News

Does the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles really think that non-English reading drivers will refrain from driving if they can’t take the driving exam in their native language?

This decision will diminish safety on Florida’s already-perilous roads.

Taking the exam in one’s native language permits the driver to be knowledgeable about the rules of the road while mastering English proficiency, as many immigrants do.

The decision is suspect, as many elected Republican officeholders in Florida support the anti-immigrant actions undertaken by the federal government.

Let’s be honest about the message being delivered here: If you are not a white, English-proficient person, there is no welcome mat for you in the state of Florida.
 
John E. Lazar, Wilton Manors

State of FloridaThe official statement announcing Florida's policy of English-only driving tests. The framework of a fix

Natural-born U.S. citizens are about twice as likely to commit violent crimes as undocumented immigrants (National Institute for Justice study, Texas, all arrests, 2012-2018).

President Trump did an excellent thing by controlling our border. According to Trump, at least 15 million undocumented immigrants are in the U.S. It will take about 10 years to deport them, using due process.

A suggestion: Make it clear that undocumented immigrants must report to local immigration offices within the next six months. If they have no serious criminal offenses, they will receive a five-year blue card protecting them from being deported, as long as they remain free from serious crime. They must take courses in English and U.S. citizenship, and they may not vote.

After five years, they may start a process leading to citizenship. A reduced ICE force, working with local law enforcement, will continue to search for undocumented immigrants with violent records and arrest and/or deport them. This may be the framework of a solution to our immigration issue. Of course, a complete overhaul of the existing system is needed.

Mark Lippman, Boca Raton

Drop the masks, ICE

Except for the Lone Ranger, masked men with guns roaming America were feared as violent robbers, killers and other criminals, trying to hide their identity to protect themselves.

Glendale News PressThe Long Ranger (actor Clayton Moore) wore a mask, sort of.

Under the many chaotic, hypocritical perversions of the Trump administration, this is now topsy-turvy, with masked ICE agents — federal law enforcement — terrorizing and killing our citizens. This is wrong and unprecedented in our democracy, as it should be. We have never tolerated a secret police like the Nazis or the communists have.

While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security can claim it’s necessary to protect its officers, such actions are not protecting the American people. It makes it difficult, if not impossible, to hold these agents responsible for their illegal acts.

They must follow the rule of law or pay the price. Those masks have got to go!

Elin Shusterman, Boynton Beach

A tragedy lingers

Forty years ago (on Jan. 28, 1986), as I was driving north on University Drive toward Broward Boulevard in Plantation, my business associates and I witnessed the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger through my car windshield.

At the time, we thought we were witnessing the jettisoning only of the rocket’s first stage.

I turned east on Broward Boulevard, and upon walking into a restaurant for lunch, saw a crowd in the bar area watching the same scene.

We had learned just moments before that it exploded. It still gives me pause anytime it is replayed as I imagine how it may have affected all the children who watched it live from their classrooms that day.

How inexcusable that a few professionals ignored a serious issue and went forward with the launch, costing seven brave American their lives and likely traumatizing a generation. God bless America and those seven Americans.

Richard C. Russell, Port Charlotte

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Today is Wednesday, Feb. 4, the 35th day of 2026. There are 330 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 4, 1974, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, 19, was kidnapped in California by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army. Hearst was caught on camera participating in a bank robbery with the extremist group that April and subsequently found guilty of bank robbery and sentenced to seven years in prison. (President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence, and she was later pardoned.)

Also on this date:

In 1789, electors unanimously chose George Washington to be the first president of the United States.

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In 1801, John Marshall took office as chief justice of the United States, a position he would hold for 34 years.

In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began a wartime conference at Yalta.

In 1976, more than 23,000 people died when a severe earthquake struck Guatemala with a magnitude of 7.5.

In 1997, a civil jury in Santa Monica, California, found O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, ordering Simpson to pay $33.5 million to the victims’ families.

In 2004, Facebook had its beginnings as Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched “TheFacebook.”

In 2013, British scientists announced that skeletal remains they had discovered during an excavation beneath a Leicester, England parking lot were, beyond reasonable doubt, the remains of 15th century monarch King Richard III.

In 2023, the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, saying it was equipped with high-tech gear for a military-linked aerial surveillance program. China denied the balloon was used for spying on sensitive North American military sites, insisting the flyover was an accident involving a weather balloon.

Today’s birthdays:

• Former Argentine President Isabel Peron is 95.
• Rock singer Alice Cooper is 78.
• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is 73.
• Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor is 67.
• Country singer Clint Black is 64.
• Boxing Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya is 53.
• Singer Natalie Imbruglia is 51.
• Rapper Cam’ron is 50.
• Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw is 49.
• Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Carly Patterson is 38.
• Actor Edvin Ryding is 23.

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 127-115 loss to the Atlanta Hawks:

– So Chicago decided enough of the fool’s errand of play-in purgatory. So Nikola Vucevic was dealt Tuesday.

– Before that, Atlanta decided something had to change from their play-in pointlessness, so they dealt Trae Young.

– And now here stand the Heat, after a week of toe-to-toe against the Bulls and the Hawks, again tracking toward the play-in, as if inescapable.

– The next two days, prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, decisions will have to be made.

– Is this good enough?

– Can it get better in the short run?

– Or teardown to follow?

– The Bulls and Hawks basically cried “uncle.”

– For the Heat, such is a loser’s lament.

– Insisting there can be something more from this season.

– And yet, here they are, looking up from their familiar perch in the Nos. 7-10 portion of the East.

– Good, perhaps.

– But not good enough.

– A bad loss Saturday against the Bulls.

– A struggle Tuesday night against the Hawks.

– More pretender than contender.

– Back here again.

– Stuck in the middle.

– As the other East middling teams decide time for change.

– With the Heat now assuredly on the clock.

– With Andrew Wiggins (hamstring), Norman Powell (personal) and Tyler Herro out, the Heat moved to their 17th starting lineup of the season, opening with Bam Adebayo, Simone Fontecchio, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell and Myron Gardner.

– It was Fontecchio’s third start, Gardner’s second.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. was first off the Heat bench.

– Kel’el Ware and Dru Smith then followed together.

– Then Kasparas Jakucionis for nine deep.

– With Nikola Jovic then entering in the second quarter.

– Powell was in the building, but not in uniform.

– The game was part of the Heat’s celebration of their initial title team in 2006, amid the 20th anniversary season.

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– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it was a meaningful commemoration and tribute to the fact that management and ownership remains intact.

– “I hope that, and I sense that our group really kind of felt the legacy and felt the history and felt how different and unique we feel like our franchise is,” Spoelstra said of the current roster.

– “It just brings you back,” Spoelstra said. “That’s like an instant time machine. And it was an amazing run. And it kind of obviously put our franchise on a different kind of map in this league.”

– “I do hope our team just sees how special that is,” Spoelstra said. “And then imagining that 20 years from now, you know, what that could be like, coming back to celebrate something really special as a group.”

– With trades at center stage in the league ahead of Thursday’s NBA trading deadline, Hawks coach Quin Snyder was asked pregame about his team’s adjustment from the Young trade to the Wizards.

– “It’s something that I think from a coaching standpoint, that’s what you spend your nights thinking about,” he said. “How to acclimate those guys, and how to get them to where the whole can become greater than the sum of the parts. Try to be patient with it. There’s not always a lot of time to do that.”

– Heat two-way player Jahmir Young has been selected to participate in the 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game during NBA All-Star Weekend. Young also has been selected for the G League 3-Point Contest.

MIAMI — Bodies were lacking and so was the inspiration.

Shorthanded yet again, not even a celebration of the team’s 2005-06 championship season could provide needed motivation as the Heat fell 127–115 Tuesday night to the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center.

So 27-25 it is, with the Heat now idle through Thursday’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline.

“We just have to conquer this,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We have to get better with it. We have to get better with our consistency.”

By the third quarter, with the deficit in double digits throughout most of the night, chants began of “We want Giannis!” as if a recognition of what currently is on display simply is not good enough.

Granted, the Heat this time were without Andrew Wiggins (hamstring), Tyler Herro (ribs) and Norman Powell (personal reasons). But this also was against a Hawks team that this season already had punted on Trae Young and entered 24-27.

So while Hawks All-Star forward Jalen Johnson was going for 29 points, Heat All-Star Powell was merely a spectator on the bench, missing his third consecutive game.

The Heat got a 16-point, 14-assist double-double from Bam Adebayo, but little of overall substance, save for 21 points from Jaime Jaquez Jr., as they simply proved unable to keep up with Atlanta’s 21-of-51 3-point shooting.

“We basically won in almost every category except for threes,” Adebayo said.

“We’re continuing to try to find solutions,” Jaquez said. “So far, we haven’t gotten them.”

So the struggle continues.

“I see the potential with our team. I really do,” Spoelstra said. “But that ability to sustain our game and get a quality win and then do it again and then rinse and repeat and do it again, that’s what all the very good teams are able to do.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat trailed 33-23 at the close of the opening period and 67-50 at halftime.

“Our defense that was lacking,” forward Pelle Larsson, who closed with 18 points.

Unlike previous games when it had gone south for the Heat in the third period, the Heat this time clawed within seven midway through the quarter. But that is when the rally ended, with the Heat down 98-81 entering the fourth.

“They had us scrambling,” Spoelstra said. “I don’t think we really helped ourselves defensively.”

From there, the Heat got within 11 with 8:52 to play, but by the time 6:33 remained, the Hawks’ lead was back up to 20, sparked by guard CJ McCollum, the player acquired in the trade of Young. McCollum closed with 26 points, 6 of 9 on 3-pointers.

“Frustrating, frustrating loss,” Jaquez said. “We just couldn’t get it done defensively tonight. They  lit us up from the three, something that’s kind of been a theme for us in the last couple games. We just got to continue to get better.”

2. Minding Myron: The Heat’s lack of available bodies had Myron Gardner in the Heat’s lineup with his second career start.

Once again the two-way player energized with his attacking style and 3-point stroke.

Based on the Heat’s roster composition, they could transition Gardner from his two-way deal to a standard contract as soon as the passing of Thursday’s trading deadline.

Gardner now has scored in double figures in three of the past four games, after doing so just once previously this season. He closed with 14 points and six rebounds.

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3. Another rough one: It again was a rough go for Kel’el Ware in his opening stint, the Heat outscored by 11 in his first 8:17.

In the wake of recent tough love with the 2024 first-round pick, Spoelstra this time stopped to speak with Ware as he came off the floor following that stint, with assistant coach Malik Allen also offering words to Ware as he made his way to the bench.

Ware was 1 of 6 from the field during that initial action.

It got worse from there, with the Heat -19 when Ware left after his second stint, in the third quarter.

He closed with nine points and eight rebounds, closing during mop-up duty.

4. Uneven ride: It was another uneven start for Adebayo, who opened 1 of 8 from the field.

But, as with many of his recent performances, he bounced back to close with his 20th double-double of the season.

That made it seven seasons with at least 20 double-doubles for the 2017 first-round pick, the most in the franchise’s 38 seasons. Alonzo Mourning had six such seasons, Rony Seikaly and Hassan Whiteside five apiece, Udonis Haslem four.

As captain, Adebayo now has to lead the team through the trading deadline.

“For us, it’s Thursday, see what happens,” he said. “But control what you can control. Can’t control what happens up there.”

5. Halftime commemoration: The Heat had an extended halftime commemoration to honor the 20th anniversary of the 2005-06 title team, the franchise’s first championship.

“This is the standard,” Dwyane Wade said of that team during the courtside ceremony.

Before the game, Wade said he hoped the commemoration could inspire this Heat iteration.

“We believed in each other, and we accomplished something that no one thought we could,” he said of the 2006 title team. “They will be doing the same thing. And so I hope there’s some inspiration to be pulled and I hope you want to come back and celebrate with your teammates, celebrating something that is as incredible as winning a championship. So, yes, damn right, they better be inspired.”

Just not on this night, and not after the team’s annual charity gala celebration the 2006 champions.

“I don’t think it took anything away from that celebration,” Spoelstra said, “but man, it would have been awesome to have that gala, that celebration last night, have a kick-ass win tonight and have the halftime, you know, that we’re able to have. It would have been a perfect, perfect 24 hours.”

By MEGAN JANETSKY

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Historians and observers accused the Trump administration of trying to rewrite American history to justify its own foreign policy decisions toward Latin America by posting a “historically inaccurate” version of the Mexican-American war.

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The Monday statement from the White House commemorating the anniversary of the war described the conflict as a “legendary victory that secured the American Southwest, reasserted American sovereignty, and expanded the promise of American independence across our majestic continent.” The statement drew parallels between the period in U.S. history and its own increasingly aggressive policies toward Latin America, which it said would “ensure the Hemisphere remains safe.”

“Guided by our victory on the fields of Mexico 178 years ago, I have spared no effort in defending our southern border against invasion, upholding the rule of law, and protecting our homeland from forces of evil, violence, and destruction,” the statement said, though it was unsigned.

In the post, the White House makes no mention of the key role slavery played in the war and glorifies the wider “Manifest Destiny” period, which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans from their land.

Sparking criticism

Alexander Aviña, Latin American history professor at Arizona State University, said the White House statement “underplays the massive amounts of violence that it took to expand” the U.S. to the Pacific shore at a time when the Trump administration has stuck its hand in Latin American affairs in a way not seen in decades, deposing Venezuela’s president, meddling in elections and threatening military action in Mexico and other countries.

“U.S. political leaders since then have seen this as an ugly aspect of U.S. history, this is a pretty clear instance of U.S. imperialism against its southern neighbor,” Aviña said. “The Trump administration is actually embracing this as a positive in U.S. history and framing it – inaccurately historically – as some sort of defensive measure to prevent the Mexico from invading them.”

On Tuesday, criticisms of the White House statement quickly rippled across social media.

Asked about the statement in her morning news briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum guffawed, quipping and noting “we have to defend sovereignty.” Sheinbaum, who has walked a tight rope with the Trump administration, has responded to Trump with a balanced tone and occasionally with sarcasm, like when Trump changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Historical sticking point

The Mexican-American war (1846–1848) was triggered by long-running border disputes between the U.S. and Mexico and the United States’ annexation of Texas in 1845. For years leading up to the war, Americans had gradually moved into the then-Mexican territory. Mexico had banned slavery and U.S. abolitionists feared the U.S. land grab was in part an attempt to add slave states.

After fighting broke out and successive U.S. victories, Mexico ceded more than 525,000 square miles of territory — including what now comprises Arizona, California, western Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah — to the U.S.

The moment turned Texas into a key chess piece during the U.S. Civil War and led former President Ulysses S. Grant to write later that the conflict with Mexico was “one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation.”

The Associated Press was formed when five New York City newspapers funded a pony express route through Alabama to bring news of the Mexican War — as it is sometimes known in the U.S. — north faster than the U.S. Post Office could deliver it.

The war continues to be a historical sticking point between the two countries, particularly as Sheinbaum repeatedly reminds Trump that her country is a sovereign nation whenever Trump openly weighs taking military action against Mexican cartels and pressures Mexico to bend to its will.

Rewriting history

The White House statement falls in line with wider actions taken by the Trump administration to mold the federal government’s language around its own creed, said Albert Camarillo, history professor at Stanford University, who described the statement as a “distorted, ahistorical, imperialist version” of the war.

Aviña said the statement serves “to assert rhetorically that the U.S. is justified in establishing its so-called ‘America First’ policy throughout the Americas,” regardless of the historical accuracy.

The Trump administration has ordered the rewriting of history on display at the Smithsonian Institution, saying it was “restoring truth and sanity to American history.”

The administration has scrubbed government websites of history, legal records and data it finds disagreeable. Trump also ordered the government to remove any signs that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living,” including those making reference to slavery, destruction of Native American cultures and climate change.

“This statement is consistent with so many others that attempt to whitewash and reframe U.S. history and erase generations of historical scholarship,” Camarillo said.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, DAVID A. LIEB and MORGAN LEE

Federal immigration officials are scouting warehouses and beginning to purchase some of them to transform into detention and processing facilities.

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Some warehouse owners have decided not to sell to Immigration and Customs Enforcement under pressure from elected officials and advocates. Some cities are issuing statements urging ICE to look elsewhere, and Kansas City has passed a moratorium on non-city-run detention facilities.

ICE has offered few specifics, even to the cities, but said in a statement that the sites wouldn’t be warehouses but “well structured detention facilities” and said it should come as no surprise that the agency is working to expand detention space.

Here is a look at what’s happening:

Arizona

ICE paid $70 million last month for a vast warehouse facility on the northwestern outskirts of Phoenix, according to a deed filed with Maricopa County.

The city of Surprise said in a statement released Friday that it was not aware that there were efforts underway to purchase the building, was not notified of the transaction by any of the parties involved and has not been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security or any federal agency about the intended use of the building.

The statement said federal projects are not subject to local regulations, such as zoning.

Florida

In Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement last month that the city was advised that it has no legal options to halt a possible ICE facility from opening.

The statement said the city has not been informed by the federal government of potential plans, but a TV reporter spotted a group of private contractors and federal officials touring a 439,945-square-foot industrial warehouse last month. ICE senior advisor David Venturella told a reporter with WFTV at the time that the tour was “exploratory” and that nothing had been decided yet.

City attorney Mayanne Downs said in a letter that “ICE is immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate.”

Indiana

The town council in Merrillville passed a resolution last week in opposition of ICE converting a warehouse into a processing or detention facility.

The city said it was aware of a tour of the newly constructed, 275,000-square-foot warehouse. But it said it had received no notice or communication from ICE, the Department of Homeland Security or any federal agency about any possible plans.

An earlier statement said that the town was reviewing zoning, land use and occupancy requirements.

Maryland

ICE purchased a warehouse in a county about 60 miles northwest of Baltimore for $102.4 million, a deed signed last month shows. The deed was unearthed by Project Salt Box, a Maryland ICE watchdog.

Officials in Washington County said in a Facebook post that the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter beforehand that it was considering purchasing the warehouse for use as a “new ICE Baltimore Processing Facility.” Cafeterias, bathrooms, health care spaces, tents and guard shacks could be part of the project, according to the letter that was addressed to historic and planning officials in the county.

The county said there wasn’t much they could do because the federal government generally does not need to respect local zoning regulations that conflict with federal mandates.

“Washington County is not able to legally restrict the federal government’s ability to proceed,” the post said.

Minnesota

In the suburbs of Minneapolis, the owners of two warehouses have pulled out of possible ICE deals amid a public outcry.

In Woodbury, Mayor Anne Burt said in a Facebook post last month that city staff had confirmed that a warehouse in the city isn’t being sold or leased to the federal government. She also confirmed at a council meeting that ICE had been interested in the property.

Owners of another warehouse in Shakopee also decided not to move forward, state Rep. Brad Tabke announced last month in a Facebook post.

“They heard you, they listened,” Tabke said.

Mississippi

Federal officials were spotted last month scouting a building in Marshall County, the county’s board vice president, Neil Bennett, told The Commercial Appeal.

Bennett said he was not aware of the visit beforehand because it is a privately owned building, but he heard about it “later on.” The building is listed as available for sale and lease on the website of JLL Properties, a purveyor of commercial real estate.

Bennett told The Associated Press that he didn’t have time to discuss the situation when contacted Tuesday because he was dealing with ongoing power outages in the area. A woman who answered the phone at the county government building said the county isn’t commenting at this time.

Missouri

In Kansas City, the city council passed a five-year moratorium on non-city-run detention facilities on the very day that ICE officials were spotted touring a warehouse.

Manny Abarca, a Jackson County lawmaker, was initially threatened with trespassing when he showed up Jan. 15 at the nearly 1-million-square-foot (92,903 square meters) building on the outskirts of Kansas City.

He said he was eventually allowed inside where Shawn Byers, the deputy field office director for ICE in Chicago, told him that they were scouting for a 7,500-bed site.

Abarca announced last week he was introducing a similar detention moratorium at the county level.

“When federal power is putting communities on edge, local government has a responsibility to act where we have authority,” he said in a statement.

New Hampshire

The town council in Merrimack — population 30,000 — expressed its opposition to an ICE immigration detention and processing center in a January letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without receiving a direct response.

Council members fear federal acquisition of a commercial warehouse in Merrimack, 45 miles northwest of Boston, would undermine the city’s property tax base by more than $500,000 a year, shifting costs to other property owners.

The Department of Homeland Security told New Hampshire’s congressional delegation that ICE is “reviewing its detention structure and acquisition strategy to address a historic operational tempo and increasing arrests” and had no new detention centers to announce. The ACLU of New Hampshire said Tuesday that public records show ICE has consulted with state historic preservation officials about development of a 43-acre site at Merrimack.

Democratic state Rep. Rosemarie Rung of Merrimack said her constituents worry about the strain of an immigration detention center on local emergency services and public infrastructure.

“I really suspect that the silent treatment is deliberate so that they can avoid any protests regarding this facility,” Rung said. “It makes us all very suspect.”

New Jersey

In Roxbury, council members passed a resolution saying that they aren’t in support of an ICE facility after township manager J.J. Murphy spotted ICE officials touring a warehouse there last month. The council also pointed out that the township’s zoning regulations prohibit using the warehouse as a detention facility.

ICE’s plans for the site are unclear. Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press Monday that the township has received no information from federal officials about their plans for the site despite repeated emails.

That hasn’t stopped the township from sharing an internal memo from the city’s engineer about water and sewar issues at the site with the owner of the warehouse. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker also has toured the site.

New York

Elected officials are pushing back after the Department of Homeland Security posted a notice announcing a proposal to purchase a vacant warehouse in Chester, a town more than an hour north of New York City, for “ICE operations.” ICE said the proposed improvements would include a small guard building and outdoor recreation area.

The notice was needed because the former distribution center for the aftermarket automotive chain PepBoys is in a 100-year flood plain.

New York state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat, said in a statement that she would support the town and village boards as they use “every legal, zoning, and environmental tool available” to block the facility.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma City, Mayor David Holt announced Thursday that he has been informed that the Department of Homeland Security is no longer in talks to acquire a warehouse after the city council urged federal officials to take part in the city’s permitting process.

The department had told the city in a letter last month that it intended to purchase a nearly 27-acre warehouse in the city for ICE operations.

But as crowds opposed to the facility packed a city council meeting this week, the council said the city was exploring legal options. Holt said the property owners then informed him that they are no longer engaged with Homeland Security about a potential acquisition or lease of this property.

“I commend the owners for their decision and thank them on behalf of the people of Oklahoma City,” Holt said. “As Mayor, I ask that every single property owner in Oklahoma City exhibit the same concern for our community in the days ahead.”

Pennsylvania

ICE paid $87.4 million for a nearly 520,000-square-foot warehouse, according to a deed that was recorded Monday in Berks County.

Real estate developers promoted it as a “state-of-the art logistics center” located 45 minutes from Allentown, an hour and a half from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City.

The county spokesman, Jonathan Heintzman, said in an email that the county was informed Monday by the recorder of deeds of the purchase. Heintzman said the county had no prior knowledge of the sale and had no information on future plans for the property.

Texas

In El Paso County, commissioners on Monday formally expressed opposition to the construction of detention facilities amid reports that ICE is eying a warehouse in the county. Commissioners also said they working with other officials to try to get more details.

Other cities in Texas also have been named in unconfirmed reports, but officials haven’t heard any information from federal officials.

Utah

In Salt Lake City, Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed gratitude last week in her State of the City address that the owners of a warehouse that ICE was eying as a detention facility had announced plans not to sell or lease the property to the federal government.

The announcement from the Ritchie Group, a Utah real estate developer, came after Mendenhall sent a letter saying that the building would need to address a host of requirements before obtaining an occupancy permit.

“But let me be clear: this isn’t just about zoning restrictions,” Mendenhall said. “Such a facility has no place in our city. Whether at that site or anywhere else.”

Virginia

In the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, officials in Hanover County are asking their attorney to evaluate legal options after the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter confirming its intent to purchase and operate an ICE processing facility in an area that includes retail, hotels and restaurants.

Sean Davis, the county’s board of supervisors chair, said the facility would cut into tax revenue but acknowledged at a packed meeting last week that there was only so much it could do to oppose it.

“The federal government is generally exempt from our zoning regulations,” he said.

Dozens of speakers turned out — some in support of the facility and others opposed.

“You want what’s happening in Minnesota to go down in our own backyard, build that detention center here and that’s exactly what will happen,” Kimberly Matthews of Mechanicsville told supervisors.

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants announced Tuesday it would be closing all of its remaining Bahama Breeze locations nationwide, ending the brand after 30 years.

Half of the 28 Bahama Breeze locations across the country will be converted into Darden’s other restaurant brands over the next 12 to 18 months and are expected to continue operating until any temporary closures are needed to convert them, the company said. The other 14 will be permanently closed as of April 5.

Darden said it doesn’t expect the closures to have a material impact on its financial results.

“The company believes the conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said. “Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio.”

The first Bahama Breeze location opened on International Drive in 1996 and was an instant hit.

“This creative Caribbean restaurant proves that mega-corporations can do good food if they want to,” wrote the Orlando Sentinel’s food critic at the time, Scott Joseph.

Industry analysts in 1998 said Bahama Breeze’s Florida locations averaged sales of at least $6 million a year, twice the average at each of Darden’s more established chains, Red Lobster and Olive Garden.

But the brand has recently been in trouble.

Darden closed 15 Bahama Breeze locations across the eastern United States in May, saying that it would allow the brand to focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the its overall performance. But its nine locations in the Orlando metro area had been spared.

John Gordon, a longtime industry analyst based in San Diego, said Bahama Breeze’s fall is in part due to the relatively limited popularity of Caribbean food in the U.S. It was also about balancing real estate costs versus profitably — a major problem for Darden, since the chain is one of the larger brands in its portfolio in terms of square footage per location.

But he said larger industry-wide problems are also to blame, including consumers who make less than $50,000 annually spending less due to inflation. Consumers in their mid-to-late twenties are also not able to financially establish themselves and spend as much as previous generations were able to do at that age.

Gordon said Darden’s priorities right now are taking care of their existing brands and finding new, exciting brands that they can bring on board.

“They know that Olive Garden is growing older,” he said of the Italian chain’s aging customer base.  “Some of the customers are transitioning when they get older, they don’t go out to eat as much. … So they know that they have to be investing in other hot up-and-coming concepts.”

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — A deal was reached between lawyers for victims of Jeffrey Epstein and the Justice Department to protect the identities of nearly 100 women whose lives were allegedly harmed after the government began releasing millions of documents last week, a lawyer told a federal judge on Tuesday.

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Judge Richard M. Berman in Manhattan cancelled a hearing scheduled for Wednesday after he was notified by Florida attorney Brittany Henderson that “extensive and constructive discussions” with the government had resulted in an agreement.

Henderson and attorney Brad Edwards had complained to Berman in a letter Sunday that “immediate judicial intervention” was needed after there were thousands of instances when the government had failed to redact names and other personally identifying information of women sexually abused by Epstein.

Among eight women whose comments were included in the lawyers’ Sunday letter, one said the records’ release was “life threatening” while another said she’d gotten death threats and she was forced to shut down her credit cards and banking accounts after their security was jeopardized.

The lawyers had requested that the Justice Department website be temporarily shut down and that an independent monitor be appointed to ensure no further errors occurred.

Henderson did not say what government lawyers said to ensure identities would be protected going forward or what the agreement consisted of.

“We trust that the deficiencies will be corrected expeditiously and in a manner that protects victims from further harm,” she wrote to the judge.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The judge wrote in an order cancelling the Wednesday public hearing that he was “pleased but not surprised that the parties were able to resolve the privacy issues.”

On Monday, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton in Manhattan wrote in a letter filed in Manhattan federal court that errors blamed on “technical or human error” occurred on redactions during the document release.

He said the Justice Department had improved its protocols to protect victims and had taken down nearly all materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with many more that the government had found on its own.

Mistakes in the largest release of Epstein documents yet included nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.

Most of the materials that were released stemmed from sex trafficking probes of Epstein and his former girlfriend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was convicted in December 2021 at a New York trial.

Epstein took his life in a federal jail in New York in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

General Daily Insight for February 04, 2026

Kind conversations can open almost any door at the moment. Thanks to romantic Venus sextiling healing Chiron at 5:23 pm EST, care and courage will both be necessary to mend relational wounds. Getting started will be the hardest part, but once the chatter begins to flow, we’ll all be able to share our hurts without blame. Later, Luna trines unpredictable Uranus, bringing inspiration that makes changes feel doable (especially regarding shared tasks or collaborative efforts). We’ll all be blessed when we each choose empathy.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Honesty is a talent, and today’s your moment to practice it. Venus in your friendly 11th house and Chiron in your bold sign are embracing, empowering you to speak up. Others are most likely to welcome your ideas when you lay out your goals, motivations, and requirements. Should conflict arise from a jealous onlooker, pay them no heed. They don’t need to approve of this collaboration if they aren’t involved! Of course, if they are, you may need to craft an alternative suggestion.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Change doesn’t have to be painful. Your 5th House of Inspiration is warmed by the Moon’s trine with advanced Uranus, which is presently in your sign. You might revive a favorite hobby and share a piece of it with someone else, because showing your genuine style invites warm attention. Avoid self-conscious stumbles by picking your confidant carefully. Even if their tastes differ from yours, true friends shouldn’t insult your honest self-expression. Let your soul guide you toward steady joy without overthinking it.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Good news could be just around the corner! Social butterfly Venus and pensive Chiron are waltzing through your learning zone and your social sector, showing off just how much your friends can teach you — purposefully or not. A thoughtful message may connect philosophical dots, or a playful question can naturally bring up an ideological discussion. If a friend challenges your beliefs, engage them respectfully, because they might point out something you hadn’t yet noticed. Your shared insights could enlighten the rest of the group.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Healing grows as you share your truth. Your 8th House of Intimacy welcomes romantic Venus, who sextiles vulnerable Chiron in your 10th House of Career, inviting conversations about shared responsibilities and power dynamics. In any role you hold, clear agreements reduce tension because your protective nature prefers security and expectations. If topics feel heavy, suggest a pause and return with notes so feelings stay honored while plans keep moving toward real stability that everyone understands. Open the books gently to strengthen shared trust today meaningfully.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Wobbly plans or uncertain schedules are no match for you today. The Moon-Uranus trine unites your 2nd House of Logistics and your 10th House of Reputation, so your success here could become widely known. That doesn’t mean combing out the tangles of an overly complicated idea will be easy, but it’s definitely possible. Whether you’re explaining costs at work or financing a personal project, don’t lie to yourself about the numbers. Just take what you have and do what you can with it!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Peace can presently be found in imperfect places. It may be hard to acknowledge the progress you’re making if you aren’t finished yet, but that’s no way to sustain your efforts. Cut yourself a break! During this alignment of the temperamental Moon in your sign and chaotic Uranus in your exploration sector, minor successes are still worthy of celebration. You’re allowed to want more, of course, but be wary of getting stuck in the quagmire of self-pity. You’re moving forward, and that’s what matters.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

When did you last talk to your closest friend? Even if the answer is “five minutes ago,” consider connecting with them again at some point today. Just as Venus and Chiron are bonding, you’ll benefit from bonding with those who matter most. This could be romantic, but it definitely doesn’t have to be — friendly hang-outs should be just as satisfying as fancy dates. Even if the rest of your day sucked, you can enjoy laughing at an in-joke with your buddies.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Changing perspectives may transform an issue into something far different than you’d imagined. Group dynamics are especially vulnerable to such drastic shifts. Once the Moon and Uranus come to an agreement from your friendly 11th house and amicable 7th house, it should be much easier to find common ground across your social circle. You might renegotiate expectations for an event or project with more sympathy on all sides. The best outcome can — and should — be built without power struggles, second-guessing, or undercutting.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Where would a fresh approach feel most exciting? Momentum builds as the Moon in your 10th House of Obligations trines breakthrough Uranus in your 6th House of Determination, inviting you to vault over a wall that once seemed insurmountable. Combining your own research with advice from a mentor could set you on a course for amazing success. Be willing to explain your plan and let teammates know when you anticipate seeing results. You’re about to make the kind of progress that everyone can applaud!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Caring for someone may require unusual amounts of courage. Your 2nd House of Assets hosts loving Venus, who sextiles therapeutic Chiron in your 4th House of Support, encouraging choices that protect family stability and personal dignity. If possible, set aside some time to plan for the financial future. Setting up those guidelines in advance will make it easier to stick to your day-to-day budget. Your decisions should be grounded rather than rushed or reactive. Choose values that make your house feel like a home.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Aquarius, your presence changes the room. With free-loving Venus in your sign, sextiling tender Chiron in your 3rd House of Dialogue, you can draw the good kind of attention as you speak up and show your style. Introduce yourself with poise — you know who you are, and you’re ready to declare it! This boldness helps people understand what you care about. Don’t let doubts pressure you into silence. You can phrase your truths gently, but stand by them confidently.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Gentle waves carry honest words ashore. Your 7th House of Bonding opens as the Moon trines Uranus in your chatty 3rd house, inviting talks that clear confusion in close relationships. You could suggest a gentle walk-and-talk with someone you trust, because moving together helps shy truths emerge without pressure. Doing errands or visiting a local park could have a similar effect. It’s okay if you struggle to find the words — your loved ones should give you time to gather your thoughts.

By CLAIRE RUSH

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal officers are temporarily restricted from using tear gas at protests outside a Portland immigration building, a judge in Oregon ruled Tuesday, just days after agents fired gas into a crowd of demonstrators that local officials described as peaceful and which included young children.

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U.S. District Judge Michael Simon ordered federal officers to not use chemical or projectile munitions unless the person targeted poses an imminent threat of physical harm. Simon also limited federal officers from firing munitions at the head, neck or torso “unless the officer is legally justified in using deadly force against that person.”

The temporary restraining order will be in effect for 14 days.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Oregon on behalf of protesters and freelance journalists covering demonstrations at the flashpoint U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

The suit names as defendants the Department of Homeland Security and its head Kristi Noem, as well as President Donald Trump. It argues that federal officers’ use of chemical munitions and excessive force is a retaliation against protesters that chills their First Amendment rights.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Courts elsewhere have also considered the issue of federal agents’ use of chemical munitions against protesters, as cities across the country have seen demonstrations against the Trump administration’s surge in immigration enforcement.

Last month, a federal appeals court suspended a decision that prohibited federal officers from using tear gas or pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota who aren’t obstructing law enforcement. An appeals court also halted a ruling from a federal judge in Chicago that restricted federal agents from using certain riot control weapons, such as tear gas and pepper balls, unless necessary to prevent an immediate threat. A similar lawsuit brought by the state is now before the same judge.

The Oregon complaint describes instances in which the plaintiffs — including a protester known for wearing a chicken costume, a married couple in their 80s and two freelance journalists — had chemical or “less-lethal” munitions used against them.

In October, 83-year-old Vietnam War veteran Richard Eckman and his 84-year-old wife Laurie Eckman joined a rally that peacefully marched to the ICE building. Once there, federal officers launched chemical munitions at the crowd, hitting Laurie Eckman in the head with a pepper ball and causing her to bleed, according to the complaint. With bloody clothes and hair, she sought treatment at a hospital, which gave her instructions for caring for a concussion. A munition also hit her husband’s walker, the complaint says.

Jack Dickinson, who frequently attends protests at the ICE building in a chicken suit, has had munitions aimed at him while posing no threat, according to the complaint. Federal officers have shot munitions at his face respirator and at his back, and launched a tear-gas canister that sparked next to his leg and burned a hole in his costume, the complaint says.

Freelance journalists Hugo Rios and Mason Lake have similarly been hit with pepper balls and tear gassed while marked as press, according to the complaint.

“Defendants must be enjoined from gassing, shooting, hitting and arresting peaceful Portlanders and journalists willing to document federal abuses as if they are enemy combatants,” the complaint says. “Defendants’ actions have caused and continue to cause Plaintiffs irreparable harm, including physical injury, fear of arrest, and a chilling of their willingness to exercise rights of speech, press, and assembly.”

Local officials have also spoken out against the use of chemical munitions. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson demanded ICE leave the city after federal officers used such munitions Saturday at what he described as a “peaceful daytime protest where the vast majority of those present violated no laws, made no threat, and posed no danger to federal forces.”

“To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave,” Wilson wrote in a statement Saturday night. “To those who continue to make these sickening decisions, go home, look in a mirror, and ask yourselves why you have gassed children.”

The protest was one of many similar demonstrations nationwide against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in cities like Minneapolis, where in recent weeks federal agents killed two residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed.

Why Team-Based Inspection Models Are the Future of the Home Inspection Industry  1851 Franchise

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2026. There are 331 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 3, 2015, a Metro-North Railroad commuter train slammed into an SUV stuck on the tracks at a suburban rail crossing 20 miles north of New York City, killing five train passengers and the SUV driver and injuring about 30 others.

Also on this date:

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting Black American men the right to vote, was ratified.

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In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.

In 1917, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, the same day an American cargo ship, the SS Housatonic, was sunk by a U-boat off Britain (after the crew was allowed to board lifeboats).

In 1943, during World War II, the U.S. transport ship SS Dorchester, which was carrying troops to Greenland, sank after being hit by a German torpedo in the Labrador Sea; only some 230 of the 900 aboard survived.

In 1959, which would become known as “the day the music died,” rock ‘n roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.

In 1966, the Soviet probe Luna 9 became the first man-made object to make a soft landing on the moon.

In 1998, a U.S. Marine jet sliced through the cable of a ski gondola near Cavalese, Italy, causing the car to plunge hundreds of feet, killing all 20 people inside.

In 2006, an Egyptian passenger ferry sank in the Red Sea during bad weather, killing more than 1,000 people.

In 2007, a truck bomb exploded in a busy street market in Baghdad, killing more than 100 people in one of the deadliest single attacks in the Iraqi capital.

In 2023, more than three dozen freight cars of a train carrying hazardous materials derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, close to the Pennsylvania line. The derailment prompted an immediate evacuation and the intentional burning of toxic vinyl chloride three days later that sent flames and acrid smoke in the air.

Today’s birthdays:

• Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton is 86.
• Actor Blythe Danner is 83.
• Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese is 81.
• Singer-guitarist Dave Davies (The Kinks) is 79.
• Actor Morgan Fairchild is 76.
• Actor Nathan Lane is 70.
• Actor Maura Tierney is 61.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Vlade Divac is 58.
• Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen is 57.
• Actor Warwick Davis is 56.
• Actor Isla Fisher is 50.
• Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee is 49.
• Actor Aimee Lou Wood is 32.

Re: Stop DeSantis from spending too much money, Editorial, Feb. 1

You should stick to reporting the news rather than your editorial garbage. Your hatred of our governor has blinded your ability to be balanced, fair or accurate.

Florida has grown exponentially since Ron DeSantis was elected. Almost 1,000 people per day move to our great state. His ability to not only balance our budget but to turn a surplus while adding so many citizens is a model that should be applauded and envied.

The governor is going to reduce property taxes, if he gets his way, to make home ownership more accessible and affordable. Under his leadership, for the first time in decades, property insurance rates are falling by double digits.

Those of us who have subscribed to your newspaper for decades realize that the truth and facts no longer fit your political agenda. Frankly, I think your entire editorial board should be replaced.

I do love your sportswriters. That is the only reason that I still subscribe to your once-proud newspaper.

Brian Samberg, Delray Beach

ICE must leave Minnesota

America has benefited from its history of welcoming immigrants.

This does not mean that in the modern era that the U.S. should have open borders. Congress and the executive branch must finally come up with an effective and humane plan for the settlement of the many people all over the globe who want to live here.

We expect properly trained law enforcement to control our borders and to deport the criminals who are here illegally. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has crafted ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) into a poorly trained, aggressive military-style force that violates many provisions of the Bill of Rights.

The Florida Democratic Party Jewish Caucus calls on the Trump adminstration to remove ICE from Minnesota until a plan of cooperation between federal and state officials can be agreed upon and the deaths of innocent citizens are investigated transparently by local, state and federal law enforcement departments.

Leviticus 19:34: “The stranger who sojourns with you shall be as a native from among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the lord your G-d.”

Richard Stark, Boynton Beach

The writer is president of the Florida Democratic Party Jewish Caucus and is a former Broward County legislator.

When will it end?

Venezuela, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, NATO.

Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr., Kristi Noem, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller.

Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles.

Jerome Powell, James Comey, Letitia Jones, Mark Kelley, Lisa Cook.

The Trump-Kennedy Center, Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace, Board of Peace.

ICE, Renee Good, Alex Pretti.

Can’t anyone stop him?

Joel Speiser, Delray Beach

‘This cannot be America’

It has been a very sad nightmare to watch, day after day, the news where ICE agents drag, torture, arrest and kill innocent citizens without daring to ask them for their IDs. My heart cannot continue seeing this.

We have never been in such a disastrous, disgraceful and shameful chaotic situation.

The world is watching. Are we cursed? We do not deserve it.

I hope that protests against ICE won’t end soon and, on the contrary, they extend stronger nationwide until ICE agents are prosecuted. I feel like we’re living in wartime under a Nazi regime where innocent citizens were treated that way.

This cannot be America. Shame on you, ICE!

Sarina Eliyakim, Fort Lauderdale

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

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Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Feb. 3. 2026. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

State says pot ballot referendum is dead, but organizers say not so fast

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By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to carry out President Donald Trump’s “play call” for funding the government will be put to the test Tuesday as the House holds a procedural vote on a bill to end the partial shutdown.

Johnson will need near-unanimous support from his Republican conference to proceed. He can afford to lose only one Republican on party-line votes with perfect attendance, but some lawmakers are threatening to tank the effort if their priorities are not included. Trump weighed in with a social media post, telling them “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

“We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly — One that will not benefit Republicans or Democrats. I hope everyone will vote, YES!,” Trump wrote on his social media site.

The measure would end the partial government shutdown that began Saturday, funding most of the federal government through Sept. 30 and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks as lawmakers negotiate potential changes for the agency that enforces the nation’s immigration laws — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Running Trump’s ‘play call’

Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday” it was Trump’s “play call to do it this way. He had already conceded he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak.” But GOP leaders sounded like they still had work to do in convincing the rank-and-file to join them as House lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday after a week back in their congressional districts.

“We always work till the midnight hour to get the votes,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “You never start the process with everybody on board. You work through it, and you could say that about every major bill we’ve passed.”

The funding package passed the Senate on Friday. Trump says he’ll sign it immediately if it passes the House. Some Democrats are expected to vote for the final bill, but not for the initial procedural measure setting the terms for the House debate, making it the tougher test for Johnson and the White House.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has made clear that Democrats wouldn’t help Republicans out of their procedural jam, even though Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer helped negotiate the funding bill.

Jeffries noted that the procedural vote covers a variety of issues that most Democrats oppose, including resolutions to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

“If they have some massive mandate,” Jeffries said of Republicans, “then go pass your rule, which includes toxic bills that we don’t support.”

Key differences from the last shutdown

The path to the current partial shutdown differs from the fall impasse, which affected more agencies and lasted a record 43 days.

Then, the debate was over extending temporary, COVID-era subsidies for those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Democrats were unsuccessful in getting those subsidies included as part of a package to end the shutdown.

Congress has made important progress since then, passing six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. That includes important programs such as nutrition assistance and fully operating national parks and historic sites. They are funded through Sept. 30.

But the remaining unpassed bills represent roughly three-quarters of federal spending, including the Department of Defense. Service members and federal workers could miss paychecks depending upon the length of the current funding lapse.

Voting bill becomes last-minute obstacle

Some House Republicans have demanded that the funding package include legislation requiring voters to show proof of citizenship before they are eligible to participate in elections. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had said the legislation, known as the SAVE Act, must be included in the appropriations package.

But Luna appeared to drop her objections late Monday, writing on social media that she had spoken with Trump about a “pathway forward” for the voting bill in the Senate that would keep the government open.

The Brennan Center for Justice, a think tank focused on democracy and voting rights issues, said the voting bill’s passage would mean that Americans would need to produce a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, and that at least 21 million votes lack ready access to those papers.

“If House Republicans add the SAVE Act to the bipartisan appropriations package it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown,” Schumer said. “Let’s be clear, the SAVE Act is not about securing our elections. It is about suppressing voters.”

Johnson has operated with a thin majority throughout his tenure as speaker. But with Saturday’s special election in Texas, the Republican majority stands at a threadbare 218-214, shrinking the GOP’s ability to withstand defections.

___

Associated Press video journalist Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.

SUNRISE — Jason Zucker broke a tie on a power play at 5:31 of the third period and he Buffalo Sabres beat the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-3 on Monday night.

The Sabres have won six of seven and took over the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They hold a 10-point lead over the Panthers. Florida, which has lost four straight, trails Boston by nine for the final playoff position with 27 games remaining.

Peyton Krebs had a goal and an two assists for the Sabres. Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, and Josh Doan also scored for Buffalo, with Rasmus Dahlin had two assists. Alex Lyon, who has won 11 of his past 12 starts, made 38 saves.

Sandis Vilmanis, Evan Rodrigues, and Uvis Balinskis scored for Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky made 15 saves.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but the Sabres scored the next three.

Florida, already playing without a number of its top forwards including captain Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, lost center Sam Bennett to an upper-body injury.

Bennett left the game after the first and did not return.

The Panthers scored 37 seconds in on a goal from Vilmanis, with Rodrigues making it 2-0 at 5:56 of the period.

Buffalo scored the next two to tie the score going into the second, first off a long wrist shot from Thompson, then off a goal from Kreps in front off the rush.

The Sabres led 3-2 at 5:44 of the second when Bobrovsky came 15 feet out to play the puck. Only Ryan McLeod beat the Florida goalie to it, and he found Benson in the slot for the easy goal.

The Panthers tied it late in the second on a power-play goal from Balinskis, but Buffalo took the lead back on a power-play of its own at 5:31 of the third when Zucker scored off a blind feed from Doan. Doan ended the scoring with a goal off a pass from Krebs with 2:1:9 remaining.

Up next

Panthers: Host Boston on Wednesday night.

By DAVID KLEPPER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has withheld a complaint made about her conduct from members of Congress for eight months, claiming the delay is needed for a legal review, an attorney for the person making the allegations said Monday.

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The complaint was reviewed by the office of the intelligence community’s inspector general, which deemed it not credible, Gabbard’s office said. The person then sought to have the complaint referred to members of Congress’ intelligence committees, as is permitted by federal law, but that has not occurred.

Andrew Bakaj, the attorney for the person who made the complaint, said he could not identify his client, their employer or offer specifics about the allegations because of the nature of their work. But he said there’s no justification for keeping the complaint from Congress since last spring.

There was no delay in getting the complaint to members of the intelligence committees, Gabbard’s press secretary Olivia Coleman said, though she added that the number of classified details in the complaint made the review process “substantially more difficult.”

Gabbard’s office disputed the claims, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Coleman noted that the inspector general who deemed the complaint non-credible wasn’t selected by Gabbard and began their work during then-President Joe Biden’s administration.

“Director Gabbard has always and will continue to support whistleblower’s and their right, under the law, to submit complaints to Congress, even if they are completely baseless like this one,” Coleman wrote in a post on X.

Gabbard coordinates the work of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies. In an unusual role for a spy chief, she was on site last week when the FBI served a search warrant on election offices in Georgia central to Trump’s disproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election, raising questions from Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees.

Bakaj, meanwhile, has asked Congress to investigate the handling of the complaint.

A spokesperson for Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Gabbard pledged under oath during her confirmation hearing that she would protect whistleblowers and make sure Congress was kept informed.

“We expect her to honor those commitments and comply with both the letter and the spirit of the law,” Warner’s office said in a statement.

The inspector general’s office, which is tasked with providing independent oversight of the intelligence community, did not immediately respond to questions about the complaint.

A former intelligence officer with the CIA, Bakaj previously represented an intelligence community whistleblower whose account of a phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy helped initiate the first of two impeachment cases against the Republican leader during his first team.

Trump was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate in February 2020 over the call during which he asked the Ukrainian president for a “favor” — to announce he was investigating Democrats including 2020 rival Joe Biden.

Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

By MELISSA GOLDIN

Multiple AI-generated photos falsely claiming to show New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child and his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, along with other high-profile public figures, were shared widely on social media Monday.

The images originated on an X account labeled as parody after a huge tranche of new Epstein files was released by the Justice Department on Friday. They are clearly watermarked as AI and other elements they contain do not add up.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: Images show Mamdani as a child and his mother with Jeffrey Epstein and other public figures linked to the disgraced financier.

THE FACTS: The images were created with artificial intelligence. They all contain a digital watermark identifying them as such and first appeared on a parody X account that says it creates “high quality AI videos and memes.”

In one of the images, Mamdani and Nair appear in the front of a group photo with Maxwell, Epstein, former President Bill Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. They seem to be posing at night on a crowded city street. Mamdani looks to be a preteen or young teenager.

Another supposedly shows the same group of people, minus Nair, in what appears to be a tropical setting. Epstein is pictured holding Clinton sitting in his arms, while Maxwell has her arm around Mamdani, who appears slightly younger.

Other AI-generated images circulating online depict Mamdani as a baby being held by Nair while she poses with Epstein, Clinton, Maxwell and Bezos. None of Epstein’s victims have publicly accused Clinton, Gates or Bezos of being involved in his crimes.

Google’s Gemini app detected SynthID, a digital watermarking tool for identifying content that has been generated or altered with AI, in all the images described above. This means they were created or edited, either entirely or in part, by Google’s AI models.

The X account that first posted the images describes itself as “an AI-powered meme engine” that uses “AI to create memes, songs, stories, and visuals that call things exactly how they are — fast, loud, and impossible to ignore.”

An inquiry sent to the account went unanswered. However, a post by the account seems to acknowledge that it created the images.

“Damn you guys failed,” it reads. “I purposely made him a baby which would technically make this pic 34 years old. Yikes.”

The photos began circulating after an email emerged in which a publicist, Peggy Siegal, wrote to Epstein about seeing a variety of luminaries, including Clinton, Bezos and Nair, an award-winning Indian filmmaker, at 2009 afterparty for a film held at Maxwell’s townhouse.

While Mamdani appears as a baby or young child in all of the images, he was 18 in 2009, when Nair is said to have attended the party.

The images have led to related falsehoods that have spread online in their wake. For example, one claims that Epstein is Mamdani’s father. This is not true — Mamdani’s father is Mahmood Mamdani, an anthropology professor at Columbia University.

The NYC Mayor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

General Daily Insight for February 03, 2026

Two steps forward and one step back is still progress! At 9:33 pm EST, the cosmic rebel Uranus ends its retrograde and moves ahead through steady Taurus. Stalled changes around resources and stability should finally regain momentum. We may begin the day cautiously, yet by evening the urge to upgrade our tools, budgets, or habits grows. We must pay attention to find updates that are both useful and realistic. Outsized expectations risk causing a lot of stress! Picking a single main project would be wise.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Money, money, money! Your finances are the focus as unpredictable Uranus stations direct in your 2nd House of Resources, stalled money moves unstick, so a raise chat or subscription cleanup suddenly looks worth action. Your bold streak helps you negotiate fairly, while steady pacing keeps nerves calm if an invoice or shared bill surprises you. Your 2nd House of Resources rewards clean tracking, so check banking alerts and receipts to stop small leaks before they spread. Clear numbers calm nerves and protect your energy well today.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Comfort isn’t frivolous at this time. Radical Uranus is shifting ahead while stationed in your sign, powering up your 1st house — the sector that rules your character and style. You might be craving a wardrobe update or an appearance modification (anything from painting your nails to getting a tattoo is on the table here). You deserve to live a life you enjoy! On top of that, even if others don’t understand your total depth, their first impression of you should be very positive.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Quiet time brings behind-the-scenes breakthroughs. As the innovation planet Uranus stations direct in your 12th House of Secrets, solutions are more likely to appear when you step back and rest. If you’ve lost something, take a break and then double-check with fresh eyes. Maybe you’re struggling to remember some information that could fly into your mind almost as soon as you stop trying so hard to think of it. Jot down any more vivid dreams ASAP, because their symbolism may point to your next step.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Friends could currently respond best to kind, steady leadership. With unconventional Uranus stationing direct in your 11th House of Socialization, a group “plan” might seem more like a collection of unrelated ideas with conflicting schedules. You can step up and suggest less polarizing activities, massage the timeline, or redistribute roles — whatever’s necessary to reduce friction and increase joy. To be the best possible leader, make sure to get everyone’s input and check in with them along the way. Take charge with empathy.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Trust your instincts! Your generosity and creativity are in charge as surprising Uranus shifts direct in your 10th House of Authority. You’ve got real leadership potential right now, and even if you’d rather not be in charge, managers or mentors are more inclined to view you positively. This is a great time to polish your professional portfolio or apply for jobs — you might even feel inspired to look up auditions for local theater performances! Your presence can turn curveballs into home runs.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Fixing tiny missteps has massive benefits at present. Your 9th House of Growth welcomes Uranus as it begins moving ahead — now’s your chance to follow up on applications, book trips, or contemplate education opportunities. These things might have seemed intimidatingly complex, but asking a few thoughtful questions could make a huge difference. Someone might respond with a workaround that saves money without lowering quality. Once today’s tasks are checked off, consider setting up some structures to assist your future self in similar endeavors.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

This afternoon invites fair judgment — even if that isn’t the outcome you’d prefer. As freedom-seeking Uranus stations direct in your 8th House of Shared Resources, tangled arrangements loosen, and a more just split or cleaner agreement becomes easier to reach. If money, knowledge, or labor feel uneven, propose simple rules and choose transparency, because trust strengthens when everyone sees the same numbers. If there’s too much to handle at once, try to arrange a friendly follow-up to revise details without blame if anything changes.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your needs are valid, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Relationship dynamics (platonic or otherwise) may shift abruptly as shocking Uranus spins direct in your 7th House of Alignments. Your friends have a deep impact on your character, and this is a great time to think about that impact. If it’s positive, all is well, but it might not be positive. Address any negative shifts directly, but not confrontationally. Being open with one another is the best way to meet everyone’s needs.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

A flexible routine will be much easier to keep up today than a strict one. Uranus wakes up in your 6th House of Practice, invigorating your efforts to streamline your day-to-day activities. You might switch up your commute, try a new snack, or reorganize your everyday bag. As each small update stacks up, you could regain a lot of time and energy. Don’t jump into things too quickly, though. Tweak your set-up gradually and celebrate each win along the way. Consistency is crucial!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

The stars are calling for some silliness! Nothing too dramatic, just a little dose of laughter to lighten up your day. With reactive Uranus stationing direct in your 5th House of Creativity, a passion project or date idea gets a jolt, inviting you to try something new on a whim. Tell a lame joke, paint a blob, or sing along with a song even when you can’t hit the high notes. Indulging in happiness renews your energy, allowing you to commit to bigger goals.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your home may start feeling different in a good way. As unruly Uranus stations direct in your tender 4th house, domestic changes are afoot. Seize this opening to design a home set-up that actually fits your daily life. Your living room isn’t in an interior design magazine — it’s in your life! Moving furniture to let in more light or designing a chore chart (yes, even if you live alone) could greatly improve your home’s energy. When you’re comfortable there, your guests will be, too.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

A simple message could send you down a helpful path. Honest inquiries, in particular, can travel far. With erratic Uranus stationing direct in your 3rd House of Communication, a favor, errand, or repair should happen much faster when you’re willing to start the conversation. Speak and be concrete about needs, because clear words bridge gaps with siblings, neighbors, classmates, or co-workers. Be wary of misbehaving devices — in-person chats are more reliable than texts or emails. When you need something to happen, say so!

By FATIMA HUSSEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legal experts say President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax information raises a plethora of legal and ethical questions, including the propriety of the leader of the executive branch pursuing scorched-earth litigation against the very government he is in charge of.

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The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Florida, includes the president’s sons Donald Jr. and Eric as plaintiffs. It alleges that the leak of Trump’s and the Trump Organization’s confidential tax records caused “reputational and financial harm, public embarrassment, unfairly tarnished their business reputations, portrayed them in a false light, and negatively affected President Trump, and the other Plaintiffs’ public standing.”

In 2024, former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn, of Washington, D.C. — who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, a defense and national security tech firm — was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to leaking tax information about Trump and others to two news outlets between 2018 and 2020.

The outlets were not named in the charging documents, but the description and time frame align with stories about Trump’s tax returns in The New York Times and reporting about wealthy Americans’ taxes in the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica. The 2020 New York Times report found Trump paid $750 in federal income tax the year he first entered the White House and no income tax at all some years thanks to reported colossal losses.

Legal analysts say that Trump does have a legitimate claim against the IRS but question the amount he is seeking as well as his decision to pursue the case at all. The disclosure violated IRS Code 6103, one of the strictest confidentiality laws in federal statute, which provides a legal remedy for individuals whose tax information is leaked, including a minimum of $1,000 per disclosure.

Since Littlejohn stole tax records of other billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, there is a possibility the case sets a precedent for other high-wealth earners to seek compensation from the government over the leak.

David Gair, a tax attorney with Troutman Pepper Locke in Dallas who represents individuals whose tax information was included in the Littlejohn leak, told The Associated Press that several clients have already reached out about bringing a potential claim against the government.

“People are saying, well, if he can do it, then why can’t I do it? And so I think you will have a lot more people filing similar lawsuits, thinking that they might be able to piggyback on what he’s doing.”

Amy Hanauer, executive director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, says a legal remedy has already been provided for the leak.

“The contractor who leaked this information has been imprisoned, the Trump administration’s Treasury Department canceled its contracts with the company that employed the leaker, and the IRS issued a rare public apology to taxpayers affected by the leak,” and the IRS has pledged to strengthen its data protection procedures as a result, Hanauer said.

She adds that “even if an unbiased judge rightly rejects Trump’s demands as preposterous, there is a great danger that the IRS would ‘agree’ to settle and pay out an enormous sum of taxpayer dollars to Trump.”

Trump, when asked by a reporter over the weekend how he will manage being on both sides of the lawsuit, referred to a previous complaint he filed against the Department of Justice seeking roughly $230 million in damages over investigations into his 2016 campaign’s Russia ties and the 2022 Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.

He added that he’s supposed to “work out a settlement with myself.”

“I think what we’ll do is do something for charity,” Trump said Saturday. “We could make it a substantial amount. Nobody would care because it’s going to go to numerous very good charities.”

A White House representative did not offer details on what organizations might receive any settlement money.

Individuals whose tax information has been leaked don’t have to prove compensatory damages, Gair noted, though Trump is also seeking punitive damages, changing the stakes.

Referring to the deals that Trump’s family business has inked since he won reelection, Gair said Trump may have a hard time showing real harm.

“It’s hard for me to believe that he really had any losses, but maybe,” Gair said.