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Justice Department indicts Mexican authorities for aiding and abetting Sinaloa Cartel

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Justice Department indicts Mexican authorities for aiding and abetting Sinaloa Cartel

Mexican federal officials acknowledged they had received an extradition request from the United States, but said they did not have enough evidence to respond.

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Extending its campaign against the Sinaloa cartel, Justice Department officials announced Wednesday that federal prosecutors have indicted nine Mexican government officials on charges of aiding and abetting the notorious drug lord.

Those indicted include the governor of Mexico’s Sinaloa state.

“The Sinaloa Cartel and other drug trafficking organizations like it would not be able to operate as freely or as successfully without the salaries of corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials,” Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. “Corrupt foreign officials’ support of deadly drug trafficking must end. These indictments send a clear message to all officials around the world who collaborate with drug traffickers.”

According to a federal indictment, Mexican state officials “participated” in cartel operations by protecting drug traffickers “from investigation, arrest, and prosecution” and protecting drug shipments in exchange for “millions of dollars in drug funds from the cartels.”

Mexican officials named in the indictment “categorically and absolutely” deny the charges.

“I categorically and completely deny the charges brought against me by the federal prosecutors of the Southern District of New York, as they lack any truth or basis, and will be vindicated as such at the appropriate time and to the fullest extent possible,” Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya said in a statement. “And I say to the people of Sinalone, with all the courage and dignity that characterizes us, we will prove that this slander is baseless.”

Others indicted include former and current state law enforcement officials and the mayor of Culiacán, Sinaloa’s capital and cartel stronghold.

Juan de Dios Gamez Mendivil, the mayor of a city where Mexican security forces have been battling cartels in recent years, also denied the charges.

The mayor said, “I deny the allegations that have been made public. There is no basis.” “Throughout my life, I have always obeyed the law and acted responsibly in public service.”

Charges against the group include conspiracy to import drugs, kidnapping resulting in death, and possession of a machine gun. If found guilty, all will be sentenced to life in prison.

Asked for comment, the Mexican Embassy in the United States shared a statement from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating that it was aware of the charges and had received an extradition request from the United States, but that Mexican federal authorities had no intention of extraditing the accused state employees.

“Based on the legal investigation conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the bilateral extradition treaty, the documents received from the U.S. Embassy do not contain sufficient evidence to establish the liability of the person whose provisional arrest is sought for extradition purposes,” the officials said.

How can they be accused of being part of a cartel?

Federal prosecutors have accused Mexican state authorities of complicity in cartels’ efforts to move large amounts of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.

According to the Justice Department, cooperation between Sinalone government officials and cartel members was evident. Prosecutors said Rocha Moya, 76, met with cartel leaders and “promised to protect” them.

Federal officials say the cartel helped elect governor in 2021 by “kidnapping and threatening rivals.”

Among other charges, the Justice Department said Sinaloa State Deputy Attorney General Damaso Castro Zaavedra received $11,000 a month for reporting U.S. law enforcement activities to cartels, and former Culiacan police commander Juan Valenzuela Milan received $1,600 a month to protect cartel operations in the city.

Milan helped cartel members kidnap a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration informant in October 2023, who was then tortured and killed, according to the Justice Department.

Latest effort to pursue cartels linked to El Chapo family

The Justice Department said the Mexican state officials charged in the case are suspected of working with the Chapitos, a faction run by the Sinaloa Cartel, run by the sons of former drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

The faction, led by the sons of a former kingpin who was sentenced to life in federal prison in 2019, became known for breaking some of the rules their father had followed to control the illegal drug trade, experts said.

Their actions shook Sinaloa. Last summer, Mexican authorities discovered 20 bodies, including some decapitated and four left hanging from a highway bridge, believed to be the victims of a turf war between Chapitos and rival Sinaloa faction La Meiza.

Federal prosecutors have been working to crush this sect for years. El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán López, pleaded guilty to federal charges last summer. At the time, Guzmán López’s lawyer suggested his client could shed light on corruption in Mexico.

Two of El Chapo’s sons remain at large.

Queen Camilla meets Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour – see photos

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Queen Camilla meets Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour – see photos

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Queen Camilla’s visit to the US with King Charles received an added boost of star power as she met some of New York City’s most iconic celebrities during the royal’s visit to Manhattan.

The Queen attended an event hosted by the literacy charity Queen’s Reading Room at the New York Public Library on Wednesday, April 29th.

Among the 100 or so guests were “Sex and the City” and “And Just Like That…” star Sarah Jessica Parker and former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Camilla and Parker, along with Chief Librarian Brian Bannon, viewed carefully selected items from the library’s collection commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and U.S.-British relations since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Sarah Jessica Parker praises Queen Camilla’s literary passion

Mr Parker, known for his patronage of literature and New York City’s literary community, spoke to reporters at the event and praised the Queen’s work with the UK-based charity.

“She seems to love reading just like us readers,” she said, wearing a pale pink coat over a white polka-dot dress.

Parker is a self-described “lifelong reader turned publisher” who founded SJP Lit, a literary publishing company affiliated with independent publisher Zand Projects.

Anna Wintour wore a gray plaid blazer with a calf-length skirt, but the library’s dim lighting didn’t match her signature black hue.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen’s visit was in part to celebrate the library’s extensive collections and Winnie the Pooh’s 100th birthday, and included a panel discussion with Jenna Bush Hager, Harlan Coben and Min-Jin Lee.

After touring the library’s treasured collection, Camilla read excerpts from Winnie the Pooh to local public school students, accompanied by Jim Cummings, who provided the voice of Winnie the Pooh in the original films and TV shows.

Camilla left the library with a special gift. It’s the British toymaker’s Lou doll, which has completed an exhibition collection commemorating this beloved fairy tale.

What did Queen Camilla and King Charles do in New York?

After a two-day stay in Washington, D.C., which included a state dinner at the White House and a speech to members of Congress, Charles and Camilla headed to New York on April 29.

Their day began with a solemn visit to the National September 11th Memorial Museum, where they met with victims’ families and first responders. They also met with New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul.

While his wife attended an event at the library, Charles visited Harlem’s urban farm, touring Harlem Grown, planting seeds, feeding chickens, and interacting with local schoolchildren.

As day turned to night, they were scheduled to attend a Greater Together reception in partnership with Charles’ charity, the King’s Trust. The gala aims to showcase “Britain’s cultural impact on New York through its commitment to the arts, sport and community, including the work of King’s Trust America that transforms the lives of young people.”

Wintour was joined by actors Nina Dobrev, Meghan Fahey and Leo Woodall, models Jasmine Tookes and Karlie Kloss, entrepreneurs Martha Stewart and Charlotte Tilbury, and singer Lionel Richie.

Contributor: Katherine Palmer, USA TODAY

Why Inflation Is Outpacing Social Security COLA Increase

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Why Inflation Is Outpacing Social Security COLA Increase

It’s not that retirees who rely on Social Security are necessarily powerless to do something about it, but the fact is that the situation is not holding up.

james bramley
|The Motley Fool

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There’s no denying that everything is more expensive these days, and not just compared to a few years ago. Prices were already uncomfortably high back then, so the cost of basic necessities like food and gasoline, as well as rent, health care, and utilities, now seem higher than they did just a short time ago. month before.

And this begs the question: Has the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security monthly benefit payments implemented earlier this year already become meaningless, if not completely inadequate?

What is cola?

For those unfamiliar with the term, a COLA is exactly what it sounds like: an increase in the amount you pay to reflect the increased cost of living.

In this case, the adjustments that the Social Security Administration makes in a given year are ultimately determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ calculations of national inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Specifically, the Census Bureau’s average year-over-year inflation rate for each month in the third calendar quarter is the amount of the COLA in place at the beginning of the following year.

This year’s adjustment was a 2.8% increase over the 2025 payment.

Unfair approach to how decisions are made

However, it is understandable that there is some backlash against this approach based on several concerns. One is when the COLA goes into effect. Social Security beneficiaries always end up receiving what they are entitled to, but always after costs have increased, sometimes long afterward.

In case you missed it: Your Social Security office may be temporarily closed. See list

The other issue is much more problematic for the vast majority of people who rely on Social Security benefits. There are currently 53.6 million retirees receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Their effective cost of living is not necessarily reflected in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ broader inflation calculations. This calculation specifically reflects changes in the cost of living for national households whose main source of income is labor-based wages, and is an index called CPI-W. Another metric is CPI-E. It is specifically designed to reflect the cost of living for the country’s senior citizens (age 62 and above). The CPI-E can, and often does, differ significantly from the CPI-W diagram. For 2025 as a whole, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI-E grew by around 2.9%, following a 3.1% increase in 2024. Both numbers are larger than comparable calculations for working households over the same period.

Unsurprisingly, rising medical costs are the main reason for the rising cost of living for seniors.

COLA is not keeping up

Let’s fast forward to today. What has already changed since the 2025 COLA goes into effect in 2026?

Through March, the CPI-E has risen nearly 3.3% over the past 12 months, with gas and food accounting for the largest portion of this increase. Even if you exclude these two categories from the calculation, prices are still up 2.6% year-over-year as of last month.

And it’s even worse for people over 62, who are likely to receive and rely on Social Security benefits. Overall costs have increased by nearly 3.3% over the past 12 months, with nearly half of that increase realized since the end of last year. Although rising medical costs are not a major factor, transportation and housing costs are the biggest reasons for the increase in living costs.

To make matters worse, the total CPI-E is now 25% higher than it was just five years ago, highlighting how seemingly minor COLA shortcomings can cumulatively turn into more serious problems over time.

Action is the solution

Retirees’ frustration with inadequate Social Security COLAs is understandable. Just don’t get so focused on the unfairness of the issue that you end up losing perspective on it. This year’s 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment added only about $58 to a typical $2,071 monthly retirement payment. The raise the retiree probably deserved was not overwhelmingly good, and would have been only about $60 a month.

Also, don’t get so attached to the numbers you can’t do anything about that you forget what you can do with the numbers you can control. This includes shopping around for high-yield places to store your cash or switching from low-yielding investments to investments that produce better cash flow before you need the cash. For example, simply increasing the average yield on $10,000 worth of dividend stocks from 3% to 3.5% equates to $50 worth of additional dividend income per year, which is a very achievable adjustment for most retirees. It may also be beneficial to look for another Medicare supplement.

Importantly, while cost-of-living adjustments may not actually match the rising cost of living, small actions can go a long way toward offsetting the inflationary headwinds you are actually facing.

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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次は最高裁判所ですか？ Trump loses $83 million appeal in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit

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次は最高裁判所ですか？ Trump loses $83 million appeal in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit

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President Donald Trump has lost another appeal on appeal in his ongoing battle to recover an $83.3 million defamation judgment after denying sexually assaulting New York author E. Jean Carroll.

ニューヨークに本拠を置く連邦控訴裁判所は、裁判官3人からなる委員会がこの訴訟を審理し、9月に8,330万ドルの判決を支持した後、すべての裁判官に控訴を審理させるというトランプ大統領の要請を拒否した。 This raises the possibility that President Trump will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

more: Did Donald Trump rape E. Jean Carroll? Here’s what the jury and judge said.

The development is the latest in an ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll that dates back to 2019 and includes two civil lawsuits.

After that verdict, a separate New York federal jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in 2024 on defamation charges for Trump’s two long-term denials when he first went public with his claims in 2019. This is a decision that the Grand Court of Appeals decided not to review on April 29th.

The move means President Trump could appeal the $83.3 million judgment to the Supreme Court.

“The American people stand with President Trump and demand an immediate end to the illegal and radical weaponization of our nation’s justice system and an immediate dissolution of all witch hunts,” the spokesperson said. He also called Carroll’s claims “a fabrication” and “false allegations.”

Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that her team was “pleased” with the decision.

Mr. Trump posted bail of approximately $92 million in 2024 to prevent Mr. Carroll from recouping $83.3 million in property pursuits before his appeal is concluded.

Smokey Bones suddenly closes all stores in the US

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Smokey Bones suddenly closes all stores in the US

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The popular barbecue chain “Smoky Bones” has ceased to exist, with all its stores across the country permanently closed.

“As of yesterday, April 28, 2026, all Smokey Bones stores have ceased operations. On behalf of our management team, it is an honor to serve our customers,” spokesperson Erin Manzik told USA TODAY.

Local reports in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, Rhode Island, Indiana and Florida confirmed that 10 of the 15 states where Smoke Bones had at least 30 restaurants listed on its website had abruptly closed this week, surprising customers and employees alike.

Restaurant patrons shared images of businesses with signs on their doors, many of which were the same ones shared with USA TODAY by readers in Virginia Beach.

A paper sign read: “We regret to announce that this store has closed as of Tuesday, April 28th.” “We would like to thank our loyal guests for their outstanding service over the years.”

A manager at the only store in Illinois told the Springfield State Journal Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, that 20 employees were notified of the store’s permanent closure on Tuesday, the same day the store closed. There are similar reports from multiple states of little or no warning to officials.

Manzik did not respond to questions from USA TODAY about notifying staff.

In January, FAT Brands Inc., the global parent company of dozens of food and beverage chains including Smokey Bones, Fazoli’s and Fatburger, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

All Smokey Bones locations are listed as “Closed” each day

The brand’s website lists all Smokey Bones locations as “closed” for each day of the week. If you try to order from any location via the takeout and delivery buttons that still exist, the order form will no longer work and the pages for making reservations or joining the waitlist will return a “Page Not Found” error.

The latest posts on the brand’s social media pages since April 23 teased upcoming new menu items. Below the Instagram and Facebook posts, there were many comments about the store’s closure.

“The worst part is that I just received the gift card the day before and there was no mention of the store closing,” said one commenter on Instagram, among many concerned about refunding gift cards after the sudden closure.

One Facebook commenter quipped: “Oh yeah. The new favorite of many unemployed people.” “A new flavor?? Even though all the stores just closed?” Agreed on something else.

There is a possibility of store closures due to bankruptcy.

Originally owned by Darden Restaurants Inc., Smokey Bones was acquired by FAT Brands Inc. as a 60-unit group in 2023 and spun off in January 2025 into Twin Hospitality Group Inc., a public company that owns adult bars Twin Peaks and Smokey Bones.

And last summer, Twin Hospitality announced plans to transform Smokey Bones’ business model, including closing 15 unprofitable stores and converting 19 into Twin Peaks restaurants.

However, by January 2026, FAT Brands entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Twin Hospitality followed suit and filed its own application. While some stores began closing in the same month, Twin Hospitality said in a statement that it “expects each brand to remain open and operational as usual and continue to deliver a distinctive guest experience.”

At this time, it is unclear whether all of Smokey Bones’ closures are permanent.

Contributor: Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register; Rachel Greco, Lansing State Journal

President Trump says ‘many things’ are being sent to him in UFO files

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President Trump says ‘many things’ are being sent to him in UFO files

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President Donald Trump said his administration will reveal “a lot” to the American public about unidentified flying objects in the near future.

“For some reason, and I think it’s just a reason, this issue has been on people’s minds for a long time,” President Trump said on April 29 at a White House event with the crew of NASA’s groundbreaking Artemis II mission. “I think some of it will be very interesting to people.”

The president added that he had “interviewed” people who said they “saw unbelievable things.”

The event occurred nearly three weeks after the four Artemis II astronauts returned from their mission on April 10. This mission made history by flying the furthest distance from Earth ever reached by humans.

At a political rally hosted by Turning Point USA in Phoenix earlier this month, President Trump said the Pentagon investigation into UFOs he ordered had “unearthed a lot of very interesting documents” and that “the first releases will begin very soon.”

In February, President Trump ordered the Department of Defense and other agencies to release UFO-related government documents in response to former President Barack Obama’s comments on a podcast. President Obama said he believed aliens existed, although he had never seen them.

President Obama later clarified that his statements were based on statistics and that he had not seen any evidence while in office.

Trump said the ordered release will include files on “aliens, extraterrestrials, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and all other information related to these very complex but very interesting and important issues.”

Contributor: Eric Lagatta

Gasoline prices could rise to an average of $4.50 per gallon

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Gasoline prices could rise to an average of $4.50 per gallon

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The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States could soon reach $4.50 per gallon, according to a prominent fuel industry analyst.

“Oh, everyone be careful…the national average could soon reach $4.50 per gallon,” Patrick de Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, wrote in an X post.

The forecast comes as the average price of gasoline rose to $4.23 per gallon on Wednesday, April 29, from an average of $4.02 a week earlier on April 22. Gasoline prices are expected to continue rising in the coming weeks as the war between the United States and Iran continues, De Haan said in a blog post.

“Oil prices are rising again as markets react to renewed geopolitical tensions and the halt in negotiations between the US and Iran,” de Haan wrote. “As a result, we expect petrol prices to rise further this week, with diesel to follow.”

How are gasoline prices determined?

“Gasoline prices reflect the costs of the entire fuel supply chain, from crude oil production to refining, distribution and retail,” the American Petroleum Institute, which works with the natural gas and oil industries, said in a post on its website.

“The biggest factor is the price of crude oil traded on global markets,” the group said. “Refining costs, distribution and marketing costs, and federal and state taxes also impact the price you ultimately pay at the pump.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the price you see at the pump consists of:

  • Oil price: 51%
  • Refining cost: 20%
  • Federal and state taxes: 18%
  • Distribution and marketing: 20%

In the case of diesel prices, the authorities classify the composition of published prices as follows:

  • Oil price: 41%
  • Distribution and marketing: 24%
  • Refining cost: 18%
  • Federal and state taxes: 17%

Which states have the highest gas prices?

California has the highest gas prices in the nation, with drivers there paying an average of $5.98 as of Wednesday, April 29, according to AAA. This is up from California’s average price of $5.83 per gallon as of April 22.

In case you missed it: How to save money on gas when gas prices soar

Here are the top five states with the highest gas prices in the nation:

1. California

  • Average gas price on April 29: $5.98
  • Average gas price on April 22nd: $5.83
  • Price difference: 15 cents

2. Hawaii

  • Average gas price on April 29: $5.63
  • Average gas price on April 22nd: $5.66
  • Price difference: -3 cents

3. Washington

  • Average gas price on April 29: $5.54
  • Average gas price on April 22nd: $5.38
  • Price difference: 16 cents

4. Oregon

  • Average gas price on April 29: $5.12
  • Average gas price on April 22nd: $4.97
  • Price difference: 15 cents

5. Nevada

  • Average gas price on April 29: $5.12
  • Average gas price on April 22nd: $4.97
  • Price difference: 15 cents

Michael Jackson’s accusers were removed from the film. where are they now?

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Michael Jackson’s accusers were removed from the film. where are they now?

The new biopic “Michael” is likely to set the box office on fire despite omitting his years of legal troubles and child molestation accusations.

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Almost 17 years after his death, the Michael Jackson brand is more carefully curated than ever.

The new “Michael” biopic (in theaters now) celebrates his greatest hits and performances, but the big-budget nostalgia trip stops short of addressing the multiple accusations of child sexual abuse that plagued him for the last third of his life.

The movie ends in 1988. Five years earlier, dentist Evan Chandler accused the pop star of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son, Jordan. Jackson denied any wrongdoing, but settled the lawsuit for $23 million in early 1994.

According to Variety, the film will address Chandler’s allegations directly and will include scenes in which investigators search Jackson’s Neverland Ranch for evidence. However, lawyers for Jackson’s estate are said to have discovered a clause in the legal settlement with Chandler that prohibits any mention or depiction of Jackson in any film.

“Michael,” starring the pop music icon’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, seeks to soften the singer’s tainted public perception. The film features many scenes with Jackson and his children. Visiting sick children in the hospital, signing autographs for children in toy stores, and excitedly talking to children about their favorite games and books.

The film aims to show that even as an adult, Jackson himself was still a child. To cope with the physical and emotional abuse from his domineering father, Joe Jackson (played by Colman Domingo), he escapes into the world of Peter Pan and Charlie Chaplin films.

The film portrays his interactions with the children as kind-hearted and innocent, at least according to the court’s ruling. In 2003, Jackson was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. The case went to trial in 2005, and the Grammy Award winner was acquitted on all charges by a jury, citing insufficient evidence.

However, multiple accusers are still awaiting their day in court.

Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who met Jackson as children, alleged years of abuse at the hands of Jackson in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. The couple is seeking $400 million in damages, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly last fall, and The Hollywood Reporter reported that the case is expected to go before a lower court jury next year.

On April 24, Safechuck released a video distributed through his lawyer, telling victims of abuse that they are not alone.

“The movie ‘Michael’ is out and is being heavily promoted,” Safechuck said in the clip. “There are billboards and commercials and people praising Michael, and that can be a trigger for survivors who have Michael in their lives, whether it’s a priest close to God, a sports coach just helping their kids, or a stepparent supporting their family.”

Former friends of the Jackson family, Edward, Dominic and Aldo Cascio, and his sister Marie Nicole Porte also filed suit in California federal court on February 27, alleging that Jackson’s employees aided and abetted and concealed his alleged abuse. They claim that representatives of his estate forced them under false pretenses to sign an agreement that allegedly prevents them from “talking about the abuse they endured over the years.”

Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, was “a serial child predator who drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted each plaintiff over a period of more than 10 years, beginning when some of them were 7 or 8 years old,” the suit says.

The Cassios detailed their charges in an April 24 interview with The New York Times. “We were brainwashed and groomed,” Edwards told the outlet, claiming he was “taught” to protect Jackson from accusations of abuse.

In a March 2 statement to USA TODAY, Jackson estate attorney Marty Singer said, “This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family who have jumped on the bandwagon along with their brother Frank, who has already been sued in a civil racketeering arbitration.”

“For more than 25 years, the family has vigorously defended Michael Jackson and exonerated him of any wrongdoing. This new court filing is a transparent forum shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and businesses.”

USA TODAY reached out to attorneys for Robson, Safechuck and Casios for comment ahead of the film’s release.

Jackson’s accusers say for years they have found it difficult to speak out about their allegations. Before the premiere of Leaving Neverland at Sundance, Robson and Safechuck recalled receiving death threats from Jackson’s supporters and a flood of messages professing his innocence.

Robson told USA TODAY at the time that the hostility “got less hurtful as time went on.” “To be honest, I don’t feel very good about it. But I try to remember that we are all at different stages of our evolution. We can accept whatever is acceptable to us based on the circumstances in which we find ourselves in life.”

“So the people who are choosing to take that mean, erratic approach towards me and James, that’s exactly what they’re in right now. I hope there’s some peace in their lives and a little less anger.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free and confidential 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and 800-656-4673.

Contributors: KiMi Robinson and Edward Segarra

Chipotle is giving away prizes to educators. Click here for input method

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Chipotle is giving away prizes to educators. Click here for input method

Teachers may have loved apples in decades past, but in the 21st century, a little fruit just isn’t enough. Enter Chipotle’s Teacher Appreciation Week giveaway.

Chipotle Mexican Grill officially launched its 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week promotion on Wednesday, April 29, offering teachers across the country the chance to win an electronic gift card for one free meal. Up to 100,000 educators will be selected to receive a total of $1 million in free Chipotle.

“At Chipotle, we are committed to giving back to the communities we serve, and that starts with the people who make a difference every day,” Stephanie Perdue, Chipotle’s senior vice president of brand marketing, said in a statement.

Here’s what you need to know about the giveaway.

amazing: Verizon is giving away FIFA World Cup Finals tickets. Here’s how to win

How to enter Chipotle’s Teacher Appreciation Week giveaway

Through May 12, teachers are encouraged to visit Chipotle’s Teacher Thanks website and enter their name and email address for a chance to win an e-gift card.

Then, starting May 13th, randomly selected winners will be notified and asked to confirm their employment as an educator via ID.me within 48 hours. Those who do not provide proof of employment will be removed from the award list and another name will be chosen.

Chipotle said last year’s Teacher Appreciation Week and subsequent sweepstakes for health care workers attracted “our best participants ever.”

Two promotions launched in 2016 gave away a total of $16 million in Chipotle to teachers and health care professionals.

“Recognizing teachers and health care workers through this program is one way we can give back in a meaningful way,” Perdue said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ rezoning map approved by Congress

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ rezoning map approved by Congress

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature has backed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to redraw congressional districts to add four likely Republican seats.

john kennedy

| Capital Bureau | USA TODAY Network – Florida

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  • The Florida Legislature has approved a new congressional redistricting map that could increase the number of seats for Republicans.
  • Democrats and some Republican lawmakers argue the plan violates the state’s Fair Districts Amendment, which prohibits partisan gerrymandering.
  • Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies argue that the state’s proposed amendment violates the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
  • The new map is expected to face legal challenges from Democrats.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Legislature has approved a legislative redistricting plan that may violate the state constitution but achieves Gov. Ron DeSantis’ goal of increasing the chances of Republicans winning four new seats.

In the latest battle in the multistate war over redistricting sparked by President Donald Trump, Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate advanced new district lines on April 29 over fierce Democratic opposition.

Moments before the House voted 83-28, Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) strode across the chamber floor and used a pink bullhorn to repeatedly shout that what the ruling Republican Party was doing violated the Constitution’s Fair Districts Amendment, which prohibits partisan gerrymandering.

“It’s out of order,” she cried.

Although Mr. Nixon’s action was an overreach, it continued a theme that Democrats repeatedly raised throughout hours of debate in the House and Senate.

“This is not the way the process should go,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. “The political climate is so polarized that people seem to have to cheat to win.”

Rep. Christine Hanczowski (R-Parkland) said the Republican Party is “prioritizing the power of individuals over the people they serve.”

Some Republicans defect in Florida Senate

The Senate voted 21-17 to pass the map, with four Republicans split in rank and voting “no.”

Republicans have acknowledged that the map relies on partisan data, which would violate state constitutional standards enacted by Florida voters in 2010.

But Mr. DeSantis and the ruling Republican Party are betting that courts will overturn the state’s restrictions because they violate the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

The state’s Fair Districts Constitution Amendment prohibits legislators from intentionally drawing districts that help or hurt political parties or incumbents. It also prohibits lawmakers from drawing boundaries that reduce the ability of minority communities to elect representatives of their choice.

But the Florida Supreme Court ruled last year, upholding the current congressional map approved in 2022, that racial protections included in fair districts violate the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection guarantee.

DeSantis claims voter-approved amendment can be ignored

Mr. DeSantis now claims that the decision invalidates all standards for fair districts, including those against partisan lines. Most Republicans in Congress supported a term-limited governor.

“We believe we are following the law,” said Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes. “I think these are legally supported maps.”

Fair district violations are certain to be part of the legal challenges Democrats will bring to anything that comes out of the special session. U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York has already told Florida Republicans, “We’ll see you in court.”

The plan would likely elect Republicans to 24 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts, potentially increasing the party’s chances of retaining narrow control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections and halting a possible decline in Trump’s influence during his final two years in the White House.

Most threatened by the DeSantis plan are seats held by Democratic Reps. Kathy Castor of Tampa, Darren Soto of Orlando, and Jared Moskowitz of Parkland, as well as the South Florida seat recently vacated by Sheila Chafferas McCormick, who resigned amid an ethics investigation.

Other Democrats whose reelection would be difficult due to the boundary changes include U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston. But many Republican incumbents worry that redrawing will also weaken their party’s advantage in some districts.

Who will be the first victim of the redraw? republican

U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, a veteran Orlando Republican, announced on April 28 that he will not seek re-election, becoming the 36th Republican member of the House of Representatives who plans to leave his seat at the end of his term.

There are currently 20 Republicans in the Florida Legislature. But the partisan tilt of the DeSantis map could result in Republicans controlling 86% of the state’s House districts.

President Trump sparked a conflict between red and blue states over redistricting last year when he asked Republican-dominated states to redraw their boundaries to help Republicans win seats.

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Does gerrymandering risk disenfranchising some voters?

A total of seven states now have new congressional district maps. Will Florida favor Republicans?

Seven states, led by Texas, are redrawing their congressional boundaries in this fight, and Florida is now fighting back by handing Republicans bounty seats that could help the party’s numbers in November.

“This whole thing was done as a service to Donald Trump, not a service to the people of Florida,” said Democratic House Minority Leader Fentris Driskell of Tampa.

Democrats in Congress blasted the new map, which was created by one staffer loyal to DeSantis, Jason Poreda, who authorized the use of partisan data. But Republicans said little in defense of the map.

FOX News was the first to have a red and blue hue map – antagonizing Democrats

Adding to the backlash from Democrats, the map was first published on Fox News, rather than on a Florida news site or the Legislature’s website. The 24 Republican-leaning districts are shaded red, and the four Democratic districts are shaded blue.

No Republicans participated in the map debate in the House or Senate. But supporters of the plan remained steadfast in response to questions from Democrats.

“I believe this map is based on a strong and workable interpretation of both the Florida and United States constitutions, which is why I am introducing this map and supporting it today,” said Rep. Jenna Parsons Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, the redistricting bill’s sponsor.

The Senate took up DeSantis’ map after the House ended its special session three days earlier than its scheduled May 1 date.

“The governor’s legal theory is that fair districts violate the federal constitution,” Sen. Don Gates (R-Niceville) told senators in defending the governor’s map, which he sponsored.

Still, Gaetz acknowledged, “I don’t think this map necessarily helps Republicans.”

The only way to reshuffle Congress to make Democratic-leaning seats more competitive is to weaken the currently strong Republican constituencies. And depending on how voters react, Republicans could lose the seat in a redraw called a “dummy mander”.

SCOTUS ruling in Louisiana brings drama to Florida Capitol

Adding to the drama at the Capitol was the announcement of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would destroy Louisiana’s congressional map, with a conservative majority finding that lawmakers illegally used race to draw new majority-black districts.

Although the majority argued that it upheld the Voting Rights Act, the justices concluded that the bill only prevents lawmakers from drawing maps that intentionally limit the power of minority voters.

DeSantis helps Trump… Will DeSantis be able to support President Trump’s risky redistricting efforts in the Republican majority?

Session begins amid protests Florida redistricting session begins with protests, causing more chaos

The decision derails efforts to attract more black and Hispanic voters to the district to help elect minority candidates. Dissenting Justice Elaine Kagan wrote, “The court’s decision rolls back the fundamental right granted by Congress to racial equality in voting opportunities.”

The ruling is expected to be used by DeSantis to strengthen the state’s case against fair district standards.

The governor quickly posted on X that “the SCOTUS ruling also invalidates the provision of the Florida Constitution that requires the use of race in redistricting.”

But Democrats say Mr. DeSantis and his Republican Party are acting without the largely settled law on their side. Rather, several people say the rush to redistrict is pure power politics.

“This is gerrymandering. It’s illegal map-making designed to favor one political party over the other,” said Sen. Lavon Bracey Davis, D-Orlando. “This map doesn’t just tip the scales, it shatters them.”

John Kennedy is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Capital Bureau. Contact him at jkennedy2@gannett.com or @JKennedyReport on X..

US gas supply explained: Why prices are rising

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US gas supply explained: Why prices are rising

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  • This problem becomes even more concerning when we look overseas, and there are concerns about the impact that fuel shortages there will have on the United States.
  • Natural gas and diesel can both be produced by refining crude oil and are used in nearly everything the United States buys or ships.

While pain at the pump is a reality for most Americans, the chances of running out of gasoline in America are pretty slim.

why? Over the past 15 years, the country has become more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports for crude oil, the black gold that comes out of the earth before being refined into the gasoline used in cars.

Still, the Iran war that began on Feb. 28 will have an impact on U.S. car owners, car buyers and automakers, experts said, after Iran began clamping down on crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Patrick Anderson, CEO of Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, said natural gas and diesel, both of which can be produced by refining crude oil, are in nearly everything the United States buys or ships, influencing power prices, food prices, consumer goods and industrial production.

Thus, the chaos caused by the Iran war is “ in fact “It’s an increased cost that will be borne by American consumers,” Anderson told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Although the increase is small so far, consumer anxiety may grow and escalate. That means some people may put big-ticket purchases like cars on ice.

“For Michigan and the auto industry, the immediate economic impacts include higher gasoline prices, which pose a potential for inflation for consumers, and widespread increases in diesel fuel prices, which impose real and immediate costs,” Anderson said. “Both are real concerns. Oil depletion is not.”

America’s 25-day oil supply

According to AAA, the national average price for regular gasoline in the United States as of April 27 was approximately $4.11 per gallon. This is a significant increase from a year ago, when it was about $3.15 per gallon. On February 1, before the Iran war began, it averaged $2.85 to $2.89 per gallon.

The United States had 413 million barrels of crude oil in its strategic stockpile for 2025, according to an April 20 post from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This was second only to China, which had 1.4 billion barrels in reserves.

From August 25, 2025 to January 26, 2026, U.S. daily crude oil production ranged from 13.2 million barrels to 13.9 million barrels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The United States exported about 4.8 million barrels of crude oil per day in the week ending April 17, data showed.

Experts say the U.S. fuel supply and demand has remained stable over the past five years, with Americans using about 8 million to 9 million barrels of gasoline per day, despite the Iran war that has been going on since late February.

“Our supply is exactly in line with the past five-year average, which happens to be 25 days worth of supply,” Tony Flanagan, managing director of AlixPartners, told the Detroit Free Press on April 24. “But that’s not the point.”

America’s “price problem”

That’s because the United States can always tap into its oil reserves or reduce its oil exports.

This problem becomes even more concerning when we look overseas, and there are concerns about the impact that fuel shortages there will have on the United States.

Australia gets all of its oil from the Strait of Hormuz, but there is currently a fuel shortage. Ben Kumar, head of equity strategy at UK-based investment management firm 7IM in London, said South Korea has been hit “hugely” because it imports almost all of its crude oil.

“In South Korea, Australia, Japan, you may have all the money in the world, but if there’s nothing on the shelf, the car won’t start. That’s kind of a scary problem,” Kumar said.

Kumar said the world has about 8 billion barrels of oil stored in the Strait of Hormuz or floating on tankers. This means the world has access to 8 billion barrels of oil.

“But to put it into context, the world consumes 100 million barrels a day,” Kumar said. “That’s 80 days worth of oil.”

Of this 8 billion barrels, 3 billion barrels are in strategic stockpiles and 5 billion barrels are commercially available, Kumar said. He said none of that means the world will run out of oil within 80 days.

What that means, Kumar explained, is that “every time you fill up your car with gas, that inventory is depleted and isn’t being filled as quickly as it used to be.” “And every day more and more people want more oil and they’re getting more nervous and they’re watching the news and panicking a little bit. So more and more people are going to fill up for emergencies and that’s what’s causing this whole shortage problem.”

That’s when you’ll see the price go up. Looking at the U.S. and Europe, gas prices in the U.S. have gone up a bit, but they are still relatively reasonable, he said.

If you are in a European country, prices have increased significantly, he said. According to the European Commission Oil Bulletin, the average price of gasoline per gallon in Europe as of April 23 ranged from $5.93 per gallon in US dollars to $10.10 per gallon, depending on the country.

“Even if we want to buy American gas or natural gas, we can’t do that because we can’t export enough from America,” Kumar said. “In fact, we may start to see regional differences in oil, meaning that oil delivered to, say, Texas may end up being much cheaper than oil delivered to Tokyo. This hasn’t really happened before, because the global oil system usually works very smoothly.”

For the United States, continued war and fluctuations in oil prices will pressure prices, but not supply capacity, he said.

“The way we say it in the UK is…you’ll get it, but it’s about price, not empty shelves,” Kumar said. “That’s what I think America is going to face. It’s not an empty shelf issue, it’s a price issue.”

“An enviable position”

Anderson agreed, saying that while Europe’s move to reduce energy production capacity from fossil fuels in favor of relying on renewable energy and Russian natural gas puts the continent at “significant risk,” the current situation in the United States is “not dire.”

“In fact, it’s not even offensive to most Americans yet. It’s very offensive to some people,” Anderson said.

For many Americans who have family members in the military or who are at risk, Anderson said it’s a bigger concern beyond the economy. But he said the United States is in an “enviable position” when it comes to the world’s energy fundamentals.

“If you look at the total energy demand and supply, we’re pretty much self-sufficient,” Anderson said. “The shale oil revolution and the emergence of small but growing solar and wind power have largely saved us from disruptions to oil supplies in the Middle East.”

Jamie L. Lareau is senior auto writer for USA TODAY and covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jalalean. To sign up for our automotive newsletter. become a subscriber.

Sam’s Club increases membership fees starting May 1st

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Sam’s Club increases membership fees starting May 1st

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Membership fees to shop at Walmart’s Sam’s Club are getting a little more expensive.

Starting Friday, May 1, Sam’s Club will increase the price of both Club and Plus members by $10. Sam’s Club initially acknowledged the price increases in a statement emailed to USA TODAY in March.

Sam’s Club said it has “adjusted membership prices to support what our members love.”

The membership price increase comes as Sam’s Club plans to open six new stores in six new cities in Tennessee, California and Texas later this year.

Here’s what you need to know about membership price increases:

How much does a Sam’s Club membership cost now?

Sam’s Club says the price increase will affect both Club and Club Plus members.

Club membership costs will range from $50 to $60 per year, and Plus membership costs from $110 to $120 per year. Plus members can also earn up to $750 in Sam’s Cash per year.

Previously, the annual cash back limit for Plus Rewards members was $500.

Price increase due to store expansion

The six store openings in 2026 come after a delay in 2025, when the warehouse retailer opened just one store in Tempe, Arizona. Here are the cities where Sam’s Club is scheduled to open later this year:

  • tennessee: Lebanon
  • California:Lathrop, Visalia
  • texas: Baytown, Tomball, Weslaco.

Contributor: Saleen Martin, 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_.

Supreme Court ruling not expected to affect this year’s House map

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Supreme Court ruling not expected to affect this year’s House map

However, the decision could affect any changes to Congressional maps beyond the 2028 presidential election campaign, as the court has ruled that race cannot be used to justify district maps.

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WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Louisiana’s latest congressional map was criticized for “watering down” the Voting Rights Act, but legal and political experts say it is unlikely to play a major role in the 2026 midterm elections.

The court ruled that Louisiana relied too heavily on race in drawing maps to determine House seats in 2022. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for a 6-3 majority, said the map was an “unconstitutional gerrymander” that violated the rights of non-Black voters who challenged it.

The decision was highly anticipated as it came amid the turmoil that saw the largest redistricting process since the 1880s during the customary decennial census. The remapping battle pitted Republicans and Democrats for control of the House, where Republicans narrowly lead. However, most states have already held primaries for 2026, so the high court’s decision is likely to have a major impact on the 2028 presidential election or 2031, after the next census.

Supreme Court: Opinions are sharply divided over racial discrimination

The Supreme Court previously ruled in 2019 that states can redraw maps for partisan interests, but not on racial grounds. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was intended to prevent mapmakers from weakening the voting power of racial minorities by crowding them into one district or spreading them across too many districts to exert influence.

Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that when crafting voting laws, lawmakers understand that discrimination rarely occurs in public, but is hidden “in technical rules, in fine print, in lines quietly drawn on maps.” He said the ruling could accelerate an “already relentless arms race” in redistricting where “politicians choose voters rather than the other way around.”

“The stakes go beyond a single map or a single election cycle,” Hasen wrote on his blog on Feb. 18. “Balanced minority representation in Congress is as important as the fundamental premise that voters should be able to hold their representatives accountable.”

Michael Dorff, a constitutional law professor at Cornell University, said the case reignited a decades-long debate about how to avoid discrimination against voters.

“What Alito and other conservatives are trying to say is that we condone politics, but we specifically don’t condone racial gerrymandering, because what you claim is a remedy for racial gerrymandering is itself racial gerrymandering,” Dorff told USA TODAY. “This is just a summary of the discussions we’ve been having about affirmative action over the last 50 years.”

Dorff said he was not aware of any other pending legal challenges to race-based congressional maps.

“No other district that I know of intentionally creates majority-minority districts,” he says.

Alito said the focus of the Voting Rights Act is to enforce Section 15’s prohibition on intentional racial discrimination.th Constitutional amendment.

The amendment, approved in 1870 after the Civil War, was intended to protect black people’s right to vote by prohibiting the denial of the right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Alito said that invoking the Voting Rights Act to “outlaw maps simply because they don’t provide enough majority-minority districts would create rights that the amendment does not protect.”

Justice Elena Kagan wrote a dissent, saying the decision would allow states to systematically undermine the power of minority voters.

“Of course, the majority did not announce today’s event as such, and their opinion is modest, even antiseptic,” Kagan wrote. “But in reality, these ‘updates’ water down the law and do nothing to correct even the classic examples of vote dilution cited above.”

Critics of the ruling say it will “silence” minority voters.

The slow-motion effect did nothing to assuage criticism of the decision.

The lawsuit challenged Louisiana’s congressional map, which includes two majority-black districts out of six in a state where about one-third of the population is black. Non-black voters had argued that the lottery for seats was unconstitutional on racial grounds. Courts can allocate seats to favor one party or another, but generally not on racial grounds.

Former President Barack Obama said, “Today’s decision effectively guts a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act and gives state legislatures free rein to gerrymander districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities, so long as it is done under the guise of partisanship rather than blatant racial bias.”

NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the decision a “devastating blow” and a “licence for corrupt politicians to rig the entire system.”

Issue One, an advocacy group that tracks redistricting across the country, said changing the map for 2026 could be difficult because many states have already held primaries and legal challenges before the general election pose a significant hurdle. But the map could change after the 2028 election.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision makes it easier for politicians to silence the voices of voters of color and redraw maps that protect them rather than reflect their voters’ choices,” said Michael McNulty, No. 1 Policy Director. “When incumbents can handpick voters, the voice of the people is weakened.”

President Trump begins redistricting battle for control of House of Representatives

Redistricting became a wide-ranging and costly battle in 2026 as President Donald Trump encouraged states led by his fellow Republicans to redraw their maps to maintain a House majority. The House of Representatives has 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and one independent member who previously belonged to the Republican Party. The five vacancies were filled by three Democrats and two Republicans.

President Trump said he loves hearing about court decisions and looks forward to reading them. The president said he would continue to encourage Republican-led states to redraw their maps.

“We will,” President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “So, it depends. Some states don’t require redrawing, and some states do.”

Nationwide redistricting battle could end in a draw

All redistricting races could end in ties this year.

Texas began its sweep by drawing maps to create five more Republican-majority seats in its 38-member delegation. California responded by adding five Democratic seats to its 52-member delegation.

Virginia voters just approved redistricting that would add four Democratic seats to the state’s 11 members. And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session with the goal of adding four Republican seats to the 28-member delegation.

In Florida, the seats considered most susceptible to gerrymandering remain unchanged in the proposed map.

In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves last week called for a special legislative session three weeks after the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, the new map could apply beyond 2028.

“This is a decision that could (and I think should) forever change the way electoral maps are drawn,” Reeves said on social media before the verdict was handed down.

Missouri is facing a legal battle over a referendum to redraw one of its key electoral districts before considering changes based on a Supreme Court ruling.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall called the decision a “watershed moment” in preventing states from using race to draw districts. Alabama’s primary election is May 19th, and the runoff election is June 16th.

“We will apply this ruling to Alabama’s redistricting efforts and act as quickly as possible to ensure that our congressional maps reflect the will of the people and not the racial quotas prohibited by the Constitution,” Marshall said.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) called on the state Legislature to redraw the map to eliminate Memphis, the only Democratic seat among the nine delegates.

As primaries approach, new maps may not be published this year.

Two states have primaries coming up. If states change their maps between primary and general elections, they could be subject to legal challenges.

Georgia’s primary voting began on April 27, so there are few redistricting options. In Louisiana, primary voting is May 16th, and early voting begins May 2nd.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said the Supreme Court had reached a “clear result” in the case.

“We’ll see what impact that has,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters. “As you know, we have a primary election coming up in about two weeks, so we’ll see if the Legislature deems it appropriate to draw new maps.”

Usha Vance shows off baby bump on royal visit to the White House

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Usha Vance shows off baby bump on royal visit to the White House

When King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House in Washington, D.C., on the second day of their historic four-day state visit to the United States, second lady Usha Vance was spotted in the crowd.

Wearing a long light pastel blue outfit with cutwork near the hem, Usha Vance walked down the South Lawn on Tuesday, April 28, with her husband, Vice President J.D. Vance, to attend the arrival ceremony for the King and Queen of England, before taking a seat between her husband and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Business Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were also seated in the same row as Mr. and Mrs. Vance.

The second woman styled her hair in her signature style and accessorized her look with small drop earrings.

Royal visit: Here’s what the royal family has been up to in America

See photos of Usha Vance attending King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s arrival ceremony at the White House

Children of Usha and JD Vance

Usha Vance and the vice president announced the pregnancy in a statement posted to X on January 20th.

“Usha and the baby are doing well and we look forward to welcoming them in July,” the statement said.

The Vance family currently has three children: Ewan, 8, Vivek, 5, and Mirabel, 3. The couple are known for keeping their children away from the public eye.

rumors of divorce

The announcement comes after a flurry of divorce rumors, which first surfaced before the pair moved to the Naval Observatory, culminated in November 2025.

Usha Vance caused a stir when she visited Camp Lejeune with First Lady Melania Trump in late fall. The second woman was seen talking to troops while out without her wedding ring. The second woman has been photographed numerous times with and without her wedding ring, despite rampant online discussions.

A spokesperson for the second woman told USA TODAY at the time that Vance “is a mother of three young children, cooks a lot, takes a lot of baths and sometimes forgets her ring.”

“Sometimes I wear it, but sometimes I just go to the gym and take a shower and don’t wear it,” Usha Vance previously told USA TODAY.

She said that while she and her husband “think it’s kind of funny” when people talk about them, they “don’t think it’s helpful” to pursue rumors.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the United States

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on April 27th to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The royal couple’s four-day trip began in Washington and included a speech by Prince Charles to the US Congress and a meeting with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

The visit will be the couple’s first visit to the United States since Charles III ascended the British throne in 2022, shortly after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

President Trump made his second state visit to the UK in September, several years after his last state visit in 2019 during his first term in the White House.

The palace said in a statement that Charles III “celebrates the historic links between Britain and the United States and the modern bilateral relationship”. The British royal couple will be in the United States until April 30th to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain.

According to Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth made four official visits to the United States during her reign: in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007. As Prince Charles, he also visited the United States 19 times.

Follow us live: King Charles and Queen Camilla visit New York’s 9/11 Memorial

Contributed by: Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman, Brendan Morrow, Anthony Robledo / USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

Payment of $2.67 billion Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement begins in May

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Payment of $2.67 billion Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement begins in May

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Blue Cross Blue Shield will soon begin paying out a settlement resulting from a $2.67 billion class action lawsuit alleging the health insurance giant violated antitrust laws.

The case began in 2013, when a class action lawsuit was filed against more than 35 Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans. The lawsuit alleges that the company violated antitrust laws by restricting market competition, resulting in higher insurance premiums and fewer choices for customers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has repeatedly denied these claims, and the lawsuit was settled, although the court did not reach a final verdict. Blue Cross Blue Shield did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by USA TODAY in February.

Here’s what you need to know about settlement funds, including who is eligible, how much to expect to pay, and when payments will be made.

Who is eligible for Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement payments?

Customers eligible to receive Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement payments have until November 5, 2021 to submit their claims. If a customer is eligible but does not submit by the deadline, the customer will not receive payment.

The settlement includes two classes: individuals and insured groups and self-funded accounts. Individuals and insured groups that were customers from February 7, 2008 to October 16, 2020 may have been eligible for payments, and self-funded accounts that were customers from September 1, 2015 to October 16, 2020 may have been eligible for payments.

How much is the settlement amount?

With approximately 6 million claims filed by the November 2021 deadline, payments are expected to be approximately $333 per claim.

According to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement website, Blue Cross Blue Shield has agreed to create a $2.67 billion settlement fund, but only $1.9 billion remains to be paid after legal fees, administrative fees and other costs.

When will the payment be issued?

The first payments are expected to begin in May 2026, according to the payments website. Billing notifications should have already been emailed to customers.

What is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association?

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of health insurance companies in the United States. Both companies offer plans for individuals, families, and businesses.

Contributors: Presley Beau Tyler of the Shreveport Times and David Bruce of the Erie Times-News

Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Follow her on X and on Instagram @gretalcross. Idea for a story? Email gcross@usatoday.com.

Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.

How long has Melania been married? Explaining President Trump’s jokes to the King

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How long has Melania been married? Explaining President Trump’s jokes to the King

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  • President Trump said his parents have been married for 63 years, but he and Melania Trump won’t last that long.
  • Trump married Melania when he was 58 years old.
  • Jimmy Kimmel joked that President Trump should be fired for this comment.

President Donald Trump has joked that his marriage to First Lady Melania Trump won’t last as long as his parents’ marriage.

The president addressed a crowd at the White House during a daylong visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. He remembered his mother’s admiration for King Charles, and later came to admire his parents’ long marriage.

“They were married for 63 years. If you don’t mind, excuse me,” Trump said, then turned to the first lady, who was sitting directly behind him. “That’s a record we’re not going to get, darling. I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out that way. We’re going to be good, but we’re not going to be that good.”

The apparent joke about his age comes just days after Trump called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired for telling a joke about the age difference between Donald Trump and Melania Trump. If the president and first lady don’t live to be 63, how long will they be married? Here’s what you need to know:

more: Kimmel wants Trump ‘fired’ after making ‘joke about his death’

How long have Melania and Donald Trump been married?

Donald Trump and Melania Trump have been married for 21 years. The two married on January 22, 2005, when Melania Knauss was 34 and Trump 58.

President Trump is currently 79 years old and first lady Melania Trump is 56 years old. The couple would have to live to be 121 and 98 years old, respectively, to celebrate 63 years of marriage.

Trump was married twice before Melania. His marriage to Ivana Trump lasted about 15 years, and his marriage to Marla Maples lasted about six years.

What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Melania Trump?

Kimmel joked during his April 23 “Alternative White House Correspondents Dinner” segment, two days before the actual event in Washington, D.C., that it was about Melania Trump that spurred the backlash from the White House, but the event ended prematurely in chaos with gunfire outside the dining room.

Kimmel said: “So beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have the glow of a pregnant widow.”

In an April 27 Truth social post, President Trump called Kimmel’s comments a “despicable call to violence” and called for Kimmel to be fired.

“[It was]obviously a joke about their age difference and the look of joy I see on her face every time we’re together,” Kimmel countered on April 27. “It was a very light joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than me.”

Kimmel compared his joke to the president’s comments during the king’s April 28 monologue.

“Wait a minute, was he just joking about his own death?” Kimmel asked after playing a clip about President Trump’s comments. “He should be fired for that! Only Donald Trump would fire me for making a joke about his own retirement and then go out the next day and make a joke about his own retirement!”

USA TODAY previously contacted the White House about Kimmel’s comments and was directed to the X post by White House communications director Stephen Chan, who called Kimmel a “(expletive) person” and called on ABC to fire him.

Kimmel’s show was briefly taken off the air in September following his comments about the Republican response to the murder of Charlie Kirk. President Trump had previously called for the firing of late-night TV hosts, including Kimmel. On April 28, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order saying it was investigating Disney, ABC’s parent company, for “possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules, including the FCC’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”

Contributors: Zach Anderson, James Powell, Brendan Morrow, Taijuan Moorman, Breanna J. Frank, america today

Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), thread, blue sky and TikTok.

How do you greet King Charles? Be polite, respectful, and don’t touch him.

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How do you greet King Charles? Be polite, respectful, and don’t touch him.

It is unlikely that Britain’s King Charles III, his wife Queen Camilla, or any other members of the royal family will meet during their four-day state visit to the United States. But in case you do How should you greet them if you meet them?

The Royal Family’s website says there is “no mandatory code of conduct” when meeting the King, Queen or members of the Royal Family.

However, it is best to follow the traditional format. This means keeping a respectful distance, bowing or curtsying, being polite, and addressing people first as “Your Majesty” and then as “Sir” or “Ma’am” depending on the situation.

Above all, don’t touch it. Please do not attempt any physical contact, including shaking hands, unless initiated by the Royal Family.

King Charles and his entourage will be in the United States from April 27th to 30th. Here’s a quick visual guide on what to do and what not to do if you come across them.

How did President Trump greet King Charles?

If you can’t see the graphic, click here to reload the page.

President Donald Trump greeted King Charles at the White House on April 27 with a Trump handshake, in which he held the king’s hand and performed several signature tug-of-war moves. The handshake lasted about 10 seconds.

King Charles delivered an unusual speech to a joint session of Parliament on April 28, marking the second day of a four-day state visit and spotlighting the nation’s strained but enduring relationship with the United States.

The King and Queen are scheduled to visit New York City on April 29th and visit the 9/11 Memorial at One World Trade Center. The two monarchs are scheduled to meet with the families of the victims and first responders involved in the attack.

The King will visit Virginia on April 30th, where he will tour national parks and attend local events and cultural performances.

This is what you should do when you meet royalty…

…but please don’t do this

Can I take photos?

No, you probably can’t do that. Please do not ask royals for selfies or take close-up photos unless explicitly permitted.

Photography may be allowed at royal events, but it is considered a breach of etiquette to request a photo in person.

Contributed by Kathryn Palmer, Francesca Chambers, Zach Anderson, Carissa Wadick, Bart James, Thao Nguyen, Nicole Fallato, USA TODAY

SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. Reuters;Royal.UK/Encyclopedia;Harper’s Bazaar

Sporkle, District Trivia, and the Deals That Ruined My Weekly Ritual

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Sporkle, District Trivia, and the Deals That Ruined My Weekly Ritual

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death. tax. trivia.

These three inevitabilities rattled and bounced around my skull every Tuesday morning for the better part of two years. The threat of death always remains. Listen to the wooden stairs. The tax threat is not just a threat, it’s a promise. Just ask my shaved paycheck. However, the trivia was something I was looking forward to.

I met up with my friends and fiancé at a local dive bar in Washington, D.C., and answered increasingly difficult questions about geography, science, history, politics, and, my favorite, pop culture. What didn’t you like?

The friendly host showed us around. His soothing voice echoed through the beer hall over and over again. Total of 5 rounds including music round. Although often perplexed, he never flinched. We answered questions using an app on our phones, and there was an honor system in place (although the D.C. area is not immune to trivia cheating scandals).

The stools, which somehow always broke, tilted back and forth as we sat on them, which actually made us feel uneasy, but reassuring in that it was predictable. We were able to win or be in the top three teams on a regular basis.

No, I didn’t know all the answers, and neither did many of us. But guessing and thinking about things was part of the fun. And sometimes we surprise ourselves. I somehow remembered that “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” premiered on E! In 2007.

Sometimes we didn’t surprise ourselves. I still can’t tell you where Idaho is on a map (I was and still am not the geography expert on the team).

And then it happened.

Quiz company Sporcle has acquired our trivia company, District Trivia, and as a result our weekly ritual as we know it has been ruined. This replaced the district trivia format with one that favors random easy questions and out-of-this-world difficult questions. A round usually contained at least 10 questions and one bonus question to bet on, but there were approximately two rounds of eight questions with extra time in between. It baffled us. Fed up with us. Hell, it traumatized us.

We tried to find an alternative location to no avail. Other bar trivia started too late. The human ear has no way of distinguishing the names of lesser-known songs within a single bar of music. Nowhere else did they nail the betting procedure so familiar to us in our first trivia hangout. Were we being boring? of course. But we had something. Something good will happen. And then it disappeared.

Since then, our bar has replaced Sporcle with another company and hosts us on Tuesday nights. We tried that trivia night and although we’re not completely satisfied, we’re comfortable with it. It lacks the magic, the joie de vivre, the je ne sai quoi that our old trivia lives had. But that’s enough for now.

When we reached out to Sporcle for comment for this article, we received a call from Mark Adams, the company’s senior vice president of brand.

He explained that Sporcle trivia still takes place in bars on Monday nights (Music Quiz), and the company offers multiple game formats to satisfy different trivia desires. Was there any thought of using a format similar to District Trivia once the acquisition was complete?

“After speaking with[the previous owner]all of us, including him, felt pretty reassured that this should work for most places. But we also know that not all bars in America are the same,” Adams told me. Changing things always involves risk. But they took some of the feedback they received about adding more questions and debuted them this week in Trivia across the country, including in Washington, D.C.

He also dangled carrots, which were appetizing. “Without giving too much away, we are working hard on longer format works in the future,” he teased.

For now, perhaps, once the former trivia host returns to the bar, a sense of normalcy may be able to align our spirits again. Or maybe it’s a moment where you appreciate not the format or difficulty of the questions, but the camaraderie built at the table.

no. Everyone at that table would agree with me. Questions and format are important.

Increase taxes or cut benefits? 8 Ways to Fix Social Security.

I don’t ask for much from this life. Well, some people may disagree. But in a world that is teetering on its axis, choosing between politics, climate and media, was it too much to indulge in this wonderful thing? Won’t the winds of change change my joy once and for all?

Oh, I forgot the fourth inescapable axiom. death. tax. trivia. change.

For now, I’m going to go with it and welcome that exciting new Sporcle format when it comes along. “It will be so”, “to the violation”, etc. If you know where these quotes come from, you can join our team.

This story has been updated with new information.

Justice Department releases new photos seeking to keep Cole Thomas Allen in prison

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Justice Department releases new photos seeking to keep Cole Thomas Allen in prison

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Acts that are “premeditated, violent, and calculated to cause death.” The “most serious” crime under U.S. law. “There is a possibility of a life sentence.”

The Justice Department has no hesitation in keeping the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump locked up.

In an April 29 court filing asking a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to keep Cole Thomas Allen in custody ahead of his trial, government lawyers essentially said there were no bail conditions that would keep others safe if Allen were released.

“As long as the president and his cabinet continue to appear in public, as they undoubtedly will, the defendant’s motivation for violence remains,” they said.

The Justice Department also released a new photo of Allen that it said was taken shortly before the attack. The enhanced image shows a man wearing a sheathed knife, pliers and wire cutters, which match items later recovered by law enforcement during his arrest, the Justice Department said.

In addition to attempting to assassinate the president, Allen is charged with transporting a firearm and ammunition to commit a felony and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose D.C. staff is prosecuting the case, has vowed to file additional charges as the investigation progresses.

If Allen is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The incident occurred after Allen was arrested on April 25 for an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Several senior government officials attended the dinner, including Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).

According to the indictment, Allen planned to attack the dinner party on foot with multiple guns and knives, starting with the highest-ranking officials. Prosecutors said the suspect emailed family, friends and a former employer about his plans minutes before the attack.

Tejira Abe, one of two lawyers appointed to represent Allen, gave a preview of what the defense may make in seeking conditions for Allen’s release at the April 27 proceeding. Prime Minister Abe told the judge that Allen had no previous arrests or convictions and was presumed innocent under the law.

In a new filing, government lawyers agreed that Mr. Allen had a clean criminal record, but said he was still a danger to the public.

“Although the defendant apparently has no prior contact with the criminal justice system, his personal history and circumstances indicate that conditions less restrictive than incarceration cannot reasonably guarantee the safety of the community while this case proceeds,” the attorney said.

Silver fell 5.68% in trading on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

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Silver fell 5.68% in trading on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

How much is silver worth per ounce today?

As of 12:05 PM ET on April 29, 2026, the spot price of silver is $71.78 per oz., according to the latest market data. The stock fell 5.68%, or $4.32 from its previous closing price of $76.11.

One year ago, silver was trading at $33.11 an ounce. This means that the price has increased by 116.82% in the last 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $32.01

52 week high: $117.39

Silver is trading 38.85% below its 52-week high. The stock is 124.25% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of silver?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$71.78 $77.48 $67.99 $33.11

A week ago, silver was trading at $77.48 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 7.35%.

A month ago, silver was trading at $67.99 per ounce. Since then, the price has increased by 5.59%.

USA TODAY is an independent publisher and not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or trading advice. We recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional regarding any specific financial decisions you may make. Trading commodities, futures, and options involves significant risk of loss. Individual investment results may vary. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Prices can change rapidly and unpredictably due to factors such as supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events. Our company assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information.

What is driving the price of silver today?

The price of silver is driven by inflation expectations, central bank policy, global economic conditions, and investor demand. The strength of currencies, especially the US dollar, can influence daily prices, as well as physical and industrial demand. For more on the market, read the latest investment news on USA TODAY Money.

What does XAG/USD mean?

XAG/USD is the ticker symbol used to track the spot price of silver in US dollars.

XAG stands for 1 troy ounce of silver and USD stands for US dollar. The estimated price tells you how many dollars it costs to purchase one ounce.

Prices are usually quoted per troy ounce, which is slightly heavier than a standard ounce.

Spot prices reflect real-time market transactions and serve as a benchmark for futures contracts, ETFs, and retail bullion prices.

how to invest in silver

Investing in silver can be done by buying physical coins or bars, buying ETFs that track its price, or investing in mining stocks. Be sure to weigh costs, storage needs, and risk tolerance before making a decision. The retail price of a coin or bar typically includes a premium over the spot price.

Disclaimer: This USA TODAY Money article was automatically generated using live market data from Alpha Vantage. If you think we made a mistake or have feedback, please use this form.

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