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Today is Saturday, Jan. 10, the 10th day of 2026. There are 355 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 10, 2013, a series of bomb blasts in Pakistan killed more than 100 people, including dozens who died in a sectarian attack in the southwest city of Quetta. Hundreds of others were injured.

Also on this date:

In 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense,” which argued for American independence from British rule.

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In 1860, the Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, collapsed and caught fire, killing as many as 145 people.

In 1861, Florida became the third state to secede from the Union prior to the Civil War.

In 1863, the London Underground was born when the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground passenger railway, opened to the public with service between Paddington and Farringdon Street.

In 1920, the League of Nations was established as the Treaty of Versailles (vehr-SY’) went into effect.

In 1946, the United Nations convened its first General Assembly session in London with 51 nations represented. The proceedings defined the scope and purpose of the world body.

In 1982, San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark caught a touchdown pass from Joe Montana with 58 seconds left in the NFC Championship Game; one of the most famous plays in NFL history, “The Catch” led the 49ers to a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and a berth in Super Bowl XVI, where they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals for their first Super Bowl victory.

In 2017, President Barack Obama delivered his farewell address in Chicago, in which the two-term Democrat urged national unity and highlighted achievements of his presidency including the Affordable Care Act. Republican Donald Trump took office days later after a 2016 election in which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Today’s birthdays:

• Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bill Toomey is 87.
• Singer Rod Stewart is 81.
• Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 78.
• Singer Pat Benatar is 73.
• Hall of Fame racing driver and team owner Bobby Rahal is 73.
• Actor-comedian Jemaine Clement is 52.
• Actor Sarah Shahi is 46.
• Business owner Jared Kushner is 45.
• Actor and singer Reneé Rapp is 26.

The South Florida star will face South Florida’s most popular college team with a national title on the line.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback (and Miami native) Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes in leading No. 1-ranked Indiana to a 56-22 annihilation of Oregon in Friday night’s Peach Bowl, securing a spot in the national championship against Miami. The Hurricanes punched their ticket with a 31-27 win Thursday night over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. 

Mendoza went 17 for 20 for 177 yards and tacked on 28 rushing yards, and the Hoosiers, who had a first-round bye, have outscored Alabama and Oregon in the College Football Playoff by a combined 94-25.

Mendoza, a Miami Columbus High alumnus, shares an alma mater with UM coach Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes coach played football with Mendoza’s father in high school.

After the game, Mendoza exclaimed on the TV broadcast: “We’re going back to the 305!”

Mendoza’s Cinderella story has been one of the most talked-about stories in college football this year. An untouted recruit out of high school, Mendoza was originally planning to go to Yale before signing with Cal. After two seasons with the Golden Bears — which included a close 2024 loss to Miami — Mendoza transferred to Indiana. The Hoosiers were coming off a trip to the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Mendoza became a star at Indiana. Entering Friday’s game, he had 3,172 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1967 with a win over Ohio State in the conference title game.

But Mendoza is not the only standout player the Hoosiers have. Running back Roman Hemby entered Friday’s game with 1,007 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and fellow running back Kaelon Black had 898 yards and eight scores.

Wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper both have double-digit touchdowns, helping the nation’s No. 3 offense go.

The Hoosiers have a strong defense, as well. They entered Friday allowing just 10.3 points per game, which was second in the nation.

Indiana, who had three sacks against the Ducks, entered Friday’s game with 42 sacks, which was fifth in the nation. Linebacker Rolijah Hardy leads the team with eight quarterback takedowns. They also excel at taking the ball away from opponents, and defensive back Louis Moore leads the team with six interceptions.

By MEG KINNARD

The Heritage Foundation think tank is urging the federal government “to save and restore the American family,” kicking off the midterm election year with a call for conservatives to focus on domestic issues.

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Among its recommendations? A “marriage bootcamp,” designed to prepare cohabitating couples for marriage; a “universal day of rest” that would build upon blue laws that limit alcohol sales in some municipalities; and discouragement of online dating, in part because of research showing that “couples who meet online are also less likely to get married in the first place.”

The full plan, published Thursday and first reported by The Washington Post, marks the foundation’s evolution from its small government roots to a pillar of the populist right. During President Donald Trump’s second term, Heritage has demonstrated its impact with Project 2025, which has been used as a blueprint to overhaul U.S. policy.

“The government’s primary role is to clear the weeds and prevent its policies and programs from poisoning the ground,” wrote the new report’s authors, led by Roger Severino, Heritage’s vice president of economic and domestic policy. “Unfortunately, except for radically redefining the institution, marriage is not currently a federal priority.”

Last year, Heritage President Kevin Roberts roiled conservative corners when — as Democrats accused Republicans of tolerating antisemitism in their party — he defended prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson for his friendly podcast interview with far-right activist Nick Fuentes, known for his antisemitic views. The comments sparked outrage and the resignations of Heritage board members, staffers and executives.

An expanded view of government’s role in lives of Americans

The ultimate guidance in the new Heritage report is that U.S. policy “encourage and protect the formation of families, not mere fertility,” recommending against any policies “that undermine marriage and the formation of families, or reward or encourage needless delay in marriage and out-of-wedlock births.”

Tax codes, Heritage writes, “should not penalize marriage and encourage single parenthood,” and education policy “should not coax young Americans to delay marriage while pursuing needless credentials.”

The report also calls on Trump to issue “a series of executive orders requiring every grant, contract, policy, regulation, research project, and enforcement action involving the federal government to do the following: Explicitly measure how it helps or harms marriage and family, block actions that discriminate against family formation, and give preference to actions that support American families.”

Eric Rosswood, author of “Journey to Parenthood: The Ultimate Guide for Same-Sex Couples,” said he concurs with some of Heritage’s arguments, like the threats posed by food insecurity and the lack of affordable childcare. But he disagreed with the report’s recommendation that subsidies go toward married families, or that children are best-suited to being raised by their biological parents.

“I think what’s due to them is a family that’s going to provide for the children and take care of the children, make sure they have a roof over their head that they have meals, they’re getting to school, parents that support their hobbies and motivate them,” said Rosswood, who is raising two children with his husband.

“I don’t think that those are gender-based. I don’t think that that’s tied to biological genetics. I think that’s what a parent does, regardless of who they are.”

Trump has taken cues from Heritage in the past

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 — a nearly 900-page guidebook written by many conservatives who worked in or with Trump’s first administration. Still, some of its tenets have become hallmarks of his second term thus far, including the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency and the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

During the 2024 race, it came to light that JD Vance — who by then was Trump’s running mate — had praised Roberts’ vision in the forward of the Heritage chief’s forthcoming book, “Dawn’s Early Light,” calling Heritage “the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump.”

Now-Vice President Vance, who at times references his personal struggles when describing policies he says would help make parenting easier, has long been clear about making family formation a policy priority, suggesting ideas such as allowing parents to vote on behalf of their children or giving low-interest loans to married couples with children.

What the Heritage report says about IVF

Acknowledging that in vitro fertilization — a medical procedure that helps people facing infertility build their families — has its benefits, the report argues against the practice outside of marriage.

“A babies-at-all-costs mentality would come at too great a cost, and not just financially, but morally and spiritually” and “intentionally denies a right due to every child conceived — to be born and grow in relationship with his or her mother and father bound in marriage,” Heritage writes.

In the first month of his second term, Trump signed an executive order aiming to reduce the costs of IVF, requesting a list of policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and “aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment.” In October, Trump followed that up with new federal guidance he said would allow companies to offer fertility benefits separate from major medical insurance plans. Costs for a common fertility drug would also come down through a deal struck with drugmaker EMD Serono.

IVF became a talking point during the 2024 presidential campaign when Alabama agreed to protect in vitro fertilization providers from legal liability a couple of weeks after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law.

Alongside the drug price-related negotiation, Heritage commended Trump for promising “to address the ‘root causes’ of infertility.” The White House did not immediately comment Thursday on the report, or if anyone in the administration had collaborated on it.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — Days after Nicolás Maduro’s arraignment on drug trafficking charges, a squabble has erupted over who gets to represent the former Venezuelan president in the high-stakes case.

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Defense attorney Barry Pollack, who sat with Maduro in court, accused lawyer Bruce Fein of trying to join the case without authorization. Fein, an associate deputy U.S. attorney general during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, said he was asked by a judge on Friday to let Maduro settle the dispute.

Fein told Manhattan federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein that “individuals credibly situated” within Maduro’s inner circle or family had sought out Fein’s assistance to help him navigate what the lawyer called the “extraordinary, startling, and viperlike circumstances” of his capture and criminal case.

Fein said in a letter to the judge that he’d had no telephone, video or other direct contact with Maduro, who is being held at a federal jail in Brooklyn. But, Fein wrote, Maduro “had expressed a desire” for his “assistance in this matter.”

The dispute first came to light on Thursday when Pollack asked Hellerstein to rescind his approval for Fein to join Maduro’s legal team. Pollack said that Fein was not Maduro’s lawyer and that he had not authorized Fein to file paperwork telling the judge otherwise.

Pollack was the only lawyer representing Maduro on Monday as the deposed South American leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he worked with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. Two days earlier, U.S. special forces seized Maduro and Flores from their home in Caracas.

In a written declaration to Hellerstein, Pollack said he attempted to contact Fein by telephone and email to ask him on what basis he was seeking to enter his appearance on behalf of Maduro and what authorization he had to do so.

“He has not responded,” Pollack said.

Pollack said he spoke to Maduro by phone on Thursday and confirmed that Maduro “does not know Mr. Fein and has not communicated with Mr. Fein, much less retained him, authorized him to enter an appearance, or otherwise hold himself out as representing Mr. Maduro.”

Pollack said Maduro authorized him to ask Hellerstein to modify the court docket so that it no longer showed Fein as representing Maduro.

Fein, in his response Friday, told the judge he doesn’t dispute or question the accuracy of Pollack’s assertions. Instead, he suggested that Hellerstein question Maduro in private to “definitively ascertain President Maduro’s representation wishes,” including whether he wants to be represented by Pollack, Fein or both.

“Maduro was apprehended under extraordinary, startling, and viperlike circumstances, including deprivation of liberty, custodial restrictions on communications, and immediate immersion in a foreign criminal process in a foreign tongue, fraught with the potential for misunderstandings or miscommunications,” Fein wrote.

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to take up an appeal from tech giant Cisco seeking to shut down a lawsuit claiming that the company’s technology was used to persecute members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement in China.

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The justices, who will hear arguments in the spring, will review an appellate ruling that would allow the lawsuit against Cisco to go forward in U.S. courts.

The court acted after the Trump administration weighed in on Cisco’s behalf to urge the justices to hear the case.

An Associated Press investigation last year showed that American tech companies, to a large degree, designed and built China’s surveillance state, encouraged by Republican and Democratic administrations, even as activists warned such tools were being used to quash dissent, persecute religious groups and target minorities.

In 2008, documents leaked to the press showed Cisco saw the “Golden Shield,” China’s internet censorship effort, as a sales opportunity. The company quoted a Chinese official calling the Falun Gong an “evil cult.” A Cisco presentation reviewed by AP from the same year said its products could identify over 90% of Falun Gong material on the web.

Other presentations reviewed by AP show that Cisco represented Falun Gong material as a “threat” and built out a national information system to track Falun Gong believers. In 2011, Falun Gong members sued Cisco, alleging the company tailored technology for Beijing that it knew would be used to track, detain and torture believers.

The issue before the Supreme Court is whether an American company can be held liable under two separate laws for aiding and abetting human rights violations. Cisco argues it isn’t liable under those laws, the 18th-century Alien Tort Statute (ATS) or the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA), first enacted in 1991.

In recent years, the Supreme Court and presidential administrations of both parties have been skeptical of lawsuits seeking to use U.S. courts as a venue to seek justice over the acts of foreign governments, especially those that took place abroad. To try to overcome that skepticism, Falun Gong members have argued that a substantial portion of Cisco’s activities involving China took place in the United States.

A decision is expected by early summer.

TALLAHASSEE — A man convicted of killing a traveling salesman during a robbery is set to become Florida’s first execution of 2026 under a death warrant signed Friday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed off on a record 19 executions last year.

Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Feb. 10 at Florida State Prison. DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

Heath was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a death weapon and multiple forgery charges in 1990.

According to court records, Heath and his brother, Kenneth Heath, met traveling salesman Michael Sheridan at a Gainesville bar in May 1989. After hanging out at the bar for some time, the three men agreed to go somewhere else to smoke marijuana.

At some point, the brothers plotted to rob the other man, investigators said. Ronald Heath drove the group to a remote area, where Kenneth Heath pulled a handgun on Sheridan. The man initially refused to give the brothers anything, and Kenneth Heath shot Sheridan in the chest.

As Sheridan emptied his pockets, Ronald Heath began kicking the man and stabbing him with a hunting knife, prosecutors said. Kenneth Heath then shot Sheridan twice in the head.

The brothers dumped Sheridan’s body in a wooded area and returned to the Gainesville bar to take items from his rental car. The brothers made multiple purchases with Sheridan’s credit cards the next day at a Gainesville mall.

Ronald Heath was arrested several weeks later at his Douglas, Georgia, home after investigators connected him to the stolen credit cards. Officers recovered clothing purchased with the stolen cards, as well as Sheridan’s watch, according to court records.

Kenneth Heath was also charged with Sheridan’s murder, but he was sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea agreement.

Attorneys for Ronald Heath are expected to file appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis. The state’s final execution of 2025 was the Dec. 18 lethal injection of Frank Athen Walls, who was convicted of fatally shooting a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion robbery.

By GEOFF MULVIHILL

A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration cannot block federal money for child care subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting needy children and their families from flowing to five Democratic-led states for now.

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The states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York argued that a policy announced Tuesday to freeze funds for three grant programs is having an immediate impact on them and creating “operational chaos.” In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was pausing the funding because it had “reason to believe” the states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally, though it did not provide evidence or explain why it was targeting those states and not others.

The programs are the Child Care and Development Fund, which subsidizes child care for children from low-income families; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance and job training; and the Social Services Block Grant, a smaller fund that provides money for a variety of programs.

The five states say they receive a total of more than $10 billion a year from the programs.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who was nominated to the bench by former President Joe Biden, is in place until further arguments are made in court.

The government had requested reams of data from the five states, including the names and Social Security numbers of everyone who received benefits from some of the programs since 2022.

The states argue that the effort is unconstitutional and is intended to go after Trump’s political adversaries rather than to stamp out fraud in government programs — something the states say they already do.

Jessica Ranucci, a lawyer in the New York Attorney General’s office, said in the Friday hearing, which was conducted by telephone, that at least four of the states had already had money delayed after requesting it. She said that if the states can’t get child care funds, there will be immediate uncertainty for providers and families who rely on the programs.

A lawyer for the federal government, Kamika Shaw, said it was her understanding that the money had not stopped flowing to states.

General Daily Insight for January 10, 2026

Opportunity costs have today balancing on a knife’s edge — are the gains of our potential actions worth their price? The Sun opposes grandiose Jupiter at 3:42 AM EST, which spurs us to measure ambition against care in a search for the middle ground. Energetic Mars also faces Jupiter, heightening today’s urgency. Gentleness can return this afternoon, once the nurturing Moon mirrors healing Chiron. We’re allowed to sacrifice our own comforts in pursuit of our goals, but we shouldn’t make that choice for other people.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Take the reins on what matters most. With fiery Mars in your driven 10th house shoving Jupiter in your domestic zone, you’re well-equipped to handle both bold leaps and thoughtful promises. A manager may ask for extra hours while someone you love requests help at home. Aim high professionally, even as your foundational commitments remind you that steadiness and care make success feel worthwhile. Speak clearly about timelines, then commit to a realistic plan. Stay focused to avoid dividing your effort among needless minutiae.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

New ideas are tugging you toward wider horizons. Your 9th House of Travel speaks up as the giving Sun opposes lucky Jupiter, urging you to stretch your mind without venturing onto dangerously shaky ground. You may weigh personal investments against community ones. Don’t worry too much — both options should improve your future. For the time being, focus on setting reasonable goals for growing your mind, then consider sharing them with others. You might get tons of peers interested in learning alongside you!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Financial discussions shouldn’t be terrifying. Even if they usually intimidate you, today you’ve got the Sun and Jupiter on your side! Their opposition emboldens your resourceful 8th house and your accountable 2nd house, weighing fairness against generosity. You could be renegotiating a loan with a lender or outlining spending limits with a partner. Any money situation can be navigated, as long as you think it through and ask the questions you need answered. Speak plainly — clarity protects the interests of everyone involved.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Today will likely have an easy rhythm — as long as you communicate your needs honestly. The radiant Sun in your partnership sector opposing joyous Jupiter in your fine-tuned sign highlights give-and-take, so you look for promises that feel generous and doable. In any close bond, clear expectations reduce friction and invite more warmth. Consider this a cosmic reminder to honor your needs without overshadowing another’s voice. At the end of the day, make an effort to check in with one another.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Leo, remember that internal progress is still progress, even if no one else can see it just yet. Your productive 6th house and your resolute 12th house are both impacted by the vibrant Sun opposing wise Jupiter. This is an ideal moment to look at any life routines you’d like to update. It also encourages you to look for moments of quiet that stoke your creative fire. Tidy your desk, then focus on a single task until it is complete. Pacing yourself will be crucial.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Just have fun with it, Virgo! Creativity blossoms as the sparkling Sun opposes Jupiter, lining up your friendship zone and your creativity quadrant. Today’s most crucial task: express yourself! Anything works for this, from a movie night to a crafting class. Whatever your plans may be, they’ll benefit most from having your full attention. You don’t need to be “good” at your activity of choice; you just need to be mindful of how you feel along the way. Let play teach you what truly works.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Kindness toward yourself changes every conversation. As the empathetic Moon opposes wary Chiron, your sense of self asks for care. When you follow through on that care, you can present yourself with calm, even when you’re feeling rather wobbly. Your boundaries are reasonable, and you’re allowed to stand up for them! Even as Chiron in your 7th House of Pairings calls for concessions, you can lead with fairness and ensure no one (including you!) has to sacrifice too much. Offer yourself grace.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Say less, but say it with depth. The spitfire Sun opposing auspicious Jupiter revitalizes your 3rd House of Information and your 9th House of Philosophy. This is a superb reminder that the way you talk about things influences your perception of them. Think about the words you use when discussing big topics, like religion or even politics. How might your vocabulary shape your beliefs? The universe is calling you to explore those big ideas in depth. You could also enjoy discussing them with trustworthy peers.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You can be optimistic without being foolish. Your 2nd House of Finances and your 8th House of Sharing are bolstered by the opposition of Mars and Jupiter. In turn, this boosts your ability to align your purchases with your real priorities. You might skip a flashy gadget to clear a nagging bill — be proud of that! Other people could have requests that strain your budget, but you can negotiate fair terms without losing your generous spirit. A clear budget now protects freedom later.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Own your path — no one can walk it like you. With the Sun and Jupiter colliding across your sign and your partner-focused 7th house, you may notice different aspects of yourself coming forward in different social bonds. You’re a different person when talking to an authority figure versus talking to your best friend, and that’s normal! That said, it may be time to adjust one of those presentations. You could update a profile or refine a title, because first impressions currently carry real weight.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Listen to the universe to access cosmic inspiration. You’d be wise to sequester yourself away from the world’s noise for at least an hour or two today, since the Sun and Jupiter are activating your solitude sector and your practicality zone. If someone tries to intrude upon your peace, consider offering to support them later so you can continue recharging. Your resting periods are essential to prevent mistakes and spark better solutions for everyone involved. Protect your energy so insight can land.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your circle lights up with caring exchanges. Community ties are strengthened by the sparring session between the Sun and Jupiter, since it strikes your friendly 11th house and your playful 5th house. Consider inviting a friend to a hobby event rather than just getting coffee together — unless coffee is your hobby, of course. You could also lead a volunteer effort or coordinate a simple meetup that lets new faces feel welcome. Kindness paired with practical plans helps every promise land beautifully. Share generously!

By ANSELM GIBBS

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — A shark attacked and killed an American woman along a beach in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, officials said Friday.

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Police identified the victim as 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Authorities said the attack occurred close to shore on western St. Croix on Thursday afternoon.

Police and other emergency crews responded to the beach, where crews worked “swiftly and professionally under very extreme and difficult circumstances” to treat Lillis, said Daryl Jaschen, director of the Virgin Islands’ emergency management agency.

Lillis, who was a frequent visitor to the U.S. territory, was taken to a local hospital for further treatment but died from her injuries, according to Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach.

Police said they were initially told there may have been a second victim, but a perimeter search by authorities did not discover any other victims.

Officials said they have not yet confirmed what type of shark was involved in the attack. They said that while shark sightings are common, attacks in the U.S. Virgin Islands are unusual.

“Encounters that result in a bite are very rare,” said Nicole Angeli of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources at Friday’s news conference.

She said Thursday’s attack was the second such incident in a decade, and that there are plans to put up more signs and share more information at hotels and beaches on how to be safe around wildlife.

Jaschen, of the emergency management agency, said the investigation into the attack is ongoing, and that he could not immediately say what may have caused the shark to come so close to the shore.

Overall, at least 79 unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in the Caribbean since 1749, including four in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.

Sun Sentinel Miami Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins and columnist Dave Hyde discuss what new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and an incoming head coach will be able to do with the team’s quarterback options.

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Suddenly, a night full of drama and a game full of heroics handed the script to the most deserving story of all.

Carson Beck’s journey hasn’t been easy. He ended last season injured and dumped by Georgia. He signed with Miami and started the summer with his surgically repaired elbow under recovery.

Thursday night, Beck threw Miami down the field on its final drive when the night demanded it, and then took off running 3 yards into the end zone with 18 seconds left when the win needed that, too.

“The best feeling I’ve had in my life,’’ he said after Miami’s 31-27 win against Mississippi.

He found a home this season.

He’s coming home again now, too. They all are for the college championship game on Jan. 19. Miami will play in Hard Rock Stadium against coach Mario Cristobal’s former team, Oregon, or against Indiana and hometown Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

What a night this was. What a win. What a classic fourth quarter to cap not just Beck’s journey but Miami’s full odyssey back from nowhere to the biggest stage of all in college football.

How long was it since Miami played in a game with these stakes?

Twenty-three years?

Now this program gets a chance at another one after a night where for so long Miami seemed to dominate but couldn’t pull away. Pick your favorite stat to show that. Miami had the ball for 23 more minutes than Mississippi. It ran 28 more plays than Mississippi. It was 13 of 21 on third- and fourth-down conversions to Mississippi’s 2 for 10.

It had the makings of a blowout even by halftime by any number but the ones that matter most. Miami only led 17-13.

Mississippi kept doing just enough to stay in it. Miami did just enough not to completely take it, too.

Untimely penalties. Nibbling breakdowns. And the fact Mississippi’s first good play of the game on the opening play of the second quarter had star running back Kewan Lacy bust loose for a 73-yard touchdown run.

Mississippi became an oddly heartwarming story these playoffs when coach Lane Kiffin split for rival LSU and the team kept winning. Their anything-it-takes approach made them the darling of these playoffs in the manner Miami never could be.

Miami is just the team Cristobal wants, though. Built on physical lines. Able to run the ball and stop the run. And strong? Did you see how Miami responded with Thursday on the line?

There were three lead changes in five minutes of the fourth quarter. There were Miami heroics of receiver Malachi Toney turning a short pass into a 36-yard touchdown for the lead, and Mississippi’s answering heroics of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss throwing a 24-yard touchdown to retake the lead.

Finally, there was Beck. He’s an oddly discussed player in college football. He’s doubted in way others aren’t. He’s been around long enough to have a known portfolio.

But there wasn’t much to doubt how he played with the season up for grabs Thursday. He converted seven third downs into first downs this game. None was bigger than his facing third-and-10 and throwing to Keelan Marion over the middle for 18 yards. Earlier, he had thrown a 52-yard touchdown to a wide open Marion.

On this final drive, Beck didn’t find anyone wide open. His throws needed to be perfect. There was no margin left in a game where Miami’s 10 penalties for 74 yards showed there are some parts still to clean up.

Beck missed some throws early, as he said afterward. He made up for it on this final drive in the second half. He passed on third-and-6 to CJ Daniels for 7 yards. Another third-down pass resulted in a Mississippi coverage penalty.

The final play, the one he ran in from the 3, didn’t require much thought.

“I saw the end zone open to me,’’ he said.

Now Miami ends the season, one way or the other, at home in the championship game.

GLENDALE, Arizona — For the first time since 2003, the Hurricanes will play for a national title.

No. 10 Miami beat No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 at the Fiesta Bowl — which doubled as a College Football Playoff semifinal — at State Farm Stadium, punching the program’s ticket to the championship game at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19.

Miami will play the winner of Friday’s Indiana-Oregon Peach Bowl for the national title.

When the Hurricanes needed their biggest offensive drive of the season, the team delivered. Carson Beck drove Miami (13-2) down the field and scored the winning touchdown with 18 seconds left on a 3-yard run untouched to the left side to send the Hurricanes to the championship game.

“Man, I couldn’t even believe it,” said Beck, who was named the game’s offensive MVP. “I was on Cloud 9. All the fans — we were right in front of our student section, (which) was sitting right there where I ran in, and everyone’s jumping up and down, yelling again. I was just so, so happy, so excited. What a gutsy game. What a gutsy game from our team, and what a way to just continue to battle through adversity.”

The Rebels elected to start the game with the ball after winning the coin toss, but it did not amount to anything. After forcing a three-and-out on Ole Miss’ first drive, the Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead on a nearly seven-minute drive that ended with a 38-yard field goal by Carter Davis.

Ole Miss (13-2) landed the first big punch of the game on the first play of the second quarter. Running back Kewan Lacy, who entered the game with 23 rushing touchdowns, broke off a 73-yard run for a score to put the Rebels ahead 7-3.

The Hurricanes’ response was not nearly as quick, but the result was the same. Miami rolled to a 15-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a 4-yard Marty Brown touchdown that put the Hurricanes back ahead by three points.

Ole Miss tied the game on a 42-yard field goal by Lucas Carneiro with 4:38 left in the first half. But the Hurricanes hit a big play of their own: a 52-yard touchdown pass to Keelan Marion that put Miami ahead 17-10.

Carneiro crushed a 58-yarder shortly before half to cut the Hurricanes’ lead to 17-13.

Miami got the ball to start the second half but could not turn it into points when Davis’ 51-yard attempt was no good. Carneiro missed a field goal, as well, kicking a ball off the left upright.

Miami appeared poised to take control of the game as it drove down the field in the third quarter, but an Ole Miss defensive lineman, Kam Franklin, tipped Beck’s pass, and Kapena Gushiken intercepted it just above the ground. Carneiro turned the turnover into three points with a 54-yard field goal.

After Ole Miss picked up key sacks on Miami’s first fourth-quarter drive, the Rebels drove 86 yards down the field — aided by disastrous Miami penalties— to seize the lead from the Hurricanes with a short field goal.

UM got the ball back with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and moved quickly. Freshman phenom Malachi Toney scored the go-ahead touchdown on a screen pass he took 36 yards.

“I just (saw) the alley,” Toney said. “Once I (saw) CJ (Daniels) block his man, I was like, ‘I’m gone.'”

But Ole Miss drove right down the field and scored again, tacking on a two-point conversion pass to give the Rebels a three-point lead and setting up Beck’s game-winning touchdown.

“Happy for the players, really proud of them for their effort,” coach Mario Cristobal said. “They’re really unique, they’re awesome people, and they deserve the absolute best that we can give them. And I’m looking forward to getting back home and (starting) preparation to give them our absolute best.”

Five takeaways 1. Miami’s mistakes are nearly killer

The stat sheet indicates that the Hurricanes should have won Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl. Miami had more yards and dominated time of possession. But the Hurricanes could not get out of their own way.

UM had more penalty yards in Thursday’s game than in any game since it played Virginia Tech. Miami dropped four potential interceptions — including two that appeared likely to be returned for touchdowns. The Hurricanes made other mistakes at crucial times that sapped momentum.

All that allowed the Rebels to hang around, and they took advantage of that in the second half.

“We definitely hurt ourselves a lot on field, penalties and that stuff,” linebacker Mo Toure said. “We’ve got to clean it up moving forward going into this last game. But just telling your brother, it’s okay, you feel me, tighten up on (the) next play. Next-play mentality.”

2. Beck goes hunting

Beck did not look to throw the ball deep much in Miami’s first two playoff games, but he was looking for big plays against Ole Miss.

“Even in games prior, there’s plays that are called that shots are there, but they cover them sometimes,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “You know, it just so happened in this game, we caught them in a couple coverages where we had some opportunities down the field.”

The Hurricanes quarterback eclipsed his total passing yards from UM’s first two playoff wins in the first half alone. He hit Marion for a 52-yard score in the first half, as well.

Beck finished the game with 267 yards and the crucial winning touchdown run.

3. Penalties kill

The Hurricanes shot themselves in the foot with penalties repeatedly against the Rebels.

Miami racked up 74 penalty yards — the most it has accrued since the Virginia Tech game — and the fouls all seemed to come at inopportune times.

4. Malachi Toney comes up big

The freshman star has delivered all season, and he made a huge play on the biggest stage yet.

Toney scored with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter, slipping through the Ole Miss defense for a 36-yard catch and run to put Miami ahead. But the Rebels dampened the party with their go-ahead touchdown two minutes later.

5. Homecoming

Miami is going to play for a national championship again. It is going to do that on its home turf.

The Hurricanes have not won a national title at home since they beat Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl to win the 1991 national championship.

“It feels so good,” Beck said. “And, I mean, it’s even better that it’s at Hard Rock. So, again, I’m so proud of this team. I couldn’t have done it without every single one of these guys laying it all on the line tonight. In the face of adversity, we continue to battle back, and we’ve shown that throughout this season, and I’m just so proud of this team.”

 

 

MONTREAL (AP) — Alexandre Texier had a hat trick for his second straight three-point game and the Montreal Canadiens beat the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday night.

Texier had a goal and two assists Wednesday night in a 4-1 victory over Calgary.

Noah Dobson, Oliver Kapanen and Juraj Slafkovsky also scored to help Montreal win its third straight overall and seventh in a row against the Panthers.

Samuel Montembeault made 24 saves in his first start in Montreal since Dec. 2. He has won all three of his starts since being recalled from his conditioning assignment with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League on Dec. 27.

Sam Bennett scored twice for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 14 shots. The Panthers have have dropped the first two games of on a six-game trip.

The Panthers were without scoring leader Brad Marchand. He’s is day-to-day after leaving a 4-1 loss at Toronto on Tuesday because of an undisclosed injury.

Up next

Panthers: At Ottawa on Saturday night.

Canadiens: Host Detroit on Saturday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

CHICAGO — Thursday night’s game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed nearly two hours after the scheduled tipoff, after an extended delay due to 50-degree temperatures in the city, heavy rain and the ice below the court at the United Center that left the playing surface too slick for play.

A makeup date was not immediately announced. This was to be the Heat’s final visit of the season to Chicago.

“It was just a waiting game until finally both sides decided that we needed to call it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said outside his team’s locker room, as the crowd was being informed.

The game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern start, featured the typical pregame warmup scheduling. But as players went through warmups, several players identified slick spots due to condensation.

The NBA issued a statement that read, “The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls at United Center has been postponed due to moisture on the floor rendering the court unplayable. The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.”

“We always want to try to go,” Spoelstra said moments after the game officially was called. “The players were complaining about it on both sides, So staff, we all went out there and pretty much immediately we felt that it wasn’t playable.”

A decision initially was made to attempt to lower the temperature inside the arena, with players initially remaining on the court for extended pregame shooting.

Heat guard Norman Powell said it had become clear the delay had reached a point of no return.

“I mean, it’s crazy,” he said in the locker room afterward. “Honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with that in 11 seasons, which is kind of crazy.

“Yeah, it’s kind of tough. I mean, after the first like 30 minutes, I think you start to kind of like, ‘All right, what are we doing?’ Then another, you hear him say another 20 minutes and then it’s like, ‘All right,’ like, you really don’t want to play and it’s hard to get refocused.”

When it became clear that the delay would exceed an hour, the teams retreated to their locker rooms.

All the while, staff attempted to dry the court with towels and brooms, with the slick spots remaining.

“We have that in our practice facility,” Spoelstra said of condensation. “And when there’s condensation, it takes about 15 minutes for it to change. But this is a huge building. We weren’t optimistic that it would change.”

The Heat have dealt with similar situations, including an exhibition against the Orlando Magic in Tampa that was canceled.

“We had a training camp a few years ago in the Bahamas where the floor was really slick, and we had to adjust our practices,” Spoelstra said. “And then early on in my career we had a game in Tampa that we were going to play the Magic, and they canceled because of a condensation.”

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Now a waiting game for the rescheduling. While both teams are off Friday, the Blackhawks play Friday in the building. Plus, a Friday game would have left the Heat with games on three successive days, with a Saturday game in Indiana and a Sunday game at Oklahoma City, on a four-game trip that now is a three-game trip.

Referee Sean Wright told a pool reporter that it was clear pregame something was off.

“At 9:13 on the warm-up clock, some Miami players came and said the court was really slippery and, at the same time, some Bulls players came over as well,” he said. “So, I checked the court conditions and then I immediately got on the horn and notified the Replay Center what was going on.”

Dialogue with the NBA office ensued.

“We tried to work together to see if we could fix the problem,” Wright said. “We had ongoing talks and tried some different stuff on the court, and nothing seemed to work.”

That ultimately led to the call for the postponement.

“Player safety is always the most important,” Wright said. “Despite the efforts by the United Center to rectify the situation, we were unsuccessful in doing so. We decided that player safety was most important and we just couldn’t guarantee a safe on-court experience.”

Prior to the delay, with the injury-limited Bulls lacking somewhat in size, the Heat submitted a smaller lineup that got Tyler Herro back in the starting mix, after he played off the bench in Tuesday night’s return in Minnesota.

That had Spoelstra submitting an opening lineup of Herro, Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell, a group that entered 2-2 as a starting unit.

The move had Kel’el Ware back as a reserve for the first time in 13 games, since he played as a reserve in the Dec. 15 home loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Now that approach remains on hold.

Before the game, Spoelstra also addressed the dismissal of Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

Said Spoelstra, “I feel for Mike and his family. I’m a fan of his. I really enjoyed our interactions together. Just a really sharp, bright, and creative mind. I learned a lot from those interactions. It’s a tough business. So, it’s a tough day for him. But he’s a talent, so he’ll find his way back, somewhere with some organization. And I wish him the best.”

By MICHELLE L. PRICE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance on Thursday blamed a federal immigration officer’s fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman on “a left-wing network,” Democrats, the news media and the woman who was killed as protests related to her death expanded to cities across the country.

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The vice president, who made his critiques in a rare appearance in the White House briefing room and on social media, was the most prominent example yet of the Trump administration quickly assigning culpability for the death of 37-year-old Renee Good while the investigation is still underway. Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer while she tried to drive away on a snowy residential street as officers were carrying out an operation related to the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Vance said at the White House that he wasn’t worried about prejudging the investigation into Good’s killing, saying of the videos he’d seen of the Wednesday incident, “What you see is what you get in this case.”

Vance said he was certain that Good accelerated her car into the officer and hit him. It isn’t clear from the videos if the vehicle makes contact with the officer. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Wednesday that video of the shooting shows arguments that the officer was acting in self-defense were “garbage.”

The vice president also said part of him felt “very, very sad” for Good. He called her “brainwashed” and “a victim of left-wing ideology.”

“I can believe that her death is a tragedy, while also recognizing that it’s a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement — a lunatic fringe — against our law enforcement officers,” Vance said.

His defense of the officer, at times fiery, came as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump likewise said the officer’s actions were a justified act of self-defense. Trump said Good “viciously ran over” the ICE officer, though video footage of the event contradicts that claim.

Trump has made a wide-ranging crackdown on crime and immigration in Democratic cities a centerpiece of his second term in office. He has deployed federal law enforcement officials and National Guard troops to support the operations and has floated the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act to try to stop his opponents from blocking his plans through the courts.

Trump officials made it clear that they were rejecting claims by Democrats and officials in Minnesota that the president’s move to deploy immigration officers in American cities had been inflammatory and needed to end.

“The Trump administration will redouble our efforts to get the worst of the worst criminal, illegal alien killers, rapists and pedophiles off of American streets,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday before Vance spoke.

She called Good’s killing “a result of a large, sinister left-wing movement.”

Vance was selected as Trump’s running mate last year partly for his ability to verbally spar, especially with the media. He opened his remarks by condemning headlines he saw about the shooting, at times raising his voice and decrying the “corporate media.”

“This was an attack on law and order. This was an attack on the American people,” Vance said.

He accused journalists of falsely portraying Good as “innocent” and said: “You should be ashamed of yourselves. Every single one of you.”

“The way that the media, by and large, has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace,” he added. “And it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day.”

When asked what responsibility he and Trump bore to defuse tension in the country over the incident, Vance said their responsibility was to “protect the people who are enforcing law and protect the country writ large.”

“The best way to turn down the temperature is to tell people to take their concerns about immigration policy to the ballot box,” he said.

Vance also announced that the administration was deputizing a new assistant attorney general to prosecute the abuse of government assistance programs in response to growing attention to fraud in childcare programs in Minnesota. The position “will be run out of the White House under the supervision of me and the president,” Vance said. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to questions about the new role.

Vance said the prosecutor will focus primarily on Minnesota, and will be nominated in coming days. Vance added that Senate Majority Leader John Thune told him he’d seek a prompt confirmation.

Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin, Will Weissert, Jonathan J. Cooper and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

By CHAN HO-HIM

HONG KONG (AP) — China said on Thursday it would assess and investigate Meta’s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus, in a move highlighting its technology rivalry with the U.S.

Meta announced last week it was buying Manus, which is Singapore-based with Chinese roots, as the California tech giant behind Facebook and Instagram expands its AI offerings across its platforms.

It is a rare acquisition by a U.S. tech group of an AI company with Chinese roots, at a time of heightened frictions between Washington and Beijing.

On Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong told reporters that it would work with relevant departments to assess and investigate whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus is consistent with Chinese laws and regulations.

Any enterprises engaging in outward investment, technology export, data transfer and cross-border mergers and acquisitions must comply with Chinese laws, He said.

Meta and Manus did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

“Security has become the top concern for Chinese policymakers,” said Gary Ng, a senior economist for Asia Pacific at investment bank Natixis. “Any tech transfer that could give the U.S. an edge in competitiveness will be heavily scrutinized.”

While the company behind Manus is Singapore-based Butterfly Effect Pte, its roots can be traced back to Beijing-registered entities which were founded in China a few years ago.

Meta said last week there would be “no continuing Chinese ownership interests in Manus AI” following the acquisition, and that Manus would discontinue its services and operations in China. Meta’s platforms including Facebook and Instagram are still banned in China under the country’s “Great Firewall”.

Manus said it would continue to operate in Singapore, where most of its employees are now based.

Cui Fan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, raised questions in a public post on the Chinese social media site WeChat over the acquisition’s compliance with Chinese laws and technology export controls.

“A key question is whether any technologies prohibited or restricted from export under Chinese laws and regulations are exported without a license,” he wrote.

The “general-purpose” AI agent released by Manus last year can autonomously perform multi-step complex work such as breaking down tasks into smaller steps. It can be used for free but also offers paid subscription packages.

Last month, Manus said its annual recurring revenue had reached more than $100 million.

Associated Press researcher Shihuan Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

More artificial intelligence is being implanted into Gmail as Google tries to turn the world’s most popular email service into a personal assistant that can improve writing, summarize far-flung information buried in inboxes and deliver daily to-do lists.

The new AI features announced Thursday could herald a pivotal moment for Gmail, a service that transformed email when it was introduced nearly 22 years ago. Since then, Gmail has amassed more than 3 billion users to become nearly as ubiquitous as Google’s search engine.

Gmail’s new AI options will only be available in English within the United States for starters, but the company is promising to expand the technology to other countries and other languages as the year unfolds.

The most broadly available tool will be a “Help Me Write” option designed to learn a user’s writing style so it can personalize emails and make real-time suggestions on how to burnish the message.

Google is also offering subscribers who pay for its Pro and Ultra services access to technology that mirrors the AI Overviews that’s been built into its search engine since 2023. The expansion will enable subscribers pose conversational questions in Gmail’s search bar to get instant answers about information they are trying to retrieve from their inboxes.

In what could turn into another revolutionary step, “AI Inbox” is also being rolled out to a subset of “trusted testers” in the U.S. When it’s turned on, the function will sift through inboxes and suggest to-do lists and topics that users might want to explore.

“This is us delivering on Gmail proactively having your back,” said Blake Barnes, a Google vice president of product.

All of the new technology is tied to the Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3, which was unleashed into its search engine late last year. The upgrade, designed to turn Google search into a “thought partner” has been so well received that it prompted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose company makes the popular ChatGPT chatbot, to issue a “code red” following its release.

But thrusting more AI into Gmail poses potential risks for Google, especially if the technology malfunctions and presents misleading information or crafts emails that get users into trouble — even though people are able to proofread the messages or turn off the features at any time.

Allowing Google’s AI to dig deeper into inboxes to learn more about their habits and interest also could raise privacy issues — a challenge that Gmail confronted from the get-go.

To help subsidize the free service, Google included targeted ads in Gmail that were based on information contained within the electronic conversations. That twist initially triggered a privacy backlash among lawmakers and consumer groups, but the uproar eventually died down and never deterred Gmail’s rapid growth as an email provider. Rivals eventually adopted similar features.

As it brings more AI into Gmail, Google promises none of the content that the technology analyzes will be used to train the models that help Gemini improve. The Mountain View, California, company says it also has built an “engineering privacy” barrier to corral all the information within inboxes to protect it from prying eyes.

By SOPHIE BATES

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI is set to spend $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday, calling it the largest private investment in the state’s history.

The data center, called MACROHARDRR, is being built in Mississippi’s DeSoto County near Memphis, Tennessee. It will be the company’s third data center in the greater Memphis area. xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong said the cluster of data centers will house “the world’s largest supercomputer” with 2 gigawatts of computing power.

The announcement comes as xAI faces scrutiny over its data center projects in the Memphis area. The NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center have raised concerns over air pollution generated by xAI’s supercomputer facility located near predominantly Black communities in Memphis.

A petition by the Safe and Sound Coalition, a Southaven group opposing xAI’s developments, calls for shutting down xAI’s operations in the area and has received more than 900 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.

xAI did not immediately respond when asked for comment about environmental concerns.

A fact sheet released by the Mississippi governor’s office said environmental responsibility is a “core commitment” for xAI.

During the announcement, Reeves personally thanked Musk. Reeves predicted the investment would bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the community, thousands of indirect subcontracting jobs, and tax revenue to support public services.

Under the incentives for data centers passed in 2024, the state will waive all sales, corporate income and franchise taxes on the xAI development. Saving sales taxes on the computing power that xAI is purchasing would likely be worth a substantial amount of money, but the Mississippi Development Authority did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ questions about how much tax revenue Mississippi will give up.

DeSoto County and the city of Southaven have also agreed to allow substantially reduced property taxes.

xAI is expected to begin data center operations in Southaven next month.

By LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has agreed to display a plaque honoring the police who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, rebuffing House Speaker Mike Johnson who has said the commemorative memorial does not comply with the law.

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The action happened swiftly, with brief debate, in floor action Thursday. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina had announced during this week’s fifth anniversary of the Capitol siege that he would seek to ensure the plaque is installed, partnering with Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who was also working on the situation, and Sen. Alex Padilla of California. No senators objected.

“A lot of people said it was a dark day for democracy,” Tillis said about Jan. 6, 2021, describing his memory of hearing the thousands of people — “thugs,” he said — lay siege to the Capitol as Congress was tallying the 2020 election results.

He said that because of the work of the law enforcement officers, it became a great day for democracy. “We came back and completed our constitutional duty to certify the election,” he said. “We owe them eternal gratitude and this nation is stronger because of them.”

This week, senators stepped up after learning the plaque, which had been approved by Congress more than three years ago, was nowhere to be found at the Capitol. Instead, many House lawmakers have been hanging up replicas outside their office doors.

The Senate also appeared to be motivated by the shifting narrative from President Donald Trump ‘s White House about what happened Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the building after he urged them go to Capitol Hill to confront Congress over Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Trump himself shifted blame for the attack during a speech this week in which he said he only intended for his supporters to march peacefully to the Capitol. Moreover, the White House produced a glossy new report also shifting blame for the deadly riot — on Democrats, for Biden’s victory over Trump, and on the police for their response to the mob.

“It’s so important we be honest with the American people about what happened,” Merkley said, as he called the resolution up for passage.

“It’s so important we recognize those who defended our democratic republic on that day,” he said, and that “people know we can back, as senators and House members, and finished our work that day, for the peaceful transfer of power.”

Padilla said part of the context is the White House’s new website that he said is an “attempt to rewrite history.” He said that “dishonors” the officers.

“The Senate bipartisan commitment to real history is strong,” he said.

The plaque, according to the law, was intended to be placed at the West front of the Capitol where some of the fiercest fighting took place. It was required to be installed in 2023, a year after the legislation had passed.

The new resolution directs the Architect of the Capitol to “prominently display” the plaque in a “publicly accessible” location in the Senate wing of the Capitol until it can be placed in its permanent location.

To display the plaque in its intended location would require agreement with the House.

The office of Johnson, a Republican who before becoming the House speaker led efforts to object to the 2020 election results, said this week that the plaque, as constructed, does not comply with the law.

Police have sued to have the plaque put on display, as required, but Trump’s Justice Department is trying to dismiss the lawsuit.

Tillis said part of the “technical implementation problem” was a concern that the law specified the plaque would honor all the officers involved, but the plaque only lists the various law enforcement agencies that responded to help the Capitol Police that day.

He said there will be a digital component, presumably a website, that will list all the names. The number of officers runs into the thousands.

“You’ll see how many people came here,” he said.

By CLAIRE RUSH, Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal immigration officers shot and wounded two people in a vehicle outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, a day after an officer shot and killed a driver in Minnesota, authorities said.

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The Department of Homeland Security described the vehicle’s passenger as “a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring” who had been involved in a recent shooting in Portland. When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants Thursday afternoon, the driver tried to run them over, the department said in a written statement.

“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot,” the statement said. “The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.”

There was no immediate independent corroboration of those events or of any gang affiliation of the vehicle’s occupants. During prior shootings involving agents involved in President Donald Trump’s surge of immigration enforcement in U.S. cities, including Wednesday’s shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, video evidence cast doubt on the administration’s initial descriptions of what prompted the shootings.

According to the the Portland Police bureau, officers initially responded to a report of a shooting near a hospital at about 2:18 p.m.

A few minutes later, police received information that a man who had been shot was asking for help in a residential area a couple of miles away. Officers then responded there and found the two people with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers determined they were injured in the shooting with federal agents, police said.

Their conditions were not immediately known. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said during a Portland city council meeting that Thursday’s shooting took place in the eastern part of the city and that two Portlanders were wounded.

“As far as we know both of these individuals are still alive and we are hoping for more positive updates throughout the afternoon,” she said.

• Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
• Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
• Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, center, speaks to the media following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
• Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Show Caption1 of 4Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) Expand

The shooting escalates tensions in an city that has long had a contentious relationship with President Donald Trump, including Trump’s recent, failed effort to deploy National Guard troops in the city.

Portland police secured both the scene of the shooting and the area where the wounded people were found pending investigation.

“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” said Chief Bob Day. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to end all operations in Oregon’s largest city until a full investigation is completed.

“We stand united as elected officials in saying that we cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” a joint statement said. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.”

The city officials said “federal militarization undermines effective, community‑based public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region. We’ll use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights.”

They urged residents to show up with “calm and purpose during this difficult time.”

“We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice,” the statement said. “We must stand together to protect Portland.”

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, urged any protesters to remain peaceful.

“Trump wants to generate riots,” he said in a post on the X social media platform. “Don’t take the bait.”