South Florida Local News

By ALANIS THAMES

FORT LAUDERDALE — Lionel Messi extended his historic streak to five straight multi-goal games, and Inter Miami snapped Nashville SC’s 15-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.

Miami (11-3-5) won its fifth straight match and moved to fifth in the Supporter’s Shield standings as it aims to win the title for the second-straight season.

Messi entered Saturday’s match as the only player in Major League Soccer history with four straight multi-goal games after scoring two in Miami’s win over the New England Revolution on Wednesday.

And he wasn’t done.

The 38-year-old opened the scoring Saturday on a free kick in the 17th minute. Then after Nashville tied it early in the second half, Messi put his side back on top with a steal and score in the 62nd.

Messi now has 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, which is tied with Nashville’s Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) for most in the league.

Nashville (12-5-5), which had won five straight entering the match, had jumped to third in the Supporter’s Shield Standings during its unbeaten streak that went back to mid-April across all competitions. It was also the longest active streak of its kind in MLS and Nashville’s best stretch in its six-season club history.

On his first goal, Messi bent a low free kick through Nashville’s wall of defenders — a spectacular kick from the nine-time Ballon d’Or winner that gave him 55 goals in 66 Inter Miami matches.

Hany Mukhtar scored the equalizer early in the second half. Andy Nájar sent a cross into the box that Mukhtar headed past Oscar Ustari to tie the match in the 49th.

Messi then scored with ease after capitalizing on a gaffe by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, who mistakenly made a pass directly to Messi for the go-ahead score.

___

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

Quinshon Judkins, a rookie running back for the Cleveland Browns, was arrested Saturday in Fort Lauderdale in connection with a possible domestic violence situation, records show.

According to Broward Sheriff’s Office jail records, Judkins, the 36th selection in the 2025 NFL draft, was arrested sometime Saturday by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. He is facing one charge of battery, possibly relating to domestic violence.

To read the complete report, click here for miamiherald.com

General Daily Insight for July 13, 2025

Stay ready. Dedicated Saturn enters its retrograde period in independent Aries at 12:07 am EDT, which can create frustration around personal discipline, demanding that we be prepared rather than impulsive. The tender Moon then moves into dreamy Pisces, enticing us to hit the snooze button and let everything roll over us. What we really need is to stand firm! When the Moon squares up against unpredictable Uranus, unexpected obstacles can be a rude awakening. A half-hearted effort just won’t cut it.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Recalibration might be necessary to find your footing. You’re learning to stick with a routine that elevates you. You may have been very attached to a habit that was fun or that you shared with other people, but over time, noticed the various negative effects it had on your mind or body. Maybe it wasted your time or energy! You don’t even have to give such things up completely — it’s simply important to strike the right balance. If something feels unbalanced, it probably is.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Today holds more than meets the eye. Prioritizing the source should help you identify whatever you’ve been trying to overcome. In particular, if you’ve been battling surface problems, you’re ready to look deeper. What secrets lie within? Being introspective is more important than ever, so take a closer look to make sure that you’re not missing anything. It might be a good idea to reach out to others to get their perspective, because your blind spot might be hard to look past.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Being consistent with the people that you care about can elevate your current life. You may have found that certain connections in your life are slipping because you haven’t been keeping up with each other. While it’s natural for adults to be busy, it’s critical to reach out and try to connect with others when you have the chance. If you want someone to stay in your life for the long run, they deserve to know that. Reach out or risk missing out.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You don’t have to reach the apex right away. It may feel like you’re very behind, whether that’s due to the successes of others or a personal lack of visible progress, but worry not. Your triumph is coming, but it could be delayed by a lack of consistency or motivation. Take time to ponder and refamiliarize yourself with your present purpose outside of winning, because without that, you might find that there is no gas in your tank. What’s driving you forward?

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Moving on may benefit you. Feelings of stagnation might loom over your life. Part of their source could be an internal focus on a memory that you can’t let go of. It might be that you’re struggling to move forward because you wish that you were still in a situation that existed back then, but has since fallen away. While it could be easier said than done, work on focusing on the present and setting aside the past. Your future self will thank you.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Be honest with yourself. You might find yourself experiencing rapid changes or unexpected shifts in your ongoing career or responsibilities, and it’s important to be aware of the energy that you’re contributing to this situation. If you find that there is ultimately too much on your plate, or if there’s more that you could be doing to move yourself ahead, do what you can to reestablish stability in your to-do list. You should end up getting a lot more done that way.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Someone in your life may be seeking time with you. You could have felt that this person wasn’t as dedicated to your connection in the past, but lately, it likely seems as though they’re trying harder to improve your connection. It’s not always easy to admit when you aren’t showing up for someone in the ways that they need. Still, this person showing that they care with actions might be a strong start to apologizing for any lack of presence. Be open to rebuilding.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Making changes can accelerate healing. Recovery is not a linear journey, and sometimes you may find literal or metaphorical scars reopening. Instead of becoming discouraged by the false idea that there’s no way forward, remind yourself that this is merely a curve in the path to a healed self. Caring about your soul and how you show up for yourself each and every day through routines and loving company are some of the most vital parts of moving on. Surround yourself with quality.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

There should be a method to your madness. It’s not a good time to throw caution to the wind, but there might be someone in your life who is encouraging you to do this very thing. Make a point of listening to your intuition throughout the day, because not everything that sounds wonderful will live up to its reputation. The other person may not be trying to deceive you — maybe they don’t realize what they’re offering. It’s okay to say no to the deal.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Where you are affects who you are. If you’re perpetually surrounded by clutter or bombarded with stressful media, this chaotic energy could radiate into all areas of your life. Start small by reorganizing even just one room or limiting your screen time on a single app. If others object, stand firm — it’s not your job to make everyone else comfortable at your own expense. Building a personal sanctuary will be worth it, so be consistent with how you create your surroundings.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

How you speak about yourself impacts your mindset. Even if you are being sarcastic or trying to make people laugh with your observations about yourself, a mental stream of negativity that loops back around to denigrate you is not healthy. You might not have even realized the impact that this manner of speaking is having on your confidence, but the more that you speak such criticisms into existence, the more that you may subconsciously believe them. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re not worthy.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Count to ten before you overspend. You might find that it’s difficult to stick to a budget right now, surrounded by many temptations to indulge in and spend a little bit of money on. Even when you’re well aware that you need to save for more important matters, immediate gratification could be difficult to overcome in the moment. Practice mindfulness, and look for a way to have a visual reminder of your budget that could snap you out of retail therapy.

By DAVID GINSBURG

BALTIMORE (AP) — Janson Junk allowed five hits over seven innings to prevail in a pitcher’s duel with former Marlins standout Trevor Rogers, Derek Hill drove in two runs and Xavier Edwards homered to help Miami beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-0 on Saturday.

Dane Myers had two hits and scored a run for the Marlins, who cranked up their offense in the latter innings after being held to one single by Rogers through the sixth.

Junk (4-1) walked none and struck out two in the longest outing of his career. The right-hander had only two perfect innings, but repeatedly came up with the right pitch when it mattered.

Rogers (2-1) was facing his former team for the first time since being traded last July for Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby. The lefty was lifted with two outs in the seventh of a scoreless game after allowing a single to Myers.

Gregory Soto promptly hit Stowers with a pitch and Hill followed with an RBI single. Miami padded the margin with a run in the eighth and pulled away with a four-run ninth, capped by Edwards’ two-run drive off Scott Blewett.

Rogers gave up two hits — both to Myers — and notched a season-high eight strikeouts.

Stowers denied Baltimore’s bid to jump on top in the first inning, throwing out Gunnar Henderson at the plate from right field on a two-out single by Ryan O’Hearn.

The Orioles didn’t get another runner in scoring position until the sixth.

Key moment

The departure of Rogers opened the door for Miami to crank up its offense against Baltimore’s poor bullpen.

Key stat

Baltimore extended its streak of drawing a walk to a franchise-record 172 consecutive games when O’Hearn drew a base on balls leading off the ninth.

Up next

Orioles rookie Brandon Young (0-3, 6.14 ERA) seeks his first big league victory Sunday in a matchup against the Marlins and 22-year-old Eury Pérez (2-2, 4.00).

___

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

HOLLYWOOD — Marquise “Hollywood” Brown doesn’t need any extra motivation.

Now going into his eighth NFL season, the desire to win a championship has always been burning inside him, he said. Losing Super Bowl LIX in February as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs only added fuel to the fire.

“If you don’t got motivation every game,” Brown said, “this probably ain’t the sport for you.”

Brown will be going into his second season with the Chiefs when NFL teams begin reporting for training camp next week. Now fully healthy again after missing nearly all of last season, and under a new one-year contract, Brown said he’s ready and motivated to contribute as the Chiefs look to return to the Super Bowl.

“Very good, fun offseason,” Brown said at his fourth annual youth football camp in his native Hollywood on Saturday. “Just been working non-stop; in-season, offseason. Trying to keep it consistent.”

After getting drafted No. 25 by Baltimore in 2019, Brown spent three seasons with the Ravens and posted career highs in yards, catches and touchdowns throughout that stretch while playing alongside longtime pal and fellow Broward native Lamar Jackson.

His first season in Kansas City after a two-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals, however, was a tumultuous one.

A clavicle injury on the very first play of the preseason left Brown on injured reserve for nearly the entire regular season. It was the first time in Brown’s pro career he was sidelined for an extended period of time and the first time he missed more than four regular-season games, returning in late December.

“It’s just another time facing adversity,” Brown said. “But when I’m faced with stuff like that, I understand there’s a lot of people that look up to me, so I just use it as fuel to never give up, never pout in any situation. Whatever you’re faced with, face it head-on.”

That left Brown to assimilate into one of the most high-powered offenses in the league with only two regular-season games left on the schedule.

“It wasn’t really hard,” Brown said of the transition. “We put a lot of work in together in the offseason. In season, we all hang out with each other. So when I got back, it was like I wasn’t really gone.”

After getting activated from injured reserve, Brown found a way to contribute to a Kansas City offense that was already humming by that point. He recorded multiple receptions in all but one of the five games he played in, including three catches in their AFC Championship victory and a pair of grabs in their 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.

Now, it’s about getting back to the form he was in when he was posting 100-catch and 1,000-yard seasons early on in his career. It starts when the Chiefs officially report for the 2025 season next week.

“Ready to get back; we got training camp next week,” Brown said. “It’ll be good to go to work every day and go grind.”

However, first was a stop in his hometown for his annual youth football camp and community outreach day.

This was the fourth year that Brown has collaborated with the Hollywood Police Department to organize a free football camp — including a grocery and school-supply giveaway this year — and it was only natural to do it on the very field he grew up playing on.

“I scored a lot of touchdowns out here, so there’s a lot of memories for sure,” Brown said. “It always helps when (kids) come here and see that I’ve been in the same shoes they’ve been in.”

LAS VEGAS — In his first media comments in almost three months, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Saturday downplayed the notion of the team attempting to move on from forward Andrew Wiggins, while also stressing the team needs to see more movement in a positive direction from center Kel’el Ware.

With an NBA source confirming to the Sun Sentinel that the Heat’s plan at the moment is to move forward with Wiggins for training camp, Spoelstra spoke of how the goal is getting Wiggins in a comfort zone.

“I think there’s still real opportunity for growth with him as he gets comfortable with us,” Spoelstra said, with Wiggins acquired in the Feb. 6 deal at the NBA training deadline that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. “He’s already down in Miami right now and will be bringing his family in. He’s going to be here most of August and September, I think just to get more acclimated. And I think that’s really important for him.

“It’s not easy changing teams midseason. But you can see the possibilities of the two-way play. He’s really dynamic defensively. He can guard, in our system, multiple players. Offensively, his skill set is really unique because you can go to him.”

But as much as Spoelstra tamped down the conjecture regarding Wiggins, he took a decidedly counter approach when it came to discussing the next steps for Ware.

Amid Ware’s uneven play through the first week of summer league, Spoelstra offered insight into where the team stands with their 2024 first-round pick, concerns that are tangible.

“There’s layers to this with Kel’el,” Spoelstra said. “A big part of this is he has to really embrace and improve his professionalism, his consistency, his approach every single day. He has to get better with that. It’s learning how to become a pro.

“I understand that he was 20 last year and he’s 21. But we have bigger expectations. It’s not your normal growth and growing pains of a young player learning how to become a pro. But that’s what this summer is about: Learning how to become a pro, learning how to be consistent every single day. The talent is there. The professionalism and consistency has to improve and it is. Our standards are not going to change and our expectations and how fast we want that to improve for him are not going to change. But he has to get better at it, he has to take ownership of it.”

Spoelstra kept going from there.

“The other stuff will come along with that,” Spoelstra said. “That leads into the weight room, your professionalism, your consistency, your approach every single day. He’s getting stronger; he is gaining weight. That’s a big part of his improvement is getting his body physically prepared and ready to handle the rigors of a physical position.”

Spoelstra said the work with Ware is ongoing with assistant coach Malik Allen. But he returned to his emphasis of Ware having to take ownership of wanting more, doing more.

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“We feel like also giving him the structure to grow and embrace becoming a pro, learning how to be a professional every single day,” Spoelstra said., “being early, having a great energy and accountancy every day. How you do anything is how you do everything. He’s taking some steps, but he’s got to get better. He has to get better with the professionalism.”

Asked about Spoelstra’s comments, Ware said, “I mean, I’m a young player, still, getting into it, learning more about it. Like I said, I’m young and learning.”

Spoelstra touched on a variety of topics after the Heat finished practice ahead of Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. Eastern game at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League against the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA TV, FanDuel Sports Florida):

– He said the possibility of a breakout season is there for forward Nikola Jovic.

“Niko had a really good June and late May,” he said of Jovic’s time in the Heat gym. “He’s put on some strength, too. He’s just going to come back looking different. Every year, he comes back stronger, bigger. I’m excited about his improvement.”

– He said he expects a bounce back from forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.

“He and I just talked about clearing his mind,” Spoelstra said. “And then come back out at some point in August, clear mind, ready.”

– He said he had a “beautiful conversation” with Duncan Robinson after the Heat success story was dealt to the Detroit Pistons.

“It was really more about the two of us being grateful for the relationship and all memories of something that was so improbable,” he said of Robinson going from undrafted prospect to Heat all-time 3-point leader.

– He downplayed an easier path in the East due to long-term injuries to the likes of Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard.

“We’re not afraid of the competition,” he said. “You can’t be afraid of the competition. You can’t think that just because there’s been some changes in rosters or some injuries that, ‘Oh, now we have a chance.’ That’s kind of a loser’s mentality.”

– On trade acquisition Normal Powell fitting in alongside Tyler Herro, Spoelstra said, “I think it will work very well. They are both skilled. They both have that ability to be on the ball, obviously, and they both have proven they can play off the ball.”

By JEAN-YVES KAMALE and WILSON MCMAKIN

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Rebels affiliated with the Islamic State group killed 66 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said Saturday.

Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has ties to IS, killed civilians in the area of Irumu in the east of the country bordering Uganda. The attack comes as eastern Congo may see an end to its ongoing war with M23, a separate rebel group which is backed by Rwanda, another of Congo’s neighbors.

Jean Tobie Okala, the spokesperson for the United Nations mission in Ituri in eastern Congo, called the attack a “bloodbath.”

“Around 30 civilians were killed between Thursday and Friday, July 11, in the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom, Irumu territory, in Ituri,” said Okala in a statement to the Associated Press. “Based on information from civil society, the death toll has risen from 31 to 66 civilians killed.”

The ADF is a Ugandan Islamist group that operates on both sides of the porous border.

All the victims, including women, were killed with machetes, said the president of a local civil society, Marcel Paluku. The number of people taken hostage is unknown.

The attack is suspected to be in response to an escalating bombing campaign by joint Congolese and Ugandan forces that started on Sunday.

The number of ADF fighters in Congo is unclear, but they are a significant presence in the region and regularly attack civilians. The group originated in the late 1990s in neighboring Uganda and became affiliated with IS in 2019. Muslims make up about 10% of the Congolese population, most of them in the east.

In recent years, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces have intensified near Congo’s border with Uganda and spread towards Goma, eastern Congo’s main city, as well as the neighboring Ituri province. Rights groups and the United Nations have accused the ADF of killing hundreds of people and abducting even more, including a significant number of children.

In December, the ADF killed at least 10 people and abducted several more in another village in North Kivu.

Dozens of men packed into cages, sometimes sharing one functioning toilet. Temperatures reaching the mid-80s. Bugs covering the beds. Detainees crying out to lawmakers for help, one saying he was a citizen.

Several Florida Democratic lawmakers described “appalling” conditions after emerging from their prepared tour of the “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility in Florida’s Everglades on Saturday afternoon, days after they had arrived unannounced and been denied access. Meanwhile, Republican State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia said the facility surpassed expectations and the “squalid” conditions reported to the media were not an accurate representation.

The lawmakers gathered in a tent outside of the facility about 2:30 p.m., following their arrivals late Saturday morning. So many lawmakers arrived that they had to tour in groups.

People pray outside of the Alligator Alcatraz facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, on Saturday, June 12, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz told reporters she saw cages with 32 men per cage, sharing three toilets as part of a unit with a sink, where they also get their drinking water. Inside of the cages was a three-foot “privacy wall.” The showers had no curtains.

“They are essentially packed into cages,” she said. “Wall-to-wall humans.”

Wasserman Schultz said she brought a thermometer that recorded temperatures at 85 degrees in some of the tents that were supposed to be air-conditioned. In a dorm that was not yet in use, she saw bugs on the mattresses. While employees were preparing roast chicken and sausage for themselves, she said the detainees, who were all men and nearly all of Hispanic origin, were given “gray” turkey sandwiches, an apple and a bag of chips.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani said she had heard from one detainee’s wife that the food had improved and they were able to take showers prior to lawmakers’ arrival.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto said he saw evidence of flooding, hot temperatures and water that had to be trucked in from other areas.

David Mourer takes photos of his niece Rena Mourer in front of the sign at Alligator Alcatraz at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, on Saturday, June 12, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

As lawmakers toured, they said some of the detainees called out to them. One man yelled that he was an American citizen, while another said he had required medical care for four days because he drank water “poisoned” with Clorox.

Meanwhile, Ingoglia painted a different picture of the conditions inside the facility, describing it as “very well run.” He said he lay down on one of the beds and it “was more comfortable than my bed at home, I’m not kidding.”

Ingoglia added that the food “looked amazing and it smelled amazing.”

“The rhetoric does not match the reality,” he said.

Lawmakers said the men were wearing orange jumpsuits and separated by red, orange and yellow wristbands, which corresponded with their level of offense. State Sen. Shevrin Jones argued that claims that the detention center houses only serious criminals were untrue.

“Individuals with small infractions are inside this facility,” he said. “Civil traffic infractions, suspended licenses are in there.”

An alligator floats in the Everglades near the Big Cypress. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The Democratic lawmakers said that when they asked to speak to detainees, they were told they were not allowed. They also were not able to view the medical facilities. When U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost asked if he could see a toilet that was in use, as opposed to one in a new, unoccupied unit, he also was told no.

The lawmakers also raised questions about who is running the facility. The inside was staffed by private security, Frost said, not state or federal agents.

The lawmakers had arrived for the tour following reports of unsanitary and inhumane conditions including worms in food, wastewater on the floor, and giant mosquitoes. Some immigration attorneys say they have struggled to access their clients.

Democratic lawmakers who criticized the detention center had described Saturday’s tour as “staged” and “sanitized” prior to attending.

Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, which operates the facility, has denied those claims. Spokeswoman Stephanie Hartman said “the reporting on the conditions in the facility is completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order.”

Five Democratic lawmakers had previously arrived at the facility unannounced on July 3, but were denied entrance. On Thursday, after receiving an invitation to the prepared tour, they filed a lawsuit requesting immediate, “statutorily sanctioned unannounced access” to the facility.

As lawmakers toured inside Saturday, about a dozen protesters had gathered outside with signs reading “where has our humanity gone” and “stop the destruction.” A family with a Trump flag took pictures in front of the “Alligator Alcatraz” sign. One woman, who spoke to reporters in Spanish, said that her husband was detained inside.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz also attended the tour.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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

The Hurricanes were in the mix for a pair of standout prospects, but unfortunately for UM, both players opted for the SEC.

Tight end prospect Heze Kent was considering Miami but ultimately, the Georgia prospect chose Florida over Miami. A little over an hour later, safety prospect Tyriq Green opted to go to Georgia instead of UM.

Kent, who is rated a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, is listed as the No. 9 athlete and No. 149 player in the class. Green, the No. 10 athlete and No. 151 player in the class, picked the Bulldogs over Miami and Auburn.

Kent is a massive prospect, listed at 6-6 and 310 pounds. He has played tight end in high school but has also played offensive tackle. His large size did not stop him from racking up offensive production in high school. Last year, he led his team with 983 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.

Green is a two-way star at Buford High in Georgia. He had 28 tackles, five pass breakups and five interceptions last season while also racking up 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on offense.

Miami has one tight end, four-star prospect Israel Briggs, already committed in its 2026 class. The Hurricanes also have multiple offensive linemen, including five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell. The Hurricanes are still looking for their first safety commit in this class; another top target, Blake Stewart, is committing on Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center on Saturday began forecasting a system to form later this week near Florida with a chance to develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm.

In its 8 p.m. tropical outlook, the NHC said it expects a broad area of low pressure to over the next couple of days near the southeastern U.S. coast and then move westward across Florida into the northeastern Gulf by Tuesday

“Environmental conditions could support some gradual development of this system during the middle to late part of next week while it moves westward over the northeastern and north-central portions of the Gulf,” forecasters said.

Regardless of whether it develops, the NHC said heavy rainfall is possible over portions of Florida and north-central Gulf Coast through mid- to late next week.

The NHC gave it a 20% chance to develop in the next seven days.

If it were to spin up into a named storm, it could become Tropical Storm Dexter.

2pm EDT July 12th – An area of low pressure could develop off the SE U.S. coast & now has a low chance (20%

Today is Saturday, July 12, the 193rd day of 2024. There are 172 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On July 12, as an angry reaction to the popularity of disco music, the Chicago White Sox held the “Disco Demolition Night” promotion, in which a crate of disco records was blown up on the field between games of a double-header; the ensuing riot and damage to the field caused the White Sox to forfeit the second game.

Also on this date:

In 1543, England’s King Henry VIII married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.

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In 1812, United States forces led by Gen. William Hull entered Canada during the War of 1812 against Britain. (However, Hull retreated shortly thereafter to Detroit.)

In 1862, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Army Medal of Honor.

In 1909, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing for a federal income tax, and submitted it to the states. (It was declared ratified in February 1913.)

In 1962, the Rolling Stones played their first show, at the Marquee Club in London.

In 1967, rioting erupted in Newark, New Jersey, over the police beating of a Black taxi driver; 26 people were killed in the five days of violence that followed.

In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale announced his choice of U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running mate; Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket.

In 1991, Japanese professor Hitoshi Igarashi, who had translated Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses,” was found stabbed to death, nine days after the novel’s Italian translator was attacked in Milan.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton, visiting Germany, went to the eastern sector of Berlin, the first U.S. president to do so since Harry Truman.

In 2003, the USS Ronald Reagan, the first carrier named for a living president, was commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia.

In 2012, a scathing report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh said the late Joe Paterno and other top Penn State officials had buried child sexual abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky more than a decade earlier to avoid bad publicity.

In 2022, Twitter sued Elon Musk to force him to complete the $44 billion acquisition of the social media company after Musk said he was backing off his agreement to buy the company. (He would eventually become Twitter’s owner three months later.)

Today’s Birthdays:

• Writer Delia Ephron is 81.
• Singer Walter Egan is 77.
• Writer-producer Brian Grazer is 74.
• Actor Cheryl Ladd is 74.
• Gospel singer Ricky McKinnie (The Blind Boys of Alabama) is 73.
• Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 69.
• Actor Mel Harris is 69.
• Boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez is 63.
• Rock singer Robin Wilson (Gin Blossoms) is 60.
• Actor Lisa Nicole Carson is 56.
• Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 54.
• Actor Anna Friel is 49.
• R&B singer Tracie Spencer is 49.
• Actor Topher Grace is 47.
• Actor Michelle Rodriguez is 47.
• Country singer-musician Kimberly Perry (The Band Perry) is 42.
• Actor Natalie Martinez is 41.
• Actor Ta’Rhonda Jones is 37.
• Actor Rachel Brosnahan is 35.
• Olympic gold medal gymnast Jordyn Wieber is 30.
• Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai is 28.
• NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 27.

By JAIMIE DING, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles.

Immigrant advocacy groups filed the lawsuit last week accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern California during its ongoing immigration crackdown. The plaintiffs include three detained immigrants and two U.S. citizens, one who was held despite showing agents his identification.

The filing in U.S. District Court asked a judge to block the administration from using what they call unconstitutional tactics in immigration raids. Immigrant advocates accuse immigration officials of detaining someone based on their race, carrying out warrantless arrests, and denying detainees access to legal counsel at a holding facility in downtown LA.

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Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said in an email that “any claims that individuals have been ‘targeted’ by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically FALSE.”

McLaughlin said “enforcement operations are highly targeted, and officers do their due diligence” before making arrests.

Judge Maame E. Frimpong also issued a separate order barring the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention facility.

Frimpong issued the emergency orders, which are a temporary measure while the lawsuit proceeds, the day after a hearing during which advocacy groups argued that the government was violating the Fourth and Fifth amendments of the constitution.

She wrote in the order there was a “mountain of evidence” presented in the case that the federal government was committing the violations they were being accused of.

Immigrants and Latino communities across Southern California have been on edge for weeks since the Trump administration stepped up arrests at car washes, Home Depot parking lots, immigration courts and a range of businesses. Tens of thousands of people have participated in rallies in the region over the raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and Marines.

The order also applies to Ventura County, where busloads of workers were detained Thursday while the court hearing was underway after federal agents descended on a cannabis farm, leading to clashes with protesters and multiple injuries.

Federal immigration agents toss tear gas at protesters during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the recent wave of immigration enforcement has been driven by an “arbitrary arrest quota” and based on “broad stereotypes based on race or ethnicity.”

When detaining the three day laborers who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, all immigration agents knew about them is that they were Latino and were dressed in construction work clothes, the filing in the lawsuit said. It goes on to describe raids at swap meets and Home Depots where witnesses say federal agents grabbed anyone who “looked Hispanic.”

ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar said Brian Gavidia, one of the U.S. citizens who was detained, was “physically assaulted … for no other reason than he was Latino and working at a tow yard in a predominantly Latin American neighborhood.”

Tajsar asked why immigration agents detained everyone at a car wash except two white workers, according to a declaration by a car wash worker, if race wasn’t involved.

Representing the government, attorney Sean Skedzielewski said there was no evidence that federal immigration agents considered race in their arrests, and that they only considered appearance as part of the “totality of the circumstances” including prior surveillance and interactions with people in the field.

In some cases, they also operated off “targeted, individualized packages,” he said.

“The Department of Homeland Security has policy and training to ensure compliance with the Fourth Amendment,” Skedzielewski said.

Federal agents ride on and armored vehicle at MacArthur Park Monday, July 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Order opens facility to lawyer visits

Lawyers from Immigrant Defenders Law Center and other groups say they also have been denied access to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown LA known as “B-18” on several occasions since June, according to court documents.

Lawyer Mark Rosenbaum said in one incident on June 7 attorneys “attempted to shout out basic rights” at a bus of people detained by immigration agents in downtown LA when the government drivers honked their horns to drown them out and chemical munitions akin to tear gas were deployed.

Skedzielewski said access was only restricted to “protect the employees and the detainees” during violent protests and it has since been restored.

Rosenbaum said lawyers were denied access even on days without any demonstrations nearby, and that the people detained are also not given sufficient access to phones or informed that lawyers were available to them.

He said the facility lacks adequate food and beds, which he called “coercive” to getting people to sign papers to agree to leave the country before consulting an attorney.

Friday’s order will prevent the government from solely using apparent race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, presence at a location such as a tow yard or car wash, or someone’s occupation as the basis for reasonable suspicion to stop someone. It will also require officials to open B-18 to visitation by attorneys seven days a week and provide detainees access to confidential phone calls with attorneys.

Attorneys general for 18 Democratic states also filed briefs in support of the orders.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents were already barred from making warrantless arrests in a large swath of eastern California after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in April.

By DAVID GINSBURG

BALTIMORE (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano each had two RBIs and the surging Baltimore Orioles beat the Miami Marlins 5-2 on Friday night.

Jordan Westburg had three hits and scored three runs for the Orioles, who have won six of seven to improve to 43-50 — the closest they’ve been to .500 since May 5.

Kremer (8-7) struck out seven, walked one and kept Miami scoreless while allowing only one runner past first base. The right-hander finished his 99-pitch effort with two straight strikeouts.

Otto Lopez’s two-run homer in the ninth enabled the Marlins to avoid their second consecutive shutout.

Back in Baltimore for the first time since being traded with Connor Norby to Miami last July 30, NL All-Star Kyle Stowers went 1 for 3 with a walk. Stowers received a smattering of applause from those in the crowd of 22,213 who recalled the 2019 second-round pick playing parts of three seasons with the Orioles.

Norby went 1 for 3.

Baltimore wasted no time grabbing the lead against Miami starter Edward Cabrera (3-4). Westburg singled in a run and scored on a double by O’Hearn in the first inning. In the third, the Orioles bunched together four straight hits, including an RBI single by O’Hearn and a run-scoring double by Laureano.

Laureano singled in a run in the seventh to make it 5-0.

Key moment

Jackson Holliday ripped Cabrera’s first pitch into center field for a double, setting the tone for a game in which Baltimore scored twice before making two outs.

Key stat

The Orioles improved to 8-24 in games in which they do not homer.

Up next

Facing the Marlins for the first time since they traded him for Stowers and Norby, Trevor Rogers (2-0, 1.57 ERA) gets his fifth start of the season on Saturday. Janson Junk (3-1, 3.12) starts for Miami.

___

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

TALLAHASSEE — Environmental groups Friday gave formal notice that they could sue federal and state agencies over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act at an immigrant-detention center in the Everglades dubbed Alligator Alcatraz.

The notice was in addition to a lawsuit filed June 27 that alleges violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, a federal law that requires evaluating potential environmental impacts before such a project can move forward.

The notice warned that if the alleged violations are not resolved within 60 days, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity plan to sue. Elise Bennett, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in an email that the allegations would be amended onto the already-existing lawsuit.

The state last week began operating the detention center at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a remote site used for flight training surrounded by the Everglades and the Big Cypress National Preserve. While the state is operating the facility, officials have said they will seek federal reimbursement for the costs.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has contended the facility, which could house 3,000 people, does not pose environmental threats. Among other things, the airport has existed for decades.

But environmental groups warn that it could cause wide-ranging ecological damage and harm a variety of species such as endangered Florida panthers.

Friday’s notice was addressed to officials at several federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

In part, attorneys for Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity contended in the notice that federal agencies violated the Endangered Species Act by not going through what is known as a “consultation” process related to the construction and operation of the facility. That process would include agencies consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the potential effects on species.

The notice described consultation as the “heart” of the Endangered Species Act and said it includes a “substantive duty for federal agencies to ensure the actions they authorize or carry out are not likely to jeopardize listed species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat designated” for species.

“Based on our review of publicly available information, the federal agencies have failed to initiate and complete formal consultation over their respective agency actions associated with the construction and operation of the mass immigration detention center in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve, which may affect — and is indeed likely to adversely affect — species listed under the ESA (Endangered Species Act),” attorneys from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Earthjustice legal organization wrote.

The notice also alleged federal and state agencies violated the Clean Water Act by not obtaining a dredge-and-fill permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “for apparent filling and paving of federal jurisdictional waters associated with the construction and operation of the mass detention center.”

General Daily Insight for July 12, 2025

Imaginary competition can create havoc. Initially, the intuitive Moon soothes balanced Venus, encouraging us to connect with others emotionally while approaching our own lives with gentle compassion. That said, Luna then stands off with nervous Mercury at 3:45 pm EDT. Our pride may create obstacles to us truly connecting with the people we want to reach. The Moon also struggles to understand rash Mars, threatening to knock us off balance with rushed decisions and impulsive behavior. The less concerned we are with pride, the better.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Your goals might be tough to match up with your efforts. You may want to do more, better, faster, but the more realistic way to make your desired progress is to be consistent and innovative as you go. Maybe you’re concerned that you should be further along by this point, or that your dedication hasn’t provided the dividends that it should have, but don’t sell yourself short. Look back at how far you have come to unlock a more positive perspective.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You can’t rush your rise to the top. You might feel as though you’ve experienced all that you need to on your way up the corporate ladder or to take charge of a situation, but it may quickly become obvious that you don’t have all of the tools of the trade that you need just yet. Rome wasn’t built in a day! Despite the proficiencies that you’ve already developed, you might not have fully filled out your skill set. Remember, a good leader is humble.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your desire to explore may be halted by the need to stay in place. Watch out for blockages arriving out of nowhere that stall your efforts to indulge in any fun activities that you had planned for today, even if you’ve been planning this for some time. Sudden responsibilities, unexpected travel issues, or even coming down with a bug could get in the way of you fulfilling your plans for the day. Muster up the determination to roll with the punches.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Yourself is good enough. You’re showing other people that you are the person you say you are, and that person is genuine to the core. Despite that, other people’s preconceived notions about you or even their individual insecurities could come out and create issues for you with little warning. Although it may be draining, keep in mind that you can only control how YOU act in a situation — their immature or harsh actions will just make them look bad! Make yourself proud.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Someone in your life might not be showing adequate respect for your boundaries. For instance, they may steamroll you to spend beyond your budget limits, or they could push you to participate in activities that make you uncomfortable in unhealthy ways, leading you to reevaluate your connection with them. It’s important to make it clear to this person that you won’t be pressured into doing things that don’t match your standards. Don’t choose someone else’s whims and peer pressure over your better judgment.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Sometimes you have to be an advocate for yourself. You may not be as comfortable with the people who work alongside you as you are with your superiors at the moment. It could be that you are in competition with your peers or coworkers, or there might be jealousy or pettiness involved. Either way, feeling stressed and worried around everyday connections isn’t fun. Make an effort to set aside those concerns in favor of simply showing up as your best self and being kind.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Anxiety can prevent you from trying new things. Worrying too much about the outcome of a situation before it even begins could keep you from ever starting it! This may be something that you want, but the fact that rejection is on the table may make it difficult for you to move past the initial nerves. That’s normal. Whether you’re ultimately accepted or not, don’t take it personally. Tomorrow will be a new day — one that benefits from whatever you learn today.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your heart is asking you to be kind to yourself. Someone in your life, or even multiple people, might be putting an emotional strain on you with criticism or silence. Remembering who you are matters far more than their judgment. Constantly thinking about how others perceive you can wear you down. You can accept valid critiques while cultivating self-love. The more that you can look in the mirror and tell the person looking back at you that you love them, the better today should go.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

How you’re feeling inside may not match the image you’re portraying to the wider world. Others might see you as closed off or angry right now, even though that might not be what’s true for you in your heart. They could be projecting onto you or simply worried — regardless, there’s nothing wrong with clearing the air and reassuring them that you’re fine. Alternatively, they may think that you are fine, while your soul is in turmoil. Either way, realign your outside with your inside.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Safety may start to feel suffocating. Analyze your current situation — while you might have felt safe there for a long time, it’s plausible that you’re now ready to move on to a bigger pond with more room to grow. That being said, your progress depends on you making that first leap. By continuously swimming in circles, you might be keeping yourself in the same position that’s beginning to stifle you. Don’t let the desire for security morph into a mental trap.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You may not see eye-to-eye with a necessary collaborator at this time. This can be a tricky situation, one where compromise is difficult to find — likely because you’re on opposite ends of some spectrum. The more care that you dedicate to ensuring that both parties are happy at the end of the day, the more likely you are to feel fulfilled and achieve a result that keeps your connection strong. After all, it might be better to preserve the relationship than to be right.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Understanding yourself affects everything. Not knowing how you feel can drive a wedge between you and someone else at present, so do your best to figure out what your true feelings are before trying to fix anything wrong in the connection between you. They may be trying to understand you, and without understanding yourself, there is almost no way that they’ll be able to grasp your emotions. They can’t read your mind, so make sure that you are speaking up for yourself.

Paige Cornwell and Lauren Rosenblatt, The Seattle Times

The two engines on the Air India flight shut down within one second of each other before the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed last month in Ahmedabad, India, killing at least 260 people, according to a preliminary report released Friday.

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Both engine fuel control switches that, if pulled while in flight, cut power to the engines, transitioned from the “run” to “cutoff” settings as the plane took off, according to the report.

In the recovered cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off fuel to the engine. The other pilot responded that he didn’t, according to the 15-page report.

The preliminary report, released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, comes 30 days after the fatal crash, following guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency that recommends practices for the industry.

The new information matches media reports this week that, citing anonymous sources, said that investigators were focused on the engine fuel control switches.

On June 12, the Boeing 787 crashed in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad less than a minute after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground, according to the most recent estimates from local authorities.

The Everett-built plane crashed into a medical hostel roughly 1 mile from the airport. It was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the jet maker’s smaller widebody plane.

India’s civil aviation authority is leading the investigation, with support from the U.S. and the U.K., which had several citizens on board the London-bound plane.

The switches moved back to “run” and one engine was regaining thrust when the plane crashed.

The report doesn’t specify which of the two pilots asked the other about the switches. Both pilots had an adequate rest period before the flight, underwent preflight breath analyzer tests and were deemed fit to fly, according to the report. The first officer was flying the plane and the captain was monitoring during takeoff.

The takeoff weight was within the allowable limits, and there were no “dangerous goods” on the plane, according to the report. There was no significant bird activity in the flight path.

Boeing and engine maker General Electric offered to support the investigation and Air India. Both companies have been limited in what they can say as the investigation is ongoing.

The report said at this investigation stage, there are no recommended actions for Boeing Dreamliner or General Electric engine operators and manufacturers.

With few official updates from accident investigators, the aviation industry and flying public have been searching for answers about what went wrong.

Aviation experts who spoke with The Seattle Times over the last month shared a long list of possibilities and were reluctant to rule anything out, noting that the circumstances of the crash were unusual.

©2025 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ten Broward Sheriff’s deputies and sergeants have been “recommended for termination” as of Friday, according to a statement from the union, after triple murders in Tamarac in February led to an internal investigation of numerous deputies.

The union’s statement shared Friday evening with the South Florida Sun Sentinel does not name any of the 10 deputies or sergeants.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Internal Affairs investigation is still open and active, spokesperson Carey Codd said in an email Friday night.

On a Sunday morning in February, Nathan Gingles, 43, had shot and killed his father-in-law, David Ponzer, then took the couple’s 4-year-old daughter Seraphine as he chased his estranged wife, Mary Gingles, through the neighborhood before killing her as well as Andrew Ferrin, 36, a stranger whose home she had run into to try to escape, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Mary Gingles repeatedly had sought help from the Sheriff’s Office, saying in a court petition that she believed her husband was going to kill her. The gun Nathan Gingles is accused of using was one he had been ordered to surrender to the Sheriff’s Office, but he never did. He is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony promised to hold his deputies accountable following the deadly shooting.

Mary Gingles and David Ponzer are shown in an undated family photo. (Mary Gingles' family/Courtesy)

Broward Deputy Sheriffs Association President Dan Rakofsky in the statement called the disciplinary process “biased” and a “scapegoating of our members in the pursuit of public relations goals.” The statement condemned Sheriff Tony’s message at a news conference held in the days following the murders, where he said his agency could have possibly saved the lives of three people but they “failed.”

“It’s very frustrating for me to have to stand here and witness this and know that we’re an organization who has had our trials, from one active shooter event at the airport, to Stoneman Douglas, to one tragedy after the next,” Tony said at the February news conference.

“This evening, we see the consequences of inappropriate public statements and premature release of information. The Sheriff’s press conference, three days after the heinous and horrific murders in Tamarac, was a dog whistle and clear message to what was supposed to be an unbiased Professional Standards Committee,” the statement said. “The BSO members on the committee that voted on the recommendations concerning which administrative violations to sustain and what discipline to impose are all at-will employees who were undoubtedly in a very awkward position, as their tenure is subject to the whims of the Sheriff.”

Two employees were previously fired: Deputy Stephen Tapia in June “for failure to meet probationary standards” and Jemeriah Cooper in May, the former head of the Tamarac district who was demoted to deputy before his termination.

The number of deputies who came under investigation after the murders grew over several months from seven initially to at least 15.

“Gaps in the agency’s capabilities have been exposed” in the aftermath of the murders, the union’s statement said, “along with many systemic and institutional processes in need of better oversight and/or revision.”

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

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A resident of northern Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, health officials said Friday.

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Plague is rare to humans, with on average about seven cases reported annually in the U.S., most of them in the western states, according to federal health officials.

The death in Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, was the first recorded death from pneumonic plague since 2007, local officials said. Further details including the identify of the victim were not released.

Plague is a bacterial infection known for killing tens of millions in 14th century Europe. Today, it’s easily treated with antibiotics.

The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats.

There are two other forms: septicemic plague that spreads through the whole body, and pneumonic plague that infects the lungs.

Pneumonic plague is the most deadly and easiest to spread.

The bacteria is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas that can spread it between rodents, pets and humans.

People can also get plague through touching infected bodily fluids. Health experts recommend taking extra care when handling dead or sick animals.

Most cases happen in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By MATT O’BRIEN

The latest version of Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok is echoing the views of its billionaire creator, so much so that it will sometimes search online for Musk’s stance on an issue before offering up an opinion.

The unusual behavior of Grok 4, the AI model that Musk’s company xAI released late Wednesday, has surprised some experts.

Built using huge amounts of computing power at a Tennessee data center, Grok is Musk’s attempt to outdo rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini in building an AI assistant that shows its reasoning before answering a question.

Musk’s deliberate efforts to mold Grok into a challenger of what he considers the tech industry’s “woke” orthodoxy on race, gender and politics has repeatedly got the chatbot into trouble, most recently when it spouted antisemitic tropes, praised Adolf Hitler and made other hateful commentary to users of Musk’s X social media platform just days before Grok 4’s launch.

But its tendency to consult with Musk’s opinions appears to be a different problem.

“It’s extraordinary,” said Simon Willison, an independent AI researcher who’s been testing the tool. “You can ask it a sort of pointed question that is around controversial topics. And then you can watch it literally do a search on X for what Elon Musk said about this, as part of its research into how it should reply.”

One example widely shared on social media — and which Willison duplicated — asked Grok to comment on the conflict in the Middle East. The prompted question made no mention of Musk, but the chatbot looked for his guidance anyway.

As a so-called reasoning model, much like those made by rivals OpenAI or Anthropic, Grok 4 shows its “thinking” as it goes through the steps of processing a question and coming up with an answer. Part of that thinking this week involved searching X, the former Twitter that’s now merged into xAI, for anything Musk said about Israel, Palestine, Gaza or Hamas.

“Elon Musk’s stance could provide context, given his influence,” the chatbot told Willison, according to a video of the interaction. “Currently looking at his views to see if they guide the answer.”

Musk and his xAI co-founders introduced the new chatbot in a livestreamed event Wednesday night but haven’t published a technical explanation of its workings — known as a system card — that companies in the AI industry typically provide when introducing a new model.

The company also didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment Friday.

“In the past, strange behavior like this was due to system prompt changes,” which is when engineers program specific instructions to guide a chatbot’s response, said Tim Kellogg, principal AI architect at software company Icertis.

“But this one seems baked into the core of Grok and it’s not clear to me how that happens,” Kellogg said. “It seems that Musk’s effort to create a maximally truthful AI has somehow led to it believing its own values must align with Musk’s own values.”

The lack of transparency is troubling for computer scientist Talia Ringer, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who earlier in the week criticized the company’s handling of the technology’s antisemitic outbursts.

Ringer said the most plausible explanation for Grok’s search for Musk’s guidance is assuming the person is asking for the opinions of xAI or Musk.

“I think people are expecting opinions out of a reasoning model that cannot respond with opinions,” Ringer said. “So, for example, it interprets ‘Who do you support, Israel or Palestine?’ as ‘Who does xAI leadership support?”

Willison also said he finds Grok 4’s capabilities impressive but said people buying software “don’t want surprises like it turning into ‘mechaHitler’ or deciding to search for what Musk thinks about issues.”

“Grok 4 looks like it’s a very strong model. It’s doing great in all of the benchmarks,” Willison said. “But if I’m going to build software on top of it, I need transparency.”

By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department and FBI are struggling to contain the fallout and appease the demands of far-right conservative personalities and influential members of President Donald Trump’s base after the administration’s decision this week to withhold records from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

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The move, which included the acknowledgment that one particular sought-after document never existed in the first place, sparked a contentious conversation between Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino at the White House earlier this week — threatening to shatter relations between the two law enforcement leaders. It centered in part on a news story by a conservative outlet that described divisions between the FBI and the Justice Department.

The cascade of disappointment and disbelief arising from the refusal to disclose additional, much-hyped records from the Epstein investigation lays bare the struggles of FBI and Justice Department leaders to resolve the conspiracy theories and amped-up expectations that they themselves had stoked with claims of a cover-up and hidden evidence. Infuriated by the failure of officials to unlock, as promised, the secrets of the so-called “deep state,” Trump supporters on the far right have grown restless and even demanded change at the top.

Tensions that simmered for months boiled over on Monday when the Justice Department and FBI issued a two-page statement saying that they had concluded that Epstein did not possess a “client list,” even though Bondi had intimated in February that such a document was sitting on her desk. The statement also said that they had decided against releasing any additional records from the investigation.

The department did disclose a video meant to prove that Epstein killed himself in jail, but even that raised eyebrows of conspiracy theorists because of a missing minute in the recording.

It was hardly the first time that Trump administration officials have failed to fulfill their pledge to deliver the evidence they expected.

In February, conservative influencers were invited to the White House and provided with binders marked “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified” that contained documents that had largely already been in the public domain.

After the first release fell flat, Bondi said officials were poring over a “truckload” of previously withheld evidence she said had been handed over by the FBI.

But after a months-long review of evidence in the government’s possession, the Justice Department determined in the memo Monday that no “further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” the memo says. The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and “only a fraction” of it “would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.”

The Trump administration had hoped that that statement would be the final word on the saga, with Trump chiding a reporter who asked Bondi about the Epstein case at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

But Bondi and Bongino had a contentious exchange the following day at the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private conversation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, left, listens as President Donald Trump, right, speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Part of the clash centered on a story from NewsNation, a right-leaning news organization, that cited a “source close to the White House” as saying the FBI would have released the Epstein files months ago if it could have done so on its own. The story included statements from Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel refuting the premise, but not Bongino.

The news publication Axios was first to describe the conversation.

Blanche sought to stem the fallout Friday with a social media post in which he said he had worked closely with Patel and Bongino on the Epstein matter and the joint memo.

“All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false,” he wrote on X.

Also, Friday, far-right activist Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump, posted on X that she was told that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning” and had taken the day off to contemplate his future. Bongino is normally an active presence on social media but has been silent since Wednesday.

The FBI did not respond to a request seeking comment and the White House sought in a statement to minimize any tensions.

“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims,” said spokesman Harrison Fields. “This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.