News

Question of the Day  VOCM

Homebuyers Urged to Think Twice Before Waiving Inspection Condition  VOCM

The seventh UCF mailbag of the offseason addresses questions about which players the Knights are taking with them to Big 12 Media Days, which non-quarterback position could help lead the team to a bowl game and which video games I grew up on.

What do you make of the player selection for UCF for Big 12 Media Days? Is there a message in the fact that it doesn’t include a QB? — @2letters2words

“It isn’t surprising that the four players UCF chose to bring with them to Texas next week are all seniors. These players are expected to take on significant leadership roles for the Knights this upcoming season. Paul Rubelt has been the face of the program since Scott Frost‘s arrival, while Myles Montgomery, Nyjalik Kelly, and Keli Lawson are anticipated to play important roles on the team.

“The decision not to bring a quarterback suggests that the coaching staff isn’t ready to name a starter yet. If they brought one or two quarterbacks, it would imply those players are frontrunners for the position. Therefore, it may be better in the long run to leave a quarterback off the list. I believe we won’t know who the starter is until the first week of the season.”

If there’s a non-QB position that could lead UCF to a bowl game, which might that be for this team? — @kruciff.bsky.social

“Aside from the quarterback position, the defensive front stands out as a key area that could propel the Knights toward a postseason run. This group is one of the most experienced and talented on the roster, featuring returnees like Malachi Lawrence, Nyjalik Kelly, and John Walker. The new additions of transfers RJ Jackson Jr., Sincere Edwards, and Horace Lockett bring in the much-needed depth that the unit requires.

Last season, UCF recorded only 22 sacks, placing them in the middle tier within the Big 12. However, the defensive front showed significant progress in run-stopping. Enhancing their performance in this area could be crucial for the Knights as they aim for a successful season.”

Are any taxes being withheld from athletes now being paid by universities? Or are these athletes considered independent contractors like pro wrestlers? — @MrEd315

“Tax rules do apply to athletes who receive money as part of the revenue-sharing process. Some institutions offer tax support and education, but it’s up to those athletes or their representatives to ensure they withhold enough money for taxes at the end of the year.

“Athletes would, in essence, be considered independent contractors, which means they don’t receive any of the benefits associated with an employee. That means while they have more flexibility in managing their money, they don’t receive things such as health insurance and a 401K retirement plan.”

With the upcoming release of the new college football game, did you ever play sports games on video game systems? What were some of your favorite video games, if you had any growing up? — ‪@ucfguy1203.bsky.social‬.

“My childhood did include playing sports video games, at first with the Atari 2600, followed by the Commodore 64 and then the Sega Genesis systems. Some of my favorites include Summer Games (C64) and Winter Games (C64), as well as Hardball! (C64) along with John Madden football (C64, Sega) and eventually College Football’s National Championship (Sega).”

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

Today is Friday, July 4, the 185th day of 2024. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day.

Today in history:

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Also on this date:

In 1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened at West Point, New York.

Related Articles

• Confederacy group sues Georgia park for planning an exhibit on slavery and segregation
• Dealers’ advice on cheap used cars: Buy them while you still can
• How people are celebrating, protesting and traveling for July Fourth
• Search continues for 7 missing after huge explosion at California fireworks warehouse
• Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say

In 1817, construction of the Erie Canal began in Rome, New York.

In 1826, 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died.

In 1831, the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, died in New York City at age 73.

In 1855, the first edition of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” was published.

In 1863, the Civil War Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, ended as a Confederate garrison surrendered to Union forces.

In 1910, in what was billed as “The Fight of the Century,” Black world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson defeated white former champ “Gentleman” Jim Jeffries in Reno, Nevada; race riots across the country following the fight killed more than 20 people.

In 1912, the 48-star American flag, recognizing New Mexico and Arizona statehood, was adopted.

In 1939, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees delivered his famous farewell speech in which he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

In 1946, the United States and the Philippines signed the Treaty of Manila, recognizing Philippine independence from the US.

In 1960, the current 50-star version of the US flag was adopted.

In 1976, America celebrated its bicentennial with daylong festivities; President Gerald R. Ford made stops in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Independence Hall in Philadelphia and New York, where more than 200 ships paraded up the Hudson River in Operation Sail.

In 1987, Klaus Barbie, the former Gestapo chief known as the “Butcher of Lyon,” was convicted by a French court of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison (he died in September 1991).

In 1995, the space shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir parted after spending five days in orbit docked together.

In 2012, scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva cheered the apparent end of a decades-long quest for a new subatomic particle called the Higgs boson, or “God particle.”

In 2013, the Statue of Liberty reopened on the Fourth of July, eight months after Superstorm Sandy shuttered the national symbol of freedom, damaging its docks.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Eva Marie Saint is 101.
• Queen Sonja of Norway is 88.
• Actor Karolyn Grimes (“It’s a Wonderful Life”) is 84.
• Broadcast journalist Geraldo Rivera is 82.
• Funk/jazz trombonist Fred Wesley is 82.
• Vietnam War veteran and peace activist Ron Kovic is 79.
• Singer John Waite is 73.
• International Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver is 63.
• Christian rock singer Michael Sweet (Stryper) is 61.
• Actor-playwright-screenwriter Tracy Letts is 60.
• Actor Becki Newton is 47.
• TV personality Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is 43.
• R&B singer Melanie Fiona is 42.
• Singer and rapper Post Malone is 30.
• Malia Obama is 27.

General Daily Insight for July 04, 2025

A reality check demands change. As perfectionist Venus joins innovative Uranus in connection-centered Taurus, we’re being asked to take leaps of faith, as well as opening ourselves to sudden opportunities for new connections. As Venus leaves its home sign of Taurus at 11:31 am EDT, it enters intellectual Gemini, creating conversations about feelings that we once didn’t have words for. Lastly, dreamy Neptune begins its retrograde motion through Aries, bringing a reality check and snapping us out of a daydream. Say yes to clarity.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Life is an ideal teacher at present — especially if you’re open to new ways of seeing the world and willing to have someone else to accompany you on this journey. This person probably isn’t a love interest; they’re more likely to be a friend or family member who you’re close with. Now is a great time to take a class or play a game with the people you care about. Whatever gets your mind working and sets conversation flowing!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

It’s time to pour from a full cup. Now that Venus has left its home sign of Taurus, you may feel as though it’s time to take the focus off of yourself and onto someone important in your life. This person could need to lean on you in this phase of life. The more that you are there for them, the more that you might find that you and the other person feel closer than you were before. Let the connection between you bloom.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You’re coming out of the darkness. You may have found that you were spending more time in isolation over the past month than you normally do, but you are now stepping into the sunlight. You might discover that people who were unavailable to spend time with you are now available, and opportunities for socialization begin to abound. There are those who appreciate what you’re bringing to the table more than others, so make sure to go where you are genuinely wanted for best success.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Who you are doesn’t have to be who you were. You may have felt as though you were losing your identity in the ideas of the people around you, and today is a good time to figure out how to shed whatever’s been put on you by others. You can pick and choose which aspects to take with you into the future, because these are likely the ones that truly resonate with you, and are not from peer pressure. Be the new, real you!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your ambitions may be taking a backseat. You might find that, rather than your finances or career, you are more focused on creating an atmosphere in which you feel you can be your best self, as well as finding a friend group that will inspire and grow alongside you. If you already have this healthy social circle, do what you can to spend time with them as much as possible in the coming days. They might offer an opportunity that you won’t want to miss.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

There are no shortcuts here. You’ve been learning and developing all your life, and even though you may feel as though you haven’t made enough progress towards your goals, you are being given an opportunity to use what you’ve learned. Sometimes it’s less about the effort that you’re putting in and more about which opportunities are available to you. Trying to rush your timing or hurry up and experience every possible thing is not how life works. Prepare until you’re seizing the moment!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re breaking away from old chains. You may have felt held back by circumstances, people, or even habits in your life, but you have an opportunity to put hindrances behind you. Keep your eyes peeled for chances to travel or to study in a way that teaches new skill sets, fresh mindsets, or updated options when it comes to life in general. The story that you’ve been telling yourself up until this moment does not have to be your story forever.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Feelings may grow deeper. Sudden changes can take place with someone in your life, where you begin to see them as more than you did before. This could be an acquaintance becoming a friend, a friend becoming a business partner, or a friend becoming chosen family. Allow yourself to be open to nourishing shallower connections — without that acceptance, they wouldn’t be able to flourish. Don’t feel like you have to share more than you’re comfortable with, but give connection a chance.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Life might be more about experiencing than structuring right now. You may still have a laundry list of things that need doing, but you’re meant to be there with someone who makes the process something to enjoy, rather than endure. When it comes to choosing between working as hard as you can to be the best or cultivating a group of people who support one another when a member of the team feels down, it might be more beneficial to pick the latter.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

It may be time to start making plans. You might have been focused solely on thinking outside the box lately, enjoying the brainstorming stage of a project or casually getting to know someone. Today, though, you’re likely craving something more substantial. Building on the connections that you’ve created recently, as well as putting details down in stone on your projects, may take you further than you ever expected. Just make sure that you don’t completely lose the fun, creative energy in the process!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your heart might be changing. People may think of you as innovative and on the cutting edge, but even you get settled in your comfort zone at times. You might begin craving paths in life that wouldn’t have attracted you in the past, as well as seeking out more fun and excitement rather than security and comfort. It’s time to shake off the cobwebs and try something that you’ve never tried before. The world is your oyster, so go out and experience it!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

What was once a passing thought may be transforming into a part of your everyday life. Someone that piqued your interest, a new style of decor, or a hobby that looked fun could become your focus. The novelty and swiftness of the change can encourage you to enjoy each moment more intuitively instead of being in your head. As you let your heart lead, you’ll build the ability to get more and more out of this change in your life. Embrace the unfamiliar!

By CHARLOTTE KRAMON

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia chapter of a Confederacy group filed lawsuits this week against a state park with the largest Confederate monument in the country, arguing officials broke state law by planning an exhibit on ties to slavery, segregation and white supremacy.

Related Articles

• Dealers’ advice on cheap used cars: Buy them while you still can
• How people are celebrating, protesting and traveling for July Fourth
• Search continues for 7 missing after huge explosion at California fireworks warehouse
• Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say
• A Q-tip and spotless car were key evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to murders of 4 Idaho students

Stone Mountain’s massive carving depicts Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on horseback. Critics who have long pushed for changes say the monument enshrines the “Lost Cause” mythology that romanticizes the Confederate cause as a state’s rights struggle, but state law protects the carving from any changes.

After police brutality spurred nationwide reckonings on racial inequality and the removal of dozens of Confederate monuments in 2020, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which oversees Stone Mountain Park, voted in 2021 to relocate Confederate flags and build a “truth-telling” exhibit to reflect the site’s role in the rebirth of the Klu Klux Klan, along with the carving’s segregationist roots.

The Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans also alleges in court documents filed Tuesday that the board’s decision to relocate Confederate flags from a walking trail violates Georgia law.

“When they come after the history and attempt to change everything to the present political structure, that’s against the law,” said Martin O’Toole, the chapter’s spokesperson.

Stone Mountain Park markets itself as a family theme park and is a popular hiking spot east of Atlanta. Completed in 1972, the monument on the mountain’s northern space is 190 feet across and 90 feet tall. The United Daughters of the Confederacy hired sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who later carved Mount Rushmore, to craft the carving in 1915.

That same year, the film “Birth of a Nation” celebrated the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan, which marked its comeback with a cross burning on top of Stone Mountain on Thanksgiving night in 1915. One of the 10 parts of the planned exhibit would expound on the Ku Klux’s Klan reemergence and the movie’s influence on the mountain’s monument.

The Stone Mountain Memorial Association hired Birmingham-based Warner Museums, which specializes in civil rights installations, to design the exhibit in 2022.

“The interpretive themes developed for Stone Mountain will explore how the collective memory created by Southerners in response to the real and imagined threats to the very foundation of Southern society, the institution of slavery, by westward expansion, a destructive war, and eventual military defeat, was fertile ground for the development of the Lost Cause movement amidst the social and economic disruptions that followed,” the exhibit proposal says.

Other parts of the exhibit would address how the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans perpetuated the “Lost Cause” ideology through support for monuments, education programs and racial segregation laws across the South. It would also tell stories of a small Black community that lived near the mountain after the war.

Georgia’s General Assembly allocated $11 million in 2023 to pay for the exhibit and renovate the park’s Memorial Hall. The exhibit is not open yet. A spokesperson for the park did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The park’s board in 2021 also voted to change its logo from an image of the Confederate carveout to a lake inside the park.

Sons of the Confederate Veterans members have defended the carvings as honoring Confederate soldiers.

Changes to the park would “radically revise” the park’s setup, “completely changing the emphasis of the Park and its purpose as defined by the law of the State of Georgia,” the organization said in court documents.

Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.

By JIM VERTUNO

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A mother and her two young children from Honduras who had filed what was believed to be the first lawsuit involving children challenging the Trump administration’s policy on immigrant arrests at courthouses have been released from detention, civil rights groups and attorneys for the family said Thursday.

Related Articles

• Supreme Court clears way for deportation to South Sudan of several immigrants with no ties there
• Here’s what to know about clean energy in Republican megabill headed to Trump
• Takeaways as Congress sends tax and spending cuts bill to Trump’s desk
• EPA puts on leave 139 employees who spoke out against policies under Trump
• Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in bill sent to Trump

The lawsuit filed on behalf of the mother identified as “Ms. Z,” her 6-year-old son and her 9-year-old daughter, said they were arrested outside the courtroom after an immigration court hearing in Los Angeles. They had been held for weeks in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. Their identities have not been released because of concerns for their safety.

The lawsuit said that the family entered the U.S. legally using a Biden-era appointment app and that their arrest violated their Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizure and their Fifth Amendment right to due process.

The family’s lawyers said the boy had also recently undergone chemotherapy treatment for leukemia and his mother feared his health was declining while in detention.

The family was released late Wednesday while their lawsuit was still pending, and they went to a shelter in South Texas before they plan to return to their lives in the Los Angeles area, said Columbia Law School professor Elora Mukherjee, one of the lawyers representing the family.

“They will go back to their lives, to church, and school, and the family will continue to pursue their asylum case. And hopefully the little boy will get the medical attention he needs,” Mukherjee said. “They never should have been arrested and detained in the first place. We are grateful they have been released.”

Department of Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. Last week, the agency posted on social media that the boy “has been seen regularly by medical personnel since arriving at the Dilley facility.”

Starting in May, the country has seen large-scale arrests in which asylum-seekers appearing at routine hearings have been arrested outside courtrooms as part of the White House’s mass deportation effort. In many cases, a judge will grant a government lawyer’s request to dismiss deportation proceedings and then U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will arrest the person and place them on “expedited removal,” a fast track to deportation.

Lawyers for the “Z” family said their lawsuit was the first one filed on behalf of children to challenge the ICE courthouse arrest policy.

There have been other similar lawsuits, including in New York, where a federal judge ruled last month that federal immigration authorities can’t make civil arrests at the state’s courthouses or arrest anyone going there for a proceeding.

“The Z family’s release demonstrates the power we have when we fight back against harmful, un-American policies,” said Kate Gibson Kumar, staff attorney for the Beyond Borders Program of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

The family’s lawyers have said that during their hearing before a judge, the mother said they wished to continue their cases for asylum. Homeland Security moved to dismiss their cases, and the judge immediately granted that motion.

When they stepped out of the courtroom, they found men in civilian clothing believed to be ICE agents who arrested the family, Mukherjee said. They spent about 11 hours at an immigrant processing center in Los Angeles and were each only given an apple, a small packet of cookies, a juice box and water.

At one point, an officer near the boy lifted his shirt, revealing his gun. The boy urinated on himself and was left in wet clothing until the next morning, Mukherjee said.

By Isaiah Steinberg, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Pete Kelly, the used car manager at Jim Marsh Kia and Jim Marsh Chrysler Jeep in Las Vegas, hasn’t bought a used car for less than $20,000 at auction in over two years, and it’s not for lack of trying.

Related Articles

• What to know about buying electric vehicles after the federal tax incentives end
• Denny’s and Waffle House remove egg surcharges as prices fall
• Average long-term US mortgage rate falls to 6.67%, the lowest level since early April
• Prime Day game plan: How I’m tackling the sale on a $100 budget
• How a GOP rift over tech regulation doomed a ban on state AI laws in Trump’s tax bill

Since the pandemic, he said, there are fewer options for used cars under $20,000 and he’s having to compete with national chains willing to accept slimmer profit margins.

Nationwide, demand for vehicles has dwindled due to high prices and interest rates in recent months, following a brief tariff-induced panic in March.

Despite the temporary dip in demand, the average price of 3-year-old used cars in the U.S. has increased 40.9 percent since 2019, according to an iSeeCars study.

That’s largely due to the pandemic, said Nicholas Irwin, an associate economics professor at UNLV.

“You had a lot of used cars that were being sold to a lot of buyers thanks to rental companies selling off some of their stock to survive, and also just generally more interest in replacing cars during that period,” Irwin said.

After the pandemic, Irwin said, inflation worsened the situation for new car buyers, increasing prices further.

The average new car in the U.S. costs about $48,000 and the average 3-year used car costs about $31,000, according to recent Edmunds data. That’s an increase from about $21,000 for the average 3-year-old car in 2019.

President Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariff on imported cars and auto parts prompted many Americans to worry they could not afford a new car, spiking demand for used cars, Irwin added.

“As inflation continues to rise, I don’t think the percentage of cars under $20,000 will go up,” Chris Hemmersmeier, president and CEO of Jerry Seiner dealerships, said. “I think the new standard will continue to rise, so maybe it rises to $23,000 or $25,000 in the next few years.”

In the short-term, consumers should jump on used car deals while they still can, Hemmersmeier and Kelly said.

“Outside of my office right now is a 2018 Volkswagen Passat that I’m asking $15,000 for,” Kelly said. “That car probably won’t be here Friday.”

A variety of factors, from COVID-era supply shortages to inflation to tariffs to high interest rates, has caused a significant increase in used car prices across the country.

Irwin said the increase will cause the stock and quality of the remaining sub-$20,000 used cars to decrease.

“This is just another cost that is just putting pressure and creating a burden for our working-class families,” Irwin said.

©2025 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By BEN FINLEY and JAIMIE DING

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Recent polls will tell you there’s been a drop in national pride among Americans, particularly Democrats in the Trump era, with some questioning whether to celebrate July Fourth at all this year.

Related Articles

• Confederacy group sues Georgia park for planning an exhibit on slavery and segregation
• Dealers’ advice on cheap used cars: Buy them while you still can
• Search continues for 7 missing after huge explosion at California fireworks warehouse
• Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say
• A Q-tip and spotless car were key evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to murders of 4 Idaho students

But Scott Allen, a registered Democrat in southern California, isn’t one of them. He planned to commemorate the nation’s 249th birthday with a politically mixed group of neighbors who will grill out and light off fireworks.

He’ll be thinking of his U.S. Marine father, and about how proud he is that “we have the freedom to do all the things we do.”

“We can have protests. We can have free speech,” said Allen, 60, who lives in Lakewood, just south of Los Angeles.

This Independence Day may feel different for many Americans. Around the country, there are protests planned against Trump’s polices, and in places like southern California, where immigration raids have rattled communities, some July Fourth celebrations were cancelled.

Fireworks retailers are also dealing with tariffs. But at the same time, holiday travel is expected to break records.

Here’s what to know about July Fourth this year:

California celebrations cancelled

Several communities in the Los Angeles area have cancelled Independence Day festivities due to safety concerns over Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The raids have triggered of protests across the city and led Trump to deploy National Guard troops and Marines.

The Los Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno cancelled its parade after 90% of participants dropped out.

Organizer Genny Guerrero said the majority Latino community is “very patriotic.” But many people are avoiding events out of fear of immigration agents.

“The fact that they’re taking anyone that is brown, regardless of citizenship, that puts everyone in jeopardy,” Guerrero said.

A downtown block party, which drew 20,000 people last year, was postponed. Suburbs in southeastern Los Angeles, such as Bell Gardens, have cancelled celebrations altogether.

Events planned in protest

Meanwhile, Independence Day events are scheduled in protest of Trump’s policies, including slashes to Medicaid, said Tamika Middleton, managing director of Women’s March.

The group had organized the Women’s March on Washington in 2017, the day after Trump’s first inauguration. This year’s events will range from low-key pot lucks to rallies in large cities.

For instance, a gathering will be held at a naturalization ceremony in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to show support for new citizens. But there will be larger protests in bigger cities, including one outside Houston’s City Hall.

“We’re inviting folks to envision what a truly free America looks like,” Middleton said.

Tariffs and fireworks

The vast majority of fireworks in the U.S. are made in China, said Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.

As the trade war with China escalated, tariffs on Chinese-made fireworks reached 145% in April, Heckman said. Trump issued a 90-day pause in May, leaving current tariffs on Chinese fireworks at 30%.

The tariffs will have little impact on city fireworks shows because the shells were purchased months ago, Heckman said. She’s hearing from retailers who sell the backyard fireworks that they’re not passing on the 30% tariffs to consumers.

But it’ll be a different story next year, Heckman said, because 30% tariffs — or anything higher — are not sustainable for business. The industry is casting a wary eye toward 2026.

“Every small town in America is going to want a special firework display to honor America’s 250th,” Heckman said.

Record-breaking holiday travel

Auto club AAA expected more than 72 million people to travel at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home. AAA’s forecast includes two weekends to better reflect the holiday travel.

Nearly 62 million people will travel by car, a 2.2% bump over 2024, making it the highest volume on record, AAA said. Drivers have seen some price increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021.

Meanwhile, nearly six million people will fly — 4% more than last year, AAA said. The Federal Aviation Administration said this will be the busiest July Fourth week in 15 years.

Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia.

CHICAGO — On the 40th anniversary of the “Back to the Future” movie premiere, Illinois-based insurance giant Allstate is traveling back to the past to reveal its little-known role in developing the DeLorean, the futuristic but short-lived, gull-winged, stainless steel car that served as Doc Brown’s time machine.

Without Allstate, Marty McFly might never have left 1985 or perhaps he would have traveled back in time in a Buick, forever disrupting the space-time continuum of the seminal movie trilogy.

“The cars exist because of the partnership Allstate had with DeLorean,” said Sandee Lindorfer, vice president of auto claims for Allstate.

In the words of Doc Brown, “Great Scott!”

“Back to the Future” hit movie theaters on July 3, 1985. A customized 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, which took audiences on joyrides to 1955, 1885 and 2015 over the course of three films, was already relegated to the junkyard of automotive history by the time the movie premiered.

In the mid-1970s, Allstate worked with John DeLorean, an automobile executive and engineer, who left GM to launch his own namesake vehicle. The insurance company invested a reported $500,000 in a safety car project, developing prototypes with advanced seatbelt restraints, airbags and improved bumpers.

“We sponsored three prototypes with the DeLorean-Allstate safety car agreement, and we brought one of the prototypes to Congress to show them what could be done around smaller vehicles being more safe and having better fuel economy,” Lindorfer said.

• A rented vintage DeLorean which is a replica from the movie “Back to the Future,” at Allstate’s Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
• A rented pair of vintage DeLoreans – a stock 1981 model at left, and a replica from the movie “Back to the Future” – sit at Allstate’s Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
• The time machine controls inside the vintage DeLorean replica from the movie "Back to the Future" at Allstate's Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
• Rental company owner Tom Sedor with his DeLorean replica from the movie “Back to the Future,” at Allstate’s Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
• A flux capacitor inside the vintage DeLorean replica from the movie "Back to the Future" at Allstate's Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Show Caption1 of 5A rented vintage DeLorean which is a replica from the movie “Back to the Future,” at Allstate’s Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Expand

One prototype evolved into the sleek DeLorean DMC-12, which went into limited but ill-timed production at a Northern Ireland factory during a recession in 1981, generating buzz but few sales.

By 1982, the debt-ridden company was in bankruptcy and its founder in legal trouble, facing indictments on separate drug and fraud charges. John DeLorean was ultimately acquitted on both counts, but his car was seemingly no more than a flash in the pan.

Three years later, the DeLorean was reborn as Doc Brown’s time machine, and the rest is cinematic history.

Initially, the time machine was envisioned as a refrigerator-like chamber that Doc Brown carried on the back of his truck. Then director Robert Zemeckis had the inspiration that the time machine should be mobile, and specifically chose the DeLorean for its futuristic design.

“The way I see it, if you’re going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?” Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, explains in the movie.

In the annals of “Back to the Future” lore, a lot of similar nuggets have emerged since the film trilogy premiered.

For example, the 1989 second installment predicted the Cubs would finally end their century-long World Series drought with a 2015 win over the fictional Miami Gators. The Cubs actually broke through in 2016, beating the Cleveland Indians, but the movie was pretty close.

Related Articles

• Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ puts a wobbly franchise back on track with superb installment
• Chef Nobu serves his famous miso cod with a side of inspiration in a new documentary
• Movie Review: An intergalactic, existential adventure about loneliness in Pixar’s ‘Elio’
• ‘F1 The Movie’ review: Brad Pitt stars in racing flick too fast to fail
• Tom Cruise is finally getting an Oscar — as will Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas

Also, the role of Marty McFly was initially given to Eric Stoltz, who participated in over a month of filming before he was replaced by Michael J. Fox, the more comedically gifted “Family Ties” star.

But Allstate’s role in developing the car that begot the time machine and an enduring movie star remained buried in a dusty folder in the back of a corporate cabinet for decades. In 2019, an Allstate archivist found the mysterious DeLorean file and began exploring the mostly forgotten connection.

Six years later, on the 40th anniversary of “Back to the Future,” Allstate is finally ready to take a modest bow.

On Tuesday, Allstate rented a pair of vintage DeLoreans to celebrate the movie, the car and the unlikely part the insurance company played in both. Tucked away in the back of an underground garage at Allstate’s downsized Northbrook/Glenview headquarters near Chicago, across the street from its former sprawling corporate campus, the vehicles were briefly on display for the media and a handful of executives.

The cars, which included a stock 1981 DeLorean and a tricked-out version replicating the “Back to the Future” time machine, were rented from an Orland Park company — DeLorean USA Rental — that leases the vehicles for parties and events.

“You can’t drive it because the insurer doesn’t allow it,” said Tom Sedor, who owns the cars and the rental company.

The time machine, which includes a flux capacitor and a Mr. Fusion nuclear reactor in the back — replete with banana peel as fuel — is fully drivable, and the garage and adjacent parking lot offered enough room to get it up to the 88 mph threshold required to go back to the future.

But Sedor, 57, who customized the movie mockup with a 3D printer and assorted parts from Menards and RockAuto, said the replica has yet to successfully make the time jump.

“Nothing happened, no sparks,” said Sedor. “Everything drove normally. Actually, it’s very, very impressive to drive.”

rchannick@chicagotribune.com

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and TRÂN NGUYỄN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rescue crews were searching on Thursday for seven people still missing days after an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Northern California shook a tiny farming community and forced the cancellation of nearby July Fourth celebrations.

Related Articles

• Confederacy group sues Georgia park for planning an exhibit on slavery and segregation
• Dealers’ advice on cheap used cars: Buy them while you still can
• How people are celebrating, protesting and traveling for July Fourth
• Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say
• A Q-tip and spotless car were key evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to murders of 4 Idaho students

The barrage of fireworks that exploded Tuesday caused a massive blaze that led to other spot fires and collapsed the building in Yolo County about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento.

Family members gathered near a sheriff’s checkpoint about a mile from the blast site in rural Esparto, hoping for news about their loved ones. Syanna Ruiz, who is pregnant, said her boyfriend, 18-year-old Jesus Ramos, was working his first day at the warehouse when the explosion occurred. Ramos’ brothers, 22-year-old Johnny Ramos and 28-year-old Junior Melendez, were also missing, she said.

“I’m just praying to God that some way, somehow, they’re OK,” Ruiz told the Sacramento Bee on Wednesday.

Two people were treated for injuries, officials said. The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

The warehouse was managed by Devastating Pyrotechnics, which has more than 30 years of experience designing and producing fireworks shows in the Bay Area, according to a screenshot of its website before it was taken down. The company, with headquarters in both San Francisco and Esparto, focuses mainly on display fireworks for big productions instead of those for retail.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community,” the company said in a statement. “Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation.”

After Tuesday’s blast, officials in nearby Sutter and Yuba counties issued a statement calling the company “a trusted partner and a cherished part of our regional fireworks celebrations.”

• In this aerial image taken from video, smoke and flames rise from a fireworks warehouse explosion, July 1, 2025, Esparto, Calif. (KGO via AP)
• In this aerial image taken from video, smoke and flames rise from a fireworks warehouse explosion, July 1, 2025, Esparto, Calif. (KGO via AP)
• In this aerial image taken from video, smoke and flames rise from a fireworks warehouse explosion, July 1, 2025, Esparto, Calif. (KGO via AP)
• In this image taken from video, smoke and flames rise from a fireworks warehouse explosion, July 1, 2025, in Esparto, Calif. (Hudson Sheats via AP)

Show Caption1 of 4In this aerial image taken from video, smoke and flames rise from a fireworks warehouse explosion, July 1, 2025, Esparto, Calif. (KGO via AP) Expand

Living near a fireworks warehouse always means a risk of fire and explosion, said fire investigator expert Richard Meier, but it is especially dangerous when it involves fireworks for large shows.

“You don’t want to live in the house right next door,” he said, adding that such large fireworks can “shoot a quarter of a mile or more.”

Meier said anything from a nearby brush fire to workers using equipment that were potential ignition sources could have triggered the explosion. Fireworks being stored too closely in large quantity also could have contributed to the scale of the blast.

The company’s lawyer didn’t immediately respond to question about whether the business was manufacturing fireworks on-site or how many fireworks were stored at the facility.

Authorities were working with the property’s owner and monitoring the area using drones to find the missing people as small explosions continued late Wednesday, said the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

The fire was held at nearly 80 acres after scorching surrounding agricultural fields, officials said.

“This type of incident is very rare, as facilities like this are required to not only follow our stringent California pyrotechnic requirements, but also federal explosive storage requirements,” Cal Fire said.

Nisa Gutierrez told the Sacramento CBS affiliate KOVR-TV that the blast was so strong it blew open the doors of her home, damaging the door frames.

She and her daughter were in their yard and were nearly knocked over as their pony and goats scattered.

“We hear like a big boom, and feel the wave,” Gutierrez said. “I thought it was a bomb.”

Crews including a team with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were working to enable safe access to the site “to conduct recovery operations and bolster investigative efforts for the explosion investigation,” the statement said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said it was tracking what happened and that state ground and air resources were deployed.

Officials in nearby Sutter and Yuba counties announced Wednesday that they were exploring alternatives for Fourth of July celebrations after their fireworks were destroyed in the blast.

“This tragic incident is a sobering reminder of the many hands behind the scenes who help create joy for others,” they said in a statement.

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the deportation of several immigrants who were put on a flight in May bound for South Sudan, a war-ravaged country where they have no ties.

Related Articles

• Honduran family freed from detention after lawsuit against ICE courthouse arrests
• Here’s what to know about clean energy in Republican megabill headed to Trump
• Takeaways as Congress sends tax and spending cuts bill to Trump’s desk
• EPA puts on leave 139 employees who spoke out against policies under Trump
• Medicaid, food aid recipients worry about safety net cuts in bill sent to Trump

The decision comes after the court’s conservative majority found that immigration officials can quickly deport people to third countries. The majority halted an order that had allowed immigrants to challenge any removals to countries outside their homeland where they could be in danger.

The court’s latest order makes clear that the South Sudan flight can complete the trip, weeks after it was detoured to a naval base in Djibouti where the migrants were held in a converted shipping container. It reverses findings from federal Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts, who said his order on those migrants still stands even after the high court lifted his broader decision.

The majority wrote that their decision on June 23 completely halted Murphy’s ruling and also rendered his decision on the South Sudan flight “unenforceable.” The court did not fully detail its legal reasoning on the underlying case, as is common on its emergency docket.

Two liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented, saying the ruling gives the government special treatment. “Other litigants must follow the rules, but the administration has the Supreme Court on speed dial,” Sotomayor wrote. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that while she disagreed with the original order, it does countermand Murphy’s findings on the South Sudan flight.

Attorneys for the eight migrants have said they could face “imprisonment, torture and even death” if sent to South Sudan, where escalating political tensions have threatened to devolve into another civil war.

“We know they’ll face perilous conditions, and potentially immediate detention, upon arrival,” Trina Realmuto, executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, said Thursday.

The push comes amid a sweeping immigration crackdown by Trump’s Republican administration, which has pledged to deport millions of people who are living in the United States illegally. The Trump administration has called Murphy’s finding “a lawless act of defiance.”

The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Authorities have reached agreements with other countries to house immigrants if authorities can’t quickly send them back to their homelands. The eight men sent to South Sudan in May had been convicted of serious crimes in the U.S. and had final orders of removal.

Murphy, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, didn’t prohibit deportations to third countries. But he found migrants must have a real chance to argue they could be in danger of torture if sent to another country, even if they’ve already exhausted their legal appeals.

The men and their guards have faced rough conditions on the naval base in Djibouti where authorities detoured the flight after Murphy found the administration had violated his order by failing allow them a chance to challenge the removal. They have since expressed a fear of being sent to South Sudan, Realmuto said.

CMC home inspection for National Mosquito Control Week  dailynews.lk

Homebuyers waive home inspections amid housing frenzy  MPA Mag

€25,000 Hidden Trap: The True Cost of Skipping Home Inspections in Portugal  The Portugal News

Former Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith revealed his perspective on the contract situation that went awry with the team, ultimately leading to this week’s trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

First, Smith expressed that he cherishes how the Steelers came forward as a team willing to deal for him and nearly tripled his salary for 2025 after the Dolphins didn’t pony up the extra cash.

“I’m in a situation where I’m appreciated,” Smith said on retired Dolphins tackle Terron Armstead’s podcast late Wednesday night. “You always want to be where you’re most valued and appreciated, and that’s the situation that I found myself in with Pittsburgh.”

Then, Smith unveiled his disappointment with how it ended in Miami.

“I didn’t foresee this happening with how the season went for me individually,” he said. “I had aspirations of ending my career in Miami, with it being home for me, my children, my family. But I understand the business side of it, and it didn’t work out. I’m grateful. I’ve got no ill feelings toward Miami and nobody in the organization.”

Smith added that it did sting to see the process play out the way it did after his stellar, record-breaking 2024 season with the Dolphins. He set franchise records for a tight end with 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Smith revealed he came to believe Dolphins brass would come around to give him a new contract after the breakout campaign and, early in the offseason, was in the process of buying a bigger South Florida home.

Related Articles

• Dolphins Deep Dive: Miami’s culture; McDaniel on hot seat? | VIDEO
• Dolphins Deep Dive: What is Miami’s goal for the 2025 season? | VIDEO
• Dolphins Deep Dive: Can Miami win with youth? | VIDEO
• Dolphins Deep Dive: Who are the best cornerbacks still available for Miami? | VIDEO
• Dolphins Deep Dive: Is Miami better after Jalen Ramsey trade? | VIDEO

“We started this conversation in January with Miami and, obviously, giving me the run-around, ‘We’ll bet back to it,’ ” Smith started. “Obviously, they had some things they had to address, and I understand that. I was patient with them throughout the whole entire process, and eventually it came to a point in time where they told me that they just can’t do it and they weren’t economically in a position to pay me like a Pro Bowl tight end.”

Beyond his offensive production, Smith felt he was a high-character player who could’ve been a leader on a team that had locker room issues in 2024 and is looking to alter the culture.

Smith also said he was grateful the Dolphins were also willing to trade him to find a team that was willing to increase his salary instead of holding him to his $4.64 million cap hit he was due in Miami for 2025.

Smith added he has been in communication with cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was also traded to the Steelers as the Dolphins got safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in return.

The tight end said he and Ramsey are on the same page in appreciating the culture with the Steelers under coach Mike Tomlin.

Armstead made the point that it was a win for the Dolphins to net Fitzpatrick in the deal while trading two players who weren’t going to play for the team anyway.

After trading Smith, the Dolphins brought former Raiders and Giants tight end Darren Waller out of retirement in a next-day trade with New York on Tuesday.

MIAMI — Brooks Lee and Carlos Correa drove in runs to back a strong start by Simeon Woods Richardson, and the Minnesota Twins beat Miami 2-1 on Wednesday night to end the Marlins’ eight-game winning streak.

Byron Buxton singled off Janson Junk to begin the game. He advanced on a wild pitch and Willi Castro’s single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lee that ended the Twins’ 18-inning scoreless streak.

Kyle Stowers homered for the second straight game, a solo shot off Woods Richardson to tie it in the second. It was his fifth homer in nine games and 15th overall.

Castro, who went 3 for 4, doubled leading off the fourth, Lee and Correa followed with two straight singles for a 2-1 lead.

Brock Stewart replaced Woods Richardson (4-4), who allowed a run on two hits in five innings, to begin the sixth and surrendered a leadoff double to Jesús Sánchez. Stowers had a two-out single to score Sánchez from second and tie the game, but it was ruled the ball glanced off base umpire Emil Jimenez and Sánchez was returned to third. Stewart struck out Eric Wagaman to keep it 2-1.

Four relievers combined for three scoreless innings and Jhoan Duran pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 15 opportunities.

Junk (2-1), making his third straight start after five appearances in long relief, allowed two runs on six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.

Miami won the opener 2-0 when Edward Cabrera became the first Marlins starter to go seven innings.

Key moment

Danny Coulombe retired Otto Lopez on a flyout to the warning track in left with the bases loaded in the seventh to keep it 2-1. Harrison Bader threw the tying run out at the plate for the second out.

Key stat

Stowers hadn’t had a home run since hitting two against the Cubs on May 14 — a span of 31 games — before hitting one against the Braves in the first game of the win streak.

Up next

Twins RHP David Festa (2-2, 5.40) starts Thursday’s rubber game opposite Marlins RHP Eury Pérez (0-2, 6.19).

By RIO YAMAT, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who is awaiting trial in the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur, has lost a bid for a new trial in a separate battery case tied to a jailhouse fight.

The ruling came Wednesday after a tense hearing in a Las Vegas courtroom that underscored the high-profile status of the defendant and his upcoming trial in one of hip-hop’s most infamous crimes.

The jurors who convicted Davis of battery in the jailhouse fight were put on the witness stand Wednesday. One by one, each of them denied claims by Davis’ son and a man who describes himself as a journalist that they overheard one of the jurors talking about the battery case during a lunch break ahead of deliberations.

Duane Davis looks back during a hearing on claims of juror misconduct in his jailhouse battery case at the Regional Justice Center on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool)

Both Davis’ son, Duane Davis Jr., and the self-described journalist, Richard Bond, testified Wednesday about hearing the juror’s comments in the hallway outside of the courtroom on the final day of a two-day trial in April.

“Those two witnesses do have a relationship and a bias and a motive to testify in a certain way, whether subconsciously or not,” Clark County District Judge Nadia Krall said while ruling from the bench.

It was revealed Wednesday when prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo questioned the men separately that they considered each other friends, that Bond had been sending money to both Duane Davis and his son, and that Bond had advised them to fire their attorney, Carl Arnold.

“Ever taken a class on journalistic ethics?” DiGiacomo asked Bond.

“No, I have not taken a class on journalistic ethics,” Bond said.

Duane Davis looks back during a hearing on claims of juror misconduct in his jailhouse battery case at the Regional Justice Center on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool)

The fight in December 2024 in a common room was captured on security video. Prosecutors said Davis was being escorted by a corrections officer back to his unit when he and another man exchanged words and then started fighting. Arnold said he was ambushed and acted in self-defense.

DiGiacomo, who also is prosecuting Duane Davis in the Shakur killing, said after court that he had no comment. A spokesperson for Arnold’s office also declined to comment.

Arnold said in court Wednesday that his client did not receive a fair trial in the battery case because of the juror’s apparent comments. The juror himself denied it multiple times while on the witness stand.

Wednesday’s hearing was not the first time that the credibility of those with ties to Davis has been questioned in court.

Davis, the only person ever charged in Shakur’s death, had sought to be freed from custody shortly after his arrest in September 2023. But a judge rejected his request, saying she suspected a cover-up of the true source of funds for his bond.

Related Articles

• Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending at least 15 to hospital
• Judge ends order blocking deportation of family of man charged in Boulder firebomb attack
• Nearly 368,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon recalled over possible listeria contamination
• Once known as ‘Dirty Myrtle,’ Myrtle Beach is now the fastest-growing US metro for seniors
• An MS-13 leader is sentenced to 68 years in racketeering case involving 8 murders

A music record executive offering to underwrite Davis’ $750,000 bail at the time testified that he obtained the money legally and wanted to help Davis because he’s “always been a monumental person in our community.”

But the judge said she was skeptical after receiving two identical letters apparently from an entertainment company that Cash “Wack 100” Jones says wired him the funds as payment for his work. One letter was signed with a name that had no ties to the company, the judge said, while the other included a misspelled name and a return address tied to a doctor’s office.

Davis has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. He’s accused of orchestrating the fatal drive-by shooting of Shakur nearly 30 years ago at a traffic light near the Las Vegas Strip.

Prosecutors say the evidence against Davis is strong, including his own accounts of the shooting throughout the years in interviews and a 2019 tell-all memoir. His trial is scheduled for February.

Shakur’s death at 25 came as his fourth solo album, “All Eyez on Me,” remained on the charts, with some 5 million copies sold. Nominated six times for a Grammy Award, Shakur is still largely considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time.

General Daily Insight for July 03, 2025

To stay and heal, or cut and run? We must brace ourselves as the needy Moon in harmonious Libra stands against wounded healer Chiron in trailblazing Aries at 11:10 pm EDT, pushing us to either wallow in our emotions or cut ourselves off from our feelings. Luckily, there is a secret third path that opens up when we sit in silence and listen to ourselves to discern what’s actually, personally necessary. Let go of whatever needs to be set free, and heal what’s still salvageable.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Significant healing can take place when your needs and wants are heard. You may realize that you are struggling to maintain a balance between your wishes and those of another, leading you to be at odds with each other. While compromise can be difficult, choosing what’s right for both people will be much more likely to create success than something that’s beneficial for one individual alone. Get rid of any resentment in advance by taking both parties into consideration from the jump.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Finding a way forward requires good energy management. There’s a strong chance of burning out today if you try to push yourself too hard or do too much, while doing nothing is likely to be equally frustrating. Knowing your limits and understanding how to fuel your body and mind is your best way to avoid either extreme. Do what you can, when you can. Don’t feel as though you’re forced to choose between couch potato and marathon runner. There’s a happy medium!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Please all, please none. A life decision you’ve made, a project you’re working on, even an outfit choice may be subject to a lot of input that you weren’t looking for. You might be struggling to try and make everyone happy with your decisions, while at the same time, striving to preserve your own happiness as well. It’s understandable that this can be challenging with so many different points of view. The most important thing is doing what will fulfill you in the long run.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

How others view you is not your job to correct. You might want to give off an image of yourself that is one certain way, but you cannot control how you are perceived. You can only control what you show — what other people see is another story. They bring their distinctive histories and biases to what they’re perceiving from you, and their responses should be seen as just that: their own. Let your intuition guide you in creating yourself more than their judgment.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Moving on can be more difficult than it sounds. It may be that you’re learning updated information that will show you how to better understand yourself and move on from past hurts, but it still takes time and energy to get there. You’re allowed to need more time to fully move on — even knowing the information in your head, your heart will likely still need space to process it all. Let the healing process work at its own speed, without rushing yourself.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Trusting people may not be as easy as it once was. You could have been deceived in the past, and now, trying to protect yourself, you might be avoiding close relationships or telling yourself that there’s no need to trust your peers. While it is true that there is some level of self-protection that you ought to utilize when trusting others, closing yourself off to ever trusting again only hurts you, not the person who originally wounded you. Learn to trust again, slowly, for yourself.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Someone else can encourage your healing process. They may be sharing their story to relate to something you’ve already shared, listening to your story to learn more about you, or soothing your historic aches through acts of service or words of affirmation. This is a powerful time to be connected to a friend who wants to help you heal through conversation, and you could find closure in matters that you weren’t expecting to handle. Sometimes, assistance comes when you least expect it.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Self-sabotage can nudge you to fall in with hidden enemies. You have big dreams, but there might be a fear that crops up when you get close to achieving them — a fear that tells you to avoid everything until it’s all over or step back before you can mess up on a larger scale. A fear of outgrowing the successes you’ve already had is the risk that you must take when you take the leap to better yourself. It’s worth it to try!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Healing your inner child may be bringing old dreams back to the forefront. You might have set down some of your past goals in order to buckle down and do what was necessary. This is your chance to return to these pursuits once more! However, it’s not guaranteed that you will, because part of it depends on you and your actions. The more that you accept who you were and what you loved, as long as it wasn’t hurting you or others, the better.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

The leaves reflect the roots. You might find that you’re not able to get a handle on several areas of your life, simply because there’s one root problem that you may have put blinders on for. This problem could be one that you don’t want to tackle due to its uncomfortable or emotionally challenging nature, but it may be the key that unlocks your future. Choosing to ignore what’s there doesn’t make it go away — it only keeps you held back.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Words can heal or hurt. You may find that someone expresses their thoughts to you without warning. Even if they’re being vulnerable and showing trust in you as a friend, you might not be on board with what they are saying. You might then have an opening to tear them down in an argument or express your point of view, hoping that they peacefully come to see your side. Weaponizing your words may only lead to a retaliation, rather than a changed heart.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

The security that you’ve created for yourself might feel newly fragile. An ironclad confidence can weaken when it comes to intense events where the spotlight is on you, as other people’s questions could lead you to feel pushed into a corner. It’s important to maintain your poise, because while they may be throwing a lot at you, being fazed by it would be less than ideal. Do your best to keep a calm composure, and give yourself some grace to be upset later in private.

By DAVID KLEPPER and ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A declassified CIA memo released Wednesday challenges the work intelligence agencies did to conclude that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election because it wanted Republican Donald Trump to win.

The memo was written on the orders of CIA Director John Ratcliffe, a Trump loyalist who spoke out against the Russia investigation as a member of Congress. It finds fault with a 2017 intelligence assessment that concluded the Russian government, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin, waged a covert influence campaign to help Trump win.

It does not address that multiple investigations since then, including a report from the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020, reached the same conclusion about Russia’s influence and motives.

The eight-page document is part of an ongoing effort by Trump and close allies who now lead key government agencies to revisit the history of the long-concluded Russia investigation, which resulted in criminal indictments and shadowed most of his first term but also produced unresolved grievances and contributed to the Republican president’s deep-rooted suspicions of the intelligence community.

The report is also the latest effort by Ratcliffe to challenge the decision-making and actions of intelligence agencies during the course of the Russia investigation.

A vocal Trump supporter in Congress who aggressively questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller during his 2019 testimony on Russian election interference, Ratcliffe later used his position as director of national intelligence to declassify Russian intelligence alleging damaging information about Democrats during the 2016 election even as he acknowledged that it might not be true.

The new, “lessons-learned” review ordered by Ratcliffe in May was meant to examine the tradecraft that went into the intelligence community’s 2017 assessment on Russian interference and to scrutinize in particular the conclusion that Putin “aspired” to help Trump win.

The report cited several “anomalies” that the authors wrote could have affected that conclusion, including a rushed timeline and a reliance on unconfirmed information, such as Democratic-funded opposition research about Trump’s ties to Russia compiled by a former British spy, Christopher Steele.

The report takes particular aim at the inclusion of a two-page summary of the Steele dossier, which included salacious and uncorroborated rumors about Trump’s ties to Russia, in an annex of the intelligence community assessment. It said that decision, championed by the FBI, “implicitly elevated unsubstantiated claims to the status of credible supporting evidence, compromising the analytical integrity of the judgment.”

But even as Ratcliffe faulted top intelligence officials for a “politically charged environment that triggered an atypical analytic process,” his agency’s report does not directly contradict any previous intelligence.

Russia’s support for Trump has been outlined in a number of intelligence reports and the August 2020 conclusions of the Senate Intelligence Committee, then chaired by Sen. Marco Rubio, who now serves as Trump’s secretary of state. It also was backed by Mueller, who in his 2019 report said that Russia interfered on Trump’s behalf and that the campaign welcomed the aid even if there was insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy.

Related Articles

• Trump to meet at White House with American hostage freed from Gaza
• FDA vaccine official restricted COVID vaccine approvals against the advice of agency staff
• Columbia University student data stolen by politically motivated hacker, university says
• Groups sue to stop Trump administration from using what they call unconstitutional tactics in raids
• Judge blocks order barring asylum access at border, gives administration two weeks to appeal

“This report doesn’t change any of the underlying evidence — in fact it doesn’t even address any of that evidence,” said Brian Taylor, a Russia expert who directs the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at Syracuse University.

Taylor suggested the report may have been intended to reinforce Trump’s claims that investigations into his ties to Russia are part of a Democratic hoax.

“Good intelligence analysts will tell you their job is to speak truth to power,” Taylor said. “If they tell the leader what he wants to hear, you often get flawed intelligence.”

Intelligence agencies regularly perform after-action reports to learn from past operations and investigations, but it’s uncommon for the evaluations to be declassified and released to the public.

Ratcliffe has said he wants to release material on a number of topics of public debate and has already declassified records relating to the assassinations of President John Kennedy and his brother, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, as well as the origins of COVID-19.