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How Emergency Savings Accounts Help Americans ‘Feel Their Money Grow’

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How Emergency Savings Accounts Help Americans ‘Feel Their Money Grow’

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Amber Comer, a single mother raising two sons in their 20s, found herself in a predicament where “it was eating me out of my house.”

Mr. Comer, now 53, was an assistant manager at The Fresh Market’s Charlotte store., north carolina, The store when she started scraping and pinching to buy a house.

“It was tough with the mortgage, taxes and everything else,” Comer said. Shortly after purchasing their home, she and her sons went away for the weekend and returned to find that their refrigerator, full of new food, was no longer working.

Shortly after, Conver’s car broke down.

She had a small amount of savings, but unexpected expenses forced her to drain her 401(k) account. After that experience, “I just wanted an emergency cushion,” Comer told USA TODAY.

For Comer and thousands of other Americans, that hoped-for cushion is now a reality. Their employers offer “emergency savings accounts” at work, allowing them to direct a portion of each paycheck into a bank account specifically designed for literally anything like car breakdowns, medical emergencies, or unexpected school uniform expenses.

One of the organizations that helped bring the idea to these accounts to fruition was a partnership called the Emergency Savings Initiative (ESI) between the asset management company BlackRock and Commonwealth, a national nonprofit organization focused on financial safety.

A 2019 publication by the Federal Reserve was one of the motivations for this account. A report on the economic well-being of U.S. households explains that “many adults are financially vulnerable and would have difficulty handling an emergency expense of as little as $400.”

That was a wake-up call for BlackRock executives.

“This has forced us to step back and say, ‘You know, we’re committed to creating long-term wealth for families and individuals,'” said Claire Chamberlain, chair of the BlackRock Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm.

“But it doesn’t make sense to talk about what’s going to happen 30, 40 years from now if people are not able to do their day-to-day jobs and are struggling to make ends meet,” Chamberlain said in an interview.

Savings accounts make people better at saving

ESI estimates that approximately 22 million Americans are eligible to receive an emergency savings account as a workplace benefit. The group doesn’t have data on the number of accounts, but several large employers offer accounts, including Delta Air Lines, AutoNation, Best Buy and Starbucks. Some, but not all, contribute to employee accounts.

When a worker opens an account, it is funded with a portion of the employee’s salary, similar to a workplace retirement account. These funds are accumulated in an account designated as ‘savings’, reminding users to utilize the account according to their actual needs and not for luxuries. However, emergency savings accounts are not tax-advantaged like many retirement plans and some medical accounts.

One of the most important lessons of ESI is that workers who contribute to an emergency savings account do not cannibalize their paychecks for its expenses. In fact, they also become better retirement savers.

As of 2025, among participants who had not yet saved for retirement, 20% of emergency savers began contributing to their 401(k) for the first time after starting emergency savings, according to a report first shared with USA TODAY. More than 52% of people who opened an emergency savings account started building up their retirement funds within four months.

The report estimates that these developments resulted in an additional $3.5 million in new retirement contributions.

Saving is a dynamic process, not something that happens all at once

This account has been extremely helpful to many people and has caused them to rethink the way they save. While conventional wisdom has long held that consumers should accumulate a certain level of savings, say six months’ worth of living expenses, those who study accounts now think of savings as a dynamic process of deposits, withdrawals, and replenishments.

“We want to send a message that you have to build it so that it’s ready when you need it, but actually it’s really nice to be able to write it down,” said Commonwealth co-founder and CEO Timothy Flack.

That’s exactly what Comber (now a store director after his promotion) uses.

“It was nice to see the money grow,” she said. “It’s been very comfortable. I can watch it build up. I only need to access it in an emergency, maybe once a year. I dip into it and then put it back on.”

‘There is no silver bullet’ to improve economic life

The final benefit is how this account can help employers provide a little more stability to their workers. This helps improve morale, attendance, and retention. ESI officials say ESI punches above its weight.

“There is no silver bullet that will help us all live better economic lives,” Flack told USA TODAY. “But if there’s one thing to focus on, hey, having that cushion really makes a difference. It’s versatile and it’s immediate. It builds a sense of dignity in people that they’re in control, that they can deal with life without having to go borrow money or ask someone for help.”

And in today’s high-inflation economy, a savings cushion can be more useful than ever. In May, one of the account’s providers, a company called SecureSave, shared proprietary data with USA TODAY showing how many account holders were using their savings to cover rising transportation costs due to the Iran war.

“What we’ve found is that it’s these little things that trip people up,” SecureSave CEO Devin Miller said at the time. It wasn’t necessarily a job loss or a serious health event, it was often a very mundane event.

Despite these challenges, average families can benefit by taking small steps, Chamberlain said. “Enabling people to set it and forget it can be very powerful,” she said.

Where does workplace culture fit into the hiring process?

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Where does workplace culture fit into the hiring process?

Johnny C. Taylor Jr.
| USA TODAY Special Feature

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. answers workplace questions every week on USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of SHRM, the world’s largest human resources professional organization, and author of Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.

Have a question? Please submit here.

Question: How much weight should human resources and hiring managers place on “culture fit” compared to skills, experience, and performance potential when evaluating job candidates? – Adrian

answer: Cultural fit is one of the most valuable filters in the hiring process, and it relies on cultural clarity, something many organizations overlook. To determine whether someone will fit into your culture, you first need to be able to clearly define it.

A strong culture isn’t about personalities, common interests, or who you have the most fun having lunch with. It’s about the behaviors, expectations, and standards that drive success.

Organizations must be able to clearly express who they are, what they value, and what it’s like to work there. This is cultural clarity. I often see companies trying to copy the culture of other organizations instead of being honest about their own culture. But culture is not about being like anyone else. As I often say, there is no such thing as a good culture or a bad culture (other than those that are immoral, unethical, or illegal). There’s just a culture. And it’s the employer’s responsibility to define it clearly and authentically from the beginning.

Fairness in the workplace: Are workplace policies enforced fairly and without favoritism? Ask Johnny

This starts early in the interview process. If your organization’s culture is clear, candidates will be evaluated based on those values. At the same time, candidates are empowered to decide for themselves whether the organization’s culture aligns with their values, work style, and career aspirations.

But cultural adjustments alone are not enough. Ultimately, every hire must create value that equals or exceeds the investment the company makes in recruiting, developing, and rewarding them. This is the new employee value equation. Are new hires adding value and a cultural fit?

This means that competency still matters. Organizations must never compromise on the fundamental knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed. However, you can develop your technical skills, strengthen your expertise, and learn new systems. Power skills such as accountability, adaptability, sound judgment, curiosity, and a willingness to act in accordance with an organization’s values ​​are much more difficult to teach.

That’s why the best hiring decisions aren’t just about whether a candidate can do the job perfectly from day one. They assess whether a person has the foundation to grow, contribute and create value over the long term. People with strong potential, the right mindset, and cultural alignment often outperform candidates who check all the technical boxes but struggle to succeed within the organization.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

Inflated credentials: How can you tell if a job candidate is exaggerating their abilities? Ask Johnny

Things I wish I knew before renting an RV for a road trip

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Things I wish I knew before renting an RV for a road trip

My family has taken dozens of road trips over the years, but nothing like our recent Nevada RV trip.

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  • RV travel is a good compromise for families with introverted and extroverted children.
  • Renting an RV provides a mobile basecamp with amenities such as a kitchen and bathroom.
  • RVing can save you money on food, but the total cost can be similar to other road trips.

If you ask my introverted 12-year-old daughter where she wants to go one day, 9 times out of 10 she’ll say she’ll stay home.

When traveling, comfort and quiet are important, so hotels work as well.

Her extroverted older sister, on the other hand, loves going outside and exploring new places without the noise and crowds.

Normally we try to have both, but for our family’s first RV road trip, we found an even better compromise with RVshare, an RV rental vacation home like Airbnb and VRBO.

Here’s what an RV looks like and what you need to know (including costs) before trying one out for yourself.

home away from home

We rented an East to West Entrada from a lovely Las Vegas couple to travel through Nevada. It was a medium-sized Class C camper, shaped like a U-Haul with a sleeping area above the cab.

My husband and I had previously stayed in a large Jayco Whitehawk trailer near Yellowstone National Park, but we didn’t feel comfortable towing something that big, so we treated it like a base camp and kept parking it. Not yet.

Entrada’s size was just right. There was a bunk bed above the cab, a queen size bed in the back, and a dinette in the middle that could be a third bed. The kitchen was equipped with a 3-burner gas stove, convection microwave, and solar-powered refrigerator, so we never had to worry about our groceries going bad. There was also a full bathroom with a separate shower, unlike some RVs where the shower and toilet share the same footprint.

My 12 year old son loved it because it was like having a house on wheels and meant there was always somewhere to hang out within a few steps of whatever activity we chose.

Another world: This amazing national park draws some of Zion’s visitors, even though it’s only a few hours away.

Advantages and disadvantages of RVs

The best part about the RV was that it took us to basecamp instead of just going back and forth with a stop or two at a hotel like we usually do.

It was also more comfortable than traditional road trips, where kids are usually cramped in the back seat. There was plenty of space for our luggage and we never felt like we were piled on top of each other.

I love being able to get close to nature from the comfort of my own home. I also appreciated that there were toilets available along the road and for bathroom breaks in the middle of the night.

I liked being able to cook instead of eating out the entire trip. After picking up the RV in Las Vegas, we stopped for groceries and cooked meals in the RV, including breakfast tacos and fettuccine alfredo. The groceries and snacks we bought along the way totaled $333 for 4 people in just over 5 days. This does not include your final meal in Las Vegas after returning the RV. It was the only restaurant we ate at during the trip, and dinner alone surprisingly cost more than our entire week’s worth of food.

One of the potential drawbacks of traveling in an RV is that, like any vehicle, mechanical problems can pop up unexpectedly. RVshare reservations include 24/7 emergency roadside assistance with Quest. Love’s Travel Stops has expanded its service offerings for RVs, including light maintenance, battery replacements, and tire rotations.

Our generator stopped working after the first day of our trip, but we didn’t consider it an emergency because we had booked a campsite with full hookups for the entire trip, so we had power when we needed it. The RV owner was very responsive and helped us troubleshoot over a video call, and by the end of the trip we had the generator working again.

Parking was sometimes difficult. I think over time we’ll get used to the size of the RV, but we were always looking for a large space away from other people to be safe. And when we needed to back up, one of us would jump out and direct whoever was driving, even though the RV had a rear view camera and side cameras.

The worst part of this experience wasn’t actually the RV’s fault. It was windy, but the less aerodynamic vehicle design didn’t help. Most of our trip took us through vast deserts, where wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour made driving difficult and sometimes caused the RV to shake as we slept at night. It was windy and I was nervous, so my husband kindly drove most of the way.

RV rental prices

Another potential drawback is cost. RVs aren’t cheap, but rental prices can rival the cost of a road trip that includes hotel stays and eating out.

Based on an analysis of more than 1 million reservations, RVshare says the average rental cost set by owners is just over $210 per night, with travel trailers generally being the cheapest, and motorized Class A, B and C RVs costing more.

This nightly rate does not include required insurance and protection packages and starts at $14 per night for some towable units. It also does not include upfront fees or usage fees such as campsite deliveries, pets, cleaning, excess mileage, or excess generator use. RVshare recommends setting aside 20-30% of your nightly rate as a cushion for these costs. It also does not include fuel or campsite reservations. It also doesn’t include a security waiver and refundable deposit of about $90.

All of this adds up to a lot more than tent camping, but it costs less than other types of vacations you take as a family, like theme parks or cruises. And unlike other trips whose memories become hazy over the years, I think this is one I’ll never forget. My mother-in-law still talks about the time when she and her family drove across the country in an RV when they were kids. I hope my daughters will talk about this trip like that someday.

USA TODAY reporter Eve Chen was provided access by RVshare. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.

Legal immigration will decline under the Trump administration. What it means for the US economy

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Legal immigration will decline under the Trump administration. What it means for the US economy

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As President Donald Trump’s administration ramps up a crackdown on people entering the country illegally, new data shows legal routes for immigration are also taking a dramatic hit.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved 8.3 million applications in 2025, a 27% decrease compared to 11.4 million applications in 2024.

Employment-based petitions and humanitarian petitions accounted for most of the change, decreasing by 26% and 69%, respectively. Green card-related approvals fell by 16%. Meanwhile, approvals for family-based petitions increased by 8%, while naturalization-related approvals remained flat.

Experts say the impact could be long-lasting and ripple through the U.S. economy.

“Immigrants are more than just workers. They also create jobs, in part because they, like all of us, consume goods and services that create demand for jobs,” said Julia Gerratt, associate director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute.

The State Department, which handles visa applications from abroad, has not released complete data for 2025, but figures through September show a similar picture. For example, international student visas issued decreased by 31% compared to the same period in 2024.

Many come here as students, while others transition to work visas and then become permanent residents with green cards. The current decline in international students will have a knock-on effect in the future.

“If you cut off that pathway, the effects will be felt for years to come,” Gerratt added.

Besides work and family-based routes, there are other routes through which people enter the country for humanitarian reasons. More than 100,000 people were hospitalized in fiscal year 2024, but during President Trump’s second term, the cap for fiscal year 2026 was set at 7,500, the lowest in nearly half a century. But so far, all but three of those allowed into the country have been white South Africans, Mother Jones reported.

Almost half of the country’s largest cities recorded population declines after the coronavirus pandemic, but by 2024 the trend has begun to reverse in most places. However, the economy slowed again last year, with experts blaming it primarily on a decline in international immigration.

read more: Due to reduced immigration, these cities are reversing post-COVID-19 population growth.

“When the labor force starts to shrink, that means economic growth slows, which means less is produced and costs go up for consumers,” said David Beer, director of migration research at the Cato Institute. “It’s a real problem for this country that the government has taken such a hard line, even against legal immigration.”

Income earned by immigrants, documented and undocumented, also contributes to Social Security, even if most immigrants do not receive benefits. The Social Security Trust Fund, which supports more than 75 million Americans, is projected to run out in 2032.

The second Trump administration placed multiple restrictions on legal immigration routes. Student visas were revoked, temporary protected status for immigrants from countries with dangerous living conditions was reduced, a $100,000 fee was imposed on H-1B work visas, and dozens of countries were placed on travel ban lists.

Some of the restrictions have been partially or completely rescinded following public outcry and court challenges.

Many of the student visas were reinstated after their cancellations sparked more than 100 lawsuits. After the announcement regarding H-1B visa fees, companies and their employees had a hectic weekend trying to get them home. In June of this year, a judge dropped the $100,000 fine.

Another judge said the U.S. government had “placed the lives of countless immigrants living in the United States in indefinite legal limbo” by suspending asylum applications and work permits for people on a list of 39 countries subject to travel bans and halting other policies.

But even a temporary change could be harmful, experts say, because it sends a signal to people trying to come here that they may not be welcome.

“There’s definitely a lot of setbacks,” said Jeff Joseph, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “The problem is, damage has been done. We’re basically sending a memo to all the field offices saying this is how we’re going to exercise our discretion, and it’s hard to erase that message.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump has advocated for border control and immigration control, but he has also championed the need for foreign workers.

While the rate of Border Patrol encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border continued to decline during President Trump’s second term, the number of people detained for entering the country, especially those with no criminal record, skyrocketed, according to a USA TODAY immigration tracker.

“I think they did it efficiently and quickly and effectively, but frankly what I don’t think people expected or anticipated or voted for is an attack on our legal immigration system,” Joseph said.

Bier’s previous analysis found that legal immigration declined 2.5 times faster than illegal immigration in the first three quarters of 2024.

“Even a completely new administration with a new ideology and new goals for the immigration system is not going to eliminate all the concerns that people might have about coming here,” Bier said.

But beyond public perception, USCIS, the agency that processes petitions for employment permits, green cards, and citizenship applications, is affected by layoffs in early 2025. CBS reported in February 2025 that 50 employees processing applications were subject to layoffs.

The application balance has increased through 2025, increasing by 48% compared to the end of former President Joe Biden’s term. Petition processing times have also increased across all categories.

The number of front logs containing unopened applications peaked at nearly 250,000 in 2025, up from zero before the start of the second Trump administration.

“These envelopes typically also include payment of the processing fee for that application,” Gelatt says. “So USCIS didn’t even open the envelope to get funding for its operations. That just suggests that the agency is not performing as well as it should.”

Unlike most government agencies that rely on taxpayer money, USCIS relies on filing fees for 96% of its budget.

“You’re setting yourself up for a situation where people don’t want to come to the U.S. anymore because they can’t trust the U.S. government,” Bier said. “I think America’s reputation is really taking a hit here.”

The average Social Security benefits for ages 62 to 70 are as follows:

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The average Social Security benefits for ages 62 to 70 are as follows:

Retirees can maximize their Social Security benefits by claiming at this age.

Trevor Jennewine
|The Motley Fool

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Social Security is often the largest source of income for retired workers, so it makes sense to do everything in your power to maximize your benefits. However, many people degrade themselves by claiming benefits as early as possible (age 62), in which case they get the lowest possible payout based on their work history.

Some of these people may not understand the consequences of their decisions. According to a 2025 study from the National Retirement Institute, four in 10 adults believe that even if they claim Social Security early, their benefits will automatically increase once they reach full retirement age. But that’s incorrect. If you claim early, your benefit reduction will be permanent.

We’ll show you exactly how much your claiming age affects your Social Security benefits.

Here are the average Social Security benefits for retired workers at various ages:

The Social Security Administration publishes anonymized benefit data to promote transparency and improve public understanding. The information in the table is from the biannual report, which was last updated in December 2025. It shows the average monthly Social Security benefits for retired workers between the ages of 62 and 70.

year

Average benefits for retired workers

62

$1,424

63

$1,436

64

$1,478

65

$1,607

66

$1,807

67

$2,016

68

$2,053

69

$2,097

70

$2,275

Data source: Social Security Administration. Note: Payments are rounded to the nearest dollar.

As shown, the average 70-year-old retiree receives significantly more Social Security benefits than the average 62-year-old retiree. This trend can be explained by differences in claim age. Workers are entitled to social security at age 62, but payments are at their lowest at that age. Workers are not entitled to the highest possible payment (based on their individual work history) until they reach the age of 70.

Here’s how social security benefits are calculated

The Social Security Administration considers two main variables when calculating retiree benefits: work history and filing age. This two-step process explains exactly how these variables affect your final payout.

  • Step 1: A formula is applied to the 35 highest-paid years of a worker’s inflation-adjusted earnings to determine the Principal Insurance Amount (PIA). PIA is a benefit that workers receive when they begin Social Security at Full Retirement Age (FRA), or age 67 for those born after 1960.
  • Step 2: PIA is adjusted for early or delayed retirement. Retirees who claim Social Security before FRA receive fewer benefits. This means that you will receive less than 100% of your PIA. Workers who start Social Security after FRA receive larger benefits. This means you will receive more than 100% of your PIA.

There are two important conditions. First, your eligibility for retirement benefits starts at age 62, so you can’t claim them earlier. Second, delayed retirement benefits stop accumulating at age 70 and should never be claimed after that point.

The table explains the relationship between year of birth and FRA. It shows the benefits (as a percentage of PIA) that retired workers in each age group would receive if they claimed Social Security at ages 62 and 70. In other words, this table shows the minimum and maximum possible payments for each age group.

year of birth

full retirement age

Benefits at age 62

Benefits at age 70

1943-1954

66

75%

132%

1955

66 years and 2 months old

74.2%

130.6%

1956

66 years and 4 months old

73.3%

129.3%

1957

66 years and 6 months old

72.5%

128%

1958

66 years and 8 months old

71.7%

126.6%

1959

66 years and 10 months

70.8%

125.3%

Since 1960

67

70%

124%

Data source: Social Security Administration.

This table shows that Social Security is highly dependent on your claiming age. In fact, retirees born after 1960 can increase their benefits by 77 percent by simply claiming Social Security at age 70 instead of age 62.

Example: The average retired worker’s 2024 PIA was $2,116. Assuming the year of birth is 1960 or later, if the person started Social Security at age 62, they would receive $1,481 per month (or 70% multiplied by $2,116). But if that same person started Social Security at age 70, they would receive $2,624 per month (or 124% multiplied by $2,116).

The exact amount will vary from person to person due to differences in lifetime income, but the rate of increase is constant. In this case, $2,624 is 77% greater than $1,481.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Preliminary races to watch on June 23 in Utah, New York and Maryland

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Preliminary races to watch on June 23 in Utah, New York and Maryland

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A liberal fight for a seat in Utah’s House of Representatives, a member of the Kennedy family known for his feud with the White House, and the governor highlight this week’s turbulent summer election.

But in the midst of four state primaries taking place on June 23, the story ahead could be a force in favor of either President Donald Trump or New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani. Because the votes will determine whether these high-profile backers continue to make a difference in a crowded primary.

“Both parties are going to test their support,” said John McGlennon, a government professor at the College of William and Mary.

Here’s a look at the state races that will be held on June 23rd, as well as some of the major races to keep an eye on.

Which states will have elections on June 23rd?

  • Maryland: House of Representatives, gubernatorial primary
  • new york: House of Representatives, gubernatorial primary
  • South Carolina: House of Representatives, gubernatorial primary runoff election
  • Utah: House of Representatives primaries

South Dakota’s general runoff elections for city council will be held on June 23rd.

Kennedy family on New York ballot

One of the most-watched races this primary day is New York’s 12th District, where social media personality and Kennedy successor Jack Schlossberg is running.

Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy and the grandson of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and is known for his sometimes bizarre social media posts. Despite Schlossberg’s national attention, most current polls have New York State Rep. Alex Boaz or Mika Lasher as the front-runners.

Will Mamdani’s nomination be played?

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani did not endorse Schlossberg, but McGlennon said Schlossberg’s endorsements in other districts, the 7th, 10th and 13th, will be closely watched. His endorsements are aimed at progressive candidates challenging incumbent Democrats. In the 10th round, he supported Brad Lander over Rep. Dan Goldman, and in the 13th round, he supported Daliaza Avila Chevalier over Rep. Adriano Espaira.

“His ability to shift support to other Socialist candidates will be tested,” McGlennon said.

New map of Utah

This is the first primary in Utah where the redrawn congressional map will be in effect. The map, which goes into effect in November 2025, redraws the state’s 1st District, which represents Salt Lake City, to lean more Democratic. Republicans have promised to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

But a court ruled in February that the Republican challenge violated Utah’s referendum ban on gerrymandering and would solidify a single district centered on increasingly liberal Salt Lake City. McGlennon said keeping the city in one district would almost certainly lead to a “vibrant primary” that would send Democrats to the House.

The frontrunner is Democratic Congressman Ben McAdams, who represented the 4th District from 2019 to 2021.

“[McAdams]now has to defend his eligibility against challengers who say he wasn’t generous enough,” McGlennon said.

Wes Moore of Maryland is running. house contest

In the Maryland gubernatorial primary, all eyes will be on incumbent Democratic Governor Wes Moore, who is seeking re-election. Mr. Moore has been locked in a bitter spat with Mr. Trump over issues such as election security, the Potomac River sewage spill and Mr. Moore’s failure to invite him to the annual governor’s conference.

Moore defeated Republican Dan Cox in 2022, and Cox is running as a Republican candidate again this year. Cox received Trump’s support in the last election, but has not yet received the president’s endorsement.

Ed Hale, also running in the Republican primary, switched parties from Democrat last summer and said the move was meant to improve his chances of defeating Moore.

“Mr. Moore is less concerned about that than about helping one of his potential Republican opponents win the Republican primary,” McGlennon said. “The governor wants to run against Dan Cox, who won in a landslide in 2022. Whoever wins the Republican primary will have little chance against Moore, but the governor wants to make a big difference as he explores a potential presidential run in 2028.”

Go deeper: Here are some excerpts from USA TODAY’s exclusive interview with Governor Wes Moore.

McGlennon points out that the two U.S. House races in Maryland’s 5th and 6th Congressional Districts are also noteworthy.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, the longtime Democratic leader in the House, is retiring, leaving a vacant seat in the 5th District. He said states that don’t require runoff elections have a crowded field of Democrats vying for the nomination.

“In a district that will almost certainly go to a Democratic candidate in November, a candidate with just 20 percent of the vote could be the winner,” McGlennon said. “Mr. Hoyer, who is white, faces an increasingly difficult situation in the primary as his district includes an increasing number of minority voters.”

Hoyer is backing his current aide, Adrian Boafo, and will face former county executive Rashaan Baker and Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, in the primary.

In the 6th District, former U.S. Rep. David Trone is unsuccessfully running for the seat he gave up to run for Senate in 2024.

“While not as heavily Democratic as District 5, this district is likely to be a safe district for the eventual winner.”

‘The Pit’ actor Moshe Kasher reveals cancer diagnosis and surgery

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‘The Pit’ actor Moshe Kasher reveals cancer diagnosis and surgery

“The Pit” actor Moshe Kasher says he has undergone surgery for oropharyngeal cancer. Being diagnosed with tonsil cancer was the comedian’s “worst nightmare” as his father died from throat cancer.

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Comedian and ‘The Pit’ actor Moshe Kasher has opened up about his horrifying real-life medical drama.

The writer and actor, 47, revealed in an Instagram post on June 21 that he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) after discovering a “bump on his tonsils” three months ago while filming the movie “The Comeback King” with director Judd Apatow in Savannah, Georgia. The diagnosis was early cancer, stage 1.

On June 19, he underwent a five-hour operation in which they “pulled open his jaw,” removed the cancerous area, “slit his throat, and dissected his neck.” Cashier was left with “severe neck scars that made people reluctant to engage in street fights with me” and a “swollen and bruised mouth,” he wrote.

“This was the most terrifying and draining experience of my life,” writes the author of “Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes.” “My life was full of fear, meditation, tears, and medical plans (and cracking jokes on set for 12 hours a day).”

“I’m in pain and in the middle of a very difficult process. It’s going to be a long summer,” he continued. “But the good news is that my cancer cure rate is incredibly high (in the 95% zone). I’ll find out next week if I need radiation therapy, but either way, I’ll be fine and get back to being a cool guy as soon as possible.”

Cashier, who played ASL interpreter Jacob Samuel on Season 2 of The Pit, vowed to “get better.” He added: “I’m so grateful to have a life worth living and a child to celebrate Father’s Day with.”

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He and his wife, Natasha Leggero, recorded an episode of the “Endless Honeymoon Podcast” before heading off to Kasher’s surgery. During the 43-minute sit-down, Casher detailed the discovery of the abnormality in his tonsils and how it led to a biopsy that confirmed the cancer diagnosis.

“I’m sick, but I don’t feel sick. My body feels great,” he said. “It was a real reality-altering nightmare, but it was also very enlightening and a deep time of introspection and fear, processing and meditation.”

He continued, “I’m going to be OK. The road to OK is going to be long and pretty bumpy.”

After undergoing surgery to have tonsils and 25 lymph nodes removed from her neck, Casher clarified, “If you look at it microscopically and it (the cancer) has spread, you won’t know until the surgery, but you’ll probably need radiation therapy.”

She also confessed that the diagnosis was her “worst nightmare” as her father died from “an entirely different cancer that was found in his neck and is much more difficult to cure”.

Cashier is a stand-up comedian who has produced several specials, including Netflix’s 2018 Honeymoon Stand-up Special. He also appeared in one episode of “The Good Place,” “Portlandia” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”

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Noah Wyle teases what fans can expect from ‘The Pit’ Season 3

Plans are well underway for Season 3 of The Pit as series star Noah Wyle promises fans of the HBO drama an “explosive” season.

How does HPV cause cancer?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. The CDC notes that more than 42 million people in the United States are infected with HPV and that “nearly everyone will become infected with HPV at some point in their life.” The virus is spread “by intimate skin-to-skin contact,” including vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who is infected with the virus.

HPV infection may not cause symptoms in some patients, but 9 out of 10 patients are cured within 2 years. However, for some people, the infection lasts longer and can lead to cancer.

HPV-related cancers in men are on the rise: One patient’s story and what you need to know.

According to the CDC, it usually takes several years for an HPV infection to progress to oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the back of the throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils. Oropharyngeal cancer may be asymptomatic or cause “prolonged sore throat, earache, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, and unexplained weight loss.”

The HPV vaccine “protects against the types of HPV that can cause oropharyngeal cancer.” The oldest person eligible to receive the vaccine is 45 years old.

One 2022 paper published in the Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy journal predicted that oropharyngeal cancer will be one of the most common cancers in men by 2045.

Millions of bees swarm near Texas after semitrailer crash

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Millions of bees swarm near Texas after semitrailer crash

An estimated 2 million bees escaped over the weekend after a semitrailer loaded with honeybee hives overturned in rural Texas, officials and multiple reports said.

Orange County Emergency Services District 4 (OCESD4) said in a statement on social media that the incident occurred on June 21 in Orange County, located in southeast Texas near the Louisiana state line. Emergency officials said an 18-wheeler carrying a beehive had overturned in the neighborhood and that “there was a large number of bees in the area.”

Emergency officials urged residents to stay indoors while officials responded to the scene. Emergency officials said in an update that the rear portion of the neighborhood was closed to traffic as crews continued to work.

“The overturned trailer containing the honeycombs has now been approximately 75% unloaded,” OCESD4 said in an update. “Workers continue to safely transfer the hives to transport trucks, where they will be taken to local honey farms.”

The Guardian newspaper and television station KBTX reported that around 2 million bees were released in the incident. According to local radio station KOGT, the semitrailer was carrying about 50,000 pounds of bees when the driver failed to make a turn and overturned.

Photos shared on Facebook by area beekeeper Queen Bee Supply LLC showed several beekeepers in white hazmat suits and suits clearing the site and working to retrieve the millions of bees that have swarmed the area. Photos also showed bees swarming nearby trees, weighing down the tree’s branches and branches.

USA TODAY has reached out to Orange County Emergency Services and Queen Bee Supply LLC for comment.

Beekeepers continue recovery efforts as bees swarm near Texas

In a video posted to Facebook on June 22, Christy Ray, owner of Queen Bee Supply LLC, said the insects that had swarmed in the bee nucleus, a box that houses a small colony of bees, had moved on by morning.

“We arrived here this morning and they’re all on the fence,” Ray said, explaining that beekeepers need to recapture them.

He noted that “probably only a small percentage” of the bees moved into the fence. Ray said the swarm left in the tree was “more than three times the size” of the bees on the fence, and further swarms had formed in nearby trees and “all over the place.”

Ray also described how on June 21, bees formed a dense clump on another tree that was so heavy that it broke the tree’s branches. “Yesterday they were all up in this tree, and they actually had broken limbs…it was very heavy,” she said.

Beekeepers were working to safely collect the bees and remove them from the neighborhood as quickly as possible. “We’re definitely trying to get them and do what we can to get them out of the area,” Ray said.

Impromptu fireworks display: Watch a truck loaded with fireworks go off on a Tennessee highway

Bizarre spills and crashes turn commute into a spectacle

From swarms of bees to rivers of pennies, a spate of freak crashes and cargo spills across the country have turned ordinary highways into scenes of confusion, curiosity, and sometimes unintentional entertainment.

In April, in Tennessee, a pickup truck carrying about 1 million bees overturned near Knoxville, creating a swarm that filled the area. Authorities warned those responding to the scene to avoid the area, and the truck driver, a beekeeper, attempted to retrieve the insect.

Earlier this month, another Tennessee highway was the scene of a serendipitous scene. A brake fire on a trailer carrying fireworks ignited the cargo, setting off a colorful explosion on Interstate 75 near Chattanooga. Onlookers gathered to see the unexpected display, but traffic was blocked as emergency workers rushed to secure the scene.

In March, motorists encountered an entirely different kind of chaos when a trailer loaded with 40,000 pounds of tofu fell off a highway in a Missouri valley, The New York Times reported. Soy-based blocks spilled from the trailer, requiring extensive cleanup.

Food has also been implicated in other bizarre road accidents. In August 2025, a tractor-trailer carrying 40,000 pounds of ribeye steaks caught fire, cooking the cargo and leaving a trail of charred smoke. A year ago in California, a truck spilled boxes of French fries onto part of a Los Angeles freeway, shutting down lanes for hours as crews cleaned up the piles of boxes.

Not everything spilled is edible. In April 2025, an 18-wheeler dropped $800,000 worth of cash on a highway in Texas, leaving coins scattered on the roadway and panicking the crew.

Kylian Mbappé chases France’s World Cup record with more goals

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Kylian Mbappé chases France’s World Cup record with more goals

PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappe knows Lionel Messi is not slowing down, even if it’s his last World Cup.

“We already knew that Messi would continue to score goals,” Mbappe said on Sunday. “He always does that. He is ahead of me and I am behind him. I will continue to score goals so that the national team can go as far as possible.”

Those sentiments proved true on Monday as both teams France and Argentina put on a show.

Hours after Messi broke the all-time World Cup scoring record with a brace in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria, Mbappe scored his second goal of the tournament, leading France to a 3-0 clean sheet victory over Iraq. Mbappé’s heroic performance helped France advance to the final round of the World Cup for the fourth time in a row.

Must read: Kylian Mbappé scores two goals for France through Iraq: summary, highlights

After the victory, France midfielder Manu Kone said of Mbappé, “It’s a luxury to have a player like Kylian.”

This time, Mbappe did not wait until the second half to score his first goal of the match in the 14th minute. Taking the ball up the left sideline, the Real Madrid forward passed the ball to Michael Orisse, who recovered it and slotted the ball into the top left corner of the goal from 18 yards outside the box.

Interestingly, this was Mbappé’s second goal in World Cup history in the first half. Mbappe has scored 13 of his 14 World Cup goals in the second half on Monday, his last in the first half coming against Peru at the 2018 World Cup.

Mbappe’s second goal came in the 66th minute, following some disastrous play from Iraq. Defender Zaid Tahseen tried to pass the goal kick to Ahmed Bashir, but the Iranian goalkeeper was not caught off guard and the ball was picked up by France’s Ousmane Dembele, who crossed it back to Mbappé in front of the net.

Mbappe’s goal brought him within two goals of Messi for the World Cup record. Mbappe, who became France’s all-time leading scorer in the opening game against Senegal, is tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the second-highest number of goals at the World Cup with 16 goals.

France defender Jules Kounde said of Mbappé: “It’s unbelievable.” “All we can do is smile and congratulate him. I hope he scores more goals because, to be honest, I know everyone thinks so, but we want him to break records.”

Mbappé has scored four goals in two World Cup matches and is nine goals shy of tying France’s Juste Fontaine’s record for most goals scored in a single FIFA Men’s World Cup, having scored 13 goals in six matches at the 1958 World Cup.

“I’m not thinking about that right now. It’s important right now to create a team environment where we can find our footing at critical moments and be confident in our strengths,” Mbappe said. “…We know that the more the competition goes on, the tougher the challenges will be. And it’s going to be very difficult because to win the World Cup you have to beat everyone.”

Nevertheless, both stars’ performances on Monday were exceptional. Mbappe’s night in particular begs the question of whether he will tie or break the record at this, his last World Cup, and whether he will be able to have a long career like Messi and Ronaldo and take it to the next level.

France manager Didier Deschamps does not know if the 27-year-old Mbappé will have as long a career as Messi (39 this week) or Ronaldo (41), but admitted he will give his star a chance as long as he is healthy and on the field.

Deschamps said: “Records are meant to be broken. Now he has an iconic record. He has always scored goals. He will score (more) goals.” “I don’t know if Kylian will be able to play up to his age, but as long as he feels right on the pitch, he will score a lot of goals.

“He has the ability to increase his value every time he breaks his own record.”

France will aim to take control of Group I with a victory over Norway on Friday at 3pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Boston.

The USA TODAY app lets you quickly get to the heart of the news. Download award-winning articles, crosswords, audio storytelling, e-newspapers, and more.

Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Heat in Bucks’ blockbuster NBA deal

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Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Heat in Bucks’ blockbuster NBA deal

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has finally been given a new lease of life.

The Milwaukee Bucks agreed on Monday, June 22, to trade two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade, moving one of the league’s elite players (when healthy), two people with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the deal.

In return, the Bucks will receive Tyler Herro, Kelel Ware, Jaime Jaques Jr., Kasparas Yakçonis, three first-round picks, one second-round pick, and one pick swap as they look to rebuild for the future after Antetokounmpo’s championship run in the 2021 NBA Finals.

The move instantly improves the Heat’s standing in the East and prompts team president Pat Riley to once again send a star player to Miami. Antetokounmpo also gets his wish. He has been linked to Miami for some time and is represented by Alex Salatzis, the same agent as Heat captain Bam Adebayo.

The Heat revamped their offense with an emphasis on speed, pace, and fast-break offense to start the 2025-26 season hot, but opposing teams deployed more zone and full-court pressure to slow the Heat down significantly.

Miami struggled to gain momentum, slumped in the second half of the season, and ultimately lost in the play-in tournament, missing out on the postseason for the first time in six seasons.

But Antetokounmpo is a perfect fit for Miami’s philosophy. Blessed with incredible size and length at 6 feet 11 inches and elite athleticism, Antetokounmpo is arguably the best transition scorer in the NBA. Pairing him with NBA All-Defensive Second Team Adebayo gives the Heat tremendous height, defensive versatility and rim protection that will be invaluable in the East.

In many ways, this move is a direct strategy to compete with teams like the Knicks, Celtics, Pacers, and Cavaliers in the East. And while the fan base has been asking Riley and the front office to make big decisions to acquire a star, the trade appeases those who were beginning to think it might be time for Riley to step down.

The announcement comes after months of speculation that Antetokounmpo, 31, was looking for a new home. Antetokounmpo was always a big name that came up before the 2026 NBA trade deadline in February as the Bucks weighed their interest in the star. Both the Bucks and Antetokounmpo have repeatedly mentioned his future in Milwaukee as the rumors persist.

For example, a report on Jan. 28 said Antetokounmpo would be ready for a new home before the trade deadline or during the offseason. However, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam indicated in early May that he expected a resolution to be reached regarding Antetokounmpo’s future before the NBA draft.

However, Antetokounmpo was sidelined for an extended period of time with multiple calf injuries and played in just 36 games this season. Shortly after Milwaukee’s season ended without the Bucks making the playoffs, Doc Rivers resigned as head coach, and the team ultimately hired former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins in late April.

Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, leaving Milwaukee as one of the franchise’s greatest players in his 13 seasons with the team.

Antetokounmpo begins as the Bucks’ all-time leader in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088), triple doubles (56), games played (895), field goals (7,898) and field goals attempted (14,266).

He led the Bucks to defeat the Phoenix Suns in six games, giving Milwaukee the NBA championship in 2021. Antetokounmpo insisted he wanted to continue competing for a championship and was dissatisfied with Milwaukee’s recent performance.

The Bucks finished the season with a record of 32 wins and 50 losses, ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference and well behind the top contenders.

With the additions of Herro, Ware, Jaquez, and Jaksionis, Milwaukee now has a young core of low-cost players. The Bucks also have significant draft capital, which could allow the team to be aggressive in acquiring young talent over the next few years, especially considering the recent reforms to the NBA draft lottery.

Antetokounmpo was set to enter the final season of his contract in 2026-27, and the Bucks faced an uncertain future. Antetokounmpo has a $62.8 million player option remaining for the 2027-28 season, but Milwaukee faced the possibility of losing Antetokounmpo without recouping his assets, as he and his agent had indicated to Bucks management that they had no intention of signing a long-term contract with the franchise.

Weberoni Pizza goes on sale ahead of the new Spider-Man movie

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Weberoni Pizza goes on sale ahead of the new Spider-Man movie

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Little Caesars and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man are teaming up to bring fans new Spider-Man-themed items ahead of the July release of the new movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The new pie, called the “Webberoni Pizza,” will be topped with a toasted two-cheese blend and shredded pepperoni arranged like a spider’s web, and will cost $8.99, according to a Little Caesars news release.

Little Caesars says customers ordering online can also create their own “webbed” pizza by adding “webs” of shredded pepperoni and toasted cheese to other pizzas for an additional fee.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day to bring the world’s favorite superhero to stores and homes across the country this summer, creating unique pizza opportunities for the whole family to enjoy,” said Greg Hamilton, Chief Marketing Officer, Little Caesars.

Here’s what you need to know:

webbed pizza etc.

Webbed pizza isn’t the only thing Little Caesars is selling ahead of the new Spider-Man movie.

According to the pizza chain, every Weberoni Pizza purchase will come with Spider-Man branded packaging and a limited edition poster.

Little Caesars said the packaging will be rolled out starting June 22nd, with limited edition poster releases beginning July 6th.

“There are three limited edition poster designs that will be updated weekly at each participating Little Caesars location, and fans will have a chance to collect them all while supplies last,” the pizza chain said.

Today’s Spider-Man: USA TODAY PLAY and Marvel debut new Spider-Man TODAY comic

In addition to food, Little Caesars has announced that it will be holding a pop-up at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse in Brooklyn on June 27th from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET. The one-day event will give fans the opportunity to “step into a replica of Peter Parker’s apartment where fans can explore, take photos, find special details about Spider-Man and Peter Parker, and enjoy the new Weberoni Pizza.”

“Spider-Man is known for its explosive action, humor and fun, so it was natural for us to collaborate on Spider-Man: Brand New Day with Little Caesars, a brand known for its bold voice and playfulness,” Jeffrey Godsick, vice president of brand strategy and partnerships at Sony Pictures Entertainment, said in a news release.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

‘Love Island’ Alanna faces criticism for racial slur during Casa Amor debut

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‘Love Island’ Alanna faces criticism for racial slur during Casa Amor debut

Videos and screenshots of 21-year-old University of Southern California student Alana Kaiser allegedly using racial slurs became public after she debuted on “Love Island USA” as the Casa Amor bombshell on June 21.

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Another Love Island USA contestant has also come under intense scrutiny after screenshots and old videos of her using racial slurs have been circulated on social media.

Alana Kaiser, 21, a student at the University of Southern California Film School, made her debut as the bombshell of Casa Amor on the June 21 episode of The Peacock Show. In this episode, the men of the villa are sent to the infamous villa to explore relationships with a whole new group of grown women. The same night, a Snapchat video of Alana allegedly singing along to a song containing racial slurs was published on platforms including X and TikTok.

Screenshots of her allegedly using slurs in messages also began circulating.

These posts prompted comments on social media speculating about her behavior towards some men when she took part in the vulgar ‘Hearts on Fire’ challenge, also known as the heart rate challenge.

After kissing and dancing with Caleb McDaniel, Bryce Dettloff, and Zach Georgiou, her effort level seems to have dropped for the rest of the male cast. She kissed KC Chandler on the neck and said, “That’s all you get,” then shook her hips a little before repeating the phrase to Corbin Mims. “It’s okay to shake a little,” she told Cynthia Rea, the last man on the couch, and wiggled her butt.

What does this have to do with fast food? Why ‘Love Island’ stars talk about ‘fries’

KC is black. Corbyn spoke about being black and Asian. And Cynthia was described as “Hispanic” by partner Melanie Moreno earlier in the season.

Peacock did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

Who is Alana on Love Island?

Alana is a Miami native who lives in Los Angeles as a student at the University of Southern California.

She was one of six women thrown into the mix for season 8. While the women of Casa Amor are away from the women of the villa for several days, they seduce the men of the villa into leaving their previous relationships.

‘Love Island’ season 8 controversy

The dating show is an offshoot of the hugely popular series that has been airing in the UK for more than a decade and has weathered several controversies in recent years, including one that was canceled just before this season’s premiere in early June.

Vasana Montgomery, a 25-year-old business executive from Oregon, was removed from the starting cast just days before the June 2 premiere after a video surfaced over the weekend that appeared to show Montgomery using racial slurs while singing.

Like Alana, Montgomery’s clip was released shortly after the cast was announced on May 28th.

Winning numbers for June 22nd

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Winning numbers for June 22nd

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The Powerball jackpot has increased to $312 million with a cash value of $141.2 million ahead of the drawing on Monday, June 22nd.

Since its launch in 1992, the Powerball jackpot has been hit more than 400 times. Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin rank among the states with the most winning jackpot tickets.

No one took home the big prize Saturday night, but two players still had good nights. One person in Florida won $2 million and another in Pennsylvania won $1 million. As of June 22, there are seven Powerball jackpot winners.

Here’s what you need to know about Monday night’s Powerball drawing.

What are the Powerball winning numbers for June 22nd?

USA TODAY will publish the winning numbers at 11pm ET after the lottery drawing.

Which Powerball number should you choose? Let’s take a closer look at the data.

Do I have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?

The short answer is no. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball.

Anyone visiting any of the 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may purchase lottery tickets from authorized and licensed retailers, regardless of nationality, as long as they meet the legal age requirements (usually 18 years old) at the time of purchase.

Top 10 Powerball Jackpots

  • $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
  • December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
  • $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
  • $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
  • January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
  • April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
  • $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
  • January 1, 2024, $842.4 million in Michigan.
  • March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
  • August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts

Lottery trivia: Which state has the most lottery winners?

How to play Powerball

Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This can be done at a variety of locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.

In some states, you can purchase Powerball tickets online depending on the local jurisdiction.

Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls numbered from 1 to 69. The red Powerball range is 1-26. You can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases your winnings on all non-jackpot prizes.

“Power Play” multipliers can increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.

A “Quick Pick” option is also available if you want the computer to select the numbers for you. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls with the red Powerball in any order.

Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. The winnings continue to increase even if no one wins the jackpot.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

President Trump blames vandalism for peeling paint and algae in reflecting pool

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President Trump blames vandalism for peeling paint and algae in reflecting pool

The damage occurred after President Trump completed a $14.7 million renovation of the National Mall’s iconic pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump blames vandalism for damage to the reflecting pool (algae and peeling paint) and says five people have been arrested.

“This is an act of vandalism,” President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on June 22. “There’s a 290-foot, 300-foot cut. Probably some kind of cutter or knife.”

“They slashed very violently,” he added.

President Trump referred questions about the criminal investigation and proof of intentional damage to the pool to the National Park Service, which manages the National Mall where the pool is located, and its parent agency, the Department of the Interior. Neither agency immediately responded to USA TODAY’s requests for comment.

Members of the D.C. Task Force, a group of federal and local law enforcement officials, arrested five people for vandalizing government property at Reflecting Pool from June 17 to June 21, U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Brady McCarron told USA TODAY.

“Please remember that the destruction or attempted destruction of such property carries a 10 year prison sentence. This sentence will be carried out in full!” President Trump said on social media.

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the company that renovated the pool, said the areas requiring repairs are “a small portion of a 7-acre megaproject and do not indicate liner failure.”

Green water, peeling paint. What’s happening in the reflecting pool?

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority issued a permit to drain the 600-foot-long rectangular pool for repairs.

“It’s not major damage, but we’ll probably have to drain it and repair it,” Trump said.

Reflecting pools are one of several projects around Washington, D.C., that President Trump has a personal interest in. Other projects include the restoration of the White House Ballroom, the Arc de Triomphe, and fountains throughout the city.

But the no-bid pool project has gained attention after President Trump announced it would cost $1.8 million and be completed within a week. The price rose to $14.7 million and the project was ruined by algae and liner damage.

Trump also blamed the vandalism on algae that turned the water green above the pool’s blue American flag liner.

President Trump said, “When you put fertilizer in the water, algae grows.” “They did something to create the algae. But it doesn’t matter because it’s being purified. It’s dead and lying on the bottom. They’re taking it out. They’re vacuuming it out.”

President Trump complained about “crazy pro-algae” protesters on social media.

Contributed by: Reuters

Nancy Guthrie’s ransom note listed her as dead.

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Nancy Guthrie’s ransom note listed her as dead.

Four months after law enforcement confirmed they received unidentified ransom notes, ABC, NBC and CBS are reporting that one of the letters indicated Savannah Guthrie’s mother was dead.

New details of an unverified ransom note previously sent to at least one media outlet following the alleged kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, have emerged four months after her disappearance.

A second ransom note, released shortly after the 84-year-old suspected kidnapper was kidnapped in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1, listed her as deceased, NBC News, ABC News and CBS News reported on Monday, June 22. NBC and ABC cited anonymous people “familiar” with the incident, and CBS cited “sources who reviewed the memo.”

USA TODAY has reached out to the FBI and Savannah Guthrie’s representatives for comment.

A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Office in southern Arizona told USA TODAY that inquiries about the ransom note should be directed to the FBI. “The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains active and ongoing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case,” the department said in a statement.

Savannah Guthrie believed two ransom notes were real

After leaving the Today show in February, Savannah Guthrie returned to the show in April and resumed her anchor duties. Sitting with longtime colleague Hoda Kotb in March, a tearful Guthrie said he and his siblings were “in pain” over their mother’s disappearance, adding: “It’s unbearable.”

“I think there’s a lot of different notes, and I don’t think most of them are authentic,” Guthrie told Kotb in a March 26 “Today” interview segment. “However, we are inclined to believe that the two notes we received and responded to are genuine.”

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of January 31st and is believed to have been kidnapped in the Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson. In February, the FBI released an image showing an armed man fiddling with a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door before her disappearance, but the suspect in the image has not been identified.

More than $1.2 million in rewards are being offered for information leading to her recovery.

What we know about the ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case

On February 3, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement on social media that it was “aware of reports circulating regarding a possible ransom note” and that “we take all information and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in is reported directly to detectives working with the FBI.”

CBS News reported that its Tucson affiliate KOLD News received the letter on February 2nd. Without specifying which news station received the communication or confirming its authenticity, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News that the letter “included specific details about the home and the clothing Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night.”

Nanos told CBS News that the FBI reviewed the memo and shared it with Savannah Guthrie. On February 3, TMZ reported that it had received a letter demanding payment for Nancy Guthrie’s release.

At a Feb. 5 press conference, FBI Special Agent Heiss Janke said the ransom note reviewed by investigators showed no “evidence of survival,” and there were no other demands in the letter. Janke said the ransom note included “facts related to the deadline,” including an Apple Watch, a floodlight, and “monetary value.”

The memo reportedly included two deadlines: February 5th at 5pm and February 9th at 5pm, but the family was not provided with a way to contact them. The USA TODAY Network has not confirmed or substantiated the authenticity of either memo.

What Savannah Guthrie said about the alleged ransom note

On February 4, Savannah Guthrie posted a video of her and her brother mentioning an alleged ransom note directed by the FBI. “We’ve been hearing reports in the media about the ransom letter,” said Savannah Guthrie, sitting between her sister Annie Guthrie and brother Camron Guthrie.

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Savannah Guthrie and her siblings ask to take their mother home

Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, seated between her siblings, made an emotional plea on social media to bring her mother home.

She went on to appear to address the possible kidnapper directly.

“As a family, we are doing the best we can. We are ready to speak. But we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We definitely need to know that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out,” Savannah Guthrie said.

The “Today” show co-host highlighted 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s medical needs, saying, “Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She doesn’t have medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it so she doesn’t suffer.”

Law enforcement is asking anyone with information to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Office tips.fbi.gov. (520-351-4900) or 88-CRIME.

World Cup match between France and Iraq postponed due to bad weather

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World Cup match between France and Iraq postponed due to bad weather

The World Cup match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday was delayed for more than two hours due to thunderstorms.

It started raining midway through the first half, and the game was suspended after the halftime whistle. After a day of approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, play resumed at 8:00 PM ET.

Lincoln Financial Field was empty after Kylian Mbappé’s 14th-minute goal gave France a 1-0 lead. Due to inclement weather at the venue, fans were instructed to leave their seats and take shelter in the concourse.

“Due to inclement weather in Philadelphia, including the risk of lightning near the stadium, the FIFA World Cup match between France and Iraq has been canceled,” FIFA said in a statement.

“A 30-minute break has been announced. FIFA will resume play as soon as it is safe to do so, in accordance with the safety protocols established by local authorities.”

“The safety and security of every individual is FIFA’s top priority. We thank our fans for their understanding and cooperation.”

Follow the live match weather forecast and match highlights here.

The delay began when halftime began around 5:48 p.m. ET.

The game was scheduled to resume at 7 p.m. ET if the weather cleared, according to Fox. Around 6:30 p.m., the sun came out and many fans began returning to their seats, but were then told to return to the covered area.

As of 7 p.m., players had not returned to the field to warm up, further delaying the start of the game. At 7:30 p.m., the players returned to the pitch for warm-ups. The match resumed at 8 p.m.

FIFA does not have an official policy regarding delays due to lightning or storms.

Typically, a 30-minute delay is mandated if lightning strikes within 8 to 10 miles of the stadium. Each subsequent attack adds another 30 minutes of delay.

Applebee’s $1 Margaritas are back “due to overwhelming demand”

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Applebee’s $1 Margaritas are back “due to overwhelming demand”

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It’s going to be a summer of “Dollaritas” at Applebee’s.

Neighborhood Grill + Bar will toast America’s 250th birthday this July by bringing back the fan-favorite $1 cocktail that “broke the internet and redefined value.”

“An American original, DOLLARITA has become a true cultural icon,” Michelle Chin, Applebee’s chief marketing officer, said in a news release. “This July, by overwhelming demand, we’re bringing it back for just $1, giving guests 21 and older the perfect way to celebrate summer at an unmatched value at Applebee’s.”

The 10-ounce margarita, made with tequila, triple sec and lime, will be available at participating locations all day every day throughout July, the company said. This benefit is for dine-in only and may vary by restaurant.

Originally introduced as part of Applebee’s monthly drink promotion in October 2017, Dalalita quickly built a cult following due to its low price and social media buzz.

Kennedy Center drama lingers under tarp in legal battle over Trump’s name

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Kennedy Center drama lingers under tarp in legal battle over Trump’s name

The arts center’s board of directors is scheduled to meet in mid-July to vote on the direction of the $258 million renovation project, while remaining open under a court order.

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WASHINGTON – Is the Kennedy Center still open?

That’s what a federal judge ordered, and what the arts center’s board of directors, made up mostly of supporters of President Donald Trump, said is the same thing happening. But don’t expect to see “Les Misérables” anytime soon.

The building’s facade remains covered with a tarp after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the removal of Trump’s name. Cooper also ordered the center to remain open beyond its scheduled July 5 closing date for two years of renovations, but it is unclear when performances will resume.

Matt Floca, executive director and chief operating officer, said in a court filing that the center will “maintain its operating model beyond July 5 and provide continued public access.”

“Education and community support programs will also be maintained,” Floca said. “Given the current uncertainty regarding future plans, management has postponed any aggressive long-term planning or staffing adjustments until the board selects a final operating policy.”

The drama surrounding the Kennedy Center, beyond the performances that take place inside, began after Congress approved $258 million in renovations to the building. The center’s board of directors added President Trump’s name to its facade and website after he made the project one of his priorities.

However, the change prompted a lawsuit from Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who serves on the board of directors, because Congress named it the Kennedy Center in the act establishing it in 1964.

Prior to the construction project, the Kennedy Center had announced performances of “Back to the Future” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” in July and August. However, the board subsequently decided to suspend all production due to renovation work.

Under Mr. Cooper’s order, the center’s administrators plan to meet with the board of directors in mid-July to vote on how to proceed with construction, according to a June 19 Justice Department filing. Options include no programming, closing portions of the building to allow for limited programming, or scheduling a limited series of closures around the building while programming continues in its entirety.

“Center management currently plans to maintain its operating model beyond July 5, the originally scheduled closure date of the Center and its building,” the Justice Department filing states. “The center continues to prepare for additional capital repairs and construction activities.”

Legal battle over adding Donald Trump’s name continues

Meanwhile, court appeals over Trump’s name removal are progressing smoothly.

The actual removal of Trump’s name from the facade was completed in the early morning hours of June 13, after Cooper’s deadline the day before. However, the facade of the building remains hidden behind curtains while the marble walls are being repaired.

Lawyers for the Justice Department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for an emergency order to halt the removal of Trump’s name. Although initially denied, the request to restore Trump’s name remains.

Government lawyers argued that without his name on the building, fundraising from companies that donated millions of dollars would “not only cease, but all funds raised or donated would be obligated to be returned, refunded, or discontinued.”

In a June 22 filing, Beatty’s lawyers called the appeal “frivolous” and “ridiculous” and argued that President Trump cannot withhold funding because the name was removed from the building.

“If a trustee is prevented by a court from violating the law, the trustee cannot create a poison pill to sabotage the trust,” the filing states.

Algae returns to Lincoln Memorial pool; social media reacts

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Algae returns to Lincoln Memorial pool; social media reacts

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The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., is under renewed scrutiny just weeks after renovations were completed, with claims of green algae, peeling paint and possible online sabotage.

The project, announced by President Donald Trump in April, was initially billed as a short-term effort but has been extended until early June. After reopening, the pool’s long-standing discoloration returned, and images of green water and peeling paint were widely shared, sparking reactions and memes online, and experts say the problem could persist until temperatures cool in the fall.

“In a few weeks, there will be the most beautiful reflecting pool you’ve ever seen between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial,” President Trump said at the time. The renovations ultimately lasted several weeks and were completed in early June.

Images of the pool’s condition, including green water and peeling blue paint, were widely shared on social media.

There is less green: This is what the reflecting pool looks like today.

Contributor: Michelle Del Rey, USA TODAY

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

The Obama Presidential Center is an ugly monument to hypocrisy

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The Obama Presidential Center is an ugly monument to hypocrisy

Barack Obama made history as the first black president, and he remains a gifted communicator. However, records beyond that are thin.

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Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will open the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 19th. This center is an eight-story temple to ourselves, built primarily at the expense of others.

A day earlier, a star-studded crowd including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Stevie Wonder and John Legend had gathered to celebrate the sprawling 19-acre campus, which includes a public library branch, basketball court, restaurants, playgrounds and a ticketed museum.

Despite the fanfare, this monstrosity stands as a monument to hypocrisy and the Obama family’s undying thirst for the spotlight, a presidential legacy project that has disappointed more Americans than its architects are willing to admit.

Elon Musk’s billionaire status is an American success story. opinion

The Obama Presidential Center is a disaster.

The project honoring a couple cost $850 million to build, making it the most expensive presidential center ever built, and it’s not even close. Although the building and exhibits were funded by private donations, Illinois taxpayers spent approximately $123.3 million on infrastructure (road realignment, utility relocation), which is expected to approach $200 million by completion.

Neighbors say the construction has increased rents by 43% and increased home prices. The Obama Foundation had hoped to establish a $470 million endowment, but currently only has about $1 million in endowment funds.

The project has also been a nightmare for local workers and subcontractors, who say they are still owed money despite the promised economic benefits. Mike Owen, owner of Adamson Plumbing, says he is about $4 million in debt after years of work.

“This is a hole that no subcontractor or small business can survive in,” Owen told Fox News Digital.

Omar Sharif, president of the African American Contractors Association, says contractors are in debt and feel silenced by non-disclosure agreements they sign.

“I’ve never seen anything like this happen in all the time I’ve been in the business,” Sharif told FOX News Digital. “The building certainly looks great, but the fact that they’re not paying the contractors doesn’t matter.”

Opinion Newsletter: Sign up for columnist Nicole Russell’s newsletter on conservative values, family and religion. Get it delivered to your inbox.

Although the Obamas were likely not involved in day-to-day construction operations, the project was built at their direction.

The Obama Foundation hired Lakeside Alliance as construction manager. Lakeside Alliance said in a statement that it is common for projects to remain unpaid after completion, and that it will work to resolve any issues.

President Obama’s legacy: Promises change, delivers disappointment.

The Obama Presidential Center is operated by the Obama Foundation itself. That arrangement says it all about what this project really is. It is more a monument to ego than a public institution.

Although the Obamas left the White House nearly a decade ago in 2017, they still seem unable to resist the spotlight. Former fist lady Michelle Obama has written multiple books and appears regularly on podcasts and talk shows.

In a recent interview on “Good Morning America,” Barack Obama said he has changed from “player” to “coach” when it comes to public policy discussions. If by “player” he means building a roughly $1 billion temple to his presidency, that’s certainly one way to stay relevant.

But the legacy he enshrines deserves scrutiny. His signature achievement, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which dramatically raised health insurance premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans, was far from the transformation he promised.

What drives the Obamas to build monuments like this is a belief, nourished by years of sycophancy, that their legacy rests on true accomplishments. That’s amazing arrogance. Obama made history as the first black president, and he remains an excellent communicator. However, records beyond that are thin.

If the Obamas were truly memorable, they wouldn’t need a hideous $850 million building that bedeviled contractors and billed taxpayers to prove it. The Presidential Center is the perfect monument to President Obama’s term itself. It was a grand gesture, lavishly executed, promising transformation and delivering disappointment.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four children. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, delivered to your inbox.

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