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Latest information on husband’s arrest

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April 9, 2026

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A day after Brian Hooker was arrested in connection with the disappearance of his wife Lynette, USA TODAY is sharing an update on the case, including details of the couple’s fight 10 years ago.

More details are emerging about the relationship between a Michigan woman who went missing during a night boat trip in the Bahamas and her husband, who was arrested and named as a suspect in the incident.

Brian and Lynette Hooker got into a bloody altercation at their Michigan home in 2015, according to a police report obtained by NBC News on Thursday, April 9.

The report said the couple were each intoxicated and accused the other of assault. Police were unable to determine who caused the incident, but because Brian Hooker’s only visible injury was a nosebleed, Lynette Hooker was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery and spent the night in the county jail, the police report said.

USA TODAY requested this report, as well as a report detailing child abuse allegations against Brian Hooker in 2005. A jury later acquitted him in the case, according to court records.

Meanwhile, Brian Hooker’s lawyer is defending his client as Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Carly Aylesworth, raises questions about her stepfather’s account of what happened in the Bahamas and previous threats against her mother.

“Mr. Hooker categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing, particularly the recent allegations made by Carly Aylesworth,” attorney Terrell A. Butler said in a statement to USA TODAY. “He is cooperating with relevant authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Here are the latest updates on this case:

What happened to Lynette Hooker?

According to a news release from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, on Saturday, April 4, Brian Hooker reported that his wife fell overboard from their 8-foot solid-bottom dinghy during an overnight trip from Hope Town to Elbow Bay off Great Abaco Island. Brian Hooker said his wife had the keys to the boat and the engine stopped when she fell. The man then lost sight of her after “a strong current then swept her away,” police said.

Brian Hooker then rowed his dinghy several hours to shore, arriving around 4 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, the agency said.

Royal Bahamas Police Deputy Commissioner Advaldo Dames identified Brian Hooker as a “suspect” in an interview with Reuters. And a U.S. Coast Guard official told USA TODAY that the Coast Guard is also conducting a criminal investigation into Lynette Hooker’s disappearance.

Lynette Hooker’s massive search and rescue operation involved professional divers, drone technology, and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. The operation has been significantly scaled back and is now considered a recovery operation.

The Royal Bahamas Police Department is asking anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact them by dialing 911 or 919 or anonymously by calling 328-8477.

What did Brian Hooker say after his wife disappeared?

Brian Hooker has not given interviews to media outlets reporting on the incident, but he posted a short Facebook post about the incident on Wednesday, April 8, about 12 hours before his arrest.

“I am heartbroken by the recent boating accident in which my beloved Lynette fell from a small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas in unpredictable seas and strong winds,” he said. “Despite our desperate attempts to get closer to her, the wind and currents have pushed us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my only focus.”

He also left a voicemail for his stepdaughter the day after her mother disappeared.

“Hello, Honey, I got a call from Hopetown Search and Rescue saying they found the flotation device I threw when my mother fell into the water,” Brian Hooker said in a voicemail shared by Carly Aylesworth with multiple media outlets. “They haven’t found her yet, but from now on they can focus all their efforts on a smaller area.”

Meanwhile, Hooker’s attorney told USA TODAY that his client could not comment further because the investigation is ongoing.

“It is extremely important to note the importance of maintaining the integrity of the legal process,” attorney Terrell A. Butler said in a statement. “Based on the fundamental principles of our justice system, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law…Public comments that envision a particular outcome can undermine the fairness of the legal process.”

More about Brian and Lynette Hooker’s relationship

Lynette and Brian Hooker have been documenting their sailing adventures on social media for years, and after “sailing away from BS,” they describe themselves on TikTok as a “couple living their best lives.” They have sailed to New Orleans, Miami Beach, Key West, Lake Michigan, and most recently all over the Bahamas.

Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Carly Aylesworth, said in interviews with NBC News, CBS News, and Fox News that her mother and stepfather, Brian, had a rocky and unstable relationship.

“Recently, there has been a lot of fighting and drinking in our relationship,” she told CBS. “So I’m kind of wondering what actually happened in that dinghy.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” she told Fox News. “There’s a history of him strangling her and threatening to throw her overboard. So given the fact that something like this is happening, I believe there’s more to this story.”

According to a report obtained by NBC News from the Kentwood Police Department, a “highly intoxicated” Lynette Hooker told police during a 2015 police interview that Brian Hooker choked her and punched her.

Officers found Brian Hooker bleeding from his nose and intoxicated. The man told police Lynette Hooker punched him in the face up to five times, NBC News reported.

“He stated that he had not received such a blow in a long time,” the police officer wrote. “He started crying and became emotional.”

Police found Brian Hooker’s nose swollen and bleeding, but Lynette Hooker had no apparent injuries, the report said.

USA TODAY was unable to find any records showing Brian Hooker was ever convicted of domestic violence.

Where is Brian Hooker now?

Brian Hooker’s attorney told USA TODAY that he was at a police station in Grand Bahama as of Thursday night.

The Royal Bahamas Police Department declined Thursday to answer questions from USA TODAY about the incident, including whether they intend to detain or release Hooker.

Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter covering breaking news, cold case investigations and the death penalty for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat.

Are wage increases keeping pace with inflation? It depends on who you are.

Economy

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April 9, 2026

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Are wage increases keeping pace with inflation? It depends on who you are.

For years, many Americans have wondered why their paychecks haven’t kept up with the rising costs of the things they have to buy.

Even though many economists acknowledged a “price crisis” and a “K-shaped economy” benefiting the super-wealthy, analysts were fixated on a more traditional measure of success: that aggregate wages across the economy were not too far below aggregate inflation.

As recently as summer, a Bankrate report predicted that the gap between wages and inflation would finally narrow in 2026, after rising by 4.8 percentage points in 2022.

The employment downturn and, more recently, the Iran war have shut down that speculation.

“We’re not going to see a significant acceleration in wage growth,” Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate, told USA TODAY. “But inflation will accelerate.”

Have wage increases over the past year kept up with inflation?

Overall, yes.

U.S. consumer prices rose 2.4% for the year in February, according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency estimates that average hourly wages rose 3.8% over the same period.

The March employment statistics released by the bureau showed that average hourly wages increased by 3.5% from last year, slowing from the previous month. Economists expect U.S. consumer prices to be much higher in March than in February, mainly due to higher oil and gas prices. We will find out whether these predictions are correct when the BLS Consumer Price Index report is released on April 10th.

State Street Pricestats, which uses web-scraping technology to monitor the prices of consumer products sold online, found that annual inflation rose to 4% in March, the highest level since January 2023.

“The more pricing is done online, the faster retailers can adjust prices… which means that when you get a shock like this, it’s more likely that inflation will pass through faster than before,” said Michael Metcalf, head of macro strategy at State Street Markets. “Wages, on the other hand, might reset once a year if you’re lucky.”

Brian Bethune, an economics professor at Boston University, is looking at the BLS’ March and April Consumer Price Index reports and predicts that rising oil and gas prices will start to affect prices in other sectors.

“There was some optimism earlier this year that the calculation of inflation relative to wage growth would be positive,” Bethune said. “There’s no question that it’s off the table right now.”

Will wage growth keep up with inflation in 2021 and beyond?

Since the beginning of 2021, U.S. consumer prices have increased by 22.7%, while wages have increased by 21.5%, a difference of -1.2%, according to the Bank Rate Report from August last year.

However, some workers’ salaries did not keep up with inflation.

The report found that wages exceeded total pandemic-era inflation in four sectors where the gap was 0.5%, including retail, health and social assistance (1.7%), leisure and hospitality (4.1%), and food services and accommodation (4.8%).

Bethune said there’s a simple answer as to why workers in these industries received higher pay: It’s riskier to keep these jobs during the pandemic.

“To get people into these jobs, we had to pay them more,” Bethune said. “Well, they’re getting paid high enough to close the gap, but that’s only because they’re willing to take risks.”

Sectors whose wages lagged the most behind inflation included manufacturing (-2.5%), professional and business services (-2.8%), financial activities (-3.4%), construction (-3.6%), and education (-4.8%).

Are the rich getting richer?

The K-shaped economy may also be manifested in wage increases.

Wages for middle- and high-income earners grew faster than for lower-wage workers last year, according to data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

As of February 2026, wages for the lowest-paid 25% of workers rose 3.5% year-over-year, and wages for workers rose 4.2% in the second quarter. Workers in the third quartile had the highest annual wage growth rate of 4.5%, while wages for workers in the top quartile rose 3.9% over the same period.

“Right now, there’s a premium being paid for people with fairly advanced technical skills, especially the ability to implement AI,” Bethune said. “All of a sudden, we’re going to be going back to this technology curve that tends to reward certain select individuals with the right education, skills and background.”

Of course, Hamrick said whether an individual receives a raise also depends on several other factors.

“Perhaps more senior leaders will receive pay based on performance, and younger members of the organization may receive a slightly higher salary simply because they started at the lower end of the income ladder,” he said.

Contact Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her at X @rachelbarber_

Sotomayor explains ‘civil’ relationships with ‘virtually all’ judges

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April 9, 2026

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Sotomayor explains ‘civil’ relationships with ‘virtually all’ judges

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in public on April 9 that she has civil relationships with “virtually all” of her fellow judges and considers many of them friends.

Mr. Sotomayor did not name any specific judges with no civil ties. She made the remark while speaking at an event hosted by the University of Alabama School of Law in response to a law student’s question about building bridges with colleagues.

“I certainly have civil relations with, I would venture to say, virtually all of them, and I think I have friendships with many of them,” Sotomayor said.

An appointee of former President Barack Obama, Sotomayor is one of three Supreme Court justices appointed by Democratic presidents. The remaining six justices were appointed by Republican presidents. As a member of the court’s liberal minority, Sotomayor often writes or joins dissenting opinions in cases involving hot-button political issues.

Two days earlier, on April 7, Mayor Soto anonymously criticized Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, according to Bloomberg Law.

Sotomayor reportedly described a concurring opinion Kavanaugh wrote while the Supreme Court ruled that federal immigration officials can continue to suspend people based on a combination of factors, including race, the language they speak and the type of work they do, while a lawsuit challenging those practices continues.

“In that case, my colleague wrote, ‘I wrote that this is only a temporary suspension,'” Sotomayor said, according to Bloomberg Law. “This is coming from a guy whose parents were professionals. You probably don’t really know anyone who works hourly.”

Sotomayor said in remarks on April 9 that his experience as a trial court judge has helped him see the real people behind the cases he is deciding, but he is not sure all of his colleagues see them the same way.

“When you read the transcript, you still see people,” Sotomayor said, referring to the transcript of proceedings held in trial court, where individuals involved in the underlying events of the case can testify. “I don’t know how many of my colleagues do that.”

“If I had my mentor, I would make sure that every appellate judge had trial experience,” Sotomayor added.

Of the nine current Supreme Court justices, only Sotomayor and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed by President Joe Biden, have previously served as trial court judges.

American Airlines increases checked baggage fees. Let’s see what you’ll pay.

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April 9, 2026

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American Airlines increases checked baggage fees. Let’s see what you’ll pay.

American Airlines has increased the price of checked baggage and updated its basic economy rules in response to rising fuel costs.

American Airlines has joined the ranks of major U.S. airlines to increase fees for checked baggage.

The Texas-based airline announced on April 9 that it would revise its base economy fares and increase fees for checked baggage. American Airlines said the changes are the result of “ongoing evaluation of pricing in light of the current operating environment.”

The move makes American Airlines the fifth major airline to raise prices to compensate for soaring jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war. JetBlue Airways was the first U.S. airline to announce baggage fee increases at the end of March to cover “increased operating costs,” the airline previously told USA TODAY in a statement.

Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines quickly followed suit.

What are American Airlines’ new baggage fees?

The new rates apply to domestic (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada) and short-haul international tickets booked after April 9. Travelers who pre-pay for their first and second bag online or through the airline’s mobile app will receive a $5 discount.

The new baggage fees for Main Cabin fares are:

If paid in advance, the first checked bag is $45, or $50 ($10 increase) if paid at the airport.
Second checked bag is $55 if paid in advance or $60 ($10 increase) if paid at the airport.
Third checked bag is $200 ($50 increase).

Checked baggage continues to be free for premium cabin passengers, active duty U.S. military, and AAdvantage status members. AAdvantage credit card members receive their first checked bag free on domestic flights.

Basic economy changes

Customers traveling in Basic Economy, the lowest fare, will pay more for checked baggage. In some markets in South America, the first checked bag fee will increase by $10.

Below are the new baggage fees for Basic Economy tickets.

The new price for domestic tickets purchased after May 18th will be $55 for the first ticket and $65 for the second ticket. The $5 discount on prepaid baggage still applies.
For tickets purchased after April 9th to South America, excluding Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Peru, the first checked bag will cost $70 and the second piece will cost $100. These tickets also have no prepayment discount.
For flights to Panama purchased after May 18, the first checked bag costs $55 and the second bag costs $100, with no prepayment discount.
For flights to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru purchased after May 18, the first checked bag will cost $70 and the second piece will cost $100.

The company is also adjusting basic economic policy. From tickets purchased after May 18, these passengers will have to pay to select a seat and will not be eligible for upgrades, even if they have airline status.

Later this year, basic economy passengers without status or co-branded credit cards will also be flying in Group 7, although passengers flying in Group 7 will still be offered priority or preferred boarding.

Amazon to sell GLP-1 weight loss drug Foundayo

Economy

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April 9, 2026

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Amazon to sell GLP-1 weight loss drug Foundayo

Amazon.com will offer same-day delivery of Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss drug Foundayo and stock the drug at kiosks in some of its clinics.

Customers must have a prescription to order Lilly weight loss pills through Amazon Pharmacy. Amazon officials told Reuters that same-day delivery will be available to about half of its U.S. customers. All customers will receive their medication within 4 days.

Lilly previously said that consumers whose insurance doesn’t cover weight-loss drugs can buy Foundayo for $149 for a minimum one-month dose and up to $349 for additional monthly doses. Higher doses under Foundayo’s co-pay program start at $299 to $349 for a one-month prescription.

Lilly and Amazon say people with insurance that covers GLP-1 weight loss drugs could pay as little as $25 a month.

Consumers have several options when purchasing Foundayo. Telemedicine providers Ro and Weight Watchers also sell the drug. Consumers with a prescription can also order through LillyDirect, Lilly’s direct-to-consumer pharmacy.

Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drug Wegovy, launched in January, is also available through Amazon and telemedicine platforms such as Ro, Weight Watchers and LifeMD.

Both Lilly and Novo Nordisk are betting that their daily weight-loss drugs will become a popular option for consumers who want to avoid injections or who have been reluctant to take weight-loss drugs due to stigma or other barriers.

Amazon last year unveiled kiosks to sell widely used medicines such as antibiotics, blood pressure medications and asthma inhalers, saying the option would reduce barriers to access and limit shipping costs. Amazon has kiosks at five One Medical locations in Los Angeles, but the retailer plans to expand the kiosks nationwide.

Patients who do not have memberships in One Medical, Amazon’s primary and urgent care business, can still make an appointment and use the kiosk. A subscription to One Medical costs $199 per year.

Contributed by: Reuters

Iran war brings back the familiar term “impeachment” for Democrats

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April 9, 2026

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Iran war brings back the familiar term “impeachment” for Democrats

The president’s actions in Iran and his rhetoric promising to end “an entire civilization” have prompted more serious (albeit futile) calls from Democrats in recent days for him to be removed from office.

With Republicans in full control of Congress and Washington, Democrats have spent much of President Donald Trump’s second term largely dodging fruitless calls to seriously remove him from office.

Things have changed since the Iran war, especially since President Trump earlier this week warned that “an entire civilization” would “die” if the Islamic Republic did not concede to American and Israeli demands.

In recent days, an increasing number of Democratic lawmakers have accused the president of “blatant war crimes” and called for his impeachment. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, also met with House Democrats on April 9 to discuss urging Trump’s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.

With virtually ironclad Republican support behind the president, there is no realistic way for him to be removed from office, nor is there any chance that Democratic efforts will gain much traction. Republicans control most of the chambers and schedules in the House and Senate, and even Democratic leaders in both chambers have shown no willingness to push for full-scale impeachment.

But the new openness on the issue highlights how the Trump administration’s policies, particularly the Iran war, have pushed Democrats to political extremes. And it offers a preview of future impeachment clashes between progressives and centrists that could engulf Washington if Democrats retake the House and take control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections.

“Impeach him. Remove him from office. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, wrote on social media.

Other Democrats are taking a more cautious stance on similar pleas.

“The Constitution gives Congress the power to remove an unfit president from office,” said Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.). “Should we do this? Absolutely. But impeachment starts in the House, and I don’t think Mike Johnson will grow taller overnight.”

White House Press Secretary Davis Engle called the new impeachment calls “pathetic.”

“Democrats have been discussing impeachment since before President Trump was sworn into office,” he said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Democrats in Congress are deranged, weak, and powerless. That’s why their approval ratings are at historic lows.”

On April 8, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt defended President Trump’s threat to potentially kill tens of millions of Iranians, saying that President Trump has “absolute moral superiority over Iran’s terrorist regime.”

“It was a very strong threat that had consequences,” she said.

When was Trump impeached before?

Trump has been impeached twice by the House of Representatives, but has never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, and impeachment would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.

In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump on two articles related to charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in dealings with Ukraine. The Republican-led Senate acquitted him in February 2020.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump again in January 2021, impeaching him for inciting an insurrection in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. At the time, 10 Republicans split their party lines and voted with Democrats, but the Senate again acquitted him.

Contributed by Jeanine Santucci, Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY

Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social..

Diddy hearing today — defense attorney seeks overturn of conviction

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April 9, 2026

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Diddy hearing today — defense attorney seeks overturn of conviction

Sean “Diddy” Combs and his attorneys are appealing to the Court of Appeals to vacate his prostitution conviction and prison sentence.

Lawyers for the hip-hop mogul said in court papers that U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw the sex crimes trial, should not have considered evidence of abuse and threats against his ex-girlfriend when sentencing Combs last October.

On Thursday, defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro doubled down, arguing that judges should not be allowed to consider conduct related to the crime for which a defendant was acquitted when determining sentencing.

“This case raises important questions of respect for jury verdicts and the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system,” Shapiro said on April 9 in the Manhattan-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, during an appeal of Combs’ conviction and four years and two months in prison.

Mr. Combs is serving his sentence at a maximum-security federal prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

What was Diddy convicted of?

The seven-week trial in Manhattan federal court last year centered on several days of drug-fueled sex acts (also known as “freak-offs”) between Combs’ two ex-girlfriends and a male sex worker. Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, was found guilty by a jury on July 2 of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

But jurors acquitted him of more serious sex trafficking and extortion charges for allegedly forcing his two ex-girlfriends, R&B/pop singer Cassandra Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane, to watch and sometimes film him masturbating.

Shapiro argued in court papers that Combs’ prostitution conviction should be vacated because she watched her ex-girlfriends have sex with escorts and did not participate.

Shapiro said the judge should not have considered evidence that Combs threatened to release explicit videos of Ventura and cut off Jane’s rent payments in deciding the sentence.

Will Didi be released?

If Combs has his way, he could be released on appeal. However, the prosecution has rejected the defense’s claims as “groundless” and has objected. According to CNN.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik will present her case after Mr. Shapiro.

Slavik said in court documents that Subramanian was right to consider evidence of Combs’ threats and abuse of his ex-girlfriend because even if he was acquitted of sex trafficking, the acts were related to prostitution charges.

“According to Combs, the district court should have turned a blind eye to how he perpetrated the Mann Act violation and abused his victims,” Slavik wrote, referring to a federal law that criminalizes transportation to engage in prostitution.

How long has P. Diddy been in prison?

Combs admitted to abusing his ex-girlfriend. But he said the so-called domestic violence incident was separate from the sexual act at issue in the case, which was consensual.

Combs has been in prison for more than a year and a half since his arrest on September 16, 2024. He is currently scheduled for release on April 15, 2028, according to Bureau of Prisons records.

Contributor: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

If your spouse claims Social Security first, the following changes

Economy

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April 9, 2026

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If your spouse claims Social Security first, the following changes

It all depends on the type of benefit you want to claim.

Kylie Hagen, CFP
|The Motley Fool

Your Social Security benefits won’t cover all of your expenses in retirement, but understanding how the program works and the tools that affect your check can help you save even more. One of the most important things for couples to do is adjust their advocacy strategies.

If your spouse decides to enroll before you, you should know how that will affect your future benefits. That way, you can estimate how much you’ll have to pay for your retirement yourself. The answer depends on what kind of benefits you plan to earn in the long term.

Does not affect social security benefits

When your spouse first enrolls in Social Security, he or she will receive the retirement benefits he or she received based on his or her work history. This depends on how much Social Security payroll taxes you paid over your career and your age when you enrolled.

Their retirement benefits have nothing to do with your retirement benefits. You will be selected based on your work history. If your partner decides to make a claim, your retirement benefits will not change. However, it is possible if you apply.

You can claim from age 62, but if you register at that point, the check you’ll receive will be much smaller. Each time you wait to apply, your benefits increase until you qualify for the maximum check at age 70.

Opens the way for you to claim spousal benefits

Couples can also receive spousal Social Security benefits if their partner qualifies for retirement benefits. This equates to up to one-half of the benefits to which your spouse is entitled at Full Retirement Age (FRA). That’s 67 years old for most workers today, those born after 1960.

You cannot claim spousal benefit until your partner registers. If your spouse has already claimed, the Social Security Administration will automatically determine whether your retirement benefits or spousal benefits are larger when you finally file. You can only get one or the other.

If your spouse applies first and you want to switch to spousal benefits based on your work history, you will have to wait until you are ready to apply for benefits. Next, you’ll need to contact the Social Security Administration to find out if this move will get you more money than you’re currently receiving. If that happens, they will now begin receiving spousal benefits.

it locks your survivor benefits

Survivor benefits are benefits you receive after your partner dies. In some cases, it can equal up to 100% of the benefits your spouse received or was eligible for at the time of death. But again, if you’ve already claimed retirement benefits that exceed the survivor benefit you’re entitled to, you’ll keep your retirement benefits instead.

Although your spouse filing for Social Security early will not affect the amount of your spousal benefit, it may permanently reduce the survivor benefit you are entitled to after your spouse dies. This is worth considering in situations where one partner has a terminal illness and may rely heavily on Social Security after the other dies. An ill spouse may choose not to claim Social Security at all to increase the survivor benefits his or her family receives after his or her death.

There is nothing wrong with one spouse insisting before the other, as long as you and your partner are on the same page and understand the consequences of this action. Make sure you have time to discuss all your options and keep each other informed if either of you decides to change your plans in the future.

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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Full transcript of Melania Trump-Epstein statement by the White House

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April 9, 2026

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Full transcript of Melania Trump-Epstein statement by the White House

This is the White House transcript of First Lady Melania Trump’s speech about Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, April 9th.

Hello.

The lies that link me to the disgraced Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.

Those who lie about me lack ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather reject their mean-spirited attempts to smear my reputation.

I was never friends with Epstein. Because New York City and Palm Beach often overlap in social circles, Donald and I were sometimes invited to the same parties as Epstein.

To be clear, I have never had anything to do with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell. My email response to Maxwell cannot be classified as mere casual communication. My polite reply to her email was just a note.

I am not a victim of Epstein. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance in 1998 at a party in New York City. My first meeting with my husband is detailed in my book Melania.

I first met Epstein in 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and knew nothing about his criminal activities.

Numerous false images and statements about Epstein and me have been circulating on social media for years. Be careful what you believe. These images and stories are completely false.

I am not a witness or named witness in connection with Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in any court documents, depositions, victim statements, or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter.

I had no knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I have never been involved in any capacity. I was not a participant and had never been on Epstein’s plane or visited his private island.

I have never been legally charged or convicted in connection with Mr. Epstein’s sex trafficking, abuse of minors, or any other disturbing conduct.

The false slander about me by malicious and politically motivated individuals and groups who seek to damage my reputation for financial gain and political advancement must stop.

My attorney and I have successfully fought these baseless lies and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation. To date, several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize and retract lies about me, including The Daily Beast, James Carville, and Harper Collins UK.

It’s time for Congress to act. Mr. Epstein was not alone. After the issue became widely politicized, several prominent male executives resigned from powerful positions. Of course, this does not make us guilty, but we still need to work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.

I call on Congress to provide survivor-centered hearings for the women affected by Epstein. Give these victims the opportunity to testify before Congress using the power of sworn testimony. Every woman should have a day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and her testimony should be permanently recorded in the Congressional Record.

Then, and only then, will we know the truth.

Republicans block the Iran War Powers Resolution proposed by Democrats to ban Trump from entering the country.

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April 9, 2026

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Republicans block the Iran War Powers Resolution proposed by Democrats to ban Trump from entering the country.

This is not the first time Congress has tried to prevent a war with Iran. It won’t be the last, as a critical deadline that tests Republicans approaches.

House Republicans on April 9 blocked consideration of measures to halt military hostilities in the region as Democrats look for ways to rein in President Donald Trump amid the Iran war.

Congress is still in recess until next week, and the war powers resolution that Democrats had planned to introduce would have needed unanimous support in the Republican-controlled chamber to advance. But Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) refused to endorse Democrats during a brief informal session to push the bill forward.

He loudly halted proceedings in Washington as Democrats protested.

The bill’s chances of success were never high with Republican leaders standing in its way, but it underscored the pressure Democrats on Capitol Hill feel to use every political tool to stop what many of them call a “war of choice.” Despite an uneasy ceasefire and ongoing intermediary negotiations to ease tensions, Iranian authorities continue to control the vital Strait of Hormuz, allowing Iran to take over oil markets and disrupt the global economy.

Republicans have so far blocked Democratic lawmakers who criticized the war from mounting a meaningful pushback. But the move in the House was the first time in recent days that Congress has acted during the two-week holiday scheduled for Easter and Passover to respond to the dire situation in the Middle East after President Trump threatened to destroy “an entire civilization” in Iran.

Although the April 9 bill did not advance, Congressional Democrats signaled to their Republican colleagues that they have no intention of slowing down their efforts to document the conflict. Senate Democrats have vowed to push through another resolution to end the war next week.

Voting will become even more difficult as key deadlines approach. Some prominent Republicans have indicated that they do not intend to continue supporting military operations in Iran beyond the end of April. The War Powers Act requires the president to seek approval from Congress to continue military operations beyond 60 days (with an additional 30 days to safely withdraw troops).

With narrow margins in both houses of Congress, any further rift within the Republican Party over the war could be detrimental to Trump and his party in November’s midterm elections.

Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social..

There is a lot of oil. Why are gas prices rising?

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April 9, 2026

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There is a lot of oil. Why are gas prices rising?

good morning! I’m Daniel de Visé from Daily Money.

The United States is less dependent on foreign oil than in the past. And only 8% of the oil we import comes from the Middle East.

So why did the Iran war cause U.S. gasoline prices to skyrocket?

Here’s the best place to work in America

What do two mortgage companies, two insurance companies, and one certified public accountant have in common? All of these companies are among the best places to work in the United States in 2026, according to American employees.

This is our report.

Will cruise fares increase due to oil prices?

Rising oil prices during the war with Iran are leading to higher costs for road travelers as well as air travelers.

What does fuel shortages mean for cruise passengers?

📰 Other stories you can’t miss 📰

Daniel de Visse covers personal finance for USA TODAY. Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

Bissell recalled 1.7 million cleaning workers after reports of burns. Check out our products.

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April 9, 2026

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Bissell recalled 1.7 million cleaning workers after reports of burns. Check out our products.

Millions of Bissell washing machines sold at popular retailers such as Target, Walmart and Amazon have been recalled after they were reported to have caused more than 100 burns.

According to an April 9 warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1.7 million Bissell brand steam cleaners have attachments that can detach from the unit, potentially leaking hot water or steam.

As of April 9, Bissell has received 206 reports of 161 people suffering burn injuries and at least one person suffering second-degree burns after a vacuum cleaner attachment unexpectedly detached from the machine.

The steam cleaners and affected accessories were sold in-store at Target, Walmart and other retailers nationwide from October 2024 to March 2026, as well as online at Amazon.com, HSN.com and other websites, for $9 to $55, according to the CPSC.

Here’s what you need to know about the recalled products:

Which Bissell cleaners have been recalled?

Bissell Steamshot Omnireach Steam Cleaner with Attachments.
Bissell Omni Handheld Steam Cleaner with Attachments.

The CPSC says the attachments sold with these cleaners are components that pose a safety risk. Depending on the model, this may include an accessory nozzle, grout brush, round detail brush, flat scraping tool, angled concentrator tool, extension hose, fabric steamer and/or steam squeegee.

Affected units are sold in green, gray, white, blue, and dark blue colors and have the following model number located on the bottom of the product:

4155
4155L
4155W
4155G
4155D
4155J
4155Y
4155P
4171
4171L
4171W
4171F

What should I do if I have a recalled Bissell steamer?

Consumers who own a recalled Bissell steamer should immediately stop using the included accessories and contact the company to receive a free replacement. Affected customers should visit Bissell’s recall page at www.steamshot2026.com to register their product and submit a replacement request.

Consumers will be asked to upload a photo showing the affected accessory disposed of in the trash to complete the process.

Why is Israel bombing Lebanon during the Iran war?

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April 9, 2026

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Why is Israel bombing Lebanon during the Iran war?

While the United States and Iran continue talks over a recent cease-fire agreement, regional conflicts related to the Iran war appear to be escalating in Lebanon and Israel.

On April 8, hours after President Donald Trump announced a two-week cease-fire, Israel launched its deadliest attack on Lebanon since its operations against Hezbollah began in Lebanon more than a month earlier.

Following widespread outrage over the bombing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 9 that he had directed his government to begin peace talks with Lebanon, including discussions on disarming Hezbollah. According to Reuters, there was no immediate reaction from the Lebanese government to Netanyahu’s remarks.

The Israeli military said more than 100 locations were targeted, including Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays and command and control centers in Beirut, Bekaa and southern Lebanon. According to a report by Reuters, Lebanon’s civil defense authorities announced that more than 250 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in a single day. Hundreds of people were injured, including more than a dozen doctors, Reuters reported.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an April 9 post on X that the Israeli barrage was “a clear violation of the original ceasefire” and vowed that Iran would support the Lebanese people.

After Beirut was bombed on April 8, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a statement: “The terms of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States are clear and unequivocal. The United States must choose between a ceasefire and a continuation of the war through Israel. It cannot choose both.”

Israel said the ceasefire agreement did not include military operations against Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Iranian-linked militant group and political party. Vice President J.D. Vance said in comments on April 8 that this was a “misunderstanding” on Iran’s part, and also said that Lebanon was not included in the peace deal.

More than 1 million people have been evacuated and more than 1,500 people have died in Lebanon over the last month, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Multiple airlines have canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut in the past two days. In a statement issued during the Israeli airstrike operation on April 8, UN Secretary-General António Guterres “unequivocally condemns” Israel’s attack on Lebanon and said he was “deeply alarmed by the increasing number of civilian casualties.”

Why would Israel attack Lebanon?

Hezbollah attacked Israel after Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. It is the first time Hezbollah has opened fire on Israel since a US-brokered ceasefire went into effect in November 2024 during the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Council on Foreign Relations Center for Preventive Action.

Iran is Hezbollah’s most important backer. Hezbollah often acts as an agent of Middle Eastern states. The group opposes Israel and often opposes Western countries operating in the Middle East, including the United States.

Israel then launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is believed to be the home of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite militia and political party that has been linked to suicide bombings. Israeli forces have announced that they will occupy large parts of southern Lebanon indefinitely and have begun destroying homes in villages near the Israeli border. Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.

Since March 3, the Institute for the Study of War has recorded more than 800 attacks against Israel for which Hezbollah has claimed responsibility, although not all of them have been independently confirmed or verified. Israel launched hundreds of additional attacks on Lebanon during the same period. Since launching ground operations, the Israeli military has said it has killed several Hezbollah leaders, destroyed more than 300 Hezbollah strongholds, including weapons depots, and killed more than 1,000 Hezbollah fighters.

Israel has been at odds with Hezbollah for decades. Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Iranian regime has funded and armed regional anti-Israel groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The group emerged in the early ’80s during Lebanon’s brutal 15-year civil war, which erupted in 1975 from tensions between Lebanon’s Christians and Muslims.

What is the death toll in Lebanon?

Before the April 8 attack, Lebanese authorities said 1,530 people had been killed in Israeli airstrikes since March 2, including at least 129 children.

Lebanese authorities reported that more than 250 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the April 8 strike.

Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.

Asian stinger ants, an invasive species with powerful spines, are spreading across the United States.

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April 9, 2026

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Asian stinger ants, an invasive species with powerful spines, are spreading across the United States.

An innocent insect with a potentially deadly sting has invaded the United States and is spreading across the country, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems.

The insect, known as the Asian sting ant, is poisonous, with a painful sting that can cause severe allergic reactions, and its spread across the country has experts concerned.

In Georgia’s deeply encroached forests, the ants are so widespread that “Asian stingers are in and under almost every stump, log, and branch on the forest floor,” U.S. Forest Service entomologist Emily Poole told USA TODAY.

But these aren’t just problems for people who go hiking, they can easily be adapted to life in cities, suburbs, and woodlands.

Here’s what you need to know about invasive ants and how to protect yourself and your family.

What do ants look like?

The Forest Service says the ants are shiny and range in color from dark brown to black. However, the hind legs and antennae are orange-brown. They are also small, with workers measuring about 0.2 inches long.

Asian needle ants can be difficult to identify because they look similar to other species of ants.

Can Asian needle ants hurt people?

Indeed, ant venom can cause a “throbbing, stinging sensation that can last more than 30 minutes,” Poole says. “The throbbing and stabbing pain may return later in the day.”

When Poole was stung, the area was red, itchy, and slightly swollen.

However, reactions vary from person to person and may be worse for people who are allergic to insect bites. Severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported after ant stings.

According to North Carolina State University, Asian sting ant venom is slightly more likely to cause an allergic reaction than a bee sting.

Where can I find Asian needle ants?

According to AntMaps, this ant is native to Asia, including China, Japan, North and South Korea, and has been reported in multiple states, including:

arkansas
Alabama
connecticut
florida
kentucky
georgia
maryland
Massachusetts
mississippi
missouri
ohio
pennsylvania
new york
north carolina
rhode island
south carolina
tennessee
virginia

The ants have spread to the West Coast and Midwest, and have also been reported in Washington and Wisconsin, according to Antmap.

“Because needle ants are so elusive, their range is likely wider than currently known,” Poole said.

Invading ants go unnoticed

The colony is smaller than other ant colonies commonly found in homes, according to the state of North Carolina.

“This species does not build obvious mounds like the well-known red imported fire ant,” says Poole. “Asian sting ant colonies can easily go unnoticed.”

These insects don’t make their home in typical anthills, Poole said, but instead live in places like:

multi
potted plants
cracks in branches
log
railway sleepers
under the fallen leaves
Potting and landscaping soil
wood chips

ants stay here

The ant has been in the United States for nearly 100 years, Poole said. But their impact on local ecosystems wasn’t recognized until the past 20 years, according to the Forest Service.

In areas where Asian needle ant populations are established, populations of the native ant, which is key to dispersing native plant seeds in forests, are declining.

Poole said ants are “very predatory,” hunting other insects and invertebrates and scavenging for food.

The Forest Service says management strategies and feeding options are being studied, but the ants will likely continue to live here despite the negative side effects. In addition to being expensive to eradicate, Asian sting ant control measures in wooded and remote areas can have negative effects on beneficial species.

“Once Asian stinger ants are established, they are very difficult to get rid of,” Poole said. “Prevention is the key.”

Poole said he recommends caution when moving materials, especially wood and other landscaping materials, to avoid Asian needle ant infestation.

How to protect yourself from being stung

Despite their powerful stingers, Asian stinger ants are not usually aggressive. However, people should still take precautions.

“It’s important to be aware of where you sit and where you leave your belongings,” says Poole.

Double-checking where they rest and store items can help prevent contact with colonies that may be nesting there. You should also be careful if you are near logs, rotten wood, or rocks that may harbor ants.

People with known allergens or sensitivities to insect toxins may also choose to carry an epinephrine auto-injector, or EpiPen, according to the Forest Service.

This story has been updated with new information.

Julia Gomez is USA TODAY’s trends reporter, covering popular toys, space phenomena, scientific research, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamariegz or email jgomez@gannett.com..

Is marijuana legal in North Carolina? City Council pushes for marijuana legalization

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April 9, 2026

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Is marijuana legal in North Carolina? City Council pushes for marijuana legalization

People in the state spent an estimated $3.2 billion on illegal marijuana in 2022, according to the report. An advisory committee has recommended changes.

An advisory committee in North Carolina has recommended that lawmakers create an adult-use marijuana system in hopes of regulating the multibillion-dollar “Wild West” market.

North Carolina is one of only 10 states and three U.S. territories without a regulated adult-use marijuana market or medical marijuana program, according to a draft report from the state’s Cannabis Advisory Committee released April 2. In the absence of a legal market, consumers in the state spent an estimated $3.2 billion on illegal marijuana in 2022, according to the U.S. Cannabis Report cited by the council.

Meanwhile, the council said cannabis-derived cannabinoid products are being sold as legal alternatives to marijuana and are being sold without uniform standards or meaningful oversight. The industry is worth about $1 billion, the council said.

“North Carolina’s intoxicating cannabis market currently exists in a dangerous policy gap with neither true prohibition nor meaningful regulation,” the report states.

The council recommended that Congress eliminate the “legal but unworkable distinction between marijuana and hemp” and establish “an adult-use regulatory model that incorporates protections for medical consumers.” This model would allow adults to purchase, possess, and use marijuana through state-licensed retailers.

A final report containing detailed regulatory recommendations is expected to be published by the council in December. Gov. Josh Stein, who founded the council, said in a statement that the report found a legally regulated market is safer for the state.

“Today, our state’s unregulated cannabis market is the Wild West and demands order,” Stein said. “Let’s get this right. Let’s protect our children and create a safe, legal, and well-regulated market for adults.”

The North Carolina report comes after several important developments at the federal level. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December that federally classified marijuana as a less dangerous substance.

And legislation to reopen the government after the shutdown in 2025 would close loopholes that allowed the sale of many hemp-derived products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The ban is scheduled to take effect in November.

The report said states have varied in their responses to the federal changes, creating a patchwork of disparate regulations. In neighboring Virginia, for example, Gov. Abigail Spanberger is expected to sign a bill allowing retail marijuana sales to begin in 2027, the report said.

“If surrounding states adopt regulated cannabis programs and North Carolina does not, the state could effectively become a prohibition jurisdiction within a regulated market, a dynamic that could complicate enforcement and impact the distribution of products and consumers across state lines,” the council said.

The report was released just before the North Carolina General Assembly convened a short session. Lawmakers have recently proposed legislation to help establish medical marijuana and adult-use programs.

But lawmakers have so far been unable to reach an agreement on cannabis regulations, with two top lawmakers recently expressing concerns about the council’s recommendations, suggesting further impasse could ensue, The News & Observer reported.

“It’s remarkable that we would release a report that seeks to legalize marijuana, even though we know that young people are four times more likely to develop psychosis when they use marijuana, and at the same time direct funding toward mental illness treatment and opioid treatment,” said U.S. Rep. Timothy Reeder, an emergency physician, according to the paper. “So we are funding programs that are setting us up to get worse.”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there is also evidence that cannabis use is associated with earlier onset of psychosis in people with genetic risk factors and worse symptoms in people with psychotic disorders, but more research is needed to determine “whether, to what extent, and in whom cannabis causes adverse mental health outcomes.” A 2025 study by Columbia University researchers found no changes in opioid outcomes among the general population of states that have passed medical and recreational marijuana laws.

It will not be an easy task, but the council said legislative action is necessary to protect North Carolinians.

“The current situation is unacceptable,” the report said.

Michael Patrick passes away – Game of Thrones, This Town star dies at age 35

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April 9, 2026

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Michael Patrick passes away – Game of Thrones, This Town star dies at age 35

Irish actor Michael Patrick, known for his roles in “Game of Thrones” and “This Town,” has passed away after battling motor neurone disease.

Michael Patrick, an Irish theater actor and star of British television, has died. He was 35 years old.

Patrick passed away in a hospice in Northern Ireland after a three-year battle with motor neuron disease, a rare neurodegenerative disease, his wife Naomi Sheehan posted on Instagram on Wednesday, April 8.

“He was admitted to the hospital 10 days ago and was cared for by an amazing team. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends,” Sheehan wrote. “Words cannot express how much our hearts are broken.”

Patrick’s longtime writing partner, Oisin Carney, confirmed his death in a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday.

“Michael was an actor of epic proportions. He could make audiences laugh and cry in the blink of an eye. As a writer, he was able to express the comedic and tragic edges of the human experience,” Carney wrote. “Michael dealt with his diagnosis with courage and humility, showing us how to be better when it comes to his disability, and he always made you smile. I’m so proud to call him my creative partner, and even more proud to say he’s my friend.”

The Belfast-based actor, known as “Mick” by his loved ones, trained at England’s Cambridge University and performed with comedy troupe Cambridge Footlights, according to his IMDb biography. He co-wrote with Carney a one-man play, My Left Nut, based on his own teenage years, which was later made into an award-winning television miniseries on BBC Three. His other stage work includes several Shakespeare plays.

In 2016, Patrick guest-starred in the Game of Thrones season 6 episode “The Broken Man” as a wildling rioter. He went on to guest star in a variety of British television shows, including “Krypton,” “Soft Border Patrol,” “The Keeper,” “Bravely Under Fire,” and numerous TV movies and miniseries.

In 2024, she appeared as Bonnie in the BBC 1 youth drama This Town, created by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight.

Patrick and Carney co-wrote several plays and BBC radio series, including the science fiction audio drama series Bitter Pill.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, motor neuron (neolone) disease is a group of rare diseases that destroy motor neurons, which control the muscle movements necessary for breathing, speaking, swallowing, and walking. It can lead to disability and death, and there is no cure.

When he revealed his diagnosis in February 2023, the actor said his “real limpness” made him perfect for theater roles such as Richard III and Tiny Tim. “I’m trying to look at this whole thing in a pretty positive light, but it’s still a really, really tough situation,” he added.

Following his diagnosis, Patrick and Carney wrote and produced a short film, “So You’re Going to Die,” and a one-person play, “My Right Foot,” about his illness.

In February, the actor posted to X revealing that his neurologist had given him a year to live and that he was hopeful that clinical trials for his disease would buy him more time.

Sheehan, who married Patrick a few months after his diagnosis, remembered her late husband as a “ginger-haired giant of a man” who was “an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of interacting with him.”

“Mick loves this quote by[Irish poet]Brendan Behan, and now it feels so appropriate: ‘The most important thing in the world is to have something to eat, something to drink, and someone to love you.'” she wrote. “So don’t think too much. Eat, drink and love.”

What is the price of gold on April 9, 2026?

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April 9, 2026

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How much is gold worth per ounce today?

As of 8:15 AM ET on April 9, 2026, the spot price of gold was $4,751.04 per oz., according to the latest market data. It was down 1.84% and $89.06 from the previous close of $4,840.10.

One year ago, gold was trading at $2,979.29 per ounce. This means the price has increased by 59.47% over the past 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $3,083.36

52 week high: $5,477.79

Gold is trading 13.27% below its 52-week high. The stock is 54.09% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of gold?

today	1 week ago	1 month ago	1 year ago
$4,751.04	$4,791.99	$5,144.09	$2,979.29

A week ago, gold was trading at $4,791.99 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 0.85%.

A month ago, gold was trading at $5,144.09 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 7.64%.

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 gold today?

The price of gold is driven by inflation expectations, central bank policies, 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 is XAU/USD?

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

XAU stands for 1 troy ounce of gold 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 gold

To invest in gold, you can buy physical coins and bars, buy ETFs that track the price of gold, or invest in mining stocks. Be sure to weigh costs, storage needs, and risk tolerance before making a decision.

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.

NFL faces Justice Department investigation over license fees

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April 9, 2026

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NFL faces Justice Department investigation over license fees

The Justice Department is investigating whether the NFL engaged in anticompetitive practices that forced football fans to pay high subscription fees, according to a government official familiar with the matter.

The investigation has to do with making sure consumers have access to the games at an affordable price and having a level playing field for the game providers, officials told USA TODAY.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the study.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Silver price today on April 9, 2026

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April 9, 2026

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How much is silver worth per ounce today?

As of 8:15 AM ET on April 9, 2026, the spot price of silver is $74.57 per oz., according to the latest market data. Shares fell 2.78%, or $2.13 from the previous closing price of $76.69.

One year ago, silver was trading at $29.64 per ounce. This means that the price has increased by 151.55% in the last 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $30.92

52 week high: $117.39

Silver is trading 36.48% below its 52-week high. It is 141.16% higher than its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of silver?

today	1 week ago	1 month ago	1 year ago
$74.57	$75.73	$87.74	$29.64

A week ago, silver was trading at $75.73 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 1.54%.

One month ago, silver was trading at $87.74 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 15.02%.

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 and 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.

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.

2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Announced

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April 9, 2026

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2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Announced

Colorado State University’s forecast predicts 13 tropical storms, six of which will become hurricanes. How many shots could land in the United States?

On Thursday, April 9, influential hurricane forecasts brought news as forecasters grapple with unmanageable weather patterns ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

The forecast predicts a lower-than-average number of storms and warns of “high uncertainty.”

Colorado State University (CSU) meteorologists predict a total of 13 tropical cyclones, six of which will become hurricanes. A tropical cyclone becomes a hurricane when its sustained wind speeds reach 114 miles per hour.

Based on weather records from 1991 to 2020, a typical year averages about 14 tropical cyclones, seven of which turn into hurricanes. The developing El Niño, which often fuels global heat but can also result in weather patterns that inhibit hurricane development, is influencing the forecast.

Forecasters have warned that 2026 appears to have many ingredients for a dangerous season, with the potential for severe storms to develop rapidly.

Perhaps counterintuitive, the public shouldn’t feel too reassured by the new predictions, forecasters say. “As with any hurricane season, it only takes one landfall for coastal residents to be reminded that this is an active season,” CSU meteorologists say. “Each season requires careful preparation, regardless of the anticipated activity.”

The country’s top hurricane forecaster said El Niño does not necessarily protect the United States from hurricane danger.

“But even if El Niño continues for many years, we still have the potential for very high-impact Atlantic hurricanes,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, part of the National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The new forecast targets storms in the Atlantic basin, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, renamed the Gulf of America by the U.S. government.

What role does El Niño play?

Strong westerly winds caused by El Niño (a natural climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-normal Pacific waters) tend to prevent nascent Atlantic storms from forming. As upper-level winds strengthen, they can tear apart a hurricane as it attempts to form.

In its latest forecast, also released April 9, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said El Niño could occur as early as May, with a 61% chance of occurring sometime between May and July of this year.

How many major hurricanes are there?

Phil Klotzbach, a Colorado meteorologist and lead author, said of the six hurricanes predicted in the report, two should be major Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes with sustained winds of 111 mph or faster.

analog season list

“So far, the 2026 hurricane season is showing similar characteristics to the 2006, 2009, 2015 and 2023 seasons,” Klotzbach said. These years, known as analog seasons, “ranged from periods of well below average to slightly above average Atlantic hurricane activity.” These seasons had few memorable landfall storms.

“Although the average for the analog period is slightly below normal, the large spread in activity observed during the analog period highlights the high degree of uncertainty that typically accompanies the outlook in early April.”

The researchers predict that hurricane activity in 2026 will be about 75% of the average season from 1991 to 2020. By comparison, hurricane activity in 2025 was about 105% of average.

The most significant hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, causing nearly $9 billion in damage and 95 deaths across the Caribbean.

Will a major hurricane hit the United States in 2026?

This report also includes the probability of the following major hurricanes making landfall in the United States:

32% for the entire U.S. coastline (average 43% from 1880 to 2020).
15% on the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida peninsula (average 21% from 1880 to 2020);
20% on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle west to Brownsville, Texas (average 27% from 1880 to 2020);

“Just one is fine.”

National Hurricane Center staff are urging people not to pay attention to experts on social media who are already talking about El Niño’s potential calming effect on hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin.

“No matter what the seasonal forecast is, there is a risk of hurricane impact every year,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Weather Service Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“The old idea is that you only need one thing, and that’s true. That’s why that idea exists,” he said. “Even during seasons when the overall environment is unfavorable, storm-prone conditions can occur for days or weeks.”

Larry Kelly, one of the center’s hurricane experts, said the 1992 hurricane season was a case in point. There were only seven systems in the Atlantic Basin named tropical and subtropical, and Hurricane Andrew was the first.

The hurricane killed 65 people and caused more than $25 billion in damage, including more than 25,000 homes destroyed and more than 110,000 damaged in southern Miami-Dade County.

What about hurricanes in the Pacific?

Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th. Eastern Pacific hurricanes are unlikely to have a major impact on the United States, but they can hit the west coast of Mexico. Colorado does not forecast seasons for the eastern Pacific, but El Niño tends to be more active in the basin.

What are other forecasters saying?

In a March forecast, AccuWeather meteorologists predicted 11 to 16 named tropical cyclones would form in the Atlantic Basin in 2026, of which four to seven would become hurricanes.

AccuWeather also said there would be three to five direct impacts from the hurricanes on the United States.

Federal scientists at NOAA are expected to release their predictions in May.

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, focusing on weather and climate. Dinah Boyles Pulver is also a national correspondent, covering climate change, wildlife and the environment. Contact dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or dinahvp.77 on X or Signal.

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Colorado State University’s forecast predicts 13 tropical storms, six of which will become hurricanes. How many shots could land in the United States?

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