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Updated: 18 hours 41 min ago

Today in History: March 27, first cherry trees planted in Washington D.C.

19 hours 18 min ago

Today is Thursday, March 27, the 86th day of 2025. There are 279 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On March 27, 1912, in Washington D.C., first lady Helen Herron Taft and the wife of Japan’s ambassador to the United States, Viscountess Chinda, planted the first two of 3,000 cherry trees given to the U.S. as a gift by the mayor of Tokyo.

Also on this date:

In 1794, Congress approved the “Act to provide a Naval Armament” of six armed ships, which provided the foundation of the permanent U.S. Navy.

Related Articles

In 1939, the first NCAA men’s Division I basketball championship game was held, with the University of Oregon defeating Ohio State, 46-33.

In 1964, Alaska was hit by a magnitude 9.2 earthquake (still the strongest on record in North America) and tsunamis that together claimed over 130 lives.

In 1968, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth in 1961, died when his MiG-15 jet crashed during a routine training flight near Moscow; he was 34.

In 1973, “The Godfather” won the Academy Award for best picture of 1972, but its star, Marlon Brando, refused to accept his Oscar for best actor and, in what would become one of the Oscars’ most famous moments, sent in his place actor and activist Sacheen Littlefeather, who spoke out about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood.

In 1975, construction began on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; the 800-mile (1,290-kilometer) pipeline was completed just over two years later.

In 1977, in aviation’s deadliest disaster, 583 people were killed when a KLM Boeing 747, attempting to take off in heavy fog, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on an airport runway on the Canary Island of Tenerife.

In 1980, 123 workers died when a North Sea floating oil field platform, the Alexander Kielland, capsized during a storm.

In 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony, winning the Oscar for best actor just minutes later. (Smith later resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and received a 10-year ban from the Oscars.)

Today’s Birthdays:
  • Actor Michael York is 83.
  • Film director Quentin Tarantino is 62.
  • Singer Mariah Carey is 56.
  • Actor Pauley Perrette is 56.
  • Actor Nathan Fillion is 54.
  • Singer Fergie is 50.
  • Former MLB catcher Buster Posey is 38.
  • Singer Jessie J is 37.
  • Actor-singer Halle Bailey is 25.

Daily Horoscope for March 27, 2025

23 hours 18 min ago
General Daily Insight for March 27, 2025

A bit of a back-up is jamming the cosmic thoroughfare. Venus, the planet of love and money, is still retrograde as it abandons fiery Aries and returns to flowing Pisces to finish out the remainder of this cycle. Our usual fantasies and daydreams may abruptly devolve into delusions and escapism. Be wary of donning a pair of rose-colored glasses, as optimism could blind you to the reality of your situation. Clear eyes and a strong heart are needed more now than ever.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Cosmic nebulousness could impede your pursuit of pleasure. Alluring Venus is retrograding back into your 12th House of Isolation, which can remove a lot of joy from your life — or at least it has that appearance. It isn’t easy to summon the planet of pleasure when it’s asleep at the wheel like this, so don’t try to push for fun or romance to happen when you don’t have Venus helping you out. Let go of any expectations for the moment.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Take stock of Team Taurus. Your social life is up for inspection as your ruler Venus retrogrades in your 11th House of Communities, encouraging you to reconnect with people who you may have left hanging while you’ve been busy doing other things. If you’ve got a friend or two — or a whole group of them — who you should reach out to, then consider this your cosmic cue to extend that olive branch. People will be happy to hear from you.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Take care of your reputation before it becomes a problem. Alluring Venus is backing up into your public 10th house, which can cause a few complications when it comes to your ambitions and how people see you. Venus Retrograde can make it easy to bet on yourself, certain that everyone adores you when that might not be the case! Play it safe for the time being, and hold off on any big reveals until Venus wakes up once again next month.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You only need to go so far so fast. The world certainly looks tempting and full of myriad rewards as Venus returns to your 9th House of Ideas. That being said, with Venus still rolling in reverse, those appealing potential outcomes will likely end up being much less beneficial and more complex in reality. Stick to what you know, rather than chasing after everything you set your eyes on, because chances are high the experience won’t be all it’s cracked up to be.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Watch out for the temptation to take things too far. Your feelings are amped up as Venus reverses into your intense 8th house, turning the heat up a few notches. All sorts of chaos could impact your plans when Venus is backing up like this. Your feelings can burn hot and cold, and what appeals to you one minute may seem far less appealing the next. Don’t go all in on anything when your opinions and desires are as changeable as this.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Reflect on the value you place on your relationships. Your 7th House of Partnerships is coming into focus as pleasant Venus returns to this sector, thanks to its current retrograde phase. When it’s spinning in reverse like this, Venus can make it difficult to see eye-to-eye with people and get on the same page. Be leery of attempts to turn your closest connections into an “ideal” network until Venus has turned direct, or else you risk swimming upriver with nothing to show for it.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Take a reasonable approach to self-improvement. Your ruler Venus is backing up into your 6th House of Improvement, bringing its positivity and promise — as long as you don’t let its retrograde incite too much indulgence. It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll work out more when you buy a new wardrobe of athletic wear, or that you need the fanciest blender to make your morning smoothies. All those bells and whistles can be fun, but you don’t need them to reach your wellness goals.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

There is such a thing as too much fun. No matter how tough it is to stop yourself doing everything you like as pleasure-loving Venus retrogrades into your ardent 5th house, you’ll be better off restraining such urges. Otherwise, you might find yourself going overboard in your pursuit of satisfaction! All work and no play makes for a boring life, but no work and all play makes for an irresponsible one. Remind yourself that there will be time for you to accomplish both.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Hold off on any emotional spending for as long as you can. Venus is retrograding back into your 4th House of Feelings, which can make it very tempting to throw your money around as a distraction from whatever’s actually going on beneath the surface. This same sector rules over your home life, but hit pause if you decide to completely redecorate your space. Venus also rules aesthetics, and there’s a big chance that you won’t like any changes tomorrow that you make today.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

The search for pleasure begins in your community. Your local 3rd house is lit up as Venus retrogrades into this territory, bringing its fun-loving ways with it — though those will be a little dimmed until it turns direct once again. For now, focus on the places and people you know bring joy into your life, whether it’s your favorite bar or your favorite library. Save brand-new explorations for another time. Take comfort in what you know, and you should enjoy the process.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Buyer’s remorse is on sale! With luxury-loving Venus turning back into your financial 2nd house, going on shopping sprees won’t keep you satisfied for long. Venus impacts both your money and your sense of aesthetics. Whether you’re craving a fresh wardrobe or considering investing in a promising startup, it would be much wiser to wait until Venus has turned direct once again. The last thing you want is to waste your hard-earned money, so don’t give your impulsive side the chance to do so.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You have a special kind of allure, but you should be careful how you use it. You likely can’t help feeling good about yourself as Venus retrogrades back into your sign, but with that loving planet continuing to reverse, you’re in danger of picking up the wrong end of the stick. You may think everyone’s buying what you’re selling, but they may want to return it just as quickly if you lay your spiel on too thick. Don’t hype yourself up too much to anyone.

Isabella Vega helps UCF snap 4-game slide by blanking No. 3 UF

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 18:33

Cindy Ball-Malone knew her UCF softball team needed a reboot.

With Knights mired in a four-game losing streak and set to host No. 3 Florida on Wednesday night at the UCF Softball Complex, Ball-Malone considered putting her young squad through rigorous practice. Instead, another opportunity presented itself, allowing her team to be reset.

“We were talking, and one of our coaches said that maybe we need a pizza party or something, but I was like, ‘Something will come together,’ ” Ball-Malone said.

That something was a visit to a lake house courtesy of former UCF softball Hall of Famer Stephanie Best.

“We had people fishing. We had people swimming in the pool. We had people just reading a book under a tree,”  Ball-Malone said. “Everyone got just to cleanse their soul and feed their soul.”

That break paid off in a big way on Wednesday as UCF pitcher Isabella Vega pitched a complete game shutout, her fourth of the season, as the Knights snapped a four-game losing streak by downing No. 3 Florida 4-0.

Show Caption1 of 25

UCF players celebrate after a home run during the University of Florida at UCF softball game in Orlando on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

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Vega (6-2) walked one batter and struck out four while surrendering just five hits.

UCF’s Grant Reddick ready to make strides in kicking game

“I had a positive attitude and was then feeding off the team as well,” Vega said. “They had a very positive energy today. I felt it in the locker room and throughout warm-ups that today was going to be good.”

UCF got on the scoreboard when shortstop Aubrey Evans drove a 1-0 pitch from UF pitcher Katelynn Oxley (5-3) over the left-field wall for a 2-run homer, driving in third baseman Sierra Humphreys. It was the fourth homer of the season for Evans.

“I was looking for one pitch in one spot and in that count, and when you see the pitch, you’re going after it,” Evans said. “I put a good swing on it, and thankfully it left the yard.”

Vega opened the second inning by hitting catcher Jocelyn Erickson, but a 5-4-3 double play cleared the bases and ended the Gators’ threat.

Florida threatened again in the third after Vega walked shortstop Rylee Holtorf and gave up a single to Kendra Falby with two outs. But Korbe Otis popped up to catcher Beth Damon to end the threat.

The Gators managed to get runners on the base in the fifth when second baseman Mia Williams stroked a single down the left-field line to open the inning. Vega got the next two batters to pop up, but Holtorf beat out a bunt single to put two on with two outs.

However, Falby lined out to Evans, who threw to Humphreys for a double play.

UCF’s top scorer Kaitlin Peterson enters transfer portal

UCF took advantage of a pitching change at the bottom of the inning when UF went with reliever Ava Brown. The sophomore got the first two outs before Damon lined a double into the left-center. Three pitches later, right fielder Izzy Mertes launched a blast over the left-field fence for a two-run homer.

UF catcher Jocelyn Erickson lined a shot off the center-field wall for a two-out double in the top of the sixth, but Vega got first baseman Reagan Walsh to ground out to end the threat.

The Gators had one more chance as pitch hitter Cassidy McClellan got on base with one out in the seventh, but Vega got the final two outs to secure the win.

UCF (21-14-1, 3-6 Big 12) snapped a four-game losing streak to Florida. It was the first win by the Knights over the Gators since April 14, 2021, and the third overall by the program under Ball-Malone.

It’s the fourth home win for UCF in the series and the first since an 8-6 victory on March 14, 2021.

The Knights improved to 3-4 against top-10 teams this season.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

At least 4 dead, 2 injured in domestic shooting in Pembroke Park, police say

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 17:57

A woman and three children were shot to death in Pembroke Park on Wednesday night and two people were hospitalized, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.

The shooting happened shortly after 8 p.m. in the 3100 block of West Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane said.

An adult male and a girl were taken to the hospital, Kane said.  There were “several other victims,” but Kane said he could not say how many or provide any of their conditions.

One first responder said over radio there were “four plus victims.” The girl who was taken to the hospital is 10 years old, according to first responders’ radio communications archived by the streaming site Broadcastify. The suspected shooter was also taken to the hospital, the radio communications show.

The Sheriff’s Office did not provide the conditions of the man and child taken to the hospital.

Evan Ross, a spokesperson for Pembroke Park Police, also said there were multiple victims and that the shooting was domestic.

There is no threat to the public, officials say.

Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit detectives are leading the investigation.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.

Florida House OKs repealing gun-age law

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 17:22

TALLAHASSEE — In an issue rooted in the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the Florida House on Wednesday approved repealing a law that prevents people under age 21 from buying rifles and other long guns.

The Republican-controlled House voted 78-34 to pass the bill (HB 759), though it remains unclear whether the Senate will take up the issue. The House passed repeal bills in 2023 and 2024, but they did not get through the Senate.

As in past years, this year’s bill drew heavy — and, at times, emotional — debate.

Then-Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature in 2018 approved the law to increase the minimum age to buy rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21 after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz used a semiautomatic rifle to kill 17 students and faculty members at the Parkland school.

Florida’s GOP lawmakers back plan to lower gun-buying age restriction enacted after Parkland

Opponents of the bill Wednesday said family members of Parkland victims urged lawmakers to pass the higher minimum age. Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat who was a Broward County School Board member at the time of the mass shooting, urged House members to “continue to honor the promise to those families.”

“Every single time we do this, members, it reopens wounds you can’t even imagine,” said Rep. Dan Daley, a Coral Springs Democrat who graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

But supporters of the bill said 18-year-olds can do such things as vote, join the military and serve on juries. They said 18-year-olds also should be able to buy guns.

“To me, this is simply a matter of consistency,” Rep. Judson Sapp, R-Green Cove Springs, said.

Gov. Rick Scott signs sweeping gun bill; NRA files suit

Federal law has long prevented people under 21 from buying handguns. While the Florida law bars purchases of rifles and other long guns, it allows people under 21 to receive guns, for example, as gifts from family members.

Shortly after the Florida law passed in 2018, the National Rifle Association filed a federal lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this month, in an 8-4 ruling, upheld the law.

Opponents of the repeal bill Wednesday cited that ruling as they tried to counter arguments that the law violates the Second Amendment. Also, opponents cited research about brain development of young adults and their heightened involvement in shootings.

“The science and the facts don’t lie on this issue,” Daley said.

Florida House ready to change gun-buying age, but Senate keeps issue on hold

But supporters of the bill raised scenarios such as the law preventing young single mothers from buying guns to protect themselves.

“To me, this bill is about the right to defend yourself, the right to keep and bear arms,” bill sponsor Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, said.

Wednesday’s vote was largely along party lines, with one Democrat, Jose Alvarez of Kissimmee, supporting the bill. Six Republicans voted against it. They were Rep. Hillary Cassel, R-Dania Beach; Rep. Anne Gerwig, R-Wellington; Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach; Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point; Rep. Vicki Lopez, R-Miami; and Rep. Susan Valdes, R-Tampa.

Marlins acquire right-hander Tyler Phillips from Phillies for cash

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 16:46

MIAMI — The Marlins acquired right-handed pitcher Tyler Phillips from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash, Miami announced Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Phillips started seven games with the Phillies in 2024 after making his MLB debut in relief on July 7 at Atlanta. In that game, he allowed one run over four innings and struck out the first four batters he faced. In eight appearances, Phillips went 4-1 with a 6.87 ERA, 28 strikeouts and seven walks in 2024.

In 20 starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season, Phillips went 8-5 with a 5.08 ERA. He recorded wins and tossed complete games in consecutive outings for the IronPigs on May 15 at Norfolk and May 21 at Rochester (both were seven-inning doubleheaders).

In a corresponding move, the Marlins designated right-hander Seth Martinez for assignment.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Man accused of sexually assaulting Spring Breaker outside Fort Lauderdale bar

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 16:26

A 44-year-old South Florida man is accused of sexually assaulting a woman visiting on Spring Break outside of a Fort Lauderdale nightclub, police said.

Terrence Style, of Miami-Dade County, was arrested by Fort Lauderdale Police on March 18. He is facing one count of sexual battery of a victim 18 years or older one count of false imprisonment, jail records show.

At the time of his arrest, Style was out of jail after posting bail in a separate, pending sexual battery case from 2022 where he is accused of assaulting a woman in the bathroom at the Broward Mall, court records show.

A bouncer at Munchie’s Nightclub, at 200 SW Second St., witnessed a “very intoxicated” woman walk out the back door of the bar, struggling to walk, according to a probable cause affidavit. The employee then saw a man, later identified as Style, grab her “as if he was trying to help her” and took her toward an alley.

The employee, whose name is redacted in the affidavit, asked a patron nearby to check what was happening with them, according to the affidavit. That person, whose name is also redacted, turned into the alleyway and saw the man assaulting the woman.

When officers went to investigate, Style and the woman were no longer in the alley. Nearly an hour later, officers who were still in the area were flagged down by another witness who said the two were sitting on a bench by the river, according to the affidavit.

That witness, whose name is also redacted, said he had met the woman about an hour-and-a-half before the assault. She was intoxicated and gave her cellphone to him to hold, but he lost track of her and did not give it back. He witnessed the assault in the alleyway and went to report it, but when he came back, they were gone. He continued looking for the woman until he found her sitting on the bench, still with Style, and flagged down the officers.

The witness took officers to the bench, where the woman was sitting with her head down, “appearing to have very little control over her faculties,” Style sat with his arm around her, the affidavit said, with his pants unzipped.

Officers immediately separated the woman from Style, but they weren’t able to get any information from her “as she was clearly and visibly highly intoxicated,” the affidavit said. While doing their preliminary investigation at the scene, the woman said she was sexually assaulted and did not remember much aside from thinking she needed to get home.

Style had a gun, a large kitchen knife and a hatchet when officers detained him, according to the affidavit.

The woman was taken to the Nancy J. Cotterman Center and hours later told officers that she had started drinking about 3 p.m. the previous day and continued drinking throughout the day, according to the affidavit. She arrived in Fort Lauderdale about 9 p.m. from her Airbnb in Hallandale Beach and said she could not remember what happened after about midnight, including how she ended up with Style and when she was separated from her friends.

Style told officers he was in Fort Lauderdale “celebrating a new job” and was hanging out outside of the nightclub when he saw the woman come out of the club, who “appeared to be ‘into him,'” the affidavit said. He told officers he would not talk about what happened in the alleyway without legal representation.

He was held in the North Broward Bureau as of Wednesday.

In a 2022 case, Style is accused of sexually assaulting a woman with autism inside of a bathroom near the food court at the Broward Mall in Plantation, a probable cause affidavit said. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in that case, which remains pending.

Pegula moves into her 3rd Miami Open semifinal in 4 years with win over Raducanu

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 16:20

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jessica Pegula stopped the string of upsets at the Miami Open by ending the stalwart run of Britain’s unseeded Emma Raducanu on Wednesday night.

The fourth-seeded Pegula won 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a two hour, 25 minute battle, to move into her third Miami Open women’s semifinal in four years. Pegula, the last American in the field, faces the teenage wild card from the Philippines, Alexandra Eala, on Thursday.

Pegula’s match ended at 11:23 p.m. and forced the postponement of the men’s quarterfinal between Novak Djokovic and Sebastian Korda until Thursday.

Raducanu, who won the 2021 U.S. Open, came in ranked 60th world after experiencing multiple coaching changes and injuries.

Pegula won the first set. But Raducanu flashed her power in taking the second set, though not before she appeared to struggle physically with Miami’s high humidity that reached 70%.

Grimacing through points and showing signs of overheating, Raducanu posted five set points on Pegula’s serve but couldn’t convert. Pegula then held to close to 5-4.

At that juncture, medical personnel took Raducanu’s blood pressure and pulse rate as the chair umpire declared a medical timeout. The medical officials rubbed ice bags on Raducanu’s legs and put cold towels around her neck.

Raducanu sprang to life and dominated the tiebreaker 7-3.

In the third set, Pegula rallied, going up an early break at 2-0. On her third break point, Pegula put away Raducanu’s short ball and ended the match by breaking Raducanu at love.

In a nearly three-hour, men’s quarterfinal, a cramping, 14th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov barely survived the oppressive humidity to outlast No. 23 seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Dimitrov was led off the court by a tournament doctor and ATP physio after sitting in his chair for over 25 minutes, saying he was feeling “dizzy.”

Dimitrov, a Miami Open finalist in 2024, saved a match point in the third set when trailing 5-6 before forcing a tiebreaker. He squandered seven set points in the opening set and lost the tiebreaker 6-4.

He will face the Djokovic-Korda winner in the quarterfinals.

The high seeds were falling earlier on Wednesday.

Soon after unseeded wild card Eala stunned No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek in a straight-set women’s quarterfinal, men’s top seed Alexander Zverev got bounced by No. 17 seed Arthur Fils of France, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a fourth-round men’s match postponed by rain.

Fils, who beat American Frances Tiafoe in his previous match in a marathon three setter, will face Jakub Mensik in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

In the third set, Fils broke Zverev at 3-3 and kept the German moving. On match point, Fils pounded a ball down the left sideline that the top seed couldn’t retrieve.

Fils, 20, received treatment on his back after the first set but rallied to win the next two, winning in two hours.

“I was feeling not great in the rallies,” he said. “I’ve had a little problem in my back since I was young, so sometimes it hurts me a little bit. I had to find a rhythm, more aggressive and come into the court to play my game and not let him play. Because when you let him play, he is one of the best tennis players in the world. I’m really happy about the way I did it.”

Eala, ranked 140th, is on the verge of becoming the first star player to ever come out of the Philippines after topping Swiatek 6-2, 7-5.

Eala became the third wild card to reach the Miami Open semifinals, following Justine Henin in 2010 and Victoria Azarenka in 2018.

She never rattled as the first four games went to at least one deuce and five of the first six games were service breaks. Swiatek held serve just twice in the match and committed 32 unforced errors in the one hour, 39-minute battle.

Eala has beaten three major winners during her remarkable run — Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner from Poland.

“There is a lot of emotions, definitely,’’ said Eala, who had never beaten a top 40 player. “Happiness has to be on the top of the whole list.’’

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This story has been changed to correct the spelling of Raducanu throughout.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Turkish student at Tufts University detained, video shows masked people handcuffing her

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 16:14

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ, KATHY McCORMACK and MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — A Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University has been detained by federal agents without explanation, her lawyer said Wednesday.

Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, had just left her home in Somerville to meet with friends Tuesday night when she was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents, lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said in a petition filed in Boston federal court.

Video obtained by The Associated Press appears to show six people, their faces covered, taking away Ozturk’s phone as she yells and is handcuffed.

“We’re the police,” members of the group are heard saying in the video.

A man is heard asking, “Why are you hiding your faces?”

In this image taken from security camera video, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Mass., Tuesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo)

Khanbabai said Ozturk, who is Muslim, was meeting friends for iftar, a meal that breaks a fast at sunset during Ramadan.

“We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of,” Khanbabai said in a statement. Ozturk has a visa allowing her to study in the United States, Khanbabai said.

In this image taken from security camera video, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Mass., Tuesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo) ‘This isn’t public safety, it’s intimidation’

Neighbors said they were left rattled by the arrest, which played out at 5:30 p.m. on a residential block.

“It looked like a kidnapping,” said Michael Mathis, a 32-year-old software engineer whose surveillance camera captured the arrest. “They approach her and start grabbing her with their faces covered. They’re covering their faces. They’re in unmarked vehicles.”

Hundreds of people gather in Somerville, Mass., on March 26, 2025, to demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was arrested by federal agents Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)

Tufts University President Sunil Kumar said Wednesday in a statement that the school received reports that federal authorities detained an international graduate student and that the student’s visa had been terminated.

“The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event,” Kumar said.

Kumar did not name the student, but university spokesperson Patrick Collins confirmed that Ozturk is a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Hundreds of people gather in Somerville, Mass., on March 26, 2025, to demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was arrested by federal agents Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley called the arrest “a horrifying violation of Rumeysa’s constitutional rights to due process and free speech.”

“She must be immediately released,” Pressley said in a statement. “We won’t stand by while the Trump Administration continues to abduct students with legal status and attack our fundamental freedoms.”

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called the video “disturbing.”

“Based on what we now know, it is alarming that the federal administration chose to ambush and detain her, apparently targeting a law-abiding individual because of her political views,” she said. “This isn’t public safety, it’s intimidation that will, and should, be closely scrutinized in court.”

Hundreds of people gather in Somerville, Mass., on March 26, 2025, to demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was arrested by federal agents Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order giving the government until Friday to answer why Ozturk was being detained. Talwani also ordered that Ozturk not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without 48 hours advance notice.

But as of Wednesday evening, the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s online detainee locater system listed her as being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana.

A senior DHS spokesperson confirmed Ozturk’s detention and the termination of her visa.

“DHS and (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. A visa is a privilege, not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security,” the spokesperson told the AP.

Hundreds of people gather in Somerville, Mass., on March 26, 2025, to demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was arrested by federal agents Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Michael Casey) ‘She’s never spoken badly to anyone’

Ozturk was one of four students last March who co-authored an op-ed piece in The Tufts Daily criticizing the university’s response to its community union Senate passing resolutions that demanded Tufts “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide,” disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel.

Friends said Ozturk was not otherwise closely involved in protests against Israel. But after the op-ed was published, her name, photograph and work history were featured by Canary Mission, a website that says it documents people who “promote hatred of the U.S.A., Israel and Jews on North American college campuses.” The op-ed was the only cited example of “anti-Israel activism” by Ozturk.

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Students and faculty elsewhere also have recently had visas revoked or been blocked from entering the U.S. because they attended demonstrations or publicly expressed support for Palestinians. President Donald Trump’s administration has cited a seldom-invoked legal statute that authorizes the secretary of state to revoke visas of noncitizens who could be considered a threat to foreign policy interests.

Hundreds of people rallied in a Somerville park to support Ozturk on Wednesday, with speaker after speaker demanding her release and accusing both major political parties of failing to protect immigrants and stand up for Palestinians.

“Free Rumeysa Ozturk now,” the crowd chanted, along with traditional protest slogans such as “Free, free Palestine.” Many held Palestinian flags and homemade signs supporting her and opposing ICE.

Before attending Tufts, Ozturk graduated with a master’s degree from the Developmental Psychology program at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York, according to an alumni spotlight article in 2021.

Reyyan Bilge, a psychology professor at Northeastern University and friend, described Ozturk as a “soft spoken, kind and gentle soul” who is deeply focused on her research and not closely involved in the campus protests.

The two first met at Istanbul Sehir University, where Bilge supervised her thesis, before working together on cognitive research and co-publishing papers. They remained close after Ozturk arrived in the United States to continue her studies on a Fulbright Scholarship at Columbia in 2018.

“Over the 10 years I’ve known her, she’s never spoken badly to anyone else, let alone being antisemitic or racist,” Bilge said.

___

Offenhartz reported from New York, and McCormack from Concord, New Hampshire.

Congressional Republicans target PBS, NPR funding in contentious hearing

Wed, 03/26/2025 - 16:03

By DAVID BAUDER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Republican pushing the Trump administration’s government efficiency efforts called for dismantling and defunding the nation’s public broadcasting system following a contentious hearing Wednesday featuring the heads of PBS and NPR.

“We believe that you all can hate us on your own dime,” said Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Coupled with President Donald Trump’s declaration on Tuesday that he would “love to” see federal funding cut off, the nation’s public broadcasting system is facing perhaps the biggest threat to its existence since it was first established in 1967. The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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Republicans have frequently grumbled that PBS and NPR news programming leans left, but efforts to cut or eliminate funding usually fade because legislators want to protect their local stations — 336 of them for PBS alone, with those in rural areas most heavily dependent on taxpayer money.

The hearings on behalf of the new administration are one of multiple front on which Trump and his allies are aggressively challenging and in some cases sanctioning the American media, which the president has been sharply critical of for years.

This week alone, he denounced The Atlantic repeatedly for publishing texts from the Signal messaging app among high-ranking defense officials planning a military attack. Trump has also taken action against the Voice of America and other government-funded media and barred The Associated Press from the White House press pool and other events.

An issue that’s not going away quietly

A succession of GOP lawmakers on Wednesday complained bitterly about alleged bias, particularly from NPR stations, making clear it was not an issue that was going away quietly.

Kentucky Rep. James Comer said that as a young farmer decades ago he would frequently listen to NPR broadcasts on his tractor, as it was often his only option. But now, he has podcasts and other things to listen to.

“I don’t even recognize the station anymore,” Comer said. “It’s not news. It feels like it’s propaganda. I feel like it’s disinformation every time I listen to NPR.”

Greene displayed a picture of what she called a “drag queen” that appeared on a PBS program geared to children and complained about documentaries featuring transgender people. PBS chief executive Paula Kerger said the “drag queen” reference was about something mistakenly put on the New York PBS station’s website and never on the air. The transgender people appeared as part of adult programming that reflected the experiences of different Americans, she said.

Democrats characterized the hearing as a distraction from more important issues, like this week’s revelation that a journalist from the Atlantic was included in a text chain of Trump administration officials detailing a U.S. military strike in Yemen. “If shame was still a thing, this hearing would be shameful,” said Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch.

Some Democrats tried comedy. California Rep. Robert Garcia asked if the red “Sesame Street” character, “is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the Communist Party?”

“He’s a puppet,” Kerger said. “But, no.”

Admitting to some past mistakes

The broadcasting leaders acknowledged mistakes.

NPR President Katherine Maher said the radio network was wrong to dismiss what was on Hunter Biden’s laptop as a non-story. After they were repeatedly referenced by Republicans on the committee, Maher said she regretted posting some anti-Trump tweets before she began working for NPR.

Although saying she is not responsible for editorial content, Maher detailed efforts by NPR to ensure a variety of political viewpoints are represented. NPR’s weekly listenership declined from 60 million to 42 million between 2020 and 2024, according to internal documents published by The New York Times, although Maher said Wednesday those numbers have inched up in the past year.

“I do not believe we are politically biased,” Maher said. “We are a non-biased organization.”

Uri Berliner, a former NPR editor who quit last year after complaining the news outlet had become too one-sided, wrote in the Free Press on Wednesday that NPR should no longer accept taxpayer money so it can “drop the public from its mission statement and embrace the progressive.”

“Don’t try to conceal what everyone knows already,” he wrote.

Republican committee members noted that NPR has cited Wednesday’s hearing in fundraising appeals and Maher was asked whether the system would survive without public money. “It would be incredibly damaging to the national public radio system,” she said.

Kerger emphasized the service that PBS provides to local communities, particularly with its educational programming for children, and said she is worried for the future of its smaller stations.

“This,” she said, “is an existential moment for them.”

After the hearing, the Committee to Protect Journalists called NPR and PBS essential public services for millions of Americans.

“Casting them as propaganda machines undeserving of taxpayer support is a dangerous mischaracterization that threatens to rob Americans of the vital reporting they need to make decisions about their lives,” said Jodie Ginsberg, the committee’s CEO.

David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social

Daily Horoscope for March 26, 2025

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 21:00
General Daily Insight for March 26, 2025

Our emotions can lead us all over the place in our search for something better. The day begins with a bit of a shock as the Moon in rebel Aquarius squares eccentric Uranus in Taurus, potentially inducing everyone to act out. The mood becomes gentler once the Moon settles into easy-going Pisces at 3:31 pm EDT. We can make good use of this tenderness, even when aggressive Mars argues with sore Chiron. Exposing old wounds hurts, but we must do so to heal them.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You can clock out from life for today, at minimum. The Moon is settling down in your contemplative 12th house, giving you a chance to get in some rest and relaxation before it enters your spirited sign in a couple of days. During this time, you can hit the brakes and not worry about adding to your schedule. That said, if you want to be proactive, focus on clearing clutter from your life in order to make space for a better future to arrive.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

It’s a good day to play your part in something larger. There is a cosmic emphasis on coming together for a common goal as the Moon enters your 11th House of Global Awareness, showing you how much you can achieve when you work with others — as opposed to taking everything on by yourself. This doesn’t need to be some major undertaking that will change the world. It could even be relatively simple! The important thing is working together and fostering a sense of community.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Follow your intuition all the way to the finish line. Your progress on your achievements is key as the Moon arrives in your 10th House of Status for its monthly visit, revitalizing your ability to get serious and make considerable advancement toward them. That isn’t to say you must reach the finish line ASAP, but the more effort you put in, the more results you will see. Don’t sit back and rest on your laurels when there’s so much to do!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

A little growth is always a good idea. The Moon is winging its way into your vast 9th house, encouraging you to move beyond outdated limitations in favor of spreading your wings. Open your mind to an unknown subject or way of living that you never considered before, or push yourself to literally go explore exotic territory with a focus on unique experiences. What you discover can make your life feel so much richer, so don’t limit yourself to a colorless existence.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You may have to deal with some serious topics today. The Moon is moving into your 8th House of Shared Assets, which focuses on the various types of “glue” that hold people together. Workplace connections, financial agreements, social entanglements — these could all be affected. You may have to parse through one of these and get down to the nitty-gritty, acknowledging where someone hasn’t been keeping up their end of the bargain. Avoid becoming that person if you can help it.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Aim for equilibrium, Virgo. The stars are pointing you toward your partnerships as the Moon arrives in your 7th House of Litigation, making this the perfect time to examine your closest connections and ensure that everyone is on the same playing field. If things have gotten out of sorts with a particular someone, make a point of actively reaching out and connecting. Do what you must to bring your interactions back to a place of equality, or else the imbalances will only worsen.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You can be your most productive self without much effort. This can-do alignment is thanks to the Moon visiting your responsible 6th house, maximizing your capacity for efficiency. This rings true whether you’re clocking in at the office or trying to streamline your wellness routine at home. Small changes are being highlighted in favor of massive ones, so focus on goals that are measurably attainable. You shouldn’t need to bend over backward in order to see any kind of measurable results.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You have every right to enjoy yourself. The universe is giving you cosmic clearance to do as you please as the Moon dances into your artsy 5th house, so you can leave boring any tasks for later and pursue your pleasures to the best of your ability. This is also very creative territory, so think about putting your talents on display. Even if you have very little practice, the people around you should appreciate the time and love you put into your project.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Touch base with your nearest and dearest. The Moon is settling into your authentic 4th house, crafting the ideal environment to get cozy and surround yourself with loved ones. If you’re feeling particularly productive, then perhaps there are some tasks around the house that you can handle together. Regardless, when all is said and done, you can sit down to a family meal or a favorite food from childhood that always makes you feel nostalgic in the best way. Nurture your foundations.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Keep your eye on the ball. Today is arriving fast as the Moon leaps into your busy 3rd house, plugging you into what’s happening right off the bat. People may frequently demand your attention, or maybe you have a long to-do list that will keep you bouncing from one thing to another. Whatever happens, it’s sure to be a day chock-full of events to occupy you. Avoid letting anything slip through the cracks, because that’s an ongoing risk when so much is happening.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Consider the value of your time. You’re being guided to slow down and take proper stock of your situation as the Moon enters your reasonable 2nd house, reminding you that not everything needs to be done in a day. On the other hand, you should make a plan of action to ensure something gets done. If you’re prone to wasting your time with insignificant projects or procrastination, this energy can cut through that so you can reach your most productive self on the other side.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Tune out all the excess noise. When was the last time you sat down to contemplate your own thoughts and feelings? As Luna enters your expressive sign, you’re better able to clarify these things. If you’ve been going in circles or simply not making progress, this transit can help you pick a definitive direction and stick to it. With a smidgeon of effort and dedication, you have the ability to accomplish amazing things before the Moon returns to your sign in thirty days.

Winderman’s view: Heat dig in defensively, show Warriors the bite, bark still there

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 19:02

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 112-86 victory over the Golden State Warriors:

– This was a reminder.

– No, not of a certain forward who once played here.

– Fortunately, we appear to be over the Jimmy Butler overkill.

– Instead it was a reminder of what the Heat can be defensively at their locked-in best.

– We’ve seen it over the years before, the Jeremy Lin singlemindedness.

– When the Heat decide a specific player and his team will face 48 minutes of torment.

– This was another of those nights.

– Granted, the results likely would have been far different had Stephen Curry been on the receiving end of those Butler passes out of traps.

– But he wasn’t.

– So the Heat swarmed.

– Relentlessly.

– You knew Erik Spoelstra would be up for such a moment.

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– And you knew there was no challenge Bam Adebayo loves better than the opportunity to put his defense under the spotlight.

– So national television audience, Butler as the defensive cover … and Adebayo activated.

– Not that he was half bad on offense, either.

– The Heat haven’t made many memories this season.

– At least of the positive variety.

– But Tuesday night showed that the defensive possibilities very much still are there.

– With Duncan Robinson out, the Heat opened with a lineup of Adebayo, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Tyler Herro and Alec Burks.

– Herro is now one appearance from his first 70-game season.

– It was Burks fifth start of the season.

– And left the Heat with their 24th lineup.

– The Warriors, by contrast, went small, with a starting lineup of  Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Butler, Gary Payton II and Draymond Green.

– The Warriors ruled out Curry 90 minutes before the game due a pelvic contusion.

– Curry went through an extensive workout Monday at Barry University.

– “It just wasn’t quite there, and we just can’t risk it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

– While Adebayo opened defensively against Butler, Butler opened defensively against Ware.

– Davion Mitchell was first off the Heat bench.

– Followed by Haywood Highsmith.

– And then Kyle Anderson.

– So no Jaime Jaquez Jr.

– And, again, no Terry Rozier.

– When it came to Spoelstra’s pregame interview, there was little desire to head down memory lane when it came to Butler.

– “We’re trying to focus on everything we’ve been dealing with for the last three weeks,” he said of his team’s struggles.

– Saying of Butler, “I think all the emotions were late December and early January, to be frank.”

– As in when Butler decided to begin to force his way out.

– “This is the NBA,” Spoelstra said, “so there’s a lot of things that will happen. There’s a lot of change in the NBA. I think we’re pretty far removed from that kind of emotion.”

– And, still, the questions came.

– “When, get past all of this,” Spoelstra said. “I said this the other night, this league is a league of change. It’s a league of emotion. And get past it. Years beyond you’ll look back at this chapter and that’s what it was, a five-and-a-half-year chapter. That’s equivalent to when Pat (Riley) was coaching with the Lakers, probably like a 10-year chapter.”

– Spoelstra continued, “It’s a transient league now. So that was a pretty long chapter. There were a lot of different highs and lows with that. But, yeah, I’ll look back on that fondly.”

– Asked at the morning shootaround about going against Butler, Herro said, “I’m not interested, but I’m sure other people are. It’ll be fun for the fans.”

– He added, “We’ve got to continue to worry about ourselves. No matter who comes in here, before, next game, whatever, we’ve just got to win.”

– Ware’s second 3-point attempt was the 100th of his career.

Adebayo, Heat roll to 112-86 rout, as Warriors, Butler go bust

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 19:00

MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra began the night by insisting the night had to be about his team, not the sideshow of a former disgruntled player being back in town.

So the Miami Heat made it about both.

Combining stifling defense with stout 3-point shooting, the Heat further distanced themselves from the 10-game losing streak that was snapped Sunday, with a second consecutive victory.

The fact that the 112-86 decision Tuesday night at Kaseya Center came over the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler made it all the more satisfying.

“I mean the energy in the building was great,” Spoelstra said. “If you’re a competitor, you love this type of environment. We didn’t do any extra motivational speech.”

Taking advantage of the absence of sidelined Warriors guard Stephen Curry, the Heat placed their defensive focus on Butler and turned to team captain Bam Adebayo to orchestrate one of the most satisfying moments of an otherwise unfulfilling season.

“Defensively,” Spoelstra said, “it was probably one of our more consistent efforts all the way through.

“We kind of had it all together tonight.”

Jeered on practically every touch after mostly receiving tepid applause during a pregame video tribute, Butler closed with 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting.

Given the keys to both the defense and offense, Adebayo contributed 27 points and eight rebounds, shooting 2 of 3 on 3-pointers as part of the Heat’s overall 17 of 25 from beyond the arc.

“At this point, we’re scrapping for wins,” Adebayo said. “It doesn’t matter who we play against.”

The Heat also got 20 points from Tyler Herro, 17 from Alec Burks and 14 points and 10 rebounds from Kel’el Ware.

“Hopefully we’re getting there,” Spoelstra said, “and we’ve got to keep on going.”

In addition, former Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins added 10 points, five rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals.

“It felt good,” Wiggins said. “It was friendly competition at the highest level.”

The Warriors were led by the 15 points of Jonathan Kuminga.

“Obviously, it’s a big difference when Curry is not playing, no question about that,” Spoelstra said. “He is an offense unto himself.”

The Heat, still in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, close out their five-game homestand Thursday night against the Atlanta Hawks, before leaving for a three-game trip to Philadelphia, Washington and Boston.

“At this point of the season,” Herro said, “regardless of who it is, we’ve got to play with that energy, that effort.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat led 28-22 after the first quarter and then went into halftime with a 57-40 lead after Herro converted a 3-pointer just before the second-quarter buzzer.

No Warriors starter had more than one basket in the first half, the lowest-scoring first half by Warriors starters since 2004.

The Heat then went up 20 in the third period, saw the deficit trimmed to eight, before going into the fourth up 83-70.

From there, the Heat again made it a 20-point game, going up 95-75 with 7:06 to play on a 29-foot Herro 3-pointer, with the Warriors shortly thereafter pulling their starters.

“I thought we had an inspiring balance tonight,” Spoelstra said.

2. Bam v. Butler: There was no pretense about the Heat’s defensive focus, especially with Curry sidelined.

So from the outset, it was Adebayo defensively on Butler.

“I think it’s a part of my versatility,” Adebayo said. “I think that adds value to me.

“The guy’s been through the trenches with us, so the utmost respect. I’m just glad we got the win.”

That had Butler 1 of 5 through his first two stints, with Haywood Highsmith also taking a turn on Butler. Butler stood 1 of 6 for two points at halftime.

“When we’re starring Kel’el, Bam guards whoever the best big wing is,” Spoelstra said. “He’s been taking on these challenges.

“He made some inspiring plays right out of the gate.”

Adebayo closed 9 of 18 from the field, quarterbacking the Heat defense when not shutting down Butler.

Butler closed with six rebounds and two assists.

For his part, Warriors coach Steve Kerr downplayed the Butler element of the night.

“Miami is a great place to live,” Kerr said. “People don’t ever seem too amped up around here. So it really wasn’t that rabid an environment. Typical Miami. The main part of Jimmy’s return is that the Heat were ready.”

Of the overall defense that limited the Warriors .398 shooting, Herro said, “We were on a string, covering for each other.”

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3. Short again: Out of the mix for the Heat was Duncan Robinson, who had started five of the previous six games.

Robinson was downgraded pregame from his listing of questionable, dealing with lower-back pain.

Asked if it was similar to a previous back issue that had sidelined Robinson, Spoelstra said, “He feels better today. I’m not going to go there mentally. I’m sure he doesn’t want to.”

The Heat also announced before the game that forward Nikola Jovic has resumed court work a month removed from his broken hand. No timetable was offered regarding a return.

Jovic no longer is wearing a brace or any protection on the hand.

4. Rotation revision: Even with Robinson out, Jaime Jaquez Jr. was shuffled out of the Heat mix and Terry Rozier remained out of the mix.

Jaquez had started four of the previous six games, but played only six minutes in Sunday night’s victory over the Hornets. He then entered only for the final four minutes Tuesday night.

Rozier has now been held out of the past four games and five of the past seven.

Instead, minutes went to Kyle Anderson, who had been held out of the previous three games and five of the previous seven.

5. Contributing factors: With Robinson out, Spoelstra turned to Burks, who already had tied season highs of five 3-pointers and 17 points by the midpoint of the third period, not needed thereafter.

In addition, even with the Warriors opening with a small lineup that had Draymond Green, Spoelstra stayed with size, with Ware closing with his fourth double-double in the past six games.

“It was good to see those kind of inspiring efforts from multiple guys,” Spoelstra said.

Jimmy Butler’s return to Miami draws mix of cheers, boos from crowd

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 17:51

MIAMI — Heat coach Erik Spoelstra cracked a joke, asking if his pregame press conference Tuesday night was full of media members because the Heat were on a one-game winning streak.

No, it was not because Miami snapped its 10-game skid. It was for the awkward reunion between Spoelstra’s team and estranged superstar Jimmy Butler, who the Heat dealt to the visiting Golden State Warriors after a highly publicized dispute between Butler and the front office, which suspended Butler three times before trading him.

“Obviously, there’s a great storyline for everybody out there,” Spoelstra said. “We’re trying to focus on everything we’ve been dealing with for the last three weeks. I think all the emotions were late December, early January, to be frank. They’re trying to do what they’re trying to do. This is the NBA, so there’s a lot of things that’ll happen. There’s a lot of change in the NBA. I think we’re pretty far removed from that kind of emotion.”

The Heat are not about to give Butler a statue outside the Kaseya Center, but they did honor Butler’s Miami tenure with a tribute video before the game.

Kevin Love was shown hugging his former teammate on TV, but the reception from the crowd was frostier. The Heat played a short tribute video, which featured Butler’s highlights during his Heat years, before he was introduced to a mix of cheers and boos.

“It took me back some good times when I was wearing a Miami Heat jersey,” Butler said. “I’m very appreciative of those times. They helped me become the player that I am in this league, the individual that I am in this league, the teammate, the leader. All of those things.”

Fans booed him whenever he touched the ball, though Butler accepted that fans in Miami might not feel like cheering him.

“It’s going to happen plenty of places,” Butler said. “I guess it’s going to happen here now, too. You get used to it.”

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Butler got off to a slow start, ending his return to Miami with 11 points and six rebounds in the Warriors’ loss. Heat captain Bam Adebayo, who played defense against Butler Tuesday night, had an early dunk past his former teammate.

Although Butler received a tribute video, he and Heat president Pat Riley do not appear to be on great terms. TNT’s Taylor Rooks said Butler told her he had “nothing to say to Pat.”

“And Pat better have nothing to say to me,” Butler told Rooks.

The two franchises have been on opposite paths since the trade. Golden State is 16-6 since the trade, and the Warriors are in sixth place in the Western Conference. Miami is 6-17 since dealing Butler and in the mix for the play-in round to see whether they can advance to the postseason.

“He fits stylistically because he’s kind of an opposite of (Steph) Curry,” Spoelstra said. “But his IQ and his competitive spirit fits with their philosophy. He always finds a way to be an add-on value one way or the other.”

All told, Spoelstra said he will remember Butler’s time with the Heat well.

“That was a pretty long chapter,” Spoelstra said. There were a lot of different highs and lows with that. But I’ll look back on it fondly.”

“Those were extraordinary times,” he added.

The Jimmy Butler intro video as he’s met with.…well, you decide pic.twitter.com/f1jBrosk97

— jeremy taché (@jeremytache) March 25, 2025

 

 

Utah adds protections for social media child influencers

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 16:56

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah on Tuesday added new protections for the children of online content creators following the child abuse conviction of Ruby Franke, a mother of six who dispensed parenting advice to millions on YouTube before her arrest in 2023.

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Gov. Spencer Cox signed a law under the encouragement of Franke’s now ex-husband that gives adults a path to scrub from all platforms the digital content they were featured in as minors and requires parents to set aside money for kids featured in content. Kevin Franke told lawmakers in February that he wished he had never let his ex-wife post their children’s lives online and use them for profit.

“Children cannot give informed consent to be filmed on social media, period,” he said. “Vlogging my family, putting my children into public social media, was wrong, and I regret it every day.”

The Frankes launched the now-defunct “8 Passengers” channel on YouTube in 2015 and began chronicling daily life as a seemingly tight-knit Mormon family in Springville, Utah. With its large nuclear families and religious lifestyles, the state is a hotbed for the lucrative family blogging industry. The reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” brought widespread attention to a group of Utah-based Mormon mothers and TikTok creators known as “MomTok” who create content about their families and faith.

The content-creation industry is largely unregulated, but several states are considering protections for the earnings of young creators. Laws in Illinois and Minnesota allow children to sue parents who do not set aside money for them. Utah’s law goes further, allowing content featuring minors to be taken down.

Son’s escape from home leads to investigation

The Franke children were featured prominently in videos posted up to five times a week to an audience of 2.5 million in 2010. Two years later, Ruby Franke stopped posting to the family channel and began creating parenting content with therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, who encouraged her to cut contact with Kevin Franke and move her two youngest children into Hildebrandt’s southern Utah home.

The women were arrested on child abuse charges after Ruby Franke’s emaciated 12-year-old son Russell escaped through a window and knocked on a neighbor’s door. The neighbors noticed his ankles wrapped in bloody duct tape and called 911. Officers then found 9-year-old Eve, the youngest Franke child, sitting cross-legged in a dark closet in Hildebrandt’s house with her hair buzzed off.

The women were each sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

In handwritten journal entries, Ruby Franke insists repeatedly that her son is possessed by the devil and describes months of daily abuse that included starving her children and forcing them to work for hours in the summer heat without protection. The boy told investigators that Hildebrandt had used rope to bind his limbs to weights on the ground and dressed his wounds with cayenne pepper and honey, according to the police report.

Hoping to strike ‘content gold’

In a memoir published after her mother’s arrest, Shari, the eldest child, described how Ruby Franke’s obsession with “striking content gold” and chasing views led her to view her children as employees who needed to be disciplined, rather than children who needed to be loved. Shari wrote that her mother directed the children “like a Hollywood producer” and subjected them to constant video surveillance. She has called herself a “victim of family vlogging” and alluded in her book to early signs of abuse from her mother, including being slapped for disobedience when the now 22-year-old was 6.

Under the Utah law, online creators who make more than $150,000 a year from content featuring children will be required to set aside 15% of those earnings into a trust fund that the kids can access when they turn 18. Parents of child actors appearing in TV or film projects will also be required to place a portion of their earnings in a trust.

As the Utah Legislature was considering the legislation, a new Hulu documentary titled “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke” reignited interest in the case.

At a hearing last month, Kevin Franke read statements in support of the bill written by two of his daughters, ages 16 and 11. He filed for divorce shortly after his wife’s arrest and petitioned to regain custody of his children from the state. His lawyer, Randy Kester, did not respond to email and phone messages over the past week seeking to confirm whether Kevin Franke had regained custody in the sealed case.

Eve Franke, the youngest child who police found emaciated with her head shaved, wrote in a statement to lawmakers that they had power to protect other kids from exploitation.

“I’m not saying YouTube is a bad thing. Sometimes it brings us together,” she wrote. “But kids deserve to be loved, not used by the ones that are supposed to love them the most.”

Diver struck by boat propeller meets firefighters who helped rescue him

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 16:09

After a successful afternoon of spearfishing in Fort Lauderdale, David Labrador surfaced. But he saw a boat moving directly toward his head and dived back underwater.

Not quickly enough.

The boat’s propeller struck his upper left thigh and his rear end, leaving two deep lacerations that were 12 inches and 8 inches long.

“I just kept saying, ‘Save my leg, save my leg,’” Labrador said.

Labrador, of Miami Lakes, appeared at a Fort Lauderdale fire rescue station on Tuesday to meet with his rescuers, able to walk without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair, only weeks after the March 1 accident.

“This is an example of everybody working together between the 911 system, early notification bystanders helping, our crews working together previously with law enforcement, and then bringing (Labrador) into a trauma facility,” said Fort Lauderdale Deputy Fire Chief Garrett Pingol.

A tourist, who happened to be an off-duty firefighter, was visiting Fort Lauderdale beach near Northeast 21st Street where the accident occurred and created a tourniquet with a belt to stop Labrador’s bleeding.

“I initially thought as soon as I take (the makeshift tourniquet) off, it was going to start bleeding a lot, but it didn’t,” firefighter paramedic Charles Stevenson said on Tuesday. “Even then, I still put our (combat) tourniquet on just to make sure it didn’t bleed anymore.”

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According to Labrador, the time between being struck by the boat and being brought inside of Broward Health for treatment was under 20 minutes.

“Applying all my training, I had to make sure that he was okay and to get to the truck, get off the scene and get him to the trauma hospital immediately,” Stevenson said. Stevenson was one of the primary faces Labrador remembered as he was recovering.

Labrador received 40 staples and multiple antibiotics. He started physical therapy on March 4 and began walking 50 feet with a walker. He was released two days later and returned to work as a machinery dealer on Monday.

“I love how there’s good people in this world who want to help, and as soon as we got onto the beach, they saw what was wrong and they helped me out of the boat,” Labrador said. “One was applying pressure, the other one was tying a tourniquet on me, and they were just there coaching me through it, (telling me) it’s going to be okay.”

Stevenson handed Labrador a gift bag on Tuesday with a Fort Lauderdale fire rescue baseball cap and a firefighter challenge coin, a special token that has to be earned.

Last week, Labrador and his father celebrated Labrador’s recovery by filleting and eating the frozen mutton snapper, lobster and yellow jack that was caught on the day of his injury.

“One step of facing your fears, you know? Eating your catch and knowing that this could happen to anyone at any time. So don’t live in fear,” Labrador said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is still searching for the boat that hit Labrador. The vessel had outboard motors and was between 30 to 40 feet long. It was last seen heading north with two people on board. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the FWC at 888-404-FWCC.

Republicans look to rein in courts, judges as Trump rails against rulings

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 15:46

By LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — Angry over the crush of court rulings against the Trump administration, Republicans in Congress are trying to slap back at the federal judiciary with proposals to limit the reach of its rulings, cut funding and even impeach judges, tightening the GOP’s grip on government.

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House GOP leaders say all options are under consideration as they rush to rein in judges who are halting President Donald Trump’s actions at a rapid pace. In many cases, the courts are questioning whether the firings of federal workers, freezing of federal funds and shuttering of long-running federal offices are unlawful actions by the executive branch and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

In perhaps the most high-profile case, Judge James E. Boasberg ordered planeloads of deported immigrants to be turned around, raising the ire of Trump, who called for his impeachment, and billionaire Musk, who is funneling campaign cash to House Republicans backing impeachment efforts. The president calls the judges “lunatics.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that “desperate times call for desperate measures” without mentioning impeachment.

“We do have authority over the federal courts, as you know,” the Republican speaker said. “We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts, and all these other things.”

Not yet 100 days into the new administration, the unusual attack on the federal judiciary is the start of what is expected to be a protracted battle between the co-equal branches of government, unmatched in modern memory. As the White House tests the judiciary, trying to bend it to Trump’s demands, the Congress, controlled by the president’s own Republican Party, appears ready to back him up.

It all comes as the Supreme Court last summer granted the executive broad immunity from prosecution, setting the stage for the challenges to come. But Chief Justice John Roberts warned more recently that “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”

Democrats are warning against what they view as an assault on the judicial branch, which so far has been the only check against Trump and DOGE’s far-reaching federal actions. Threats against the federal judges, already on the rise, remain of high concern.

“It is outrageous to even think of defunding the courts,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, reacting to the House speaker’s claims. “The courts are the bulwark against Trump, and the Republicans can’t stand it.”

House GOP leaders met Tuesday with Rep. Jim Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which will hold a hearing on the issue next week. The House is also expected to vote on a bill from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that would limit the geographic reach of certain federal rulings, to prevent temporary restraining orders from being enacted nationwide.

Jordan said he also spoke Saturday with Trump during college wrestling championships in Philadelphia.

“All options are on the table,” Jordan said late Monday. “We want to get the facts. Gather the facts.”

Since Trump took office, and with Musk, on a mission to dramatically reduce the size and scope of the federal government, the administration’s tech-inspired move-fast-and-break-things ethos has run up against the constraints of federal law.

An onslaught of court cases has been filed by employee groups, democracy organizations and advocacy groups trying to keep federal programs — from the U.S. Agency for International Development to the Education Department — from being dismantled.

Judges have issued various types of restraints on Trump’s actions. Trump’s first administration alone accounted for 66 percent of all the injunctions issued on presidential actions between 2001 and 2023, according to data from a Harvard Law Review piece circulated by Republicans.

The legislation from Issa had no support from Democrats when it was approved by the Judiciary Committee last month. A similar bill was introduced Monday by GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Judiciary panel, said Trump is being hit with injunctions because he is “engaged in terrible, irresponsible and lawless violations of people’s rights.“

“We are winning in court,” Raskin said in a video address. “We’ve got make sure we defend the integrity of the judiciary.”

When it comes to actually impeaching the judges, however, top Republicans have stopped short of backing what would be a severe action.

Impeachments are rare in Congress, particularly of judges, but several rank-and-file House Republicans have proposed legislation to launch impeachment proceedings against various federal judges who have ruled in ways unfavorable to the Trump administration.

Musk has rewarded House Republicans who signed onto impeachment legislation with political donations, according to a person familiar with information first reported by the New York Times. The person was granted anonymity to discuss the matter.

Republicans are particularly focused on Boasberg, the chief judge of the district court in Washington, D.C., who Jordan said is in a “somewhat unique in that, you know, his decision was crazy.”

The judge is weighing whether the Trump administration defied his order after the planes of migrants landed in El Salvador, turned over to that country’s notorious mega-prison system. The Trump administration had invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a war-time authority used during World War II against Japanese Americans, for the deportations the judge said lacked due process.

Any impeachment effort would also require backing from the Senate, where GOP leaders also panned the effort.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., echoed the advice of Roberts in allowing normal legal procedures to play out.

“At the end of the day, there is a process, and there’s an appeals process, and you know, I suspect that’s ultimately how this will get handled,” Thune said.

Associated Press writers Leah Askarinam and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Democrats say EPA illegally canceled hundreds of grants aimed at boosting ‘environmental justice’

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 15:34

By MICHAEL PHILLIS, ALEXA ST. JOHN and MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency illegally canceled grants worth more than $1.5 billion focused on improving the environment in minority communities hit hard by pollution, Senate Democrats say.

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Hundreds of grants were awarded by former President Joe Biden’s administration under a 2022 law that directed the EPA to spend $3 billion on grants to help low-income and minority communities improve their air, water and protect against climate change. Those environmental justice efforts were a major priority under Biden.

President Donald Trump’s administration, however, has cut funding, grants and people focused on environmental justice. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced March 10 that that he was canceling more than 400 “DEI and Environmental Justice grants” totaling $1.7 billion. In a post on X, Zeldin said the cuts were the fourth — and biggest — round of EPA/Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

All nine Democrats on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works signed the letter to Zeldin dated Monday. It demands information from the EPA about the terminated grants and eliminated environmental justice employees, and asks the agency to explain its plans to “combat pollution specifically in marginalized communities.”

“The vast majority of the targeted grant awards were made using funds appropriated by Congress with a statutory mandate that they be distributed to disadvantaged communities,” according to the senators’ letter.

The senators also accused the EPA of violating court orders and rules for terminating grants.

An EPA statement said the terminations will not stop.

“We have received the letter and will respond through appropriate channels. As the Trump administration reins in wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, EPA will continue terminating assistance agreements in line with terms and conditions,” the statement said.

An internal EPA list of the roughly 400 grantees that was shared with The Associated Press detailed the cuts.

They included a wide swath of recipients for clean air and water initiatives. The Childhood Lead Action Project was granted $500,000 for a lead poisoning prevention program. Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice was granted $474,000 for a community air quality system, while the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection was granted $1 million for a pilot project in communities affected by PFAS contamination in drinking water, as examples.

To carry out the spending in the Inflation Reduction Act, the agency funded several environmental justice grant programs during the Biden administration. Community Change Grants, for example, focused on community-driven projects for places “facing legacy pollution, climate change, and persistent disinvestment,” per the EPA.

“Unsurprisingly, the illegal termination of these grants puts communities at risk and does nothing to lower costs for families,” said Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Democrat.

Trump signed an executive order overturning decades worth of environmental justice policies and purging DEI efforts from the government. Zeldin has in turn dismantled the Biden administration’s climate program and environmental justice work.

“EPA continues to work diligently to implement President Trump’s executive orders,” Zeldin has said.

For example, the agency directed a bank to freeze $14 billion in funding spent during the Biden administration on a green bank to finance climate-friendly projects — a program authorized by Congress. Zeldin accused the nonprofits administering the program of mismanagement and self-dealing and terminated the grants. That move was paused by a federal judge who said the government’s accusations of fraud were “vague and unsubstantiated.”

Senate Democrats are pushing back against the Trump administration’s effort to withhold congressionally authorized spending, called impoundment. They argue Zeldin is violating a promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to follow the law.

“The illegal termination of these EPA grants not only violates congressional appropriations law, contractual agreements, and multiple court orders, but it also undermines essential programs aimed at eliminating childhood lead poisoning, reducing toxic air pollution, and mitigating health risks from heat and wildfires,” said Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the committee.

The Washington Post was first to report on the letter.

Last year, the EPA changed the terms and conditions for its grants, eliminating its ability to do policy-based cancellations. An internal EPA Office of General Counsel email obtained by Senate Democrats and provided to The AP says that even though EPA officials knew some grants had this updated language, they were terminated anyway.

Phillis reported from St. Louis and St. John reported from Detroit.

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

Hurricanes star Xavier Restrepo addresses slow 40-yard dash time

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 15:30

Cam Ward was the story of the Miami Hurricanes’ Pro Day on Monday, but another lingering conversation surrounded the quarterback’s top target, Xavier Restrepo.

Restrepo is considered an NFL draft prospect after a stellar Miami career, but he ran a surprisingly slow 40-yard dash. No official time was released, but NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Restrepo ran the 40 in 4.83 seconds — a poor showing for the UM star.

Restrepo took to social media to address his slow time, saying an injury during warm-ups slowed him down.

“Don’t usually do this but I feel like it’s necessary due to the circumstances,” Restrepo wrote on X. “During warm ups yesterday before the 40, my right hamstring tightened up on me and prohibited me to opening up and running my fastest. The reason I still ran is because for two straight weeks I consistently hit 4.53-4.58 laser (timed) in training and thought I could still pull it off.

“I did everything just because it’s in my blood to compete. With that being said, I am now focusing on getting back to 100 percent healthy and getting ready to play football! Ready to let God take over!”

Restrepo’s statistics at UM do not reflect a wide receiver who runs a 4.8 40-yard dash. He is Miami’s all-time leader in catches and receiving yards, and he is the only Hurricanes wide receiver to notch back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Restrepo was an AP All-American last season.

The Jimmy Butler Statue Committee? One man’s crusade to honor the ex-Heat star

Tue, 03/25/2025 - 15:29

MIAMI — Does Jimmy Butler deserve a statue outside the Kaseya Center?

Most Heat fans would likely say no, considering the way the star’s five-and-a-half-year Miami tenure ended. But Akbar Domestique, an artist from Khartoum, Sudan, says yes, and he set up a tent outside the arena before Butler’s return to Miami with the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday to advocate for his cause.

“Jimmy Butler (is a) great Miami Heat player,” Domestique said. “He wins very much. He (did) great things for the organization.”

Domestique had several design ideas for a potential Butler statue, centered around iconic images of Butler’s Heat years. Butler, exhausted, bent over the scorer’s table. Butler with an emo haircut at Heat media day. Butler mocking Al Horford calling a timeout during the 2023 Eastern Conference finals.

But a statue? Dwyane Wade has a statue outside the arena, and that’s it. Greats who spent most or all of their careers with one team, like Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan have statues.

Butler spent just over five seasons in Miami and won two conference titles but no NBA championships. But that’s enough for Domestique.

“Five years, six years — win, win, win, win with guys that are OK, not Hall of Famers,” Domestique said. “No Hall of Famers. Only Jimmy. … Jimmy’s the best, (a) winner.”

  
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