-church-16df3604b4dd1a2722e43687b930b720">important hub of the African slave trade</a> during Portugal’s colonial rule. While at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, Leo recalled the “sorrow and great suffering” Angolans endured for centuries, but he didn’t refer specifically to slavery.</p><p>___</p><p>Nicole Winfield reported from Middletown, Connecticut.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s <a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/FhN-eY3i269fwPpRgioqNXykDiA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BIXLPSMAVNC3LP2TTMRUBFCTRA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1921" width="2882"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV holds the pastoral staff as he celebrates the Pentecost Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Gregorio Borgia</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/muslims-begin-the-annual-hajj-in-sweltering-heat-against-a-backdrop-of-war-concerns/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/muslims-begin-the-annual-hajj-in-sweltering-heat-against-a-backdrop-of-war-concerns/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Baraa Anwer And Mariam Fam, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, has begun.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 04:03:16 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The annual <a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-hajj-pilgrimage-muslims-explainer-ca62a82bd2d1055fc9bc96a3a4864a49">Hajj pilgrimage</a>, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, officially began Monday.</p><p>More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country, Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces, said Friday. The faithful have been pouring into the country for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran war</a> and related regional tensions and uncertainty. </p><p>Egyptian pilgrim Samya Abdul Moneim said she was grateful to God that she made it to the Hajj, which is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.</p><p>“I am in a state of blessing and happiness,” she said in Mecca on Sunday. “It’s an indescribable feeling, truly. I mean, thank God, I am in a blessing.”</p><p>Typically on the first day, <a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/photos-annual-hajj-pilgrimage-mecca-d9a383a191fc4f499526717bd127997a">many pilgrims in Mecca</a> converge on a vast tent camp in the nearby desert. Ahead of that, pilgrims have been circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in sweltering temperatures. For pilgrims, Hajj can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. Pilgrims perform the Hajj rituals over several days. </p><p>Pilgrims brave intense heat </p><p>Some spend many years hoping and praying to one day perform the Hajj or <a href="https://apnews.com/article/islam-hajj-pilgrims-mecca-saudi-arabia-4adbc8d2025f527964abfd749a75d6a1">saving up money and waiting for a permit</a> to embark on the trip. </p><p>As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade and carrying handheld fans. Volunteers hand out water bottles to help them stay hydrated and large fans spray fine mists of water. </p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-states-war-ceasefire-negotiations-hormuz-1c283f26d037102cc5e6f798546d0e59">On Saturday,</a> U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran on the war, including opening the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/strait-of-hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a>, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region. He described it as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE” that still must be finalized by the United States, Iran and the other countries that participated in the calls. That capped a week in which the U.S. weighed a new round of attacks on Iran.</p><p>Ahead of the trip for Hajj, some have said they were <a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-muslims-hajj-pilgrimage-saudi-arabia-7c38800ae6d8f0c282e68eba69949dd9">leaning on their faith</a> as they embark on the journey amid the tensions and that they were feeling immense gratitude for the opportunity to go.</p><p>Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and economic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. </p><p>Regional tensions and Hajj travel plans</p><p>With uncertainty and global concerns high, authorities in Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, have in the run-up to the Hajj season emphasized contingency planning for the pilgrimage and issued instructions to ensure that additional travel costs not be passed on to Indonesian pilgrims.</p><p>In India, home to a large Muslim minority, pilgrimage planning has proceeded largely as normal, but high fuel prices have pushed up <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-retail-iran-war-trump-519540133710a6e2309266a64bfb4c04">travel costs</a> for pilgrims. </p><p>A reopening of the strait would begin to ease a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-wars-energy-asia-gas-oil-45dcf2b9059930f298136720564d6ae6">worldwide energy crisis</a> sparked by the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to effectively close the waterway. Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several related products, jolting the world economy. The U.S. has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-blockade-hormuz-april-13-2026-ed7a6cd4bc61dc47f317a2c82afcc1c9">blockaded Iranian ports</a> for over a month, and Trump on Sunday said the blockade “will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”</p><p>In response to the U.S.-Israeli attacks, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes and the conflict <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-7-2026-421ee64fdc9a5c26460df8119c7d1b3f">widened</a>; a fragile <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-7-2026-421ee64fdc9a5c26460df8119c7d1b3f">ceasefire</a> was then reached in April. </p><p>In Saudi Arabia, pilgrims have been doing the ritual circuit around the Kaaba since arriving in Mecca over recent days. Pilgrims who make their way to Mina will camp in the vast tent city and pray and worship.</p><p>On Tuesday, in what is considered the pinnacle of the pilgrimage, the pilgrims will stand on the plain of Arafat, where they praise God, plead for forgiveness and make supplications. Many carry prayer requests from loved ones and raise their hands in worship with tears streaming down their faces.</p><p>___</p><p>Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s <a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/cKXMu0Avw3-3G8J4E96GlO5hHXI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QQXPI4YQ7NCKHCLN7BLONJJPOE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4003" width="6004"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A Muslim pilgrim splashes water over his head too cool down outside the Grand Mosque during the annual hajj pilgrimage at the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Altaf Qadri</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DqBMpjY8dQW_tVfTVy8p63EUQC0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3MM4676KFVGDVBDDI7ITQMZYUI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4580" width="6870"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This photograph made with a slow shutter speed shows Muslim pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Altaf Qadri</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/u42hyK_dtu3lGVaJ4v1n9-RsEx8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZCQHOAL3LFBOHONDWYWQESNJ6I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1923" width="2884"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A Muslim pilgrim prays in front of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site in the holy city of Mecca during the annual hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Altaf Qadri</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9AD8U-9E9l9tiKzEfp5jk-GO0D0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3RJVZGSVURADTK5JP3IXHPFXUA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5417" width="8125"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A Muslim pilgrim reacts as a volunteer sprays water to cool them outside the Grand Mosque during the annual hajj pilgrimage at the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Altaf Qadri</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IcbwUzs15TKSvUiEfDkwGeiSeqg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SLFGWVQWZJD7ZLEZHTM46CTYJE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2861" width="3814"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A group of Muslim pilgrims discuss the rituals of circumambulating the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Altaf Qadri</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Festival in the Park closes with tribute to Bedford Boys, local D-Day heroes]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/24/history-through-music-may24/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/24/history-through-music-may24/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Bella Walser]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Festival in the Park ended on a powerful note this Memorial Day weekend as Johnny Lex and the Allies paid tribute to the Bedford Boys, local heroes whose sacrifice at Omaha Beach on D-Day left a lasting mark on Bedford County. ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 08:46:05 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Festival in the Park drew crowds to Elmwood Park this Memorial Day weekend, but Sunday night’s stage had a special purpose — telling local history through music.</p><p>Johnny Lex and the Allies used their final set to tell the story of the Bedford Boys, a group of men from Bedford County who landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Nineteen of those men died, a loss that hit the small town harder than almost anywhere else in the country.</p><p>“That memorial is in Bedford County because per capita they lost more boys per county than any other county in the nation,” said David Merritt, percussionist for Johnny Lex and the Allies.</p><p>For the band, music is more than entertainment — it’s a vehicle for preserving stories that might otherwise fade.</p><p>“Things that you learn in school, book-type things, they’re so easy to forget, and so when you put something to music all of a sudden it clicks in your head,” said Danielle Elaine, vocalist for Johnny Lex and the Allies.</p><p>Daniel Kepel, the band’s violinist, agreed that music carries a unique emotional power.</p><p>“Music goes straight to the heart,” Kepel said. “It touches people in a way that even storytelling doesn’t.”</p><p>Lead singer Johnny Lex said the band is intentional about weaving meaningful narratives into their performances.</p><p>“When you utilize music you can really emphasize a story in a very beautiful way,” Lex said. “Whatever we hear, any interesting stories, as a band we bounce that off each other.”</p><p>Saxophonist Scott Bull said music’s ability to bridge generations makes it an especially powerful tool for keeping history alive.</p><p>“Music touches people across generations,” Bull said. “Young people listen to old music, old people listen to young music, and it just runs the gamut of generations.”</p><p>The close of Festival in the Park linked local music to local history just ahead of Memorial Day — a reminder that music can keep memories alive.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Memorial Day: Share your photos with us via Pin It to honor fallen heroes]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/features/2026/05/22/memorial-day-share-your-photos-with-us-via-pin-it-to-honor-fallen-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/features/2026/05/22/memorial-day-share-your-photos-with-us-via-pin-it-to-honor-fallen-heroes/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[If you are remembering a loved one this Memorial Day or celebrating your freedom, you can send your pictures to Pin It. Our team monitors Pin It regularly for features online and on TV!]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:41:41 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who died while serving our country.</p><p>If you are remembering a loved one this Memorial Day or celebrating your freedom, you can send your pictures to <a href="https://www.wsls.com/pins/" target="_blank">Pin It.</a> Our team monitors Pin It regularly for features online and on TV!</p><p><a href="https://www.wsls.com/features/2026/05/22/list-memorial-day-events-honoring-fallen-heroes-in-central-southwest-virginia/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.wsls.com/features/2026/05/22/list-memorial-day-events-honoring-fallen-heroes-in-central-southwest-virginia/"><b>[Memorial Day events honoring fallen heroes in Central, Southwest Virginia]</b></a></p><p><a href="https://www.wsls.com/pins/" target="_blank">Pin It </a>first-timer? No worries - it’s actually pretty easy! (And if you have any issues, you can <a href="https://help.wsls.com/hc/en-us" target="_blank"><i><b>click here</b></i></a> to get help)</p><h3><i><b>How to use </b></i><a href="https://www.wsls.com/pins/"><i><b>Pin It:</b></i></a></h3><ul><li>Upload your photo to <a href="https://www.wsls.com/pins/">Pin It</a> under the <a href="https://www.wsls.com/pins/">“Holidays” channel,</a></li><li>Select <a href="https://www.wsls.com/pins/">“Memorial Day” </a>as the category for your photo,</li><li>Tell us who is in the photo or give a brief description (optional),</li><li>Hit submit</li></ul>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/WeifzbmVaRSo1LMo-cDxwLSwmQU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YRY6MWUX6VHPFP3NRRE35FAAZM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1280" width="1920"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Consumer Reports: How to pick the right sunscreen]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/25/consumer-reports-how-to-pick-the-right-sunscreen/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/25/consumer-reports-how-to-pick-the-right-sunscreen/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brittany Morgan]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Before you hit the beach or fire up the grill, make sure you have sunscreen on hand! Consumer Reports has just released its annual sunscreen ratings after testing over 100 products.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 08:31:41 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Beach days, backyard barbecues, and lots of sunshine: summer is almost here. But before you soak it all in, you’ll need a good sunscreen, and Consumer Reports is here to help you with their annual sunscreen ratings. </p><p>From sprays to lotions, Consumer Reports tested more than 100 sunscreens this year. </p><p>SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of protection against the sun’s ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer. To test this, technicians apply a measured amount of sunscreen to small sections of skin, then expose those areas to controlled UV light to see how well it actually prevents sunburn. </p><p>For water-resistant sunscreens, panelists actually soak in a tub for up to 80 minutes, depending on the product’s water-resistance claim, before the UV exposure. </p><p>“A lot of the sunscreens in our ratings did not meet their SPF claim on their label, but that doesn’t mean that they still don’t protect you against the sun’s rays,” said Trisha Calvo with Consumer Reports. “It’s really important to use sunscreen. Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen.” </p><p>Consumer Reports also tests for UVA protection, which are the rays linked to aging, as well as skin cancer, by shining UV light through sunscreen-coated plates to measure how much gets through. </p><p>“We found in our tests that some of them are really great at protecting against the UV rays, but others don’t do such a great job,” said Calvo.</p><p>At the top of CR’s ratings with a perfect overall score: Coppertone Water Babies Lotion SPF 50. Among sprays, Eucerin Advanced Hydration Spray SPF 50, came out on top. </p><p>So, a lotion or a spray? </p><p>“It’s easier to see how much you’re applying and to get better coverage with a lotion,” Calvo explained.</p><p>Experts say you need about an ounce—roughly a shot glass—to cover your body and reapply every two hours. </p><p>“Sprays can be good. They’re certainly convenient, but they also carry some risks. You can inhale them. They often blow away in the wind. It’s not easy to see how much you’re applying to your skin.” </p><p>To properly use a spray: spray until your skin glistens, then rub it in. </p><p>Bottom line? Testing shows not all sunscreens perform the same, but using one, and using it the right way, can make all the difference. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IBu55NEdhFE2cMG-01DCwUnk8Bk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2YTUDQV3NNBU5FSOYIR56BX25M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="720" width="1280"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Sunscreen]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[LIST: Memorial Day events honoring fallen heroes in Central, Southwest Virginia ]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/features/2026/05/22/list-memorial-day-events-honoring-fallen-heroes-in-central-southwest-virginia/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/features/2026/05/22/list-memorial-day-events-honoring-fallen-heroes-in-central-southwest-virginia/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[As many take the time to honor the fallen heroes, numerous Memorial Day events will take place in our region.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:32:48 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Memorial Day, countless Americans in the Commonwealth and across the nation will honor the brave military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. </p><p>Memorial Day serves as a time for reflection and remembrance, centered around American history and tradition. As many take the time to honor the fallen heroes who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, numerous events will take place in our region as well.</p><p>Here’s a look at events happening in our area to recognize Memorial Day:</p><h3><a href="https://evergreenburialpark.com/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://evergreenburialpark.com/"><b>Roanoke | Memorial Day Observance at Evergreen Burial Park</b></a></h3><p><b>When:</b> Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. </p><p><b>Where:</b> Evergreen Burial Park at 1307 Summit Avenue</p><p><b>What: </b>The “A Soldier’s Story” ceremony aims to bring history and sacrifice to life, featuring period reenactors, participants in historic costumes, and the playing of taps by Gary Duerk. </p><h3><a href="https://www.trailtorecovery.org/222422" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.trailtorecovery.org/222422"><b>Lynchburg | 222-Mile Memorial Day Convoy</b></a></h3><ul><li><b>When/where:</b> </li><li><ul><li>Saturday, May 23</li><li>The official start begins at 9:40 a.m. at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond and ends at the <b>Lynchburg Veterans Memorial</b> at 901 Jefferson Street at about <b>5:45 p.m.</b></li></ul></li><li><b>What:</b> The 222-mile convoy will travel across Central Virginia from Richmond to Lynchburg, stopping at military cemeteries and monuments along the way. The event is meant to honor fallen service members lost to suicide. </li></ul><h3><a href="https://allevents.in/vinton/the-murph-challenge-at-boomtown-crossfit/100001987101253340" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://allevents.in/vinton/the-murph-challenge-at-boomtown-crossfit/100001987101253340"><b>Vinton | The Murph Challenge</b></a></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> BoomTown CrossFit at 703 Tinker Avenue in Vinton</p><p><b>What:</b> All proceeds from this event will go to LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. </p><h3><a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Memorial-Day/National-Memorial-Day-Observance" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Memorial-Day/National-Memorial-Day-Observance"><b>Arlington | Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Observance</b></a></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, pre-event programming will begin at 10:45, with the formal program starting at approximately 12 p.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> In the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery</p><p><b>What:</b> The 158th National Memorial Day Observance will recognize and commemorate the fallen men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. The annual event is free and open to the public. Please note that seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.</p><h3><b>Dublin | Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery</b></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery at 5550 Bagging Plant Road in Dublin</p><p><b>What:</b> The annual ceremony will be held at the state veterans cemetery to honor and remember all men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country from the Revolutionary War 250 years ago to the present day. American flags will be placed at each grave in the cemetery prior to the ceremony. The event is free to attend. </p><h3><a href="https://www.dday.org/events/honoring-the-fallen-memorial-day-2/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.dday.org/events/honoring-the-fallen-memorial-day-2/"><b>Bedford | National D-Day Memorial Day Observance </b></a></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. </p><p><b>Where:</b> National D-Day Memorial in Bedford </p><p><b>What:</b> The National D-Day Memorial will host “Honoring the Fallen: A Memorial Day Observance.” Admission is free until noon. The memorial will feature guest speaker Ami Waldron, a Roanoke native who has lived in Bedford County for the last two decades. She says military service is a significant part of her family’s story. In November 2022, her youngest son, Codey Donahue, an airborne infantryman in the 82nd Airborne, passed away. </p><h3><b>Buchanan | American Legion Post 93 Memorial Day Ceremony </b></h3><p><b>When: </b>Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. </p><p><b>Where:</b> Fairview Cemetery at 111 Fairview Street in Buchanan </p><p><b>What:</b> This event will include various activities, such as a performance of the National Anthem and other musical selections by David Austin and Hannah Austin, a presentation of the colors, and a performance of Taps by Lori Wingo. Food and refreshments will be provided at Solomon’s Mission, following the ceremony.</p><h3><a href="https://www.facebook.com/americanlegionpost62va/posts/pfbid0f9w2KtSxQkDr5S6V8ChfiLd1LVfLjEaRoRhDEK16Agw4ZAS7CmEJVettp9v8UbXtl" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.facebook.com/americanlegionpost62va/posts/pfbid0f9w2KtSxQkDr5S6V8ChfiLd1LVfLjEaRoRhDEK16Agw4ZAS7CmEJVettp9v8UbXtl"><b>Bedford County | American Legion Post 62 Smith Mountain Lake Memorial Day Observance </b></a></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> The Bedford Library at 13641 Moneta Road</p><p><b>What:</b> The American Legion is set to host an event to honor our fallen heroes. Please note that you will need to walk around the building to get to the memorial.</p><h3><b>Roanoke | Memorial Day Ceremony </b></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 11:30 a.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> Freedom Plaza, 202 Church Ave</p><p><b>What: </b>The City of Roanoke and the Roanoke Valley Veterans Council will hold a special Memorial Day ceremony, featuring the presentation of colors by the Roanoke Valley Regional Honor Guard and a wreath laying.</p><h3><b>Radford | Opening ceremony for a ‘Tribute to Heroes’ set for Memorial Day</b></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 2 p.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> Glencoe Mansion at 600 Unruh Dr in Radford</p><p><b>What:</b> The ceremony will be the official start of the 2026 season of “A Tribute to Heroes,” and will include remarks from Virginia Delegate Jason Ballard, Virginia DAR District VII Director Karen Finch, Radford Mayor David Horton, City Manager Todd Meredith, and the Reverend Jenene Lewis. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will also include an Honor Salute from Radford VFW Post 776.</p><h3><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1718726402896356/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.facebook.com/events/1718726402896356/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D"><b>Christiansburg | Memorial Day Ceremony American Legion Post 59</b></a></h3><p><b>When:</b> Monday, May 25, at 6 p.m.</p><p><b>Where:</b> Sunset Cemetery – at the Flagpole in Christiansburg</p><p><i>Did we miss an event? Submit a ticket here: </i><a href="https://help.wsls.com/home/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://help.wsls.com/home/"><i>help.wsls.com/home/</i></a> </p><p> </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zv2ykWAkCz6D4mjdzgrVoizNPfk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3TNFCZSXNREFPLUQEPHFSRE6DQ.png" type="image/png" height="1125" width="2000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[As many take the time to honor the fallen heroes, numerous Memorial Day events will take place in our region.]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Global shares gain and oil prices fall after Trump says talks on ending the war are proceeding]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/05/25/asian-shares-mostly-gain-and-oil-prices-fall-after-trump-says-peace-talks-on-iran-war-are-proceeding/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/05/25/asian-shares-mostly-gain-and-oil-prices-fall-after-trump-says-peace-talks-on-iran-war-are-proceeding/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Global shares are mostly higher and oil prices have dropped after U.S. President Donald Trump said talks on ending the war with Iran are progressing.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 02:35:35 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Global shares mostly rose Monday and oil prices sank more than $4 after U.S. President Donald Trump said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-states-war-ceasefire-negotiations-hormuz-1c283f26d037102cc5e6f798546d0e59">talks on ending the war</a> with Iran are progressing. </p><p>France's CAC 40 edged up 1.1% to 8,203.32, while the German DAX rose 1.0% to 25,148.39. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.2% to 10,466.26. Trading will be closed in the U.S. for the Memorial Day holiday. </p><p>In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 2.9% to finish at 65,158.19. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 8,692.00. The Shanghai Composite gained nearly 1% to 4,152.57. Trading was closed in South Korea and Hong Kong for holidays marking Buddha's birthday. </p><p>Trump said negotiations with Iran were “proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner.” Meanwhile, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday that the United States <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-ceasefire-negotiations-hormuz-e603a7759d6cbd70ce5ed01f439a29dc">is close to reaching a deal</a> with Iran <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">that would end the war</a>, reopen the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/strait-of-hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a> and see Iran give up its stockpile of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-uranium-grossi-iaea-isfahan-trump-be1e70b842638e69efeb07417bf78d41">highly enriched uranium</a>, </p><p>Reopening the Strait of Hormuz will help decide the direction of oil prices. Its closure due to the war has prevented oil tankers from exiting the Persian Gulf and delivering crude to customers worldwide. Japan, for instance, imports almost all its oil, most of it through the strait. </p><p>“Markets are rapidly transitioning from pricing geopolitical fear toward pricing a potential peace dividend as Hormuz reopening expectations pressure oil and the dollar lower,” analyst Stephen Innes said in a commentary.</p><p>On Friday, the S&P 500 added 0.4% and the Dow industrials climbed 0.6%. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%.</p><p>Benchmark U.S. crude oil declined $4.77, or more than 4%, to $91.83 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, sank $4.86 to $98.68 a barrel. </p><p>In currency trading, the U.S. dollar declined to 158.95 Japanese yen from 159.16 yen. The euro cost $1.1644, up from $1.1605. </p><p>Recent earnings reports from U.S. companies that topped analysts’ expectations are helping markets, though concerns over <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-consumer-iran-war-3f11b7fdd20ea56d2f0895e5241af7b6">inflation</a> have risen as the war has dragged on. </p><p>___</p><p>Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: <a href="https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama">https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/AmwaeEy7RfKoM5RZL3dptOYceQs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/67BWU7FDFBCKRHIMQSNLTZMJPI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2829" width="4243"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index, seen through the glass wall of an office building in Tokyo, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eugene Hoshiko</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iP9GB3-noQaNGhn5lDdYJixOuyg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/H6V3ZEW6DFA33HAJGC7DDYDMWY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2641" width="3961"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A board above the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange displays the closing number for the Dow Jones industrial average, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Richard Drew</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/eDnhwZqlBcvkkUQXaiZ7eGw1mXo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YYHPQ5MTBNAMFIWEU5GEKU5GYA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3770" width="5656"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Specialist Michael Pistillo wears pants adorned with American flags as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Richard Drew</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[What to say instead of ‘Happy Memorial Day’]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/features/2020/05/25/what-to-say-instead-of-happy-memorial-day/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/features/2020/05/25/what-to-say-instead-of-happy-memorial-day/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michelle Ganley]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day still seems to trip people up, although it shouldn't. So, what do you say on Memorial Day compared to Veterans Day?]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2021 12:38:53 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day still seems to trip people up, although it shouldn’t.</p><p>As a quick refresher, on Memorial Day, we remember those who died while serving our country. Veterans Day is intended to honor the service of all people who have worn armed services uniforms.</p><p>So, what do you say on Memorial Day to someone who might be struggling -- a widow, a veteran or anyone who’s been affected by a military member’s death? What do you say to someone who served?</p><p>The website <a href="https://www.diversityinc.com/memorial-day-means-not-veterans-day-approach-veterans/" target="_blank">DiversityInc</a> wrote about this very topic.</p><p>“This common misconception, that Memorial Day is a time to thank veterans, is not in fact what the holiday is intended for,” the site says.</p><h4><b>Here are some ideas on what you can say instead. Try something like:</b></h4><ul><li>“Enjoy your weekend, but I want you to know that I will be remembering what this holiday is about.”</li><li>“Enjoy your weekend, and I will be thinking about those who are no longer with us.”</li><li>“I will be taking a moment this weekend to honor those who served our nation and are no longer with us.”</li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2017/05/28/530504781/words-youll-hear-memorial-day-dos-and-donts" target="_blank">NPR</a> simply suggests, “I hope you’re having a meaningful day.”</li></ul><p>Those seem preferable to:</p><ul><li>“Thank you for your service.”</li><li>“Happy Memorial Day.”</li><li>“Is this a difficult weekend for you?”</li><li>“How many friends did you lose on your deployments?”</li></ul><p>It might be hard to approach any veterans you might know, but saying something meaningful really could make all the difference for someone having a difficult day.</p><p>Before you think this is splitting hairs, consider that what you say matters.</p><p>While it’s certainly not “wrong” to wish someone a <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/happy-memorial-day-problem_l_5ce461b2e4b0547bd12e74a0" target="_blank">“Happy Memorial Day,”</a> and it’s safe to assume most people are well-intentioned, it seems as though taking a few minutes to say the <b>right</b> thing will mean that much more.</p><p>After all, the day is about more than backyard parties and barbecues. Let’s prove it by taking a moment to examine our words.</p><p><i>This story was first published in 2019. It has since been updated.</i></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dYztRMNKujIyVQ-TrCcOisagA2E=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/X7P6JW4NIRC5ZKZSINJOPCU2MA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3712" width="5568"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Memorial Day is just around the corner.]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Healthwatch: Do’s and don’ts of grilling out on Memorial Day]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/25/healthwatch-dos-and-donts-of-grilling-out-on-memorial-day/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/25/healthwatch-dos-and-donts-of-grilling-out-on-memorial-day/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[If you’re planning to grill out for Memorial Day or really any day this summer, it’s important to make sure you’re practicing food safety. Every year, millions of Americans get sick from food poisoning. ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 08:19:13 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you’re planning to grill out for Memorial Day or really any day this summer, it’s important to make sure you’re practicing food safety. </p><p>Every year, millions of Americans get sick from food poisoning. </p><p>“The most important thing when you’re preparing meat for a grill is making sure that you marinate your food ahead of time in the refrigerator. Don’t leave your food out sitting at room temperature while you’re marinating it. If that means marinating it the night before, the day of, but just making sure that if you are marinating anything, you’re going to make sure that you keep it in the refrigerator,” advised Beth Czerwony, RD, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic.</p><p>Czerwony said when food is kept out at room temperature for too long, it makes it easier for bacteria to multiply which can be dangerous. </p><p>The same goes for cross-contamination. </p><p>You don’t want to use the same cutting board or knives for raw meat and vegetables. </p><p>It’s also important to make sure you’re cooking meat to the right temperature. </p><p>According to the USDA, beef, steaks, chops and roasts should be heated to 145 degrees before resting for at least three minutes. </p><p>Ground meats should be cooked to 160 degrees and ground poultry to 165 degrees. </p><p>“Hot dogs themselves are already pre-cooked, but you want to make sure that when you are doing hot dogs on the grill, that it’s cooked all the way through, it’s heated all the way through. So, using a meat thermometer might be something that you want to invest in if you’re not quite sure,” she said.</p><p>Czerwony said sometimes people will get nervous about the char on meat while grilling. </p><p>She said to help avoid that, be sure to pre-clean your grill and avoid cooking meat right over the flame. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/o1t0UDuEx_8yUQK9O_17xADdVXE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/J4WG2ATFYFDOJBBBK7HJ6FBMHQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2848" width="4272"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Virginia Gas Prices: Cheapest and most expensive places to fill up - May 25, 2026]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/2026/05/25/virginia-gas-prices-cheapest-and-most-expensive-places-to-fill-up-may-25-2026/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/2026/05/25/virginia-gas-prices-cheapest-and-most-expensive-places-to-fill-up-may-25-2026/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jazmine Otey]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Gas prices continue to increase nationwide and across the Commonwealth, with millions of Americans feeling the pain at the pump. ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 08:13:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Drivers nationwide are still feeling the pain at the pump as gas prices continue to fluctuate. 10 News is working for you to break down what drivers can expect across the region on Memorial Day.</p><p>As millions head home after the holiday weekend, AAA is reporting gas prices at a four-year high. But while national prices continue to trend upward, the good news is that Virginia prices are starting to pump the brakes, just a little, as they slightly decrease. </p><p>As of Monday, May 25, the Virginia average for regular gas is $4.387, according to AAA. Premium averages $5.224 per gallon, while diesel averages $5.485 per gallon. </p><p>Wondering where you can find gas on the cheaper side? We’ve got you covered!</p><p>According to GasBuddy:</p><ul><li>In Roanoke, the Sam’s Club on Towne Square Boulevard continues to be a good place to save. It has regular gas at $3.89 per gallon and premium at $4.29 per gallon. Additionally, the BJ’s on Hershberger Road has regular gas at $3.89 per gallon, premium at $4.33, and diesel at $4.93. Walmart on Plantation Road is also worth mentioning, as it has regular for $3.91 per gallon, premium for $4.33, and diesel for $4.91.</li><li>Traveling to the Southside area, GasBuddy reports regular gas at $3.93 per gallon at the Walmart at 261 Nor-Dan Drive in Danville. Another place with low prices is Murphy USA at 474 Mount Cross Road in Danville, with regular gas for $3.95 per gallon, premium for $4.77, and diesel for $4.94, according to GasBuddy.</li><li>As for Lynchburg, drivers can get regular gas for $4.07 per gallon and premium for $4.87 at the Sheetz at 14480 Wards Road.</li></ul><p>Count on 10 News to bring you the latest price at the pump every morning.</p><p><a href="https://www.gasbuddy.com/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.gasbuddy.com/"><b>To find out where the lowest fuel prices are near you, visit GasBuddy’s website.</b></a></p><p>Since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint war against Iran on Feb. 28, the cost of crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, has spiked and swung rapidly. That’s because the conflict has caused deep <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-supply-chain-disruption-8f262bb210710b7509221a3dccf787c9">supply chain disruptions</a> and cuts from major oil producers across the Middle East. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/NQsBOQvNRuNclTdfXCjQ7UlJudE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HI2MWJRN5RA6FO6BNY2ACFBUWE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1999" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Nam Y. Huh</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[4 dead, 17 mostly workers still missing, in collapse of unfinished hotel in the Philippines]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/3-dead-17-mostly-workers-still-missing-in-collapse-of-unfinished-hotel-in-philippines/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/3-dead-17-mostly-workers-still-missing-in-collapse-of-unfinished-hotel-in-philippines/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Gomez, Joeal Calupitan And Aaron Favila, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Rescuers have pulled three people from the rubble of a collapsed nine-story hotel under construction in Angeles City, Philippines.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 06:01:44 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Rescuers pulled out three people Monday from an immense pile of rubble that was all that remained of a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philippines-building-collapse-missing-006061ba614cf54656a19c1f4b429877">nine-story hotel</a> which collapsed while under construction in a northern Philippine city, bringing the death toll to four with 17 others still missing, officials said.</p><p>Two of the men were dead, while emergency personnel struggled in the early morning hours to revive one in an ambulance near the pile of concrete slabs, twisted iron bars and aluminum scaffoldings that was all that remained of the building in Angeles City of Pampanga Province. They eventually gave up and drove away.</p><p>The poignant scene was witnessed by a small group of journalists, including from The Associated Press, who watched hundreds of rescuers led by firefighters and police scrambling for hours to extricate the men, who were at the time alive but trapped under concrete slabs and iron bars.</p><p>Rescuers tried to provide water and medicine intravenously to one of the trapped men in a desperate effort to keep him alive in the scorching summer heat, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez told the AP.</p><p>“He never made it despite all the efforts,” he said.</p><p>One of the three people pulled out from the rubble on Monday was unidentified and was not on the list of the 17 missing, who were mostly construction workers, according to Angeles city information chief Jay Pelayo.</p><p>The fourth dead victim was a Malaysian tourist trapped in a budget inn that was partly hit by the avalanche of debris from the collapsed building. Another guest at the inn was injured but managed to dash out, officials said.</p><p>A day after the unfinished building collapsed with a loud crashing sound after a fierce thunderstorm, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin said rescue efforts would still not be shifted to a body retrieval operation.</p><p>“My best hope is that we can rescue more people alive,” Lazatin told the AP. “We don’t want to give the families of the trapped workers any bad news.”</p><p>Anxiety and fear among relatives of the trapped workers, who are waiting in sheds near the rubble, have deepened.</p><p>“I’m losing hope because of what I see — slow rescue work,” said Lea Mendoza Casilao, a 47-year-old sardine factory worker whose boyfriend, a mason, was among those still trapped in the rubble.</p><p>She brought a week’s supply of rice and sardines for him at the construction site, but she said they would never meet as scheduled over the weekend after the building where he was sleeping crumbled before dawn on Sunday.</p><p>Lazatin said rescuers were moving carefully because huge slabs of concrete were being held up precariously by a tangle of aluminum scaffolding and could crash down on rescuers.</p><p>Twenty-six workers were either rescued or managed to run out of the collapsing building, where they slept on pieces of plywood on the ground floor. </p><p>National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said his force will support an “ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the incident and possible violations of safety and building regulations.”</p><p>Angeles City hosted one of the largest <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-politics-united-states-government-philippines-manila-7889867cb056cf365c5a8fd49d16b52d">U.S. Air Force bases</a> outside of the American mainland, helping turn Angeles and outlying cities and towns into entertainment and commercial hubs in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon.</p><p>Clark Air Base, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Manila, closed in the early 1990s. The former base has become a bustling industrial and tourism enclave called the Clark Freeport Zone, and is still surrounded by remnants of U.S. base-era red-light strips, bars, nightclubs, tattoo shops and budget hotels.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/S8CC8Zj6J2xLh9kSVuLGCywF67o=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5CQERQEBSNEMDJRQJ3SMV5W24U.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4882" width="7323"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Workers cut cables during a search operation at a collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/J3tY3LMLmr8TxUSRQrfuclVEJXI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YIXVLXRYVNFQTGO6Z4U6NSPMGM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3744" width="5616"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A K9 joins rescuers as they continue search operations at a collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/YnuUbnk_GRv0ikdpkNhoZgiI_R0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VWJXF4JFFBAIPLPHC7SEMOMJ4Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4980" width="7469"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Rescuers stand beside ruins as search operations continue at a collapsed building in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/z-H2LMsil5xHXdhlSk9EpULSzp8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3BO7YAKYE5AOTAQE7OQUVQ76PU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1700" width="2341"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Rescuers continue search operations at a collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/4d_q6scKMpu2Cze73rR_F7RP-5E=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OKPUPPVD55BFNJXD2SI7YCTDKE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4994" width="7490"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A dog stands beside a damaged pick-up truck at the ruins of a collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines, Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Australian spy boss says he shifted resources from counterterrorism before Hanukkah attack]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/australian-spy-boss-says-he-shifted-resources-from-counterterrorism-before-hanukkah-attack/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/australian-spy-boss-says-he-shifted-resources-from-counterterrorism-before-hanukkah-attack/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rod Mcguirk, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[An Australian spy agency boss has told an inquiry he had pivoted resources away from counterterrorism to espionage a few years before two gunmen massacred 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 05:31:11 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An Australian spy agency boss told an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-antisemitism-bondi-shooting-royal-commission-jewish-268d18b155876f1f44ffaffaf7d658d3">inquiry</a> on Monday he had pivoted resources away from counterterrorism to espionage and foreign interference investigations a few years before two gunmen <a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-bondi-shooting-jewish-bca2e99f86d0e2980fe7f53b87abbddf">massacred 15 people</a> at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration.</p><p>Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nation’s main domestic spy agency known as ASIO, was testifying at a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-shooting-sydney-antisemitism-inquiry-bondi-beach-93ffa34be7d8d2b6ab4582efff6f19a6">government inquiry</a> into the spread of antisemitism in Australia ahead of the attack at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14.</p><p>ASIO reduced Australia’s National Terrorism Threat Level from “probable” to “possible” — the second-safest level on a five-tier scale -- in November 2022, after the Islamic State group in the Middle East had been defeated and was no longer recruiting fighters.</p><p>ASIO then shifted to increase its focus on foreign interference and espionage investigations, but left the organization’s “counterterrorism mission” with sufficient resources, Burgess said.</p><p>“Because terrorism has the potential to cause people to lose their lives or get harmed, it always remained a priority for us. There was just less activity that we were investigating because the nature of the environment had changed and the number of tasks we were looking at had reduced,” Burgess said.</p><p>“At the same time, every rock we lifted up we found espionage or foreign interference that needed to be inquired and investigated and so resources were moved over there,” Burgess added.</p><p>Spy boss had sounded alarm after the Hamas Oct. 7 attack </p><p>Five days after the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Hamas-led attack</a> on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Burgess said he took an unprecedented step for an ASIO boss by making a public statement warning that inflamed language could lead to violence.</p><p>“Before the Israeli government responded to that horrific attack, we saw the strong emotions appear in this country where we had people celebrating the Hamas terrorist attack,” Burgess said.</p><p>ASIO saw threatening and intimidating behavior directed at Jewish Australians through the end of 2023. That behavior escalated to target Jewish businesses and places of worship in October 2024, he said.</p><p>ASIO elevated Australia’s terrorism threat level again to “probable” in August 2024. ASIO's resources became stretched as antisemitic cases mounted, Burgess said.</p><p>'We knew we were busy and had a lot on our plate, but ... at no time did we have serious matters that we knew about that we were leaving untreated," Burgess said.</p><p>Hanukkah event was given the lowest security priority </p><p>Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, the highest form of inquiry in Australia, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bondi-royal-commission-shooters-antisemitism-australia-4ea9dc7ab8db5d4b1edc869413e3111c">must report</a> to the government before the first anniversary of what was the nation’s worst mass shooting since 1996.</p><p>The father and son gunmen, Sajid and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bondi-shooting-naveed-akram-hanukkah-jewish-sydney-0ba76941c60ed68950e69a59db722b3e">Naveed Akram</a>, were inspired by IS and brought handmade IS flags to Bondi, prosecutors allege.</p><p>Both were wounded in a gunfight with police, the father fatally, less than eight minutes after the shooting began. The son has been charged with committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder. He has entered no pleas.</p><p>Richard Lancaster, who leads a team of lawyers in his role as the Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission, said only four police officers were at the event when the gunmen opened fire on a crowd of around 1,000 people.</p><p>Within 29 seconds of the start of the shooting, 10 people had been fatally shot and an 11th had been wounded, Lancaster said.</p><p>Within five minutes, 11 police officers were at the scene. Three of those officers were wounded, he said.</p><p>A Jewish security organization, the Community Security Group, had requested the New South Wales Police Force post officers at the beachfront park for the duration of the Hanukkah event, Lancaster said. Instead, officers were instructed to attend from time to time.</p><p>Police gave the Hanukkah celebration the lowest security priority on a three-tier scale, with police resources managed by a local commander, Lancaster said.</p><p>Jewish High Holy Days in September and October were top-tier events in which police resources were managed by the specialized Police Force Major Events Group in liaison with the paramilitary Police Force Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command.</p><p>“There is no evidence that any intelligence agency or law enforcement agency had any actual knowledge or specific information to suggest there might be an armed attack on the Hanukkah celebration,” Lancaster said.</p><p>“In that sense, it was a surprise attack,” he added.</p><p>___</p><p>This story has been corrected to show that Burgess said the agency’s counterterrorism mission was left with sufficient resources.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7JiRlQqH-7mge3Nz-X1RF1bja68=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K6U4WEYWFFHYDMEO3R4SBI2SZM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5334" width="8000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - People attend a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors, at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, following the Bondi shooting on Dec. 14. (AP Photo/Mark Baker,File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark Baker</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Z20xV3YOZpucBWkO-JD8nS7n_ao=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MIOY46YXFRCNBP2GVSMZYJDNK4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Police cordon off an area at Bondi Beach after a reported shooting in Sydney, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark Baker</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Z8F8IeYtZWJwmIYe_S9ldKZ7EmQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZEE6JUOMHZANJPHMWO3AKNS2UM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4973" width="7460"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Police patrol in the early morning at Sydney's Bondi Beach, Dec. 15, 2025, following the previous day's shooting. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark Baker</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drone attacks raise fears as Colombians vote to elect a new president]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/drone-attacks-raise-fears-as-colombians-vote-to-elect-a-new-president/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/25/drone-attacks-raise-fears-as-colombians-vote-to-elect-a-new-president/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Astrid Suárez, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Gladys Marín is unsure if she will vote in Colombia's presidential election due to safety fears.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 07:02:47 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gladys Marín only has to cross the street to reach a school where polling stations will open Sunday in her small town in <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/colombia">Colombia</a>. But she's still not sure she'll make the short walk, because fears for her safety could outweigh the chance to vote for the country’s next president.</p><p>Her home in the southwestern village of Potrerito sits less than 100 meters (320 feet) from the police station, which has become <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombian-soldiers-drone-attack-98c4ad157ef5af342f9f3a56097f5b78">a frequent target for drone-dropped explosives</a>. Authorities blame the attacks on a rebel faction that rejected a peace agreement <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ff46712edd50449f8966a942026818cb">signed a decade ago</a> with the Colombian government.</p><p>"You have to stay alert to what is happening, because we live very close to the police station,” Marín said from her porch in this town about 470 kilometers from the capital, Bogotá.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/colombia">Colombia</a> will elect a new president and vice president on May 31 in what has been cast as a referendum on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-colombia-caribbean-presidential-56620b5368ae476b30252d7230b56608">President Gustavo Petro’s</a> policies, most notably his controversial <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-total-peace-gustavo-petro-armed-conflict-37008a28aff9f07740e0e43dc9c8d91d">“total peace”</a> initiative to negotiate with the country’s remaining rebel groups.</p><p>By most accounts, violence tied to armed groups has worsened under Petro's watch.</p><p>According to Colombia's Electoral Observation Mission, 386 municipalities, or about a third of the country, are vulnerable to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-attacks-farc-emc-election-7ac52e6856ee13bbed22575a89383d56">violence from illegal armed groups</a>, and data from the Ideas for Peace Foundation think tank indicates that roughly 27,000 people remain under arms nationwide.</p><p>Drone attacks change the landscape of violence</p><p>In Robles, a neighboring town in the Jamundi municipality, the streets leading to the police station are blocked by improvised barricades. The police are entrenched in sentry posts, using shelters made of sandbags and black fabric to scan the sky for any approaching drones.</p><p>“You pass by the police station with this sense of dread, looking up, hoping you won’t run into a nasty surprise,” said Eucaris Zamora, who had to vacate her home after a cylinder bomb struck it in October, leaving the building partially destroyed.</p><p>Guillermo Londoño, a security official in the region of Valle del Cauca, where Jamundi is located, said illegal armed groups in the area have sought to maximize damage through simultaneous, “swarm-style” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombian-soldiers-drone-attack-98c4ad157ef5af342f9f3a56097f5b78">drone strikes</a>, marking a shift from previous tactics, where attackers would launch attacks with a single drone, reload it, and then resume their assault.</p><p>Drones modified to drop explosives have altered the dynamics of Colombia’s armed conflict since 2024, posting one of the greatest threats to civilians and security forces alike, particularly along the Venezuelan border, in northern Bolivar province and in southwestern coastal areas.</p><p>Colombia's Defense Ministry reported that drone attacks hit 333 targets in 2025, up from 61 such incidents recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, the army has recorded 107 drone attacks so far this year, which have claimed the lives of two soldiers.</p><p>The problem with Petro's ‘total peace’ plan</p><p>Officials here believe their region has become a casualty of Petro's “total peace” strategy, aimed at putting an end to one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.</p><p>Petro acknowledges that the initiative has failed to achieve its hoped-for outcome of disarming illegal networks, and his approach of being open to talk to every group has hardened up a notch. He has frozen negotiations with some groups due to their continuing violence, though he has kept dialogue open with other organizations.</p><p>A clear divide has emerged between candidates. On one side are those who favor continuing dialogue with illegal groups, such as Sen. Iván Cepeda, of Petro’s political movement. On the other are those who say they would dismantle such efforts and prioritize military pressure, such as Sen. Paloma Valencia, of the opposition Democratic Center, and Abelardo de la Espriella, a self-described admirer of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-white-house-el-salvador-kilmar-abrego-garcia-ad338d6b4558a6aba80e8290fd3eece9">Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele</a> who has vowed to crack down on illegal armed groups.</p><p>Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, believes the violence could worsen if a hawkish candidate is elected.</p><p>“Right-wing candidates propose a ‘hard-line’ response that could exacerbate the violence, because the armed groups will respond to pressure from security forces with terror-style attacks, as they lack the means to respond symmetrically, army-to-army,” Dickinson said.</p><p>In December, gunmen sowed terror in the small southern town of Buenos Aires, launching an attack on the police station that left several officers injured and reduced a local bank and nearby homes to rubble.</p><p>Among the wreckage was the home of 89-year-old Celimo Enrique Aguilar. </p><p>“I haven’t lost faith that, someday, one might be able to live in peace,” he said.</p><p>___</p><p>Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america">https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/f5YfDlKdPHtFbE0pTSJGc5H3e_Q=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E3FT774CEBFHBOZPRHXPBB4VKM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4082" width="6124"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A man rides his motorcycle past the ruins of homes destroyed five months earlier in an attack by dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in Buenos Aires, Cauca, Colombia, Wednesday, May 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Santiago Saldarriaga</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gubVUXM4vEK5DxklSJDp0qy2ZSg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YA2HESKTQVF55GF6DOADCOIXGE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4082" width="6124"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A sign set up by dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, displaying guerrilla leaders stands by a road to Buenos Aires, Cauca, Colombia, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Santiago Saldarriaga</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/VZAaODDULKEXlMQLeQDY-7jOKZA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JWBAUWEC7JBE3LQO67PQXIVRVY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4082" width="6124"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Eucaris Zamora stands in front of her home destroyed during an attack involving drones by a dissident branch of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla group in Robles, Colombia, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Santiago Saldarriaga</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jGTgLnbtSGhAalZg8ye4PJ0Ptgk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7YEHSEIL7RD6NMTC5E4PWLHZ6A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4082" width="6124"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A man rides his motorcycle past a barricade blocking streets in Potrerito, Colombia, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, following attacks by dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Santiago Saldarriaga</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ur_0r8bZKgNgYxM875Ums_mZ9hQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JXVLTL7EIJAV7M2X35APLGA64Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4066" width="6100"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A police officer walks near a branch of the Banco Agrario damaged in an attack by dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in Buenos Aires, Cauca, ahead of Colombia's presidential election, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Santiago Saldarriaga</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young men storm a Congo hospital treating Ebola patients to demand bodies of their kin]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/24/young-men-storm-a-congo-hospital-treating-ebola-patients-to-demand-bodies-of-their-kin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/24/young-men-storm-a-congo-hospital-treating-ebola-patients-to-demand-bodies-of-their-kin/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jean-Yves Kamale And Monika Pronczuk, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A local hospital official says that angry young men stormed a hospital treating Ebola patients at the heart of an outbreak in eastern Congo, demanding the bodies of their relatives.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 22:32:12 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Angry young men stormed a hospital treating <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ebola-virus">Ebola</a> patients at the heart of the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-outbreak-congo-who-africa-disease-80ce505825171f2babe389c50452a7be">latest outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo</a> on Sunday evening, forcing the medical staff to scramble to evacuate the patients as gunfire rang out in the area. </p><p>It was not immediately known if anyone was hurt in the attack on the Mongbwalu General Hospital but Dr. Richard Lokudu, the hospital’s medical director, told The Associated Press the attackers demanded that two bodies of their kin be handed over to them. </p><p>There was gunfire and the medics were trying to evacuate the patients and the staff, Lokudu said over the phone. </p><p>“Mongbwalu General Hospital is on general alert,” he added. He did not have any further details of the unfolding turmoil.</p><p>The attack — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-congo-tents-treatment-fire-e6fb1898865ba6848aa1567aebe7ba30">the third in a week’s time</a> on healthcare facilities where medical workers struggle with lack of resources to treat suspected Ebola cases — underlined the challenges of the outbreak, which the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern.</p><p>Bodies of those who died of Ebola can be highly contagious and lead to further spread when people prepare them for burial and gather for funerals.</p><p>In response to the outbreak, Congolese authorities have mandated that the dangerous work of burying suspected victims be managed wherever possible by authorities, which can be met by protests from families and friends. On Friday, the government said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-outbreak-who-4e08d8df6d9c34039a9e0b8bad7a8954">funeral wakes and gatherings</a> of more than 50 people would be banned in northeastern Congo in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. </p><p>On Saturday, a group of residents of Mongbwalu, located in Ituri province, attacked and set fire to a tent set up for suspected and confirmed Ebola cases by the Doctors Without Borders humanitarian group. </p><p>During that attack, 18 people with suspected Ebola infections left the facility and were now unaccounted for, Lokudu had said earlier. </p><p>On Thursday, another treatment center, in the town of Rwampara, was burned down after family members were banned from retrieving the body of a local man suspected to have died of Ebola.</p><p>WHO has said the outbreak poses a “very high” risk for Congo — up from a previous categorization of “high” — but that the risk of the disease spreading globally remains low.</p><p>Earlier on Sunday, the Congolese Ministry of Communication said on X that there were 904 suspected cases of Ebola, mostly in northeastern Ituri Province — a significant jump from the previously announced more than 700 suspected Ebola cases.</p><p>The ministry also said the total suspected Ebola deaths stood at 119, but the numbers it released separately for each region added up to 220. Officials could not immediately be reached to explain the discrepancy.</p><p>There is no available vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola, which <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-outbreak-who-4e08d8df6d9c34039a9e0b8bad7a8954">spread undetected for weeks</a> in Ituri following the first reported death — in late April in the town of Bunia, the provincial capital — while authorities tested for another, more common, Ebola virus and came up negative. </p><p>The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Saturday that three of its volunteers had died from the outbreak in Mongbwalu. The agency said it believed the three healthcare workers contracted the virus on March 27 while handling dead bodies as part of a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola. </p><p>If confirmed, this would significantly push back the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-outbreak-congo-uganda-disease-who-3c1d951834ddfb91f8a2e41bedefc398">timeline of the outbreak</a>.</p><p>___</p><p>Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jLnMWu92N4ICe2NwBDue66uoaEE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2PV5DBEKJBAHTJPPZKAWLAOHVY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3949" width="5924"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Family members of an Ebola victim mourn as the coffin is taken away for burial, at Sofepadi Hospital in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Daniel Suarez wins the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 after NASCAR honors the late Kyle Busch]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/daniel-suarez-captures-emotional-coca-cola-600-after-nascar-honors-the-late-kyle-busch/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/daniel-suarez-captures-emotional-coca-cola-600-after-nascar-honors-the-late-kyle-busch/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Reed, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Daniel Suarez benefited from a crucial pit call, then caught a break from Mother Nature to win the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, capping an emotional day in which the auto racing world honored the memory of the late Kyle Busch.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:46:30 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When Daniel Suarez was struggling to make his name in auto racing, he would often get phone calls from Kyle Busch offering words of encouragement and urging him to keep working.</p><p>That made his crown jewel Cup Series victory Sunday night all the more special.</p><p>Suarez benefited from a crucial pit call, then caught a break from Mother Nature to win the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, capping an emotional day in which the racing world <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kurt-busch-tributes-indianapolis-500-cocacola-600-60bc7d1bbccae4b88f3b4a6a9f8e98d9">remembered the late Busch</a>.</p><p>Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win the Coke 600. It was his third Cup Series win and first since 2024.</p><p>The victory was especially emotional for Suarez, who previously raced for Kyle Busch Motorsports.</p><p>“Kyle, he was special,” Saurez said as he teared up. “I was doing this for Kyle, for (his wife) Samatha, for (his children) Brexton and Lennix and for all of his family.”</p><p>A non-factor for most of the race, Suarez gambled and took two tires during a late pit stop, then held off Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin on restarts before the race was called when the sky opened up and rain drenched the track shortly before midnight Eastern time.</p><p>NASCAR quickly made the decision to call the race with 27 laps remaining.</p><p>Bell finished second; Hamlin was third.</p><p>The two Joe Gibbs Racing teammates had a chance to catch Suarez on the two restarts, but couldn't clear his No. 7 Chevrolet.</p><p>“It’s a bummer," Bell said, who won the rain-shortened 2024 Coca-Cola 600. "It wasn’t meant to be today. That's 2026 for us.”</p><p>Hamlin said he was “just a little unlucky.”</p><p>“The 20 car (Bell) and us were just really battling because we knew whoever could clear him (would win the race),” Hamlin said. "We were really good all day. We just didn’t get to see it through.”</p><p>The race came just three days after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-kyle-busch-hospitalized-ce84367f25bd5bd04234f60292fde64f">Busch’s death</a> sent shockwaves throughout the motorsports world and beyond. The 41-year-old Busch died after severe pneumonia <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-busch-cause-of-death-d198c16d4cb7e383b7c7e16f6ba471aa">progressed into sepsis</a>, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family.</p><p>The two-time Cup Series champion and winner of a record 234 races across NASCAR’s three national series had become unresponsive while practicing in a Chevrolet simulator Wednesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no details were released by the family.</p><p>Busch's family attended the race and NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell told them they are part of the NASCAR community and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kurt-busch-tributes-indianapolis-500-cocacola-600-60bc7d1bbccae4b88f3b4a6a9f8e98d9">“we got you.”</a></p><p>NASCAR and CMS honored Busch with his No. 8 and signature on the frontstretch grass and a highway billboard near the main entrance of the track. The U.S. Army Golden Knights carried a Busch flag prior to the race and each of the 39 cars in field carried a small, black No. 8 decal.</p><p>Kyle Larson won the first stage race. Hamlin won the second stage and Bell the third.</p><p>Crashing out</p><p>Defending champion Ross Chastain crashed out when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. clipped his car in Turn 2 with 81 laps remaining in the race.</p><p>Connor Zilisch and Austin Cindric only made it 52 laps before getting <a href="https://x.com/NASCAR/status/2058688659822387631?s=20">caught up in a crash</a>. Cindric got turned around and Zilisch came crashing in to the side of his No. 2 Ford, ending both drivers’ day.</p><p>Chase Elliott, a two-time winner this year, hit the outside wall and ping-ponged into the inside wall on Lap 90. That car was beyond repair and he finished 37th.</p><p>“I was trying to make something happen and I stepped over the line,” Elliott said.</p><p>Replacing Busch</p><p>Austin Hill, a regular driver in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for Richard Childress Racing, took Busch's spot in the race and finished 26th. He drove the No. 33 car after RCR <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brexton-busch-kyle-richard-childress-racing-200880317c943523957143ac8f035af9">temporarily retired the No. 8</a> until Busch's 11-year-old son Brexton is ready to drive.</p><p>Austin Dillon, went behind the wall with damage to the front of his car with 56 laps to go, ending any hope of an emotional win for RCR. He finished 32nd.</p><p>___</p><p>AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iP52Qspb1usw6p3lBnxsum6YuZc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6CPCD5OI35AKJMGB5JNRSWL5AU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2666" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Daniel Suarez celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/D02NrqFCHjauIa5kezyJfNHy4sM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QHENA53R7JDQFCXUAGLL4UA2H4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2667" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Daniel Suarez celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vD0sBv_aSk2c2-v3M_lHxr8Nd10=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OSXCBRMZIRFZZBBQBMS33YZNZ4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Austin Hill steers down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5r0pvDBbbtGB9ir3vAni-vsO_Rc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MKZRZ2ATV5BFNA2UZXRRV4BEYA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2666" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Tribute images are displayed on the backstretch videoboard in honor of late driver Kyle Busch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CE_5C-6FTaEs3TdpqpdLjhlzfzw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/P5R3MUI3SRELFO57ORHZEE5KXE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2667" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Daniel Suarez celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Southern California officials trying to prevent explosion or leak from damaged chemical tank]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/25/southern-california-officials-trying-to-prevent-explosion-or-leak-from-damaged-chemical-tank/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/25/southern-california-officials-trying-to-prevent-explosion-or-leak-from-damaged-chemical-tank/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Philip Marcelo, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Authorities are trying to tamp down the risk of a possible explosion or leak of a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 04:13:04 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A <a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-chemical-tank-leak-evacuation-8dca2190fef3db508b9aa218e82d2b9e">damaged chemical tank</a> in Southern California cracked over the weekend, which authorities were hopeful would relieve pressure and reduce the risk of an explosion. </p><p>Some 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, a city of roughly 170,000 about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, have been evacuated and are waiting for a resolution. The tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors, leaving local and state officials scrambling to evade a worst possible scenario at the aerospace company site. </p><p>No injuries have been reported.</p><p>Fire officials planned to send in a team overnight to determine if the pressure has been relieved, which would reduce the worst-case scenario of an explosion, Orange County Fire Authority interim chief TJ McGovern said in a video posted late Sunday to the agency's X account. </p><p>Atmospheric modeling showed an active leak from the tank as of Sunday night, McGovern said. </p><p>Firefighters have repeatedly sprayed the tank with water in an attempt to cool the chemical inside, methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts. The tank's interior reached 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) Sunday, an increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius) since Saturday, according to Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg.</p><p>Fire officials over the weekend discovered the tank had cracked, lowering the potential for a devastating blast. </p><p>Officials working to prevent a disaster</p><p>Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday and said he asked President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration to bolster federal support for local and state officials.</p><p>The tank at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft, holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate used to make plastic parts.</p><p>Monitoring tests found air pollution around the evacuation zone was within normal limits and specialized equipment is being used to ensure gas is not released, state and federal environmental officials said Saturday.</p><p>The first goal of firefighters is to cool off the chemical inside the tank to prevent a leak or explosion.</p><p>Drones were monitoring temperatures at 10-minute intervals to watch for any spikes. Containment barriers have been set up to prevent the chemical from getting into storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said on social media.</p><p>As the interior temperature rises, methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas and increases the pressure, according to Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton, who said the crack could mean product or pressure is being released, reducing the chance of explosion.</p><p>“Think of a soda can. If you leave it in a hot car it can explode,” Whelton said. “But if you put a hole in the can, the product is released and the can itself doesn’t explode.” </p><p>Firefighters are unlikely to consider making a hole in the tank, fearing a spark that might ignite the volatile and flammable gas. An explosion that could spread the chemical over a broad area and send shrapnel flying would be the worst-case scenario, he said.</p><p>Dealing with displacement and health concerns</p><p>Aerial photos taken by The Associated Press showed streets in the area were empty Sunday, while several evacuation shelters were open. At a high school in neighboring La Palma, people slept in cars or on mats and sleeping bags on the asphalt.</p><p>Garden Grove is next to Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Park officials said they were monitoring the situation.</p><p>Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to fact sheets about the chemical.</p><p>Whelton said if an explosion occurs, it will be crucial to conduct detailed air monitoring specifically for methyl methacrylate and not just generic tests for volatile organic compounds as officials did after a 2023 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-eab23ed0fd6577a5cf96e8fd301da681">train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio,</a> which released more than 115,000 gallons (435,000 liters) of vinyl chloride after officials blew open five tank cars and burned the chemical.</p><p>Orange County health officials said the chemical is easy to smell and people may notice it over a large area without being harmed.</p><p>Residents taking legal action</p><p>Some Garden Grove residents filed a class-action federal lawsuit Saturday against GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which operates the facility where the tank is located. Lawyers for the residents argued that regardless of what happens, property values in the surrounding community are sure to be impacted.</p><p>GKN Aerospace did not comment on the lawsuit but has apologized to residents and businesses forced to evacuate. It said Sunday it was “working around the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.” </p><p>GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press journalist Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California, contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Go14diaiJ4YULIAWwq-MxBb6-Wc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RCXJRVKKMFD4LJZE2TCEMYJRVM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3148" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GFxSmlH4FkIohEK0QmGJJqsBXFA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MSLIMS6GANBL3CWISOTSPUCJ6E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2802" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Emergency personnel work at the incident command post at the Los Alamitos Race Course Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Cypress, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qWzLw7YSkT9zEGiDV9ieW56tWaY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WJKKIYKJUZBEHEGN5IARJTJCPU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The streets remain empty in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jb0Jxi5pKnbFqy_FAcCBCbU2zEQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZUFI3MNI3ZFTPM6PG46PV3B4PQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2IA_bvuQexjuYGm9y2_u6JMVn2Y=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XO6JZCEVR5FPVFZL6MXGRJ4BLA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[An evacuation map is displayed at the incident command post at the Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kerley runs 9.97 at Enhanced Games, where Kristian Gkolomeev gets a $1M bonus for swimming mark]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/kerley-runs-997-at-enhanced-games-where-kristian-gkolomeev-gets-a-1m-bonus-for-swimming-mark/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/kerley-runs-997-at-enhanced-games-where-kristian-gkolomeev-gets-a-1m-bonus-for-swimming-mark/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Fred Kerley ran 100 meters in a pedestrian 9.97 seconds to win the Enhanced Games in a race where the sprinters were placed in the starting blocks four times because of false starts and untied shoes.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 04:49:02 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/enhanced-games-fred-kerley-olympics-523b1526e8b46828f1468f65cd651131">Fred Kerley</a> ran 100 meters in a pedestrian 9.97 seconds Sunday night to win <a href="https://apnews.com/article/enhanced-games-doping-olympics-romano-944bdb0eea239229dea91e662140390e">the Enhanced Games</a> in a race where the sprinters had to be placed in the starting blocks four times because of false starts and untied shoes.</p><p>Kerley, who predicted Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds would get “destroyed,” ran a time that would have placed him last at the Paris Olympics two years ago, where he ran 9.81 and won bronze.</p><p>The only athlete to win the $1 million bonus for going faster than the world record over the four hours of swimming, weightlifting and track in the specially built stadium on the Las Vegas Strip was Kristian Gkolomeev, who closed the night by swimming the 50-meter free in 20.81 seconds. </p><p>That record won't go into the books, however, because the Enhanced Games, true to its name, allows performance-enhancing drugs that are banned in mainstream sports. </p><p>The men’s 50-meter freestyle world record of 20.88 seconds was set two months ago in a sanctioned event by Cameron McEvoy.</p><p>Gkolomeev had also won a $1 million bonus from Enhanced last year for swimming faster than the world record during a “trial.”</p><p>“Another million, it’s not bad at all,” he said. “It’s going to change my life to the good, for sure.“</p><p>The most iconic marks in Olympic sports, though, are in track, and when Kerley called out Bolt’s 17-year-old record, it made headlines and even got Bolt involved with a short post on social media: <a href="https://x.com/usainbolt/status/2058320916086432222">“OK,” he said. </a></p><p>By the time the starting gun sounded (or maybe long before that, depending on who you ask) it was clear there wouldn't be much to worry about.</p><p>Kerley was in a line of six runners who had to be called out of the blocks three times — an energy sapper — first for a sprinter to re-tie his shoe, then twice more when the false-start signal went off, but early motion was, apparently, undetectable and nobody was disqualified. </p><p>“A lot of false starts, a lot of jumping, a lot of people who didn’t want to run their heats,” Kerley said of the less-than-full field for a basically meaningless prelim race in which he false started but wasn't DQ'd. “Got to do better than that. I’m ready to run fast.“</p><p>Kerley, who said he is not using performance enhancers, still pocketed $250,000 — the first-place prize for all the events.</p><p>Most athletes are making money they could only dream of in mainstream Olympic sports. </p><p>The real stakes, however, could be for the investors in the company that brought the world the Enhanced Games with the idea of turning it into a new-age online pharmacy that peddles performance enhancers under medical supervision. </p><p>“It's just the beginning,” CEO Max Martin said in front of a specially curated crowd of around 2,500. </p><p>Tickets were not on sale to the general public.</p><p>The women’s sprints didn’t have anywhere near the star power Kerley injected into the men’s. </p><p>What the two races did have in common were winners who claimed not to be taking drugs — results that force questions about both the effectiveness of performance enhancers and the level of the athletes who signed onto the league that began with mega investments from the likes of Peter Thiel and is now a publicly traded company.</p><p>Tristan Evelyn’s winning time of 11.25 seconds in the women's sprint was more than three-quarters of a second slower than FloJo's 38-year-old world record (10.49). It would have been .21 seconds behind the seventh-place finisher at the Paris Games two years ago. </p><p>In all, Enhanced said there were 14 personal bests set by 12 athletes, all of them swimmers and weightlifters.</p><p>Among those who made runs at world marks was Ben Proud, the British Olympic silver medalist, who finished .05 off the 50-meter fly mark of 22.27.</p><p>“I think I am,” he said when asked if he was happy after winning $250K. “But I think we all know what we came here for, and that’s a world record.”</p><p>Kerley didn’t come close to it. When it was over, he seemed to be blaming everyone but himself.</p><p>“Man, they gotta do better than that,” he said. “Gotta train a little harder, train on that (expletive) a little more.” </p><p>___</p><p>AP sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sports">https://apnews.com/hub/sports</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/f98Z4ctUlV7J1GMI9bdZzhS_JrU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FDHFVTRBKNF4RDDTG4JEFRIY2I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2953" width="4429"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Fred Kerley, of the United States, competes in the men's 100-meter final at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jae C. Hong</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/msNlQRTX7qXckjVKld-1Z9iXnIY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5ZZXZQWORJDJLHMQNRZ4ORYWYQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2898" width="4347"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Fred Kerley, of the United States, wins the men's 100-meter final at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jae C. Hong</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/j3f4r2VuMPpI3NOtiGOUkvvLSXc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RHZGHBLIENBHBC6HBAPMKNF3L4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2890" width="4335"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Kristian Gkolomeev, of Greece, celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jae C. Hong</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IIjq33RNYpJUl5cIfoLQbG9bEvE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EWY3QSE6YBF6FGXM2R54P5NONY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5091" width="7636"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[James Magnussen, of Australia, smiles after competing in the men's 100-meter freestyle final at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jae C. Hong</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese behind the 'conbini' empire, has died. He was 93.]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/05/25/toshifumi-suzuki-the-japanese-behind-the-conbini-empire-has-died-he-was-93/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/business/2026/05/25/toshifumi-suzuki-the-japanese-behind-the-conbini-empire-has-died-he-was-93/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese businessman credited with creating the 7-Eleven convenience-chain global retail empire, has died.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 05:09:22 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/convenience-stores-dacus-ceo-japan-c9770713558ef27edb887b0ee1bee72a">Toshifumi Suzuki,</a> the Japanese businessman credited with creating the 7-Eleven convenience-chain global retail empire, has died. He was 93. </p><p>Suzuki, an honorary adviser at Seven & i Holdings, died on May 18 of heart failure at his Tokyo home, the company said Monday.</p><p>Suzuki founded the Japanese unit that operates the seemingly ubiquitous 7-Eleven “conbini” outlets, where busy people can hop in and grab sandwiches, rice balls, drinks, chips and other meals on-the-run, use ATMs, pay utility bills and copy documents.</p><p>The 7-Eleven stores, now numbering more than 80,000 worldwide, are the biggest convenience-store chain in Japan.</p><p>The business started out in Japan under a franchise agreement with the U.S. 7-Eleven in 1973. The first store opened in Japan the following year.</p><p>After The Southland Corp., which founded 7-Eleven, ran into financial difficulties the Japanese company bought a majority stake in the 1990’s. It made the American counterpart its 100% owned group company in 2005. </p><p>Several years ago, the Canadian retailer <a href="https://apnews.com/article/7eleven-japan-couchetard-convenience-0222f4d131ff6937f7d8a6b8a09de7be">Alimentation Couche-Tard</a>, which runs the global Circle K convenience store chain, sought to take over <a href="https://apnews.com/article/seven-japan-convenience-retail-couchetard-93ba2c969098692863356977227823bb">Seven &amp; i Holdings.</a> But it dropped the effort in 2024, citing frustration with negotiations that showed “a lack of constructive engagement.”</p><p>Suzuki, born in Nagano Prefecture, northern Japan, in 1932, graduated from the prestigious Chuo University in Tokyo.</p><p>Before beginning his career in the convenience store business, he worked at Ito-Yokado, a major Japanese retail chain that sells a variety of products including groceries, cosmetics and clothing, which is also owned by Seven and i Holdings.</p><p>Apart from leading 7-Eleven, Suzuki engineered the acquisition of Barney’s Japan in 2015 and added banking functions to the empire.</p><p>He said he wanted to provide customers with what he called a lifestyle shopping experience. Over the years, the retailing giant also brought under its wing the Sogo and Seibu department stores.</p><p>Suzuki became chief executive of 7-Eleven Japan in 1978. He is widely seen as having innovated how Japanese consumers shop. Convenience stores have led retailers in Japan in implementing new retail <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-japan-tokyo-376b88f6503461497d94df46cc9c5d8c">technologies. </a></p><p>Funeral services are being held privately with family, and messages, flowers and other condolence gifts were politely declined, according to the company. Details of a public ceremony will come later, it said.</p><p>Suzuki is survived by his wife and two children.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/RDOBVBiMbYxsyGWbMl77WI3LrmU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NG375DHQDREIRKEU3BTEYGZR5E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2000" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Katsumi Kasahara</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2fZezevX-jHitTT2BIsIf1jqDKw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BO7V6TH4RVDIRAYEEHQTFPVM64.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2000" width="1504"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Katsumi Kasahara</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hertl’s late winner caps Golden Knights’ wild 5-3 rally, giving them a 3-0 series lead on Avalanche]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/hertls-late-winner-caps-golden-knights-wild-5-3-rally-giving-them-a-3-0-series-lead-on-avalanche/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/hertls-late-winner-caps-golden-knights-wild-5-3-rally-giving-them-a-3-0-series-lead-on-avalanche/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Anderson, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Tomas Hertl weaved his way toward the slot and broke a tie at 8:21 of the third period as the Golden Knights overcame a three-goal deficit Sunday night to beat Colorado 5-3 and move within a victory of their third Stanley Cup Final appearance in nine years.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:13:02 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are a number of adjectives that could be applied to how the Golden Knights have found various ways to win in the regular season and playoffs.</p><p>Vegas coach John Tortorella had his own description.</p><p>“This is a game where we showed some balls,” the man known as Torts said after the Golden Knights' latest Houdini act.</p><p>Tomas Hertl weaved his way toward the slot and broke a tie at 8:21 of the third period as the Golden Knights overcame a three-goal deficit Sunday night to beat Colorado 5-3 and move within a victory of their third <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">Stanley Cup Final</a> appearance in nine years.</p><p>“It obviously feels really good right now, but we’re playing a hell of a hockey team,” Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner said. “We know that the next game is going to be even tougher now. Enjoy this for the next 10 minutes, 30 minutes, go home and then try to take care of yourself, and do what you got to do to be ready tomorrow.”</p><p>The Golden Knights go for what would be a stunning sweep over the Presidents' Trophy winners on Tuesday night. Chicago in 2013 was the last team to win the Presidents' Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.</p><p>Colorado will try to become just the fifth team to win a series after falling behind 3-0. Los Angeles in 2014 was the most recent team to accomplish that in eliminating San Jose in their first-round series. </p><p>Vegas, which trailed 3-0 after the first period, was 0-19 in the playoffs when behind that many goals. The Avalanche were 74-1 when holding such a lead.</p><p>“As low as it can get,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of the team's emotions. “It’s a big hill to climb. The next 24-to-36 hours is for … you’ve got to find a way to get over it, regroup and go again.”</p><p>Colorado has other concerns because front-line center Nathan MacKinnon might not be fully healthy going forward. MacKinnon, who has 15 points this postseason and led the league in the regular season with 53 goals, took a puck to his right knee in the second period and played through the injury.</p><p>That comes just as the Avalanche <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cale-makar-avalanche-golden-knights-9a4025055abc97d526fde63751f9bd82?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">got back star defenseman Cale Makar</a>, who missed the first two games this series because of an upper-body injury.</p><p>Vegas keeps finding aways, going this deep into the postseason despite being outshot in 11 of 15 games, including now nine in a row. The Golden Knights erased deficits the past two games against Colorado, though Game 2 was just 1-0.</p><p>“We’ve been all season long many times down,” Hertl said. “We’ve come back so many times. Even after the first when we were down 3-0 we knew we could do it.”</p><p>Hertl, Mark Stone and William Karlsson each had a goal and assist. Keegan Kolesar and Brett Howden scored the other Golden Knights goals, and Mitch Marner and Kaedan Korczak each tallied two assists. Carter Hart made 32 saves.</p><p>Stone’s goal came <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-stone-golden-knights-avalanche-makar-17ceb3cc2a19d8efe511b5c609091e92?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">on his first appearance</a> since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the second-round series against Anaheim. Kolesar, who had gone 37 playoff games without a goal, picked up his first point of the postseason.</p><p>Gabriel Landeskog, Nazem Kadri and Jack Drury scored for the Avalanche, and Devon Toews had two assists. Scott Wedgewood stopped 18 shots.</p><p>The Avalanche dominated the first period by taking a 3-0 lead, but the Golden Knights thought they had cut the deficit to 2-1 when Pavel Dorofeyev appeared to score a power-play goal with 7:26 left. Officials immediately waved it off and the decision was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-knights-avalanche-no-goal-dorofeyev-playoffs-831bbe9f32a54daa98f949106f9114df?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">upheld on video review</a>. </p><p>Colorado then made the Golden Knights pay when Drury found himself alone on a breakaway, deking Vegas goalie Hart to score the short-handed goal with 6:45 left for the three-goal lead.</p><p>But the Golden Knights didn't let the two-goal swing trouble them too much, with Stone's power-play goal 19 seconds into the second period sparking a three-goal answer to tie the game heading into the final period of regulation.</p><p>Then Hertl broke the deadlock — and now the Golden Knights just need to win one of four games.</p><p>“I want them to feel it for a little bit, as far as what they just did against a really good hockey club,” Tortorella said, “but then we get back to work tomorrow.”</p><p>There was a moment of silence before the game for two-time NASCAR champion driver and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch. He died Thursday at 41 after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-busch-cause-of-death-d198c16d4cb7e383b7c7e16f6ba471aa?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">severe pneumonia developed into sepsis</a>, according to a statement from Busch's family.</p><p>___</p><p>AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jI5BlD2f-WCPy5vV-inNt3crJus=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AHZCVWIATRA6RALR24GVAZUG4E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4652" width="6977"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl, left, celebrates his goal with right wing Mark Stone during the third period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark J. Terrill</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/i_Tl-_JhXGHByuUPc8wgORoXIfw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4JYIHE7U6FFV5JEGRPQVBA3F7Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4959" width="7439"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar, second from left, is held back after Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, right, shoved him into the boards after Kolesar scored during the second period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark J. Terrill</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6xq-H4VSJVT5KpBgpj63BNw6Z1E=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YQ2AHGHAVFE33MV545RU6OKIDY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2254" width="3381"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri, right, celebrates his goal with center Martin Necas during the first period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark J. Terrill</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/knpOplX1tViKqYi-2IhYZq4weDk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SBWSM42EHBAZZJ7YVIY62GXBYY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3341" width="5012"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon lays on the ice after being injured during the second period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark J. Terrill</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Aqoml9r71BU5fyaZw2-bixJRR_Y=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LF5KUK7DVJG6DOU2FGDNDPVDTE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5001" width="7502"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, right, deflects a shot by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak, left, during the second period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark J. Terrill</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Katherine Legge finishes 31st at Coke 600 after bid to complete racing's 'Double' ends at Indy 500]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/weather-could-play-key-role-in-katherine-legges-bid-to-compete-all-1100-miles-in-racings-double/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/weather-could-play-key-role-in-katherine-legges-bid-to-compete-all-1100-miles-in-racings-double/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Marot, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Katherine Legge's attempt to become the first woman to complete "The Double" ended in disappointment.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 16:37:01 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/katherine-legge-double-indy500-cocacola-600-a24698dc4e2b26c63f0f430c8eade0c0">Katherine Legge</a> had one thing on her mind as Sunday night turned to Monday morning at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Getting some much-needed sleep.</p><p>“The highlight will be when I can finally lay down because I'm so tired,” Legge said.</p><p>Legge's quest to become the first woman to complete “The Double” — racing 1,100 miles spread out over two tracks on one day — ended quickly Sunday when she crashed out in the Indianapolis 500.</p><p>She flew to North Carolina and finished in 31st at the Coca-Cola 600 and 12 laps back after losing a tire mid-race.</p><p>Legge said now it is time to regroup after what she called “a calamity of errors.”</p><p>The English driver completed just 17 of the scheduled 200 laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway's iconic 2.5-mile oval before she ran into the car of Ryan Hunter-Reay, knocking both cars out of the race. Hunter-Reay started spinning in the second turn and braked hard to keep his car off the wall, and the trailing Legge steered inside to try to avoid the 2013 Indy 500 winner. But as smoke emerge from both braking cars, Legge's car hit the inside wall.</p><p>“I’m fine, just gutted more than anything,” she said after being checked and released at the track's infield medical center. “Ryan spun in front of me, I think he was battling his car for a minute, I was just chilling, trying to save fuel and he spun down the track and started coming up the track, so I tried to go low and just didn’t make it.”</p><p>Legge was the sixth driver ever to attempt “The Double." The only driver to complete it is three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart in 2001.</p><p>It's been a week full of bad luck for Legge.</p><p>Her flight from New York to Indianapolis was delayed, causing her to miss Indy's annual media day. Then she had communications trouble in Friday's final 500 practice, and after flying to Charlotte on Saturday, Coca-Cola 600 qualifying was rained out.</p><p>“Hopefully, we get all of the travel woes out of the way now before the weekend, and this weekend goes smoothly,” Legge told The Associated Press on Thursday. “My management has been speaking with Kyle’s management about how to get the logistics sorted out, how they did it and we’re trying our best to copy and paste what they had and they’re just keeping me in the loop.”</p><p>Her fortunes briefly looked like they might have changed when the speedway dodged the predicted prerace rain, allowing the race to begin on time. Then came the tangle with Hunter-Reay, who was also was checked and released by IndyCar's medical team.</p><p>“It was super tough out there,” Hunter-Reay said. “The whole time I was trying to keep it off the wall. Just super disappointing. That’s the busiest I’ve been around here in 16 years. I was trying to keep it off the wall the whole time and finally, one of those wiggles didn't come back in Turn 2.”</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indycar-palou-f462b60e9f742f38ed61ea83e1040a3b">At the 500</a>, crashes and bad weather have been a theme in each of the last three “Double” attempts. A rain-delayed Indy start prevented two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from making it to Charlotte in time for the start in 2024, and Larson crashed out of both races last year after another rain-delayed start in Indy.</p><p>But Legge was hoping to avoid all of it.</p><p>“She’ll stay here throughout,” her father, Derek Legge, said before the first race while texting from a golf cart outside her garage. “We’re keeping an eye on the weather. It might even be delayed here an hour at a time.”</p><p>By then, Legge’s car was already on the Brickyard as the sold-out grandstands filled in and hundreds of people surrounded the cars on the track.</p><p>The English driver started from the No. 26 spot, the middle of the ninth row, at Indy, where she drove for HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing team.</p><p>The other five drivers who previously tried "The Double” had months to prepare, but Legge's teams didn't announce her attempt until last week. Since then, those behind the scenes helped Legge line up the helicopter ride she planned to take from the speedway to Indianapolis International Airport and the private jet that would take her to Charlotte.</p><p>___</p><p>AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bNguEbrXhs1NHW5ZEB-u24C4R7A=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6CAIZ4JKUBHU5IWBHU3E42MIEA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Katherine Legge, of Great Britain, looks at the crowd during driver introductions before the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aj Mast</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/NpDvC8U2TYJjPM2YfgaYD3fn1bw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KLVGCTQ4WNGAZFY2EI2L72JQBM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2734" width="4100"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Katherine Legge steers down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zEZ02G6-Sjlj3scZi-0kbwGqzBI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GW4PE22HNRDWJAKJLWQRPLQVFU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2621" width="3931"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Katherine Legge is introduced to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Golden Knights shake off disputed no-goal, storm past Avalanche for a 3-0 series lead]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/a-disputed-no-goal-sparks-a-2-goal-swing-as-the-avalanche-grab-a-3-0-game-3-lead/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/a-disputed-no-goal-sparks-a-2-goal-swing-as-the-avalanche-grab-a-3-0-game-3-lead/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Anderson, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A two-goal swing over a disputed no-goal call in the first period that resulted in a three-goal deficit could have doomed Vegas on Sunday.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 01:13:59 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A two-goal swing over a disputed no-goal call in the first period that resulted in a three-goal deficit could have doomed Vegas on Sunday.</p><p>The Golden Knights, instead, put the setback behind them and rallied to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/avalanche-golden-knights-score-nhl-playoffs-83a4d0ef5cbd422faa17acfc2027580e?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3</a> and take a 3-0 series lead in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">Western Conference Final</a>.</p><p>Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeyev appeared to score a power-play goal with 7:26 left in the first period, but officials immediately waved it off and the decision was upheld on video review. The Golden Knights immediately celebrated despite the initial call with a run through the high-five line, believing the call would be changed after officials checked the video.</p><p>Officials ruled on the ice that the puck went off Dorofeyev's glove, according to the ESPN broadcast, and found the video inconclusive.</p><p>Dorofeyev's stick also might have been above the cross bar, but it was at least even with it.</p><p>The Avalanche then made the Golden Knights pay when Jack Drury found himself alone on a breakaway, deking Vegas goalie Carter Hart to score the short-handed goal with 6:45 left for the three-goal lead.</p><p>A lead that didn't last.</p><p>“Not super ideal, obviously, but I think we got a pretty big penalty kill after that and it kind of settled us down and the period ends,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said. "That’s probably the best thing that could happen to us, the period ends.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KLR2M_uCMy9SEIJmklbAcMjFCfg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZNH3VQQDHJFWNEDCIRGZHOS7KU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3695" width="5540"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Colorado Avalanche's Jack Drury, left, scores on Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart during the first period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: Name corrected to Jack Drury not Cale Makar.]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mark J. Terrill</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jim Henson's Creature Shop opens for tours. Here's what's inside the once-hidden puppet studio]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/25/jim-hensons-creature-shop-opens-for-tours-heres-whats-inside-the-once-hidden-puppet-studio/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/25/jim-hensons-creature-shop-opens-for-tours-heres-whats-inside-the-once-hidden-puppet-studio/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Philip Marcelo, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A puppet-making workshop founded by the legendary creator of the Muppets is drawing back its curtain.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 04:14:07 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Deep in a cavernous New York City warehouse, the artisans behind some of the world’s most beloved children’s characters have been fashioning costumes and puppets for years in relative anonymity. </p><p>Now <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jim-henson">Jim Henson's</a> Creature Shop, the workshop founded by the legendary creator of the Muppets, is drawing back the curtain.</p><p>This year, the company opened the doors of its Queens workshop to public tours for the first time, allowing fans to meet a puppet builder, see a puppetry demonstration and take photos and videos with beloved and iconic characters.</p><p>Jason Weber, the shop’s creative supervisor, said the tours, which cost $150 a person, are an opportunity to celebrate the unsung craftspeople that bring these <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-henson-auction-muppets-fraggle-rock-860662f2077558f66825be1a011ee53a">famous characters</a> to life. </p><p>“There is a level of expertise here that we’re sharing. It’s not just going to a pop-up store or something like that,” he said during a recent visit. “Things are made one-of-a-kind, made by hand with artisans who have been trained for years and decades.”</p><p>Besides Kermit, Miss Piggy and other Muppets, Henson was the creative force behind Big Bird, Cookie Monster and other famous “Sesame Street” denizens, as well as the “Fraggle Rock” characters. He died in 1990. </p><p>Henson originally founded the workshop in the 1960s in Manhattan and it has moved multiple times around the city since. It's been at its current location in Queens since 2009. The company also has a workshop in Los Angeles, though that doesn’t offer tours. </p><p>The 80-minute New York tours take place on Saturdays. Visitors start in a large room specially created for the tour that's filled with real show props and creations. It’s also the only spot on the tour where visitors are allowed to take photos and videos, as much of what’s in the actual workshop are still works in progress or proprietary. </p><p>“The Muppets" are now owned by Disney. Sesame owns the rights to Big Bird and other characters Henson created for the long-running show, which films at a nearby studio. </p><p>Among the centerpieces in that first room on the tour is an Oscar the Grouch display where the “Sesame Street” character is in his familiar trash can surrounded by heaps of fake garbage. </p><p>There’s also a menacing black throne from “The Dark Crystal,” Henson’s 1982 live-action fantasy film, and a full-sized working puppet of Junior Gorg, a giant from “Fraggle Rock,” which requires multiple performers to manipulate.</p><p>The workshop space itself is filled with fantastical creatures in various stages of assembly. There’s drawers and bins tucked into nearly every corner brimming with colorful furs, textured fabrics and ready-made puppet body parts, clothing and accessories. </p><p>“Everything we do is custom. Everything we do is bespoke,” said Melissa Creighton, the shop’s director.</p><p>On a recent visit, staff were busy preparing costumes and other pieces for a range of current projects, including a “Fraggle Rock" musical opening later this month at a theater near Times Square. </p><p>The shop’s past credits include the horror movie “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the children’s fantasy film “Where the Wild Things Are" and the 1990s television sitcom “Dinosaurs.”</p><p>Sierra Schoening, a senior puppet builder, said working at the shop had been her “pie-in-the sky” dream job. Her favorite movie growing up was “The Labyrinth,” Henson's 1986 musical fantasy film starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.</p><p>“I just really always wanted to know how those illusions were made,” Schoening said as she took a break from fashioning a set of new creations. “I know all the secret sauce, and I’m making the secret sauce now.”</p><p>___</p><p>Follow Philip Marcelo at <a href="https://x.com/philmarcelo">https://x.com/philmarcelo</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/59bDAfZEmV6DfAA5IoAkmbpMzpo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3RWUCBUHBZA3HH7QMYXJC43CCY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Puppets are displayed at Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Seth Wenig</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ct0RLzAv-M89tOOBAU-pScK0Ros=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6QBEQQPQLJCLXGJ63OHWL27WZE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3654" width="5481"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Sierra Schoening, a senior puppet builder, demonstrates how to maneuver a puppet she built at Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Seth Wenig</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/F8wpRb867MfoNZOkdm7oKAGDj1E=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZIMEPXRLVNGSLCVIJLA3AV7VJI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3668" width="5502"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Sarah Lafferty, right, fits a mouthpiece on "Boober," a character in the "Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live" show, at Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Seth Wenig</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ApCe6_iPVU79lZNEkUXsCHmynyU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NURT63RQAZBXXDMSTPWTUG5KEQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Trays full of eyes, used to make puppets, are seen at Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Seth Wenig</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/R7UAZpTBwTdy9w1zkF9NKTWhKec=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PQB54G6AAVGSZO3K3VPDGMYX2E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A re-creation of an artist's desk, with a photograph of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog, is part of a tour at Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Seth Wenig</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[In ‘Pressure,’ the story of the meteorologist who helped save D-Day]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/25/in-pressure-the-story-of-the-meteorologist-who-helped-save-d-day/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/25/in-pressure-the-story-of-the-meteorologist-who-helped-save-d-day/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The film “Pressure” explores the tense 72 hours before D-Day, highlighting the crucial role of Scottish meteorologist Capt. James Stagg.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 04:10:35 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/dday-wwii-france-invasion-military-b02d03fa11f66767a521a3b01357a89a">D-Day</a> was supposed to happen on June 5, 1944. The story of why it ultimately took place on June 6 is one that has been a bit lost to history, consumed by the larger events surrounding it.</p><p>One day might not seem like much in the grand scheme, but it was a seismic delay in plans for the unprecedented and daring invasion, which would <a href="https://google.com/search?q=eisenhower+d+day+apnews&amp;sca_esv=cfa98b4e37d39014&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1070US1070&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n6RT33nSTRMVSmVOky0ZY6NGq6rtg%3A1779459115618&amp;ei=K2QQapC-Ja_Y5NoPos3C8Qk&amp;biw=1424&amp;bih=639&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjQ_-njic2UAxUvLFkFHaKmMJ4Q4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=eisenhower+d+day+apnews&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiF2Vpc2VuaG93ZXIgZCBkYXkgYXBuZXdzMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMgoQABhHGNYEGLADMg0QABiABBiKBRhDGLADSNoUULENWJAUcAF4AZABAJgBAKABAKoBALgBA8gBAPgBAZgCAaACB5gDAIgGAZAGCZIHATGgBwCyBwC4BwDCBwMyLTHIBwaACAE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp">deploy nearly 160,000 Allied</a> troops in Normandy. Ultimately it came down to a recommendation from a shrewd Scottish meteorologist, Group Capt. James Stagg, who had to tell everyone, including Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Allied leadership, something they didn’t want to hear: The weather was going to be catastrophically bad. And no, he wasn’t certain about it.</p><p>The tense 72 hours before the invasion are brought to life in “Pressure,” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/summer-movie-2026-guide-4fb04771bfe1b29a113044382f5a3de6">in theaters May 29</a>, on the eve of the operation’s 82nd anniversary. An adaptation of David Haig’s acclaimed stage play, the film sheds light on this bit of history that would effectively change the course of the second World War. </p><p>The very different styles of Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott</p><p>Filmmaker Anthony Maras assembled a unique group of actors for the task at hand, calling on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brendan-fraser-rental-family-interview-1d3895901593b28eccd6547be8ffbfcc">Brendan Fraser</a> to play Eisenhower and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/andrew-scott-all-of-us-strangers-dd62748f4bc31eaf0bdf5c7eb6ac57e7">Andrew Scott</a> to play Stagg.</p><p>“I didn’t think I was an Ike Eisenhower when Anthony Maras sent me the script,” Fraser said. “I got on a Zoom call and he said, ‘You gotta do this man.’ Me? Why? ‘It’s because he’s you, he’s like you. He’s just a regular guy.’ Really? I mean, I thought Eisenhower was this, you know, stern, staunch, something on coin.”</p><p>Fraser went deep in his preparation, reading and listening to everything he could get his hands on to help him understand the man who would ultimately have to make the decision. The research even continued on set. Maras laughed that right before they shot Eisenhower’s famous “soldiers, sailors and airmen” speech, something that they’d rehearsed many, many times, he looked up and saw Fraser reading yet another biography. But he appreciated that the Oscar-winner was passionate about knowing everything he possibly could to get it right.</p><p>“He cared intensely for his troops,” Fraser said. “It was my responsibility to honor their memory and to comport myself in a way that puts a human face on the seemingly academic decisions that go into an operation as massive as this.”</p><p>Scott was the opposite in terms of how he approached his role. Yes, he read Stagg’s book and wanted to have a working understanding of the metrological jargon he’d have to be spouting. While history was important, for him, character was king. And he liked that Stagg is not the most immediately likable person, but he has integrity.</p><p>“The thing with Stagg is that he’s just not interested in charm … or being liked at all,” Scott said. “I think that’s to be admired actually, because he’s just there to do a job. So I like the fact that at the beginning of the movie, you’re like, whoa, this guy is not pleasant.”</p><p>Maras said that for Scott, it was all about the inner, emotional life of the character — which was essential for a part that would require so much internal conflict.</p><p>“With Andrew, he has a quality to him where he can seemingly be doing very little — he’s sitting down, rearranging his tie, he can be reading a phone book — and you can’t look away,” Maras said.</p><p>In the shadow of ‘Saving Private Ryan’</p><p>The actors weren’t the only ones feeling pressure of the assignment: Maras also had a behemoth looming in attempting to stage, however briefly, the D-Day invasion.</p><p>“You’ve kind of got to be crazy maybe to attempt it, given that Spielberg did it so masterfully,” Maras said.</p><p>But unlike “Saving Private Ryan,” which focused on the men storming the beach, “Pressure” is about the ones making the decisions. It’s a different perspective. Still, once they make the call to go, there would have to be at least some of the operation shown to juxtapose with the “bloody tense, wire-type atmosphere of the control room,” Maras said.</p><p>Inspired by Peter Jackson’s World War I documentary <a href="https://apnews.com/article/71e669e25b6d4f51b5a54adf907d4a9e">“They Shall Not Grow Old,”</a> and the existence of dozens of hours of pristine 35 mm black and white film from the event, Maras decided that perhaps archival footage, colorized, would be the way to go. It was a different way to present D-Day that gave it immediacy, he said, as opposed to looking like history.</p><p>‘Pressure’s’ relevance to today</p><p>Ultimately, “Pressure” isn’t just a history lesson, or even a character drama with big personalities and even bigger stakes: It’s a portrait of leadership and ego clashing with facts and science. And its relevance to the present day is the reason Maras wanted to make the film in the first place.</p><p>“How do you bring your best self to the table to make the decision? How do you have the humility to acknowledge when you don’t know something? And how do you have the wisdom to determine who to trust? … Eisenhower in the end showed that he was a maestro at that,” Maras said. “What I love about the Stagg character is he’s someone who feels compelled to tell someone something that they don’t want to hear, that they violently don’t want to but they need to hear. The world needs more of that.”</p><p>Years later, John F. Kennedy, on the way to his own inauguration, asked Eisenhower what gave them the edge on D-Day. His response? “We had better meteorologists than the Germans.”</p><p>“When life or death depends on you understanding the facts, it probably has a way of like cutting up the BS and getting to it,” Maras said. “It’s a very clear example of a time where the Allied worlds’ future was at stake and they listened to someone who knew what he was talking about and they did all right.”</p><p>___</p><p>For more coverage of summer films, visit: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/movies">https://apnews.com/hub/movies</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-lOuH-9YdJ8Ky42H40n65UU3nG0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2UB6KBIVJFAKPKI2UKGPZBGVVU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3832" width="5835"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Anthony Maras, left, director/co-writer of the film "Pressure," poses with cast members Brendan Fraser, center, and Andrew Scott on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Chris Pizzello</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xyEejgeq1q9RqKlxy0Cz7P4SuAE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/P2JUIERKXNCF7EH23MGSUCXAFY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3592" width="5392"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by Focus Features shows Brendan Fraser, left, and Andrew Scott in a scene from "Pressure." (Focus Features via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Bailey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ugBI11v4ESJSAxW0n35o0Q67JY0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6N4OYQFXZZDRPBDKKB2ZPERQAM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4608" width="6912"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by Focus Features shows Andrew Scott, left, and director Anthony Maras on the set of "Pressure." (Focus Features via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Bailey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vfVtsmaQecF3Mw_qvwAC9xTfn1Y=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PNT2DHORLNEMBJ67EOCJ7UPRJ4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3881" width="5825"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Actor Brendan Fraser poses for a portrait to promote the film "Pressure" on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Chris Pizzello</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/p0f1_5NJtNRcuHE1qFC3DJMGVlQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GX2CVVYGDNFXDBHGQQIZ3DOJ6I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3875" width="5868"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Anthony Maras, director/co-writer of the film "Pressure," poses for a portrait to promote the film on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Chris Pizzello</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/esX57sCBkjPqrO4oqJfgYA86Rsc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/64BN2NWBXVA6FDKHBWUVHDMHKU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3847" width="5886"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Actor Andrew Scott poses for a portrait to promote the film "Pressure" on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Chris Pizzello</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wembanyama answers the call again, Spurs top Thunder to tie West finals at 2-2]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/wembanyama-answers-the-call-again-spurs-top-thunder-to-tie-west-finals-at-2-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/wembanyama-answers-the-call-again-spurs-top-thunder-to-tie-west-finals-at-2-2/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Reynolds, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama wanted the ball for the final couple seconds of the first half.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:31:40 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama wanted the ball for the final couple seconds of the first half. He got it, 65 feet from the basket.</p><p>He had three Oklahoma City defenders in front of him. He took three dribbles. He got three points.</p><p>
<a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/2058724414816919681?s=20">And he made it look easy, too.</a>
</p><p>A swished 3-pointer from the midcourt stripe to close the first half brought maybe the loudest roars of his night, but it was hardly the only moment in which Wembanyama was unstoppable in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday.</p><p>He got most of the fourth quarter off and still finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots as the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/thunder-spurs-score-wembanyama-gilgeous-alexander-377a1fca46e8a30d7142f2c4d2b0b720">Spurs beat the Thunder 103-82</a> to tie the West title series at two games apiece.</p><p>“The truth is that we had never been in this kind of situation before,” Wembanyama said. “It was our first deficit in a playoff series and we just responded. It was nothing amazing. It wasn't magic. We just did what we needed to do.”</p><p>In other words, he wasn't surprised. A 62-win team in the regular season — and a team that has now beaten Oklahoma City six times in nine opportunities this season — shouldn't be surprised by anything anymore.</p><p>Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City.</p><p>It was Wembanyama who pointed the finger of blame at himself following San Antonio's loss in Game 3, saying that the Spurs were “going to see what we're made of” in Game 4 and that he had to do more to get teammates involved.</p><p>He delivered on every level.</p><p>“I saw a lot and I'm not surprised," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I think our competitive response all year has been pretty good — and he's been at the forefront of that more often than not. I think tonight, not speaking for him, he felt an obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways.”</p><p>Wembanyama had 11 points in the first quarter, 11 more on 10 shot attempts in the second quarter and capped all that with the beat-the-clock 3-pointer going into halftime.</p><p>And on the other end, he might have been even better.</p><p>The unanimous Defensive Player of the Year — who was announced on Sunday night as a first-team All-NBA selection for the first time — led an effort that held Oklahoma City to a season-low in points and a season-high-tying 20 turnovers.</p><p>The Thunder had at least 108 points in every game in these playoffs entering Sunday. </p><p>“We've played 12 playoff games. When you play 12 playoff games, they're not all going to be masterpieces,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “As much as you want to win, there's nights where you just don't have it for whatever reason.”</p><p>On Sunday, that reason might have been Wembanyama. The Thunder were outscored by 29 points when he was on the floor. They shot 18 of 41 inside the paint, with Wembanyama a big reason for that, so more things got forced outside — where they shot 12 of 50.</p><p>He was asked how the Spurs bottled up the Thunder so well.</p><p>“I'm not going to get into details, but in general, being more disciplined and just trusting the game plan even more,” Wembanyama said.</p><p>There's a flight for the Spurs to Oklahoma City on Monday for a game on Tuesday, and the winner of that contest will be one game away from the NBA Finals. It's clear that Wembanyama knows that even after a big win, the job only gets tougher now.</p><p>“The series is far from over,” Wembanyama said. “We've got six more wins before we can rest.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/nba</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qeMQ3dCTu1s8GUaPmgiirR-PsiU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/U7DNLJXIA5H6NKFNZKREPFQSKY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2279" width="3418"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, scores against Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren, right, during the first half in Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/STmbE4AFXIugCC9afjh9m7JR6lk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NTUD7S2M4RCSBNS3VUO2LNN7WE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4508" width="6762"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kenrich Williams during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Darren Abate</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SHpr8qVFHvXWH8pa747Mf7IpYUg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Y4A5PUDUDZCI3J7L2AHTG6BVWE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3042" width="4562"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) scores a basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kenrich Williams during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/NEOp3STNyrgQKgiOK3e_WZeZ4xM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RAEUT3GNTVBXZENT4X7OY5CMGQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, and guard Devin Vassell react after a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/a9hZAf8E8VRNlVr-0uOb0osCunA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Y2R2ATYLP5G2PDUB6UM5ZLRQJA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2833" width="4250"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first half in Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wembanyama scores 33 points to help Spurs rebound and trounce Thunder 103-82 to even West finals]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/wembanyama-scores-33-points-to-help-spurs-rebound-and-trounce-thunder-103-82-to-even-west-finals/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/wembanyama-scores-33-points-to-help-spurs-rebound-and-trounce-thunder-103-82-to-even-west-finals/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Raul Dominguez, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 to even the Western Conference finals.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:04:07 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 on Sunday night to tie the Western Conference finals. </p><p>De'Aaron Fox had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has not lost three consecutive games all season. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 13 points each.</p><p>“You definitely don’t want to go down 3-1 going into their house,” Vassell said. “We knew we had to respond and that’s how you respond. You get stops. You don’t try and focus on the offensive end, you get stops, you get out of transition. You guard your yard and that’s what we did.”</p><p>Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio.</p><p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points on 6-for-15 shooting for the Thunder.</p><p>Wembanyama took Oklahoma City's 123-108 victory Friday in Game 3 personally. The 7-foot-4 star from France said he needed to be better to make his teammates better. He was monumentally better Sunday night — and so was San Antonio.</p><p>“We all have high standards and I know I have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m here for it,” Wembanyama said. “Yeah, it was better today. It wasn’t perfect. But, you know, all of us, I’m talking about the whole organization, so we’re going to have to do things that we didn’t sign up for.”</p><p>The Spurs limited the Thunder to 33% shooting from the field, including 6 for 33 on 3-pointers (18%).</p><p>“I think we made a great defensive adjustment,” Vassell said. “I don’t want to say what it was. We were just able to rotate the shooters and not give them so many wide-open 3s. I feel like they had so many wide-open 3s over the past couple games and you've got to respect them, especially if they’re making them. So, we were trying to cut them out with that and just stay playing fast.”</p><p>After being outscored 76-23 in bench points in Game 3, San Antonio's reserves scored 30 points while limiting Oklahoma City to 34.</p><p>The Spurs had another hot start in Game 4 after opening the previous game on a 15-0 run. Unlike Friday’s lopsided loss, the Spurs never relinquished that lead.</p><p>“They just punched us in our face early,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s two games in a row they’ve come out the aggressor. The last game we were able to course correct. Tonight, we just didn’t do so.”</p><p>After blocking Jared McCain’s layup under the rim, Vassell tossed an alley-oop pass to Wembanyama for a dunk as part of 16-0 run that gave the Spurs a 23-8 lead with 4:19 remaining.</p><p>“I feel like with who we are, we need to start games like this,” Wembanyama said, “but it really doesn’t mean anything for the way it holds. I mean, it helps for sure, but it’s a whole 'nother type of effort to be consistent rather than just hitting first.”</p><p>San Antonio had an assist on all 10 field goals in the first quarter.</p><p>San Antonio held Oklahoma City to 38 points in the first half, tied for its second-lowest half in the past four regular and postseasons. The Thunder are 2-9 when they score less than 40 points in any half over the last five seasons.</p><p>Oklahoma City’s franchise low is 65 points in a playoff loss to Memphis on May 3, 2014, and its second-fewest points had been 85 against San Antonio on May 21, 2014.</p><p>___</p><p>AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JyzIYJfODEg1OE_saycThQOfuJM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5EP5QTRLIBGHTM67ZOJOALX6WA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5504" width="8256"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) scores a basket on the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Darren Abate</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-NyHxPiGUV4jx_vY3BMzgoSv5kE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NXDFUZZTBNCIXGWLAY33V2FE6U.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4464" width="6695"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and guard Dylan Harper, right, react after a basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, looks on during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/WZLb9yOnY3z3BHcCwlAwai8L91w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SXQVWLSTQNBY3BVPRZ5TJWMU7U.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, and guard Devin Vassell react after a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LaAt8QMUOWsSiE0UeXXoCkP6UFo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7NM4LHJJ3FFSXDY2RBQATLOH2I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4516" width="6774"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, right, blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Darren Abate</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ReWKbocpwTustok30L8jHCOYcqE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5CDUDW4EYBGDZPOE3FKZGYGJAI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3303" width="2202"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in San Antonio, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Eric Gay</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[What to Stream: Paul McCartney, John Travolta, Tina Fey, Latto and Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/22/what-to-stream-paul-mccartney-john-travolta-tina-fey-latto-and-nicolas-cage-as-spider-man/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/22/what-to-stream-paul-mccartney-john-travolta-tina-fey-latto-and-nicolas-cage-as-spider-man/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Paul McCartney reflecting on the “Days We Left Behind” with his 18th studio album and John Travolta writing, directing and narrating an ode to the glamorous days of 1960s air travel are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 15:24:03 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Paul McCartney reflecting on the “Days We Left Behind” with his 18th studio album and John Travolta writing, directing and narrating an ode to the glamorous days of 1960s air travel are some of the new television, films, music and games <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-stream/">headed to a device</a> near you.</p><p>Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ <a href="https://apnews.com/entertainment">entertainment journalists</a>: Netflix drops Season 2 of Netflix’s “Four Seasons” starring Tina Fey, Atlanta rapper Latto returns with “Big Mama” and Nicolas Cage stars in a new live-action series inspired by Spider-Man.</p><p>New movies to stream from May 25-31</p><p>— Bill Skarsgård’s aggrieved everyman takes Dacre Montgomery’s mortgage executive hostage in “Dead Man’s Wire,” streaming on Netflix on Thursday. In his review for The Associated Press, Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote that, “it plays a little loose with facts but the righteous rage of <a href="https://filmforum.org/film/dog-day-afternoon-the-city">“Dog Day Afternoon”</a> is present enough in Gus Van Sant’s … thriller that’s as deeply 1970s as it is contemporary.”</p><p>— Fresh off its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-john-travolta-honorary-palme-dor-b96cc6d4e4c14139bb0d11482e6f751a">John Travolta’s “Propeller One-Way Night Coach”</a> will be streaming on Apple TV starting Friday, May 29. The actor wrote, directed and narrates this ode to the glamorous days of 1960s air travel following an aviation obsessed 10-year-old on a cross country trip with his mother. Running at only 60 minutes, the film, which is based on a novel he wrote, has received mostly mixed reviews.</p><p>— In “Miss You, Love You,” written and directed by Jim Rash and streaming on HBO Max on May 29, Allison Janney plays a recently widowed woman who has to plan her husband's funeral with a stranger: Her estranged son’s assistant, played by Andrew Rannells. Also coming to HBO Max on May 29 is the Charli xcx movie <a href="https://apnews.com/article/charli-xcx-moment-movie-sundance-film-festival-2570e0929916591fd4d32555a4b194cc">“The Moment,”</a> a meta mockumentary about the end of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/collins-word-year-brat-c495163b1562bd72f611192ddc5da3c2">Brat summer</a> and grappling with otherworldly success.</p><p>— Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” is also making its streaming debut, on YouTube, on May 31. The adaptation of the indie horror game was self-financed and self-released in theaters where it earned over $50 million worldwide.</p><p>— <a href="https://apnews.com/author/lindsey-bahr">AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr</a></p><p>New music to stream from May 25-31</p><p>— <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-mccartney">Paul McCartney</a> reflects on the “Days We Left Behind” on his 18th studio album, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” out Friday. That’s a reference to a particularly nostalgic and wistful track on the new collection, which reflects on the youth of a life well lived — so, of course, it’s all soft piano and delicate harmonies. If that’s not enough to inspire a listen, perhaps this is: The album also features the first duet of Macca and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ringo-starr">Ringo Starr,</a> a must-play for <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-beatles">any Beatles fan.</a> “The world around us wasn’t safe, the place was falling down/But it was my hometown/And it was home to us,” they sing. It’s enough to make someone weep, if it wasn’t such a jam.</p><p>— <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fanatics-party-super-bowl-michael-rubin-fb63e81d72143c5b690afc6cd04287ae">Atlanta rapper Latto</a> is back with “Big Mama.” If the title feels familiar, there’s a reason for it. “Big Mama” is also the name of her 2024 Grammy-nominated single from her last album, “Sugar Honey Iced Tea.” She’s called her forthcoming record her “retirement album,” and if that’s true, she’s going out with a bang: “Somebody” is laid-back pop-trap; “GOMF” (an acronym for “Get Out My Face”) samples the buzzy ’00s <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soulja-boy">Soulja Boy hit “Yahhh!”</a> and transforms it with the swagger only Latto possesses. For the lover girls and girl bosses among us, and for everyone in between.</p><p>— <a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">AP Music Writer Maria Sherman</a></p><p>New series to stream from May 25-31</p><p>— A Spider-Man series, but make it noir. <a href="https://apnews.com/video/nicolas-cage-goes-dark-for-spider-noir-17f78ef3b37543bea27427a21f0e7ce4">Nicolas Cage</a> stars in a new live-action series inspired by the Marvel character. Set against a gritty 1930s New York, Cage plays Ben Reilly, a P.I. who carries the weight of being the city’s only masked hero fighting rampant corruption. Viewers can choose between black-and-white and color versions. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ1j7hSU6aE">“Spider-Noir”</a> drops its eight episodes on Wednesday on Prime Video.</p><p>— The wild crime comedy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2oyZNNILQ">“Deli Boys”</a> returns to Hulu for its second season on Thursday. Two Pakistani American brothers, played by Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh, inherit a chain of delis after their father dies and think they’re set for life until the realization that those delis were really a front for smuggling drugs. Poorna Jagannathan plays their aunt who has taken over the business.</p><p>— Netflix drops Season 2 of its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgpDgJkQka0">“Four Seasons”</a> on Thursday. It’s about a group of friends navigating relationships and life’s ups and downs. <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tina-fey">Tina Fey</a> is a co-creator and stars alongside Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani and Erika Henningsen. It’s adapted from Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name.</p><p>— <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xJ-xi6Zh2M">“Criminal Minds: Evolution”</a> Season 19 premieres with two episodes Thursday on Paramount+. In the new episodes, serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) is still in prison for life but also helping the BAU track down other killers like himself. The big bad for Season 19 is a copycat killer, who is a fan of Voit. A number of actors from the original series return, including Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. Connor Storrie of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/heated-rivalry-hockey-romance-801f41aec6cc476a12fe1a670ea68a22">“Heated Rivalry”</a> will also guest star. </p><p>— <a href="http://www.twitter.com/aliciar">Alicia Rancilio</a></p><p>New video games to play from May 25-31</p><p>— Filmmakers are still trying to decide on the next actor to play James Bond, but gamers worldwide are ready to take on the role in <a href="https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame">“007 First Light.”</a> Developer IO Interactive describes it as an origin story, as a 20-something Bond who is new to MI6 is sent in pursuit of a rogue agent. Expect plenty of exotic locations, cool weapons and gadgets, a slick wardrobe and, of course, a glamorous love interest. You can “go silent or go loud,” meaning you can take a stealthy approach to each mission or go in with fists and bullets flying. IO is best known for its globe-trotting “Hitman” series, so it’s well qualified to take on this franchise. Pick up your license to kill Wednesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 or PC.</p><p>— <a href="https://www.yachtclubgames.com/games/mina-the-hollower">“Mina the Hollower”</a> is a mouse who’s really good at burrowing, which comes in handy when she needs to run away from — or sneak up behind — the nastier critters roaming her spooky home. She can also fight back with her whip, and she can track down sidearms and trinkets that make her more of a threat. All this takes place in a colorful, pixelated 2D world reminiscent of 1980s classics like “The Legend of Zelda.” Developer Yacht Club Games, which gave us the retro indie smash “Shovel Knight,” promises a “bone-chilling yet heartwarming tale inspired by Victorian Gothic horror.” Dig in Friday, May 29, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC or Mac.</p><p>— <a href="https://twitter.com/lkesten">Lou Kesten</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/s5dPdY2ww1MnFfP9KEkT6FEzsZU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CXZ2MS3WONA4VI7VCB7525PNZA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2000" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This combination of images shows promotional art for the films, from left, "Dead Man's Wire," "Miss You, Love You," and "Propeller One-Way Night Coach." (Row K/HBO Max/Apple via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UdeSno6--62WzfdghDPUeGXQJag=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7BILXYRCWJDXPPBVT3BKMQGDD4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2000" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This combination of images show promotional art for "Deli Boys," from left, "Spider-Noir," center, and "The Four Seasons." (Hulu/Prime/Netflix via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/p23edDiVdv98doxEDGkTSywtYAc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MFF5DQMX6JGV5HW4URCGQPIBL4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2000" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This combination of album cover images show "The Boys of Dungeon Lane" by Paul McCartney, left, and "Big Mama" by Latto. (MPL/Capitol Records via AP, left, and Streamcut/RCA via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SfR9AYIPqCJCD160ysj17is-lyg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NBVCMWCYB5FSPEGTXZF5UQGAYE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2400" width="3600"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by Netflix shows Tina Fey in a scene from "The Four Seasons." (Emily V. Aragones/Netflix via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Emily V. Aragones</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/3C33OvKsMrb6lETJFFTJN3Tcro4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/W6YEX3TPMVAQTO3HRDMV2DDITA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2793" width="4189"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by Row K shows Dacre Montgomery, foreground, and Bill Skarsgrd in a scene from "Dead Man's Wire." (Row K via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Messi leaves midway through second half, grabs at leg, Inter Miami rallies past Union 6-4]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/messi-leaves-midway-through-second-half-inter-miami-rallies-past-union-6-4/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/messi-leaves-midway-through-second-half-inter-miami-rallies-past-union-6-4/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Reynolds, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Lionel Messi headed into the World Cup break a bit earlier than planned, and now it’ll be Argentina waiting to see if there’s an injury to worry about.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 01:27:09 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lionel Messi headed into the World Cup break a bit earlier than planned, and now it'll be Argentina waiting to see if there's an injury to worry about.</p><p>Messi — who almost never gets subbed out of matches — left in the 73rd minute, meaning he was long gone before Luis Suárez's third goal of the night helped lift the defending MLS champions past the last-place Philadelphia Union 6-4 on Sunday night.</p><p>No preliminary diagnosis of any issue for Messi was immediately announced. Messi has dealt with hamstring issues at least two other times during his three-year stint with Inter Miami. </p><p>In past instances of possible soft tissue injuries, the team has ordered an MRI exam relatively quickly to determine severity. There was no indication in this case from the club that any tests on Messi were scheduled; Mateo Silvetti, the Argentine who replaced Messi on Sunday night, said he had no idea what had happened.</p><p>“I tried to see how he was doing. ... I have the same doubt as everyone else,” Silvetti said in Spanish after the match.</p><p>Messi had two assists and Germán Berterame scored twice during a record-setting first half for Inter Miami. But Messi basically took himself out of play in the 71st minute and reached toward his left hamstring at least once, then didn't even venture toward the Inter Miami bench when he could be subbed out.</p><p>Messi was replaced by Silvetti, then left immediately through the tunnel connecting the field with the team’s locker room. Messi was walking under his own power, albeit slowly, and without any team medical personnel with him.</p><p>Suárez got the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute. Rodrigo De Paul, on his birthday, scored in stoppage time to seal the win for Inter Miami.</p><p>Heavy rain began falling early in the second half, causing some players to seem to slip on the turf. It wasn't clear if Messi's departure was precautionary or not, and it didn't seem like he took any major missteps during the worst of the rain.</p><p>Messi has said in the past that he would only play in the World Cup if healthy. Argentina starts group stage play on June 16.</p><p>Milan Iloski had a first-half hat trick — including two penalty kicks — and Bruno Damiani also scored for Union, which was up 2-0 only 10 minutes into the match. That start set the stage for the teams to be tied at 4-4 at the half.</p><p>The eight goals by halftime was an MLS record, the league said.</p><p>Inter Miami (9-2-4, 31 points) enters the break second in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville (10-1-3, 33 points). Inter Miami is also fourth in the Supporters’ Shield standings — a trophy that Philadelphia won last season.</p><p>The Union won’t be winning that this season. Not even close.</p><p>They’re at the bottom of the league, a stunning first-to-worst collapse and head into the break with seven points — at 1-10-4.</p><p>"It's beautiful, it's fun to be a part of the game, it’s fun to sing a national anthem and obviously to see Messi and all these greats so close to me, it’s an honor," said Grammy-nominated and Latin Grammy-winning singer and Miami resident Luis Fonsi, who performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” pregame. "I’m a fan and I’m enjoying every bit of it.”</p><p>He was asked what it's like to share the field with Messi.</p><p>“He’s a lot more known than me — times a million," Fonsi said.</p><p>Messi has already appeared in five World Cups, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player twice — first in 2014, then again in 2022 when he led Argentina to the title. That award has been given out only since 1982, but he is the lone player to win it twice.</p><p>Argentina is in Group J for the World Cup. Its group stage matches: Algeria, at Kansas City, on June 16; Austria, at Arlington, Texas, on June 22; and Jordan, back in Arlington, on June 27.</p><p>If Argentina wins that group — and the defending champions would be heavily favored to do so — then Messi would play a Round of 32 match in Miami Gardens on July 3. The only other way for Messi to play in South Florida during the tournament would be if Argentina is in the third-place match on July 18. </p><p>Of course, all that is contingent on whether Messi plays. And that would now seem to be in at least some question.</p><p>___</p><p>AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/soccer">https://apnews.com/soccer</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/NWO-pBDALJWaKNv7opRRg2G5CRo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2RJ2SQ3EWNAKXIR6EBLBCD326Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3798" width="5697"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) walks to the corner of the field to take a corner kick during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rebecca Blackwell</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/XJS4dKH2-D2i6k5jBuiuqdwTe24=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/O5EMTUTHEBEG7HXLBEYT5LPFHA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3534" width="5301"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) comes under pressure from Philadelphia Union midfielder Jovan Lukic (4), midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6), and midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (21), during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rebecca Blackwell</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/v-YzMeTf1um9rUE6zr_Hy4_vVaY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3MRZYDWDPBCDDNACOK6P6XKYV4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3851" width="5777"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake (18) deflects a corner kick from Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rebecca Blackwell</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/wqzeg2tKb1UtkKqhBzTrXgrESBk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LMEQH2FMN5GTNHQFMOGQ7SJXZI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) drives downfield under pressure from Philadelphia Union midfielder Ben Bender (16) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rebecca Blackwell</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/O86yeKkEaM_x1jyQGSo6f2vQfJY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EJEZWORIURELRG2DHP3F4G6J54.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2632" width="3936"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Inter Miami forward Germn Berterame (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rebecca Blackwell</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Late pass sends Felix Rosenqvist past David Malukas for the closest Indianapolis 500 win in history]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/alex-palou-seeks-new-milestone-as-he-attempts-to-continue-dominance-with-2nd-straight-indy-500-win/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/alex-palou-seeks-new-milestone-as-he-attempts-to-continue-dominance-with-2nd-straight-indy-500-win/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Marot, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist swung to the outside of David Malukas, then found a way past the Team Penske driver to win the closest Indianapolis 500 in history by a margin of 0.0233 seconds.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 15:12:08 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Felix Rosenqvist thought his car was good enough to win the previous four Indianapolis 500s. On Sunday, the 34-year-old Swede finally got to celebrate with a sip of milk.</p><p>The difference: He was more focused on being a dad and felt less pressure to reach victory lane.</p><p>Rosenqvist responded by making a daring, outside move in the closing yards, sling-shotting past leader <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indcyar-malukas-08b1af6798c0870be5313a69c0455a33">David Malukas</a> and across the yard of bricks by half a car-length in the closest race in 500 history and cap the most memorable month of his life. </p><p>The 0.023-second victory was his second in 120 career IndyCar starts, his first on an oval and came exactly 20 days after he welcomed his first child, daughter Stella.</p><p>“After we had our baby, Stella, I was like I've already won the month of May,” said Roseqvist, whose only other win came in July 2020 at Road America. “But winning was the cheery on top of an incredible month.”</p><p>Neither Rosenqvist's wife, Emille, nor his newborn daughter were at the track.</p><p>Rosenqvist jumped on top of his Meyer Shank Racing car, pumping his arms in the air before tasting the milk and then dumping it over his head. And why not savor it after what he's endured on this iconic 2.5-mile track.</p><p>Rosenqvist entered race day with five straight top nine 500 qualifying runs but no poles. He'd also finished fourth in the race twice over the past four years, including 2025, while winding up 27th in the other two.</p><p>And it looked as if this one might be slipping away, too, when the red flag came out with seven laps to go and he got passed on the ensuing restart and again when Malukas appeared to be pulling away while Rosenqvist and teammate Marcus Armstrong were racing wheel-to-wheel on the final lap.</p><p>“I was given two options: either I lift or I crash with Felix,” said Armstrong, who finished fifth. “I chose to lift. I don’t know if I could have done anything different.”</p><p>With Armstrong out of the way, Rosenqvist pulled up behind Malukas, swung his car to the outside and pushed the car as hard as he could. The momentum — and the tow — sent him past <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indycar-penske-abd09abd54cd2fb33e9d84083c3e8fde">Team Penske's</a> top finisher, relegating Malukas to runner-up status for the second straight year.</p><p>Meyer Shank earned its second 500 win and Helio Castroneves, one of four four-time 500 winners, celebrated his first as a team owner.</p><p>The victory margin was even closer than the 1992 race when Al Unser Jr. beat Scott Goodyear to the finish line by 0.043 seconds. But that was little consolation to Malukas. Even moving up to second in the points standings was little consolation to the 24-year-old American.</p><p>“I just don’t know what else we could have done,” an understandably distraught Malukas said. “We were driving 150% that whole time. We had the fastest car out there, loved that whole race. It was ours to win and I knew that, so I just never pushed like that my whole life.” </p><p>Malukas seemed to be in position to win with four turns left. </p><p>He beat leader Marcus Armstrong off the final restart with one lap to go and led through each of the final four corners as Rosenqvist tried to snake his way down Indy's front straightaway and moved to the outside.</p><p>This time, Rosenqvist timed it perfectly, stayed on the high driving line and didn't think twice about going for it. He's the third Swede to win the 500, joining Kenny Brack in 1999 and Marcus Ericsson in 2022. </p><p>Rosenqvist even had to hold off his best friend in racing, Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren. The two-time race runner-up finished fourth — his fourth top-five finish in four years — behind Malukas' teammate Scott McLaughlin. Armstrong wound up fifth.</p><p>“I haven't seen a finish like that ever," Rosenqvist said. “So initially, I was like ‘OK, I’m second' because this never happens, you never have enough time to get that pass. But it happened and it's just incredible."</p><p>It was a wild conclusion to a strange race day that included a handful of crashes, two red flag delays — a 12-minute stoppage midway through the race because of rain and the 10-minute delay after Indy rookie Caio Collet slammed hard into the wall with eight laps to go.</p><p>But just as it appeared Rosenqvist and O'Ward might come up short again, they got another chance when Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champ Michael Schumacher, brushed the second turn wall with 3 1/2 laps left </p><p>That contact set up the final one-lap shootout and this time, Rosenqvist sensed it was going to be different.</p><p>“I think somehow this was the first time I felt less (pressure) because I had so much to come home to at night, and I’m like happy,” Rosenqvist said before telling reporters he had already spoken with his wife after the race. “It's actually kind of nice when taking more pressure off of yourself in a way when you think about the right stuff because because we all put enough pressure on these folks. I think actually it turned out to be a good point to become a dad."</p><p>Alex Palou, the pole winner and defending Indy champ, extended his lead to 37 points after leading the most laps (59) and making the most on-track passes (60). But he settled for seventh.</p><p>Palau was penalized five points after for a technical violation found in the post-race inspection, with IndyCar saying the “non-compliance was the result of an assembly error and not an intentional modification.”</p><p>Double trouble</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indycar-double-f5ab1b61ea583a9ae94b65f8d7287537">Katherine Legge’s attempt to become the first woman to complete “The Double”</a> ended after just 17 laps when she couldn’t avoid Ryan Hunter-Reay’s spinning car. Legge’s car skidded down the track and into the inside wall in Turn 2.</p><p>The English driver was checked at the track’s infield medical care center and was released. She was still planning to travel to Charlotte, North Carolia, for Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600. She’s scheduled to start 37th.</p><p>Up next</p><p>The series moves north for the Detroit Grand Prix next Sunday.</p><p>___</p><p>AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/rBkmwTHjnXaZLwrI3ISLb_jUn8g=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CJ2RM3DCZBGRDENT4ABOH67UXM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5346" width="8018"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2Nta-7OckHbnlwzCAKgimoeaVUE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/U4SEFZJSLBH7ZIEE23KWYT7VN4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4993" width="7489"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist, foreground, of Sweden, beats David Malukas to the finish line to win the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aj Mast</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xCKZZ0xzfxzCzmbJBPNgLFEaKM0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/W2NG6VXJT5AQRCQLOLB5KO4QGQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist, center, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vt5eNnyPKHlBy9b50XK1wUephh4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KLFIWU43ZJGSFNLQ2OY7JAXC2M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3674" width="5511"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/G8gOQxFyq2HrwFPjPtEZG1rIde0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5O7TDFDCORFKZKLFLQLTNGDC7M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5433" width="8149"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Helicopters fly over the field on the parade lap before the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hornets’ NCAA Tournament Run Ends in Decisive Game 3]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/hornets-ncaa-tournament-run-ends-in-decisive-game-3/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/25/hornets-ncaa-tournament-run-ends-in-decisive-game-3/</guid><description><![CDATA[The University of Lynchburg baseball team saw its season end Sunday in the NCAA Division III Super Regionals after splitting two games with East Texas Baptist at Worthington Field.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 02:18:02 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The University of Lynchburg baseball team saw its season end Sunday in the NCAA Division III Super Regionals after splitting two games with East Texas Baptist at Worthington Field.</p><p>Lynchburg won the opener 3-1 before falling 6-2 in the decisive third game of the best-of-three series.</p><p>The Hornets finished the season 40-8-1 and capped another successful four-year stretch that included four NCAA regional titles, two Division III World Series appearances and the 2023 national championship.</p><p>In Game 2, Lynchburg rallied after East Texas Baptist scored an unearned run in the first inning. Benton Jones walked and Jack Pokorak doubled in the third before Quinn Madden delivered a two-run single to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead.</p><p>Lynchburg added an insurance run in the fifth when Brandon Garcia doubled, stole third and later scored on a throwing error.</p><p>Garcia and Pokorak each had two hits for Lynchburg, while Madden drove in two runs. Logan Tapman threw a complete game, allowing one unearned run on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks.</p><p>In the deciding game, Lynchburg took a 2-0 lead behind a solo home run from Kyle Moshier in the third inning and an RBI double by Jones in the fifth.</p><p>East Texas Baptist answered in the seventh before taking control in the eighth inning with three home runs, including a game-tying solo shot from Connor Massimini and a three-run homer by Justin Flannery.</p><p>Moshier and Jones each collected two hits for Lynchburg. Nick Mattfield allowed one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision, while Colin McGuire took the loss in relief.</p><p>The Hornets also swept the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s major awards this season and recorded one of the best winning percentages in program history.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/mWeIbInIgvH5Q2G4kQbt3c-0scM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WNGDKCZWI5BR5N6ETBQTLZJXGA.png" type="image/png" height="1080" width="1920"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Lynchburg Hornets baseball]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Southern California chemical tank has a crack that could possibly lower risk of explosion]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/24/southern-california-chemical-tank-at-risk-of-exploding-as-50000-residents-are-ordered-to-evacuate/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/24/southern-california-chemical-tank-at-risk-of-exploding-as-50000-residents-are-ordered-to-evacuate/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[John Raby And Josh Funk, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Authorities are bracing for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California could leak or explode.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 04:03:43 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A damaged chemical tank in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/storage-tank-chemical-leak-california-e0da10097b68b7f48ed512225eb487fa">Southern California</a> has a crack, potentially lowering the risk of a cataclysmic explosion, though an evacuation order remains in effect for some 50,000 area residents with no timeline on when they can return, fire officials said Sunday. </p><p>Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Wayhowe Huang said that fire officials were able to evaluate the tank more closely overnight and discovered the tank had cracked. </p><p>Huang told The Associated Press earlier Sunday that it did not appear any of the highly volatile chemicals in the tank have leaked. “There’s still the danger of a possible explosion," Huang said. </p><p>Firefighters have been spraying the tank with water in an effort to cool the chemicals inside and prevent an explosion. The inside of the tank reached 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) Sunday, Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg said, an increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius) since Saturday.</p><p>Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who declared a state of emergency Saturday, said in a post on X he had asked President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration to bolster federal support for local and state officials.</p><p>The pressurized tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors at a company site in Garden Grove, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, according to the Fire Authority. </p><p>No injuries have been reported. Air monitoring tests have found that air pollution around the evacuation zone is within normal limits, and specialized equipment has been deployed to ensure no gas is released from the compromised tank, state and federal environmental officials <a href="https://x.com/OCFireAuthority/status/2058402280517562812">said Saturday</a>. </p><p>The streets were empty in the area Sunday, according to aerial photos taken by the AP.</p><p>Tank crack could mitigate damage</p><p>A crack could be a welcome development, as it could mean product or pressure inside the tank is being released, reducing the chance the tank explodes, said Andrew Whelton, an engineering professor at Purdue University.</p><p>“Think of a soda can. If you leave it in a hot car it can explode," he said. “But if you put a hole in the can, the product is released and the can itself doesn’t explode.” </p><p>Elias Picazo, a chemistry professor at the University of Southern California, agreed that a crack could be a positive development.</p><p>“A strategic leak buys more time for the liquid within the tank to solidify as the reaction continues,” he said. “Depending on where the leak is, it can also be used to direct the unreacted liquid out of the tank in a controlled manner.”</p><p>Faisal Khan, head of the chemical engineering department at Texas A&M University, said a crack suggests an explosion could still happen -- just not in the magnitude initially feared.</p><p>“Cooling is happening on the surface of the tank while runaway reaction may be occurring deep inside the tank,” he explained. “Yes, reaction is slowed compared to what it started. However, we are not out of explosive release risk.”</p><p>Several shelters for evacuees remained open. The parking lot was full Sunday at an evacuation center at a high school in neighboring La Palma. Some people, including a family of seven, slept in cars or on mats and sleeping bags on the asphalt. The large family also had nine cats with them. They stacked up cat carriers for a makeshift table as they waited around, sipping coffee and tending to the pets.</p><p>Meanwhile, some Garden Grove residents filed a class-action lawsuit on Saturday against GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, the company that operates the facility where the tank is located. </p><p>Lawyers for residents living in the evacuation zone argued in their federal court lawsuit that regardless of what happens next, property values in the surrounding community are sure to be impacted. </p><p>Spokespersons for the company didn’t comment on the lawsuit itself, but pointed to a Saturday statement in which they apologized to residents and businesses that have been forced to evacuate. </p><p>On Sunday, the company released another statement saying it was monitoring the “condition of the affected material” and “working around the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.” </p><p>Officials said the valves on the tank are broken or “gummed up,” which prevented crews from removing the chemical or relieving the pressure on the tank, said Craig Covey, Orange County Fire Authority division chief. </p><p>Firefighters’ first hope is to find a way to cool off the chemical inside the tank so it won’t leak or explode. If that is not possible, Whelton said it would be best if the tank sprang a leak so the chemical could be mostly contained. An explosion that could spread the chemical over a broad area and send shrapnel flying would be the worst-case scenario.</p><p>If the temperature inside the tank continues to increase, the pressure will continue to build as the methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas. Whelton said it’s unlikely that firefighters would consider creating a hole in the tank because of fears that could create a spark that might ignite the volatile and flammable gas.</p><p>Drones were monitoring temperatures at 10-minute intervals to watch for any spikes, Covey said on a social media post on X. Containment barriers have been set up to prevent the chemical from getting into storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill, Covey said. </p><p>Exposure could lead to health problems</p><p>The damaged tank is located at GKN Aerospace, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft. It holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 and 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, used to make plastic parts.</p><p>GKN agreed to pay state regulators more than $900,000 in 2025 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.</p><p>Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems and even render someone unconscious. It can also cause neurological problems and irritate the skin, eyes and throat, according to fact sheets about the chemical. But Orange County health officials said the chemical is easy to smell and residents may notice it over a large area without being harmed.</p><p>Whelton said the volume of chemical in the tank is much smaller than in the disastrous 2023 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-eab23ed0fd6577a5cf96e8fd301da681">train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio,</a> which he studied when more than 115,000 gallons (435,000 liters) of vinyl chloride was released after officials blew open five tank cars and burned the chemical.</p><p>“Many of these are acute, fast-acting effects. But the longer somebody stays in contact with it, the more potential for significant damage that occurs,” Whelton said.</p><p>If an explosion releases the chemical into the air, Whelton said, it will be crucial to conduct detailed air monitoring specifically for methyl methacrylate and not just generic tests for volatile organic compounds as officials did in East Palestine. </p><p>The weather will be an important factor in determining where a plume of chemicals would go in the event of an explosion. Officials were developing maps to predict different scenarios.</p><p>Garden Grove is next to Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Park officials said they were monitoring the incident and supporting employees impacted by evacuations. </p><p>___</p><p>Marcelo reported from New York. Associated Press journalist Ethan Swope contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/8Lu4HFkE03bxaq5wFdmJQKFTkk4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NXVU5YKOBVFXZA46OKKNQXXGWY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3148" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The streets remain empty in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/sTV2349BBdvy2_QcuzrCuNMfVxc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WOV76OPZAJC4HDXKHO2IZOPHDM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/oEqBlsX8GrimjU6XwiI1TOSkMn4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZM44I4GGW5DN5N6MKYZOEIL4SU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3148" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IIRbC2gvnonMx5N8ba60vzyyvWg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MLWEPAT62BHGPNJHY5EQQ3XC44.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Emergency personnel work at the incident command post at the Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Adr37dbUSBDfBgyM9VkXrHBOXCo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UJUI2DLK5RG47KXC5RZTEV7HVM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2800" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[An evacuee gather their pets and belongings at the John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[China launches Shenzhou 23 spacecraft with 1 of 3 astronauts set for yearlong stay]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/tech/2026/05/24/china-launches-shenzhou-23-spacecraft-with-1-of-3-astronauts-set-for-yearlong-stay/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/tech/2026/05/24/china-launches-shenzhou-23-spacecraft-with-1-of-3-astronauts-set-for-yearlong-stay/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Han Guan Ng, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[China has launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft with three astronauts heading to its space station.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 16:14:49 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/china">China</a> launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft Sunday night with three astronauts heading to its space station, including one set to stay in space for a year.</p><p>The spacecraft blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. The much-anticipated launch comes as China prepares for its first crewed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tiangong-space-station-moon-landing-2030-0a9834bb0790c7f57a6bb8bbf4bcdcb3">lunar landing by 2030</a>.</p><p>The astronauts on the mission are Zhu Yangzhu, the commander, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by Chinese authorities as Li Jiaying using the Mandarin transliteration of her name.</p><p>Lai, who was born and raised in Hong Kong and has a doctoral degree in computer forensics, is the first astronaut from the city on a space mission.</p><p>The crew is set to conduct dozens of science and application projects, state media said. They are also expected to complete an in-orbit rotation with the crew of Shenzhou 21, who has been at the Tiangong space station for more than 200 days.</p><p>One of the three astronauts on the Shenzhou 23 mission is scheduled to stay at the orbiting space station for a year in what would be among the world’s longest single stays in space. The astronaut's mission is to “explore human adaptability and performance limits” in long-duration spaceflight environments, state media reported.</p><p>As China steps up its space program, its astronauts have carried out multiple missions to the Tiangong space station, developed after China was effectively excluded from the International Space Station on U.S. concerns over national security.</p><p>The U.S. is seen as China’s top space rival, with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/apollo-artemis-nasa-moon-6fd9cb210d40c59a729d5103c0994351">NASA aiming to land astronauts</a> on the lunar surface in 2028.</p><p>China’s space station Tiangong, which translates to “Heavenly Palace,” first hosted the country's crew in 2021. Last year, an emergency mission in the Shenzhou program, which means “Divine Vessel,” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-space-station-stranded-crew-shenzhou-e266f7106491b587e60d303068973761">returned a team of astronauts stranded on the space station</a> due to a damaged spacecraft.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press video journalist Wu Jia in Jiuquan, China contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/HhWmIm6wEqZHmDWXI5jW5X1pME8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UKGGUZBG2FBATL4PZJEHZQ3QHE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1236" width="1854"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The Shenzhou-23 manned mission launches from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ng Han Guan</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7QGL4aPeJJfCTI_HZai5FomzA_I=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VPYJP7FMQVDGRMX4IOZX6U2GOM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5298" width="7947"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The Shenzhou-23 manned mission launches from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ng Han Guan</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/HnmbGItdCCe_4472TYUibjuZ6Nk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LTV3XSALW5A6JPVQU77SZ2RMDE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1770" width="2654"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The Shenzhou-23 manned mission launches from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ng Han Guan</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UcZC7TfQbadtVlg7F_hPV55v8Kk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/B2O5P7PYKBFMVIYYPYIQ43CUM4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3625" width="2417"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The Shenzhou-23 manned mission launches from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ng Han Guan</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9kQwghFNcW4ANAHweIkxHr6rnL8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2VQ3J6IJGBFRJAOEIIECBANUQQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4214" width="6321"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The Shenzhou-23 manned mission launches from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ng Han Guan</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bystander in serious condition after fatal shooting near White House checkpoint]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/24/bystander-in-serious-condition-after-fatal-shooting-near-white-house-checkpoint/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/24/bystander-in-serious-condition-after-fatal-shooting-near-white-house-checkpoint/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Raza, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The bystander who was struck by gunfire after a man fired on a checkpoint outside the White House and was fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service officers remains in serious condition.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 20:43:21 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A bystander who was struck by gunfire after a man fired on a checkpoint <a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-gunshots-lockdown-secret-service-trump-204c429ab3888b3d0921cf724e0c0474">outside the White House</a> and was fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service officers remained in serious but stable condition Sunday.</p><p>The Secret Service said the bystander, who has not been identified, suffered a gunshot wound described as not life-threatening. It was not clear how he was shot.</p><p>Authorities have released few additional details about the early Saturday evening shooting. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department said the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, started shooting toward a White House security checkpoint when Secret Service officers returned fire. Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, was later pronounced dead at a hospital.</p><p>No officers were injured, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement posted on social media. “Our thoughts are also with the innocent bystander who was wounded during this incident,” Curran said. “The Secret Service is hopeful he will make a full recovery.” </p><p>President Donald Trump was in the White House at the time of the shooting.</p><p>It was the third shooting near the president in the past month, after a man stormed the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-correspondents-dinner-allen-shooting-d9a2d4ddab8c6a48d3e365f72eea9a86">White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner</a> in April armed with guns and knives, and Secret Service officers shot and wounded a man who fired at them earlier this month <a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-washington-monument-white-house-vulgar-remark-78898feb198db144cf56de483f06060a">near the Washington Monument</a>.</p><p>In a Truth Social post, Trump said the suspect in Saturday’s shooting had a “possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure.” He also used the shooting to promote the ballroom <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-construction-east-wing-275f8034ad3817ca78aa085d1c202c32">he is seeking to build</a> on the site of the White House’s former East Wing, saying the shooting “goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C.” Trump is asking Congress for $1 billion for security additions for the White House campus, including the ballroom.</p><p>Best had a previous run-in with law enforcement near the White House, according to District of Columbia court records. He was arrested last July for attempting to enter White House grounds near a different checkpoint. He failed to heed officers’ commands to stop, claimed to be Jesus Christ and said he wanted to be arrested.</p><p>Best was a track and field athlete at Dundalk High School, from which he graduated in 2023.</p><p>A woman who identified herself as Best’s mother told The Washington Post that she learned about the shooting on social media and was in disbelief. She said her son “was never violent, regardless of what people are posting.”</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/05q9aOPjQEWu5zjURz1g9uDplTY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WSGQ76LTXZHDVG4BJZHNM2FO3Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3469" width="5204"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Secret Service Police officers place crime scene tape after a copper jacket of a bullet was found near the scene of a shooting close to the White House, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/nAKxpvJ_coKHBL2hScowuppxUZo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EFDQCJXHB5GE7F7YG2QWZQW7LQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3578" width="5367"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A copper jacket of a bullet is found near the scene of a shooting close to the White House, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/OGxWUkICEi-jJZmOBOOCPeHOBeU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6ZWDZGT5EBE2PFP455AQTQ5PWI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3505" width="5257"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Blue tape is pictured around a possible bullet strike near the shooting scene near the scene of a shooting close to the White House, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6EuvlW3wqGo0WiSDlNjeTlFVgFI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SSAYAWKXUFFE3MI5S6TSNCSNKY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2969" width="4453"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[People watch as U.S. Secret Service Police place crime scene tape after a copper jacket of a bullet was found near the scene of a shooting close to the White House, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jeX6iV3uAnmbUBZ9J9W9HyJbpvA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3B3F2UABPJA6PPZVIQDDLRZVBA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[People walk past a hole in the wall of a building near the scene of a shooting close to the White House, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norway-set drama about political polarization ‘Fjord’ wins Palme d’Or at Cannes]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/23/the-palme-dor-will-be-handed-out-saturday-in-cannes-heres-what-to-look-for/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/23/the-palme-dor-will-be-handed-out-saturday-in-cannes-heres-what-to-look-for/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jake Coyle, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Cristian Mungiu’s Norway-set drama about political polarization “Fjord” has won the Palme d’Or.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 05:01:40 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Cristian Mungiu’s Norway-set drama about political polarization, “Fjord,” has won the Palme d’Or, handing the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival">Cannes Film Festival</a> ’s top honor for the second time to Mungiu, the Romanian director of “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.”</p><p>At a 79th Cannes Film Festival that saw few films cause a stir, “Fjord” found wide admiration for its engrossing tale of what Mungiu called “left-wing fundamentalism.” It stars <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sebastian-stan">Sebastian Stan</a> and Renate Reinsve as Romanian Evangelicals who move to Norway, but soon after have their children taken from them by child services for spanking them.</p><p>“Today the society is split. It’s divided. It’s radicalized,” said Mungiu. “This film is a pledge against any type of fundamentalism. It's a pledge for these things we quote very often, like trauma and inclusion and empathy. These are lovely words but we need to apply them more often.”</p><p>Mungiu becomes just the 10th filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or twice. His “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” a Romanian abortion drama, won the award in 2007.</p><p>The win for “Fjord” extends <a href="https://apnews.com/article/neon-cannes-palme-dor-ff279fcced34688a8a036b5bd95d4de0">one of the movies’ most extraordinary streaks</a>. Neon, the specialty label, has now taken seven Palme d’Or winners in a row. “Fjord” adds to its unparalleled run, including last year’s champion, Jafar Panahi’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-2025-palme-dor-awards-72ccfe497665406489f8a9b997eda224">“It Was Just an Accident,”</a> and the 2024 winner, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-palme-dor-2024-53443a0e2526459b933f589ed0f498b5">“Anora.”</a> The latter went on to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/anora-oscars-win-sean-baker-mikey-madison-4c633cc6db3c935c1b672ec2fc51fb77">win best picture</a> at the Oscars.</p><p>‘Minotaur’ wins Grand Prix</p><p>The Grand Prix, or second prize, went to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/anora-oscars-win-sean-baker-mikey-madison-4c633cc6db3c935c1b672ec2fc51fb77">“Minotaur,”</a> Andrey Zvyagintsev’s domestic thriller set against Russia’s war with Ukraine. Loosely based on Claude Chabrol’s 1969 film “The Unfaithful Wife,” “Minotaur” is about a Russian businessman suspicious of his wife’s indiscretions. At the same time, he’s tasked with conscripting 150 of his workers for Vladimir Putin’s war machine.</p><p>“The only person who can stop this butchery is you, Mr. President of the Russian Federation,” Zvyagintsev said, accepting his award. "Put an end to this slaughter. The whole world is waiting for this.” </p><p>By wide consensus, it wasn’t a banner festival. Hollywood <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-france-palme-dor-hollywood-65ab7507c8f80cb134e1ebbff7acf910">largely sat out</a> this year’s edition. Many of the selections struggled to bowl over critics. The global buzz that Cannes typically generates was fitful at best.</p><p>But the awards handed out Saturday as the 79th Cannes drew to a close will significantly raise the international profiles of the winners. Last year's Cannes produced a long string of Oscar nominees, including <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oscars-2026-best-international-film-ac9d608fec5a03ecbe2d0a0b67b44bbd">“Sentimental Value”</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-agent-movie-review-52254d76594ee056c333df711962bb72">“The Secret Agent.”</a></p><p>The nine-member jury that decided the awards was headed by Korean filmmaker <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-2026-jury-president-e3d578a54a89c6d22c37b57be5e0c04c">Park Chan-wook</a>. Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao and Stellan Skarsgård were also jurors. Park, a Cannes regular including last year with his satirical thriller <a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-other-choice-movie-review-park-chanwook-8d48f47e12f141accf540531124aab8c">“No Other Choice,”</a> joked that he preferred not to give away the Palme. </p><p>“To be honest, I didn’t want to award the Palme d’Or to any of the films, because it’s an award I myself have never gotten,” Park told reporters after the ceremony. “But I had no other choice.” </p><p>Awards are split and shared </p><p>Two films won for best director: the Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski, for his postwar drama <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sandra-huller-fatherland-cannes-3bab5df44f9700a12c0c1255b5480f01">“Fatherland,”</a> and the Spanish creative duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo for “The Black Ball,” a generation-spanning queer epic “The Black Ball.”</p><p>It was Pawlikowski's second time winning the same Cannes prize in as many films, following his “Cold War” in 2018. But the award marked a breakthrough for Ambrossi and Calvo in their first Cannes entry. </p><p>"No one knew us. Thierry didn’t know us," Ambrossi told reporters, referring to Thierry Fremaux, Cannes artistic director. “It was just that the movie spoke.”</p><p>Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, the two stars of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-ryusuke-hamaguchi-fd345b6d2ca89bfd8a00f704a624184d">Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden”</a> shared the best actress award. In the elegantly empathetic drama, the two play women brought together in friendship out of their mutual sense of care for others.</p><p>The jury also split the best actor prize. They chose Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, the two stars of "Coward,” Lukas Dhont’s drama about young Belgian men sent to the front lines of World War II.</p><p>The prize for best screenplay was awarded to Emmanuel Marre for “A Man of His Time,” a French drama about a Nazi collaborator in Vichy France. Marre based it on the experiences of his own great-grandfather.</p><p>The jury prize, or third place, went to German filmmaker Valeska Grisebach’s “The Dreamed Adventure,” a crime drama set in a Bulgarian border town. </p><p>Saturday’s ceremony was missing its tribute honoree. Barbra Streisand was to receive an honorary Palme d’Or, but a knee injury <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-barbra-streisand-palme-dor-a776dc8a7c118bac81b8f56da46f39e5">prevented her from attending</a>. Isabelle Huppert nevertheless celebrated Streisand during the ceremony, and Streisand appeared in a taped video message.</p><p>The Camera d’Or, Cannes’ award for best first film, went to Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo’s post-genocide drama “Ben’Imana,” the first Rwandan film to be officially selected for the festival.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/lLMivnm809C1HDPjhTDdm3iMXIk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DVLYQPJWUZBJNPEPXZ5R6ZHXOA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3706" width="5559"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Tilda Swinton, left, poses with Renate Reinsve, Cristian Mungiu, winner of the Palme d'Or for 'Fjord' and Sebastian Stan during the awards ceremony at the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andreea Alexandru</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/QAuNrbPqW3cvB3bDxGHaML_349k=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CNO6VUYFIZHO7BJJR4XNQ6LSDQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5351" width="8027"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Pawe Pawlikowski, center, winner of the award for best director for 'Fatherland,' poses with Javier Calvo, left, and Javier Ambrossi, winners of the award for best director for 'La bola negra,' at the awards ceremony photo call during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">John Locher</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IlmWN6uztShnT8bflkGE4H2z6KU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OF4VNBZ6VZDP7J2RZJNCHCEFCM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Virginie Efira, left, and Tao Okamoto, winners of the award for best actress for 'All of a Sudden,' pose for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">John Locher</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/B6_X95Hn-Ot08Opo0_wgR95MB1s=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5I45I6ZZTNHBHOJLCYTM7NLEZ4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3247" width="4870"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Cristian Mungiu, winner of the Palme d'Or for 'Fjord,' poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Scott A Garfitt</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bkNL1P13ny80PBddnovUYfqLm94=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/73HLIWYL2VCNTB7GQF57FKOQU4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3436" width="5154"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Andrey Zvyagintsev, winner of the grand prize for 'Minotaur,' poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call during the 79th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Scott A Garfitt</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Britain's navy prepares to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz while waiting for a peace deal]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/britains-navy-prepares-to-clear-mines-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-while-waiting-for-a-peace-deal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/britains-navy-prepares-to-clear-mines-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-while-waiting-for-a-peace-deal/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Emma Burrows, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The U.K.’s Royal Navy is preparing for a potential mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 23:33:56 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Aboard the RFA Lyme Bay docked off the coast of Gibraltar, hundreds of British sailors are waiting to be deployed for a mine-clearing mission to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hormuz-shipping-tolls-china-de5159966cde7de7b964b3c2c67eec07">Strait of Hormuz</a> that is still in doubt.</p><p>U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at allies for not doing more to support the United States' war effort in Iran, whose <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-ceasefire-negotiations-strait-a4857f28d9b47e0170b65ced19451a25">chokehold on the strait</a> has crippled international shipping and sent energy prices soaring. In March, Trump told NATO allies to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-31-2026-07fcd5216ceae44965de79a60a4623da">“go get your own oil”</a> and secure the strait themselves. </p><p>On the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, the U.K.’s Royal Navy is preparing to do that — but only once a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-states-war-ceasefire-negotiations-hormuz-1c283f26d037102cc5e6f798546d0e59">peace agreement</a> is reached. Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-states-war-ceasefire-negotiations-hormuz-1c283f26d037102cc5e6f798546d0e59">has been “largely negotiated”</a> after calls with Israel and other allies in the region, but it still needs finalizing.</p><p>Britain’s Armed Forces Minister Al Carns took a small group of reporters to visit the RFA Lyme Bay as it prepares for a possible international operation, led by the U.K. and France, to secure the strait. As Carns spoke, the amphibious landing vessel, docked at the gateway to the Mediterranean, was being loaded with ammunition and mine-hunting sea drones equipped with sonar. </p><p>With a crew of several hundred sailors, the RFA Lyme Bay will soon depart Gibraltar to link up with the U.K. destroyer <a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-navy-trump-hegseth-iran-98707823fde34ee9ca9c828657e72177">HMS Dragon</a> and allied ships for air support before sailing through the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf.</p><p>“Which other country can pull together 40 nations and come up with a solution to deal with a complex problem that we couldn’t predict because we weren’t involved?” asked Carns, responding to a question from The Associated Press about what Trump wants from his British ally.</p><p>After the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the strait, a key waterway for the region’s oil, natural gas and fertilizer, causing global economic pain. The U.K. in particular has drawn the ire of Trump, who has described Britain’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-navy-trump-hegseth-iran-98707823fde34ee9ca9c828657e72177">navy as “toys”</a> and Prime Minister Keir Starmer as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-starmer-us-uk-special-relationship-iran-2b5be4d200f7c0b081f9f5a59f260efc">“not Winston Churchill.”</a></p><p>At least 6,000 ships have been blocked from passing through the strait since the conflict began, Carns said.</p><p>There could be a range of threats from Iran’s mines</p><p>Iran could have a “huge” variety of mines throughout strait, said Cmdr. Gemma Britton, who is in charge of the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group. Mines could be rocket-propelled, cabled or sit on the seabed and be triggered by sound, movement or light.</p><p>AP was shown autonomous systems that can scan the seabed and the water with sonar in about half the time it takes for a crewed vessel to enter and map potential dangers. The sea drones equipped with sonar produce a picture of objects under the water, from fishing traps to pipelines. The picture is used to identify mines that can be explored with advanced acoustic systems and cameras, Britton said. </p><p>Some of the systems on the RFA Lyme Bay can be loaded onto a smaller vessel that can be launched and piloted autonomously from the ship, which acts as a mother ship, waiting outside any potential minefield, Britton said. That reduces the number of people needed to enter, she said. </p><p>Once a mine has been located, a diver with explosives normally places a charge on the mine before swimming away to detonate it. But RFA Lyme Bay is trialing a remotely operated vehicle that dives and drops a charge by a mine before setting it off, Britton said. </p><p>The priority, she said, will be to clear a transit lane in the strait to allow around 700 ships to leave. A lane flowing in the opposite direction will then be cleared, allowing ships to enter, she said, but added that clearing the entire strait could take months or years.</p><p>It's still not clear if the UK and its allies will be deployed</p><p>It's still not clear if any mines are in the strait — or if the U.K. and its allies will be deploying to remove them.</p><p>A U.S. official speaking on condition on anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters told the AP that the U.S. has not found or destroyed any mines in the strait, nor have any ships been damaged. Commercial traffic has quietly continued to flow, though at a much lower volume than before the conflict. </p><p>When asked by the AP if the British effort was partly for show, to curry favor with the U.S., Carns said he was sure some mines had been blown up or floated away but that assurance is not good enough for commercial insurance companies. He said those companies need “absolute certainty” to get vessels traveling through the strait again.</p><p>“That’s what this capability will provide,” he said.</p><p>The international effort to secure the strait would happen only once hostilities are over.</p><p>“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said Saturday on social media, with no details on timing.</p><p>This is not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been described as close.</p><p>“We don’t know when the Americans, Iranians and Israelis are going to come up with a suitable solution,” Carns said. </p><p>In the meantime, the RFA Lyme Bay and its crew will be waiting and will be “really, really ready,” Carns said.</p><p>——</p><p>Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KPngqs40foyYj2AD6G5kTmUT1Ew=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VXCY5N73EBCMXM6VMP5MKUWSCU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[UK Royal Navy personnel inspect autonomous vehicles with sonar sensor that can detect and identify mines, on RFA Lyme Bay in territory of Gibraltar, on Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kwiyeon Ha</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UFze7ESe95mKa3xSKJeUDPL3suI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NE7STC67XZA2ZEANJVGQAPI5ZM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[UK Royal Navy personnel inspect autonomous vehicles with sonar sensor that can detect and identify mines, on RFA Lyme Bay in territory of Gibraltar, on Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kwiyeon Ha</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/COATBg7NSZTtGJVC0jHMKq55yFY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2P4FWFBNUBA6HN5KL7X5RU5J4I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Britain's Armed Forces Minister Al Carns speaks during an interview on RFA Lyme Bay, in territory of Gibraltar, on Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kwiyeon Ha</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bzcHpE0iy33TDCA4zsqawgjZELs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/POT7QKXAGJHZFDDIKFX75YAJKY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Britain's Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, centre, inspects autonomous vehicles with sonar sensor that can detect and identify mines, on RFA Lyme Bay in territory of Gibraltar, on Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kwiyeon Ha</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qLYM_FleNCqmedQUtCaKLcXRR20=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/POLAUZ7V6VDH5EDXBBYFEFZWU4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Autonomous vehicles with sonar sensor that can detect and identify mines are soon on RFA Lyme Bay, in territory of Gibraltar, on Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kwiyeon Ha</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wyndham Clark shoots 60 to win Byron Nelson, pulling away from Si Woo Kim and Scottie Scheffler]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/wyndham-clark-shoots-60-to-win-byron-nelson-pulling-away-from-si-woo-kim-and-scottie-scheffler/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/wyndham-clark-shoots-60-to-win-byron-nelson-pulling-away-from-si-woo-kim-and-scottie-scheffler/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Wyndham Clark shot 11-under 60 to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday, overtaking Si Woo Kim by three strokes and pulling away from defending champion Scottie Scheffler after starting the day tied with the top-ranked hometown favorite.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 22:12:37 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wyndham Clark's come-from-behind win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson was pretty much in hand when he decided to aim for the pin anyway on the final hole.</p><p>After that approach shot inside 3 feet, he became the first PGA Tour player to win twice with a closing 60.</p><p>The 2023 U.S. Open champion shot 11 under on Sunday, overtaking Si Woo Kim by three and pulling away from defending champion Scottie Scheffler after starting the day tied with the top-ranked hometown favorite.</p><p>Clark didn't know he was shooting a closing 60 for the win the first time he did it, in 2024 at Pebble Beach. There was supposed to be a final round the next day, but it was wiped out by weather. Clark was declared the winner when officials decided not to play Monday.</p><p>One other difference came to mind for Clark, who shot 30-under 254 and had a 28 on the back nine at the revamped but still vulnerable TPC Craig Ranch, about 30 miles north of Dallas.</p><p>Two years ago, Clark had an eagle putt for 59 on the iconic 18th green at Pebble Beach but settled for birdie. This time — in his first victory since then — Clark closed with four birdies over five holes, including that short capper at 18.</p><p>Clark's ninth birdie matched Kim’s 60 from the second round when the 30-year-old <a href="https://apnews.com/article/byron-nelson-si-woo-kim-60-94f58fe68695cd53a596fc26a5ae3ee0">South Korean was in position to shoot 59</a> but bogeyed the final hole. Kim, who started the final round with a two-stroke lead, shot 65 to finish 27 under.</p><p>“I look at Pebble, it was amazing, but that one, I was so close to shooting 59. At that golf course, that would have been just epic,” Clark said after his fourth PGA Tour win. “This one, really 59 wasn’t necessarily in the cards. I’m just really proud of myself that I didn’t waver and I didn’t sit back and just try to hit to 20 feet and kind of leak my way in there. I was still very aggressive.”</p><p>Despite the addition of bunkers and significant changes to the contour of the greens on the Lanny Wadkins-led redesign, Clark was just one shot off Scheffler's winning score of a year ago. Scheffler's 31 under tied the tour's 72-hole scoring record of 253.</p><p>“I felt pretty comfortable, but I knew I had to put the pedal to the metal and keep making birdies,” Clark said. “I made more than I thought I was going to make, that’s for sure.”</p><p>Clark went in front for the first time in the final round with an eagle at the par-5 12th and twice took two-shot leads with clutch birdie putts over the final four holes.</p><p>The 32-year-old had an emphatic first pump after his 45-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th. Clark was a little more reserved, but pumping a fist nonetheless after another birdie 2, this one at the No. 17 stadium hole.</p><p>A few minutes after Clark's long putt at 15, Kim was a shot behind when his 44-footer on the same hole slid by the right side of the cup. The deficit was two when Kim couldn't match Clark's birdie at 17.</p><p>“I think if I keep knocking on the door, something’s coming,” said Kim, a four-time tour winner looking for his first victory since 2023 at Waialae. “I think it’s pretty much best play golf I’ve ever had. I’m a little frustrated, but nothing I can do. Wyndham played so good.”</p><p>Scheffler, who matched Kim's 65 and was 25 under, briefly was tied for the lead on Saturday, but never caught Kim — his partner in the final pairing — or Clark one group ahead after the second hole in the final round.</p><p>The four-time major winner was two shots behind Kim and Clark at the short par-4 sixth when his second shot hit the pin and spun away after it bounced, ending up 54 feet away. Scheffler settled for par on a hole Kim and Clark birdied.</p><p>Jackson Suber was a career-best fourth, shooting 63 to finish 23 under. Keith Mitchell shot 64 and was a stroke back in fifth.</p><p>Brooks Koepka, still looking for his first win since rejoining the PGA Tour from LIV Golf, shot 68.</p><p>Jordan Spieth, the other hometown favorite alongside Scheffler, bounced back with a 66 and finished 15 under a day after fading from contention with a 73.</p><p>Scheffler almost became the only PGA Tour player since at least 1983 to go an entire tournament without a score of 5 or higher. That ended with his par 5 on 12, when he went bunker to bunker with his first two shots and missed a 12-foot birdie putt. It was his only 5.</p><p>“No,” Scheffler said when asked if he was aware. “But you know around this place, what did Wyndham finish out, around 30 under? If you’re going to play 30 under, you can’t be making too many 5s.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/v3GwsTMulBk_1vKdecHeFXsR4qs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FV66ISLQBJF67CFNNN3TAIXCZE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3857" width="5785"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Wyndham Clark celebrates after winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tony Gutierrez</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/P7gdwa2NB1z82exW_2pNuUSCBk0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FD3FDLXDQZA27BKPET527GOHAE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1746" width="2619"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Wyndham Clark watches his shot out of a hazard on the 10th fairway during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tony Gutierrez</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0vDsdeo9FAMc6vbNb_Ouuxui23w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KEGPNKUT5RH5PDEPKLRQP3R47A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5366" width="8049"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Sungjae Im, of South Korea, walks off the eighth hole during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tony Gutierrez</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9w_BjbNqctaz5xXoGCxds0Sx5HQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RCDHK5O6TJDNNG4PBOE3JYIDPI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2635" width="3952"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Scottie Scheffler reacts to leaving his putt short on the 10th green during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tony Gutierrez</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LyySvkbnUagRkO05m4CMbOThvMs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZYSCSC2AYRDTZCM4HXL5XZPU7I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4650" width="3100"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Brooks Koepka prepares to putt on the sixth green during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tony Gutierrez</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roanoke Reset helps clean lawns for those in need]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/roanoke-reset/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/roanoke-reset/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Isa Gonzalez-Montilla]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A Roanoke business owner is turning his passion for organization into a community-driven volunteer effort — helping neighbors in need one project at a time.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 23:27:42 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Roanoke business owner is turning his passion for organization into a community-driven volunteer effort — helping neighbors in need one project at a time.</p><p>10 News spent the Saturday alongside volunteers as they helped an elderly couple.</p><p>It’s a rainy day here in northwest Roanoke, but that’s not stopping Jonathan Moralde and the volunteers with him — helping an elderly couple clean their lawn.</p><p>Moralde is a local business owner who specializes in decluttering and home organization. He says the idea emerged after quitting a serving job he says wasn’t rewarding his spirit.</p><blockquote><p>“I felt like I needed to do something greater. And I have always had a passion for helping other people. And I realized that I have a skill that I can help people with.”</p><p class="citation">Jonathan Moralde, Founder of Jonathan Resets</p></blockquote><p>Roanoke Reset is similar to his business, “Jonathan Resets,” offering the same decluttering and organization services, but at no cost. Moralde acknowledges that some people aren’t in a position to pay for professional services.</p><blockquote><p>“One of my favorite quotes is a Pablo Picasso quote. And it is, the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life, is to give it away. And ever since I’ve adapted that as sort of my motto, I’ve just been abundantly rewarded in so many different ways.”</p><p class="citation">Jonathan Moralde, Founder of Jonathan Resets</p></blockquote><p>Roanoke Reset client Kathleen expressed their gratitude for Moralde’s help.</p><blockquote><p>“It is very nice to know that it’s being done. It’s a weight lifted off your shoulders."</p><p class="citation">Kathleen, Roanoke Reset client</p></blockquote><p>Since last fall, leaves have been piling up in Kathleen’s backyard, and overgrown plants have taken over parts of her property. Even her next-door neighbor asked Moralde for help removing an overgrown bush in front of his home.</p><p>For Kathleen and her husband, maintaining the yard on their own is no longer an easy task.</p><blockquote><p>It is very nice to know that it’s being done. It’s a weight lifted off Your shoulders.</p><p class="citation">Kathleen, Roanoke Reset client</p></blockquote><p>Carrie, a volunteer with Roanoke Reset, says the program is an amazing way to bring people together and build community.</p><blockquote><p>“I love giving back, love serving other people, um, there’s definitely, there is a lot of joy in giving to others and seeing how you fill their cup up by helping."</p><p class="citation">Carrie Poff, Roanoke Reset volunteer</p></blockquote><p>Despite the weather, the group kept working through the rain — volunteer Lex says it didn’t bother her one bit.</p><blockquote><p>“There’s a phrase from the Netherlands that I really like: ”We’re not made of sugar..." I like that a lot because I feel like that is what this is. I’m not going to melt, you know? It’s just water."</p><p class="citation">Lex, Roanoke Reset volunteer</p></blockquote><p>After several hours snipping away at branches, sawing through overgrown bushes and raking fallen leaves, Kathleen was happy with the results.</p><blockquote><p>It looks really awesome. You guys did a fantastic job."</p><p class="citation">Kathleen, Roanoke Reset client</p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turkish police storm offices of the main opposition CHP party, firing tear gas and rubber bullets]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/turkish-police-storm-offices-of-main-opposition-chp-party-firing-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/turkish-police-storm-offices-of-main-opposition-chp-party-firing-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Police have stormed the offices of Turkey’s main opposition CHP party, using tear gas and rubber bullets.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 09:48:48 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Police stormed the offices of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-politics-opposition-leader-court-af4191515ee4413328f34e19f5fefffd">Turkey's main opposition CHP party</a> on Sunday, firing tear gas and rubber bullets at party supporters and officials who had been holed up inside for three days.</p><p>It was a violent end to a standoff between members of the Republican Peoples’ Party, or CHP, and a leadership team appointed by an appeals court, escalating tensions between the opposition and the government of President <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/recep-tayyip-erdogan">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a>.</p><p>Supporters had barricaded the courtyard entrance with buses and the building with furniture. Footage taken by local media in the courtyard and inside the building showed clouds of tear gas as riot police stormed through the premises, before journalists were removed by the police. </p><p>Once the raid began, supporters attempted to resist the police by spraying them with fire extinguishers, but were quickly stopped. Doors, furniture and the ground floor windows were destroyed in the melee.</p><p>Among those inside the building was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-chp-ozel-kilicdaroglu-2023-congress-court-79f411c037e3aa7fe82395ea38e15c88">Ozgur Ozel</a>, elected as party chairperson in November 2023 but dismissed by the court ruling. A video from inside his office at the start of the raid shows him being served the court order removing him, which he promptly ripped up.</p><p>Leaving party headquarters to cheers from supporters outside, Ozel told journalists: “We are leaving (the building) now only to reclaim it in such a way that no one will be able to meddle again. When we return, neither this administration nor the administration’s collaborators will dare do this once more.”</p><p>Ozel asks his supporters to rebuild the party for a third time</p><p>Ozel and his supporters then marched to Parliament about 8 kilometers (5 miles) away, joined by hundreds of passersby despite heavy rain and hail. Before arriving at Parliament, he stopped at the National Sovereignty Park where he asked the crowd if they were willing to rebuild the party for a third time. </p><p>The CHP was first established in 1923 by Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, but was shut down in a 1980 military coup, before reemerging in 1992. </p><p>Outside the legislature, Ozel rallied a crowd of hundreds, telling them that the CHP was “de facto shuttered” but would be reestablished. </p><p>Even if ousted as the chairperson of the CHP, Ozel is still an elected lawmaker from the western province of Manisa as well as the party's group speaker.</p><p>The appeals court on Thursday nullified Ozel's election as CHP chairperson, suspending him and members of the party’s executive board. The ruling said Ozel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, his predecessor, who led the party for 13 years but never won any national elections. </p><p>Meanwhile, Ozel, in his first and only election as party leader, delivered a decisive blow to Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party in the 2024 municipal polls.</p><p>The opposition says the decision was politically motivated to weaken the party as it struggles under <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chp-crackdown-mayors-suspended-turkey-opposition-imamoglu-istanbul-548f04f5bb61bad839d88d0d1fc460d0">waves of legal cases</a> targeting its members and elected officials.</p><p>Erdogan's eye is on the next election</p><p>The next presidential election isn't due until 2028, but Erdogan can call for an early vote. His main challenger, Istanbul Mayor <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ekrem-imamoglu">Ekrem Imamoglu</a>, a CHP member, has been imprisoned since March last year and is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-istanbul-mayor-trial-corruption-case-0aeb13e0e6f54e334eb6366ee2189cfa">on trial on corruption charges</a>.</p><p>Many observers have said the legal cases against the CHP — mostly centered on corruption allegations — are aimed at neutralizing the party ahead of the next election. The government insists that Turkey’s courts are impartial and act independently of political pressure.</p><p>The vast majority of the party has rallied behind Ozel. He and most of the party had been inside the CHP headquarters in Ankara since Thursday’s ruling, with the new administration unable to enter. The rival teams were supposed to meet Sunday afternoon to figure a way out of the impasse. </p><p>Early on Sunday, a crowd gathered outside the office, watched by a growing police presence. Kilicdaroglu’s lawyer, Celal Celik, sent a request to Ankara police to assist in vacating the building, a move approved by the provincial governor. </p><p>The police raid comes at the start of a nine-day holiday for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, when many people are on vacation and out of the big cities. </p><p>Erdogan has ruled Turkey, first as prime minister and then as president, since 2003. His electoral record suffered a setback in 2019, when the CHP seized control of several major cities in local elections. In Istanbul, Imamoglu emerged as a popular and charismatic figure who many felt could successfully topple Erdogan.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0CTEtTuNsUKKzb8fVtjSaH9iIuQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HLZP5IGYABHZZEJ427JSOVMY5Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3642" width="5464"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Police officers storm Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters to evict supporters gathered inside for party leader Ozgur Ozel, in Ankara, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ali Unal</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/o5ii9BpEJWmqgM56t28VHdgRflM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MXDU7GPAJZHYPNC3LUH5B6SXNI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5339" width="8008"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Supporters of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) gather at the party's headquarters in Ankara, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ali Unal</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Jy1dc5vR-0cHpqafJwjSYw08HEQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TG62K55ER5HLHLZN2YABYQ2WDM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3064" width="4187"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, addresses supporters gather outside the party's headquarters in Ankara on Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ali Unal</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Ms_bZKKYdlezR0HPpTKwuV6-MVM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RI6MR4LNAVDNROFC5KCV6YLGLE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5262" width="7894"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Former Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party or (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu waves from a car after talking to journalists in Ankara, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Ugur Yildirim/DIA Photo via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ugur Yildirim</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/rYGpeWRGPupPtq1UIp1VLgpYMWY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JOLQR25SVRFXDGOFSKFTN2S65Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5504" width="8256"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Police officers stand at Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters after entering to evict supporters gathered inside for party leader Ozgur Ozel, in Ankara, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ali Unal</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell tells Kyle Busch family 'we got you' before start of Coca-Cola 600]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/2-time-nascar-champion-kyle-busch-receives-tributes-before-and-during-the-indianapolis-500/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/2-time-nascar-champion-kyle-busch-receives-tributes-before-and-during-the-indianapolis-500/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Marot, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[NASCAR has honored the late Kyle Busch at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 18:16:45 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell honored Kyle Busch's widow, Samantha, and the couple's children, Brexton and Lennix, before the start of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday in an emotional speech. </p><p>Standing on the frontstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, O'Donnell looked directly at the Busch family and said, "Samantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you, and that you and your children are NASCAR family forever. And Brexton and Lennix, your dad loved you with all his heart. Everyone gathered here, everyone behind you, everybody watching on TV, and all those people up in that grandstand are your family — and <a href="https://x.com/NASCAR/status/2058672612243341594?s=20">we’ve got you.</a> ”</p><p>Tears rolled down Samantha Busch’s cheek as she wrapped her arm tightly around 11-year-old Brexton, an aspiring racer. Both wore black T-shirts that read “Battle of the Busches.”</p><p>Busch’s older brother and former Cup Series champion, Kurt, and his parents, Tom and Gaye, also attended the tribute.</p><p>“Kyle Busch is NASCAR,” O'Donnell added. “He was one of a kind and there will never be another.”</p><p>A moment of silence followed.</p><p>Auto racing's biggest day became a Memorial Day weekend tribute to Busch from Indianapolis to CMS.</p><p>Busch <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-kyle-busch-hospitalized-ce84367f25bd5bd04234f60292fde64f">died Thurday at 41</a> after severe pneumonia <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-busch-cause-of-death-d198c16d4cb7e383b7c7e16f6ba471aa">progressed into sepsis</a>, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications according to a statement released by his family, and his loss sent shockwaves through the motorsports world and beyond.</p><p>Charlotte Motor Speedway honored the two-time Cup Series champion with a large, black No. 8 and his signature on the frontstretch grass and a photo on the videoboard.</p><p>The U.S. Army Golden Knights carried Busch's flag prior during pre-race festivities. Each of the 39 cars in field carried Busch's decal. On the pace lap, the cars formed the missing man formation.</p><p>The speedway's public address system and the television commentators went silent on the eighth lap of the race.</p><p>On Saturday night, Layne Riggs celebrated his Trucks Series win at Charlotte by immitating Busch's traditional bows to the crowd after the race, and Ross Chastain did the same after capturing the rain-shortened O'Reilly Auto Parts race.</p><p>“When you think race car driver and what that person should be like, Kyle Busch is probably one of the first that comes to your mind on the type of racer he was," Cup Series driver Joey Logano said.</p><p>Fans at CMS arrived in droves Sunday with shirts that read “Rowdy” and “KFB.”</p><p>Earlier in the day at the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indycar-palou-f462b60e9f742f38ed61ea83e1040a3b">Indianapolis 500</a>, Dale Coyne Racing changed the font of Romain Grosjean's No. 18 car to replicate the font the two-time Brickyard 400 winner used during his 14 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing in his No. 18 car.</p><p>Then came the opening prayer, in which Busch was mentioned by name. And on lap 18, race officials lit up the scoring pylon next to pit lane with Busch's name, his birth year and 2026.</p><p>Even with the pageantry of Indianapolis' big IndyCar race, Busch, who had a record 234 victory across NASCAR’s three national series, was never far from the thoughts of people in the city that dubs itself the “Racing Capital of the World.” </p><p>“It’s desperately sad. It’s also one of those things where you try not to think about it or let it in because you’ve got so much to do, you can’t let yourself get emotional,” Katherine Legge said. “But honestly, racing has lost one of the greatest drivers, in my opinion, of all time. If you look back at the history and just — he was a legend.”</p><p>As Indy held its biggest race of the year, those who knew or competed against Busch raced with a heavy heart.</p><p>“How can you not be in shock over the situation?” two-time Indy winner Josef Newgarden said. “I think it just puts into perspective how fragile life is. You just don’t know. Makes me think of his kids, to be honest with you. Gosh, I feel terrible about — I have two sons now. That’s the thing that breaks my heart.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/k-EnwzoVrjaDQoIwBclbFNZZ2qw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KXXQX2GQHVATLFBMHVYM6PRIXY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2667" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A decal is displayed on Denny Hamlin's car in honor of late driver Kyle Busch prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bsqC8gEsDSw6DcTwfU6YI_4hPf8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IYVAF6BETBDLFJ2DESZTK5MSGU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Fighter jets fly over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during ceremonies before the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aj Mast</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GyOKUZnF-9R506wdNhSlJO56m9A=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UX5CYY3XSRGKDDSEX4AABH3NUU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2667" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A decal is displayed on the on the truck of Andres Perez De Lara in honor of the late driver Kyle Busch, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/nfJPOZqrTjOhpmGRWnlM-nyCHjA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LETSUQA52FA6FGIOBTRV5COTMU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5433" width="8149"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Helicopters fly over the field on the parade lap before the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Uia0mc5HjzxNji2XwJ_SaX0OwIg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/POTTLETDL5AZBHOEH32MCOBIOE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2666" width="4000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Tribute images are displayed on the backstretch videoboard in honor of late driver Kyle Busch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Crews respond to dock, boat fire at Smith Mountain Lake]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/24/crews-respond-to-dock-boat-fire-at-smith-mountain-lake/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/24/crews-respond-to-dock-boat-fire-at-smith-mountain-lake/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Crews responded to a dock and two boats on fire at Smith Mountain Lake on Saturday, Bedford Fire Department said.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 22:45:52 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Crews responded to a dock and two boats on fire at Smith Mountain Lake on Saturday, Bedford Fire Department said.</p><p>BFD said they responded to Anthony Home Road after receiving reports of a boat fire. Upon arrival, they found two boats and a dock on fire.</p><p>The Bedford Fire Department, along with Saunders Volunteer Fire Company, Huddleston Volunteer Fire Company, Bedford County Dept of Fire Rescue, and Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire Rescue assisted on the scene.</p><p>Luckily, no one was injured as a result. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bkpRCrWaFkrkxIc72nS1oUigOuk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VEARZQQETRBH5LPJ4IVNIRUAI4.png" type="image/png" height="405" width="720"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Photo of crews responding to Smith Mountain Lake boat and dock fire.]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Foggy Morning Leads to Evening Thunderstorms]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/weather/2026/05/24/a-foggy-morning-leads-to-evening-thunderstorms/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/weather/2026/05/24/a-foggy-morning-leads-to-evening-thunderstorms/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Osterbind]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The temperatures may be changing, but the rain is still hanging around!]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 12:17:33 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i><u><b>Sunday Evening Update:</b></u></i></p><p>Heading overnight into tomorrow, the coldest of temperatures we will see will reach the upper 50s to low 60s, making for a warmer night than what we have seen over the last couple days.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/_wpjidI0XXQi-wwFGS63To-HZJY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I7B4IO5CO5GE5KNCDXGHGX3BHE.jpg" alt="tonight" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>tonight</figcaption></figure><p>That low temperature will come in just prior to sunrise and quickly warm up into the 70s for tomorrow.</p><p>From here, we will begin a temporary trend upward, eventually reaching the 80s again by mid-week.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gMgnQCTNMeLEUhPT2_AgtN_k-fg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FYK6Q7RHDRFBNOLIWY2FS373CE.jpg" alt="tonight" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>tonight</figcaption></figure><p>As for the rain, it is on the way. Most of the showers and thunderstorms will occur between 10pm and 2am in a scattered fashion, then shift into more isolated cells overnight into tomorrow. </p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-q_0AfVna1oP3xpqELoxhDppJLg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/P34CEQV73ZELZPHC4LHRPJNXYY.jpg" alt="mon 1 am" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>mon 1 am</figcaption></figure><p><i><u><b>Sunday Morning:</b></u></i></p><p>Heading out the door soon? Temperatures are remaining on the chilly side to start, but will warm up into the 60s by 11am and beyond as we approach the afternoon.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/BrTgOSbkWPj7QR1LlBrZlLAOthA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3HALP7LLABCXBOPVBP5A6FI5TE.jpg" alt="today" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>today</figcaption></figure><p>High temperatures will still be below average, but much warmer than the past two days.</p><p>The 70s will take over later in the day, once the clouds clear out and we see some brief sunshine followed by some showers and thunderstorms later. </p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GzBlmOdvd_1pjBrt79aE_xyscmQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/H5KWOZ3ITVFPPAYYSKSOIRMFCY.jpg" alt="today" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>today</figcaption></figure><p>Even though a cold front will push through our region, the temperatures will not drop. This will aid in the development of showers and thunderstorms across the region later in the day. </p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/rkvN-VntpMRr_8_A8wo0r2TZEvU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PBNZ4XCEJNGCPPRLKMF5PB72HY.jpg" alt="sunday" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>sunday</figcaption></figure><p>Showers and thunderstorms will begin in the NRV and Highlands around dinner-time this evening, and last on and off throughout the evening.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/wHUJFcfok414zCHEqJ66SXmM-CQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WY7KM4IV2VEIHO5B24X5YM344Q.jpg" alt="sun 5 pm" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>sun 5 pm</figcaption></figure><p>Scattered showers and thunderstorms persist throughout the next week. We are already seeing the Weather Prediction Center issue a marginal risk of excessive rainfall not only for tomorrow, but Tuesday and possibly beyond. </p><p>With this, localized flooding is possible, mainly in urban and poor drainage areas. If you are planning on traveling in the next coming days, make sure to watch out for areas of high water.</p><p>Remember: turn around, don’t drown!</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/HYaV7BEQvZoMIQYbtR8TZGoyYDc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YYKEOVWGTRGZFDOIRV6ESTI46Y.jpg" alt="tomorrow" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>tomorrow</figcaption></figure><p>Rain continues on for the next week, peaking between Monday and Wednesday. Temperatures are also on the incline yet again, but we will drop back down into the low 70s by next weekend. </p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/hDn8HOZLzIuVbdWXqPV2baGKERo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3K2Z34TYZVGQDFLPY32CX7QYNQ.jpg" alt="roanoke" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>roanoke</figcaption></figure>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic overcomes a slow start and hostile crowd in 1st-round win at French Open]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/novak-djokovic-overcomes-a-slow-start-and-hostile-crowd-in-1st-round-win-at-french-open/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/novak-djokovic-overcomes-a-slow-start-and-hostile-crowd-in-1st-round-win-at-french-open/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Dampf, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic comes back from a set down for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory over home player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the French Open in his record 82nd Grand Slam appearance.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 21:44:42 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At age 39, <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> can still wear opponents down.</p><p>Even opponents nearly half his age — and in front of a hostile crowd.</p><p>Djokovic came back from a set down for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory over 22-year-old home player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">French Open</a> on Sunday in his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/novak-djokovic-french-open-6d9ab148a5cabaaf829252da06f6cf0d">record 82nd Grand Slam appearance</a>.</p><p>“Obviously playing a French player, center court at Roland Garros is never so easy. The crowd gets into it and then you feel the pressure even more,” Djokovic said after the 2 hour, 51-minute encounter. “But all in all it was a good match to be part of: Three hours, just what the doctor ordered at age 39.”</p><p>Grunting during long rallies and digging deep on the opening night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier, it wasn’t until 1 hour, 45 minutes in that Djokovic finally found a way to break his 6-foot-7 (2.01-meter) opponent and even the match at a set all.</p><p>The crowd was pumped for a potential stunner — after all, Djokovic hasn’t lost in the first round of a Grand Slam in 20 years. But after two tense sets, Mpetshi Perricard seemed deflated of energy.</p><p>Djokovic, meanwhile, was just getting warmed up in only his second match on clay this year. In his other match on the surface this season, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/novak-djokovic-italian-open-c283e86773b1c6d0d7c3c574736de624">Djokovic lost to Croatian qualifier</a> Dino Prižmić at the Italian Open after two months out due to a right shoulder injury.</p><p>Just by stepping on court two days after his 39th birthday, Djokovic set the men’s record for most Grand Slams contested — one more than Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez. Djokovic has won a record 24 of those 82 Grand Slams.</p><p>Djokovic also tied French players Richard Gasquet and Antoine Gentian with a men’s record 22nd appearance at Roland Garros. He has reached at least the quarterfinals in 19 of the last 20 editions and raised the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy in 2016, 2021 and 2023.</p><p>Djokovic taunts the pro-French crowd</p><p>The 80th-ranked Mpetshi Perricard had plenty of crowd support and the fans erupted into chants of “Gio-vanni, Gio-vanni, Gio-vanni” when he ripped a forehand winner on his fourth break point to conclude a long rally during a tense game at 5-5 in the first set. Mpetshi Perricard then finished the set off with consecutive aces — the first of which clocked in at 223 kph (139 mph).</p><p>Djokovic said afterward that Mpetshi Perricard — who he played for the first time — has “one of the most tremendous serves in terms of precision and speed that I have ever faced in my career.”</p><p>Djokovic couldn’t convert a break point until his 10th try when he concluded the second set with a drop shot that Mpetshi Perricard couldn’t get back. Then Djokovic held his hand to his ear to taunt the pro-French crowd.</p><p>Late in the fourth set after he pulled off a delicate half-volley winner, Djokovic skipped back to the baseline in apparent glee. And when it was over, Djokovic performed a celebratory wiggle on the baseline.</p><p>Djokovic can't meet Sinner until the final</p><p>Despite his reduced schedule of late, it should be remembered that Djokovic reached this year’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/djokovic-alcaraz-grand-slam-australian-open-cbae920be98a0b1f39c47ef20d35f6b7">Australian Open final</a> where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz and has made the semifinals or better at five straight Grand Slams.</p><p>With Alcaraz, the two-time reigning French Open champion, sitting out <a href="https://apnews.com/article/carlos-alcaraz-french-open-injury-002362d7e9e475c98f569bd9df2034cc">Roland Garros</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wimbledon-carlos-alcaraz-injury-41bb812a0497a85c7202701e3d4d7d0d">Wimbledon</a> with an injured right wrist, Djokovic sees a chance for himself in the lower half of the draw. He would meet <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jannik-sinner-french-open-5022c59e95457c250ad51b4f4d3d20b3">top-ranked Jannik Sinner</a>, who is on a 29-match winning streak, only in the final.</p><p>Along with 2015 champion <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennis-french-open-monfils-wawrinka-35ee497f24cbc8945a3be01a89e7ba35">Stan Wawrinka</a>, who is playing in his final French Open, Djokovic is the only former men’s singles champion competing in Paris.</p><p>Match-fixing whistleblower</p><p>Djokovic wasn’t the only player at an advanced age in the win column at Roland Garros on Sunday.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/whistleblower-spurned-by-players-for-exposing-tennis-crooks-553335ae88d14fc89218885587a4305e">Marco Trungelliti</a>, who at 36 recently became the oldest man in the professional era (since 1969) to break into the top 100 of the rankings, beat Kyrian Jacquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.</p><p>“I’m reaching my peak (at) 36,” Trungelliti said.</p><p>Trungelitti partly attributed his late development to being ostracized from the tennis tour years ago when he became a whistleblower against match-fixing in the sport.</p><p>“Really hurt me back then,” said Trungelitti, who still lives in exile in Andorra and feels uncomfortable going home to Argentina. “I was very innocent in the sense that I was expecting that the system would help me out a little bit, and it was completely the opposite.</p><p>“The whole package of institutions were never there, and they are still not there,” Trungelitti added. “I have a spine in my heart, and it’s going to be there forever.”</p><p>Sorana Cirstea, another 36-year-old who this week became the oldest player to make her debut in the top 20, beat 17-year-old Ksenia Efremova 6-3, 6-1.</p><p>And on Monday, 41-year-old Wawrinka will play Jesper De Jong.</p><p>___</p><p>AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/RWTfcj4w_IfzGutpGsA_HUCwn6A=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IXPKWBTBYJF3HBIZHMFC6JVX3E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4442" width="6664"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning the first round men's singles tennis match against against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Emma Da Silva</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/H4mhTWxmzOi5PYZn5POfKinF0-g=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CX65YYNFSZDQVEMNRN64BVXJ2M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3704" width="5536"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Emma Da Silva</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/BQjSLmCPPDE_ANtLeodyPCJvAWY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4E4DSKQAYBERJM55LXUZHDMXDU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5008" width="7511"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic of Serbia walks as he plays against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Emma Da Silva</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pYnm467gugQy3FsGDNq34D190d8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5LQEAVS27ZCVTJEOJUINUZVFOI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5504" width="8256"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Emma Da Silva</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CMNp6v9xYnapwf65LNF2nzVD0tE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VHOX7JY4SJGSBPZUHAPK6SCESY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5137" width="7706"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Novak Djokovic of Serbia looks on during a break of the first round men's singles tennis match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Emma Da Silva</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Streaking Knicks focused on Game 4 and not being on verge of reaching the NBA Finals]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/streaking-knicks-focused-on-game-4-and-not-being-on-verge-of-reaching-the-nba-finals/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/streaking-knicks-focused-on-game-4-and-not-being-on-verge-of-reaching-the-nba-finals/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Joe Reedy, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Jalen Brunson isn’t looking in the rearview mirror at the New York Knicks’ 10-game winning streak while the possibility of reaching the NBA Finals is still in the horizon, even though it is one win away.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 22:10:50 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Jalen Brunson isn't looking in the rearview mirror at the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/new-york-knicks">New York Knicks'</a> 10-game winning streak while the possibility of reaching the NBA Finals is still in the horizon, even though it is one win away.</p><p>Brunson's focus, along with the rest of his teammates, is what happens in the first 12 minutes of Monday night's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cleveland-cavaliers">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>.</p><p>“So you have the first possession, the first quarter, and then you have the end of the first half and you go on,” Brunson said after Saturday night's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-playoffs-knicks-cavaliers-score-1ba2394e1f18e09f62d0e5929bee2e9b">121-108 victory</a>. “You just continue to just deal with what’s in front of you and just have your teammates' back. Make sure everyone’s on the same page, making sure that everyone’s holding each other accountable. That’s just the most important thing right now.”</p><p>The blinders approach has New York on a 10-game winning streak with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points and one victory away from its first finals appearance since 1999. </p><p>No team in NBA history has blown a 3-0 lead, and the Knicks aren't showing any signs of being the first in 164 series.</p><p>Just when everyone thinks the Knicks are peaking, they find a way to find another gear. Forward OG Anunoby, who missed the last two games of the Philadelphia series due to a strained right hamstring, had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in Saturday night's victory.</p><p>Anunoby is second on the team in scoring during the winning streak, averaging 19.8 points in eight games.</p><p>Brunson is averaging 29 points in the series and 27.8 in the postseason while Karl-Anthony Downs is averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and 10.3 rebounds, along with 6.1 assists.</p><p>Brunson said the next-man-up mentality has displayed itself throughout the series.</p><p>“We have a bunch of individuals in that we locker room who work really hard and they’re very psychotic about their work and the things they do, and making sure that they’re ready physically and mentally so when their number’s called and then when there’s time to go out there, they’re ready,” Brunson said. “We have a lot of real professionals on our roster.”</p><p>The Knicks have had the momentum in the series since rallying from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Cavaliers 115-104 in Game 1. Towns noted though the Knicks still have the mentality that it is the opening tip of the first game.</p><p>“We've got to come out with that same desperation as Game 1. What got us here as a team, we’ve won all these games in a row as a team, we’ve had this winning streak as a team. As long as we stay together, we stay unified, we always have felt that the sky’s the limit for us,” he said.</p><p>Cleveland will be playing its 14th game since April 29, while New York will be playing its ninth.</p><p>The Cavaliers are shooting only 29.4% from 3-point range and are 50 of 74 from the foul line. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 26 points in the series, but has appeared not to have the same burst he had in previous rounds.</p><p>Coach Kenny Atkinson is hoping his team can find something in the tank to avoid a sweep, but knows his team is winded after enduring a pair of seven-game series against Toronto and Detroit to get to their first Eastern Conference final in eight years.</p><p>“I said it before this series, the rest disadvantage is real. It’s massive, right? And it plays into it. I don’t think anybody has a grip on what that really means saying, ‘Well why are you shooting so below expected? Is that a part of it?’ I don’t know. I don’t have that answer,” he said.</p><p>___</p><p>AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Q2tTNyUW7ANlZrBAnr5U9YEZ474=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3IXDWARFLVH6HARYCKK2SYWVEY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3834" width="5750"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates with teammates after winning Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Sue Ogrocki</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/o4bg1XW7yCmXRq2h9HuY-r03ZBM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7SM56YPZFZC5DLWNL2NDRMM7EQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2838" width="2027"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown points from the sideline during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Monday, May 24, 2027. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Sue Ogrocki</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Late pass sends Felix Rosenqvist past David Malukas for the closest Indianapolis 500 win in history]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/late-pass-sends-felix-rosenqvist-past-david-malukas-for-the-closest-indianapolis-500-win-in-history/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/late-pass-sends-felix-rosenqvist-past-david-malukas-for-the-closest-indianapolis-500-win-in-history/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Marotap]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist swung to the outside of David Malukas, then found a way past the Team Penske driver to win the closest Indianapolis 500 in history by a margin of 0.0233 seconds on Sunday.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 21:55:19 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Felix Rosenqvist swung to the outside of David Malukas, then found a way past the Team Penske driver to win the closest Indianapolis 500 in history by a margin of 0.0233 seconds on Sunday.</p><p>Malukas looked like he was in position to win when he passed race leader Marcus Armstrong off the final restart with one lap to go while Meyer Shank Racing teammates Rosenqvist and Armstrong battled wheel to wheel down the back straightaway and through the fourth and final turn.</p><p>But Rosenqvist had just enough power to pull away from Armstrong and snake behind Malukas before making the decisive outside pass in the final 50 feet.</p><p>The closest previous finish came in 1992 when Al Unser Jr. beat Scott Goodyear across the yard of bricks by 0.043 seconds.</p><p>“The last five years I’ve been in the front and I’ve had a good enough car to probably win it, but today there was just something more,” said Rosenqvist, who had been fast all month. “It was an absolute rocket this month and year; it was still there in the race.”</p><p>It was Rosenqvist’s second career win in 120 IndyCar races and comes after the recent birth of his first child. His last win was on July 12, 2020, at Road America, making this his first win on an oval. Rosenqvist joins Kenny Brack and Marcus Ericsson as the only Swedes to win the race.</p><p>The wild finish began with a red flag that came out with seven laps to go because of a scary crash involving Indy 500 rookie Caio Collet. Flames billowed out of the side of his car as it skidded to a stop in the grass.</p><p>When racing resumed after a 10-minute delay, Armstrong and Malukas sped past the top two cars — Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward. But with 3 1/2 laps left, the yellow flag came out again when Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, brushed the wall in Turn 2.</p><p>On the final restart, Lap 200, Malukas sling-shotted his way past Armstrong for the lead and started pulling away from the two Meyer Shank Racing drivers. But Rosenqvist finally caught the Team Penske driver to win the biggest race of his career in the same month he became a father.</p><p>Malukas said he couldn’t think of what else he could have done to hang on to the lead.</p><p>“I was given two options: either I lift or I crash with Felix,” said Armstrong, who finished fifth. “I chose to lift. I don’t know if I could have done anything different.”</p><p>As Rosenqvist celebrated by sipping milk, then dumping it over his head, Malukas, a 24-year-old American, was consoled by his father in pit lane.</p><p>Malukas’ teammate Scott McLaughlin was third, and Rosenqvist’s best friend in racing, O’Ward, was fourth. O’Ward had two runner-up finishes and a third place in the past four years.</p><p>“I just don’t know what else we could have done,” Malukas said. “We were driving 150% that whole time. We had the fastest car out there, loved that whole race. It was ours to win and I knew that, so I just never pushed like that my whole life.”</p><p>It was a strange day on the 2.5-mile Brickyard.</p><p>There was a 12-minute rain delay near the midway point of the race and the threat of more rain the rest of the afternoon changed strategies throughout the day. It looked like Rosenqvist and O’Ward had the advantage over the final 25 laps because of pit strategy.</p><p>But Malukas and McLaughlin fought their way back into contention as other drivers such as defending Indy champion and pole winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing faded to seventh.</p><p>Palou led the most laps (59), had the most on-track passes (60) and retained the points lead. Malukas, however, passed Kyle Kirkwood for second in the standings. The Chicago native trails the four-time series champion and 2025 Indy winner by 40 points.</p><p>The rain didn’t return until Rosenqvist was celebrating.</p><p>Double trouble</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indycar-double-f5ab1b61ea583a9ae94b65f8d7287537" target="_blank" rel="">Katherine Legge’s attempt to become the first woman to complete “The Double”</a> ended after just 17 laps when she couldn’t avoid Ryan Hunter-Reay’s spinning car. Legge’s car skidded down the track and into the inside wall in Turn 2.</p><p>The English driver was checked at the track’s infield medical care center and was released. She was still planning to travel to Charlotte, North Carolia, for Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600. She’s scheduled to start 37th.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xCKZZ0xzfxzCzmbJBPNgLFEaKM0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/W2NG6VXJT5AQRCQLOLB5KO4QGQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Felix Rosenqvist, center, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump says not to rush as details emerge of a potential Iran deal]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/details-of-us-iran-deal-begin-to-emerge-after-trump-announces-progress/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/details-of-us-iran-deal-begin-to-emerge-after-trump-announces-progress/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samy Magdy And Melanie Lidman, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Regional officials say the United States is close to a deal with Iran to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 10:34:32 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The United States is close to reaching a deal with Iran <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">that would end the war</a>, reopen the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/strait-of-hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a> and see Iran give up its stockpile of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-uranium-grossi-iaea-isfahan-trump-be1e70b842638e69efeb07417bf78d41">highly enriched uranium</a>, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday, though U.S. President <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> said he told representatives “not to rush into a deal.”</p><p>Trump said negotiations were “proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner,” and the relationship with Iran was becoming “much more professional and productive.” He pushed back against <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-agreement-republicans-criticism-7894b2f0e6459cddbcdaaaef5d5f1850">criticism by some fellow Republicans</a> seeking a tougher approach.</p><p>The agreement would not be signed Sunday, according to a person familiar with the status of negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The sides have previously seemed close to a deal in recent weeks, only to falter.</p><p>The strait's reopening would ease a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-wars-energy-asia-gas-oil-45dcf2b9059930f298136720564d6ae6">worldwide energy crisis</a> sparked by the U.S. and Israeli bombardment of Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to effectively close the waterway. Prices have spiked for oil, gas and related products. Experts say it would take several weeks or even months for shipping and prices to recover once the strait reopens.</p><p>The U.S. has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-blockade-hormuz-april-13-2026-ed7a6cd4bc61dc47f317a2c82afcc1c9">blockaded Iranian ports</a> for over a month, and Trump said it “will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”</p><p>The emerging deal would include Iran giving up uranium</p><p>Under the potential deal, Tehran would agree to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to the two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations.</p><p>One official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said how Iran would give up the uranium would be subject to further talks during a 60-day period. Some would likely be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, the official said. Russia has offered to take it.</p><p>A U.S. official confirmed the 60-day period and said if Iran doesn't give up its stockpile there will be no sanctions relief. The official spoke on condition of anonymity about the emerging deal because it has not been made public.</p><p>Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.</p><p>Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium, a key Trump demand. President Masoud Pezeshkian told state TV they were ready “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.”</p><p>Iran has always insisted its program is peaceful while enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels, and asserts its right to nuclear technology.</p><p>Secretary of State Marco Rubio, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-rubio-jaishankar-geopolitics-trump-modi-26b48aafbd262b85e7e8bf99c134e0d6">on a visit to India</a>, said that “significant progress, although not final progress, has been made” in negotiations, and the world would no longer need to fear Iran getting a nuclear weapon.</p><p>Rubio told India Today that the “first stage” ahead would be the full reopening of the strait. “The second is that Iran needs to enter into serious negotiations on three topics: their pledge never to have nuclear weapons, restrictions long-term on their enrichment capabilities, and what do you do with the highly enriched uranium?”</p><p>Trump has sought greater concessions from Iran than those required under a 2015 Obama-era agreement that the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">U.S. later withdrew from</a> under Trump.</p><p>On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the state-run news agency there are “narrowing differences” between the Iranian and U.S. positions, but Iran is cautious after being attacked twice in the past year during nuclear negotiations.</p><p>The strait would reopen and Iran would be able to sell oil</p><p>Under the emerging agreement, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade, the two regional officials and the U.S. official said. The U.S. official said the strait would be demined, though a U.S. official on Friday said the military has not found any mines there.</p><p>The U.S. would allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official, who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds would be negotiated during the 60-day period, the official said.</p><p>Both officials said the draft deal includes <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-sanctions-treasury-army-paramedics-38cb2350059d56074456fb4ef0271d84">an end to the war</a> between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon that began two days after the Iran war started.</p><p>Twelve weeks have passed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, killing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">its supreme leader</a> and other top officials. A ceasefire has held since April 7, though the sides have exchanged fire on occasion.</p><p>Israel remains concerned over Hezbollah </p><p>Prime Minister <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> in a social media post said he and Trump agreed that "any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger,” and that Trump had reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself “on every front, including Lebanon.”</p><p>The U.S. official said the deal would guarantee Israel’s right to act against imminent threats in self-defense.</p><p>Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah remains a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is ill-equipped to disarm it.</p><p>A fragile, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-us-talks-ceasefire-washington-e7f26e207fc7543fe1f25a5318ff9ce3">U.S.-brokered ceasefire</a> took effect in Lebanon on April 17, but fighting has continued, mainly in the south. Hezbollah has launched daily drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces and northern Israel, and Israel has struck targets across Lebanon while its troops remain in large swaths of the south.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-death-toll-ceasefire-2d0737f122640d72b247bd9e6643b537">More than 3,000 people</a> have been killed in the latest fighting, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.</p><p>___</p><p>Superville reported from Washington and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/FTlMNPiPwDn8pAhp6YGgjCL73Lw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PWEE4W5UI5HY3BOH7TUH6DQVFE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Adi, sister of Israeli soldier Staff sergeant Noam Hamburger, who was killed in a Lebanese drone attack on northern Israel, mourns over his casket during his funeral in Atlit, Israel, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ariel Schalit</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/74JkD0Jlbh8Cjr8F1Gkh5Tq5vjw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CVR6N7ONLZF67EEH5FCWDK3Q3U.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Women gather around a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a ceremony honoring the armed forces and those killed in the war with Israel and the U.S. at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Vahid Salemi</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/f1RFRXHHGcI9mwX3ELOr6RU9n88=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/35GSYI2DORCKXE2FTALEBFL5LM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Government supporters hold Iranian flags and pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a ceremony honoring the armed forces and those killed in the war with Israel and the U.S. at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Vahid Salemi</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1Er4kb7E4YZ_6rlDlDdD6RHpi0M=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RNRIGWYOXJB7HLFRC4AZPZ4IBA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A woman reads passages from Islam's holy book, the Quran, during a ceremony honoring the armed forces and those killed in the war with Israel and the U.S. at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Vahid Salemi</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/4gsFnZyEVoFNmmocPEdLUMeCsZA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EWEKUSR5KZHLVAQAPYAOPFXW4Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4069" width="6103"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A woman crosses a street in front of a painting of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini and paramilitary Basij forces in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Vahid Salemi</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tearful Kostyuk reaches French Open 2nd round and speaks of missile attack back home in Ukraine]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/french-open-starts-amid-a-heat-wave-in-paris-djokovic-to-play-perricard-in-the-night-match/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/french-open-starts-amid-a-heat-wave-in-paris-djokovic-to-play-perricard-in-the-night-match/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Marta Kostyuk’s first-round win at the French Open becomes one of her toughest matches after she finds out beforehand that a missile almost hit her parents’ home in Ukraine.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 09:28:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Marta Kostyuk’s first-round win at the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">French Open</a> became one of her toughest matches after she found out beforehand that a missile almost hit her parents' home in Ukraine.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/svitolina-kostyul-ukraine-french-open-e61c2ac1c24e2ec2b3289771222e8a22">Kostyuk</a> fought back tears after beating Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 on Court Simonne-Mathieu on the opening day of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/french-open-tennis-guide-21a4054ea8eb1be9f5f737af17369e9f">the clay-court Grand Slam</a> at Roland Garros in western Paris.</p><p>“I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career," the 15th-seeded Kostyuk said. “This morning, 100 meters away from my parents’ house, the missile destroyed the building and it was a very difficult morning for me ... I didn’t know how I would handle it, I’ve been crying part of the morning.”</p><p>In the opening night session at Roland Garros, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/djokovic-french-open-roland-garros-8bfd617e85317f4e03a3dc01c83b346c">Novak Djokovic</a> beat home player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in his record 82nd Grand Slam.</p><p>Kostyuk received a message at 8 a.m. and could not stop thinking what could have happened.</p><p>“I felt sick,” she said. “If it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today.”</p><p>Her mother, sister and great aunt — were in the house at the time of the strike, she said, among 17 people in total, so her relief was enormous that no one was injured.</p><p>“I don’t want to think what I would do if something worse happened, but I knew that this is the day to go out and play,” she said. “It didn’t cross my mind today that I shouldn’t go out, because, you know, at the end of the day, everyone is alive.”</p><p>After the match, she thanked fans and received an ovation. Then she explained how she found the emotional and mental resources to play.</p><p>“I think it’s important to keep going. My biggest example is Ukrainian people, I woke up in the morning today and,” the 23-year-old Kostyuk said, becoming tearful before repeating and finishing the sentence. </p><p>“I looked at all these people who woke up and kept living their life, kept helping people who are in need,” she said. "I knew a lot of Ukrainian flags would be here today and a lot of Ukrainian people would come out, support. My friends from Ukraine came as well.”</p><p>She next plays unseeded American Katie Volynets and Kostyuk's countrywoman Elina Svitolina — a recent winner at the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/italian-open-sinner-gauff-svitolina-99298d6ebcd4e1204581d4586eb05e9d">Italian Open in Rome</a> — faces Anna Bondar on Monday.</p><p>The heat is on</p><p>High temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) contributed to Frenchman Arthur Gea taking an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arthur-gea-bathroom-break-french-open-3c031bafb4dd161fb074ccadb091e6d1">emergency bathroom break</a> early into his first-round loss to No. 13 Karen Khachanov on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.</p><p>Spectators folded newspapers in half and fanned themselves to keep cool as players attempted to stay hydrated.</p><p>Canadian Gabriel Diallo said the heat was the main reason why he retired against Australian James Duckworth after losing the first set 6-3 and trailing 4-1 in the second.</p><p>“That’s mainly what it was," he said. "It was getting worse and worse.”</p><p>No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also struggled.</p><p>“I am coming from Hamburg with 10 degrees (and) it’s 22 degrees more,” the Spaniard said after beating Damir Dzumhur 6-7 (3), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. “I didn’t expect that.” </p><p>The opening match on Chatrier saw No. 11 Belinda Bencic beating Sinja Kraus 6-2, 6-3 and 2024 runner-up Alexander Zverev, seeded No. 2, won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win against Benjamin Bonzi.</p><p>Other results</p><p>Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu and former French Open runners-up Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin all went out.</p><p>No. 26 Hailey Baptiste won 6-7 (7), 7-6 (6), 6-2 against <a href="https://apnews.com/article/barbora-krejcikova-europe-french-open-tennis-sports-a95245ae297af1c248b65f3713b65cd6">2021 champion Barbora Krejčíková</a>. Baptiste is playing in the women’s doubles alongside American countrywoman <a href="https://apnews.com/article/french-open-venus-williams-womens-doubles-852c66f9cbacada8b2f31939f8a7a002">Venus Williams</a>. No. 21 Clara Tauson lost while No. 27 Marie Bouzkova and No. 32 Wang Xinyu reached the second round.</p><p>In men’s first-round play, No. 23 Tomas Etcheverry lost against Nuno Borges but No. 26 Jakub Mensik and No. 28 João Fonseca advanced.</p><p>___</p><p>AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Paris contributed to this report.</p><p>___</p><p>AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/59uH8nwuDWczLmYo0ugmUT2EXB0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JV47GK5GTZD73JEO6N5IKDCZKU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5308" width="7962"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine celebrates as she won against Oksana Selekhmeteva of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Thibault Camus</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DlzpMYvaiTlc-3Eh5uE8vl2SJlQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4OOGLAGOIRHSPAXGIU2VCBF5JY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine celebrates as she won against Oksana Selekhmeteva of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Thibault Camus</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/QXbhn3BhfSBLXQMhrSQG56ZdWAU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XBL3DQRTUFAUNIR6K7BLCO3UG4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5163" width="7745"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine signs autographs after winning against Oksana Selekhmeteva of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Thibault Camus</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/41IXZLomuXyENPAt4RFC6LPtNso=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7KMBD5FR25BC3KEACZWVDD23EE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2796" width="4194"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Alexander Zverev of Germany returns to Benjamin Bonzi of France during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Christophe Ena</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tpdLxj6j4Jz-pySw0GazQnUWGK4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TROWTYDYBZBKRPBAGVVVQB2GYY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4504" width="6756"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[El francs Arthur Gea regresa un tiro del ruso Karen Khachanov en la primera ronda del Abierto de Francia el domingo 24 de mayo del 2026. (AP Foto/Aurelien Morissard)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aurelien Morissard</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Oldest Pearl Harbor survivor is keeping the memory of the surprise bombing alive at 106]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/24/oldest-pearl-harbor-survivor-is-keeping-memory-of-the-surprise-bombing-alive-at-106/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/24/oldest-pearl-harbor-survivor-is-keeping-memory-of-the-surprise-bombing-alive-at-106/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Casey, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Among the dwindling number of Pearl Harbor survivors is Freeman Johnson, who is considered the oldest among them.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 12:03:04 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On the day of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attack-on-pearl-harbor">Pearl Harbor attack</a>, the country's oldest living survivor of the Japanese bombing was far below deck helping repair one of the boilers of the USS St. Louis.</p><p>Freeman Johnson, who turned 106 in March, never witnessed the surprise attack. He never heard his shipmates firing anti-aircraft guns at the attacking planes — shooting down a torpedo plane. By the time he was topside, the St. Louis, a light cruiser, had evaded midget submarines and safely set out to sea.</p><p>“While all the rigamarole was going on topside, I was inside a steam drum. Couldn’t see anything, absolutely nothing,” said Johnson, a Centerville, Massachusetts, resident whose living room is filled with mementos and photos of his Navy service, including photos of the St. Louis and him as a young sailor, along with a collection of Navy challenge coins and ribbons representing the places he visited. He still has his military identification tag — popularly known as dog tag.</p><p>Even as the St. Louis headed into the Pacific Ocean, Johnson, whose job was known as a fireman on the ship, knew little about the attack. </p><p>“We were way out to sea, way out. You couldn’t see any land at all. All you saw was ocean,” he said. “I was just a sailor, just a swabbie, I was not an officer. They don’t tell you anything if you don’t need to know. And I didn’t need know it. So they tell you nothing.”</p><p>When he visited schools, children often asked Johnson whether he was scared that day. “You’re not scared. You’re too busy to be scared,” he said, his gravelly voice rising. “Besides, you don’t know what you’re scared of. You can’t see anything. What are you afraid of?”</p><p>One of only 11 survivors</p><p>Johnson became the oldest survivor after World War II Navy veteran <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-ira-schab-eb09288ff2ebd913619d02ca074884f1">Ira “Ike” Schab</a> died in December. He was 105. With Schab's passing and the death of Clarence Lane in February at the age of 100, there remain only 11 survivors of the surprise attack, which killed just over 2,400 Americans and propelled the United States into the war. The U.S. mourns the nation’s fallen service members on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/memorial-day-meaning-origin-048c817cd6b2dc2f728415b44385b2ee">Memorial Day</a>, which takes place Monday.</p><p>Every year, there is a remembrance ceremony at the military base’s waterfront for Pearl Harbor survivors.</p><p>About 2,000 survivors attended the 50th anniversary event in 1991. A few dozen have showed in recent decades. In 2024, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pearl-harbor-attack-anniversary-hawaii-97e21f0b36f969bf0c5b3a8bb2641694">only two made it</a>. That is out of an estimated 87,000 troops stationed on Oahu that day. None made the pilgrimage to Hawaii last year. </p><p>Growing recognition</p><p>For most of his life, Johnson avoided the spotlight and talked little about surviving the bombing. After all, he was one of the tens of thousands sailors who were there on that tragic day. He recalled his wife, Ruth, “thought that was something special,” so she called the Navy and “the girl laughed at her.”</p><p>But as the oldest survivor, he's become a local celebrity and the reluctant face of one of the most important events in World War II. Johnson showed up at his 106th birthday party in a limousine and was mugged by television cameras. He gets letters from all over the world and is routinely called a hero wherever he goes out.</p><p>Johnson, who is hard of hearing, needs a walker to get around and suffers from congestive heart failure, can recall his wartime experience down to the smallest detail. A 19-year-old who was unemployed and living at home in Waltham, Johnson said he feared being drafted so he signed up for the Navy — because he felt it would be less physically taxing than the Army.</p><p>“As a kid, I walked. If I wanted to go somewhere, I walked or took my bicycle. But I didn't want to walk from France to Germany," he said, sitting in a recliner, dressed in an oversized flannel shirt and waving his hands like an orchestra conductor.</p><p>“It's a long way carrying a knapsack with you. ... Water for a day, food for a day, a 9-pound Springfield rifle all on your back and walking through the mud,” he said. “No thanks. That’s why I joined the Navy.”</p><p>Witnessing history</p><p>Johnson's memories have less to do with battles while on the St. Louis, and later aboard the USS Iowa, than their significant roles in history. He helped commission the Iowa and recalled the battleship's preparations in November 1943 ahead of transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. </p><p>The ship was equipped with two elevators and a bathtub. All the ammunition and much of the oil was removed to lighten the ship as it made its way down the Potomac River to pick up Roosevelt. It was reloaded before the ship headed out to sea.</p><p>“It was a big meeting,” Johnson said, recalling how the crew were photographed with Roosevelt. “I don’t know what they talked about, but I didn’t need to know. We picked him back up, brought him home.”</p><p>Johnson also witnessed the war's end aboard the Iowa. He was on the Iowa's mast watching the surrender ceremonies about a mile away in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945. </p><p>“I could see the boats coming up with the Marines escorting the Japanese onto ship and sitting around a table,” he said. “It was all over. That was the end of the war. A bunch of us got together — the war is over. Let's go home.”</p><p>Telling the story of Pearl Harbor</p><p>These days, his daughter, Diane Johnson, is often by his side. They live together and always take a trip on Dec. 7, often attending Pearl Harbor remembrance events, including the 65th and 80th anniversary in Hawaii. She often poses questions to get her father talking and likes to nag him that he has “a responsibility” to share the story of Pearl Harbor —- especially for children who know little about the bombing. </p><p>“It’s kind of overwhelming when you think of it. Well, the 106 is what gets me,” she said. “When I think about his history, he’s at the beginning, he’s at middle, he is at the end when he witnessed the surrender. It’s something.”</p><p>Johnson began getting more attention when Diane Johnson heard a local television report suggesting the last survivor in the state had died. She called to correct the record and that raised his profile. Johnson also started making regular appearances in the Cape Cod St. Patrick's Parade, often leading from the front. </p><p>“I wish more people were like him today. He just gets on and doesn't complain about anything,” said Desmond Keogh, the chairman of the parade who has accompanied Johnson. “It's what this country was all about. They were just a different generation. They did what was best for their country.”</p><p>For all the attention to Pearl Harbor, the gruff Johnson, who is known for his cackling laugh and mischievous smile, doesn't see it as a defining moment in his life. </p><p>That would have been getting married after the war to his late wife and having three daughters. He also worked for years in a machinist shop, then in a convenience store and, finally, delivering meals to seniors — all jobs he retired from, the last one at the age of 90.</p><p>“Pearl Harbor just happened. I can’t put it any other way,” he said.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Ym2lzn653kotf7fO_yTiHZtojII=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QHHV4IQD7ZGINJOZQC2XVMVL44.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2308" width="4103"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Freeman K. Johnson, a 106-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, listens to a question during an interview at his home, May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iNDislEpN2H1NKhLt3wDa5IBO4I=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6TVIRYMJ7NFJPNWOKIPDV5QXJM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4710" width="7065"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Freeman K. Johnson, a 106-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, holds up his dog tag, May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zAwRjkWEAj53vHLMChu_hCxJ4wg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Q3BO4ZQOA5EGRBWH6IMO5LEKBE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4421" width="6722"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Freeman K. Johnson, a 106-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, looks down at his flat cap during an interview at his home, May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/W88z1qdE0R1slyU0yLVA6uELHzI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RWWE3ZG445DJLAWHBU7SMQP5NA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4365" width="6805"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A collection of challenge coins is on display in Pearl Harbor survivor Freeman K. Johnson's home, May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IX9vpNiaKPiBVM6exCUa2vKTlvQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4GJWWGHQPVCBTIDAOZU4QA6BYA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2584" width="3876"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Freeman K. Johnson, a 106-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, gestures during an interview, next to a photograph of himself on leave in 1943, at his home on May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/HllCQiCO7-ySESuqgU0CmEeMCVM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5G3SD2NLTREDPN5ELWHL5WHYYU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3057" width="4585"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Freeman K. Johnson, a 106-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, listens to a question during an interview at his home, May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dYGeVIOQVt4QmuiR8WlklZ3qUfM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HKJBZVM5SRFPRO3BOOLBI2NGI4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3127" width="4690"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Freeman K. Johnson, a 106-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, holds his veteran license plate during an interview at his home, May 6, 2026, in Centerville, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Charles Krupa</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jacksonville State Defeats Liberty to Claim 2026 CUSA Baseball Championship]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/jacksonville-state-defeats-liberty-to-claim-2026-cusa-baseball-championship/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/jacksonville-state-defeats-liberty-to-claim-2026-cusa-baseball-championship/</guid><description><![CDATA[No. 1 seed Jacksonville State defeated No. 2 seed Liberty, 6-2, in the 2026 Conference USA Baseball Championship game Sunday afternoon at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, securing the program’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 21:32:05 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No. 1 seed Jacksonville State defeated No. 2 seed Liberty, 6-2, in the 2026 Conference USA Baseball Championship game Sunday afternoon at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, securing the program’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.</p><p>Liberty advanced to the championship after completing a suspended 7-5 semifinal victory over Missouri State earlier Saturday morning. The Flames, appearing in their first Conference USA title game, entered the matchup looking to capture the conference tournament championship in their second season as league members.</p><p>Jacksonville State took control early and maintained the lead throughout much of the afternoon, using timely hitting and strong pitching to hold off Liberty’s offense. The Gamecocks added insurance runs late to secure the victory and claim the CUSA tournament crown.</p><p>Liberty closed the season with a 38-19 overall record after finishing second in the Conference USA regular-season standings at 21-9. The Flames reached the title game after defeating FIU and Missouri State during tournament play.</p><p>Jacksonville State, the tournament’s top seed, also won the regular-season series against Liberty in April and finished the week by capturing the Conference USA championship trophy.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dtYXCf8kMHFNfjTteCfw5ySTpd0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2OXSNZSO6VFYRPANMM4ZWJRT7Q.png" type="image/png" height="1080" width="1920"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Liberty Flames baseball]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pep Guardiola fights back tears and says goodbye as Man City fans implore him to stay 10 more years]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/pep-guardiola-fights-back-tears-and-says-goodbye-as-man-city-fans-implore-him-to-stay-10-more-years/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/pep-guardiola-fights-back-tears-and-says-goodbye-as-man-city-fans-implore-him-to-stay-10-more-years/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Robson, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Pep Guardiola fights back tears on the sideline as he brings 10 years at Manchester City to an end.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 19:20:21 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Pep Guardiola fought back tears on the sideline as he <a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchester-city-guardiola-premier-league-soccer-787f76cb8a9e28986b44d564d0009293">brought 10 years at Manchester City to an end</a> on Sunday. </p><p>His final game ended in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on a day charged with emotion as he said goodbye to the fans he gave so much joy during a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pep-guardiola-trophies-man-city-3397dde6a4cf36114f02e498a99b093f">decade of dominance</a> in English soccer. </p><p>“I never could have imagined the amount of love I've found,” said Guardiola, standing in the center of the field at the Etihad Stadium and addressing the crowd. “It is an incredible, tremendous honor to be your manager, to be here 10 years.”</p><p>The tears started long before the final whistle, with Guardiola welling up and rubbing his eyes as two of his most loyal servants, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, also said farewell and were given guards of honor when substituted in the second half. </p><p>Then it was his turn to receive a guard of honor of his own. </p><p>“This is the man who changed everything,” the stadium announcer said as Guardiola ran onto the field wearing khakis and a cream T-shirt, with fans cheering wildly. </p><p>“10 more years," they chanted, prompting Guardiola to shake his head in defiance. </p><p>After 17 major trophies and records galore, on Friday he confirmed he could do no more. After turning City into the most dominant Premier League team of its generation and a champion of Europe for the first time, he said the time was right to hand over the reins. </p><p>“I will not miss it for a while,” he said Sunday. “I feel deeply... it is the right decision.”</p><p>Guardiola's day</p><p>Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who won the Club World Cup last year, is favorite to take over with an announcement possibly in the coming week. </p><p>Guardiola did not confirm his replacement, but said he would call his successor to offer advice.</p><p>“Be yourself... be free with your ideas and work a lot. Everything will be fine,” he said.</p><p>That is for another day. This day was about Guardiola and the chance for supporters to show their appreciation. </p><p>“He means everything to me and this club. It’s absolutely brilliant what he’s done for it,” City fan Fred Taylor, 82, told The Associated Press. “I can’t think of another manager that’s done what he’s done in the 10-year period he’s been here.”</p><p>Guardiola joined City in the summer of 2016 and has led the Abu Dhabi-owned team to six Premier League titles and a first Champions League crown in 2023.</p><p>“That's what we always wanted ... we’d never done it,” said Taylor. “That was probably the highlight of his tenure.”</p><p>Guardiola's trophy haul included a domestic double this season of the English League Cup and the FA Cup. He led City to the treble in 2023, winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup — matching Manchester United’s feat from more than 20 years earlier in 1999.</p><p>First to 100 points</p><p>There were other benchmarks. City became the first team to win four straight English leagues and the first to amass 100 points in a single season in 2018. The following year City was the first team to win the domestic treble of the league, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season.</p><p>Those are big shoes to fill, but Guardiola said expectations of his successor should be realistic. </p><p>“Fans don’t forget that winning the treble, doubles is exceptional,” he said. “It is so difficult, this business is so complicated. That’s why when you come here, you win one game, here in the Etihad - enjoy it. Celebrate it.”</p><p>More than just trophies, Guardiola has connected with City fans, telling them Sunday to hug him if they ever see him in the future, saying “I will need it.”</p><p>“It’s hard to describe, it’s someone you don’t actually know, but you feel like you do know,” City fan Richard Wilbourn said. "When I heard the news (he was leaving) I got a bit emotional. What he’s done for the club has been absolutely unreal, and it’s something that we’ve never seen in our lifetime.</p><p>“Growing up through my mid-20s to mid-30s (he's been) a massive part of my life.” </p><p>City has honored Guardiola by naming its newly developed north stand after him. He will also take up a role as global ambassador.</p><p>“I’m sad he’s leaving, but I think he’s leaving at the right time,” said Taylor. “He’s done everything and he can’t go any further in this club, but I think he’s done brilliant and I wish him all the best.”</p><p>___</p><p>James Robson is at <a href="https://x.com/jamesalanrobson">https://x.com/jamesalanrobson</a></p><p>___</p><p>AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/QNzRvNiQ3_KFxKoc8hAhedL2zr8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3THPWUYPGJDXNFRPDQWYGCX45Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1713" width="2569"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola hugs Manchester City's Bernardo Silva as he played last match for the team during a Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alastair Grant</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JghJGKKU_4s_4-ajG8OfpcKpr5k=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5MZNDSSIPVDHZPIWAT7S7XGKKM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3009" width="4514"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola applauds the fans after the last fgame with the club after a Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alastair Grant</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/8_YG3co3f9v3Lr1ou-I2zujH6d8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AUP27SV5EBEZRGKON7YQVHXNTY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3744" width="5616"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Manchester City fans holds a sign thanking the coach Pep Guardiola during his last macth as a manager during a Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alastair Grant</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/8GqfnFXq9ZjBaEOP4Ykeu-vGmCo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SEFBWJIM2BF3RALR7OUE5RCSSM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2819" width="4229"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola waves ahead of his last match as a manager before a Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alastair Grant</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/4gt4haZ-9jvQKOoOFDosPa6F_VI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JNPORTOTYZB7VCJRU2DIAQSHFY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3744" width="5616"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Manchester City fans holds a sign thanking the coach Pep Guardiola during his last macth as a manager during a Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alastair Grant</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kroenkes enjoy 'magical' title win as Arsenal's players finally get hands on Premier League trophy]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/kroenkes-watch-on-as-arsenals-players-finally-get-their-hands-on-the-premier-league-trophy/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/kroenkes-watch-on-as-arsenals-players-finally-get-their-hands-on-the-premier-league-trophy/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Douglas, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Billionaire Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke watched on as the team's players finally got their hands on the Premier League trophy.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 18:37:47 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With billionaire owner Stan Kroenke watching on, Arsenal’s players finally got their hands on the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/man-city-bournemouth-arsenal-premier-league-title-tottenham-828b9b177f8c0484754945eeb4ee0d0f">Premier League trophy</a> as they lifted the biggest prize in English soccer to the backdrop of tickertape and fireworks on Sunday.</p><p>Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard looked up to the sky and back down at the trophy, shaking his head in disbelief, before walking in front of his celebrating teammates and lifting it aloft inside Selhurst Park after a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/premier-league-west-ham-tottenham-guardiola-salah-8e783d12371a6330532e5ba790b25cc4">campaign-ending</a> 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/arsenal-starmer-premier-league-title-celebrations-64e1a27a453f43ab869ceeed0c9bb669">Arsenal clinched</a> a first English league title since 2004 with a game to spare in midweek, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arsenal-premier-league-arteta-ab159ec095995f52177589239e8855a6">after three straight runner-up finishes</a>.</p><p>Kroenke made his way to London for the trophy lift and watched the game against Palace next to his son, Josh. About an hour after the game finished, they walked out onto the field with the trophy ahead of the ceremony.</p><p>It marked the latest success in Kroenke’s sporting empire. The Denver Nuggets won the NBA Championship in 2023, a year after the LA Rams won the Super Bowl and Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in NHL. All three of those teams are in the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment portfolio that also now includes the best soccer team in England.</p><p>Josh Kroenke, Arsenal's co-chairman, said his family is invested “emotionally, financially, everything.” </p><p>“This club means the world to us,” he told Sky Sports. "I think it took a few people a few years to understand what that meant but now we’ve some great people, great players and great coaches.</p><p>“We’ve just got to continue providing them the resources to go out and do magical things like they did this season.”</p><p>He described the Premier League as a “slower burn than our championships in the United States.”</p><p>“Here, the cumulative points — it's a grind and you start to feel it in December,” he said. “Credit to our players, the staff, and Mikel for keeping their heads on. They deserve it.”</p><p>For Sunday's big occasion, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and his players wore the team’s classic red-and-white jersey with “Champions 2026” on the back. Arteta was thrown up in the air by the squad in joyous scenes.</p><p>The season could get even better for Arsenal, which also has reached the Champions League final for the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arsenal-atletico-champions-league-semifinal-052bec201214e80c6a3c0b22f4d80227">first time since 2006</a>. Paris Saint-Germain will be the opponent in Budapest, Hungary, next Saturday.</p><p>“We’ve achieved one of our goals but we have several others as well," Josh Kroenke said. "There is still one to be played for next weekend. Today is about enjoying today — tomorrow, we will get back to work because there is still one more to play.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/XFqdYquz7h7nXPAxG8dUWQMXb-Y=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MINIMQVE5NBUJJRQ46CM3DYMLI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3805" width="5708"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arsenal players celebrate their Premier League title with the trophy after the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kin Cheung</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DBgx0MYswCZf3_-iIx1A_m2awl0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DCJAO25PGVDRXI2JJAT7RFAS2I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4090" width="6135"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta is thrown in the air by the players celebrating their Premier League title after the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kin Cheung</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vZkowpizh2EErGI5PjDCP2YQCME=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3RMQUZDSARARFBR52657SLNIWA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4156" width="6234"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, right, and his son Josh pictured in the stands ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kin Cheung</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/53aOcgPCZE27yrPB7_PAJJB-0pc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TJWY752J7JCU5NFDDORXHYYMSI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5085" width="7627"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta holds the trophy during celebrating their Premier League title after the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kin Cheung</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/I66uEzKwopetno0yMCjcW4gwggM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MS5GBM65DZAIVE4DDKBI5R246Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5474" width="8211"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arsenal supporters celebrate after the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kin Cheung</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Premier League finale: West Ham relegated and Spurs stay up as Guardiola, Salah make emotional exits]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/west-ham-and-tottenham-fight-to-avoid-premier-league-relegation-as-guardiola-and-salah-bid-farewell/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/west-ham-and-tottenham-fight-to-avoid-premier-league-relegation-as-guardiola-and-salah-bid-farewell/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Douglas, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[West Ham has been relegated and Tottenham has survived on an emotional final day of the Premier League season when Pep Guardiola and Mohamed Salah made tearful exits after record-breaking spells in English soccer.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 12:43:04 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>West Ham was relegated and Tottenham survived on an emotional final day of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/premier-league">Premier League</a> season when <a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchester-city-guardiola-premier-league-soccer-787f76cb8a9e28986b44d564d0009293">Pep Guardiola</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mohamed-salah-liverpool-leaving-81724a3afca1f695e559eca4f76fd01c">Mohamed Salah</a> made tearful exits after record-breaking spells in English soccer.</p><p>West Ham beat Leeds 3-0 but that wasn't enough to climb out of the relegation zone because fourth-to-last Tottenham also won, 1-0 at home to Everton, to stay two points clear of its London rival.</p><p>That meant West Ham's 14-year stay in the Premier League was over and Tottenham, which won three of its last five games under recently hired coach Roberto De Zerbi, will be in the top division for a 49th straight season.</p><p>“We shouldn’t be in the position we’re in but we’ve found ourselves in it and we’ve not done enough to stay up," West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen said. "Hurt is the only thing.”</p><p>Guardiola's decade-long tenure at Manchester City — which has included six Premier League titles among 17 major trophies — ended with a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa that featured a mid-match guard of honor for first Bernardo Silva and then John Stones, two of Guardiola's stalwarts.</p><p>Guardiola wept on the sideline as Silva left the field and was given his own guard of honor by players and staff after the match.</p><p>“We lived an incredible period,” Guardiola said. “If I had energy, I would stay here (but) a new person has to do this job.”</p><p>Salah started and was given a standing ovation — before he kissed the Anfield turf — during his second-half substitution in his 442nd and last game for Liverpool, in which he grabbed an assist in a 1-1 draw with Brentford. The Egypt winger finished his nine years with the Reds with 257 goals and received his own post-match guard of honor, which he walked through in tears.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/man-city-bournemouth-arsenal-premier-league-title-tottenham-828b9b177f8c0484754945eeb4ee0d0f">Arsenal</a> had already clinched the title in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arsenal-starmer-premier-league-title-celebrations-64e1a27a453f43ab869ceeed0c9bb669">midweek</a> and closed its first championship-winning campaign since 2004 with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace. The players finally got their hands on the trophy about an hour after fulltime at Palace's Selhurst Park stadium, with coach Mikel Arteta and the team wearing jerseys with “Champions 2026” on the back for the occasion.</p><p>In the final shake-up for European qualification, Bournemouth and Sunderland finished sixth and seventh, respectively, to get into the Europa League and Brighton was eighth to reach the Conference League.</p><p>Brighton lost 3-0 at home to Manchester United, for whom Bruno Fernandes scored and got a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bruno-fernandes-assist-record-man-united-1c3805660f01b88d1fee6a4bf736b02e">record-setting 21st assist</a> of the season.</p><p>Sunderland, which beat Chelsea 2-1, will be in Europe for the first time in 53 years — a remarkable achievement for a team in its first season back in the top division and which was in the third tier as recently as 2022. The team's players huddled around a cell phone to see their Europa League qualification confirmed and broke away in delight.</p><p>Chelsea, on the contrary, missed out on European competition entirely after finishing in 10th place — 10 months after winning the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/club-world-cup-final-chelsea-psg-score-bd3b0fb78c27cace1e8f7f6c555cb9c8">Club World Cup</a>.</p><p>West Ham's third Premier League relegation </p><p>Add 2026 to 2003 and 2011 as years when West Ham lost its Premier League status.</p><p>The big difference this season is that the team is now playing its home matches in the vast Olympic Stadium, so that 68,000-capacity arena will be staging games in the second-tier Championship against the likes of Wrexham and the two clubs that had already been relegated from the Premier League before Sunday — Wolverhampton and Burnley.</p><p>“This club deserves to be in the Premier League,” said Bowen, who scored and set up a goal against Leeds. "Our aim now is to get this club back into the Premier League.”</p><p>De Zerbi rescues Tottenham</p><p>A top-flight ever present since 1978, Tottenham was heading out of the Premier League before the club hired De Zerbi in what has proved to be an inspired appointment.</p><p>Three wins and two draws later — along with two losses — and Spurs have managed to avoid dropping into the bottom three in what would have been the most unlikely relegation since the Premier League was founded in 1992.</p><p>Joao Palhinha scored Tottenham's winner against Everton in the 43rd minute, forcing in a rebound after initially heading against the post, and Spurs defended stoutly to stop Everton scoring the two goals that would have kept West Ham up.</p><p>“After a bad season like this one, we showed up as a collective and had amazing support from the fans,” Palhinha said.</p><p>“The club will grow up with this season and we know what we have to do in the future."</p><p>Tottenham, one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the Europa League champion last season, has now finished one place outside the relegation spots in successive seasons.</p><p>___</p><p>Steve Douglas is at <a href="https://twitter.com/sdouglas80">https://twitter.com/sdouglas80</a></p><p>___</p><p>AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SMn2fPNFhqgg-zxsDWZjwXC-BWI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OSYMNKJRBZBGLKFVZA5CEHEMAI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2421" width="3500"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen, left, looks down towards the ground during the Premier League match between West Ham and Leeds United, in London, Sunday May 24, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Nick Potts</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IoU_yyIhPwzACbon_xmOKPC3I1E=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GZA3AFTBG5EP3BPGPXZMMUAAHM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2246" width="3369"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Tottenham's Joao Palhinha celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Frank Augstein</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CgV7zKdzQ_7VAxRkZBrouwKjsPE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SVD3BU4SRZFIDGOBASGYTD7QDQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1713" width="2569"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola hugs Manchester City's Bernardo Silva as he played last match for the team during a Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alastair Grant</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SESuT1tJ8q7mVQZnrxQidPIgMEQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L7QQKUK6GZEETIXB6DMQKI6224.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1152" width="1728"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, back to the camera, hugs team-mate Liverpool's Andrew Robertson as he is substituted off on his final appearance during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford, in Liverpool, England, Sunday May 24, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Peter Byrne</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MBxTXbg5so11RuoqgRapHQp9txc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6MXIW7DTXFF7LGPW5TYWU2XDJE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3805" width="5708"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arsenal players celebrate their Premier League title with the trophy after the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in London, England, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Kin Cheung</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Republicans who have drawn a hard line on Iran pan Trump's emerging proposal to end the war]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/24/republicans-who-have-drawn-a-hard-line-on-iran-pan-trumps-emerging-proposal-to-end-the-war/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/24/republicans-who-have-drawn-a-hard-line-on-iran-pan-trumps-emerging-proposal-to-end-the-war/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Darlene Superville And Matthew Daly, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[President Donald Trump’s emerging deal to end the Iran war is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 18:40:44 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-ceasefire-negotiations-hormuz-e603a7759d6cbd70ce5ed01f439a29dc">emerging deal</a> to end the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran war</a> is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans who favor a harder line against the government in Tehran and fear a lost opportunity to finally rein in a longtime Mideast nemesis.</p><p>The deal the Republican president had said was “largely negotiated” has left a range of lawmakers, former Cabinet members and conservative analysts wondering aloud whether the terms as currently known will render the conflict all “for naught.”</p><p>Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the president's decision to strike Iran was the “most consequential” of his second term and that he should not let up now.</p><p>“If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime — still run by Islamists who chant ‘death to America’ — now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium & develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/strait-of-hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a>, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake,” Cruz wrote Saturday on the social media platform X. It was in reaction to Trump's update after he had spoken with the leaders of Israel and other U.S. allies in the region.</p><p>Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who also is close to Trump, panned any deal that would leave Iran perceived as being a dominant force in the region and in which it would retain its ability to destroy oil infrastructure throughout the Gulf.</p><p>Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned the merit of a proposed 60-day ceasefire, saying it would be a “disaster.”</p><p>“Everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught!” said Wicker, R-Miss.</p><p>Trump says it will take time to ‘get it right’</p><p>Trump, who has said he only makes good deals and detests being seen as not having the upper hand in any negotiation, dismissed objections to a deal that he said was not “even fully negotiated yet.”</p><p>“So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about,” he said on his social media platform.</p><p>Trump said the deal he and his representatives are working out is “THE EXACT OPPOSITE” of a nuclear pact that Iran agreed to under the Democratic Obama administration. Trump pulled out of that agreement and has been trying to iron out a new one.</p><p>“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” Trump said.</p><p>He added that a U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports would remain “in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.” </p><p>Some support for Trump came from Capitol Hill, too.</p><p>GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, often a thorn in the president’s side, defended the White House's approach.</p><p>“War virtually always ends with negotiations,” Paul wrote on X. “Critics of President Trump’s peace negotiations should give President Trump the space to find an American First solution.”</p><p>Under the proposal, <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war</a> would come to an end and Iran would reopen the strait and give up its stockpile of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-uranium-grossi-iaea-isfahan-trump-be1e70b842638e69efeb07417bf78d41">highly enriched uranium</a>, with the details and timelines to be worked out during a later 60-day window, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday.</p><p>Critics air objections as details trickle out </p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-iran-trump-war-oil-gas-prices-2abd1ea4a81f3339cebadd5480fb863b">Polls</a> show the war, which began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, is unpopular with the American public and has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-iran-war-congress-pentagon-7e9173700a2cf1ea8d5c4b1a85a6bce3">cost U.S. taxpayers at least $29 billion</a>, as of this month. Thirteen service members have been killed during the operation.</p><p>Trump initially said the war would be over in four weeks to six weeks, but the standoff continues. Iran's closure of the strait, through which about 20% of global energy supplies transit, has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-strait-hormuz-fuel-price-economy-numbers-408faf6d6fb1c0aa104d059257204f52">jolted the world economy</a> and sent <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-consumer-iran-war-3f11b7fdd20ea56d2f0895e5241af7b6">prices for gasoline and other goods</a> climbing. </p><p>Mike Pompeo, one of Trump's first-term secretaries of state, asserted on Saturday that the emerging deal seemed to him to be the same as the Obama-era one from which Trump withdrew.</p><p>“Not remotely America First,” Pompeo said on X, prompting a profanity-laced rejoinder from Steven Cheung, the White House director of communications.</p><p>John Bolton, a national security adviser in the first term who has become a critic of the president, said the emerging plan details seemed to favor the Iranian government.</p><p>“If news reports about the impending Iran deal are correct, the ayatollahs will have won a significant victory,” Bolton wrote Sunday on X. “They will be back on the road to nuclear weapons, supporting global terrorism and repressing their own people.”</p><p>Rubio says a nuclear Iran is ‘not going to happen’</p><p>Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on Sunday during a diplomatic mission in India, telling reporters at a news conference that no president has been stronger against Iran than Trump.</p><p>“His commitment to that principle that they’ll never have a nuclear weapon shouldn’t be questioned by anybody,” Rubio said. “And the idea that somehow this president, given everything he’s already proven he’s willing to do, is going to somehow agree to a deal that ultimately winds up putting Iran in a stronger position when it comes to nuclear ambitions is absurd. That’s just not going to happen.” </p><p>Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Trump antagonist who had pushed legislation to restrain the president’s ability to wage war against Iran, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that while the terms are not yet fully known, “if Lindsey Graham and Ted Cuz are crashing out last night, I’d say it’s probably a pretty good deal.”</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47">Massie will leave Congress in January</a> after incurring Trump's wrath and losing his GOP primary last week to a Trump-backed challenger.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0Db1F2nLDZiDvGQtlYcfwwe8vqA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HJYNSALN2RF67LZ2INTIXQAWAA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4804" width="7206"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Passos, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Gabriela Passos</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/IDkW7O8FxaM6ls0BvM_vPXbPLS8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VOLXO5KASBA5PFAQBO6S2BZIXI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2616" width="3924"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the Republican National Convention, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Rourke</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/BFGE8dEl-8eUtfcMPzQtC1HINZM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VUYACLRC3FAEFJBKZIHZWBESRE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, walks to a closed door briefing on the Iran war at the Capitol, March 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jose Luis Magana</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Z6s1Ap1r2wJlYkaewnGZmH_K2Q0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KULJA6WPBFCWZN24Z64EOM5KWU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5962" width="8943"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton arrives for his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Md., Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rod Lamkey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vNkpsOwqvySOukQ40ir9_9mMII4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K2HRN3K4ANHIDJQJE77K7QI5PM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2423" width="3635"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., questions Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a hearing, May 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man wanted out of Pulaski County found one day after officer-involved shooting incident in Roanoke]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/manhunt-underway-after-officer-involved-shooting-on-orange-avenue/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/manhunt-underway-after-officer-involved-shooting-on-orange-avenue/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Abbie Coleman]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Roanoke Police Department is searching for a wanted man, 43-year-old Larry Ranson Cooper - believed to be involved in an officer-involved shooting early Saturday morning in northeast Roanoke.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 10:59:19 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>May 24 UPDATE:</b></p><p>A man wanted out of Pulaski County was found in Roanoke on Sunday following an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on Saturday, Roanoke Police Department said.</p><p>RPD said officers responded to the 1600 block of Wayne Street Northeast around 11:29 a.m. on Sunday after receiving a report that Larry Ranson Cooper was in the area.</p><p>Authorities said upon arrival, they found Cooper with non-life-threatening gunshot wound injuries. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.</p><p>RPD also released the names of the officers involved in this incident:</p><ul><li>Officer J. Jones, four years of service</li><li>﻿K-9 Officer B. Smith, 19 years of service</li></ul><p>We will continue to update you with more information as it becomes available.</p><p><b>ORIGINAL STORY:</b></p><p>The Roanoke Police Department is searching for a wanted man believed to be involved in an officer-involved shooting early Saturday morning in northeast Roanoke.</p><p>They are searching for 43-year-old Larry Ranson Cooper. </p><p>Police say the incident happened around 12:09 a.m. in the 1000 block of Orange Avenue Northeast, at the Circle K gas station. </p><p>According to investigators, officers spotted a car connected to a wanted suspect parked at a gas pump and attempted what police described as a “high-risk warrant service.” Officers positioned patrol vehicles in front of and behind the suspect’s car before getting out and ordering the driver to exit.</p><p>Police say the driver instead put the vehicle in reverse, hitting the rear patrol car. The vehicle then accelerated forward toward one of the officers, prompting the officer to fire his weapon.</p><p>Investigators say the vehicle again moved toward the officer, hitting the front patrol vehicle. The officer then fired additional shots into the vehicle before the suspect drove away from the scene.</p><p>The vehicle was later found abandoned a few blocks away in the 900 block of Connecticut Avenue Northeast. The driver has not been located.</p><p>Police believe the suspect is 43-year-old Larry Ranson Cooper. Cooper is wanted on a felony probation violation out of Pulaski County, as well as a misdemeanor assault on a family member warrant from the city of Roanoke connected to an incident reported roughly four hours before the shooting.</p><p>In accordance with department policy, the Virginia State Police has been called in to investigate the shooting.</p><p>In addition, RPD said they responded to the 600 block of Orange Avenue Northeast after receiving a report of a gunshot wound victim around 4:45 a.m. Upon arrival, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds who claimed he was shot in Roanoke County. He has been taken to a local hospital for treatment.</p><p>Both officers involved were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and later released. Police say the officers have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.</p><p>Anyone with information about Cooper’s whereabouts or the incident is asked to contact the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Authorities investigate safety lapses after China coal mine blast kills at least 82]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/authorities-investigate-safety-lapses-after-china-coal-mine-blast-kills-at-least-82/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/authorities-investigate-safety-lapses-after-china-coal-mine-blast-kills-at-least-82/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[E. Eduardo Castillo And Chan Ho-Him, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Authorities in northern China are investigating a coal mine operator for safety lapses after an explosion killed at least 82 people.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 05:46:09 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Authorities in northern <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/china">China</a> were investigating a coal mine operator with a focus on safety lapses, as rescuers searched for those missing in the country’s deadliest coal mine explosion in recent years that killed at least 82 people. </p><p>An Associated Press reporter on Sunday witnessed police and security guarding the entrance to the mining facility located in Qinyuan county in the city of Changzhi as emergency vehicles were on site.</p><p>Hundreds of emergency responders and medical personnel were sent to help with rescue efforts, state media reported. Rescuers were taking turns to go down the mine shaft, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, facing hurdles including flooded tunnels.</p><p>Two were missing and dozens of miners were hospitalized, local officials said late Saturday, following the gas explosion Friday evening at the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-shanxi-coal-mine-explosion-6816642e300ae6a8aded7c8dcc3eba61">Liushenyu coal mine</a> in the northern province of Shanxi.</p><p>The death toll was revised down from 90, with officials blaming “chaotic” scenes in the aftermath and inaccurate information provided by the mine operator. Chinese <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/xi-jinping">President Xi Jinping</a> has called for a thorough investigation and accountability of those responsible.</p><p>Some hospitalized miners recalled seeing smoke and blacking out, according to state media reports. Many among the injured were hurt by toxic gas, the reports said.</p><p>Shanxi is a coal-rich province</p><p>The inland <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-china-renewable-energy-coal-transition-datong-616404d9c7f4dbc09d3544adaf379709">Shanxi</a> province, located southwest of Beijing with a population of around 34 million, is China’s main coal-mining area.</p><p>A few hundred meters (yards) from the mine lies the village of Shangzhuang, where some of the miners who work at the site live, including some of the victims, residents said.</p><p>The village includes a single main street through which mining trucks pass. On both sides stand two-story houses, some with red-tiled roofs. Some of them are divided into separate rooms and rented out to people including miners.</p><p>After the explosion, other mines in the area shut down and some miners left, while others stayed behind waiting to receive their pay, residents said.</p><p>Wang Linjun, a coal miner at Liushenyu, said he was at home when the gas explosion occurred. </p><p>“My heart is very heavy,” he told the AP. “Thinking that those who eat together and work together suddenly are gone, no one would feel good.” Wang said he does not want to continue at the job, but doesn’t know where to go.</p><p>Miners can be paid more than 10,000 yuan ($1,500) a month.</p><p>Feng Renfu, also a miner at Liushenyu, said he was working underground in a pit next to the one where the accident took place. Feng said he and his co-workers smelled gas and withdrew from the underground.</p><p>“My father is over 80 and he is worried about me. He always calls me to check if I am safe and well in my job,” Feng said. “There are eight people in my family and they all depend on me.”</p><p>Safety lapses investigated </p><p>The coal mine has “seriously” violated the law, according to local officials, although they did not elaborate on the specific violations. China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that blueprints provided by the Liushenyu coal mine did not match the actual layout, which hampered rescue efforts.</p><p>State media said those responsible had been “placed under control.” On Sunday, a commentary in the official People’s Daily newspaper called for all regions and departments to learn from the accident and to “always keep safety in mind.” </p><p>Local authorities also announced a “comprehensive, blanket” inspection of the coal mining sector that would include checks of coal mines’ gas drainage, ventilation, safety monitoring systems and their underground layouts.</p><p>A broader inspection of coal mines could put pressure on the province’s ability to produce its annual capacity of around 1.3 billion metric tons of coal, which accounts for nearly a third of China’s total. The country's total coal output rose to approximately 4.8 billion metric tons last year.</p><p>China still relies on coal</p><p>Coal remains a major energy source in China, given its high availability and low cost, even as the country accelerates its green energy transition. Mining accidents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-coal-mine-disasters-accidents-deaths-83cbfc301e28f7aa487b675f31958f4a">were common</a> and authorities had implemented measures to help improve safety over the past years.</p><p>China’s National Mine Safety Administration in 2024 put the Liushenyu mine, operated by the privately run Shanxi Tongzhou group, on a national list of disaster-prone coal mines. </p><p>___</p><p>Chan reported from Hong Kong.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tPfoiD_xtcD0vzO8u6gJr_zG668=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LLKC5D7DP5AV3EFR3DN4P6CHC4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2395" width="3593"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Police officers at a checkpoint stop cars at the entrance to the Liushenyu coal mine facility in Qinyuan county in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi province on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/E. Eduardo Castillo)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">E. Eduardo Castillo</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jxvMfAhBo5XwvNUS4r7IPJDE42s=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PWKGQONY2ND53CTIWLNP3T6FOI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2495" width="3742"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Trucks move past Shangzhuang village where some miners are lived and worked at the Liushenyu coal mine facility in Qinyuan county in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi province on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/E. Eduardo Castillo)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">E. Eduardo Castillo</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xIRqGRjVnYf6PBaCdyk1m-nBzXM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CMV7L4BTNZGT3BIJST2STNYBUA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3051" width="4577"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a rescuer comes up from the coal mine shaft after conducting search and rescue operation following a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine facility in Qinyuan county in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi province on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Cao Yang/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Cao Yang</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jiuEPLNx0m0dqBkSU_yms4cmRB8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/R3USE2766RFNTKKJAN2DCP6F2Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3807" width="5711"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[General view of Shangzhuang village where some miners are lived and worked at the Liushenyu coal mine facility in Qinyuan county in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi province on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/E. Eduardo Castillo)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">E. Eduardo Castillo</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/i3tIS0_pNCZBXoNoX5sDg1TO5TA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JG72FXZJYVD5JGYWIVABBZ5YLY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2635" width="3952"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[An emergency vehicle is seen leaving from the Liushenyu coal mine facility in Qinyuan county in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi province on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/E. Eduardo Castillo)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">E. Eduardo Castillo</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pqR6fS5HNXubuIlC-2u-wXFGbsY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6JWA52E7KNHCDBLKU2ZJ3PVYO4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3915" width="5872"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Emergency vehicle are on standby at a coal mine as rescuers conducting search and rescue operation following a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine facility in Qinyuan county in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi province on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Zhang Xiaoyu/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Zhang Xiaoyu</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Box Office: ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ tops charts and ‘Obsession’ grows in second weekend]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/24/box-office-mandalorian-and-grogu-tops-charts-and-obsession-grows-in-second-weekend/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/24/box-office-mandalorian-and-grogu-tops-charts-and-obsession-grows-in-second-weekend/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Studio estimates on Sunday say “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” has made $82 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada over the weekend.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 15:55:29 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After nearly seven years away from the big screen, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mandalorian-grogu-summer-movie-preview-00da3c2eb96c1667ae2716b302af0556">a new Star Wars movie</a> drew healthy but not record-breaking crowds to global theaters this weekend. According to studio estimates on Sunday, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mandalorian-grogu-movie-review-star-wars-970e8562f8adf65c6cb03cb845f84b85">“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu”</a> made $82 million in ticket sales from 4,300 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. By the end of Monday’s Memorial Day holiday, it’s expected to have earned $102 million domestically and $165 million globally.</p><p>It exceeded opening weekend expectations for the movie, a continuation of Disney+ spinoff series “The Mandalorian,” but it’s also on the low end of Disney-era Star Wars releases, closer to “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which made $103 million over the four-day Memorial Day frame in 2018. While “Solo” was considered a disaster, the metrics around “The Mandalorian and Grogu” are a little different. </p><p>The production budget for “Solo” was in the $300 million range, while “The Mandalorian and Grogu” was made for significantly less — a reported $165 million, not accounting for marketing and promotion costs. It makes the journey to profitability more likely, especially when factoring in positive audience scores. Although critics were mixed to negative on the movie (it currently carries a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes), ticket buyers overall gave it an A- CinemaScore. Boys under the age of 13 are especially high on the movie: They gave it an A CinemaScore and a perfect five on PostTrak. Parents also gave it a five out of five.</p><p>The Jon Favreau-directed movie stars Pedro Pascal as the titular bounty hunter and puts him and his tiny green companion on a mission to save Jabba’s son Rotta the Hutt, who is voiced by Jeremy Allen White. </p><p>“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” could also be graded on a bit of a curve because of the streaming component, both that it started as a series, and that it will eventually end up as a value add on Disney+, which was only about a month old when the last Star Wars movie, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-movies-entertainment-film-reviews-d6e037748843ab90bdd31a33be612b63">“The Rise of Skywalker,”</a> debuted in December 2019.</p><p>Star Wars as a brand is in a time of transition under its new leadership team of Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan; Earlier this year it was announced that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathleen-kennedy-lucasfilm-star-wars-6efdc6aa477e413e46af366745dcceec">Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy</a>, who produced “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” was stepping down after 13 years. The question for the industry is whether audience interest in Star Wars on the big screen might have cooled slightly, and if next year’s “Star Wars: Starfighter,” starring Ryan Gosling, will provide a definitive answer. Until then, the hope is that strong audience and exit scores will propel word-of-mouth generated enthusiasm in the coming weeks.</p><p>“The moviegoers rule," said Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Comscore. "I think given the audience reaction and the scores that are coming from parents and kids, this is going to be in it for the long haul."</p><p>Word-of-mouth certainly helped Curry Barker’s relationship horror movie <a href="https://apnews.com/article/box-office-michael-obsession-dc3b4915173f8506dd24873f06accbd2">“Obsession”</a> defy the standard box office trajectory and do better business in its second weekend. The Focus Features had an astonishing 30% uptick in ticket sales, earning $22.4 million from 2,655 theaters. </p><p>“That’s really unheard of,” Dergarabedian said. “And it is a testament to how this social media buzz from younger viewers is fueling the FOMO factor."</p><p>The studio, which acquired the microbudget movie for some $15 million, is projecting that it will have made $28.2 million by the end of Monday, bringing its running total to $58.5 million. It snagged the second-place spot, while “Michael” landed in third place with $20 million for the three-day weekend. The Michael Jackson biopic has now earned $782.4 million.</p><p>“Obsession” also did better than the new horror movie “Passenger,” a Paramount Pictures release with Melissa Leo, which grossed an estimated $8.7 million from 2,534 locations. It’s expected to earn $10.5 million over its first four days. The movie received poor reviews from both critics (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (B- Cinema Score).</p><p>Boots Riley's colorful shoplifting caper meets surreal social satire <a href="https://apnews.com/article/movie-review-i-love-boosters-7f702f334e338445dfd4460bef9c366b">“I Love Boosters”</a> also opened this weekend to $3.7 million. The Neon release stars Keke Palmer and Demi Moore. </p><p>The mix of movies this year didn’t hold a candle to last year’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lilo-stich-mission-impossible-039dac917c7077a7dd23d7ca6349711b">record Memorial Day weekend</a>, which was led by Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” and “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” The overall four-day frame this year will net out around $211 million, down about 36% from last year’s $330 million. It’s also far from the disastrous 2024 Memorial Day weekend box office, a 30-year low, when “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” opened.</p><p>Top 10 movies by domestic box office</p><p>With final domestic figures being released Tuesday, this list factors in estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:</p><p>1. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” $82 million.</p><p>2. “Obsession,” $22.4 million.</p><p>3. “Michael,” $20 million.</p><p>4. “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” $12.6 million.</p><p>5. “The Sheep Detectives,” $9 million.</p><p>6. “Passenger,” $8.7 million.</p><p>7. “Mortal Kombat II,” $6.2 million.</p><p>8. “I Love Boosters,” $3.7 million.</p><p>9. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” $3.2 million.</p><p>10. “Project Hail Mary,” $2.7 million.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/rbDbU3No2LqiVIBNa6tjLn3Tug0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QFQNGNAMR5FU5GVICF3XBRMXM4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1608" width="2412"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by Disney shows The Mandalorian, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, right, and Grogu in a scene from Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu." (Lucasfilm Ltd. - Disney via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7I8TILvPkkNtceH3A9ONLiIXWc0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/44KXJFZS4NDWBOENKIFJFERWYM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4040" width="6059"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by Disney shows Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, in a scene from Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu." (Lucasfilm Ltd. - Disney via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/_Jqtt6CYHyFcWGWJee72X16Gk2c=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KIRSCAZ2HFFLLFSZJHWVMCJPRM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2624" width="3936"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The character Grogu arrives at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jordan Strauss</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/wiNYbuiR23wwLOOnkhm_hitPJZ8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WGCFPGGIRVFKTM7HCILWEHGX4A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2624" width="3936"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Jon Favreau arrives at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jordan Strauss</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[A suicide bombing near a railway track in southwest Pakistan kills at least 23 people]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/24/a-powerful-bomb-has-exploded-near-railway-track-in-southwest-pakistan-wounding-more-than-two-dozen/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/24/a-powerful-bomb-has-exploded-near-railway-track-in-southwest-pakistan-wounding-more-than-two-dozen/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a railway track as a passenger train passed through the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 23 people and wounding over 70 others, officials said.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 06:38:21 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A <a href="https://apnews.com/article/quetta-railway-bombing-pakistan-30457309ca4b4c29bd3a5149509acb2e">suicide bomber</a> detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a railway track as a passenger train passed through the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Sunday, killing at least 23 people and wounding over 70 others, officials said.</p><p>The force of the explosion caused two of the train cars to overturn and catch fire, sending thick black smoke into the air, according to footage shared online.</p><p>The attack happened in an area where security forces are usually stationed, badly damaging several nearby buildings and smashing more than a dozen vehicles parked along the road, according to witnesses and images circulating on social media.</p><p>Doctors at local hospitals said they had received the wounded, with 20 in critical condition. Three security officials told The Associated Press the bodies were transported to hospitals following the attack. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to be able to speak to the media.</p><p>The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, which demands independence from Pakistan’s central government, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to reporters. The militant group said it targeted a train carrying security personnel.</p><p>Quetta is the capital of insurgency-hit Balochistan province. The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-bombing-headquarters-quetta-balochistan-8b7d186ee8a6770044aa03c5c896d7e6">oil- and mineral-rich region</a> has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency. The insurgents have frequently targeted security forces, government installations and civilians in the province and elsewhere in the country.</p><p>“We strongly condemn the targeting of innocent civilians and are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives. Terrorist elements deserve no leniency,” said Shahid Rind, Balochistan provincial government spokesman.</p><p>He said following the explosion, a medical emergency was declared at hospitals in Quetta, and an investigation has been launched.</p><p>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terrorism" in a post on X and offering condolences to the families of the victims.</p><p>Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack in Quetta, saying the militants targeted “innocent civilians, including women and children,” vowing to “hunt (them down)” in a post on X.</p><p>Bugti and the federal government in Islamabad often use the phrase “Fitna al-Hindustan” to refer to the BLA, which they allege is backed by India. New Delhi denies the allegation.</p><p>Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari denounced the bombing, saying militants and their backers sought to undermine Pakistan’s role in regional and international peace efforts.</p><p>The attack came a day after Pakistan said the United States and Iran were close to reaching a memorandum of understanding to end the war in the Middle East that began on Feb. 28 after the U.S. and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic, upending global travel and spiking oil prices. U.S. President Donald Trump had said a deal related to the conflict had been “largely negotiated” following calls with regional allies, including Pakistan.</p><p>Zardari promised in a statement that his country “will defeat terrorists, their facilitators, financiers and those providing them safe havens.”</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-india-ceasefire-kashmir-6fa80010fa8ffee1da1f28e7b593aa2d">Pakistan and India have long had strained relations</a> and have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, which is claimed by both in its entirety.</p><p>Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in Baluchistan has persisted.</p><p>At least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in 2024 when a suicide bomber attacked a train station in Balochistan.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5nklffkNIKUcTXt2bQPOO7Rf6QU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RX3DEW57QBDO7F2XCLAXX5DRLI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3659" width="5489"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Volunteers look for victims from an overturned train coach on a railway track as survivors wait for transport at the site of bomb explosion, in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Arshad Butt</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/a1x0S37fq1JAY4HXUkvSUNvHpI0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FUC32YFWBZBMDILLVIM2BREE5M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3125" width="4688"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Paramilitary soldiers and volunteers transport an injured victim at the site of bomb explosion, in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Arshad Butt</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5nDsMBWJcBUBAEXQklzc-DyCzCc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FX4QVVK2ERFNHBWIPZ5G2ZTC2A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3445" width="5168"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Paramilitary soldiers and volunteers recover victims from an overturned train coach on a railway track at the site of bomb explosion, in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Arshad Butt</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SLmCkyPWbzyyQ8RvvH-zfanXwTk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JKW2FH3ZKFB3VECC77HJSOKAKY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3592" width="5389"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Children look at an injured person passing through an alley near the site of a bomb explosion in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Arshad Butt</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/XpWsz3ssIORbIHo7sr5B8F_-QdI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MVNIXWIX2BAGDKAMCALSRIA6OE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3398" width="5097"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A volunteer, top, helps an injured victim after recovering from an overturned train coach on a railway track at the site of bomb explosion, in Quetta, Pakistan, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Arshad Butt</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Knicks move within one win of NBA Finals with 121-108 victory over Cavaliers]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/knicks-move-within-1-win-of-nba-finals-with-121-108-victory-over-cavaliers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/knicks-move-within-1-win-of-nba-finals-with-121-108-victory-over-cavaliers/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Joe Reedy, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Mikal Bridges added 22 and the New York Knicks moved within one game of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 02:54:30 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Mikal Bridges added 22 and the New York Knicks moved within one game of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.</p><p>The Knicks can wrap up the Eastern Conference Finals and sweep their second straight series with a win on Monday night. Knicks fans — who were boisterous throughout the night — were chanting “Knicks in four!” as the final seconds of Game 3 ticked away.</p><p>New York is the seventh team in NBA history to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/knicks-playoffs-numbers-nba-da49af5b20a93f2b7bac3c23c6637e04">win at least 10 straight</a> during a postseason run. The last team to do it was the Boston Celtics, who went on a 10-game run on their way to the 2024 title. Cleveland, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers have done it twice.</p><p>All but one of the Knicks' wins have been by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points.</p><p>“We've just have to keep our mind on the task at hand. The game is over and we found a way to win. We have to execute at a high level in Game 4,” said Karl Anthony-Towns, who had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.</p><p>OG Anunoby had 21 points as New York led the entire game. The Knicks not only made 55.8% of their shots from the field, they also had 11 3-pointers and were 24 of 27 from the foul line.</p><p>Evan Mobley scored 24 points, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cavaliers-donovan-mitchell-712293f24b29902b29711c6ba430eeac">Donovan Mitchell</a> had 23 points and James Harden added 19 for Cleveland. The Cavaliers were 12 of 41 on 3-pointers and 12 of 19 from the foul line.</p><p>Not even an appearance by the superstar couple of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/knicks-cavaliers-taylor-swift-b7bcad6e7a9deff4646b6a19bf256b7f">Taylor Swift and Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce</a> could spur the Cavs to beat the Knicks.</p><p>“I think their physicality and energy, we couldn’t get to that level to combat it,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They’re on a hell of a run. We haven’t been able to stop the momentum. We had one chance in that first game I thought to stop it, but they haven’t been able to halt their momentum.”</p><p>New York led 91-82 at the end of the third quarter but put it out reach in the fourth when Landry Shamet made three 3-pointers in a 99-second span to make it 105-94. </p><p>“Our guys were locked in from the beginning of the game and it showed from the first few minutes of the game. We got a lot of great contributions,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I thought throughout the whole game we did a good job trying to play fast. We don’t want to go against their set defense all the time, so we’ve got to keep trying to play fast. And then our guys did a better job in the second half trying to defend without fouling.”</p><p>The Knicks made their first four shots en route to a 9-1 lead less than two minutes into the game. New York was 12 of 17 from the field in the quarter and was up 37-27 after 12 minutes.</p><p>Cleveland rallied to tie it at 50-all on a jumper by Harden before the Knicks countered with a 10-1 run. They went into halftime with a 60-54 advantage.</p><p>Brunson had six of his 12 points during an 8-1 run midway through the third quarter as the Knicks extended their lead to 83-70 with 3:41 remaining.</p><p>“It’s the next-man-up mentality and the guys found me a few times," Shamet said. We knew we were going to get a real good punch from that team, and we weathered their best punches tonight.</p><p>___</p><p>This story has been updated to reflect that Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 24 points and James Harden scored 19.</p><p>___</p><p>AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UtJ3-l480XMSTLmUHT0KyzLOOjY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QG6RPLYEPFHCHDNQRZMKZUBZ6A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3409" width="5113"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Monday, May 24, 2027. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Sue Ogrocki</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PUUnXGtMDUf2Lscaac23dpYpBYI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I32V45I7VNGZZFUNT6AYLDM2RM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3343" width="5014"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce watch the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/YeVncRQPGRNRdATt51ZVFKmWsLI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QURVZO6D35GOVBCUR7AMXAPY5A.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1910" width="2865"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DUDICKKSWu7dy0K3_Np7_J0vDqE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RVZ236XCKFCGXLRU7MUUFUOKOM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2889" width="2063"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, left, controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus during the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Monday, May 24, 2027. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Sue Ogrocki</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/aNtLPQEO3q4dqNE01P84Z6cX0Iw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NJQ3GUXJZNHTXMDVMBPHZMJGNM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1902" width="2853"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) defends against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[How state laws can stymie research into your ancestors' psychiatric records]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/24/how-state-laws-can-stymie-research-into-your-ancestors-psychiatric-records/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/24/how-state-laws-can-stymie-research-into-your-ancestors-psychiatric-records/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Stobbe, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Frustrated family members and others have been pushing for law changes in New York and other states that would allow the release of mental health records of long-dead ancestors.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 14:42:20 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Breta Meria Conole was in a state psychiatric hospital for more than two decades. But the reason why is a family mystery.</p><p>Debby Hannigan, her great grandniece, tried for years to access Conole’s medical records, because she thought they might hold clues to mental health issues in her family, including her oldest daughter’s depression.</p><p>Hannigan twice wrote to the state of New York for the records. The second time she included a supporting note from her daughter’s therapist, who said the details would help “to know their family medical history better.” Both times she was turned away. </p><p>Her experience is hardly unique. </p><p>Frustrated family members and others have been pushing for law changes in New York and other states that would allow the release of mental health records of long-dead ancestors. Their efforts have resulted in access policy changes in some states, including Massachusetts and Washington, but elsewhere reforms are happening slowly or not at all.</p><p>“It really does piss me off that we couldn’t just say, ‘Hey, we’re the descendants, here’s the proof, now tell us what you know!’” said Doug Clarke of Alfred, New York, who tried unsuccessfully to get records of a great-grandfather. The records might help explain the depression and bipolar syndrome seen in his generation of his family, he said.</p><p>Here’s a look at the problem and what people are doing about it.</p><p>The cruel history of state mental institutions</p><p>In the 1800s, the U.S. saw a boom in state institutions for the confinement of people with mental illness; every state had at least one by 1890. They were called lunatic or insane asylums, but the reasons for admission ranged from “brain fever” and “grief and anxiety” to “laziness,” “religious excitement” and ”desertion by husband," according to historical records.</p><p>Conditions varied, but some asylums gained reputations as brutal, overcrowded warehouses where patients were neglected and restrained. Asylums gradually became psychiatric hospitals, but practices didn’t necessarily improve: In the 1900s, they were the settings of since-discredited treatments including lobotomies and induced comas.</p><p>But staff at the hospitals often took extensive notes, with detailed descriptions of patients and their symptoms. They also took photographs and had other materials, said Dr. Laurence Guttmacher, a former clinical director of one of New York’s state hospitals, the Rochester Psychiatric Center.</p><p>Records at some facilities were likely damaged, destroyed or lost through the years. And the surviving documents may not be well organized or cataloged. But a lot of information still exists, Guttmacher said.</p><p>“We had this incredibly rich trove of records” at the Rochester hospital, he said.</p><p>How old records can be helpful today</p><p>Such records have drawn the interest of some people whose families are struggling with depression, suicide or other issues. </p><p>“Would you want to know if your grandfather died of a heart attack?” said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “It’s information that you can use to understand how vigilant to be.”</p><p>An untold number of patients died at state hospitals, and some were buried in unmarked graves. Some families haven’t been able to establish when a relative died, let alone how, said Alexandra Lord, a historian writing a book about suicide in her family. She struggled to gain access to New York state records about her great-grandmother.</p><p>Guttmacher said: “About twice a month I would get a request from a family member to get access to records, to try to learn the story of their families.” State officials told him he couldn’t release that kind of information.</p><p>Patient privacy protections can last decades</p><p>A federal law enacted in 1996 protects the privacy of each patient’s health information, including diagnosed conditions and what care they received. The law, known as <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html">HIPAA</a>, protects health information for 50 years after someone dies. </p><p>Some states have similar guidelines. <a href="https://ohiohistory.libguides.com/mentalhealth">Ohio law</a> allows the closest living relative of a deceased patient to request information from state mental health facility records, and they can be requested by anyone 50 years after a patient’s death. Maine also offers fairly easy access to records dating back that far.</p><p>But many other states are more restrictive. New York allows such records to stay sealed “in perpetuity,” according to a statement from New York’s Office of Mental Health. Records can be released to patients and their immediate family members, but generally not to more distant descendants. They also have been released to medical professionals “with a justification,” and to historians who agree not to name individual patients, state officials say.</p><p>Massachusetts was similarly restrictive, but a reform push resulted in a new law last year that made public state hospital records that were at least 75 years old, plus records for people dead at least 50 years. </p><p>The change followed <a href="https://shriver.umassmed.edu/siteassets/cdder/scsi/research-report-to-the-special-commission-on-state-institutions-report-full-version_tagged.pdf">a report</a> from a commission that discussed state institutions’ history of abuse and neglect, including patient sterilizations at a state hospital in Monson. One of the commission’s members, Alex Green, suggested the state’s nondisclosure of records amounted to a “cover-up” of the decades of abuse disabled people endured.</p><p>Now some are working to change New York’s law. This year, state Sen. Pat Fahy introduced a bill that designates records and information relating to a patient who has been deceased for 50 years or longer as historic records — no longer subject to privacy protections.</p><p>Fahy noted New York’s psychiatric facilities have their own troubled history. She cited the Willowbrook State School, a Staten Island facility where developmentally disabled children once lived in deplorable conditions.</p><p>“If the person is deceased, there should be an availability of these records to help give the family closure,” said Fahy, a Democrat from the Albany area. “Leaning from our history is one of the best ways to give us insight into how we do better in the future.”</p><p>How to find records on institutionalized ancestors</p><p>Families do have some other routes to information on ancestors’ mental health history, according to historians.</p><p>Online services such as Ancestry.com provide — for a price — access to old records, including census information that can reveal if someone was in a state institution at the time a census was taken. </p><p>Veterans’ military pension files have contained details on a person’s mental health.</p><p>Old newspapers were packed with items about residents, including about when people were sent to state institutions. </p><p>There may be many more people interested in family mental health history than is commonly realized, said Ryan Thibodeau, a St. John Fisher University researcher who has been involved in the push to change New York’s law. In the 1950s, at the peak of institutionalization in America, more than 500,000 people were in state hospitals. </p><p>“Their descendants are everywhere,” he said.</p><p>___</p><p>The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6tX6z7pt_Ar2Je_Ms9_jlkkxXK4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VSKKHYC3DVHNTIPFZWB6GBUQJA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="720" width="1280"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gotta go: Home player Arthur Gea takes emergency bathroom break during French Open debut]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/gotta-go-home-player-arthur-gea-takes-emergency-bathroom-break-during-french-open-debut/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/gotta-go-home-player-arthur-gea-takes-emergency-bathroom-break-during-french-open-debut/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Home player Arthur Gea ran off the court for an emergency bathroom break early in the first set of his French Open debut.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 11:35:43 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Home player Arthur Gea ran off the court for an emergency bathroom break early in the first set of his <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">French Open</a> debut on Sunday.</p><p>“I need to go to the bathroom. I can’t move anymore. I’m going to (go) on the court,” Gea told the chair umpire in French before hastily running off Court Suzanne-Lenglen.</p><p>The 135th-ranked Gea was trailing 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov 4-2 when he made his move. Khachanov won 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-0.</p><p>Usually, bathroom breaks are only permitted between sets. </p><p>Khachanov protested to the chair umpire as three minutes passed between games at a point in the match that was not a changeover when players change ends.</p><p>Gea said the umpire allowed him the break because of "medical circumstances" and that he was given some medicine to settle his stomach pain.</p><p>After the match, Gea said he had not felt ill the night before but started feeling unwell when he woke up in the morning. </p><p>“During the match it was even worse,” he said. “I had to go to the toilet really quick.”</p><p>His situation was not helped by the intense heat at Roland Garros with lunchtime temperatures hitting 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit).</p><p>“It was harder than usual, because I was ill,” he said. </p><p>The 21-year-old Gea received a wild card invitation from Roland Garros organizers to participate in the main draw.</p><p>___</p><p>AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/hKi_nz6zA1lHdCSBUOKYEUS1vio=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TMRPJGMRIZA6HFI5FCEMSZAJUU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4504" width="6756"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arthur Gea of France returns to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aurelien Morissard</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SiqvATt7WLeKY_igqVomqK9bIgU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AMFYYUNTZJCMJLY3PRGTZBS7ZY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4308" width="6463"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arthur Gea of France returns to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aurelien Morissard</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/kq-VduylYtR53iML9XeovlvnI-M=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5DOMRNVEQVDLXCC5ASNQQNW3CU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4346" width="6519"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Karen Khachanov of Russia, left, returns to Arthur Gea of France during the first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aurelien Morissard</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/trJcfu9_GHrMwAWzN461bxVPa_g=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PY24DBPUUNAXFACBWLID6OIP5E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2386" width="3579"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Karen Khachanov of Russia returns to Arthur Gea of France during the first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aurelien Morissard</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/TrptO6d68TsDbFyw1H1e-khyOq4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NICQZ372KNCO5FFGJBA4VVTTMQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3077" width="4615"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Arthur Gea of France returns to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aurelien Morissard</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lynchburg Police Investigating Early Morning Shooting on Main Street]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/24/lynchburg-police-investigating-early-morning-shooting-on-main-street/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/24/lynchburg-police-investigating-early-morning-shooting-on-main-street/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Abbie Coleman]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[One man is hurt after an early Sunday morning shooting on Main Street in Lynchburg.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 13:38:56 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Lynchburg Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened early Sunday morning in the 1200 block of Main Street.</p><p>According to police, officers responded around 2:17 a.m. on May 24 to reports of shots fired in the area. </p><p>While officers were on the way to the scene, they learned a man had arrived at the emergency department at Lynchburg General Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.</p><p>At this time, investigators say there is no information about a suspect. </p><p>The investigation remains ongoing, and police say more information will be released as it becomes available.</p><p>Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Owen at 434-455-6060 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900.</p><p><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3169.0449880561905!2d-79.14245682359942!3d37.41241153295019!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89b2d96ce8d6b559%3A0xc943729313aa0208!2s1200%20Main%20St%2C%20Lynchburg%2C%20VA%2024504!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1779629684319!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/_Rvn4_nMUjFk0gQpuwmD4jJXQgs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EPI5F2QC65B4NLQ3XZFYYE6JOM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1080" width="1920"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[One man is hurt after an early Sunday morning shooting on Main Street in Lynchburg.]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Russia uses hypersonic Oreshnik missile in mass attack on Kyiv]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/russia-pounds-kyiv-with-missiles-and-drones-shaking-city-center-and-injuring-10/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/russia-pounds-kyiv-with-missiles-and-drones-shaking-city-center-and-injuring-10/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia used the powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in a mass attack on Kyiv.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 02:45:08 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Russia used the powerful hypersonic <a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/russia-has-used-its-hypersonic-oreshnik-missile-for-the-first-time-what-are-its-capabilities/">Oreshnik ballistic missile</a> during a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv on Sunday that killed at least two people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday, marking the third time the weapon has been used in the four-year war. </p><p>The intense aerial assault damaged buildings across the Ukrainian capital, including near government offices, residential buildings, schools and a market, Ukrainian authorities said. At least 83 people were wounded in the attack. </p><p>Air raid sirens blared through the night as smoke billowed across the city from strikes. Associated Press reporters heard powerful explosions near the city center and close to government buildings.</p><p>The attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed and jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles. Around 19 missiles failed to reach targets, the Air Force said. </p><p>Ferit Hoxha, Albania’s foreign minister, reported that the residence of the Albanian ambassador to Ukraine was hit during the attack, denouncing it as “unacceptable” and a “grave escalation”.</p><p>The Oreshnik, which is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, struck the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. </p><p>Russia had vowed to strike back for an attack Friday</p><p>Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday confirmed the weapon's use, as well as other missile types, to strike Ukrainian “military command and control facilities,” air bases and military industrial enterprises. The ministry added the attack was retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on “civilian facilities on Russian territory,” without giving detail. </p><p>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday denounced <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-soldiers-college-dorm-25f5b03ad0f97f28919047881c811b29">a drone strike on a college dormitory in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine</a>, which Moscow blamed on Kyiv. He said there were no military or law enforcement facilities near the college. Putin said he ordered the Russian military to retaliate.</p><p>The death toll from <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-oil-refinery-9e5b15b9cf8cf80882da6f7a23b88848">that strike</a> had risen to 21, Russian authorities said late Saturday. They said 42 other people had been wounded in the attack the previous night. The Kremlin-installed authorities of the Luhansk region announced two days of mourning for the victims.</p><p>At a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting on the strike, held at the request of Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Melnyk denied his Russian counterpart’s accusations of war crimes, calling them a “pure propaganda show” and asserting that the May 22 operations “exclusively targeted the Russian war machine.”</p><p>Kyiv's European allies, including France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz, condemned the Russian strikes and use of the Oreshnik in statements published on Sunday. Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said top diplomats from EU states will meet within days to “discuss how to dial up the international pressure on Russia.” </p><p>Ukraine struggles to down all ballistic missiles</p><p>Zelenskyy said not all the ballistic missiles were intercepted and that most of the strikes hit Kyiv, the primary target of the attack.</p><p>The apparent interception failures underscored Ukraine’s chronic shortage of air defense missiles capable of downing ballistic missiles. Kyiv relies heavily on U.S. Patriot air defense systems to intercept such weapons, but interceptors remain in short supply and are among Ukraine’s most urgent requests to its Western partners.</p><p>Developing a domestically produced alternative has become a top priority for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, though doing so will require time and funding.</p><p>Fires rage into the morning in Kyiv after attack</p><p>Damage was recorded in 50 locations across several districts of the capital, including residential buildings, shopping centers and schools, Ukraine's emergency service said in a Telegram post. Police department buildings were also damaged, it said. </p><p>Fires continued to rage into the morning, complicating rescue efforts as buildings collapsed from the blasts.</p><p>“It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war," said Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, who had worked in the market that was damaged for 22 years. </p><p>“I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility," she added. “My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down.” </p><p>Yevhen Zosin, 74, a Kyiv resident who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard the explosion he rushed to grab his dog.</p><p>“Then there was another explosion and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,” he said.</p><p>In Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a five-story residential building was hit, which caused a fire, and one person was killed, Ukraine's state emergency service reported. </p><p>A school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Local authorities reported supermarkets and warehouses across the city also were damaged. </p><p>Multiple communities recorded damage throughout the Kyiv region, according to Mykola Kalashnyk, who heads the regional administration. </p><p>Elsewhere, a Ukrainian drone killed a civilian in the Russian town of Grayvoron, in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, local authorities reported on Sunday morning.</p><p>Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces shot down or jammed 33 Ukrainian drones overnight into Sunday, including over the Moscow region, western and southwestern Russia, and Russian-occupied Crimea.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writer John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report. </p><p>___</p><p>This story corrects Mykola Kalashnyk’s title. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2FuT8T6-dY8nXe-NsqeYu2IQTKg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7PEFHD5BFRBENDEDPLPIEVTJXQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Rescue workers try to put out a fire at a residential building after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Evgeniy Maloletka</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/mFwAHrIntCAXjWxymGrarjjbiR8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6HZGNQRKU5CNLB3GYA34JVEHHY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5427" width="8141"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A local resident saves a refrigerator from a fire after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Efrem Lukatsky</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/n3b1upIDLTQRa9oMV7BtyI9gHI0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GN6B5U7Q4VBJPELCAZFHBMKMPE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Red Cross volunteers carry an injured woman into an ambulance after a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Evgeniy Maloletka</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bKRa22agzVYltluSZDUXZ0Hejfc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4VPF4W6NSZETRPO7QFZMHOTKNI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5119" width="7679"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A rescue worker climbs on a ladder to help evacuate people from a residential building being destroyed after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Evgeniy Maloletka</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/q7k7odeD-AIo8EHHENiCd0wvULI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DXTN7I2RLNE2TLOZIAQROWWE2I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Firefighters work on the scene of a damaged building of the Museum of Chernobyl after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Efrem Lukatsky</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rubio tries to tackle a trust deficit between Washington and Delhi on first official India trip]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/on-first-official-india-trip-rubio-tries-to-halt-a-trust-deficit-between-washington-and-delhi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/on-first-official-india-trip-rubio-tries-to-halt-a-trust-deficit-between-washington-and-delhi/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Aijaz Hussain And Shonal Ganguly, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 06:10:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday as the two countries look to steady ties that have fallen to their lowest point in over two decades.</p><p>Rubio's first official visit to the South Asian country came amid an economic and diplomatic downturn between the United States and India, largely strained by U.S. President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-india-tariffs-russia-oil-7ca672c7d00d543782d61116e482172c">tariff policies,</a> which raised duties on several Indian exports.</p><p>Rubio is set to meet in New Delhi on Tuesday his counterparts from India, Australia and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-shinzo-abe-japan-india-australia-c579b7eb5ea53fb8cc50097de85e6b14">strategic alliance known as the Quad</a>. </p><p>India is a US strategic partner, Rubio says</p><p>Rubio and Jaishankar held a joint press briefing after Sunday’s initial round of talks. They reiterated their aim to deepen the U.S.-India strategic partnership while pursuing their respective national interests. </p><p>The U.S. top diplomat said that India is one of the most important strategic partners of the United States and expressed optimism about finalizing a bilateral trade deal soon. “I don’t view our relation with any country in the world as coming at the expense of our strategic alliance with India,” he said, adding that he hoped that India-U.S. relations would come out much stronger in the coming years.</p><p>Rubio stressed that the Trump administration’s trade decisions were of a global perspective to serve the U.S. economy, rather than targeted at New Delhi. “There virtually is no country in the world that I could travel to that isn’t going to raise the issue of trade because we did this from a global perspective.”</p><p>Jaishankar said the U.S.-India strategic partnership exists because of a “convergence of national interests" in multiple areas.</p><p>“Trump administration has been very forthright in putting forward its foreign policy outlook as America first. ... We have a view of India first. So both of us are obviously driven by our respective national interests,” he said.</p><p>The Indian foreign minister also said his country sought dependable, multiple and cheap energy sources for its 1.4 billion people. </p><p>“The United States fits the bill in many respects. So do some other countries. So, we will continue to diversify and maintain multiple sources of supply at the most reasonable cost,” Jaishankar said.</p><p>India has recently made a notable shift by wrapping up a series of trade deals: three in 2025 with Oman, New Zealand, and the UK. This was followed by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-eu-modi-trade-wine-auto-74b8744b2ef562d2e820b238e6ce8d38">an agreement with the European Union</a> in January, which represents a third of global trade.</p><p>On tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, following the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran that sparked a war in the region, spiking oil prices and disrupting supply chains, Jaishankar said India and the U.S. are keen on keeping global maritime trade safe and uninterrupted, while ensuring fuel remains affordable and widely available.</p><p>He said India's approach is to diversify its energy sources so that energy markets stay open and unconstrained, with prices kept low to support global economic growth.</p><p>Rubio's four-day visit includes a multicity tour and a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.</p><p>India and US have different priorities but shared concerns</p><p>“In the past one year, statements and rhetoric coming from Washington on some of India’s most sensitive security concerns and trade matters have not been helpful and have created a trust deficit,” said Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India’s Foreign Ministry.</p><p>“Certain misgivings will remain,” Malik added, noting Rubio’s visit will be considered an achievement if the talks somewhat stabilize the relationship and check further deterioration.</p><p>Experts say friction exists between U.S. global strategic ambitions and India’s priorities as an emerging middle power. Historically close to Russia, New Delhi has long expressed unease as it moves closer to the U.S., reflecting India's lingering distrust of American intentions rooted in cultural differences and Cold War-era instincts.</p><p>Still, India-U.S. ties steadily deepened over two decades into a broad, robust strategic partnership, increasingly shaped in recent years by shared concerns about China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and articulated diplomatically through the Quad forum.</p><p>The Quad has repeatedly accused China of flexing its military muscles in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/south-china-sea">South China Sea</a> and aggressively pushing its maritime territorial claims. Beijing maintains that its military is purely defensive to protect what it says are China's sovereign rights and calls the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-japan-asia-india-china-e71b3f02f8bd30a36dac42309896a115">Quad an attempt to contain</a> its economic growth and influence.</p><p>After the U.S. presidential inauguration in January 2025, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-china-quad-india-japan-australia-d6f86b79732a82d3947f2aad5c58c040">Rubio’s first formal international engagement</a> was meeting with the foreign ministers of the Quad countries jointly and in separate sessions.</p><p>Tensions build up over conflict with Pakistan and Russian oil purchases </p><p>Despite close ties and often being perceived as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-modi-trump-tariffs-relationship-575af0f270713fa6b09f4ed4e2848f21">ideological allies</a>, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi downplayed Trump’s role in brokering a ceasefire after a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kashmir-india-pakistan-tourist-attack-pahalgam-1089607a2c148eff059ca1052fe86aad">brief India-Pakistan military conflict</a> triggered by the April 2025 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kashmir-tourist-attack-dc7067a18899d9e7ff7726d4e05982c3">massacre of mostly Hindu tourists</a> in Indian-controlled Kashmir. But Pakistan openly courted Trump and even advocated for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.</p><p>Economic tensions followed, with the Trump administration imposing tariffs on India over its discounted purchases of Russian oil, further straining ties between the two countries.</p><p>“In India, there is some skepticism about U.S. policy and predictability,” said Malik, who heads the India chapter of The Asia Group advisory firm in the U.S. He said what has happened in the past year between India and the U.S. “can’t be forgotten or erased easily.”</p><p>When the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran war</a> broke out in February, the U.S. stepped up engagement with Pakistan, which positioned itself as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, deepening unease in New Delhi. Trump’s recent, high-profile visit to China has only added to India’s discomfort.</p><p>India-U.S. relations are challenging “due to a few structural tensions and Trump only brought them to the fore,” said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.</p><p>“New Delhi’s foreign policy, increasingly colored by its domestic politics, has become more black-and-white in the last decade, as evidenced by its deep discomfort with the U.S.’s ties with Pakistan and its moves toward detente with China,” Donthi said.</p><p>Experts say these shifts reflect the growing complexity of India-U.S. relations, rooted in shared strategic interests, yet increasingly shaped by competing priorities and a shifting geopolitical landscape.</p><p>“New Delhi is likely to exercise strategic patience and wait for Trump to leave office,” Donthi said. “India would hope that the bipartisan consensus on India in the U.S. survives his term and that it can start building on that again.”</p><p>___</p><p>Hussain reported from Srinagar, India.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Tp_N4M0xb0ovKwp4JI1n_VQ0pO0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ERMPOOHGNRGJNGP5H2MU5VDYRE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5534" width="8301"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, walks to shake hands with India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar after addressing a joint press conference following their talks in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Manish Swarup</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ERCGBJwyKz2pgVeKpyVs3DjfIJI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YZ5LWGO7HNBD7CDXV6PGSZDCO4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1711" width="2567"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, walks with India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, before their talks in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ijV0bVXjrD8TTyA9PHGrdhWEepI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I35K2CY6FRCRPEYDBXPAHV6ZKU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1344" width="2016"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at a joint presser with India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, unseen, following their talks in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ugOjhjjhGwkynto8CHiflLneK8g=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TRAUAPNVY5FCVBR43YK76VBDNM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar prepare to speak during a joint press conference following their talks in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Manish Swarup</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UcYwrtNmo4qfP238-_ii-KX73o8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4KQN2HBXTBAY3KYJNFPD4WQVYQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3688" width="5533"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, unseen, at a joint presser following their talks in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building under construction in Philippines collapses, leaving 1 dead and 21 trapped]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/9-story-building-under-construction-in-the-philippines-collapses-leaving-21-people-missing/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/24/9-story-building-under-construction-in-the-philippines-collapses-leaving-21-people-missing/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A nine-story building under construction in a city north of the Philippine capital has collapsed, leaving at least one Malaysian tourist dead and 21 workers trapped.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 02:14:07 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A nine-story building under construction in a city north of the Philippine capital collapsed before dawn on Sunday, leaving at least one Malaysian tourist dead and at least 21 mostly workers trapped in the rubble, officials said. Two were located alive but could not be immediately extricated.</p><p>At least 24 workers either managed to dash out of the building, where they mostly slept on the ground floor, or were rescued after the it crumbled to the ground around 2:30 a.m. in a crowded neighborhood of budget hotels, cafes, spas and rural houses outside a former U.S. Air Force base, officials said.</p><p>A Malaysian tourist died and another guest was injured in a lodging house, which was partly hit by debris from the collapsing building in Angeles City in Pampanga province, Fire Superintendent Maria Lea Sajili said.</p><p>Relatives of those trapped under concrete slabs, twisted iron bars and aluminum scaffoldings and other debris prayed and wept as they waited for word from about 700 rescuers gingerly scouring the rubble pail to create space for them to safely move into the collapsed structure.</p><p>“This is the worst day of our lives,” Joamel Angcao, an 18-year-old student, told The Associated Press as she and other siblings waited for word on their parents, who were among those trapped.</p><p>Her parents were tending to their food and coffee cart positioned beside the building when it tumbled down. The parents had struggled through poverty to send her and another sibling to school, Angcao said, tears welling in her eyes.</p><p>John Carlo Villarente, a young plumber, said that he stepped out of the building about two hours before it collapsed after heavy rains and fierce wind to have a drink. </p><p>“I was so shocked, there were people inside, including my nephew,” Villarente told The AP. “We ran and tried to help but we were not allowed to ger near because people said it was very dangerous.”</p><p>Randy Alapide, a 41-year-old plumber who was off-duty when the accident unfolded, said he rushed back to the scene and helped rescuers locate trapped workers by drawing a map to pinpoint their location. “I know three of the missing. They are breadwinners and they have families waiting for them,” Alapide said. </p><p>Sajili said two of the trapped workers were located alive by rescuers but it was taking time to pluck them out safely. Ambulance vans, firefighters and police lined up waiting for the two to be extricated.</p><p>Nearly 200 police officers were helping in the rescue, which would proceed overnight “until all are accounted for,” regional police director Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez said.</p><p>Angeles City hosted one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases outside of the American mainland until it closed in the early 1990s, helping develop Angeles and outlying cities and towns into entertainment and commercial hubs in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon.</p><p>The former American air base, now a bustling industrial and tourism enclave called the Clark Freeport Zone, lies about about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Manila.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bmwET5o4MnWdCHX1fgiJrhv9WrA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HHZ64SJZTZCN7AJOTBWOI2M2EU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3648" width="5472"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/h4cs7Opb-aRx6qD8tWGxknI3inA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WGSB34MJH5GXZBB2Y5TTSJ34FA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3648" width="5472"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5ruiTzcilhv-joSdWeQJWnXDrh8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NJU6PKHM75DBFL6M6335MWM22M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3648" width="5472"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A collapsed building where multiple people are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/BEJxAvfnBfl5qfzjW_nnVqVo84g=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3XU23E56S5CNVFGVXATZWIDNGA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2029" width="1536"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this handout photo, provided by the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection, Region 3, Public Information Service, a rescuer retrieves a body from a collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga province, Sunday May 24, 2026. (Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection Region 3, PIS via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/L2MRAuosuBhq5eUjVctIn6vwJqM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RB4P5XQYTBHSJOBIZSM55Q4Z7U.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3744" width="5616"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Rescuers work on a collapsed building where dozens are believed to be trapped in Angeles city in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Aaron Favila</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Democrats vow a redistricting counterpunch but are facing hurdles Republicans don't]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/24/democrats-vow-a-redistricting-counterpunch-but-are-facing-hurdles-republicans-dont/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/24/democrats-vow-a-redistricting-counterpunch-but-are-facing-hurdles-republicans-dont/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Democrats are poised to finish several seats behind Republicans in 2026 in the nationwide race to redraw maps for the U.S. House.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 11:47:10 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Democrats are poised to finish several seats behind Republicans in 2026 in the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-supreme-court-redistricting-democracy-d8fcd9fd2dd60cb2233e8003fadc6300">nationwide race to redraw maps for the U.S. House</a>. They can catch up in 2028, but only if they overcome a series of redistricting hurdles that the GOP does not face.</p><p>That's because Democrats, in many states, can draw partisan political lines only if they evade constraints <a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-579984fa53d997956749eb3d3820276b">— some self-imposed</a> — on their ability to counterpunch.</p><p>In Colorado, New Jersey, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny_tNIilh-M">New York</a> and Washington, redistricting commissions draw boundaries that are not supposed to benefit either party. Democrats will have to gain voters' permission to nullify those politically popular bodies and replace their balanced maps with ruthlessly gerrymandered ones to match what <a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2026/redistricting-is-rampant-ahead-of-the-us-house-midterm-elections-what-states-are-taking-action/">Republicans did</a> after President Donald Trump last year <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-house-republicans-texas-redistricting-d18e8280a32872d9eefcbb26f66a0331">demanded a sweeping redrawing</a> in Republican-controlled states in an attempt to help his party keep its House majority.</p><p>If the Democrats get a detail wrong in their process, courts could unwind the new maps. That is what happened in Virginia this month when the state Supreme Court <a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-virginia-congress-democrats-republicans-12a31037f3c9a94d3cb9fbcaaf84d94f">invalidated voter-approved maps</a> that would have given Democrats four more winnable seats. The court found the Democratic-controlled legislature did not follow the correct procedure when it placed the measure on the ballot.</p><p>“It's going to be expensive, it's going to be unpopular, and it's going to be a challenge for them to do what they want,” said Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust.</p><p>The next census will present another challenge for Democrats</p><p>Democrats remain favored to win control of the House this year despite recent setbacks in redistricting. The most consequential was the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-voting-rights-congressional-redistricting-louisiana-aa5d7dbde7c13654f341d152c2ad5229">gutting a key provision</a> of the Voting Rights Act, allowing Republicans to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-house-congress-gerrymander-voting-rights-f78310aed323bfeec3430f236f7b6e03">swiftly eliminate</a> at least three <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-redistricting-memphis-black-voters-south-b35a4b19c2c4818a660d3689cb8b1f82">majority-Black House seats</a> in the South that Democrats now hold.</p><p>Strategists for both parties expect Democratic gains in November that are typical when the party of an incumbent president faces voter backlash in a midterm election. In Trump's first midterm in 2018, for example, Democrats added 40 seats in the House.</p><p>But a 2028 House majority looks much harder for Democrats.</p><p>Presidential votes are usually much closer than midterm ones. Under the recent high court decision, Republicans next year could easily eliminate another five or more majority-minority Democratic-held districts in states whose maps were already set for 2026. They can likely gain an additional four seats by redrawing maps in Indiana, where some state lawmakers balked last year and were punished by Republican primary voters, and in Kentucky and Kansas, where Democratic governors who have been able to block Republican maps will reach their term limit.</p><p>The mapmaking pressure is high for Democrats to try to boost their chances of winning the House in 2028 as the party also hopes to take back the Senate and White House that year. Only then could it try again to pass a national ban on partisan gerrymandering that could rob the Republicans of what could become a durable advantage for them.</p><p>After the 2030 census, House seats will be reallocated to states seeing the fastest population gains, which are mainly ones that Republicans control. They are projected to pick up as many as 10 seats, largely at the expense of Democratic strongholds such as California and New York.</p><p>“Looking at the next census makes me all the more stressed to ban partisan gerrymandering at the federal level,” said John Bisogano, executive director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.</p><p>Constitutional and legislative barriers confront Democrats</p><p>Republicans face some of their own legal hoops in the redistricting competition.</p><p>In Florida, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-ron-desantis-donald-trump-redistricting-13e14f95a8d2b6afbc7e3e698f5f9256">their redrawn congressional map</a> hinges on the conservative-majority state Supreme Court throwing out that state's constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering.</p><p>But Democrats face far more obstacles and need to execute a series of complex political maneuvers.</p><p>Only in Illinois and Oregon would Democrats have a chance to draw additional winnable seats without many impediments.</p><p>Among Colorado, New York and New Jersey, Democrats could rack up close to double-digit gains in House seats, but only if they likewise thread the needle to change their constitutions.</p><p>In Maryland, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-wes-moore-maryland-florida-virginia-4481f51e7f1f007be4ba02d91b3bfa63">Democrats who balked</a> at redrawing their map this year are moving to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would give them permission to eliminate the state’s sole Republican House seat in 2028.</p><p>Democrats note that their voters have embraced the idea of ditching the reform approach they once favored to let their party match the redistricting by Trump and his fellow Republicans. The biggest success came in California, where a ballot measure to adopt a new map to pick up as many as five seats easily passed last year. Virginia's map passed more narrowly, but Democrats there remain resolute about implementing the 10-1 map in 2028.</p><p>In Washington state, Democrats' only chance to revise the constitution and redraw maps would be to win a two-thirds majority of the Legislature in November, a tall order. Because Democrats expect to do well in November, they re also hoping to win a handful of state legislative seats that would give them control of maps in states such as Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.</p><p>Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-congress-redistricting-gerrymandering-court-86ff92cc02bc191c57b685f647f40e4b">floated new maps</a> to let Democrats win up to six seats in a state where Republicans now hold six of the eight House districts. Such an aggressive move is necessary, he said, because of what Republicans are doing elsewhere.</p><p>“If we’ve learned anything, we’ve learned that when you know a knife fight is coming — bring a bazooka,” he said.</p><p>Redistricting reforms of the past are complicated to overcome</p><p>In other states, Democrats are confident their voters will be behind them.</p><p>“People in New York are pretty fired up given what they've seen around the country,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, a New York Democrat who is close to the top Democrat in the U.S. House, Hakeem Jeffries, also from New York.</p><p>But New York voters cannot enter the redistricting fight until next year because the state constitution will need to be amended by a statewide vote to permit it. That can happen only after the Democratic-controlled Legislature votes twice over two years to put the question on the ballot.</p><p>Likewise, Colorado Democrats embraced the idea of an independent commission redrawing lines in their state. Though many have had second thoughts, they cannot act until voters lift the commission's map this fall and permit a Democratic redrawing for 2028.</p><p>Their proposed initiative faces a challenge at the state Supreme Court. Even if it is approved for the ballot, it could face a rival measure from Republicans to redraw the map to favor conservative candidates.</p><p>“Republicans are stealing votes of Americans all across the country, and Colorado voters will say: ‘Hey, you can’t do that,'” said Curtis Hubbard, a spokesman for Democrats pushing the Colorado redrawing.</p><p>Democrats see an existential threat in the GOP's rush to gerrymander</p><p>Colorado is the most visible example of Democrats' about-face on redistricting. </p><p>Republicans won control of numerous statehouses in the 2010 midterm election and used that to redraw maps across the country, giving them an edge in the U.S. House. Democrats responded by embracing nonpartisan redistricting, a push that reached its zenith in 2018 when Colorado Democrats rallied behind a measure creating such a body in their state.</p><p>Now, both candidates for the party's nomination for governor support overruling the commission. Former Democratic President Barack Obama, who made redistricting reform a key pillar of his platform, has also <a href="https://apnews.com/article/obama-virginia-redistricting-midterms-congress-c81f3a7bf7ca3dfd16dd0ca7fda5955a">had a change of heart</a>, calling for aggressive map redrawing nationwide.</p><p>Nicholas Stephanopolous, a Harvard law professor, said it is clear that Democrats view Trump’s redistricting push as an existential threat.</p><p>“I think they’re going to move heaven and earth to respond,” he said.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zgxSFe4gd7VKDmFW9yvlQwfsO9Q=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2IKUQZO7I5FT3NANKVLWG55KHQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4418" width="6626"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - A truck passes political signs outside a polling place at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in South Hill, Va., on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Allen G. Breed</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KhCdlPpePdY5ANkYM064USoJ770=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JSBQMKCFEJBQDKOFOMWL7UTZZE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3897" width="5846"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Republican South Carolina Rep. Jackie Terribile looks at a proposed map of new U.S. House districts for South Carolina on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jeffrey Collins</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/N1py_pMVdyLduZ7JecopmoUXAUo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6Y37XJYYVNABHGVBBDVINRW6H4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3679" width="5519"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Mandy Cook, left, and Cheryl Woodard, hold signs during a rally against a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">George Walker Iv</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/3RWFX4B1YDJYU_ZVUfuRsFLliwM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4OWCYBNE3NCW5O3ZQUFE63FLSY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3024" width="4032"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Protesters against a Missouri congressional redistricting plan gather outside the Missouri Capitol on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">David A. Lieb</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pBqy5-Nh-v006cBeBxd2ytkcDkM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DLZ2DR7UEFD5FJ7KNURNUJG4RM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2524" width="3785"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Marcio Jose Sanchez</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump says a deal with Iran and opening of Strait of Hormuz are 'largely negotiated']]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/iran-and-us-signal-some-progress-in-talks-as-trump-weighs-striking-again/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/iran-and-us-signal-some-progress-in-talks-as-trump-weighs-striking-again/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[President Donald Trump says a deal with Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated.”.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:40:38 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Donald Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran on <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war</a>, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region.</p><p>“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said on social media, with no details. He said he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, and separately with Israel.</p><p>He described it as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE" that still must be finalized by the United States, Iran and the other countries that participated in the calls. It capped a week in which the U.S. weighed a new round of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-ceasefire-strikes-military-984b44a42e512a4cbf8fcc5cd0d82fbe">attacks on the Islamic Republic</a> that would break a fragile ceasefire.</p><p>There was no mention of Iran's nuclear program and highly enriched uranium, which Iran has sought to discuss later. There was no immediate comment from Iran or Israel. Trump said speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had pressed the U.S. to go to war, went “very well.”</p><p>There had been growing optimism among officials</p><p>Earlier on Saturday, a regional official with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led mediation efforts said the U.S. and Iran were closing in on a deal to end the war.</p><p>The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations, cautioned that “last-minute disputes” could blow up the efforts. This is not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been described as close.</p><p>The official said the deal would include an official declaration of the war's end, with two-month negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/strait-of-hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a> would be reopened and the U.S. would end its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-blockade-oil-tanker-military-boards-8a1bafe95f2d76665d65db4effd91680">blockade of Iran’s ports</a>.</p><p>Iran, meanwhile, had signaled “narrowing differences” in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-rubio-talks-c4be639e938fa57533f28f9fd62fb43b">negotiations</a> after Pakistani army chief Asim Munir held more talks in Tehran.</p><p>Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday welcomed Trump’s efforts to advance peace in the Middle East. He said Pakistan would continue supporting peace efforts “with utmost sincerity” and “we hope to host the next round of talks very soon.”</p><p>In a post on X, Sharif congratulated Trump on what he called his “extraordinary efforts to pursue peace” and described discussions among regional leaders as “very useful and productive.”</p><p>Twelve weeks have passed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, killing top Iranian officials <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">including its supreme leader</a> and interrupting nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran for the second time in less than a year. Iran fired at Israel and at neighbors hosting U.S. forces, shaking Gulf nations that had considered themselves safe havens in a tough region.</p><p>A ceasefire has held since April 7. But Iran’s decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz for ships carrying regional oil, natural gas and other critical supplies has been a focal point of global concern and economic pain. </p><p>Iran described it as a ‘framework agreement' for more talks</p><p>Iran state TV earlier quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as describing the draft as a “framework agreement” and adding: “We want this to include the main issues required for ending the imposed war and other issues of essential importance to us. Then, over a reasonable time span, between 30 to 60 days, details are discussed and ultimately a final agreement is reached.”</p><p>He said the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics discussed.</p><p>But Baghaei told Iran’s official IRNA news agency that nuclear issues are not part of current negotiations.</p><p>“Our focus at this stage is on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,” he said, adding that lifting sanctions on Tehran “has explicitly been included in the text and remains our fixed position.”</p><p>The Iranian-backed Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV reported that the Lebanese militant group's leader received a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran will not abandon its allies. There is a fragile, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-us-talks-ceasefire-washington-e7f26e207fc7543fe1f25a5318ff9ce3">U.S.-brokered ceasefire</a> in the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, a conflict that began two days after the Iran war started.</p><p>Trump had said ‘serious negotiations’ were underway</p><p>Trump earlier said he was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-ceasefire-strikes-military-984b44a42e512a4cbf8fcc5cd0d82fbe">holding off</a> on a military strike against Iran because “serious negotiations” were underway, and at the request of allies in the Middle East. Trump has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-pressure-campaign-strait-hormuz-de-8166b4d513523ee8b73ff058210dc581">repeatedly set deadlines</a> for Tehran and then backed off.</p><p>Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the lead negotiator in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-11-2026-2be904aee3f804892336730279e054b9">historic face-to-face talks</a> with the U.S. last month in Islamabad, said Saturday that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-missiles-rifle-training-tehran-df66b19c69074ca4f4195f9eca262020">Iran has rebuilt its military assets</a> and if Trump resumed attacks, the result would be “more crushing and more bitter” than at the start of the war.</p><p>State TV said he spoke after meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, who also met with Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. Qatar sent a senior official to Tehran to support Pakistan’s efforts.</p><p>The war’s stated aims have not been achieved. Iran still has its enriched uranium and a missile program it says is being rebuilt. It continues to express support for armed proxies in the region. The new supreme leader, though still unseen publicly since the war began, is the son of the previous one and close to the powerful Revolutionary Guard.</p><p>And the Iranian people have not revolted against the government as both Trump and Netanyahu had predicted after nationwide protests early this year.</p><p>___</p><p>Magdy reported from Cairo and Superville from Washington. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SMzu1Ck0CS4Ep7Os_RgDjZyaKJg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JEKYLMBTIFERXCKTHRAWDUFEOM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1700" width="2550"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, speaks with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Bxd1voa38mCj_fU281nVbWQOOWo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JW3YL6KGRJEHJJIWUL2RASEUUU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="853" width="1280"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, right, shakes hands with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 23, 2026. (Hamed Malekpour/ICANA via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Hamed Malekpour</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Southern California chemical tank at risk of exploding as 40,000 residents are ordered to evacuate]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/23/evacuation-centers-fill-up-in-southern-california-as-efforts-continue-to-cool-damaged-chemical-tank/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/national/2026/05/23/evacuation-centers-fill-up-in-southern-california-as-efforts-continue-to-cool-damaged-chemical-tank/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[John Raby, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Authorities are bracing for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California could leak or explode.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 04:03:43 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Authorities braced for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/storage-tank-chemical-leak-california-e0da10097b68b7f48ed512225eb487fa">Southern California</a> could leak or explode as an evacuation order continued into the Memorial Day weekend for 40,000 residents with no timeline on when they can return. </p><p>No injuries were reported after the pressurized tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors at a company site in Garden Grove, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. </p><p>But officials said the valves on the tank are broken or “gummed up,” which prevented crews from removing the chemical or relieving the pressure on the tank, said Craig Covey, Orange County Fire Authority division chief. </p><p>Firefighters’ first hope is to find a way to cool off the chemical inside the tank so it won’t leak or explode. If that is not possible, Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton said it would be best if the tank sprang a leak so the chemical could be mostly contained. An explosion that could spread the chemical over a broad area and send shrapnel flying would be the worst-case scenario.</p><p>If the temperature inside the tank continues to increase, the pressure will continue to build as the methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas, because officials said the pressure relief valves on the tank were no longer working. Whelton said it’s unlikely that firefighters would consider creating a hole in the tank because of fears that could create a spark that might ignite the volatile and flammable gas.</p><p>Drones were monitoring temperatures at 10-minute intervals to watch for any spikes and planning was underway to ensure a possible leak could quickly be prevented from spreading into waterways or the ocean, Covey said in an early evening post on social media platform X. </p><p>“Sitting back and allowing these tanks to fail is unacceptable,” Covey said, adding there was no guarantee tanks will not breach and leak. “Our goal is to protect your homes — no damage to them — and protect the environment.” </p><p>Tank wasn't cooling as first thought</p><p>Efforts to cool the tank appeared to be working Friday, but Covey backtracked the following day, saying a reading conducted by drones actually showed the temperature on the outside of the tank, not the inside. </p><p>“Unfortunately I do have to report that the temperature was 90 degrees,” Covey said, up from 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) the previous morning.</p><p>Cooling the tank is important because the liquid chemical's flashpoint is 50 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius), according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. </p><p>Residents are frustrated and stressed</p><p>Initially people in Garden Grove were ordered to leave. Evacuation orders were then expanded to some parts of five other Orange County cities including Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster. Some people with pets planned to sleep in their cars.</p><p>Several shelters remained open Saturday, including at three high schools.</p><p>Marco Solano, 32, spent Friday night at his parents’ home, frustrated by the situation and monitoring the news to see if he could go home.</p><p>“I don’t think that they should have dangerous chemicals in a neighborhood area, especially that dangerous that they have to evacuate people,” Solano said. “But again, it's not up to me. I don’t make the laws. I don’t make the rules. We just have to do what is best I guess.”</p><p>Solano, who has multiple jobs, said he felt very tired and weak and believed the stress of the chemical leak was exacerbating his anemia and ulcerative colitis.</p><p>“This has been affecting me quite a bit,” he said.</p><p>Solano also said he went to his apartment after work Friday to grab belongings and saw other residents who had not evacuated, and he was worried for them.</p><p>Exposure could lead to health problems</p><p>The damaged tank is located at GKN Aerospace, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft. It holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 and 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, used to make plastic parts.</p><p>Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems and even render someone unconscious. It can also cause neurological problems and irritate the skin, eyes and throat, according to fact sheets about the chemical. But Orange County health officials said the chemical is easy to smell and residents may notice it over a large area without being harmed.</p><p>Whelton said the volume of chemical in the tank is much smaller than in the disastrous 2023 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-eab23ed0fd6577a5cf96e8fd301da681">train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio,</a> which he studied when more than 115,000 gallons (435,000 liters) of vinyl chloride was released after officials blew open five tank cars and burned the chemical.</p><p>“Many of these are acute, fast-acting effects. But the longer somebody stays in contact with it, the more potential for significant damage that occurs,” Whelton said.</p><p>If there is an explosion, officials said they expect “severe structural damage and significant harm” in the blast zone closest to the tank.</p><p>If an explosion releases the chemical into the air, Whelton said, it will be crucial to conduct detailed air monitoring specifically for methyl methacrylate and not just generic tests for volatile organic compounds as officials did in East Palestine. General tests, often completed with handheld detectors, may not be capable of detecting the chemical. Indoor tests of buildings and homes may also be needed before residents return home.</p><p>The weather will be an important factor in determining where a plume of chemicals would go in the event of an explosion. Officials were developing maps to predict different scenarios about which areas would be most affected.</p><p>Meanwhile containment barriers have been set up to prevent the chemical from getting into storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill, Covey said.</p><p>Emergency declaration</p><p>Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County, making state resources available to local agencies and letting state-owned properties and fairgrounds be used for shelters if necessary.</p><p>Garden Grove is next to Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Park officials said they were monitoring the incident and supporting employees impacted by evacuations.</p><p>GKN agreed to pay state regulators more than $900,000 in 2025 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, and Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles contributed.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jm17oA05oDPF8E6nc84qr26NHuk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DKMF3RNV5BC3FHA2JLKJYFTWNE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5464" width="8192"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[People arrive at Freedom Hall, an evacuation center in Fountain Valley, Calif., after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility in Garden Grove, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jill Connelly</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/sdsSeoo9AxVyFPnPPEqrG7oJnHw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TPJQRM35FZD33FJLH7QWZ5X3BU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3148" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Water is sprayed on a tank that overheated at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/oXTknstMZs5znR1rNKLNZFFcnek=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7G36ULINZBHWNHD3QADFDIEDH4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2802" width="4200"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Evacuees from an aerospace chemical plant tank leak move to another shelter after the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center closed for the night in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ethan Swope</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/wbesxHGBF639EpA9mKxb1Xp-xEM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JJQXUDYP3RHCLAQTH3ZVJCEGRM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2268" width="4032"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image provided by American Red Cross Southern California Region, people arrive at Freedom Hall, an evacuation center in Fountain Valley, Calif., after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility in Garden Grove, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (American Red Cross Southern California Region via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/fbmrhyQR9UdS73LCDulXRWvIFYM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2FLHWSFAEBHCHOQAH24SDMMVB4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4439" width="6658"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[People arrive at Freedom Hall, an evacuation center in Fountain Valley, Calif., after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility in Garden Grove, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jill Connelly</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint, Secret Service says]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/law-enforcement-authorities-are-responding-to-reports-of-shots-fired-near-white-house/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/law-enforcement-authorities-are-responding-to-reports-of-shots-fired-near-white-house/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The U.S. Secret Service says a man who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint is dead.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 22:51:16 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A man who opened fire Saturday near a White House security checkpoint is dead after being shot by officers who returned fire, the U.S. Secret Service said. It was the third incidence of gunfire in the vicinity of President <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> in the past month. </p><p>The law enforcement agency said in a statement posted on X that the man was in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue when he “pulled a weapon from his bag" shortly after 6 p.m. EDT and began firing. <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-secret-service">Secret Service</a> officers returned fire and hit the suspect, who died at a hospital, the agency said.</p><p>The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, said a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. </p><p>According to District of Columbia court records, Best was arrested in July 2025 after he attempted to enter a different White House checkpoint without authorization, didn’t heed officers’ commands to stop, “claimed he was Jesus Christ” and said he wanted to be arrested.</p><p>An initial hearing was held and a “Pretrial Stay Away Order” was issued, typically a measure ordering a defendant not to go near a person or area before a trial. A bench warrant was issued in August after a notice of “noncompliance” against Best, who did appear for a subsequent hearing.</p><p>Latest gunfire incident around Trump</p><p>It was the third time in the past month that shots were fired near the president after incidents at the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-correspondents-dinner-allen-shooting-d9a2d4ddab8c6a48d3e365f72eea9a86">White House Correspondents' Association Dinner</a> in April and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-washington-monument-white-house-vulgar-remark-78898feb198db144cf56de483f06060a">near the Washington Monument</a> earlier in May. </p><p>A bystander was also struck on Saturday, but a law enforcement official said it wasn’t clear whether that person was hit by the suspect’s initial bullets or those fired subsequently by officers.</p><p>Secret Service said none of its officers were injured, and that Trump — who was at the White House at the time — was not "impacted.” Trump originally was scheduled to spend the weekend at his New Jersey golf club but changed his plans on Friday to stay at the White House instead.</p><p>FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that agency personnel were on the scene and "we will update the public as we’re able.”</p><p>Evidence of the shooting was visible on a sidewalk just outside the White House complex, where yellow crime scene tape snaked across the pavement and Secret Service officers placed dozens of orange evidence markers on the ground. Medical material, including what appeared to be purple surgical gloves and kits typically used by emergency medical personnel, were also seen.</p><p>Gunshots heard by journalists at the White House </p><p>Journalists working at the White House on Saturday evening reported hearing a series of gunshots and were told to seek shelter inside the press briefing room. </p><p>In a post shared on X, ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang shared dramatic video of the moment she said she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots” and ducked for cover. Writing that she had been performing a routine task that White House reporters do daily — filming themselves on a cellphone for a social media post — Wang’s video shows her speaking for a few seconds about Trump’s statements earlier Saturday about a potential Iran deal.</p><p>As the sounds of gunfire are heard in the background, Wang’s eyes grow wider, and she ducks down in the media tent, which is among those situated in a line along the White House driveway where broadcasters film their reports. On X, Wang’s video had been shared thousands of times as of Saturday evening, and viewed at least 3 million times.</p><p>Shooting scene not far from a deadly incident last year </p><p>The shooting scene is within walking distance of where a gunman ambushed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-dc-c5785dd8920d2d1ac7d71fab769faf5f">two members of the West Virginia National Guard</a> last November. </p><p>U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from the wounds she suffered in that shooting. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, was critically wounded. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged in that incident.</p><p>The gunfire Saturday came nearly a month after what law enforcement authorities said was an attempted assassination of the president as he attended the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at a Washington hotel on April 25. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, recently pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill Trump. Allen is accused of running through a security checkpoint inside the hotel and firing a shotgun at a Secret Service officer.</p><p>Following that scare, Secret Service officers shot a suspect they said had fired at officers near the Washington Monument, several blocks from the White House. Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in connection with the May 4 shooting. A teenage bystander was wounded in that incident.</p><p>___</p><p>Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press photojournalists Jose Luis Magana and Alex Brandon and AP writers Gary Fields and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Y4J8bbOaRn6bhb87OWzO0TTbz_w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6IG4FQ3QCNHMTNXSLBOIM32LQI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3683" width="5524"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Police and members of the Secret Service block streets around the White House, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5hyCTIACFGO1qL-25PfeAHAFaA0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4FM4YHWBJFG6XJJDKGZHQN73I4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5639" width="8434"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Police and members of the Secret Service stand near an EMS truck after blocking streets around the White House, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xwfmtTKmjTi3nfPJP0vGRXvP-hw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WIBYHXENGZFI5DWCY5SUS7XAIA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3517" width="5274"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Secret Service Police examine and photograph evidence and shattered glass, seen right, at a crime scene near the White House, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Washington. The U.S. Secret Service shot a person near the White House on Saturday, and a bystander also was shot, a law enforcement official said. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vsMtJGXE-lnFPnsx_skG5nx-tlQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5JTUHANKXVHQFKFNVJ7KSYFZCI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2911" width="4371"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Evidence markers are seen on a crime scene after police responded to reports of shots fired near the White House, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Alex Brandon</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/k_oHC7z9I9UCho9fsQseWO4SdT0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LQOSJE7VQVFNVG3XYGY7IJ3VVM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1988" width="2982"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Secret Service Police observe from the roof of the White House, Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Washington, after reports of shots fired near the White House. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jose Luis Magana</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ehlers' OT goal lifts Hurricanes past Canadiens in Game 2 of Eastern Conference Final]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/anderson-scores-2nd-goal-to-force-ot-in-canadiens-hurricanes-game-2-of-eastern-conference-final/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/24/anderson-scores-2nd-goal-to-force-ot-in-canadiens-hurricanes-game-2-of-eastern-conference-final/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Aaron Beard, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Nikolaj Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 01:50:48 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Carolina Hurricanes knew they had to play more to their style to get back into the Eastern Conference Final series against Montreal.</p><p>They got that most of Saturday night for Game 2, along with a huge performance from offseason addition Nikolaj Ehlers.</p><p>Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.</p><p>Ehlers scored twice for the Eastern Conference's top seed, the first with a highlight-reel individual effort in the second period against two Montreal defenders.</p><p>And when the game went to OT, the guy the Hurricanes landed as a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nhl-free-agency-11a418a27f925aa6570bb6fde6515866">sought-after free agent</a> carried them to the finish line.</p><p>“He's a special talent,” Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said, “and it was on full display tonight.”</p><p>The winning sequence started with a retreating Jalen Chatfield bouncing the puck back into the neutral zone to Mark Jankowski. Jankowski had a quick redirection to Ehlers entering the zone at full speed for a clean look at Dobes for the sudden winner.</p><p>“We didn't get a second breath,” said Dobes, who had 23 saves. “It was over pretty quick.”</p><p>As the puck hit the net, that sent a tense home crowd into a relieved but jubilant roar — along with a screaming Ehlers.</p><p>“I can barely talk right now, but I was yelling pretty loudly after that OT winner,” Ehlers said.</p><p>“It was a great pass ... and then just try to get some speed and get the puck off my stick as quick as possible and try to surprise the goalie,” Ehlers said. “Seeing that go in, seeing how the fans reacted was pretty cool.”</p><p>Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which improved to 4-0 in overtime in the playoffs — including 3-2 home wins in extra time during Game 2 in all three playoff series so far.</p><p>Carolina was facing massive pressure to regroup from Thursday's 6-2 loss in the series opener that only magnified the team's long-running troubles in the Eastern Final. Now the series is level as it shifts to Canada for Monday’s Game 3.</p><p>Josh Anderson scored twice for the Canadiens, the second coming at the 12:51 mark of the third period to ultimately force the overtime at 2-2.</p><p>The Canadiens <a href="https://apnews.com/article/canadiens-hurricanes-score-nhl-stanley-cup-f1a2a0e39912fc8697f6281666df3e86">won Game 1 by</a> jumping on a Carolina team <a href="https://apnews.com/article/carolina-hurricanes-nhl-playoffs-rest-rust-860225539d78b982efb8539730c7ab9b">coming off an 11-day break</a> after sweeping through the first two rounds — the longest wait to start a series in more than a century — for four goals in the opening 11 1/2 minutes. Montreal repeatedly got loose for clean breakouts and breakaways for high-danger chances against Frederik Andersen in that one.</p><p>But Carolina looked much closer to its earlier playoff form with is aggressive forecheck and defensive pressure, holding Montreal to 12 shots on goal and giving up far fewer of those quick transition chances the Canadiens kept burying in Game 1.</p><p>“It's hard to go 200 feet and produce offense unless you execute a little bit through that pressure," Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. "I felt today we weren't terrible, we just weren't as good” as Thursday.</p><p>___</p><p>AP NHL playoffs: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5lw5sl6_CnhXkd-pwbfbwOAey_c=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2O3WZXD73RB6ZGYT6NZ7ZSADA4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3275" width="4913"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson (50) reacts to the game wining overtime goal by Nikolaj Ehlers during overtime in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Karl B Deblaker</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/HZqxqi1eqsx8umXuKz_i4NMB-Ws=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XMR6ZUGDP5D6JOI6YWY7EQP4SM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3209" width="4814"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Carolina Hurricanes players celebrate after a goal by Nikolaj Ehlers as Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) returns to the net during the second period in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Karl B Deblaker</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9cf5ozpzifG4geHft0n34Z24yBA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2IDNBDASBBD53HOHKMOHJPWGZU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2679" width="4019"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers, second from right, celebrates after his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with teammates during the second period in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Karl B Deblaker</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PSZ2SZ2IeAUresHvV--CTOg0TTQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VN2HLJGJL5GLRPUGHLYLVPN6OQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3287" width="4930"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Carolina Hurricanes' Taylor Hall (71) controls the puck with Montreal Canadiens' Jayden Struble (47) nearby during the first period in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Karl B Deblaker</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bIIJEq7ofnE8KbX58e8tkZ7zXF8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EHTC665FNVHEPMJE3SPBFGXDVM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3786" width="5679"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Montreal Canadiens celebrate a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Karl B Deblaker</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Life of A Basketball Fan: Taylor Swift attends Cavs-Knicks in Cleveland with fiance Travis Kelce]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/24/life-of-a-basketball-fan-taylor-swift-attends-cavs-knicks-in-cleveland-with-fiance-travis-kelce/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/24/life-of-a-basketball-fan-taylor-swift-attends-cavs-knicks-in-cleveland-with-fiance-travis-kelce/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom Withers, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Turns out, Taylor Swift likes basketball, too.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 00:58:11 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Turns out, <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a> likes basketball, too.</p><p>The global music superstar sat courtside at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night along with fiance and Cleveland native Travis Kelce as the Cavaliers hosted the New York Knicks desperately needing a win in the series.</p><p>Swift and Kelce, who recently signed a 3-year, $54 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, took their seats in Rocket Arena shortly before the opening tip. Their appearance caused a stir as fans reacted to seeing the power couple together.</p><p>Kelce didn't need long to settle in and was animated while cheering for the Cavs.</p><p>With the Cavs trailing 91-82 at the end of the third quarter, Kelce and Swift were shown on the arena's giant scoreboard. Fans cheered wildly as Kelce showed off his team cap and wine-and-gold shirt before chugging a beer to help rally the Cavs.</p><p>As Kelce gulped down his beverage, Swift covered her mouth and feigned shock and embarrassment.</p><p>Swift became a staple at Chiefs home games when she began dating Kelce a few years ago. She also accompanied him to Game 1 of the AL Championship Series at Yankee Stadium in 2024.</p><p>Kelce has attended Cavs games in the past and he and his brother, Jason, were celebrated with a bobblehead giveaway by Cleveland in 2024.</p><p>The couple announced their engagement last year and there are reports they'll get married sometime this summer.</p><p>The Knicks have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning twice at Madison Square Garden.</p><p>___</p><p>AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1s-XPyjviV5JscO1scIQm6IpSlI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FSX6VPDSUJDVFJJJPZ7PC6LIDM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2642" width="3964"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce talk with Ahmaad Crump, Cleveland Cavaliers' arena host, during a timeout in the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks in Cleveland, Monday, May 24, 2027. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Sue Ogrocki</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/hBs5FmbJgBRN0WvtzBueHV7Wx5w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FFWDPDQ7Q5EV5IDQCXVKRCMG5I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2434" width="3651"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce watch the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/hCebWK_3I04aRWMxO_nGRXuOots=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JATW6T536NARBBZGUHT46Y3J3Q.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2349" width="3524"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce watch the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KBwCskqrYmwyUcK6fF8l1VZo9a8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MYZSQMYV6BG3BGQJWQ4XQZF5DM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2191" width="3286"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce watch the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tyj7kSrLWCCOxZaefQbaFIs7osI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/N6HWNUZ3ENDFVP73APQEOXL2EM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2364" width="3545"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce watch the first half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Tim Phillis</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Travel industry worries after Trump administration reiterates threat to sanctuary city airports]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/travel-industry-worries-after-trump-administration-reiterates-threat-to-sanctuary-city-airports/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/travel-industry-worries-after-trump-administration-reiterates-threat-to-sanctuary-city-airports/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Josh Funk And Rio Yamat, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The travel industry is on edge after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reiterated his threat to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities” in a move that could jeopardize international flights.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 15:41:20 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The travel industry is on edge after Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mullin-immigration-homeland-security-tsa-344f83e9142ac2d5dbfbd2176defb353">Markwayne Mullin</a> reiterated <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fema-mullin-north-carolina-hurricane-helene-cbp-aabf3ae1d3cd82d0a158090ea287085a">his threat to withdraw</a> U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities” in a move that could jeopardize international flights.</p><p>The U.S. Travel Association said that Mullin confirmed he is considering withdrawing CBP officers in a meeting where the trade group was pressing its concerns about other proposals the Trump administration is considering that could hamper travel. U.S. Travel and the major airlines quickly condemned the idea, and even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said it doesn't make sense to him.</p><p>“U.S. Travel believes such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation,” the industry group said Friday in a statement.</p><p>Details of the meeting were first reported by The Atlantic.</p><p>Duffy told a Congressional hearing earlier this week that he wasn’t familiar with Mullin’s remarks, and he’d like to learn more about the context and maybe ask Mullin a question about what he meant. But Duffy said it would be a bad idea to start restricting travel based on political views. After all, at some point Democrats will be in charge and “you will all switch spots at one point — hopefully not too soon Mr. Chairman,” Duffy said.</p><p>“We have people from around the world and around the country that need to be able to fly into all different kinds of places. We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,” Duffy said.</p><p>So it's not clear how much support this idea has within the administration, though President Donald Trump has previously <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sanctuary-cities-states-federal-funding-f0bb01398d9d955a498170e7334ce14a">threatened to withhold</a> funding from sanctuary cities. </p><p>There is no strict definition for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-sanctuaries-trump-miller-ea2e4531f303a27fa6f5ab96312035a9">sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities</a>, but the terms generally describe limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And courts have rejected the idea of pulling funding from them in the past. </p><p>In Trump’s first term in office, in 2017, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/350353e37873421f9411a4c38731005a">courts struck down</a> his effort to cut funding to the cities.</p><p>It’s not clear exactly which cities and airports Mullin might target, but the Justice Department last year published a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-sanctuary-cities-deportation-95277c47a04cdd5e07bbc29da51c0813">list of three dozen</a> states, cities and counties that it considers to be sanctuary jurisdictions.</p><p>The Airlines for America trade group was quick to say the idea would hurt the economy and disrupt travel. </p><p>“Reducing CBP staffing at major airports would have a devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries, causing a significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers and the flow of international cargo.”</p><p>___</p><p>This story corrects a reference to Customs and Border Protection in second paragraph. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MKBaYl8P0QEpi0krgSmK1uuohms=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MKQU3BWI3RBSNGZGVHNJCJ3VNM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3264" width="4896"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[President Donald Trump, left, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, right, saluting at the start of the commencement ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jessica Hill</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/lxRIgLkLILgB-JvNkqefen89LgA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DLGXAV4EFZGRJBAF3V6AJWBFSU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3669" width="5503"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, listens as President Donald Trump speaks to the press after returning and stepping off Air Force One, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Jacquelyn Martin</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Law enforcement searching for person following Buena Vista larceny incident]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/memorial-day-food/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/memorial-day-food/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Buena Vista Police Department is searching for the identity of a person believed to be involved in a larceny incident that occurred on Friday.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 23:08:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Buena Vista Police Department is searching for the identity of a person believed to be involved in a larceny incident that occurred on Friday.</p><p>BVPD said a larceny occurred around 4 a.m. on Friday in the 2400 block of Beech Avenue. The person was captured on camera, which you can find see a photo of below.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/E__qV6cnm-kLzOKDJwQJcdRkmWg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZPFSOMX5LFBTVIIMQ4YEWMAUQI.png" alt="Photo of the person whose identity is sought out of Buena Vista." height="405" width="720"/><figcaption>Photo of the person whose identity is sought out of Buena Vista.</figcaption></figure><p>Law enforcement is now asking those in the area to check any residential or business security cameras between the times of 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. on Friday for any suspicious activities or vehicles.</p><p>If you have any information regarding this individual or footage, please contact the Buena Vista Police Department at 540-261-6171 or email pdinfo@buenavistava.gov.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/E__qV6cnm-kLzOKDJwQJcdRkmWg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZPFSOMX5LFBTVIIMQ4YEWMAUQI.png" type="image/png" height="405" width="720"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Photo of the person whose identity is sought out of Buena Vista.]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protesters clash with police after an anti-government rally in Serbia's capital]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/serbian-protesters-clash-with-police-after-anti-government-rally-in-belgrade/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/serbian-protesters-clash-with-police-after-anti-government-rally-in-belgrade/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jovana Gec, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Clashes have erupted between protesters and riot police after a massive anti-government rally in Serbia's capital, Belgrade.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 16:58:26 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Clashes erupted between groups of protesters and riot police after a huge anti-government rally on Saturday in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/serbia">Serbian</a> capital of Belgrade by tens of thousands of opponents of the country's autocratic <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/aleksandar-vucic">President Aleksandar Vucic</a>.</p><p>While the rally at a central square in Belgrade passed peacefully, groups of young assailants later clashed with riot police, throwing flares, rocks and bottles at police cordons. Police responded with pepper spray as they charged forward to disperse them.</p><p>The groups, including apparent soccer hooligans, rolled trash cans into the streets as shield-carrying riot police tried to surround them. Police parked anti-riot vehicles in a central Belgrade area to block the demonstrators from returning and the violence soon ended. Police said 23 people were detained. </p><p>Protests have shaken Vucic</p><p>Crowds of protesters earlier on Saturday streamed into central Belgrade, many carrying banners and wearing T-shirts inscribed with the “Students win” motto of the youth movement which organized the gathering. Columns of cars drove into Belgrade from other Serbian towns earlier in the day. </p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/aleksandar-vucic">Vucic has sought to curb the</a> mass demonstrations that have shaken his hard-line rule in the Balkan country. Big crowds on Saturday suggested the dissent persists more than a year after protests first started to demand accountability for a train station tragedy in Serbia’s north in November 2024 that killed 16 people. </p><p>Serbia’s state railway company on Saturday canceled all trains to and from Belgrade, in an apparent bid to stop at least some people from coming from other parts of the country.</p><p>The president said in a video on Instagram on Saturday that protesters “have shown their violent nature and that they cannot stand political opponents.” Vucic, who was on his way to China for a state visit, added that “the state is functioning and will continue to work in line with the law.”</p><p>Anti-corruption protests forced then-Prime Minister <a href="https://apnews.com/article/serbia-protests-vucevic-resigns-b71e3a0aacf5d0368b2bd1f4500170f5">Milos Vucevic to resign</a> in January 2025 before authorities pushed back hard against the protesters. Many people in Serbia blamed the concrete canopy crash at the station on alleged graft-fueled negligence during the renovation work on the building carried out with Chinese companies. </p><p>The students on Saturday demanded an early election and the rule of law, accusing the government of crime and corruption.</p><p>Prosecutor Bojana Savovic told the crowd that “a state where laws are not implemented or are implemented selectively is no longer a state, it becomes a mafia organization.”</p><p>Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic downplayed the student rally, saying “it offered nothing new.” Police estimated that 34,300 people came to the rally, while organizers said it was many more, without giving a specific figure. </p><p>Vucic's supporters gathered at park camp</p><p>Clashes first erupted in the vicinity of a park camp of Vucic's loyalists outside the Serbian presidency building that he set up ahead of another big anti-government rally last March as a human shield against protesters. Folk music blared from a fenced area surrounded by rows of riot police in full gear.</p><p>The Serbian president has faced international scrutiny for his hard-line tactics against the demonstrators in the past year, including arbitrary arrests and use of excessive force. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, criticized Serbia’s government in a report this week and said he “will monitor the situation closely” on Saturday.</p><p>O’Flaherty also cited “reports of police protecting unidentified and often masked attackers of journalists and protesters.” He said the overall rights situation has deteriorated since his previous visit in April 2025.</p><p>Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but it has nourished close ties with Russia and China. The democratic backsliding under Vucic could cost the country around 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in European Union funding, the EU’s top enlargement official warned last month.</p><p>The venue on Saturday was Belgrade’s Slavija Square, the scene of a huge anti-government protest in March 2025. That rally ended in sudden disruption that experts later said — and the government denied — involved the use of a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/serbia-sonic-attack-protest-vucic-weapon-214ff2630733b68dd2987e411b405197">sonic weapon</a> against peaceful demonstrators.</p><p>Students prepare for elections</p><p>The youth movement’s quest for justice and rule of law has resonated widely among Serbia’s citizens, who are disillusioned with established politicians after decades of perpetual crisis.</p><p>Students now say they plan to challenge Vucic at the approaching elections that they hope will oust the right-wing populist government. Vucic said this week that the ballot could be held between September and November this year.</p><p>Vucic, government officials and the pro-government media have branded critics as foreign agents who wish to destroy the country — rhetoric that has ramped up political polarization.</p><p>Protester Maja Milas Markovic said students “managed to gather us here with their youth and wonderful energy; I really believe that we have right to live normally.”</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writer Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Lww5yvyunTw2JbuawjgCP4mxir8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BGKFGY5YOBBMZE25F32G2U27VU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2669" width="4004"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A man throws a cobblestone at riot police as clashes break out during a rally led by Serbia's protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Darko Vojinovic</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ztkSWstVMZbhJm6ugF32Nxr9hsc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/H7DDVX4S6RA5DJR43OPXYGILAI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3705" width="5558"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Riot police detains an anti-government protester as clashes break out during a rally led by Serbia's protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Darko Vojinovic</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/17-jh-bkynJvltwBOD1tpMBjlYo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CI764DIV2BFVTAHJHCKG7K7A3E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3404" width="5106"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Riot police move in to disperse anti-government protesters during a rally led by Serbia's protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Armin Durgut</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1g5NuOBMFmAe4KSfTyRBOZXFQIw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6KCAQA3ZOFDI5DI3J7GU4EPYAU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4667" width="7000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Anti-government protesters take part in a rally led by Serbia's protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Armin Durgut</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ssI2q9y2lcciPPaIgTyS80adq-M=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EI6GTLD5J5GYXHAKNIFQJITEKM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A woman who said she is pregnant stands in front of riot policemen as they prepare to disperse anti-government protesters during a rally led by Serbia's protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Armin Durgut</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[A second Ebola treatment center is set ablaze in eastern Congo, with 18 suspected cases fleeing]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/an-ebola-treatment-tent-set-ablaze-again-in-eastern-congo-with-18-suspected-cases-escaping/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/an-ebola-treatment-tent-set-ablaze-again-in-eastern-congo-with-18-suspected-cases-escaping/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Kabumba And Wilson Mcmakin, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Angry residents in eastern Congo have attacked and burned a tent that was part of a health center treating Ebola patients.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:28:48 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Angry residents of a town at the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-congo-ituri-africa-virus-d59a194e6032e1783b6085b56d84b0f0">epicenter of the Ebola outbreak</a> in eastern Congo <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-outbreak-who-spread-response-18537353976a958687e55f95434c918c">attacked and burned</a> a tent that was part of a health center where people are being treated for the virus, the staff there said Saturday. It was the second such attack in the region in a week.</p><p>No one was hurt in the attack, according to initial reports but as patients ran out to escape the fire, 18 people with suspected Ebola infections left the facility and are now unaccounted for, a local hospital director said. </p><p>The angry residents had arrived at the clinic in the town of Mongbwalu on Friday night and set fire to a tent set up for suspected and confirmed Ebola cases by the Doctors Without Borders humanitarian group, Dr. Richard Lokudi, director of the Mongbwalu hospital, told The Associated Press.</p><p>“We strongly condemn this act, as it caused panic among the staff and also resulted in the escape of 18 suspected cases into the community,” he said. </p><p>On Thursday, another treatment center, in the town of Rwampara, was burned down after family members were banned from retrieving the body of a local man suspected to have died of Ebola.</p><p>Burials of Ebola-victims stir anger, frustration</p><p>The bodies of those who died of Ebola can be highly contagious and lead to further spread when people prepare them for burial and gather for funerals. The dangerous work of burying suspected victims is being managed wherever possible by authorities, which can be met by protests from families and friends.</p><p>A communal burial for Ebola patients in Rwampara took place on Saturday under tight security as tensions between health workers and the local community ran high, said David Basima, a team leader with the Red Cross overseeing burials.</p><p>Armed soldiers and police monitored the burials as Red Cross workers clad in white protective suits lowered sealed coffins into the ground. Crying family members stood at a distance. </p><p>Basima said his team, after arriving at the scene, “experienced a lot of difficulties, including resistance from young people and the community.”</p><p>“We were forced to alert the authorities so that they could come to our aid, just for safety,” said Basima.</p><p>Authorities in northeastern Congo on Friday <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-outbreak-who-4e08d8df6d9c34039a9e0b8bad7a8954">banned funeral wakes and gatherings</a> of more than 50 people in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. </p><p>The outbreak is a high risk to Congo, WHO says </p><p>The World Health Organization has said that the outbreak now poses a “very high” risk for Congo — up from a previous categorization of “high” — but that the risk of the disease spreading globally remains low.</p><p>WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that 82 cases and seven deaths have been confirmed in Congo, but that the outbreak is believed to be “much larger.”</p><p>There is no available vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola, which <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-outbreak-who-4e08d8df6d9c34039a9e0b8bad7a8954">spread undetected for weeks</a> in Congo’s Ituri province following the first known death, while authorities tested for another, more common, Ebola virus and came up negative. There are now 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, though more are expected as surveillance expands. </p><p>Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said a response to the outbreak must include building trust with communities. </p><p>The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Saturday that three of its volunteers had died from the outbreak in Mongbwalu. The agency said it believed the three healthcare workers contracted the virus on March 27 while handling dead bodies as part of a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola. </p><p>If confirmed, this would significantly push back the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebola-outbreak-congo-uganda-disease-who-3c1d951834ddfb91f8a2e41bedefc398">timeline</a> of the outbreak from the previous first confirmed death in late April in the town of Bunia, the capital of Ituri.</p><p>The US bars green-card holders from Ebola-stricken countries</p><p>U.S. federal health officials said on Friday night that they are banning green card holders who have been in Ebola-affected countries from returning to the U.S.</p><p>Green card holders are people who are not U.S. citizens but have been granted authorization to live and work permanently in the United States.</p><p>According to a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10543.pdf">Federal Register notice</a> on Friday, the U.S. government is enacting a rule that restricts green card holders who have recently been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan from reentering the United States.</p><p>It's unclear why South Sudan was on the list as the country has not confirmed any Ebola cases so far in this outbreak. </p><p>Such a ban will help ensure that Ebola screening, contact tracing, quarantine monitoring, and medical monitoring will be available to U.S. citizens, according to the notice.</p><p>Federal law provides for a period before such decisions become final but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can argue that the order can take effect immediately in certain circumstances. </p><p>The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p><p>___</p><p>McMakin reported from Dakar, Senegal. AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MoFMj7K4FXZYghoaj5VdF52tlAU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XQTL3KHNIJGADEPYF7C4CP4374.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4150" width="6225"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A sanitation worker from the Bunia city government sprays chlorine to disinfect the central market, as Ituri province continues to combat an Ebola outbreak, in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DeSfAlrFmM0An56BOaaHzXfOfsE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AKBAMOPS6FBRVMJT72NQW2ZPOI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4908" width="7362"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Members of the Congo Scouts movement carry an Ebola awareness banner along a street during a public sensitisation campaign amid the Ebola outbreak in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6Fo2BRyjurecsW_pd8UqENZe3aM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/J4WBHZZPMNEHFCEEIHI6VEK3FM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4587" width="6880"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Sanitation workers from Bunia city government spray disinfectant in the central market area near a rubbish truck in Ituri province, as they continue efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/F0ts56qTzn_r5a8SE-LCvTCIfAQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BHQOLBPLOZHILBFXE7N4MQSE6E.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5504" width="8256"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Motorcycle taxi riders and their passengers wait at the entrance to the central market while sanitation workers disinfect the area, as Ituri province continues to combat an Ebola outbreak in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gAr6jR30HGMO2kIbEh8Kgp4hoHg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Q72FAKZQNRBZROUPPZLC7J5J2U.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4841" width="7261"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Motorcycle taxi riders and their passengers wait at the entrance to the central market while sanitation workers disinfect the area, as Ituri province continues to combat an Ebola outbreak in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ZZTimYYCvBrQbSxl4wPdFhSc-6k=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JTNALANHOBH27NJT3P4TGOFJ2Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4820" width="7230"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Red Cross workers prepare a coffin containing the body of a Ebola victim for burial at the Rwampara Cemetery, in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Moses Sawasawa</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Si Woo Kim hangs on to Byron Nelson lead and has Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark chasing]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/si-woo-kim-hangs-on-to-byron-nelson-lead-and-has-scottie-scheffler-and-wyndham-clark-chasing/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/si-woo-kim-hangs-on-to-byron-nelson-lead-and-has-scottie-scheffler-and-wyndham-clark-chasing/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Si Woo Kim lost all of the five-shot lead he built a day earlier while flirting with sub-60 history at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 22:26:35 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Si Woo Kim lost all of the five-shot lead he built a day earlier while <a href="https://apnews.com/article/byron-nelson-si-woo-kim-60-94f58fe68695cd53a596fc26a5ae3ee0">flirting with sub-60 history</a> at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.</p><p>The 30-year-old South Korean still managed to maintain an edge over a couple of major champions, including hometown favorite and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/scottie-scheffler-byron-nelson-pga-tour-scoring-record-72047ee609a52573394cdd3d39b9ed2d">defending champion Scottie Scheffler</a>, heading into the final round.</p><p>Kim shot 3-under 68 on Saturday for a two-shot lead over top-ranked Scheffler and 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, who had matching 65s.</p><p>“It’s fun being in contention,” said Clark, a three-time tour winner seeking his first victory since Pebble Beach in 2024. “Whether you have to shoot 8 under to win or 1 under to win, it’s fun because you still feel the same heat. Tomorrow it’s probably going to be exactly that way where you have to make a ton of birdies.”</p><p>Sungjae Im, Kim's countryman, followed a second-round 61 with a 67 and was another two shots back with Stephan Jaeger and Tom Hoge. Jaeger's 64 was the low round of the day at the TPC Craig Ranch, and Hoge shot 66.</p><p>Zach Bauchou (66) was 16 under, one shot ahead of Brooks Koepka (66) and three others. Koepka, who opened with a 63, is looking for his first win since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.</p><p>Kim, the field's second highest-ranked player behind Scheffler at No. 24, was in position for a 59 in the second round but had a bogey at 18 that forced him to settle for 60.</p><p>His five-shot lead was tied for the second-biggest on tour through 36 holes this season behind Rory McIlroy’s six-shot edge when he defended his Masters championship in April.</p><p>It was gone by the 11th hole.</p><p>Three bogeys in a span of four holes — all on putts inside 10 feet — dropped the four-time tour winner into a tie with Clark at 18 under. Clark had earlier pulled within a stroke with a short eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.</p><p>Kim, a Dallas resident, answered with three birdies over the next four holes — a day after he had 12.</p><p>“I was thinking about too much scoring like first 10, 11 holes,” Kim said. “So I’m just trying to be back to kind of like yesterday. Yeah, just trying to hit the good shots and trying to like, all the mojo’s back.”</p><p>Clark took the lead a scrambling birdie at the par-5 12th, making a 15-foot putt after a bunker shot with his right foot in the grass, his flexed right knee almost touching the ground.</p><p>Kim, Scheffler and Clark were tied at 19 under when Kim went in front with a birdie on the short par-4 14th after Scheffler and Clark settled for pars after trying to drive the green.</p><p>Clark got even again, but Kim went in front for good with a birdie at the par-3 15th.</p><p>Scheffler, a four-time major winner who ran away to an eight-shot victory at last year's Nelson, answered his first bogey of the tournament on the par-3 fourth with three birdies over the final five holes on the front nine.</p><p>“Two shots back going into tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Scheffler, who is looking for his 21st tour win. “It’s always fun when I get to play with Si Woo. I think it’s good for the community to have two guys that are local up there on the leaderboard. Should be a fun day tomorrow.”</p><p>Clark, seeking his first win since 2024 at Pebble Beach, was standing over the putt before what ended up being one of his early birdies when he stepped away and dabbed at his nose. He made the putt, but was still dabbing at his nose a few holes later.</p><p>“I don’t really know,” the 32-year-old said when asked if he had a bloody nose. “I had like a cut on my nose, and I went like this. Next thing you know, I was bleeding. It wasn’t quite a bloody nose, but it lasted a couple holes.”</p><p>Jordan Spieth, a hometown favorite alongside Scheffler, faded with four bogeys on his first five holes on the back nine a day after six consecutive birdies to start his second nine spurred a 62. He shot 73.</p><p>First-round leader Taylor Moore was back in contention after four consecutive birdies, but went in the water at 15 and ended up with a triple-bogey 6. He shot 69 and was 13 under.</p><p>Japan's Kensei Hirata, playing in the final group with Kim and Im, shot 70 and trails by seven.</p><p>___</p><p>AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/OYhowWQ87xAtfypVaspbDHogpYI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OUISALCTFFH4JDGGEFNJKYOACA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1941" width="3451"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, watches his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Lm Otero</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ralp5aItv-LFwAPD1PrNiEZa0ig=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SCAEHCL57JAPZBJPVII44UDNOA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3328" width="4992"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Scottie Scheffler, right, and Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, cross a bridge between holes during the first round of the Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)932944]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Lm Otero</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/EaIviCnCQECJvkXJ0K7esdmjbPs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NPLHBYZ5F5HA3PBVSA4AYAKKFM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3355" width="5033"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Scottie Scheffler, right, prepares for a tee shot on the 14th hole during the first round of the Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Lm Otero</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/hoiyDg3Bqh0IhcyRHcSQ1HZWtPE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SSG53HNY6NEWBJVW5H7ZEC4HFU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1993" width="2989"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Wyndham Clark hits from the rough on the 11th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Carolyn Kaster</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scattered Showers Come and Go Throughout the Day]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/weather/2026/05/23/scattered-showers-come-and-go-throughout-the-day/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/weather/2026/05/23/scattered-showers-come-and-go-throughout-the-day/</guid><description><![CDATA[Rain persists throughout the week, and we return to seasonable temperatures tomorrow!]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 12:32:51 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i><u><b>Saturday Evening Update:</b></u></i></p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/HhiH64Z9ygr1L8tLrwgZjSeeoQE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JNMQUW344VENJNOAJXYOU6VU2Q.jpg" alt="zone by zone" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>zone by zone</figcaption></figure><p>Today swayed to the cooler side and our high temperatures did not exceed the 60s for most of us due to the warm front taking a slower route. </p><p>As we head into the overnight hours, that warm front will bring up our temperatures for tomorrow, and our lows will remain to be only a few degrees cooler than what we experienced throughout the day.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/aNpqW4Vn5MFX9rcsjm-EJxbvSrM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3JIAFFINEVCR3GBVFHL4ZPHENY.jpg" alt="sunday" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>sunday</figcaption></figure><p>Tomorrow will be much warmer, with highs reaching the mid-70s, but we will continue to see this wet pattern stick around. </p><p>That said, most of the moisture will come in the afternoon, and have hit-or-miss showers and storms throughout the evening. </p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JmVqX2Ic-8xBDWVBae9YQdib1wY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MSEHECHLGZA7XMN2KHJF4YA4BU.jpg" alt="monday" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>monday</figcaption></figure><p>Even as we head into Monday and the coming days, rain will be in the forecast.</p><p>For Monday in particular, the Weather Prediction Center has put out a marginal risk of seeing excessive rainfall; this means that isolated flooding is possible due to the rainfall rates that will occur.</p><p><i><u><b>Saturday Morning:</b></u></i></p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vYU1xG1-dxZEnArMGN0dWnpK2HE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2TP2RMDBRZGV7PFYWA2T5HVLE4.jpg" alt="rain" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>rain</figcaption></figure><p>A low-pressure system is spreading widespread rain across much of the East Coast Today. Periods of steady rain and scattered showers will continue through the afternoon and evening.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ibFMz8H9ZWP7BIH988HD-3KhjXU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SQH5F7T2AFH27PUGEI2RI7HS7Y.jpg" alt="flooding" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>flooding</figcaption></figure><p>The heaviest rainfall is to be expected from parts of Texas into lower Mississippi Valley. Though we are expecting to see a decent amount of rainfall within our region which should help alleviate some of the pressure from the ongoing drought.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Kbk01t6Amnku78SvK_66mgg18vQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DZEXB2TJQRFE7LREAOH2OVTQQI.jpg" alt="today" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>today</figcaption></figure><p>Cloud cover and rainfall are keeping temperatures cool today, with highs mainly in the upper 50s to mid 60s across the region. Expect a chilly, damp feel through the afternoon before temperatures fall back into the 50s tonight.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ae0P3WePVmw4lIz5kmt6gtTtivk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E6EENA5N6VCZXA2MQKC7MO4IA4.jpg" alt="Today" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>Today</figcaption></figure><p>The hourly outlook shows temperatures holding steady in the upper 50s through midday before nudging into the 60s by later afternoon. Clouds will dominate, keeping conditions cool and seasonably below average as temperatures bar off at around 62 degrees.</p><figure><img src="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MVoE4JHBpBRsHOn9Uo0_xT9KRVI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/THSBGRWZTZGPDIOLWK2GP6ESCY.jpg" alt="roanoke" height="1080" width="1920"/><figcaption>roanoke</figcaption></figure><p>By Memorial Day, we will return back into the 80s for our high temperatures. Those warm temperatures will linger on throughout the week, as well as the scattered showers. </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott Remer, the only full-time spelling bee coach, charges $180 an hour. Champs say he's worth it]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/23/scott-remer-the-only-full-time-spelling-bee-coach-charges-180-an-hour-champs-say-hes-worth-it/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/23/scott-remer-the-only-full-time-spelling-bee-coach-charges-180-an-hour-champs-say-hes-worth-it/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben Nuckols, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Scott Remer is the country's only full-time, professional coach for kids competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 04:01:52 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2023-spelling-bee-finals-updates-1b09d39ba7631d26f3a3c833f7aeefea">Dev Shah won</a> the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2023 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/scripps-national-spelling-bee-2025-champion-70f6767e4f30a29b52dfc3dfc77eb553">Faizan Zaki took the title</a> last year, they posed for remarkably similar photos on the confetti-strewn stage. Standing next to them, beaming, was a bespectacled man in an aloha shirt, holding up a copy of his book “Words of Wisdom.”</p><p>For Scott Remer, the champion spellers' coach, posing for a picture was more than just a celebration. It was a business necessity.</p><p>While nearly every National Spelling Bee champion over the past 15 years has worked with a coach, the 32-year-old Remer is the country's only full-time, professional tutor for elite spellers. Most coaches are former spellers who are still in college or even high school.</p><p>When the field of 247 spellers at <a href="https://apnews.com/article/scripps-national-spelling-bee-mina-kimes-host-espn-5360fe4aaab7c74d6e2ac8ff57108caa">this year's bee</a> — which begins Tuesday and concludes Thursday in Washington — is cut down to 10 or so finalists, it's all but inevitable the group will include multiple Remer students.</p><p>“He’s probably one of the most influential figures in spelling over the past 10 years,” said Shah, now 17.</p><p>Remer has coached five national champions, and since the bee emerged from the pandemic disruptions of 2020 and '21, he has scaled up the coaching profession. He claims 34 spellers as his students this year and has worked with no fewer than 29 during each of the past four bees.</p><p>He charges more than other coaches: up to $180 for an hourlong private lesson. If spellers finish in the top 10 and earn a cash prize, he receives up to 10% of their winnings, which he called “a performance-based bonus.”</p><p>Many spellers and their families believe Remer is worth it — despite, or perhaps because of, the intense personality that emerges during his lessons.</p><p>Always earnest and gregarious on any spelling-related topic, Remer describes coaching as a passion that grew out of his disappointing fourth-place finish in 2008, his final year as a speller. He says he's motivated by sharing his knowledge, helping kids reach their potential and the challenge of discovering spelling bee-worthy words.</p><p>“This is really about the love of language and the love of the competition. Part of it is once you're stung by the bee, there's kind of no going back,” Remer said. “I'm not going to deny that it pays well, because it does. But I don't know that there's anything wrong with that.” </p><p>The last two champions he coached say he was crucial to their victories.</p><p>“Even though his classes are more expensive, it's definitely worth it,” Faizan said. “I saw results.”</p><p>Faizan's father, Zaki Anwar, said he negotiated a reduced rate of $120 an hour for Remer's services because Faizan was already an accomplished speller. Remer took home 7% of the champion's prize haul of $52,500 — a bonus of $3,675.</p><p>“After winning, it doesn't really matter,” Anwar said.</p><p>Expensive and demanding, Remer is not for everyone</p><p>Remer drills his students on roots, language patterns and the exceptions to those patterns. He seeks to instill a deep understanding of languages that will allow spellers to figure out a word even if they have never seen or heard it before, as Shah did with “rommack” in 2023.</p><p>But Remer's pricing, and his coaching style, have led some spellers to seek help elsewhere.</p><p>“I found it prohibitively expensive,” said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-be412dec7fc47846ef53a9b761097454">Navneeth Murali</a>, a University of Pennsylvania student who competed through 2020 and now coaches spellers, charging roughly $50 for an hourlong lesson. “It wasn't a realistic option for me.”</p><p>Grace Walters, who coached <a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-san-antonio-education-cf165d27b93b784ab7fb7c0f9e7ecbf0">2022 champion Harini Logan</a> and four other champions, charges $75 an hour. She and Murali take a handful of students each year.</p><p>“I'm very much quality over quantity. It's really important to me that I'm able to get to know each speller as a whole person, not just as a speller, and tailor my curriculum to them as individuals,” said Walters, a graduate student in linguistics at the University of Kentucky. “But I have to give credit where it's due: If everyone was doing it like me, there wouldn't be enough coaches for all the spellers out there.”</p><p>Sree Vidya Siliveri was coached by Remer before her 60th-place finish in 2024 but didn't respond well to his methods, said her father, Sreedhar Siliveri. She found a new coach and finished 10th in 2025.</p><p>“We were looking for alternatives and found some of the fresh, like, high school students who can be friendlier and charge less,” Sreedhar Siliveri said.</p><p>Even spellers and their parents who swear by Remer say he can be brusque and demanding of his middle school-age pupils. Simone Kaplan, who finished runner-up to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/31123142c2dd4349b7e11649270dc3e6">“octo-champs” of 2019</a>, appreciated Remer's tough coaching but said it's not for everyone.</p><p>“Scott is a true logophile, a master of languages. He pushes his students to keep up with him,” Kaplan said. “That can inspire some spellers to learn and succeed, but it can also leave a student feeling like they've disappointed him if they don't spell every word right. And that's difficult for a kid.”</p><p>Remer said his goal is to be supportive while giving spellers the feedback they need to avoid repeating mistakes.</p><p>“I try to be tough but fair, and I also try to modulate my teaching methods, based on the kids' needs and the kids' personalities,” he said. “Whether I'm always successful at that is I guess an open question.”</p><p>From the Ivy League to full-time spelling coach</p><p>Remer graduated from Yale in 2016 and earned a master's degree from Cambridge a year later. His first study guide, “Words of Wisdom: Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee,” was published in 2010, when he was a teenager. That was also the year he coached his first champion, Anamika Veeramani.</p><p>He has published three other books and has worked for the Council on Foreign Relations and as the communications coordinator for an LGBTQ-friendly synagogue in New York. Since 2020, he has been a full-time spelling coach while also offering tutoring in Chinese, Spanish, writing and standardized test prep. Born and raised in the Cleveland suburbs, he now lives in Mexico City.</p><p>Remer has written an op-ed about the bee for the Guardian every year since 2019. He emails out lists of his students and sends updates on their progress, calling them “my spellers” even if they have multiple tutors. (Faizan had three coaches last year.) During bee week, Remer is a constant presence, giving lessons on-site and sitting with spellers' families while the television cameras roll.</p><p>He knows he has to market himself, but he says he doesn't enjoy it.</p><p>“I think I'm trying not to be particularly self-aggrandizing in general,” Remer said, “so if the question is, does it come naturally to me to do that sort of promotional and marketing work, the answer is no.”</p><p>Scripps, the Cincinnati-based media company that has run the bee for a century, does not endorse coaching, but Corrie Loeffler, the bee's executive director, described the practice as inevitable, given the intensity of the competition.</p><p>Loeffler gently pushed back at the idea that any coach should claim credit for a speller's success.</p><p>“It's hard work, it's study ethic, it's perseverance,” she said. “These kids are doing pretty incredible things at a really high level, especially at a young age, and I want them to be able to take credit for that themselves, knowing that it's a community and they've had so much support along the way.”</p><p>___</p><p>Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow him at <a href="https://x.com/APBenNUckols">https://x.com/APBenNuckols</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/913QfI-nw536eumWcB5q5u_gMm4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UVHHUMQEGZCRDLYXQXE3N3CY64.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2226" width="3339"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This undated photo provided by Scott Remer shows Remer, who is the country's only full-time, professional coach for elite spellers. (Scott Remer via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/4i0nOhhZlQmvmT9D78S0q1BILAU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YOL7YHQGQRGSHLAA7QKQKLM5OI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3088" width="2059"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This photo provided by spelling coach Scott Remer shows Remer and his student, Faizan Zaki, on May 31, 2024, the day after Faizan finished second in that year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Scott Remer via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KSCBv-UAvl1OYhcEyI6rotNf7Po=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Y56ENQDQERBZPDRTTJQD42TSQI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1419" width="2128"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Faizan Zaki, of Dallas, reacts as he wins the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 29, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/_gTMCLJoiXojOnY_fSHbyWDL46M=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UMSROKW675FZVG47LKJ5NI6MAA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2412" width="3618"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Dev Shah, from Largo, Fla., reacts to winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee, June 1, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Nathan Howard</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marines conduct a rapid response exercise at the US Embassy in Venezuela's capital]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/us-military-conducts-a-rapid-response-exercise-at-embassy-in-venezuelas-capital/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/us-military-conducts-a-rapid-response-exercise-at-embassy-in-venezuelas-capital/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The U.S. military has conducted a rapid response exercise in Venezuela’s capital.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 16:40:26 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The U.S. military conducted a rapid response exercise involving Marines and military aircraft in Venezuela’s capital on Saturday, more than four months after the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">ouster of then-President Nicolás Maduro</a>.</p><p>Two Marine Corps Osprey aircraft, which have characteristics of both a helicopter and a fixed-wing airplane, flew over the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-maduro-a437b1fa15b0bc91453ecdeecb327bb8">recently reopened U.S. Embassy in Caracas</a>. They landed in the parking lot with the downdraft blowing tree branches. Forces then descended from the aircraft.</p><p>“Ensuring the military’s rapid response capability is a key component of mission readiness, both here in Venezuela and around the world,” the embassy said on Instagram.</p><p>Venezuela’s government had announced the drill earlier this week. Foreign Minister Yván Gil said the United States would conduct the exercise to prepare “in the event of medical emergencies or catastrophic emergencies.”</p><p>The drill comes almost two months after the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas. The reopening followed the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">Maduro's ouster in early January</a>.</p><p>Some Caracas residents gathered near the embassy to watch the aircraft, while a few dozen others gathered elsewhere in the city to protest Saturday's exercise. The protesters held a Venezuelan flag with the message “No to the Yankee drill” written over it. </p><p>U.S. military aircraft last flew over Caracas on Jan. 3, when elite forces rappelled down from helicopters and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. They have pleaded not guilty. </p><p>Squadron markings on the Ospreys that landed in the capital Saturday identified them as belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263. The same squadron is currently deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima in the Caribbean Ocean. Maduro and Flores were flown to that warship immediately after their detention.</p><p>The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/admiral-retirement-boat-strikes-trump-198ed2b06ded1b2a836e065c61384e67">head of U.S. military operations in Latin America</a> observed the exercise firsthand. Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, head of the U.S. Southern Command, also met on Saturday with senior Venezuelan officials and embassy staff.</p><p>U.S. Southern Command said on X that Donovan arrived in one of the Ospreys for his second official visit to Caracas this year. During a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-rodriguez-military-southern-command-a71652795f8d589a05ffc49dbca22fbc">visit in February</a>, Donovan met with Venezuela's defense and interior ministers. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2GIa74L3MXG0Yo3d2W639AMklgs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WW52BGSITNBY3CF4ZS6FD4BWIM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3546" width="5319"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Pedro Mattey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/40VouKI8xXZctXCK81ka31Go2MQ=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PAFN3AYTZRBCBEGWGXWFROADRQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1328" width="1992"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A soldier looks down from a military aircraft as the U.S. Embassy holds an emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Pedro Mattey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2OhC29DtfFxw2qVJu5HmpU1SsJs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PW3PY2Q64NDGLB5CIE3G4FXVE4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2905" width="4357"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Pedro Mattey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/79CWMhuJcKInQmbCLS_sy2rIR1w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PPMPPRIQRVGPLGTNLFFRVAEFPE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2067" width="3101"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Pedro Mattey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SyNhPW_RRjheQhSEOn8NsA5oRac=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TFOFWZP46ZE37F65LN5VPMQT74.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3557" width="5335"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Embassy holds emergency and air evacuation drill in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Mattey)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Pedro Mattey</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amherst County Sheriff’s Office warns of dangerous parties involving shooting, plans increased police presence]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/amherst-county-sheriffs-office-warns-of-dangerous-parties-involving-shooting-plans-increased-police-presence/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/amherst-county-sheriffs-office-warns-of-dangerous-parties-involving-shooting-plans-increased-police-presence/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Amherst County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of an increased law enforcement presence on Saturday, as they have received information regarding a planned party involving “youth and more shooting.”]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 20:47:31 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Amherst County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of an increased law enforcement presence on Saturday, as they have received information regarding a planned party involving “youth and more shooting.”</p><p>This comes as the sheriff’s office continues to investigate a <a href="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/18/amherst-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-sunday-shooting-incident-that-injured-two/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/18/amherst-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-sunday-shooting-incident-that-injured-two/">shooting incident that occurred on May 17</a>, which occurred at a large gathering of youth. Law enforcement believes those involved in these incidents are from outside of the county.</p><p>Due to the planned party, Amherst County residents can expect an increased law enforcement presence.</p><p>If you have any information regarding the May 17 incident or anything related to this matter, please contact the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office at 434-946-9300.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/8RRNZa0JcEGk03_hH04qqQWndzY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JC6I3QIL6RFSFMO55GCXZJIYOY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="360" width="640"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Iran's soccer federation says team's World Cup base camp has been moved to Mexico from the US]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/iran-says-teams-base-camp-for-world-cup-has-been-moved-to-mexico-from-the-us/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/iran-says-teams-base-camp-for-world-cup-has-been-moved-to-mexico-from-the-us/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[David Brandt, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The president of the governing body of Iranian soccer says the nation’s World Cup training base has been moved to Mexico from the United States after getting approval from FIFA.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 19:29:08 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The president of the governing body of Iranian soccer said Saturday the nation's <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a> training base has been moved to Mexico from the United States after getting approval from FIFA.</p><p>Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement issued by the federation's media relations official. FIFA has not confirmed the move. </p><p>Iran had been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, but a move <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-world-cup-fifa-infantino-6e30afd95cc0db3213afdadd54d2b94b">has been a possibility</a> because of uncertainty surrounding <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war in the Middle East</a> and security concerns. Officials at Tucson's Kino Sports Complex had no comment.</p><p>The federation says the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego. This year's World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.</p><p>“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA," Taj said in his statement. "Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in the Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”</p><p>Iran plays Group G games in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, then faces Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The federation said Tijuana's relatively close proximity to Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles, will benefit the team and the new location “includes all training facilities, gym, private restaurant and everything else the team needs."</p><p>Team Melli is appearing in its fourth straight World Cup and seventh overall. It has never advanced past the first round.</p><p>Iran's federation said moving the base camp will resolve potential visa issues since the team will enter the U.S. through Mexico. The president said that the team “may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights.”</p><p>Teams use base camps for training ahead of and after matches.</p><p>___</p><p>AP World Cup coverage: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup">https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DdprazHqGulnpB8UhoGtX6G3Bt8=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WTNYIA6ASFHI3ACCGHNW3FQ5XM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4000" width="6000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Iran's national soccer team players stand onstage as they are greeted by a crowd during a pro-government gathering before their departure for training and friendly matches in Turkey ahead of the World Cup at Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Vahid Salemi</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Hr9Jq7yLRa1ZYf2AR2fO7Ru7FMg=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VEH3SAKD6ZBL7N7ZGKBS77FSI4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3006" width="4508"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Iran players pose for a team photo prior a friendly soccer match between Iran and Costa Rica, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Riza Ozel, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Riza Ozel</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sabrina Ionescu set for season debut against Dallas after foot injury forced her out of 5 games]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/sabrina-ionescu-set-for-season-debut-against-dallas-after-foot-injury-forced-her-out-of-5-games/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/sabrina-ionescu-set-for-season-debut-against-dallas-after-foot-injury-forced-her-out-of-5-games/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Doug Feinberg, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Sabrina Ionescu is ready to make her season debut for New York after suffering a foot injury in the preseason.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 19:30:10 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sabrina Ionescu is ready to make her season debut for New York after suffering a foot injury in the preseason.</p><p>The Liberty’s star guard practiced Saturday and said afterward she’s good to go against Dallas on Sunday.</p><p>“It’s exciting to me,” Ionescu said after practice. “I haven’t had a regular-season game yet, so I’m excited. It feels like it’s been a while. It hasn’t, but it feels like it’s been forever having to watch from the sidelines.”</p><p>Ionescu, who averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds last season, knew the injury wasn't major when she went <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ionescu-ankle-injury-liberty-4ea6d47a39bbbc2169eb3f99d6668de6">down against Connecticut</a> on May 3, but that it was going to cost her some time.</p><p>“I knew I was going to be out for a little bit, and thankfully, I came back a lot sooner than I was supposed to with returning now,” she said. “So I’m really excited about that. I had some structural damage, but thankfully it responded quickly, came back. It was nothing that was going to sideline me or need surgery." </p><p>Coach Chris DeMarco said Ionescu would be on a minutes restriction and with New York playing back-to-back games, he wasn't sure if she would also play on Monday against Portland. The Liberty were <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball">3-2</a> without Ionescu and are in the midst of a seven-game homestand.</p><p>While Ionescu is back, New York is still missing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton who is out for personal reasons. DeMarco said she wouldn't play Sunday. She was practicing Saturday when reporters could watch.</p><p>New York is finally getting completely healthy. Satou Sabally made her season debut in Thursday's loss to Golden State. Leonie Fiebich was taking shots after practice as she just got to New York after winning a championship in a Spanish League. </p><p>Raquel Carrera is ready to make her debut The Spanish forward was drafted by Atlanta in 2021 and traded to New York the next season. She's been playing overseas the past few years, but finally is in the WNBA.</p><p>___</p><p>AP WNBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/s6UzMTznd7RbBcTgpfS_8zQ2BTw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4L6J2S74VBEBDNH43FDSWYJ5SM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2191" width="3286"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu shoots during the 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump's Justice Department scrubs its website of news releases about Jan. 6 defendants]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/trumps-justice-department-scrubs-its-website-of-news-releases-about-jan-6-defendants/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/trumps-justice-department-scrubs-its-website-of-news-releases-about-jan-6-defendants/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Tucker, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Department of Justice is acknowledging it's removed from its website news releases about criminal cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 12:55:33 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Department of Justice is acknowledging it has removed from its website news releases about criminal cases related to the <a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021, riot</a>, calling the information about the prosecutions “partisan propaganda.”</p><p>The purge of news releases documenting criminal charges, convictions and sentencings is the latest step by the Trump administration to dramatically rewrite the history of the assault on the Capitol, when hundreds of supporters of Republican President Donald Trump stormed the building in an effort to halt the congressional certification of his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-jan-6-pardons-trump-justice-department-8ce8b2a8f8cb602d5eaf85ac7b969606">Trump, on his first day back in office in January 2025</a>, pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes during the Capitol assault, including those convicted of attacking officers with makeshift weapons such as flagpoles, a hockey stick and crutch.</p><p>On Monday, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doj-fund-irs-trump-family-lawsuit-c9aaa94c59988508c253d7200043cecc">the Justice Department announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund</a> meant to compensate Trump allies who feel they were unjustly investigated and prosecuted. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-blanche-fbi-89a2334ef3ca9ac1398975d6a3528bff">Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche</a> has not ruled out that rioters convicted of violence will be eligible for payouts, prompting bipartisan anger in Congress.</p><p>After a journalist on Friday observed on the social media platform X that the Justice Department was “quietly” removing news releases on its website that were related to the Jan. 6 attack, including about a Texas man who pleaded guilty to assault and also faced separate state charges of soliciting a minor, the department responded through its “rapid response” account that there was “nothing ‘quiet’ about it.”</p><p>“We are proud to reverse the DOJ's weaponization under the Biden administration. We will do everything in our power to make whole those who were persecuted for political purposes,” the post said. “This includes stripping DOJ's website of partisan propaganda.”</p><p>Among the releases removed from the site were those concerning <a href="https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-oath-keepers-convictions-dropped-doj-ad679108ab84083694261efc101e60ea">seditious conspiracy cases</a> against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, far-right extremist groups. The Justice Department, in an unopposed motion last month, asked a federal appeals court to vacate those seditious conspiracy convictions, a request that was granted Thursday. The department on Friday moved to dismiss the cases against the group members.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7uD5CoOSnv-2Amw5VwN2m2xf0Po=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ORJEDW64DNAYJLYHIKX2SA7NRI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3272" width="4896"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Rioters storm the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">John Minchillo</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xy7FuW3OrywyKPyPawq2y5rkCj0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E74I7YSQ3RBZPFTUGRU5I7LRSI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3264" width="4896"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">John Minchillo</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/NUE6Ri8IVsoTw7xsTAdOVG3fM8w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NP4M74NRVZFDNJW7VQ3YAUQJPQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3264" width="4896"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">John Minchillo</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, his family says]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/kyle-busch-died-after-severe-pneumonia-progressed-into-sepsis-his-family-says/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/kyle-busch-died-after-severe-pneumonia-progressed-into-sepsis-his-family-says/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Reed, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 15:27:59 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family.</p><p>Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.</p><p>Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-kyle-busch-hospitalized-ce84367f25bd5bd04234f60292fde64f">died at 41 on Thursday</a>, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.</p><p>Sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection, causing the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p>Typically the immune system releases chemicals to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi, but with sepsis the response goes into overdrive. The results can cause widespread inflammation, form microscopic blood clots and make blood vessels leak.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-busch-death-nascar-cup-auto-racing-9bb8e7e88e0d4afc37cd97fbe7115205">Busch was thought to have had a sinus cold</a> while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and radioed in to his team saying that he needed a “shot” from a doctor after the race. However, he bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.</p><p>Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.</p><p>During the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-busch-how-he-died-72ecbe2396b9246a77b5e683ee8dc16e">emergency call</a> placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”</p><p>The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.</p><p>NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said he knew Busch wasn’t feeling well recently.</p><p>“Yes, but I won’t go into any specifics," Keselowski said. “But then when he ran the Trucks race last week, those (thoughts) were honestly kind of erased in my mind.”</p><p>Keselowski said running multiple races on the same weekend can be difficult on a driver's health — but most don't want to miss a race for fear of being replaced.</p><p>“There’s no shortage of drivers that would love to take my seat or anybody else’s seat if we weren’t feeling well, and I think every driver feels that pressure,” Keselowski said. “All athletes do. It’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. We’re all thinking to ourselves, ‘I don’t wanna be replaced.’ ... So you try to power through it the best you can."</p><p>Keselowski said Busch’s unexpected death has forced him to pay attention to his own health moving forward.</p><p>Chase Briscoe said Busch’s health issues served as a “wake-up call” for him and other drivers, who often put aside dealing with potential issues because they are so busy traveling around the country and competing on a weekly basis.</p><p>He said if something feels off, “you need to get checked out.”</p><p>Busch's Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon was not made available for comment.</p><p>Austin Hill will replace Busch on Sunday and drive the No. 33 car. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brexton-busch-kyle-richard-childress-racing-200880317c943523957143ac8f035af9">RCR is temporarily retiring Busch's No. 8</a> until his 11-year-old son Brexton is old enough to race.</p><p>All 39 cars in the field for Sunday’s race will include a small black No. 8 decal to honor Busch.</p><p>Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series over his two-decade career, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kyle-busch-tribute-7ed3901f49039d20d73d551f503ea34a">more than any driver in history</a>.</p><p>Drivers spoke at length on Saturday about his accomplishments, praising his toughness, competitive spirit and penchant for speaking his mind — all of which led to him earning a reputation as NASCAR's villain.</p><p>“He was a polarizing figure that no matter if you like him or disliked him as a racer, he was always talked about,” Ryan Blaney said. “Just this guy that was always there and won too much, which is why people didn't like him. And he always spoke his mind. I think people came to respect that about him, that he was true to who he was and that never changed."</p><p>Blaney added that Busch's personality outside of the car and his competitiveness behind the wheel made him "a larger-than-life person in racing.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/YDiLAmm1cf3t55RhOOvPuPxzRxU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BU3PR2VXIBFYTOS2MVESDWFEOQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4460" width="6690"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Derik Hamilton</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Q49K6_KKi_PlhVkKxb4ehU8dLDM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KSRXMWXSN5GOPEA7BW5624QZYU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3000" width="4500"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matt Kelley</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[South African Gaza flotilla activists allege they were shocked with electricity in Israeli detention]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/south-african-gaza-flotilla-activists-allege-they-were-shocked-with-electricity-in-israeli-detention/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/south-african-gaza-flotilla-activists-allege-they-were-shocked-with-electricity-in-israeli-detention/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mogomotsi Magome, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[South African activists detained while trying to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza have alleged abuse by Israeli soldiers.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:47:11 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/south-africa">South African</a> activists who were detained when their boats were intercepted while trying to breach <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's blockade of Gaza</a> alleged Saturday they were beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers in a detention facility.</p><p>The Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 vessels was intercepted Monday in international waters some 250 miles (400 kilometers) off the coast of Israel as they sought to breach the blockade and deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The activists said they were held for several days in Israel's K’tziot prison where some said they were shocked with electricity while being interrogated about their participation in the flotilla.</p><p>The Israeli government has denied allegations of mistreatment of detained flotilla activists, saying they were “false and entirely without factual basis.” There was no immediate response to the activists' accusations Saturday. </p><p>The activists were welcomed by pro-Palestinian supporters and their families as they arrived in South Africa from <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/turkey">Turkey</a> on Saturday morning. </p><p>They said many of them received harsh treatment, especially when the Israeli soldiers learned they were from South Africa, a country that has taken Israel to the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/international-court-of-justice">International Court of Justice</a> and accused it of committing genocide in Gaza.</p><p>“We were denied access to water for a while. Food they did give us, food that was not suitable for human consumption. We were denied access to toilets for many hours, and the minute we started protesting we were shot at with rubber bullets,” said activist Faizel Moosa.</p><p>Moosa, a former anti-apartheid activist during South Africa's liberation struggle against white minority rule, said the treatment they received under detention was the worst he had ever experienced.</p><p>“Having experienced detention under the apartheid regime during the struggle, this was far worse. It just goes to show that this is what Palestinians go through on a daily basis,” said Moosa.</p><p>Dr. Margaret Connolly, who was among an Irish contingent in the flotilla, said she had never been so frightened as she described dehumanizing conditions in detention.</p><p>She said some people were struck with guns. Detainees who had been stripped of their clothes and denied blankets had to huddle together in the cold to prevent hypothermia.</p><p>Connolly, the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, was among a group of 15 Irish activists who were greeted by cheering supporters and family members as they arrived home in Dublin on Saturday.</p><p>She said Israeli forces didn’t provide enough water or toiletries, and her medical kit was confiscated, preventing her from providing proper medical care. She said bread bags and shirt sleeves used for bandages and slings were later taken away.</p><p>“They wanted us to suffer,” Connolly said. “A lot of the soldiers with American accents, shouting down: ‘You should have thought of this before you came.’”</p><p>Three <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bengvir-flotilla-gaza-087fa379fa08ae4ddc3a0262b381e3e5">Chileans who were detained by Israel</a> while attempting to reach Gaza to deliver aid also arrived home Saturday, where they criticized the Chilean government for what they described as its inaction in securing their release.</p><p>Víctor Chanfreau, Claudio Caiozzi and Carolina Eltit were part of the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-flotilla-c0574562f3b5b53a6708b498b9143246">Global Sumud Flotilla</a>. A large group of supporters greeted the trio at the airport in the capital, Santiago, with Palestinian flags, signs and applause.</p><p>“The Chilean government acted terribly, unsurprisingly,” Chanfreau told reporters at the airport, calling the Chilean Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic efforts in their detention “negligent.”</p><p>Eltit reported being beaten and held “in precarious conditions, without toilet paper, one bathroom for 190 people, lying in the sun, tied hand and foot.”</p><p>Connolly criticized the Irish government for rejecting sanctions against Israel.</p><p>Activist Qutb Hendricks called on the South African government to pile pressure on Israel by banning the sale of coal and other supplies to the country.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Brian Melley in London and Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City contributed to this report.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MYsqlEHRbJ9O7iyX9jAkSutLiYM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QPCQWLKVYBFV5ANIY5HHX3DNOE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5591" width="8387"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Ebrahim Peters, right, an activist embraces his family member after returning home at OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Themba Hadebe</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SSzgx2nlHHHskVtovM2wyjwCLzI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GVL4SOUJTVGR7ONGIJ6KQJMDMM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5070" width="7605"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Yusuf Rahman, an activist embraces his family member after returning home at OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Themba Hadebe</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Ysm4_XaWfXUf5I2fd8PNwWiybIs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BDARRYIEGZD4DGHHIFF5SF4ALM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5625" width="8438"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Activists gestures following their return home at OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Themba Hadebe</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/W072Se_buiq2xEKIDrb_md6yulE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E7YRLM2HVVE7RMLUTMC6IX6KN4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4308" width="6462"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Ebrahim Peters, left, an activist embraces his family member after returning home at OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Themba Hadebe</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ydGiAMGLWXb2o6L0o7LrtfEyDTo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OKIJL7SMSNHE7LYZL7QRFTZBLE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2333" width="3500"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Margaret Connolly, right, embraces her daughter, Katie, at Dublin Airport as twelve Irish citizens who were detained by Israel arrive back in Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Conor O Mearain/PA via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Conor O Mearain</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pope Leo meets families of youth lost to illegal toxic waste dumping in Italy's 'Land of Fires']]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/23/pope-leo-visits-italys-land-of-fires-as-families-seek-justice-for-children-lost-to-toxic-waste/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/23/pope-leo-visits-italys-land-of-fires-as-families-seek-justice-for-children-lost-to-toxic-waste/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Silvia Stellacci, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV has visited families near Naples affected by illegal toxic dumping linked to the mafia.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 06:46:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a> on Saturday greeted one by one families who lost loved ones to <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-international-news-fb1491391e134a3e85700bf8befca3be">illegal toxic dumping in an area near Naples</a>, tied to a multi-billion criminal racket run by the mafia. </p><p>Many paused to share photographs and other mementos of children and young people who have died or are battling cancer because of the pollution. </p><p>Leo's visit to the so-called Terra dei Fuochi, or Land of Fires, came on the eve of the 11th anniversary of Pope Francis’ big ecological encyclical Laudato Si (Praised Be), and indicates Leo’s commitment to carry on his predecessor’s environmental agenda.</p><p>“I have come first of all to gather the tears of those who have lost loved ones, killed by environmental pollution caused by unscrupulous people and organizations who for too long were able to act with impunity,” Leo said in remarks to family members and local clergy inside Acerra's cathedral. </p><p>The pontiff recalled that the area now dubbed the Land of Fires was once called “Campania felix,” Latin for blessed or fruitful countryside, "capable for enchanting for its fertility, its produce and its culture, like a hymn to life.</p><p>"And yet — here is death, of the land and of men,'' the pope said. </p><p>The European Court of Human Rights last year validated a generation of residents’ complaints that mafia dumping, burial and burning of toxic waste led to an increased rate of cancer and other ailments in the area of 90 municipalities around Caserta and Naples, encompassing a population of 2.9 million people.</p><p>The court found Italian authorities had known since 1988 about <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d850deba07214e00b9f4ee23a9b13250">the toxic pollution</a>, blamed on the Camorra crime syndicate that controls waste disposal, but failed to take necessary steps to protect the residents. The binding ruling gave Italy two years to set up a database about the toxic waste and verified health risks associated with living there.</p><p>Bishop says the dumping continues </p><p>Bishop Antonio Di Donna estimated 150 young people had died in the city of some 58,000 over the past three decades — emphasizing in his opening remarks that the number didn't take into account adults and victims in other municipalities. </p><p>He urged the pope to admonish those who continue to pollute, noting that the dumping of tons of toxic waste was reported a day earlier near Castera. Di Donna said that Italian officials had identified dozens more human-caused contamination sites throughout the country, including the Venetian port of Marghera, and the leaching of PFAS forever chemicals into groundwater near Vicenza. </p><p>"We say to those brothers of ours ensnared in evil and seized by a mirage of fabulous earnings: Convert, change your ways, because what you are doing is not only a crime, it is a sin that cries out to God for vengeance,'' the bishop said. </p><p>The pope later greeted the mayors of the 90 communities impacted by the toxic dumping, and greeted thousands of people waving yellow flags and chanting “Papa Leone” along the route of his popemobile and in a central piazza. </p><p>Families of young victims appeal to the pope </p><p>The victims include Maria Venturato, who died of cancer in 2016 at the age of 25. Her father, Angelo, said he hopes to speak with the pope to explain their reality, “not for me … for the next generation.”</p><p>“I’d like to give these young people a future, so I’m asking for the pope’s help with this. That is, I’m making a strong appeal to him to go to those in power and say, ‘Look, let’s heal this land of fires,’" he said on the eve of the pope's visit. </p><p>Inside the cathedral, Filomena Carolla presented the pope with a book containing memories from the life of her daughter, Tina De Angelis, who died of cancer at the age of 24.</p><p>“I’m just angry at the people who poisoned the soil, because what did our children have to do with it? What did they have to do with it, so young,” Carolla told The Associated Press on Friday. </p><p>Francis' plans to visit the area in 2020 were canceled due to the pandemic. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/z7LKWwNnPFKhpnCVCoIv7sDC_9U=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2ELST4CYYBFPFATAV3Z5CVTDFA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1948" width="2922"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV rides on his popemobile during his one-day pastoral visit in Acerra, Italy, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Salvatore Laporta</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/rR1d8r5R3Evn2wt4l_6Id5v0QrM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L27WPRNSOJHI3J2MDFQDQHKSTM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4394" width="6592"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech during his meeting with clergy, religious and families of victims of environmental pollution in the Saint Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Acerra, near Naples, Italy, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Medichini</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bcUDTuR4G3dvADccRQCSTX4ZA2A=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PZXWXT3SDVGKNDEEPESJGK2V4M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3444" width="5166"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A man presents a pizza with the portrait of Pope Leo XIV during his a one-day pastoral visit in Acerra, Italy, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Salvatore Laporta</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9X76HN53XUxMn0cx25dwUBN2SNs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/URSCA4HYFVGPJNZDVK2VW477NI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Angelo Venturato talks during an interview with the Associated Press next to photos of his daughter Maria who died at the age of 25 of a cancer he claims to be connected to decades of pollution from illegal waste dumping and burning, much of it linked to organized criminal groups, in the southern town of Acerra, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Medichini</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zvacllvxJnSnhKQOFy3ISyUKnhE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7SAZGKMIXZFSFDPMR7S6YCA4YI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5760" width="8640"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Illegal waste is seen on the side of a road in the outskirts of the southern Italian town of Acerra in the Terra dei Fuochi, or Land of Fires, an area scarred by decades of pollution from illegal waste dumping and burning, much of it linked to organized criminal groups, Friday, May 22, 2026, a day ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Medichini</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[France bans Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after 'unspeakable' flotilla detainee taunts]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/france-bans-israeli-minister-itamar-ben-gvir-after-unspeakable-flotilla-detainee-taunts/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/france-bans-israeli-minister-itamar-ben-gvir-after-unspeakable-flotilla-detainee-taunts/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[France has banned Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing his "unspeakable" behavior toward activists from a flotilla to Gaza.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 13:41:49 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>France on Saturday banned Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing his "unspeakable" behavior targeting <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-flotilla-gaza-sumud-deportations-f1101fc45ecf0d384c43e3562c3a1c61">activists from a flotilla to Gaza</a> who were detained by his police force.</p><p>“As of today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory. This decision follows his unspeakable actions toward French and European citizens who were passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla," the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced in a post on X. </p><p>“We cannot tolerate that French nationals can be threatened, intimidated or brutalized in this way — all the more so by a public official,” Barrot posted, calling on the European Union to also sanction Ben-Gvir.</p><p>The Associated Press has sought comment from Ben-Gvir's spokesperson and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</p><p>This week, Ben-Gvir <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bengvir-flotilla-gaza-087fa379fa08ae4ddc3a0262b381e3e5">sparked global outrage</a> after promoting a video of himself taunting detained flotilla activists. </p><p>In one clip, Ben-Gvir is seen waving a large Israeli flag over hunched-over detainees whose hands appear to be bound. In another, he taunts a kneeling detainee whose wrists are zip-tied, yelling “Am Yisrael Chai” at him — Hebrew for “The nation of Israel lives.” In a third, detainees can be seen — foreheads to the floor of an outdoor pen — as the Israeli national anthem plays and armed guards encircle them.</p><p>Foreign leaders — and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-flotilla-detained-activists-ben-gvir-israel-527601e141723e217cb283392a06649b">even coalition partner Netanyahu</a> — condemned Ben-Gvir's on-camera treatment of some 430 flotilla detainees.</p><p>In his post, the French minister was also critical of flotilla activists, who were attempting <a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-gaza-aid-flotilla-23e533a49935fd911c4bdabdd06446e5">to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza</a>.</p><p>“We disapprove of this flotilla’s approach, which produces no useful effect and places an additional burden on diplomatic and consular services," Barrot wrote. </p><p>The flotilla of 50 boats was <a href="https://apnews.com/video/activist-comments-as-israeli-forces-intercept-6-more-flotilla-vessels-headed-for-gaza-091c237fae7949119421568f1856f400">intercepted</a> in international waters some 250 miles (400 kilometers) off the coast of Israel. Detained activists accused Israeli forces of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-flotilla-ac6662d7451a36a3890742f23e147f71">mistreatment,</a> describing beatings, tasers and attack dogs.</p><p>Poland has also barred Ben-Gvir, announcing a five-year-ban on Thursday. </p><p>“In the democratic world we do not abuse and gloat over people in custody," Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski posted. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UlR9Jxe7x0uG-FtERonvu434mTE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AAHKNTXUNBBVTA4HTCHGIJEJMI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2000" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir gestures after election exit poll results are released at his party's headquarters in Jerusalem on Nov. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Oren Ziv, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Oren Ziv</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Deadliest coal mine explosion in China in years kills at least 82 people, local officials say]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/23/coal-mine-gas-explosion-in-china-kills-82-people-state-media-say/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/2026/05/23/coal-mine-gas-explosion-in-china-kills-82-people-state-media-say/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Chinese local officials say that a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern Shanxi province has killed at least 82 people.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 02:23:29 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A gas explosion at a coal mine in <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/china">China’s</a> northern Shanxi province killed at least 82 people, local officials said Saturday, in what was the country’s deadliest mining accident in recent years.</p><p>The official Xinhua News Agency said the accident at Changzhi city’s Liushenyu coal mine happened on Friday evening. </p><p>At a news conference late Saturday, local authorities said 82 were dead and that more than 120 people were hospitalized. Two were still missing. The death toll was a revised, lower number from earlier reports by state broadcaster CCTV that said 90 had died. </p><p>The scene at the coal mine was “chaotic” in the immediate aftermath of the accident, they said, and figures provided at the time were initial and not definite.</p><p>The explosion was under investigation, local officials said, adding there were “serious violations” of the law by the mine’s operator. They did not elaborate on any specific violations.</p><p>Earlier on Saturday, Xinhua reported that rescue work was pressing on a day after the accident, with hundreds of rescuers and medical personnel sent to the site. Among the injured, many were hurt by toxic gas, according to CCTV.</p><p>Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an all-out effort to rescue the missing, Xinhua reported. Xi also called for a “thorough investigation" and accountability "in accordance with the law.” </p><p>Xinhua later reported that those responsible for the company involved in the mine accident have been "placed under control,” citing the local emergency management bureau.</p><p>An investigation team sent by China’s powerful State Council, equivalent to the country’s Cabinet, would be conducting a “rigorous and uncompromising” probe into the deadly explosion, a separate Xinhua report said following Xi’s remarks.</p><p>Wang Yong, one of the hospitalized miners, told CCTV in a video interview that he smelled sulfur “like firecrackers” and saw smoke. </p><p>“I told people to run,” he said. “As I ran, I saw people being choked by the smoke. And then I blacked out.”</p><p>The state broadcaster also reported that blueprints provided by the coal mine did not match the actual layout, hampering rescue efforts.</p><p>The coal mine, operated by the Shanxi Tongzhou Coal & Coke Group with an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons, was placed on a national list of disaster-prone coal mines by China’s National Mine Safety Administration in 2024 for having “high gas content.”</p><p>Shanxi province is known as China’s main <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-china-renewable-energy-coal-transition-datong-616404d9c7f4dbc09d3544adaf379709">coal mining province</a>. With a size larger than Greece and a population of around 34 million, the province's hundreds of thousands of miners dug 1.3 billion tons of coal last year, almost a third of China’s total.</p><p>In China, coal remains a key energy source due to its lower cost and high availability, even as the country accelerates its transition toward green energy. Mining disasters <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-coal-mine-disasters-accidents-deaths-83cbfc301e28f7aa487b675f31958f4a">have been common</a> although authorities had implemented measures to improve safety over the past years.</p><p>In February 2023, 53 people were killed after a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mining-accidents-china-business-725e72daad4fce61364266fe225c691d">collapse</a> at an open-pit mine in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region. In November 2009, an explosion at a mine in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province killed 108, according to state media. </p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qytzaSWR-L9QBp_mIgDsZVVMTv0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SW2T76U37NAO7CSO3SSMN2QPI4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3168" width="4751"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, medical staff attend to an injured worker at a hospital in the aftermath of an explosion at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, northern China's Shanxi Province on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Cao Yang/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Cao Yang</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/g4Ry9vgdyzCsa1mOmRRVTPrPdv0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KAQ3WLYZIFG47CEX6OEBTILT34.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3583" width="5375"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers prepare to descend into a coal mine in the aftermath of an explosion at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, northern China's Shanxi Province on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Cao Yang/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Cao Yang</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/AIEovPgx0P8ncOq97Nif8wgSTmU=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MT5O4JB3LZHZ7IV7NWJBJIYMKQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3361" width="5042"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, an ambulance is seen outside a coal mine in the aftermath of an explosion at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, northern China's Shanxi Province on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Cao Yang/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Cao Yang</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/166aeMXIc76lULTK0DsEaVM5k-U=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RUMUVDMGSJEHBD62AQZ7VATX4Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2818" width="4226"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers pass by an ambulance in the aftermath of an explosion at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, northern China's Shanxi Province on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Cao Yang/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Cao Yang</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PxNQDJ9rSTR5in8fzuW81GUfR5Q=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3YOG6RHZABE4LIIZPNIVVGHYFU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2949" width="3932"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This photo released by Xinhua News Agency, shows a scene at the rescue site of the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi city, China's Shanxi Province, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Cao Yang/Xinhua via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Cao Yang</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Jersey man arrested in Rockbridge County after law enforcement discovers stolen vehicle]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/new-jersey-man-arrested-in-rockbridge-county-after-law-enforcement-discovers-stolen-vehicle/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/05/23/new-jersey-man-arrested-in-rockbridge-county-after-law-enforcement-discovers-stolen-vehicle/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[10 News Digital Team]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A man was arrested in Rockbridge County after law enforcement received an alert of a vehicle stolen out of New Jersey on Friday, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office said.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 16:40:01 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A man was arrested in Rockbridge County after law enforcement received an alert of a vehicle stolen out of New Jersey on Friday, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office said.</p><p>RCSO said an Augusta County deputy informed the sheriff’s office that he was going to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-81 that was reported stolen out of New Jersey, resulting in Rockbridge deputies arriving to assist. When they attempted to initiate the traffic stop, the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.</p><p>Authorities said the pursuit continued to Exit 50 on I-64, and proceeded North on Fredericksburg Road. Around one mile from the exit, the driver jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot. Law enforcement apprehended the suspect within 100 yards of where he left the vehicle.</p><p>The sheriff’s office said they identified the driver as 27-year-old Evan Goodwin of New Jersey. He was taken to the Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital for evaluation and subsequently released. He was then arrested and charged with the following:</p><ul><li>Disregarding a Signal to Stop</li><li>Possession of a Stolen Vehicle</li><li>Obstruction of Justice / Fleeing from Law Enforcement</li><li>Fugitive from Justice</li></ul><p>Goodwin is now being held without bond at the Rockbridge Regional Jail.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5fi3itwnY2u1GclFrSl-74mPL4w=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KO233UXI5FC47AJZ2JMDGZ652M.png" type="image/png" height="405" width="720"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Photo of Evan Goodwin.]]></media:description></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sprinter Fred Kerley says he's running clean at Enhanced Games, and that he'll be at the LA Olympics]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/sprinter-fred-kerley-says-hes-running-clean-at-enhanced-games-and-that-hell-be-at-the-la-olympics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/sprinter-fred-kerley-says-hes-running-clean-at-enhanced-games-and-that-hell-be-at-the-la-olympics/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eddie Pells, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Sprinter Fred Kerley says he isn't taking performance enhancers as he embarks on the next phase of a career that officially kicks off Sunday at the Enhanced Games, where drugs are allowed.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 15:19:54 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sprinter Fred Kerley revealed that he is not taking performance enhancers as he embarks on the next phase of a career that officially kicks off Sunday at the Enhanced Games, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/enhanced-games-doping-drugs-kerley-08764b2ba187132e4f19fc30340d1726">where drugs are allowed.</a></p><p>Another surprise: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-eugene-sifan-hassan-52186379c3dfc6c6c5db89ed0f50cacb">The 2022 world champion at 100 meters</a>, banned from the regular track circuit until August 2027 for missing tests required by a system he portrayed as disrespectful and intrusive, has every intention of being on another starting line.</p><p>“I will compete at the LA Olympics in 2028," he said.</p><p>When Kerley <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kerley-enhanced-games-1871da27b978f7ff83d022fe5ee62531">signed onto the Enhanced Games roster</a>, he became their most recognizable name and gave the new enterprise a headliner it had been missing.</p><p>Some six months later came <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fred-kerley-enhanced-games-doping-4852efe9a66be427ec79820a1319d93b">his two-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit</a> for missing tests, a violation of the antidoping code that doesn't necessarily mean an athlete is taking drugs.</p><p>The 31-year-old Kerley, who bet on himself after the COVID-19 pandemic when he successfully gave up the 400-meter grind for the 100-meter straightaway, insisted it was the multimillion-dollar contract, not the prospect of taking performance enhancers, that led him to the breakaway league.</p><p>“I don't need it,” he said. “God gave me fast feet for a reason. I'm here to showcase my talent. You still have to work. Drugs aren't going to give you an advantage if you're not putting the work in.”</p><p>USADA's doping control officers on hand this week</p><p>That, in part, is what the Enhanced Games will or will not prove on Sunday. Most of the 50 athletes competing in track, swimming and weightlifting are taking performance enhancers under the watchful eye of doctors and trainers. A few, like Kerley and Olympic gold-medal relay swimmer Hunter Armstrong, say they are not.</p><p>Rick Adams, the former chief of sport performance for the U.S. Olympic team whose move to become an executive for Enhanced also gave the enterprise a greater sense of legitimacy, said doping control officers are on hand in Las Vegas this weekend, testing on behalf of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which still keeps a list of active athletes who could return to traditional events.</p><p>“There's a lot of scrutiny, not only against me but against the Enhanced Games,” Armstrong said. “I want them to test me because I don't want there to be a single doubt that I'm a man of my word.”</p><p>Kerley, a man of few words, says he will be ‘fast’ on Sunday</p><p>Kerley, who has a reputation as a man of few words, has spent large parts of 2026 using his social media feed <a href="https://x.com/fkerley99/status/2030023605245899066">to rip into antidoping authorities</a>, while teasing that a 9.4-second run could be possible. He has turned himself into maybe track's most intriguing character this side of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/shacarri-richardson-track-worlds-tokyo-3b8f94bf902e2b9d2fe55cce9e740802">Sha'Carri Richardson</a>.</p><p>Does he think Usain Bolt's 9.58-second world record can be broken Sunday — a feat that would earn the record breaker $1 million, in addition to a $250,000 first prize? “It's going to be destroyed," Kerley said.</p><p>How fast does he think he can go? “Fast.”</p><p>How fast? “Fast.”</p><p>Does he have a time in mind? “Fast.”</p><p>When Kerley's ban for missing tests was announced in March, the easy conclusion was that he didn't care about testing anymore now that he was part of the Enhanced Games.</p><p>But the reason, he explained, had to do with the 24/7 whereabouts requirements in antidoping. In essence, athletes in the testing pool have to spell out where they'll be at all times and give drug testers specific windows when they'll be available.</p><p>When the ban came down, Kerley argued he had no intention of answering phone calls that looked like spam from Mexico while he was in the U.S. Those, apparently, were from doping control officers trying to track him down.</p><p>On Friday, he went a little deeper.</p><p>“I grew up with family,” he said. “You just don’t come and disrespect my space. Once you come and start disrespecting my space, it’s irritating.”</p><p>But, he says, despite the ban and despite his presence with Enhanced, he continues to be tested by the AIU and USADA.</p><p>He says the move to Enhanced had nothing to do with taking drugs, everything to do with signing a contract that he suggested on social media would take $12 million-plus to top.</p><p>Like so many in his sport, he has grown tired of shoe contracts that place too many obligations on athletes and sometimes go away if an injury hits or times falter.</p><p>“We're training, basically, 365, and it hasn't changed from back in the day when all the greats were running,” Kerley said. </p><p>Banned for taking PEDs, Marvin Bracy-Williams makes a comeback</p><p>Also running in the 100 on Sunday is Marvin Bracy-Williams, whose <a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-doping-indictment-sprinter-florida-e8cd078ca90cbfceba6f6ff98c48a8c2">own curious doping case</a> resulted in what could have been a career-ending 45-month ban but instead led him to the Enhanced Games where he said he is, in fact, taking drugs.</p><p>Bracy-Williams, who finished second at worlds to Kerley by .02 seconds in 2022, conceded that his sudden disappearance from track in 2023 came because he was doping after a series of injuries.</p><p>He ended up providing information to authorities that led to the arrest of a Florida man, who faces up to 10 years in prison for violating a law passed in 2020 that allows U.S. authorities to prosecute doping crimes involving international events.</p><p>The reduced ban wasn't enough to salvage the 2028 Olympic hopes of Bracy-Williams, now 32, so he jumped when he saw the chance to go to the Enhanced Games.</p><p>“We get in these situations where the treatment is good when you're good,” Bracy-Williams said, referencing a $100,000 reduction in his contract that came if he failed to make a U.S. national team. "But when you're in a place where you're not doing so good, it just goes away, and sometimes, for some people, that can be hard.</p><p>Bracy-Williams said he trained with Tyson Gay in the early 2010s when Gay got nailed for doping. He passed no judgment on him or anyone else.</p><p>“The dude never changed,” Bracy-Williams said. “I didn't look at him like he was some boogeyman now."</p><p>He rattled through a long list of great sprinters who had tested positive for doping through the years.</p><p>“But you meet them behind closed doors, and they're good guys,” Bracy-Williams said.</p><p>As he spoke at a table surrounded by media, his two kids sat quietly against the wall and played on cellphones. There was no need to ask why Bracy-Williams, who has a two-year contract with "lots of zeros" on it, was trying to extend his career at the Enhanced Games.</p><p>Same for Kerley, who promises that track and field hasn't seen the last of him.</p><p>“At the end of the day," Kerley said, “I'm here to provide for my kids and myself.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/sports">https://apnews.com/sports</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2L0LD4Yb1M7Kxi067BHapf1xIZs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6LQWWC4PSJHWBN3Y5NOFJ4DUO4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4448" width="6672"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Athlete, Fred Kerley attends a press conference ahead of the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Ty Oneil</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PUZI1wfpzolZybX5X80ybv2k05E=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ECMTGRNDJFEPHGAXPEWIYSSAWA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2001" width="3000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Fred Kerley, of the United States, competes in the men's 100-meter heats at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Matthias Schrader</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stephen Colbert is back on TV on community access in Michigan along with rocker Jack White]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/23/stephen-colbert-is-back-on-tv-on-community-access-in-michigan-along-with-rocker-jack-white/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2026/05/23/stephen-colbert-is-back-on-tv-on-community-access-in-michigan-along-with-rocker-jack-white/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Bauer, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Fresh off ending his national broadcast show on CBS, Stephen Colbert showed up on community access television in southeast Michigan.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 15:05:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>From the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York to ... community access TV in Michigan?</p><p>One night after Stephen Colbert <a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-colbert-last-show-late-night-cbs-747403f27ed1f771aa6ccd73c6bb0cdf">recorded his final episode</a> of “The Late Show" on CBS, he made a surprise appearance hosting the <a href="https://cablecast.mpactstudio.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/2810?site=1">“Only in Monroe”</a> community access show <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJTXB5uT_C4">broadcast</a> in southeast Michigan along the shores of Lake Erie.</p><p>Michigan native Jack White, who grew up in Detroit about 40 miles northeast of Monroe, joined <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephen-colbert">Colbert</a> as his “volunteer music director.”</p><p>“Looking forward to hearing some of your music, time permitting,” Colbert joked with White, as laughter could be heard from a handful of people off camera.</p><p>Colbert interviewed actor Jeff Daniels during the hourlong broadcast that leaned heavily into Michigan-centric jokes. Actor Steve Buscemi appeared in a recorded bit joking about Buscemi’s Pizza in Monroe.</p><p>Rapper Eminem, who was raised in Detroit, appeared on tape as the “fire marshal” who approves setting fire to remnants of the set that Colbert, White and Daniels destroyed at the end of the show.</p><p>Colbert also spoke via FaceTime with comedian Byron Allen, who will be hosting “Comics Unleashed” that is replacing Colbert’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colbert-final-show-late-night-cbs-13d6bbf9fe8ed40d72aed0c02d158377">canceled “Late Show,."</a></p><p>The community access program’s normal hosts, Michelle Baumann and former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, sucked helium from balloons with Colbert while discussing Baumann's battle with cancer. A warning on the screen said, “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home.”</p><p>It marked the second time Colbert has hosted “Only in Monroe.” As he said during the surprise Friday broadcast, he previously hosted an episode in the summer of 2015 just before taking over “Late Night” from David Letterman.</p><p>It was not clear where or when Colbert recorded the latest episode, which aired exactly 24 hours after his final “Late Night” show. Messages left Saturday seeking comment from the community access channel were not immediately returned.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/EObdXmcfp1EKsKKk8Hi7v-zslbI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6NG5DD5CRJFBLFTGRDNGOOUPNE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1865" width="2797"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This image released by CBS shows host Stephen Colbert during the final episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in New York on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Scott Kowalchyk</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske head into Indianapolis 500 looking to rewrite the 2025 script]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/scott-mclaughlin-and-team-penske-head-into-indianapolis-500-looking-to-rewrite-the-2025-script/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/sports/2026/05/23/scott-mclaughlin-and-team-penske-head-into-indianapolis-500-looking-to-rewrite-the-2025-script/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Marot, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Scott McLaughlin has waited 12 months to erase the worst memory of his life.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:49:22 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Scott McLaughlin waited 12 months to erase the worst memory of his life.</p><p>He spent the time contemplating the haunting images of a spinning car hitting the wall last May before the race had even started, his hands flapping in anger and the frustration sinking in as he climbed out. All the inconsolable McLaughlin could do was cover his face.</p><p>He's not going to blow it Sunday at <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-500-indycar-96eeb209043c02d9752631f957ba98fc">another sold-out Indianapolis 500.</a></p><p>Instead, McLaughlin intends to take full advantage of a second chance on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indycar-indianapolis-500-chevrolet-d4a257404d7fa1d3608d43ba94897cc9">Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.5-mile oval,</a> and he hopes to show everyone what he's learned and how resilient he's become as he tries to write a worst-to-first script.</p><p>“No doubt I’ve come back stronger from it,” he said. “I don’t think I’m driving differently this year because of it. I’m just looking forward to getting back into the race, creating a new storyline, getting on with it. I’d love to go zero to hero, of course, but driving with emotion like that is probably a detriment. I've just got to go out there, execute and see what I’ve got.”</p><p>The 32-year-old New Zealander has returned to Indy with a steadier, more determined mindset to prove he won't make the same mistake twice. He didn't duck any questions about what happened, even if it still seems inexplicable.</p><p>But at Team Penske, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indycar-penske-cindric-mclaughlin-strategist-aa0cba59e540797552d43e32b805c234">it's not just McLaughlin seeking redemption</a> this weekend.</p><p>Last May might have been the worst for team founder Roger Penske since 1995, when neither of his two-time 500 winners — Al Unser Jr. or Emerson Fittipaldi — made the 33-car starting field, with the open-wheel split keeping Penske away from Indy for the next five years.</p><p>In 2025, the trouble started long before McLaughlin crashed while warming up his tires as he was driving past pit lane. Two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power were both penalized following a post-qualifying inspection that showed each car had illegally modified rear attenuators.</p><p>It marked the second time in 14 months The Captain's team had been tarnished by a cheating scandal. In April 2024, Newgarden was stripped of his win and McLaughlin lost his third-place finish at the season-opening race in St. Petersburg because they improperly used the push-to-pass button on restarts — a rule that was changed earlier this month after a dozen drivers did the same thing at Long Beach. The new rule will allow all 33 drivers to use it on restarts Sunday, the first time on an oval.</p><p>“What happened there was a nothing burger,” Newgarden said when asked about Long Beach. “I mean look, I don't have much to say about it, it doesn't matter to me. I'm here in Indianapolis.”</p><p>But the second infraction sent both cars to the back of the starting grid, essentially ending Newgarden's opportunity to become the first driver in race history with three straight 500 wins and Power's chance to add a second Indy crown in his contract year. Three key team executives —president Tim Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer — were fired.</p><p>The three drivers' race-day results were subpar, too, for a team with a record 20 Indy wins. Power was the team's best finisher, in 16th and one lap behind the leaders. Newgarden dropped out with 66 laps to go and came in 22nd. And McLaughlin, Penske's top qualifier, didn't complete a single lap.</p><p>This year, McLaughlin and Newgarden came back to Indy with a new teammate, David Malukas, who drives the No. 12 car Power occupied for more than a decade. McLaughlin also has a new race strategist, Cindric.</p><p>And while Malukas and McLaughlin already have put Team Penske in more favorable position this May, starting third and ninth, Newgarden struggled in qualifying. He'll start 23rd, in the middle of Row 8, though it's still a nine-spot improvement over last year's starting spot. The combination at least gives Penske's team a fighting chance on the track he owns.</p><p>“I'm just going into it like I do any race,” Malukas said when asked about starting on the outside of Row 1. "I'll just watch previous race starts from that position, just getting a collection of data to see where people funnel out, funnel in. I'll just go with the flow.”</p><p>Newgarden, however, will have to manage traffic all around him after earning his worst starting spot since 2013 with the exception of last year's penalty.</p><p>And then there's McLaughlin, who has a second chance to prove to his fans and the team that last year was an aberration and this year could have a storybook ending.</p><p>“I feel like last year sucked and stunk, but it’s part of my journey,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gotten years of experience in one. It was a tough thing. I never wish that upon my worst enemy, as I’ve said. It’s something I’ve grown from, for sure. But it put a lot of perspective in my life.”</p><p>___</p><p>AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7LCOVDKEilsjXEnHPGeGeSbKdYE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/T6LBHJNOWBHVXHY6ADONT4MGVY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4748" width="7122"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Ed Carpenter, left, talks with Scott McLaughlin before practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/T5gX_wuPOSqi3t9D1RaUxlPp4xA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DCZFY3ZLXBGGLDKOYTL7ZIUCYM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4050" width="6074"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Scott McLaughlin (3) and Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, head into the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/p0EPuqsU77VJPHR4Tc0DAB99Kfs=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7MVHGX2MHNGKZM3K3JFLGOFXGE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="5196" width="7794"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Former winners of the Indianapolis 500 auto race pose at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 18, 2026. Front row, left to right, Will Power, of Australia; Josef Newgarden; Alex Palou, of Spain; and Scott Dixon, of New Zealand. Second row: left to right, Alexander Rossi; Ryan Hunter-Reay; Helio Castroneves, of Brazil; Takuma Sato, of Japan; and Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/fbtPKti1wl8_L-YtZlPJvRhOhRY=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XIFYPIY7BZDSBG36QZZQ5EAZ3I.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4332" width="6498"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[David Malukas leads a pack of cars into the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/F9HW5KcG7aDczZpUtGFQjF6OMeI=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IHHRPSAWTFDJ7EZQ3LJTTYHKOQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4320" width="6480"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[David Maluka, left, talks with Caio Collet before practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Conroy</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ukrainian drone attack triggers fire at a Russian oil terminal]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/ukrainian-drone-attack-triggers-fire-at-a-russian-oil-terminal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/ukrainian-drone-attack-triggers-fire-at-a-russian-oil-terminal/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[A Ukrainian drone attack has caused a fire at a Russian oil terminal, according to officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 10:18:18 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at another Russian oil terminal overnight, local officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region said Saturday, in what appeared to be the latest <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-oil-drone-attacks-environment-bd5d03a3e3515f0a3b5b48031bc2c18c">attack on Moscow’s vital oil industry</a>.</p><p>Authorities in the city of <a href="https://ria.ru/location_Novorossijjsk/">Novorossiysk said falling drone debris sparked a fire at an oil terminal</a>, injuring two people. Russia’s Astra news outlet said Ukrainian drones struck the Sheskharis oil terminal and depot, the terminus for Russian state-controlled pipeline company Transneft’s main oil pipelines in the region. Images posted by Astra appeared to show smoke rising above the oil terminal, but they could not be verified. </p><p>On Saturday afternoon, Ukraine's General Staff said its forces had struck the Sheskharis oil terminal overnight. </p><p>“The facility provides shipment of oil and oil products for export and is involved in meeting the needs of the Russian army,” the General Staff wrote on Telegram, adding that Ukrainian forces had also hit a tanker in the Black Sea belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”</p><p>Ukraine has expanded its mid- and long-range strike capabilities, deploying <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-drones-economy-refineries-strikes-24fb93e0fab5dbba1a323b92510125bb">drone and missile technology</a> that it has developed domestically to battle <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s 4-year-old invasion</a>. Attacks on Russian oil assets that play a key part in funding the invasion have become almost daily occurrences.</p><p>Meanwhile, the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike overnight into Friday on a college dormitory building in Starobilsk, a city in Ukraine’s Russia-occupied Luhansk region, rose to 18, the press service of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said. According to the ministry, 60 people were wounded in the attack.</p><p>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday denounced the attack on the dormitory as a “crime” and ordered the military to submit its proposals for retaliation. He said there were no military or law enforcement facilities near the college. </p><p>At a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting on the strike, held at the request of Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Melnyk denied his Russian counterpart’s accusations of war crimes, calling them a “pure propaganda show” and asserting that the May 22 operations “exclusively targeted the Russian war machine.”</p><p>___</p><p>Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine</a></p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pXK4ZhV0q-Mlr4AzAMptGU_RHIc=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RGSW56VXURASPF3XL7HCQTZC7M.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3857" width="5785"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Farmers collect fragments of a Russian missile that hit an agricultural field near the front line in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrii Marienko</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/p414V9DmNpP4tj8ziiAK0RxRm-Y=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BQOHZFQ2DRGVZFM4XGUPZF2WVM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3245" width="4867"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A farmer carries a fragment of a Russian drone on an agricultural field near the front line in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrii Marienko</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/E-YVqHLDhi4vInFSiPcvsEnnjK0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CDRFFHMLGVGGTMSKNGFI2KHVAI.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3094" width="5500"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This photo released by Moscow-appointed head of Russian-controlled Luhansk region Leonid Pasechnik Telegram channel on Friday, May 22, 2026, shows dormitory of a university college building damaged by Ukrainian drones in Starobilsk, Ukraine. (Head of Russian-controlled Luhansk region Leonid Pasechnik Telegram channel via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/aCVOXdx8-LHY4u9qjyD2GvBmXq4=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PNATSTJVWZDVTCRBATH4TYJCTA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3094" width="5500"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This photo released by Moscow-appointed head of Russian-controlled Luhansk region Leonid Pasechnik Telegram channel on Friday, May 22, 2026, shows a university college building damaged by Ukrainian drones in Starobilsk, Ukraine. (Head of Russian-controlled Luhansk region Leonid Pasechnik Telegram channel via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LWHJHx2QxbABDPtgfxbddZyh1H0=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AO6DKRXXFVEELM26L32FVSTLII.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3695" width="5542"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Fragments of Russian missiles lie on the field against the background of the working farmers near the front line in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Andrii Marienko</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[This congressman's family was swept up in WWII Japanese detention. He sees a repeat in today's raids]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/this-congressmans-family-was-swept-up-in-wwii-japanese-detention-he-sees-a-repeat-in-todays-raids/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2026/05/23/this-congressmans-family-was-swept-up-in-wwii-japanese-detention-he-sees-a-repeat-in-todays-raids/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Mark Takano can't help but see the parallels in U.S. history.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 12:33:24 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The congressman returned home last Fourth of July to startling stories in Southern California as <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration patrols</a> swept through communities and one constituent told him about starting to carry a passport as proof of the right to be in the country.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-takano">Rep. Mark Takano</a>, whose American-born parents were both incarcerated as young children with their families during the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-23b62078a32d4b0eade343bb095d8a95">forced relocation</a> of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-lifestyle-travel-6f978a2c92d66aad2bc5bafb05d829d4">Japanese Americans during World War II</a>, could not help but see the parallels between that chapter of American history and this one.</p><p>“I do feel like there's a similarity of circumstance of my own 2-year-old father and my 1-year-old mother being labeled as enemy aliens and they’re considered a danger to national security," he told The Associated Press in an interview.</p><p>“They’re put into these incarceration camps,” he said. “Similar arguments have been made by this administration — that immigrants pose a grave danger to our country and it’s for the security of our country that we’re doing this.” </p><p>Echoes of history in Trump's immigration sweeps</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a> campaign promise of the largest <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-latino-voters-ec64f85e3633c9c7a8a247eaf9feb64f">mass deportation operation</a> in U.S. history is at an inflection point. Americans are seeing what it looks like to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-ice-deportation-budget-be983b14f60a5cdfc17af7cf0307f1c9">round up</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detention-centers-pushback-24e702da67281a672b0f77287aaa87ba">detain and deport</a> thousands of people, particularly in the aftermath of the deaths this year of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>, U.S. citizens protesting the actions <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-ice-noem-minnesota-somali-db661df6de1131a034da2bda4bb3d817">in Minneapolis</a>.</p><p>The White House <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-agenda-dhs-noem-mullin-cce52a9f2009ef645ceffe4e44cb4def">changed the leadership</a> at the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-homeland-security">Department of Homeland Security</a> as it reframes its approach. New <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mullin-homeland-security-trump-noem-immigration-oklahoma-d9ef7772d98ccc85e769861cd88136c1">Secretary Markwayne Mullin</a> promised to keep the department off the front pages. </p><p>But Trump is also under <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-agenda-dhs-noem-mullin-cce52a9f2009ef645ceffe4e44cb4def">mounting pressure</a> from conservative groups not to let up on the goal of deporting 1 million people a year. The president's Republican allies in Congress are fueling the immigration and deportation actions with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-ice-deportation-budget-be983b14f60a5cdfc17af7cf0307f1c9">billions of dollars</a> in special funds.</p><p>Takano, the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, has drawn from his own family history — and the country's eventual redress to Japanese Americans who were detained — to challenge Trump's approach.</p><p>“We look back on that era of history as a shameful one, as a time when our political leaders failed the Constitution, failed the American people,” he said.</p><p>One family's story among many </p><p>A former high school history teacher before being elected to Congress in 2012, Takano grew up in Southern California and came to understand the family stories.</p><p>His grandfather Isao Takano arrived in the U.S. from Hiroshima and married Kazue Takahashi, a U.S.-born citizen. Together they settled in Bellevue, Washington, and launched a business growing tomatoes, strawberries and chrysanthemums for the marketplace in Seattle.</p><p>When the U.S. entered the war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, they were among some 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, immigrants and those born in the U.S., <a href="https://apnews.com/today-in-history/february-19">forcibly relocated</a>.</p><p>His father, William, was 2 years old when his family was sent in 1942 to the incarceration camp at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/tule/index.htm">Tule Lake</a> in California. His mother, Nancy Tsugiye Sakamoto, born in California to American-born parents, was a year old when she was relocated to the detention facility in <a href="https://places.wyo.gov/explore-more/exhibits/heart-mountain">Heart Mountain, Wyoming</a>.</p><p>Then, as now, he said, people are being swept up in the anti-immigrant detentions. </p><p>“Will Americans generations from now visit Alligator Alcatraz and think to themselves, How could our government do this?” Takano said during a House floor speech, referring to the Trump-era immigration <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alligator-alcatraz-desantis-immigrant-detention-florida-2c7565b2b7470941e855bf40c810c5b3">detention facility</a> in Florida. </p><p>“These future generations of Americans will look to us, the Congress, to see what we did to try to stop it.”</p><p>A Reagan-era law is seen as model for redress</p><p>Takano remembers his father taking him to see the land the family once owned. He learned about his great uncles who served in the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/japanese-american-incarceration-camp-veterans-exhibit-6e301496c9398d5e84814d3780c0690e">Army's 442nd Regimental Combat Team</a> of Japanese American soldiers; one was killed in action in Italy. He recalls his own father later collected donations for the national redress campaign.</p><p>In 1988 Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act, which sought to apologize for the “grave injustice” that had been done and provide $20,000 to each person detained. Republican President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.</p><p>Takano's parents were among those who received a letter of apology from the federal government, he said, and a payment. </p><p>Talks are underway among some in Congress, he said, for a similar redress to the people who have had their car windows smashed in, their homes raided and livelihoods upended as part of Trump's immigration enforcement operations.</p><p>“Remarkably the country did come to realize the mistake,” he said. “I believe we’re living through one of those eras of mistakes and I believe we can come out of this moment stronger.”</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-QbBQpCQs_i3wUMI3RncL_nVZSk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2NZVZJ6M5ZECZILWZM2UFKXT2Y.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2109" width="3168"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[FILE - Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference on the Equality Act at the Capitol, April 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Rod Lamkey</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/XST3JaZkXrBuKxl4vcQdZaEYzOM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E3EGDPODBJEY7GH43MDRZSRDTA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3000" width="2539"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[This undated photo provided by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., on April 9, 2026, shows from back left, the congressmans grandmother Kazue Takano, grandfather Isao Takano, aunt Carol Takahashi, from front left, uncle Kenny Takano and father William Takano in Washington state. (Office of Rep. Mark Takano via AP)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Uncredited</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Good dog! More children’s hospitals turn to furry caregivers to help kids heal]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/23/good-dog-more-childrens-hospitals-turn-to-furry-caregivers-to-help-kids-heal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/health/2026/05/23/good-dog-more-childrens-hospitals-turn-to-furry-caregivers-to-help-kids-heal/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Laura Ungar, Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Moments of joy are common whenever hospital facility dogs show up to spend time with patients.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:45 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first time 5-year-old Calvin Owens went outside in more than a month, he met up with his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/service-dogs-veterans-ptsd-4b9e73723549d1c7f25a1b7b8dc249d1">canine friend</a> Hadley on a hospital patio. Despite being tethered to equipment with wires and tubes, the little boy managed to stand up near his wheelchair long enough to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-dogs-calming-alone-training-youtube-db4e0d543674b995c5b9a5916fccda17">toss her a ball</a>.</p><p>He smiled as she ran to fetch it. Caregivers cheered.</p><p>“Look how good you’re doing!” said Hadley's handler, Schellie Scott.</p><p>Such small victories and moments of joy are common whenever Hadley or one of the other three facility dogs at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital show up. These furry caregivers aren’t the typical therapy dogs volunteers bring to hospitals to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bridget-williams-horse-racing-rapid-city-psychotherapy-general-news-cc49fdc41212cfb2399b9d7372f87969">comfort patients</a>. They are specially trained, full-time working dogs that provide emotional support during stressful procedures, motivate kids to move around and make hospitals seem less scary. And experts say their ranks are growing at children’s hospitals across the nation.</p><p>A mounting body of research shows that even short interactions with facility dogs can improve children’s overall well-being, decrease the pain they feel and reduce signs of stress, like cortisol levels and blood pressure. </p><p>“These dogs are making a real difference,” said Kerri Rodriguez, director of the Human-Animal Bond Lab at the University of Arizona. “They can provide a little bit of normalcy, a little bit of comfort, in a really stressful, sterile environment that kids might not feel comfortable in.”</p><p>How hospital facility dog programs work</p><p>Although no one tracks the number of facility dogs in children's hospitals, Rodriguez points to the continual growth of the annual Facility Dog Summit, where handlers and other participants network and where attendance nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025. Other types of hospitals also have full-time dogs, but experts say children's hospitals account for most of the expansion in programs. One large nonprofit, Canine Assistants in Georgia, has a specific children’s hospital initiative through which it has placed more than 80 dogs nationally.</p><p>Dogs have been on the job for years at places such as Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in New York, Norton Children’s in Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. And new programs keep sprouting up. In March, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Maryland introduced its first two facility dogs.</p><p>Hospitals generally get the dogs from nonprofits. Organizations such as Canine Companions, where Cincinnati Children's gets its dogs, breed, raise and train them, then place them with hospital staff members but still own them. Dogs and handlers live and work together.</p><p>Although hospitals don’t pay for the dogs, they’re responsible for costs such as food and veterinary care, which can add up, especially since most are larger breeds like Labradors or golden retrievers. Hospitals usually fundraise or seek grants to cover the costs.</p><p>Experts say the benefits of these sorts of “animal-assisted therapies” are clear. A 2022 study Rodriguez coauthored analyzed a survey conducted across 17 children's hospitals. Pediatric health professionals described how facility dogs provided a comforting presence, built rapport, and normalized the hospital environment for children and families. A 2021 study in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing concluded that animal- assisted therapies were beneficial for controlling pain and blood pressure in children and teens. Other research also found these therapies reduce anxiety and pain and can even improve heart and lung function.</p><p>Facility dogs are allowed in more sensitive areas of the hospital than volunteer dogs, and sometimes serve particular hospital units. Opal, one of two St. Louis dogs, splits her time between the pediatric behavioral health unit and the child protection program.</p><p>No matter where the dogs work, keeping them clean is key.</p><p>Hadley, in Cincinnati, is bathed twice a month because she works in the cancer and blood diseases area, where kids might have reduced immunity. She gets even more baths, or cleanings with special wipes, if she’s potentially exposed to germs. Handlers use leashes and balls that can be easily cleaned, and people must sanitize their hands before and after touching the dogs.</p><p>If a patient is in isolation, the dog stays outside the room. The one exception is if a dying child wants a dog to be close. In those cases, caregivers say concerns about germs are outweighed by the need to ease fears and provide comfort. </p><p>A day in the life of a hospital facility dog </p><p>Hadley’s workday starts whenever her handler Scott — whose job as a child life assistant involves keeping patients' lives as normal as possible — arrives at the hospital. Hadley mostly sees patients, but also gets breaks when she can just do what she wants.</p><p>On a recent morning, the Labrador-golden retriever mix raced around a grassy dog play area with her canine co-worker, Grover. While Grover is calm and chill, Hadley gets so excited she shakes her head to toss balls to herself.</p><p>“Hadley loves life,” Scott said. “Hadley lives big.”</p><p>Inside the hospital, the dogs get constant attention. For handlers, "it's like being the assistant to a famous person,” joked Scott.</p><p>Signs of the dogs’ celebrity status are everywhere.</p><p>They appear on closed-circuit television shows filmed by the hospital and beamed into patient rooms. Photos of the dogs, themed for holidays or events, line the hallways. And there are mailboxes where kids can drop letters or pictures for the dogs and get replies.</p><p>Patients can also get trading cards for each dog with stats like breed and birthday, bandanas to decorate for their furry friend, or little stuffed dogs. Caregivers create books featuring the dogs to show kids about procedures or treatments they’re about to undergo.</p><p>Kids hospitalized for long stretches get to know the dogs well.</p><p>Aspen Franklin, a 14-year-old fighting a life-threatening immune disorder, has been coming to the hospital since she was a toddler and was recently hospitalized for weeks. At times, Hadley has snuggled beside her in bed.</p><p>“She has a calming presence,” Aspen said. “That is a comfort to me.”</p><p>Like other facility dogs, Hadley also helps her family cope. When Aspen's younger brother Emory donated his cells for her bone marrow transplant, Hadley spent time with him — and other visiting siblings. </p><p>Having Hadley around “is really nice because they’re away from their animals at home,” said their mom, Brittney Franklin, whose family has two dogs and a cat.</p><p>Franklin recently watched as Aspen painted with Hadley. The dog couldn’t go in her room so soon after her transplant, so Aspen dabbed colors on a small canvas and handed it to Scott, who put it in a plastic bag and smeared peanut butter on top. Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up. A piece of abstract art emerged.</p><p>Hadley’s next patient was Calvin, the little boy she met on the patio. Calvin has a rare, severe type of childhood arthritis and recently had a bone marrow transplant. Though he could only stand for a few moments at a time, he made the effort repeatedly to play with Hadley.</p><p>“He’s such a strong little man,” Scott said.</p><p>After Calvin went inside, Hadley met up with 11-year-old Bethany Striggles, who recently finished a chemotherapy treatment for bone cancer. The girl hurled the ball all the way down the hallway, and Hadley bounded happily to retrieve and gently return it. Bethany rewarded her with an ice pop.</p><p>“She helps me exercise more,” Bethany said. “She’s energetic and happy and always likes to see me.”</p><p>But Hadley does eventually tire. When that happens, she goes back to an office affectionately known as her lair, where she has treats, toys and a big dog bed.</p><p>Above the bed is a bulletin board covered with drawings, photos and notes. One, written on orange construction paper, contains a small, pink handprint and the words: “Thank you for being my BEST FRIEND.”</p><p>___</p><p>The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/OBzRlZwKLFSvt-9Ovin-lhNcFEw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/V5UCUO5GGJFEJIQBOW6TEN6BTA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3643" width="5464"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Cincinnati Children's Hospital facility dog Grover, left, looks to patient Kira Hodge at the hospital's Seacrest Studios as they produce a closed-circuit television show beamed into patient rooms, at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Carolyn Kaster</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JDrNRlf_KBsE52_PNcIjopiHXzM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VHYGDO5YEVFSBDXNJTMFVXWAXA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3503" width="5254"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Five-year-old patient Calvin Owens, second from left, throws a ball for facility dog Hadley with physical therapist Paige Torbet, kneeling left, and child life assistant Schellie Scott, kneeling right, during a physical therapy visit on the patio of Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Carolyn Kaster</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/nocyHseWrb-0n4aHMyJsCwr7qnw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WIBGYRI4M5A2PIXI2THLAH43A4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2435" width="3652"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Five-year-old patient Calvin Owens throws a ball for facility dog Hadley with physical therapist Paige Torbet, right, during a physical therapy visit on the patio of Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Carolyn Kaster</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/SAxixgswkuE-nZPr5oFQz5xTn98=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7DMFB3CKXZBLXHDYCARTSJBAAU.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3451" width="5176"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Cincinnati Children's Hospital facility dog Hadley sits at the feet of 11-year-old Bethany Striggles, who recently finished a chemotherapy treatment for bone cancer, in her room at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Carolyn Kaster</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/BILIaPYsIFi5kkvnyvAWdzdX31M=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BIVYJZ4GJNCOZPJUAG2AWFP3QA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="3681" width="5521"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Cincinnati Children's Hospital Child Life Specialist Maggie O'Grady, left, and facility dog Grover, center, work with patient Kira Hodge at the hospital's Seacrest Studios to produce a closed-circuit television show beamed into patient rooms, at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Carolyn Kaster</media:credit></media:content></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rubio arrives in India ahead of Quad talks as US tries to reset strained ties]]></title><link>https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/rubio-arrives-in-india-ahead-of-quad-talks-as-us-tries-to-reset-strained-ties/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/05/23/rubio-arrives-in-india-ahead-of-quad-talks-as-us-tries-to-reset-strained-ties/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Associated Press]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in India ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 02:29:49 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-shinzo-abe-japan-india-australia-c579b7eb5ea53fb8cc50097de85e6b14">strategic alliance known as the Quad</a>.</p><p>Rubio's first official trip to India comes as Washington seeks to stabilize relations with New Delhi after ties soured over President Donald <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-india-tariffs-russia-oil-7ca672c7d00d543782d61116e482172c">Trump’s tariff policies</a>, which raised duties on several Indian exports.</p><p>Much of Rubio’s four-day visit, however, will focus on a multicity tour, along with a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.</p><p>“There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit to India.</p><p>Rubio arrived in eastern city of Kolkata early Saturday and was scheduled to visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa. In coming days, he will also visit northern cities of Agra and Jaipur, known for iconic monuments and palaces.</p><p>Later Saturday, Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and “shared U.S. perspective on various regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia,” a statement by Modi's office said. Modi reiterated India’s support for peace efforts and stressed the need to resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, it said.</p><p>Rubio briefed Modi on progress in bilateral cooperation across defense, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties, the statement added.</p><p>Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador in India, in a social media post said Rubio extended an invite to Modi on behalf of Trump to visit the White House in the near future. He said the meeting was productive and focused on ways to deepen U.S.-India cooperation in security, trade and critical technologies. </p><p>Rubio is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday.</p><p>On Tuesday in New Delhi, Rubio will participate in the ministerial meeting of the Quad that has repeatedly accused China of flexing its military muscles in the South China Sea and aggressively pushing its maritime territorial claims.</p><p>Beijing maintains that its military is purely defensive to protect what it says are its sovereign rights and calls the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-japan-asia-india-china-e71b3f02f8bd30a36dac42309896a115">Quad an attempt to contain</a> its economic growth and influence.</p><p>After his inauguration in January last year, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-china-quad-india-japan-australia-d6f86b79732a82d3947f2aad5c58c040">Rubio’s first formal international engagement</a> was meeting with the foreign ministers of the other Quad countries, both jointly and in separate sessions.</p>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/3KQdc7rkSmArqCTjetiAXTmtlOA=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MDDSKYE4YNFRHMCMGJCMRJH6RE.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="4409" width="6613"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, waves to the media as he comes out after a visit at Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Bikas Das</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-ucH4mZDZV3TW-SQ3A909OP1rbk=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HJYCGQRECNC3DO34ZGINC7OASY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1337" width="2000"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards his plane for New Delhi at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2eRIex7ZGNWV6epE9NfU4QMuVHE=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/AM4X6BUNNFFGZLJTDVBNSWAKKA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2516" width="3774"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Sisters of Nirmala Shishu Bhavan children's home of the Missionaries of Charity wave at the cavalcade of Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his visit, in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zNJGLFg9OH8wp8r4URPcGmJGWsM=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4YDB7LZHCRFUVEDRCW5JKOBMV4.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="1742" width="2614"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[People wait by the side of the road to watch the cavalcade of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio pass in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content><media:content url="https://www.wsls.com/resizer/eNl3QkRaHDWmo-S3hoGwAjZCezo=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HUSEB23HKRAJVOL22Y5ZDZJT34.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="2263" width="3395"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane with his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Julia Demaree Nikhinson</media:credit></media:content></item></channel></rss>