South Florida Local News

By ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG

As missiles and drones curtail energy production across the Persian Gulf, analysts warn that water, not oil, may be the resource most at risk in the energy-rich but arid region.

Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, putting individual systems that supply water to millions within range of Iranian missile or drone strikes. Without them, major cities could not sustain their current populations.

In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination, along with roughly 86% in Oman and about 70% in Saudi Arabia. The technology removes salt from seawater — most commonly by pushing it through ultra-fine membranes in a process known as reverse osmosis — to produce the freshwater that sustains cities, hotels, industry and some agriculture across one of the world’s driest regions.

For people living outside the Middle East, the main concern of the Iran war has been the impact on energy prices. The Gulf produces about a third of the world’s crude exports and energy revenues underpin national economies. Fighting has already halted tanker traffic through key shipping routes and disrupted port activity, forcing some producers to curb exports as storage tanks fill.

But the infrastructure that keeps Gulf cities supplied with drinking water may be equally vulnerable.

“Everyone thinks of Saudi Arabia and their neighbors as petrostates. But I call them saltwater kingdoms. They’re manmade fossil-fueled water superpowers,” said Michael Christopher Low, director of the Middle East Center at the University of Utah. “It’s both a monumental achievement of the 20th century and a certain kind of vulnerability.”

Early signs of risk

The war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran has already brought fighting close to key desalination infrastructure. On March 2, Iranian strikes on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port landed some 12 miles from one of the world’s largest desalination plants, which produces much of the city’s drinking water.

Damage also was reported at the Fujairah F1 power and water complex in the United Arab Emirates, and at Kuwait’s Doha West desalination plant. The damage at the two facilities appeared to have resulted from nearby port attacks or debris from intercepted drones, and so far there is little evidence of Iran intentionally targeting water treatment sites, experts said.

Many Gulf desalination plants are physically integrated with power stations as co‑generation facilities, meaning attacks on electrical infrastructure could also hinder water production. Even where plants are connected to national grids with backup supply routes, disruptions can cascade across interconnected systems, said David Michel, senior fellow for water security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“It’s an asymmetrical tactic,” he said. “Iran doesn’t have the same capacity to strike back at the United States and Israel. But it does have this possibility to impose costs on the Gulf countries to push them to intervene or call for a cessation of hostilities.”

Desalination plants have multiple stages — intake systems, treatment facilities, energy supplies — and damage to any part of that chain can interrupt production, according to Ed Cullinane, Middle East editor at Global Water Intelligence, a publisher serving the water industry.

“None of these assets are any more protected than any of the municipal areas that are currently being hit by ballistic missiles or drones,” Cullinane said.

A long-standing concern

Gulf governments and U.S. officials have long recognized the risks these systems pose for regional stability: if major desalination plants were knocked offline, some cities could lose most of their drinking water within days. A 2010 CIA analysis warned attacks on desalination facilities could trigger national crises in several Gulf states, and prolonged outages could last months if critical equipment were destroyed.

More than 90% of the Gulf’s desalinated water comes from just 56 plants, the report stated, and “each of these critical plants is extremely vulnerable to sabotage or military action.”

A leaked 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable warned the Saudi capital of Riyadh “would have to evacuate within a week” if either the Jubail desalination plant on the Gulf coast or its pipelines or associated power infrastructure were seriously damaged.

Saudi Arabia has since invested in pipeline networks, storage reservoirs and other redundancies designed to cushion short-term disruptions, as has the UAE. But smaller states such as Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait have fewer backup supplies.

Climate change could threaten water plants

As warming oceans increase the likelihood and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea and raise the chances of landfall on the Arabian Peninsula, storm surge and extreme rainfall could overwhelm drainage systems and damage coastal desalination.

The plants themselves contribute to the problem. Desalination is energy-intensive, with plants worldwide producing between 500 and 850 million tons of carbon emissions annually, approaching the roughly 880 million tons emitted by the entire global aviation industry.

The by-product of desalination, highly concentrated brine, is typically discharged back into the ocean, where it can harm seafloor habitats and coral reefs, while intake systems can trap and kill fish larvae, plankton and other organisms at the base of the marine food web.

As climate change intensifies droughts, disrupts rainfall patterns and fuels wildfires, desalination is expected to expand in many parts of the world.

The threat is not hypothetical

During Iraq’s 1990-1991 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War, Iraqi forces sabotaged power stations and desalination facilities as they retreated, said the University of Utah’s Low. At the same time, millions of barrels of crude oil were deliberately released into the Persian Gulf, creating one of the largest oil spills in history.

The massive slick threatened to contaminate seawater intake pipes used by desalination plants across the region. Workers rushed to deploy protective booms around the intake valves of major facilities.

The destruction left Kuwait largely without fresh water and dependent on emergency water imports. Full recovery took years.

More recently, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted Saudi desalination facilities amid regional tensions.

The incidents underscore a broader erosion of long-standing norms against attacking civilian infrastructure, Michel said, noting conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Iraq.

International humanitarian law, including provisions of the Geneva Conventions, prohibit targeting civilian infrastructure indispensable to the survival of the population, including drinking water facilities.

The potential for harmful cyberattacks on water infrastructure is a growing concern. In 2023 and 2024, U.S. officials blamed Iran-aligned groups for hacking into several American water utilities.

Iran’s own water supply at risk

After a fifth year of extreme drought, water levels in Tehran’s five reservoirs plunged to some 10% of their capacity, prompting President Masoud Pezeshkian to warn the capital may have to be evacuated.

Unlike many Gulf states that rely heavily on desalination, Iran still gets most of its water from rivers, reservoirs and depleted underground aquifers. The country operates a relatively small number of desalination plants, supplying only a fraction of national demand.

Iran is racing to expand desalination along its southern coast and pump some of the water inland, but infrastructure constraints, energy costs and international sanctions have sharply limited scalability.

“They were already thinking of evacuating the capital last summer,” Cullinane of Global Water Intelligence said. “I don’t dare to wonder what it’s going to be like this summer under sustained fire, with an ongoing economic catastrophe and a serious water crisis.”

___

Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram.

___

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

By KEITH TAYLOR

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Thomas Haugh had 20 points and nine rebounds as No. 5 Florida beat Kentucky 84-77 on Saturday to end the regular season with an 11-game winning streak.

Boogie Fland added 16 points and six assists for the Gators (25-6, 16-2 Southeastern Conference), the No. 1 seed in next week’s SEC Tournament at Nashville, Tennessee. The defending national champions completed a regular-season sweep of the Wildcats (19-12, 10-8).

Alex Condon scored 14 points for Florida. Rueben Chinyelu had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Xaivian Lee finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 28 points, 17 in the first half. Oweh was honored before the game along with follow senior Denzel Aberdeen and walk-ons Zack Tow and Walker Horn.

Aberdeen scored 15 points, and Mouhamed Dioubate added 10 off the bench for Kentucky.

Florida scored the first 11 points and never trailed. Meanwhile, the Wildcats missed their first seven shots, including three from 3-point range.

Haugh scored 17 points and connected on three of the Gators’ six 3s in the first half.

Despite the sluggish start, Kentucky regrouped and pulled within one twice before Florida responded with 13 straight points. A 25-8 run gave the Gators a 45-27 advantage with 2:19 remaining in the first half, and Florida led 49-32 at the break.

Up next

Florida won the SEC regular-season title by three games over Arkansas and gets a double bye into the quarterfinals of the conference tournament Friday.

Kentucky was awaiting its first SEC Tournament opponent.

General Daily Insight for March 08, 2026

Clarity arrives as choices meet real limits. Early on, the Moon trines chatty Mercury, and conversations flow easily, so we can make our intentions clear by stating what we need. The star of today is idealistic Venus conjoining karmic Saturn at 9:39 am EDT, which asks us to make promises we can keep (especially regarding shared time or responsibilities). As the day unfolds, we balance emotions with duty. Regular agreements become supportive containers rather than constrictive walls. Honoring our commitments will be worth it.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Being practical takes courage. Loving Venus embraces structured Saturn today, and with both planets in your sign, their power will be immediately obvious. You’re likely in charge — even if you aren’t, there are decisions you must make. You may also be refreshing an online profile or revamping your look. Aim for fewer promises and cleaner delivery, because reliable action builds respect for your bold ideas. Impatience could try to drag you too far forward, but you’re capable of standing your ground against it.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Steady steps feel especially comforting now. Venus conjoins boundary-setting Saturn in your 12th House of Solitude, so quiet time supports healing. You might log off earlier and skip a noisy plan, or journal through old worries. Proper rest protects progress. A simple closure, like clearing a drawer or archiving messages, frees space for your future self. If guilt shows up, remind yourself that recovery time is valid and necessary. If necessary, defend your peace with personal rules. Give yourself some room to breathe.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Certain discussions could unlock a smoother day. Benevolent Venus complements rule-minded Saturn in your 11th House of Friendship, encouraging clear agreements with your teams and friends. Set a realistic event budget and define meeting times, or state guidelines for a shared project, so everyone knows how to show up. Your quick mind can broker peace between different opinions while still protecting your energy. Send one clear message, and follow it with timely actions. When you offer the structure, others should respond with appreciation.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Today’s energy invites gentle care at home. Venus conjoins traditional Saturn in your 10th House of Strength, inviting measured promises that suit your responsibilities at work, school, or your community. Confirm a deadline you can keep, outline roles, or set office hours so clients and co-workers know when to reach you. Your protective nature shines when you create structure that actually supports care. A tidy calendar helps your mood stay soft yet strong. Set reasonable expectations, then deliver them as promised.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your personal structures should support your current values. Harmonious Venus conjoins lawful Saturn in your 9th House of Big Ideas, turning pipe dreams into plans you can commit to. You may price a course and outline a trip itinerary, or map steps for a professional development goal. Make a point of taking some sort of measurable step, like booking tickets or purchasing supplies, to make your future self more likely to actually do whatever it is you’re planning. Your vision is about to take flight!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

A cautious viewpoint guides real progress at present. Venus conjoins crystallizing Saturn in your 8th House of Serious Exchanges. Consider this your sign to check up on your money plans, if you share finances with anyone else. Even if you don’t, your bank account could likely use some attention to ensure you’re not paying for any unused subscriptions. Debt might be an ongoing issue — if so, look into repayment plans ASAP. You can find small leaks others missed, so double-check numbers before signing anything.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Broken promises may not have been fair in the first place! As stubborn Venus combines with discerning Saturn in your partnership quadrant, you may need to take another look at your most vital alliances. Professional and personal connections are affected by this, so do your best to check in (mentally, if nothing else) on all your crucial contacts. Your diplomacy shines when you balance requests with reliable follow-through. You and your partners deserve to have your needs met, and you’re ready to make that happen.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your knee-jerk reactions could use some extra thought right now. Under today’s Venus-Saturn conjunction, your structured 6th house is focused on emotional nourishment that supports increased stamina in the long run. You may prep lunches, create a replicable task checklist, or set a firm bedtime so focus strengthens and small annoyances fade. Your intensity works best when sustained by practical habits that reduce decision fatigue. Protect your schedule from extra meetings and distracting notifications when possible. Build rhythm, and your energy becomes truly dependable.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

This afternoon favors realistic planning — but don’t discount optimistic ideas for more. You’ll probably be in the mood for fun, what with Venus and Saturn egging each other on within your upbeat 5th house. Fortunately, joy and productivity don’t have to conflict with each other. You might block an hour for pursuing your chosen art form, planning an engaging outing with kids, or indulging your own inner child in some way. Put pleasure on your calendar and let your soul lead the way!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

When dedication meets patience, results stick. Your empathetic 4th house hosts this conjunction of compassionate Venus and disciplined Saturn, encouraging steady care for foundations, repairs, and emotions alike. You may organize a shared chore chart and update a lease detail, or plan a budget for a repair, all while holding space for different living situations. Such patient effort creates warmth that lasts when stress rises. Set up gentle boundaries during family talks to avoid old loops. Comfort will be the best anchor for your work.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Wild ideas are plausible today — they just might need a bit of scaffolding at first. While Venus supports rule-bound Saturn in your 3rd House of Distractions, it’ll be easy to get lost on wild goose chases. Avoid wasting time by sticking to the heart of whatever’s going on. Be concise! Your inventive concepts land better when the delivery is simple and well-paced. If someone looks busy, consider writing down what you want to tell them and returning later. Say less, mean more.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your tender heart may crave creature comforts. The best way to attain them during this conjunction of Venus and Saturn in your financial zone would be to set careful guardrails around your spending. You may set a simple budget, price your work fairly, or choose to delay a purchase until you can afford to buy it twice. Money-related nerves should lessen when you give every dollar a purpose. If you’ve already been saving, this is your day to invest in a well-researched delicacy. Treat yourself!

By NOAH TRISTER

BALTIMORE (AP) — Lionel Messi scored in the 27th minute, and Inter Miami held on for a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night in front of 72,026 at the home of the Baltimore Ravens.

With interest in Messi obviously high, the game was held in downtown Baltimore instead of at D.C. United’s smaller venue in Washington. Messi gave many fans what they came to see when he put Inter Miami (2-1-0) ahead 2-0 lead in the first half.

Rodrigo De Paul also scored for the defending MLS Cup champions. Tai Baribo pulled United (1-2-0) within one in the 75th minute, but D.C. was unable to equalize.

It was an eventful week for Messi and his team, which visited the White House on Thursday. Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 17th minute when De Paul collected the ball about 15 yards from the goal and struck a shot into the far side of the net.

Messi then scored his third goal of the young MLS season, slipping behind the D.C. defense to receive Mateo Silvetti’s pass, then flicking the ball with one touch past goalie Sean Johnson.

Inter Miami has won two straight since dropping its league opener 3-0 to Los Angeles FC.

D.C. United broke through in the second half. Jackson Hopkins’ shot forced a save, and Baribo put away the rebound.

 

By TIM REYNOLDS

CORAL GABLES — Ryan Conwell scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half, Adrian Wooley hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.4 seconds remaining and Louisville, after wasting a 12-point lead, hung on to beat No. 22 Miami 92-89 on Saturday.

J’Vonne Hadley scored 16 for the Cardinals, while Wooley and Isaac McKneely each scored 15. Louisville (22-9, 11-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) wrapped up the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament with the win — and could see the Hurricanes (24-7, 13-5) in the quarterfinals.

The ACC Tournament starts Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hurricanes — who were bidding for a school-record 25th regular-season win — had previously clinched the No. 3 seed.

Louisville — which shot 61% — snapped a 14-game road losing streak against ranked opponents. The Cardinals’ last such win before Saturday was Jan. 18, 2020, at Duke.

Tre Donaldson scored 25 points for Miami, which got 18 from Malik Reneau — 14 from the foul line. Tru Washington had 12 and Shelton Henderson finished with 11 for the Hurricanes.

Miami used a 27-12 run in the second half to take a three-point lead late, before Louisville rallied. Wooley’s 3 put the Cardinals on top for good, Conwell added two free throws after a Hurricanes turnover on the ensuing possession and Louisville held on from there.

Miami had a chance to force overtime at the buzzer, but Washington’s try from just inside midcourt hit the rim twice before bouncing off.

MIAMI — It has been nine games since Kel’el Ware last started, a span when the Miami Heat otherwise have started the likes of Simone Fontencchio and Myron Gardner, with Ware with only three starts since Jan 6.

But that lately has stood as far less of a talking point, with Ware instead receiving opportunities to play as a closer.

Friday night’s 128-120 road victory over the Charlotte Hornets was a perfect example of the late-game confidence shown by coach Erik Spoelstra, with Ware playing the entire fourth quarter, a period when he blocked four shots as part of lockdown Heat defense that limited the Hornets to 19 points in the quarter.

Largely featured against second-team talent during his recent stats-building surge as a reserve, and often hidden in the Heat’s zone defense as solely a rim protector, Ware often stood alone and stood tall during the moments of truth in Charlotte.

“It was probably his best response in an important game that he’s had all year,” Spoelstra said of his second-year 7-footer, on what otherwise was a mundane statistical night for Ware, who closed with 10 points and four rebounds in his 30:48. “He started out giving up some offensive rebounds and (struggled in) the pick-and-roll coverages. It wasn’t great.

“But then, when we needed him most, he played his best minutes. In the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter, he really came back to life, was protecting the rim, was closing out in our zone when he needed to, made some great reads with that.”

Part of the push-pull with Spoelstra had been Ware’s consistency in moments of truth.

“And I just was really pleased to see him be able to respond and have that kind of mental toughness,” Spoelstra said. “That’s growth in my mind.”

Previously in such situations, it would be Bam Adebayo in and Ware out. This time the two shared the floor together for the entire final period.

“I feel like he’s handling them well,” Adebayo said of Ware meriting such meaningful late minutes. “He’s not getting too high on the highs and too low on the lows. And he’s staying consistent.

“I always tell him, it might not be 15-15, five blocks. Sometimes it might be eight-eight and four blocks. It might be that some games. But for me, I just want him to keep impacting winning.”

So, at the close, when the Hornets shot 7 of 21 in that fourth quarter, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. said the defensive approach was basic.

“Trying to funnel everything to him,” Jaquez said of Ware. “He was just making play after play.”

Injury report

Guard Norman Powell is listed as out for Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons at Kaseya Center, the fifth consecutive game he will miss with a strained right groin

In addition, forward Simone Fontecchio will miss a third consecutive game with a strained right groin and forward Nikola Jovic will miss an eighth consecutive game due to lower-back injury management.

Also listed as out for Sunday are forward Keshad Johnson and guard Jahmir Young, who remain on G League assignment, and Terry Rozier, who is on NBA leave.

Meanwhile, forward Andrew Wiggins, who had been listed with back tendinitis and missed Friday night’s victory in Charlotte, is listed as questionable for Sunday due to toe inflammation.

Family Festival

The Heat have announced a March 15 makeup date at Kaseya Center for last Sunday’s rained out Miami Heat Family Festival, calling it a “Family Festival Follow-Up.”

Related Articles

• Ira Winderman: Adjacent impact of tanking could pollute Heat’s playoff chase
• ASK IRA: Herro locked in as Heat starter, with Spoelstra left to figure out the rest?
• Winderman’s view: Value of youth shown as Heat take down Hornets
• Wiggins latest out for Heat, who remain in waiting game with Powell, Fontecchio, Jovic
• Heat make road statement with 128-120 victory in Charlotte behind Herro’s 33

In an email to ticket holders for the event, the Heat wrote, “We were incredibly disappointed that severe weather forced us to cancel this year’s Miami Heat Family Festival — it’s one of our favorite annual traditions, and we know how much it means to you and all the event attendees. So, while we couldn’t control the weather, we still want to make sure you get the Family Festival experience. That’s why we’re hosting a Family Festival Follow-Up next Sunday, March 15, and we’d love for you to join us. As a thank you for your support, you’ll be able to RSVP at no additional cost.”

Photo opportunities will be available with players on that date for event ticket holders, the Heat said, as well as food sampling from Arena restaurant partners, and interactive games and activities.

Because proceeds benefit the Miami Heat Charitable Fund, the Heat are offering the opportunity to keep the contributions through ticket sales in place or refunds at ticketsales@heat.com. Even those requesting refunds will be admitted to the rescheduled event at no additional charge.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court this week sided with a lower judge’s ruling against the Trump administration’s efforts to end temporary protected status for roughly 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., issued the 2-1 ruling on Friday.

“The government’s failure to meet its burden of demonstrating irreparable harm alone justifies denying emergency relief that would upend the status quo and increase uncertainty while this appeal proceeds,” the court said.

A message seeking comment was left Saturday with the Homeland Security Department.

Temporary Protected Status can be granted by the Homeland Security secretary if conditions in home countries are deemed unsafe for return due to a natural disaster, political instability or other dangers. While it grants TPS holders the right to live and work in the U.S., it does not provide a legal pathway to citizenship.

Haiti’s TPS status was initially activated in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and has been extended multiple times. The country is racked by gang violence that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

The Trump administration has aggressively sought to remove the protection, making more people eligible for deportation. The moves are part of the administration’s wider, mass deportation effort.

In addition to the migrants from Haiti, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — whom Trump announced he was firing on Thursday — has terminated protections for about 600,000 Venezuelans, 60,000 people from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal, more than 160,000 Ukrainians and thousands of people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. Some have pending lawsuits in federal courts.

Death Valley National Park is exactly what the name implies. It is one of the driest, hottest and most desolate areas in the world, with summer temperatures in the desert region reaching well into triple digits for days and sometimes weeks.

The national park, which straddles the California-Nevada border, is one of the lowest in elevation, of all the parks, according to the National Park Service website, and is a “land of extremes.” The steady drought and record summer heat lead to that.

But those extremes give way to rare beauty, as is the case now.

Desert sunflowers, yellow cups, brittlebush, gravel ghosts and desert five-spot are just some of the wildflowers now in bloom in the lowest regions of the park, including the Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level.

Blooms are visible from Jubilee Pass, at the southern end of the park, up to Furnace Creek in the north.

This is the “best bloom year” since 2016, according to the National Park Service, stopping short of declaring this year’s expanse of blooms a “superbloom,” at least thus far. Superblooms occurred in 2016, 2005, and 1998.

• A desert five-spot, which is only the size of a quarter, blooms near Sidewinder Canyon in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Sarah Phillips, from Houston, Texas, poses for her husband Keith Phillips as he takes a photograph amongst a cluster of desert gold wildflowers blooming near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A lone desert sunflower appears to tower over a cluster of desert sand-verbena near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk in ankle deep water adjacent to the Devil’s Gof Course in the Badwater Basin area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A caterpillar crawls along the stock of a wildflower near Sidewinder Canyon south of the Badwater area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Yellow cups bloom along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A group of gravel ghosts bloom in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A couple sit in chairs in the middle of ankle deep Lake Manly at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North Amerida, at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A desert sunflower blooms south of the Badwater area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk and take photographs amongst a cluster of desert gold wildflowers blooming near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A couple has their picture taken as they and others walk amongst a cluster of desert gold wildflowers blooming near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert gold wildflowers grow through the branches of a bush at the Ashford Mill ruins in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Gravel ghosts bloom along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers bloom below sea level south of Badwater in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb.28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers grow out of volcanic rock along Artists Drive in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk amongst bunches of brittlebush blooming in large clusters in a wash along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Wildflowers bloom along Highway 190 south of Badwater in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A desert five-spot, which is only the size of a quarter, blooms at Ashford Mill in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A visitor drives through Artists Drive in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors to Death Valley National Park stand in a field of gold near Furnace Creek on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk out towards ankle deep Lake Manly located 282 feet below sea level at Badwater basin in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A visitor climbs the massive Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A lone desert sunflower blooms out of the sand near a cluster of desert sand-verbena near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors stand amongst a cluster of desert gold wildflowers blooming near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert Wildflowers bloom along Highway 190 north of Badwater in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A notch-leaf scorpion weed wildflower blooms south of the Badwater area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016.(Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors gaze at the massive Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Bunches of brittlebush bloom in large clusters along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A visitor walks amongst a cluster of desert gold wildflowers blooming near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert gold wildflowers bloom near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk through a field of gold south of the Badwater area in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers bloom along Highway190 south of Badwater in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Bunches of brittlebush bloom in large clusters in a wash along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A visitor to Death Valley National Park walks through a cluster of blooming flowers near Ashfor Junction at the soutern end of the park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Bunches of brittlebush bloom in large clusters in a wash along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk out upon ankle deep Lake Manly located 282 feet below sea level at Badwater basin in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors walk out upon ankle deep Lake Manly located 282 feet below sea level at Badwater basin in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A lone desert sunflower blooms amongst a cluster of desert sand-verbena near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A lone desert sunflower appears to tower over a cluster of desert sand-verbena near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Bunches of brittlebush bloom in large clusters along Jubilee Pass Road in the southeast area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A desert sunflower blooms south of the Badwater area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers see the last of sunshine for the day as the sun sets south of Badwater in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers see the last of sunshine for the day as the sun sets south of Badwater in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers and desert sand-verbenas bloom as the sun sets near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A lone desert sunflower blooms amongst a cluster of desert sand-verbena near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sand-verbena bloom out of sand near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Visitors climb the massive Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers and desert sand-verbena bloom south of the Badwater area of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert sunflowers and desert sand-verbenas bloom as the sun sets near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• Desert gold wildflowers grow through the branches of a bush at the Ashford Mill ruins in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
• A visitor walks amongst a cluster of desert gold wildflowers blooming near Ashford Junction at the southern end of Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Show Caption1 of 51A desert five-spot, which is only the size of a quarter, blooms near Sidewinder Canyon in Death Valley National Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. Low-elevation flowers are blooming throughout the park and will likely persist until mid-late March, depending on the weather. Higher elevations will have blooms April-June according to the National Park Service. Thus far it is the best bloom in the park since 2016. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Expand

While the average annual rainfall is very low, less than 2 inches, there are years — sometimes 10 and 20 years apart — where the area experiences above average rainfall, as it has in recent months, according to the park’s website.

The flowers take off during years of more frequent rainstorms.

The growth process starts with an early-winter rain. And steady rain through the winter, like what the desert areas receive during el niño years, bring out the flowers, the park’s website says. That moisture and lack of wind allow the seeds to germinate, which in turn have created fields of gold in the lower portions of Death Valley National Park.

Blooms in the lowest areas of the park could last into mid- to late-March, of course that depends on weather. With blooms migrating into the higher elevations into May and possibly into June.

This time of year, desert travelers are also drawn to Lake Manly at Badwater Basin. The lake is created by the rainwater, that settles into the basin area, after rains fall on the region. The water there does not seep into the ground, it only evaporates, due to it being at the top of the water table.

Visitors can walkout into Lake Manly’s ankle-deep water, which stretches for hundreds of yards.

For those making the drive to Death Valley National Park, be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, along with a full tank of gas. Services are limited in the area.

And while temperatures have been warm throughout Southern California in recent days, they can reach into the mid 90s in Death Valley at this time of year, as they have in recent days.

Lea el artículo en español aquí.

Mexican-American singer Lila Downs is the product of two distinct cultures. Born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, she is the daughter of Anita Sánchez, an Indigenous cabaret singer of Mixtec heritage, and Allen Downs, a Scottish-American professor of art and cinematography from Minnesota.

With six Latin Grammys and a Grammy to her credit, Downs is widely regarded as one of the first major artists to bring the music of the Mixtec, a prominent Indigenous group in Mexico, to a global stage. Her versatile repertoire blends folk, jazz, blues, ranchera and hip-hop, reflecting her broad musical range.

“It’s part of my activist side to comment on what is happening,” says Mexican-American singer Lila Downs. (Johnny Castellanos) From Oaxaca to the Oscars stage

Raised between the Sierra Madre mountains of Oaxaca and the Midwest of the United States, Downs grew up with one foot in each world.

“I was fortunate to grow up in two different places, both socially organized and responsive,” she said during a recent interview from Mexico City.

Today, she divides her time between Oaxaca and Mexico City. This year, Downs, who sings in both English and Spanish, will perform across Mexico, the U.S., Canada and Spain, continuing her mission to amplify Indigenous voices worldwide.

Throughout her career, Downs has used her platform to serve as a global ambassador for Mexican Indigenous culture, advocating for social justice and the preservation of native languages and traditions.

In 1994, she released her first album, “Ofrenda,” a collection of traditional songs from Oaxaca and Mexico, as well as original compositions in Spanish, Mixtec and Zapotec, Indigenous languages of Oaxaca.

By 1999, Downs had signed with Narada Productions, achieving commercial success and international recognition with her album “La Sandunga.” Since then, she has released at least 15 studio albums, though she confesses, “I’ve lost count.”

One of the defining moments of her career came in 2003, when she performed the Oscar-nominated song “Burn It Blue” from the film “Frida” at the 75th Academy Awards, bringing her voice to a global audience.

Her latest album, “Cambias mi Mundo (You Change My World),” marks a return to original material, focusing on her growing interest in the poetic side of music.

“Music has taught me to be more spiritual,” she said. “We can find relief through the soulfulness of music.”

Singer Lila Downs has created a role for herself as a global ambassador for Mexican indigenous culture. (Enrique Levya) Songs of belonging — and dissent

Given her bicultural roots, Downs is closely attuned to the political climate, particularly the ongoing immigration debate in the United States. She has been vocal in her support of the widespread public protests that have followed immigration crackdowns across the country.

“That makes me very proud,” Downs said about the protests. “But I am very sad as well. We are separating people – it’s something I’ve been singing about for a long time. We’re going back, in a way; I guess it’s something in us as human beings. We are what we know.”

Downs’ activism is also evident in her music. In 2016, she released “The Demagogue,” a bilingual protest song aimed at Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.

“When I take political stances, they heat up on Facebook,” she said.

Her song “Dark Eyes” (2021) comments on race and the invisibility of Indigenous laborers in Mexico, offering a poignant reflection on the experiences of marginalized communities.

“We are all children of immigrants, really,” she added. “No matter how people try to erase it, that’s the truth.”

Wide receivers and tight ends are in short supply on the Miami Dolphins’ roster, and it’s a situation that isn’t likely to improve greatly through free agency.

Teams can begin negotiating with players Monday, and can sign players to contracts at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the start of the new league year.

Among the Dolphins top needs — quarterback, edge rusher, cornerback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line — the wide receivers and tight ends who are likely available to Miami might be the least exciting collection of names.

The best ones are too expensive for the Dolphins, probably don’t want to be part of a rebuild, and will probably have a minimal chance to shine because of Miami’s unsettled quarterback situation.

The Dolphins primarily return wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Tahj Washington and Theo Wease Jr.

It’s worse at tight end where the free agents include Darren Waller and Greg Dulcich with Julian Hill being a restricted free agent.

Here are some of the free agent options for the Dolphins at wide receiver and tight end: 

Hollywood Brown, WR, Kansas City

Brown, 28, is a seven-year veteran who is a local, having attended Chaminade-Madonna High School. Brown had 49 receptions for 585 yards and five touchdowns last season. This could be a good one-year fix for both sides. Brown cost $6.9 million against the salary cap last season.

Related Articles

• Dave Hyde: If Sullivan likes Willis, Dolphins must go hard after him
• Dolphins to release fullback Alec Ingold, kicker Jason Sanders
• Dolphins free agent watch: Quarterbacks
• Dolphins free agent watch: Cornerbacks/safeties
• Dolphins bring back outside linebacker and key special teamer

Greg Dortch, WR, Arizona

Dortch, 27, is a six-year veteran who had 29 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns last season. The speedy Dortch (5 foot 7, 180 pounds) also has value as a punt returner. Dortch is a low-key player, averaging 36 receptions and 327 yards and two touchdowns a year. he cost $3.2 million against the salary cap last season.

Hunter Renfrow, WR, Carolina

Renfrow, 30, is a six-year veteran who is looking to revive his career after missing the 2024 season with an illness. Last season he totaled just 15 receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Renfrow was productive with Las Vegas, especially in his Pro Bowl season of 2021 when he totaled 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. Renfrow counted $2 million against the salary cap last season.

Kendrick Bourne, WR, San Francisco

Bourne, 30, is a nine-year veteran who had 37 receptions for 551 yards and no touchdowns last season while making eight starts and appearing in 16 games. Bourne, who the Dolphins played against from 2021-25 when he was with New England, is a solid but unspectacular complementary receiver. He counted $1.7 million against the salary cap last season.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay

Doubs, 25, is a four-year veteran who will be out of the Dolphins’ price range. But he’s listed here because he was with Sullivan for his entire career and with Hafley for the previous two seasons. So, who knows? Doubs had 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns last season. With Miami, he’d pair with Waddle to make that position a team strength. Doubs, who will likely command about $15 million a year, cost $3.5 million against the salary cap last season.

Brandin Cooks, WR, Buffalo

Cooks, 32, is a 12-year veteran who had 24 receptions for 279 yards last season between time spent with New Orleans and Buffalo. Cooks hasn’t been in top form since 2023 when he had 54 receptions, 657 yards and eight touchdowns with Dallas. He cost $418,000 against the salary cap last season.

Jalen Tolbert, WR, Dallas

Tolbert, 27, is a four-year veteran who had 18 receptions for 203 yards and one touchdown last season after posting 49 receptions, 610 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. Tolbert has limited special teams value. Tolbert cost $3.6 million against the salary cap last season.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia

Goedert, 31, is an eight-year veteran who totaled a career-best 60 receptions for 591 yards and a career-best 11 touchdowns last season. Yes, he’s out of Miami’s range (he’ll likely get between $7-9 million a year) but you never know. He cost $10.7 million against the salary cap last season.

David Njoku, TE, Cleveland

Njoku, 29, is a nine-year veteran who had 64 receptions for 505 yards and five touchdowns last season. Perhaps Njoku, the former University of Miami standout, might offer something close to a hometown discount considering he’ll likely command between $7-9 million next season. Nojoku cost $11.4 million against the salary cap last season.

Noah Fant, TE, Cincinnati

Fant, 28, is a seven-year veteran who had 34 receptions for 288 yards and three touchdowns last season. Fant is a solid receiver who could serve a purpose with Miami. He cost $2.7 million against the salary cap last season.

Charlie Kolar, TE, Baltimore

Kolar, 27, is a four-year veteran who specializes as a blocker. Last season he had 10 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Comparing Kolar to former Dolphins tight ends, he’d be more in the Julian Hill/Durham Smythe mold than Darren Waller. Kolar cost $1.2 million against the salary cap last season.

Zach Ertz, TE, Washington

Ertz, 35, is a 13-year veteran who could be looking for a soft landing spot. Ertz had 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns last season. Ertz has rejuvenated his career during the past two seasons but his days with contenders could be over. He counted $6.2 million against the salary cap last season.

John FitzPatrick, TE, Green Bay

FitzPatrick, 25, is a three-year veteran who spent the previous two seasons with Sullivan and Hafley. FitzPatrick is a blocking tight end who had 12 receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown last season. FitzPatrick cost $1.4 million against the salary cap last season.

By DANA GAURUDER

DETROIT (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk had his sixth career hat trick and the Florida Panthers beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Friday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Eight points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot in the East, two-time defending champion Florida is in danger of becoming the first Cup-winning team to miss the playoffs the following season since Los Angeles in 2014-15.

Tkachuk had his first hat trick since Jan. 9, 2024, against St. Louis. He has eight goals in 16 games this season. He made his season debut Jan. 19 after recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves after the Panthers chose not to deal the 37-year-old goalie before the deadline Friday.

Alex DeBrincat scored his team-high 33rd goal for Detroit. John Gibson made 20 saves.

Detroit captain Dylan Larkin suffered an apparent leg injury when he fell awkwardly in the Florida zone midway through the third period. He skated slowly back to the boards and went immediately into the locker room.

Tkachuk scored 35 seconds into the third period on a power play to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Parked near the left goalpost, he redirected Sam Reinhart’s shot from the left circle past Gibson.

Tkachuk added an empty-netter from his own zone with 1:52 left.

Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 128-120 victory over the Charlotte Hornets:

– No, the Hornets’ youth was not lost on Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

– Not with what Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Charlotte’s other recent lottery picks have delivered amid this Hornets revival.

– But Spoelstra also used his pregame platform to note what the Heat have done with their youth.

– With options otherwise limited on this night, with Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Simone Fontecchio among those out for the Heat.

– So, like many other coaches who have faced the Hornets in recent games, Spoelstra was asked pregame about the emergence of the Hornets.

– “It’s hard not to have noticed the level of basketball they’ve been playing,” he said. “They’ve been one of the bigger topics in the league, and rightly so. They’ve been on a heck of a run the last six weeks.”

– He added, “Last time we played them, the rosters were slightly different. Miller didn’t play in those games, but they’ve also fortified their bench. So they’re doing it on both ends.”

– Spoelstra said he appreciates what it takes for a young team like Charlotte to come of age.

– “I think probably the thing that’s unique that stands out with them is the fact that they’re winning right now with a lot of young players,” he said. “Typically, that takes some time. And it has with them. The second half of the season, you can see their young players have gotten very familiar to how they want to play and then what impacts winning.”

– Spoelstra likened that somewhat to the Heat’s process and progress this season.

– “The two teams are somewhat similar in that regard, because we’re playing some young players in our rotation, more so than we have in the past. And it’s taken some time,” Spoelstra said.

– He added, “But we really think we’re playing some winning basketball right now in the second half of the season.”

– And with that, with veteran options limited, Spoelstra again rolled with the youthful likes of Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionus and even Myron Gardner.

– Before the game, Spoelstra also addressed the knee tendinitis that had Wiggins out.

– “He’s dealt with it for the last handful of days, and it didn’t loosen up enough today to be available,” Spoelstra said, “but hopefully we can treat him and hopefully make sure it’s a short-term thing.”

Related Articles

• Wiggins latest out for Heat, who remain in waiting game with Powell, Fontecchio, Jovic
• Heat make road statement with 128-120 victory in Charlotte behind Herro’s 33
• After Heat’s Smith set the pace, he’s glad to see Celtics’ Tatum also beat Achilles timeline
• ASK IRA: One step forward and no more back now for Heat’s Ware?
• Winderman’s view: Heat pushing with prudence, as depth takes care of Nets

– The Heat next face the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night at Kaseya Center.

– With the Heat idle on Saturday and the Pistons playing in Brooklyn on Saturday night.

– With Powell (groin) still out and Wiggins now out, the Heat opened with Larsson, Gardner, Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro and  Bam Adebayo.

– The Hornets opened with a lineup of Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, Moussa Diabaté, Miller and Knueppel.

– It was Jaquez and Ware first together off the Heat bench.

– Followed by Jakucionis.

– With Dru Smith making it nine deep.

– At that stage, the only other players available for the Heat were two-way players Vlad Goldin and Trevor Keels.

– Smith then was forced to the bench with three fouls in his first five minutes.

– Smith is now one appearance from 100 for his career.

– It was the 200th regular-season appearance for Jaquez.

A former Davie Fire Rescue lieutenant who was accused of battering his wife hours before she was found dead in Coral Springs last year will not be charged with any crime stemming from that day.

Jeffrey Evans, 43, of Coral Springs, was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge after an argument with his wife became physical, according to a probable cause affidavit. Their fight on the morning of Aug. 25 about 11:30 a.m. was recorded on Ring surveillance video, which showed Evans punching Jessica Lloyd, 38, and grabbing her by her hair as he tried to take his laptop from her, according to a State Attorney’s Office memo dated Feb. 23.

Just before 9 p.m. that night in August, Evans called police and said his wife was having a “mental break” and needed help, the affidavit said. Minutes later, another person called to report hearing a woman scream, “My husband is trying to kill me!”

Evans told police when they arrived that Lloyd ran from their home, screaming that he was trying to kill her, and that he saw her fall on a sidewalk, according to an investigator’s report from the Medical Examiner’s Office. While Evans spoke to police, he and the officers “heard a splash in the canal” behind the home on Northwest 15th Court.

Lloyd was found facedown, partially submerged in 17 inches of water. She was pronounced dead at Broward Health Coral Springs.

Lloyd had multiple blunt force injuries and bruises to her head, neck, torso, arms and legs that were healed at different levels, including fractures in her ribs and left upper jaw, an autopsy report said. Toxicology tests showed positive for cocaine and some prescription antidepressant medications.

The associate medical examiner who performed Lloyd’s autopsy determined that she died as a result of drowning, and her manner of death was undetermined.

Prosecutors declined to file the misdemeanor battery charge stemming from the fight earlier that day because there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

“Because the victim is now deceased, the State has no evidence or witnesses to rebut this account by the defendant,” the State Attorney’s Office’s memo declining the charge said.

Prosecutors move forward with cases, even when victims cannot cooperate, when they have independent evidence to prove the charges, Assistant State Attorney Stefanie Newman, the prosecutor in charge of the Domestic Violence Unit, said in a statement shared with the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The State Attorney’s Office was never formally presented a homicide case, Paula McMahon, spokesperson for the State Attorney’s Office, said in an email Friday.

“If the investigators at the police department believed they had probable cause to make an arrest or file a charge related to the death of Jessica Lloyd, they would have formally presented it to our office for review,” McMahon said. “No homicide case has been formally presented to our office at this time. There is no statute of limitations for any unresolved homicide. We remain ready, willing and able to formally review any evidence that detectives want to present now or in the future.”

Coral Springs Police in an email sent to the Sun Sentinel on Friday night said their investigation of Lloyd’s death is closed.

“The Coral Springs Police Department conducted a long and thorough investigation, as we do with all cases,” the statement said. “Detectives did meet with the State Attorney’s Office, but we did not recommend murder charges.”

Evans’ defense attorney did not respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.

Evans was terminated from Davie Fire Rescue in March 2025, a letter of separation shows. He had been unable to perform his job since November 2023 due to prolonged medical issues.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Bangladeshi man accused of using social media to trick teenage girls into sending him sexually explicit images — and then threatening to share them with their friends and family if they didn’t send more — has been transported to Alaska to face federal charges of child sexual exploitation.

Related Articles

• Man convicted in political assassination plot he tied to Iranian paramilitary
• Saks Global to shutter 15 more department stores in bankruptcy restructuring
• ‘Come and take it’: Massachusetts governor challenges RFK Jr.’s request for Dunkin’, Starbucks ingredients
• Kennedy Center exodus continues as National Symphony director Jean Davidson heads to the Wallis
• Cuba says a 5th person died after people on a Florida-flagged speedboat opened fire on soldiers

Zobaidul Amin, 28, pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance in Anchorage on Thursday after the FBI took custody of him in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he had been studying medicine and facing related charges, U.S. prosecutors wrote in a detention memorandum.

“Amin delighted in sexually abusing hundreds of minor victims over social media,” the document said. “He bragged about causing victims to become suicidal and engage in self-harm. He shared hundreds of nude images and videos of minor victims all over the internet and encouraged other perpetrators to do the same.”

A federal grand jury indicted Amin in 2022 on charges including child pornography, cyberstalking and wire fraud. He adopted false identities, often posing as a teenager, to trick victims into sending him explicit images.

The investigation began when a 14-year-old Alaska girl reported her abuse to law enforcement, saying that after she had stopped communicating with him, he followed through on his threats by sending pornographic images of her to her friends and followers.

In executing dozens of search warrants and subpoenas, investigators eventually learned his identity and realized he had done similar things to hundreds of minor victims, prosecutors wrote. The only way to get him to stop demanding more images, Amin told the girls, was to recruit other victims, the document said.

“Because he was in Malaysia and his victims were primarily in the U.S., Amin viewed himself as untouchable by law enforcement,” prosecutors wrote. “In one conversation, he told a minor victim that the ‘cops won’t do anything,’ and the ‘cops won’t track me down because I live no where near u.’”

Efforts to extradite Amin to face charges failed, but with the assistance of the FBI, Malaysian authorities brought charges, the Justice Department said. He was released on bail during the proceedings, and eventually the U.S. succeeded in having him expelled from Malaysia. The FBI took him into custody and flew him to Alaska.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle Reardon on Thursday ordered that Amin remain in custody while his case proceeds.

By MATT O’BRIEN

A top Pentagon official said Anthropic’s dispute with the government over the use of its artificial intelligence technology in fully autonomous weapons came after a debate over how AI could be used in President Donald Trump’s future Golden Dome missile defense program, which aims to put U.S. weapons in space.

Related Articles

• Georgia Republicans push more bills aimed at Fulton County DA Fani Willis
• Trump administration’s embattled FDA vaccine chief is leaving for the second time
• Justice Department official eyes cases against Cuba leaders as Trump floats ‘friendly takeover’
• A $220 million ad blitz and a public split with Trump mark the end of Kristi Noem’s DHS tenure
• ‘Come and take it’: Massachusetts governor challenges RFK Jr.’s request for Dunkin’, Starbucks ingredients

U.S. Defense Undersecretary Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer, said he came to view the AI company’s ethical restrictions on the use of its chatbot Claude as an irrational obstacle as the U.S. military pursues giving greater autonomy to swarms of armed drones, underwater vehicles and other machines to compete with rivals like China that could do the same.

“I need a reliable, steady partner that gives me something, that’ll work with me on autonomous, because someday it’ll be real and we’re starting to see earlier versions of that,” Michael said in a podcast aired Friday. “I need someone who’s not going to wig out in the middle.”

The comments came after the Pentagon formally designated S an Francisco-based Anthropic a supply chain risk, cutting off its defense work using a rule designed to prevent foreign adversaries from harming national security systems.

Anthropic has vowed to sue over the designation, which affects its business partnerships with other military contractors.

Trump has also ordered federal agencies to immediately stop using Claude, though the Republican president gave the Pentagon six months to phase out a product that’s deeply embedded in classified military systems, including those used in the Iran war.

Anthropic said it only sought to restrict its technology from being used for two high-level usages: mass surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous weapons.

Michael, a former Uber executive, revealed his side of months-long talks with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in a lengthy conversation with Silicon Valley venture capitalists Jason Calacanis, David Friedberg and Chamath Palihapitiya, co-hosts of the “All-In” podcast.

A fourth co-host, former PayPal executive David Sacks, is now Trump’s AI czar and was not present for the episode but has been a vocal critic of Anthropic, including for its hiring of former Biden administration officials shortly after Trump returned to the White House last year.

As talks hit an impasse last week, Michael lashed out at Amodei on social media, saying he “has a God-complex” and “wants nothing more than to try to personally control” the military. In the podcast, however, he positioned the dispute as part of a broader military shift toward using AI.

Michael said the military is developing procedures for enabling different levels of autonomy in warfare depending on the risk posed.

“This is part of the debate I had with Anthropic, which is we need AI for things like Golden Dome,” Michael said, sharing a hypothetical scenario of the U.S. having only 90 seconds to respond to a Chinese hypersonic missile.

A human anti-missile operator “may not be able to discriminate with their own eyes what they’re going after,” but an autonomous counterattack would be a low risk “because it’s in space and you’re just trying to hit something that’s trying to get you.”

In another scenario, he said, “who could oppose if you have a military base, you have a bunch of soldiers sleeping, that you have a laser that can take down drones autonomously?”

In response to the podcast comments, Anthropic pointed to an earlier Amodei statement saying “Anthropic understands that the Department of War, not private companies, makes military decisions. We have never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner.”

Michael, the defense undersecretary for research and engineering, was sworn in last May and said he took over the military’s “AI portfolio” in August. That’s when he said he began scrutinizing Anthropic’s contracts — some of which dated from President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. Michael said he questioned Anthropic over terms of use that he deemed too restrictive.

“I need to have the terms of service be rational relative to our mission set,” he said. “So we started these negotiations. It took three months and I had to sort of give them scenarios, like this Chinese hypersonic missile example. They’re like, ‘OK, we’ll give you an exception for that.’ Well, how about this drone swarm? ‘We’ll give an exception for that.’ And I was like, exceptions doesn’t work. I can’t predict for the next 20 years what (are) all the things we might use AI for.”

That’s when the Pentagon began insisting Anthropic and other AI companies allow for “all lawful use” of their technology, Michael said.

Anthropic resisted that change, while its competitors — Google, OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI — agreed to them, though some still have to get their infrastructure prepared for classified military work, Michael said. The other sticking point for Anthropic was not allowing any mass surveillance of Americans.

“They didn’t want us to bulk-collect public information on people using their AI system,” Michael said, describing the negotiations as “interminable.”

Anthropic has disputed parts of Michael’s version of the talks and emphasized that the protections it sought were narrow and not based on any existing uses of Claude. The next stage of the dispute will likely happen in court.

General Daily Insight for March 07, 2026

Connection can’t blossom in a vacuum — we must reach out to each other. While the luminous Sun conjoins chatty Mercury early, conversations could reveal truths we missed. Slow down and listen for nuance. At 6:27 am EST, Venus conjoins dreamy Neptune, blending tenderness with imagination as we reimagine what feels worthy and adjust promises to match. When we speak from our hearts, pressure eases. We’d also be wise to leave plenty of space for quiet reflection. Let softness guide choices that matter.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

The steel of courage is being tempered by love into something even stronger. Loving Venus conjoins spiritual Neptune in your sign, blending warmth with imagination so you can present yourself with heart and creativity. You may update your profile or pitch an idea, while your tone helps others feel safe and open to your plan. That said, be wary of making lofty promises — name only what you can realistically do right now. That way, sincerity and follow-through can carry your message.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Quiet time can restore your grace, in terms of both physical agility and emotional graciousness. Your 12th House of Peace stirs as the Love Goddess Venus conjoins nebulous Neptune, inviting the kind of deep rest that’s necessary for true forgiveness. You’d benefit from meditating, napping, or journaling. The “when” doesn’t matter as much as the “where” — look for somewhere serene. Let your thoughts drift through you, trusting insight to arrive in its own time. As stress recedes, you could literally feel your muscles relax.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

This morning supports smart moves and polished poise. Career conversations ask for calm leadership as the vibrant Sun embraces clever Mercury in your 10th House of Respect, invigorating you with ambitious potential. You might guide a meeting with a supervisor, while your curious mind keeps details tidy without losing the bigger picture. If someone challenges your plan, acknowledge their point, then restate the goal and the next step. Progress is easier when everyone feels included. Aim for results you can deliver with skill.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

What public role feels most true now? Sensual Venus conjoins imaginative Neptune near your 10th House of Prestige. This blend of visionary potential and Venusian kindness can guide you to take charge in almost any circumstances. You could share credit with a co-worker, while your updated bio highlights how you lead with care in plain language. If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities. Your results should speak for themselves!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your intuition reads the room with ease. Your 8th House of Shared Resources is under the spotlight of today’s Mercury-Sun conjunction, prompting talks around mutual investments or joint productions. Secrecy has potentially slowed progress, so honesty will probably be necessary. You might renegotiate a shared subscription or clarify who pays which bill — look for real answers, not just somewhere to place blame. If someone resists, invite them to investigate the truth alongside you. Ask plainly, then honor any agreements you make.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Being honest doesn’t mean being unkind. That’s vital to remember as your bonds are empowered by the Sun-Mercury embrace in your partnership-oriented 7th house. You’re allowed to set ground rules for all connections — even friendships. For instance, if someone isn’t a fan of your newest style idea, you can tell them you don’t want to hear complaints about what you do with your own body. The catch? This also applies to comments you might want to make about their aesthetic decisions! Just be respectful.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You know the social rules, and today, you may need to explain them to others. Right now, charming Venus aligns with fanciful Neptune in your 7th House of Links, blending empathy with imagination so you can name your needs without ignoring anyone else. However your connections look, a small promise about time or attention can reset trust after a recent misunderstanding. If feelings blur facts, do your best to find a time when everyone involved can share what would help. Empathy is bolstered by structure.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

What story do you want to tell? Your 5th House of Discovery brightens as mischievous Mercury conjoins the life-giving Sun. Look back at your most recent project — it might express aspects of your personal philosophies that you didn’t realize you were saying while creating it. Feedback from friends could also offer helpful insights. In the end, these may or may not be ideas you want to continue emphasizing. Either way, you can move forward with a more informed perspective on your own work.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Creative sparks land in real, joyful ways. Compassionate Venus and conceptual Neptune combine to bless your 5th House of Amusement with extra inspiration. An off-the-cuff idea could be your next favorite project! Spending time with friends is also a great way to spend today, especially if you team up for an artistic project (or get together to work side-by-side on your own endeavours). Don’t get caught up in making it “good” — just enjoy yourselves! Play sincerely, and let joy lead your craft.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Morning conversations deserve patience — even if you’re still half-asleep. Messenger Mercury conjoins the almighty Sun in your 3rd House of Chatter, encouraging steady pacing as you gather facts and decide what needs to be shared and when. You may run a team huddle at work, or discuss local construction with neighbors at home. If a delay appears, treat it like a checkpoint to avoid frustration. That’s your time to refine your messages and double-check the vital details. Diligence keeps everything moving without strain.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

When kindness meets imagination, conversations blossom. Everyday exchanges feel softer as romantic Venus kisses elusive Neptune in your 3rd House of Contact, which nudges you to speak from the heart. Just don’t get overwhelmed by any powerful emotions! It would be wise to reread any drafted messages before clicking send. In-person conversations shouldn’t be rushed, either. If someone misreads your tone, slow down, then summarize your intention and ask what they heard, so both sides feel safe. Empathy ought to be your guiding star.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Pisces, your presence shapes the room differently. Your identity is the center of the Sun and Mercury’s caring trine, allowing you to sparkle with all their cosmic power. You may introduce yourself to a neighbor or ask loved ones for aid on a project that supports your well-being. If you feel sensitive, slow the tempo, then choose a single priority and give it your attention. This generosity towards yourself could inspire others to give themselves the same courtesy. Happiness shared is happiness doubled!

By JENNIFER PELTZ

NEW YORK (AP) — A Pakistani business owner who tried to hire hit men to kill a U.S. politician was convicted Friday in a trial that showcased allegations of Iran-backed plotting on American soil.

Related Articles

• Man accused of tricking hundreds of teens into sending him pornographic images is brought to US
• Saks Global to shutter 15 more department stores in bankruptcy restructuring
• ‘Come and take it’: Massachusetts governor challenges RFK Jr.’s request for Dunkin’, Starbucks ingredients
• Kennedy Center exodus continues as National Symphony director Jean Davidson heads to the Wallis
• Cuba says a 5th person died after people on a Florida-flagged speedboat opened fire on soldiers

As the Iran war unfolded in the Mideast, Asif Merchant acknowledged in a U.S. court that he sought to put an assassination in motion during the 2024 presidential campaign — a plot that was quickly disrupted by American investigators before it had a chance to proceed.

A jury in Brooklyn convicted Merchant on terrorism and murder for hire charges.

The verdict after only a couple hours of deliberations followed a weeklong trial that included remarkable testimony from Merchant himself.

Merchant told the jury he was carrying out instructions from a contact in the Islamic Republic’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. According to Merchant, the handler never specified a target but broached names including then-candidate Donald Trump, then-President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who was also in the race for a time.

The Iranian government has denied trying to kill U.S. officials.

The nascent plot fell apart after Merchant showed an acquaintance what he had in mind by using objects on a napkin to depict a shooting at a rally. He asked the man to help him hire assassins. Instead, he was introduced to undercover FBI agents who were secretly recording him, as had the acquaintance.

Merchant told the supposed hit men he needed services that could include killing “some political person” and paid them $5,000 in cash in a parked car in Manhattan.

“This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump — instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement released after the conviction.

FILE – This image provided by the Justice Department, contained in the complaint supporting the arrest warrant, shows Asif Merchant. (Justice Department via AP, File)

Merchant’s attorney, Avraham Moskowitz, didn’t immediately reply to a message seeking comment.

Merchant, 47, worked for Pakistani banks for decades before going into clothing and other businesses. He has two families, in Pakistan and Iran, and he sometimes visited the U.S. for his garment business.

Merchant testified that he met a Revolutionary Guard intelligence operative about three years ago. The contact gave him countersurveillance training and assignments including the assassination scheme, Merchant said.

He maintained that he had to do his handler’s bidding to protect loved ones in Iran. The defendant said he reluctantly went through the motions but thought he’d be arrested and explain his situation to authorities before anyone was killed.

“I was going along with it,” he said, speaking in Urdu through a court interpreter.

Prosecutors emphasized that Merchant admitted taking steps to enact the plan on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. considers a foreign terrorist organization, and he didn’t proactively go to authorities.

Instead, he was packing for a flight to Pakistan when he was arrested on July 12, 2024, a day before an unrelated attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials said it appeared the Butler gunman acted alone but that they had been tracking a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, a claim that the Islamic Republic called “unsubstantiated and malicious.”

When Merchant subsequently spoke to FBI agents to explore the possibility of a cooperation agreement, he didn’t say he had acted out of fear for his family.

Prosecutors argued that he didn’t back up a defense of acting under duress. Merchant sought to persuade jurors he simply didn’t think the agents would believe him because they seemed to “think that I am some type of super-spy,” which he said he was “absolutely not.”

By JEFF AMY

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Republicans are pushing for more restrictions on local prosecutors, saying their investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis proves the moves are needed.

Related Articles

• Pentagon’s chief tech officer says he clashed with AI company Anthropic over autonomous warfare
• Trump administration’s embattled FDA vaccine chief is leaving for the second time
• Justice Department official eyes cases against Cuba leaders as Trump floats ‘friendly takeover’
• A $220 million ad blitz and a public split with Trump mark the end of Kristi Noem’s DHS tenure
• ‘Come and take it’: Massachusetts governor challenges RFK Jr.’s request for Dunkin’, Starbucks ingredients

Willis in August 2023 obtained an indictment against Trump and 18 others, accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That case was dismissed in November after courts barred Willis and her office from pursuing it because of an “appearance of impropriety” stemming from a romantic relationship she had with a prosecutor she had hired to lead the case.

Several of the state senators who backed a measure that passed the chamber on Friday are running for statewide office, with primaries set for May 19. The fate of legislation concerning local prosecutors is unclear in the House, which is less rawly partisan than the Senate, although still under GOP control.

The measure that passed the Senate adds more reasons that local prosecutors can be disciplined or removed by a commission created in 2024 to provide oversight to elected district attorneys in Georgia, as well as elected solicitors general who prosecute lower-level crimes in some counties.

The measure lets the commission discipline prosecutors for violating bar rules, for failing to notify crime victims of prosecutor actions, failing to comply with public records requests, or showing “undue bias or prejudice” against the person being prosecuted.

“There was quite a bit of evidence presented to us, and testimony about conduct of prosecutors and really the lack of public faith in the independence and the impartiality of the prosecuting attorneys in the state,” said state Sen. Bill Cowsert, an Athens Republican running for attorney general.

Cowsert denied the measure was targeted at Willis, but Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has been endorsed by Trump in his run for governor, saw it differently.

“But Fani Willis’ lawfare of President Trump and his allies has highlighted why oversight by the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission is vital,” Jones said in a statement. “This bill gives the PAQC the ability to go after DAs who refuse to be transparent, who engage in unprofessional attorney conduct, and who don’t take seriously their duties to victims of crimes.”

Of 140 complaints filed with the commission in 2025, only three related complaints about the same solicitor general in a rural county, were not dismissed. Washington County Solicitor General Michael Howard resigned in July while under investigation, agreeing to never run for a prosecutor post again.

Earlier in the session, senators passed a bill to enhance the commission’s investigatory power. But it’s a relatively meager outcome for the investigation, including an appearance by Willis herself in Decemnber when she engaged in a combative back-and-forth with Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal, who is running for lieutenant governor.

A second measure Friday was defeated that would have made district attorneys and some other county officials be elected on a nonpartisan basis in five Democratic-dominated metro Atlanta counties. That would have included Willis, a Democrat. Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican from Acworth, argued that nonpartisan officials would be more effective and efficient. But the measure failed after eight Republicans voted against it.

A third measure originally would have allowed Georgia’s attorney general to intervene in serious criminal cases without the district attorney’s consent, but Democrats supported the measure after Cowsert watered it down to allow district attorneys to request assistance.

The state Senate, created the Special Committee on Investigations in January 2024 to examine allegations of misconduct against Willis, an elected Democrat, with regard to her prosecution of Trump.

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) — The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus is closing more department stores as it focuses on its most profitable businesses and trims debt during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.

Related Articles

• Beyond Meat drops the ‘Meat’ from its name as it expands to plant-based drinks and snacks
• Retail sales fall modestly in January as American consumers pull back on spending
• Target has another quarter of declining sales but says there are signs of improvement to start 2026
• Target will stop selling cereals with synthetic colors by end of May
• US wholesale prices arrive hotter than expected, up 0.5% from December and 2.9% from a year ago

Saks Global Inc. said Friday it will close 12 more Saks Fifth Avenue stores and three more Neiman Marcus stores. The shuttered Saks stores include sites in Chevy, Chase, Maryland, Chicago and San Antonio, Texas. The stores will remain open until the end of May, a company spokesperson said.

The closures come on top of the eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores and one Neiman Marcus store it said it would close last month. The stores targeted for the first round of closing are expected to remain open until the end of April.

With plans to close a total of 24 department stores by spring, that would leave the parent company with 13 Saks Fifth Avenue stores — including its flagship store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue — as well as 32 Neiman Marcus locations and Bergdorf Goodman in New York City.

Saks also said 500 brands have resumed shipping, releasing close to $1.3 billion in retail receipts. That accounts for more than 80% of the inventory the company expects to receive from February through April, with momentum expected to continue, the company said.

The parent company is also in talks or has reached repayment agreements with about 175 suppliers.

Saks Global has been shrinking its business since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. Last month, it said it will wind down 14 standalone Fifth Avenue Club personal styling suites, keeping three.

It also shuttered home goods retailer Horchow.com, a business that Neiman Marcus acquired in the late 1980s. As of Feb. 19, shoppers have been redirected to the home category on NeimanMarcus.com.

It’s also closing down all but 12 of its Saks Off Fifth locations The remaining outlets will serve primarily as a selling channel for residual inventory from Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

By MATTHEW PERRONE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration’s embattled vaccine chief, Dr. Vinay Prasad, is once again leaving the agency — the second time in less than a year that he’s departed after controversial decisions involving the review of vaccinations and specialty drugs for rare diseases.

Related Articles

• Pentagon’s chief tech officer says he clashed with AI company Anthropic over autonomous warfare
• Georgia Republicans push more bills aimed at Fulton County DA Fani Willis
• Justice Department official eyes cases against Cuba leaders as Trump floats ‘friendly takeover’
• A $220 million ad blitz and a public split with Trump mark the end of Kristi Noem’s DHS tenure
• ‘Come and take it’: Massachusetts governor challenges RFK Jr.’s request for Dunkin’, Starbucks ingredients

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the news to FDA staff in an email late Friday, saying Prasad would depart at the end of April. Makary said Prasad would return to his academic job at the University of California, San Francisco.

Prasad’s latest ouster follows a string of high-profile controversies involving the FDA’s review of vaccines, gene therapies and biotech drugs in which companies have criticized the agency for reversing itself, in some cases calling for new trials of products previously greenlighted by regulators.

In July, Prasad was briefly forced from his job after running afoul of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump. He was reinstated less than two weeks later with the backing of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Makary.

FILE – In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Vinay Prasad smiles for a portrait. (U.S. FDA via AP)

A longtime academic and critic of the FDA’s standards for drug reviews, Prasad has taken a seemingly contradictory approach to regulation since arriving at the FDA last May. On repeated occasions, Prasad has joined Makary in announcing steps to make FDA drug reviews faster and easier for companies. But he also has imposed new warnings and study requirements for some biotech drugs and vaccines, particularly COVID shots that have long been a target for Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist before joining the Trump administration.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.