House advances bill to make daylight saving time permanent
The House moved to allow states to observe daylight saving time year-round.
Congress is one step closer to making daylight saving time permanent.
On July 14, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow states to institute daylight saving time year-round, changing their existing practice of changing their clocks twice a year.
If the bill, which passed the House 308-117, passes the Senate and is signed into law, it would all but eliminate the practice of setting clocks forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), passed the House after years of efforts in Congress to reform daylight saving time failed.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest efforts to make daylight saving time permanent.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is the practice of setting clocks forward one hour from March to November to get more sunlight during the summer.
According to the Library of Congress, the system was first established in 1918 as a fuel cost saving measure during World War I.
Daylight saving time became federal law under the Uniform Time Act of 1966.
Under this law, some states can choose to waive daylight savings time. According to the Department of Transportation, daylight saving time is not in effect in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and most parts of Arizona.
Daylight savings bill introduced in Senate
Although the bill to make daylight savings time permanent was passed by the House of Representatives, it will take some time before it becomes law.
It heads next to the Senate, whose fate remains uncertain. If the bill passes the Senate, it will go to President Donald Trump’s desk to sign into law.
President Trump has expressed support for permanent daylight savings time in the past, and if the bill passes the Senate, he is likely to sign it into law.
Most recently, in a post on Truth Social in May, he said daylight saving time is a “twice-a-year nonsense.”
“I will work hard to get the Sun Protection Act signed into law. It’s time for people to stop worrying about the ‘clock’,” he wrote.
What does it mean to make daylight saving time permanent?
If permanent daylight saving time were to become law, the “spring forward” period in March and the “backward step” in November would be abolished.
This means that the sun rises and sets later for a large part of the year.
Supporters like Buchanan argue that permanent daylight saving time would have positive health effects. Critics, including the group Airlines for America, say it will have a big impact on travelers.
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
An icon across America, the hot dog has gone from being a humble street food to sometimes extravagant schmancy bites (like truffle dogs). It’s a staple at stadiums and backyards, and it’s still the hangover MVP. It arrived in pieces, via Germany (Frankfurter), Vienna (Wiener), and Poland, carried by people who arrived with little and used scraps, spices, and techniques to make things that lasted. This humble dog was meant to feed them and the area in which they worked.
The result of their efforts is less a tradition than a lively and evolving mashup. It can be called a patchwork of cuisines, stitched together across regions, barrows, cultures and generations, just like the culture of the country itself.
Here, we take a closer look at the history of hot dogs and 21 regional variations selected by USA TODAY Network journalists from across the country.
The story of the hot dog is the story of immigration.
The story behind the creation of hot dogs is like a collection of stamps in a passport. Polish and Viennese immigrants brought pork, beef, and veal sausages. It was Jewish immigrants who created hot dogs that contained only beef, as many of them and their customers did not eat pork.
Some, like Hebrew National, founded by Russian Jews, started hot dog brands in the early 1900s and are still in business today. Nathan’s Famous was founded by Polish Jewish immigrants. Vienna Beef was opened by a Bavarian man, Oscar Mayer, and an Austrian. The contents of each dog vary slightly based on the cultural origins of the maker and where the immigrants landed.
So, what’s your name? According to Bruce Craig, author of “Hot Dogs: A Global History,” the term was first recorded in the Knoxville Journal in 1893. The current term (sausage in bread) was recorded in an 1895 Yale University report as follows:
The real fun begins with the toppings
Germans, Italians, Greeks, Mexicans, and Bulgarians all put their own spin on toppings. Chicago Dog’s vegetables come courtesy of Greeks and Italians, with tomatoes, sport peppers, and a green relish reminiscent of Mediterranean spread or pickled giardiniera. In contrast, mustard, pickle spears, and celery salt are made courtesy of German-Jewish immigrants.
As you travel from east to west, influences change.
The New York street corner staple is cooked in “dirty water” and ready to serve and top in seconds, making it popular for its speed and simplicity.
In New Jersey, an Italian-American variation, influenced by Sicilians, fries the dog (sometimes until crispy) and layers it with stewed or fried potatoes, peppers, and onions on a crispy roll.
Heading to Detroit, the chile-soaked Connie leans firmly into its Balkan roots.
Even within the world of chili dogs, there are subtle differences. Cincinnati’s famous spicy version, with cinnamon and a whisper of sweetness, comes from its Macedonian roots.
Next is the southwest. The Sonoran may be the clearest example of how far this American staple has come. Wrapped in bacon, sandwiched between fluffy bolillos and stuffed with beans, salsa, onions, tomatoes, mustard, mayonnaise, and sometimes cheese, this dish originated on the streets of Hermosillo before being reintroduced to the United States at a baseball game. It has deep roots in the region and is an absolutely essential chapter in hot dog history.
Due to their nature, hot dogs across America are impossible to pack in boxes.
That’s the thing about hot dogs. It was always a little slippery. They resist purity, absorb influence, and invite interpretation. For all of you who claim there’s a right way to eat ketchup (Okay, Chicagoans, no more ketchup please), there’s another city that’s completely remixing ketchup.
Hawaii has one of the newest versions called the Puka Dog, which was invented by a Swiss artist on Kauai in 2000. This includes tropical fruit relish and slightly sweet bread.
Some people completely reject it as a Hawaiian creation, claiming that the only true Hawaiian “dog” is musubi (after all, it’s salty, porky, and portable).
Hot dogs are an early symbol of American entrepreneurship, cheap to produce, easy to sell, and infinitely customizable. You can make it your own by building a business or turning your grocery store links into something craving-worthy. It’s communal, personal, and democratic at the same time, and very few foods can do that.
And despite its cultural weight, it delivers on the simplest promise of contentment. There is no need for pretense or ceremony. Just something warm, salty, and comforting when you need it most.
We can dress it up, debate it, and trace its roots across continents, but ultimately, the hot dog is what it always has been. Grumpy, malleable, quietly iconic, a little bit everywhere, and neatly fitted into a totally American package.
Here are the remaining local picks:
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Jennifer Boresen is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in a variety of fields, including politics, science, weather, and entertainment.
Enjoy America’s iconic hot dogs
Welcome to hot dog America! We’ve compiled a list of delicious hot dogs that can be eaten all over the country.
Best hot dogs in America: Favorites of food writers nationwide
What hot dogs are in your cart? Our blind taste test was shocking
more: Over 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes. How does your body cope with Nathan’s hot dog contest?
Local pride: OG Family Food Cart Voted Best Sonoran Hot Dogs in Phoenix, Voted by Readers
Welcome to hot dog America! We’ve compiled a list of delicious hot dogs that can be eaten all over the country.
Today is National Hot Dog Day. Whether you like Coney Dogs, Chicago Dogs, or Chili Dogs, one thing’s for sure: Eating hot dogs is a beloved American tradition.
According to the National Day Calendar, National Hot Dog Day is the third Wednesday of July. This year it is Wednesday, July 15th.
There’s something incredibly American about enjoying a hot dog straight off the grill in the middle of summer, but should you put ketchup on your hot dog? How about mayonnaise? Should you microwave, boil, or grill your dog? I feel like everyone has an opinion on how dogs should and shouldn’t be made.
There are so many ways to serve sausages on bread, and debating which combinations of seasonings and vegetables to top them with feels like one of America’s great pastimes.
But what’s a little harder to discuss are the deals that can make your National Hot Dog Day celebrations a little cheaper.
For National Hot Dog Day 2026, here are restaurant chains offering giveaways, discounts and sales to celebrate one of America’s favorite foods.
2026 National Hot Dog Day Sale
Dog Haus celebrates with a “big wiener giveaway”
House Rewards members can get a free house dog from Dog House on Wednesday, July 15, according to a news release emailed to USA TODAY. The restaurant chain is also offering a buy-one-get-one-free hot dog deal until July 31st.
hot dog on a stick sale
In honor of the brand’s anniversary on July 15, guests who purchase one stick at regular price can pick up a second stick for just 80 cents at participating locations.
Portillo’s $1 Hot Dog Deal
Starting Wednesday, July 15, Portillo’s Perks loyalty program members can get a $1 hot dog with any purchase of $5 or more, according to a news release emailed to USA TODAY. This transaction is limited to one hot dog per transaction.
Get 4 Wiener Schnitzels for $4
On July 15, customers will be able to purchase four chili dogs for $4 at the hot dog chain.
Circle K hot dog $1
Circle K sells more than 39 million hot dogs annually, according to a press release emailed to USA TODAY. So we take “their flamboyance” very seriously, and National Hot Dog Day is no exception.
On National Day, the Circle K app will sell roller-grilled hot dogs for $1 during National Hot Dog Day.
2 for $3.50 at 7-Eleven
Customers can purchase two items from Roller Grill, including Big Bite hot dogs and Johnsonville Dr. Pepper sausage, for $3.50 at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes locations on National Hot Dog Day, according to a news release emailed to USA TODAY.
Although they’re not hot dogs, 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members can also purchase taquitos for $1 through Wednesday, July 15th.
$1.50 Costco hot dog
Today is the perfect day to grab the $1.50 Costco Hot Dog Combo sale that includes bottled water or soda. However, this isn’t necessarily in honor of National Hot Dog Day and can be purchased at any time.
Costco’s hot dog is one of the most iconic in America, and its price has remained the same for 40 years, USA TODAY previously reported. Although the prices of most grab-and-go meals have increased, Costco has maintained its prices and continues to offer sales on National Hot Dog Day and other times throughout the year.
Will Costco raise the price of hot dogs? You will enjoy CEO’s answer
Get a free Pringles-inspired hot dog bun
Pringles is offering fans another chance to get limited edition Pringles-inspired buns for free when you purchase a 3-pack of Pringles for $6.97 at OnceYouPopMarket.com.
According to the Pringles website, the buns come in three different flavors.
barbecue
sour cream and onion
honey mustard
Fans will have a chance to get free bread on the Pringles website starting at 12pm ET while supplies last.
More National Hot Dog Day Deals
Love’s Travel Stop– Customers can get a free hot dog through the chain’s app while supplies last.
sonic– On Thursday, July 16th, Sonic will be selling 99 cent corn dogs.
freddy’s– Anyone with the Freddy’s Rewards app can receive a Chili Cheese Dog for $3.49 on July 15th. Limit of one offer per guest.
shake shack– From July 15th to July 19th, Shake Shack will be offering a classic hot dog and classic fries or classic lemonade for $8 when fans use the code SUMMERDOG when ordering on the Shack app, website or at a kiosk inside the Shack.
hello fresh– Customers who use code HFHOTDOG will receive 10 free HelloFresh meals and free breakfast for life.
crystal– Loyalty members get a free Classic Pup, Corn Pup, or Chili Cheese Pup on July 15 when they spend $5 or more on the app.
philadelphia pretzel factory– Customers can purchase Pretzel Dogs for $1 on July 15th. However, Rewards members can get a free pretzel dog in honor of National Hot Dog Day.
Regal Cinemas– Through August 2nd, Regal Crown Club members can earn 1,000 extra credits when they purchase a hot dog, including Regal’s new Quarter Pound Nathan’s Hot Dog.
Julia Gomez is a trends reporter for USA TODAY, covering invasive species, space phenomena, scientific research, natural disasters, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamariegz or email jgomez@gannett.com..
Audio obtained by USA TODAY shows Melissa Gilbert telling police that the accusations against Timothy Busfield are “cruel” and “vengeful.”
After starring roles in Thirty Something and The West Wing, Timothy Busfield’s career was in decline at age 69, but he was still an active actor and director.
That’s no longer the case, according to grand jury testimony obtained exclusively by USA TODAY from the Albuquerque, New Mexico, district attorney’s office through a public records request.
Ms Busfield told the 12-member jury that she could no longer find work. His last hope, he said, is that the child molestation allegations against him won’t also destroy his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert.
The actor and director was indicted in February on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, stemming from incidents that occurred in New Mexico between late 2022 and early 2024 while he was working as a director and producer on the film “Cleaning Woman.”
“My children, my grandchildren, everyone in my life is over because of false allegations for money and revenge. These two criminals (the boys’ parents) have destroyed me. And my wife and her business, I’m not going to destroy that,” Busfield said at a hearing in February.
His wife is a former child star on “Little House on the Prairie” and co-founder of the lifestyle brand Modern Prairie. In conjunction with Netflix’s reboot of “Little House” on July 9, Gilbert has been promoting prairie-inspired products, from $58 hand-carved limited-edition wooden figures of Laura Ingalls Wilder to $128 patchwork denim overalls.
Busfield told the grand jury that he did not have any inappropriate contact with the twin boys. He said the parents fabricated the abuse and manipulated the children into lying because they wanted revenge for being kicked out of the fourth season of the crime thriller.
During more than two hours of testimony, Mr. Busfield repeatedly apologized for going off-topic, acknowledged he was nervous and acknowledged that “this is all very real and the stakes are very high.”
“My career is over. I’m cancelled. I’ll never, ever work again based on people’s fears that I’ll do that again. And even if that wasn’t true, I’m done. I lost a TV show, I lost a movie that digitally replaced me. The agency fired me. I’m done. This isn’t about me or any regrets.”
What’s next for Timothy Busfield?
A 12-member grand jury met in Albuquerque on February 5 and heard more than four hours of testimony from Albuquerque Police Officers Marvin Brown and Busfield. They did not seek to interview any further witnesses and returned the indictment that afternoon.
Busfield’s attorney, Larry Stein, previously told USA TODAY in a statement that “the charges were not unexpected” and maintained that Busfield is innocent.
USA TODAY reached out to Stein for an update.
“As the saying goes, the grand jury will indict the ham sandwich. What is very concerning is that the district attorney is choosing to move forward with a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial,” Stein previously said.
On June 18, Busfield’s team filed a motion asking the court to throw out the indictment, alleging that prosecutors failed to present a fair and impartial case and misrepresented the law to the grand jury.
A trial date is set for May 2027.
timothy bus field Charges: What is he accused of?
The boys accused Busfield of inappropriate physical contact on the show’s set, saying Busfield told the boys to call them “Uncle Tim.” One boy said Busfield touched his genitals several times over his clothes.
The investigation began in November 2024, when staff members at the University of New Mexico Hospital reported concerns that the boys were being groomed by Bassfield after their mother brought them in for examination for suspected sexual abuse. Hospital staff found no evidence of abuse.
Police interviewed the boys and they stated that they had not been sexually abused at the time.
In September, the boys disclosed that they had been abused by a therapist, which led to further police investigation and Busfield’s arrest.
Mr. Busfield has not spoken publicly about the incident. A video obtained by TMZ in January showed him promising to “stand up against these lies.”
To protect the boys’ privacy, USA TODAY is not publishing the names of the boys or their parents. USA TODAY does not publish the names of sexual assault survivors.
“I have never done anything inappropriate.”
Busfield told the grand jury that others on the set, from the cinematographer to the hair and makeup artist, said she and the boys were not alone. He said the boys were constantly monitored on set.
Ms Busfield told jurors: “I have never engaged in any inappropriate behavior with a prepubescent boy in any way, physically or sexually.” “I have never done anything inappropriate like that.”
Detective Brown shared testimony from more than 10 interviews, including testimony with the school’s teacher who said the boys were not supervised at all times. Two production assistants confirmed the teacher’s testimony and told Mr. Brown that the boys were often seen unsupervised.
Brown interviewed another film crew who said he was with Busfield the entire time he was on set and that he never saw the director tickle or touch the boys.
Brown told the jury that Busfield initially told the boys he had not touched them, but later admitted to tickling them.
“He tickled them and got them pumped up for the next set,” Brown said.
Busfield told the grand jury, “Maybe I touched them, but there was never any inappropriate behavior or sexual activity. … Their father said, ‘Hug Uncle Tim,’ and that’s when I touched them. I didn’t initiate that.” I don’t remember ever kissing either of those boys. Never. Photography? Never. Oh, that’s what you do. Did I kiss them while they were taking pictures?” Have you ever tickled them under the ribs like you would your own child? Never touched them inappropriately. ”
“Parents will coach their children,” Timothy Busfield tells jurors.
Busfield told jurors that the boys’ parents fabricated the abuse as revenge for being kicked off the show and losing their pay, which totaled $30,000 per episode.
“(The boys) are victims of these criminals. It’s terrible. We shouldn’t call them criminals. Parents will coach their kids and make up (lies). I think it’s a horrible thing for these boys’ lives. They have to live with that,” Busfield said.
The boys’ father lost his law license in California and served three years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy for taking money from homeowners facing foreclosure and failing to help them, according to records from the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. He was ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution.
The boys’ mother has multiple civil judgments against her for writing bad checks and gambling debts at Las Vegas casinos, according to Nevada court records.
Brown said that if a child confesses to being a victim of sexual assault, investigators will not “start accusing the parent of being a bad parent.”
“(Our) job is to determine if something like that happened, not to determine the parent’s criminal behavior or past,” Brown said. “There are children who are victims of sexual assault whether their father or mother was released from prison or not, but just because someone was a criminal in the past doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a child who is a victim of sexual assault.”
Busfield also told the jury there was video of the boys telling police “I didn’t touch them.” The boys initially told police that they had not been physically touched.
Brown said this is especially common in prepubescent boys who are shy.
“This child’s delayed disclosure was genuine. If the child had been coached, why didn’t he first disclose when the first officer asked? For a child to go through multiple therapy sessions and then disclose to a licensed therapist nine or 10 months later does not seem like coaching to me,” Brown said. “Not only did the therapist believe the child, but the forensic interviewer believed the child. I watched the interview and believed the child, and it was consistent that this child was not lying.”
A judge is scheduled to consider evidence regarding Mr. Busfield’s request to have the grand jury indictment vacated on August 25, but Mr. Busfield will not be required to attend the hearing.
Gilbert visited the set of the Little House reboot and continues to support the show. She and her husband moved out of their New York City apartment in June to live full-time in a cabin in the Catskills.
Laura Trujillo is a national columnist focused on health and wellness. She is the author of “Stepping Back from the Ledge: A Daughter’s Search for Truth and Renewal.” Contact him at ltrujillo@usatoday.com..
Entry-level jobs that were once a gateway to upward mobility are rapidly disappearing. How can applicants prove their worth to hiring managers?
A lawsuit filed against Meta Platforms accuses the tech giant of using AI-powered software to target employees with disabilities and those on medical leave due to layoffs.
Legal experts say the case, likely the first against a major U.S. company, challenges the growing use of AI to aid hiring, promotion, performance and firing decisions.
A lawsuit filed this month in federal court in Oakland, California, alleges that Meta, which cut thousands of jobs this year, used an AI-assisted system to score and rank employees on factors such as productivity, harming employees who took time off work to get sick or care for family members.
The 26 anonymous plaintiffs in six states were notified in May that they would be terminated on July 22nd. They argue that the company violates federal and state anti-discrimination laws that protect workers with disabilities, workers on medical leave and pregnant women, and are seeking a preliminary judgment blocking Meta from carrying out the layoffs until they can pursue their claims in private arbitration.
Mehta denied that the layoffs were carried out by AI.
“These claims are baseless and not based on fact,” the company said in a statement. “Employee management and organizational decisions have been made by humans, not AI.”
Artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in who gets hired. The question now is how big a role that will play in who gets fired.
Employers are increasingly using AI to screen resumes, rank job applicants, and handle preliminary interviews. These automation tools improve efficiency and reduce headcount, but they also increase legal risk.
AI is not taking jobs away from these companies promotes employment
A federal judge in San Francisco recently ruled that a class action lawsuit must be filed against enterprise software company Workday, alleging that the company’s AI selection software discriminates against job applicants.
John Hyman, director of employment and labor practice at Wickens Herzer Panza, said the Meta lawsuit is a warning to employers who rely on artificial intelligence to make important employment decisions.
AI can be a valuable tool to inform these decisions, but employers will be held accountable if they penalize employees for protected absence, disability or other legally protected characteristics, he said.
Meta laid off 10% of its global workforce (approximately 8,000 people) in May as part of a restructuring to expand its use of AI.
“The legal question is not whether the employer used AI, but whether the employer blindly trusted it,” Hyman said. “The most successful companies will not be those that avoid AI completely, but those that rigorously audit their AI, understand how it arrives at its recommendations, and ensure that humans exercise independent judgment before making hiring decisions.”
Memorial vigil held in Bideford for Colombian man killed by ICE
Hundreds of people gathered in Biddeford, Maine, to remember a man killed by ICE as participants called for justice and oversight.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he will no longer authorize most traffic stops by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a day after authorities ordered suspensions after two people were fatally shot in Maine and Texas.
“We must be strong, tough, and smart. We cannot abandon one of ICE’s most important and effective crime-fighting tools: traffic stops,” Trump wrote on social media.
“Once we do it, we’re in the hands of criminals. Radical Left Democrats want this to get done, but it won’t happen on my watch. ICE, be sensible, fair and wise, and go back and do your very important work.”
Officials ordered the stop on July 14 after ICE officers shot and killed two people during traffic stops in six days.
On Monday, July 13, ICE agents shot and killed a Colombian man in a residential neighborhood in Biddeford, Maine. On July 7, an ICE agent shot and killed a Mexican national during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas.
Both shootings sparked protests and raised questions about the tactics of federal officials carrying out the Trump administration’s massive deportation campaign. In both incidents, ICE agents shot and killed people who were not in immigration custody, but none of the agents were wearing body cameras, officials said.
In an interview with Fox News, White House Border Security Director Tom Homan described the suspension as a “short-term review to ensure the safety and correct behavior of ICE agents.”
“This is not a policy change, but a temporary suspension,” he added.
While out with her daughter, a woman had a simple question that led to a deep realization.
The 73-year-old mother from Missouri stumbled and asked if her daughter had Parkinson’s disease. She didn’t, but it made her think. Recently, my husband’s handwriting has been decreasing. She found a list of the 10 most common signs of Parkinson’s disease online. Her husband had everything except one.
A neurologist later confirmed her suspicions. Her husband, 69, had Parkinson’s disease. And like all couples forced to face this progressive disease, their lives have not been the same since then.
They can’t travel like they used to. Their daily lives have changed. Daily life has become more difficult.
The same goes for sex.
That’s an aspect of the diagnosis that most people don’t talk about, she says. However, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) says that decreased sexual desire is “virtually inevitable” in Parkinson’s disease. Compounding the problem, women say, is the shame of talking about it. She and her husband requested that we withhold their names to protect his medical privacy and given the sensitive nature of the topic.
Dr. Rebecca Gilbert, a neurologist and chief mission officer at APDA, says many couples facing Parkinson’s disease struggle with the impact it has on their sex lives. To help with this, APDA recently launched the ParkinSex kit, a box of books, card games, and items aimed at supporting couples exploring what’s sexually possible even with Parkinson’s disease.
“There are all kinds of obstacles and barriers, and I think a lot of couples throw up their hands and say, ‘Well, this is probably not part of how we’re going to do things going forward,'” Gilbert says. “And that’s what we wanted to rally against.”
What a Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis Means for Sex
Parkinson’s disease, a neurological movement disorder, is progressive, worsens over time, and is accompanied by both motor and non-motor symptoms. Common motor symptoms include tremor, stiffness, and slowness of movement, while non-motor symptoms include anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and fatigue.
Gilbert said many couples are afraid to even discuss the effects on their sex lives with their doctors. Therefore, many people use online bulletin boards where they can participate anonymously. On Reddit, people are sharing their personal sexual experiences with the disease, offering tips and support to each other. Some of these posters depict Parkinson’s disease itself. Some people are looking for guidance on how best to love their loved ones.
Gilbert says the big challenge with Parkinson’s disease is the diversity of the disease. For some patients, sex is not an issue at all. For others, it is virtually impossible. For many people, it’s somewhere in the middle.
The key, Gilbert says, is to expand your perspective on sex. Parkinson’s disease may make sexual intercourse impossible. But other forms of intimacy, such as touching and exploring other sensations, can help couples stay connected and enjoy the erotic aspects of their relationship.
she had parkinson’s disease And I didn’t want to live. Then she underwent this surgery.
ADPA’s box comes with not only massage stones, but also a blindfold that can enhance other sensory experiences, Gilbert says. The book also offers recommendations such as taking a bath together and lighting candles to help couples get into the right mental space.
“Actual sex is the best,” says Gilbert. “But if that’s not possible at some point, there are other ways to have an intimate, sexual relationship.”
death of alan greenspan What you need to know about Parkinson’s disease
With Parkinson’s disease, it is also common for many romantic relationships to involve caregiving. When something like this happens, Gilbert says it’s important for couples to still see each other in a romantic and sexual way, even if the disease changes aspects of their relationship.
“This is a diagnosis that completely changes how you see yourself and how you see your future,” Gilbert says. “But there are many ways to maintain your quality of life for a very long time, and it can take some time after diagnosis to wrap your head around and accept this new reality.”
“It’s much more than the act of sex.”
Chronic illness always involves some kind of sadness. It’s the understanding that life will never be exactly the same.
One night, after sex, a Missouri woman and her husband had a candid conversation about the painful reality that the world is shrinking. It makes her cry. it makes him angry.
But just as Parkinson’s disease has expanded the way we view sex, it has also expanded the ways we show our love for each other. No matter how frustrating they feel, they never forget to say “thank you.” they kiss frequently. They always say “I love you”.
“While we’re here, we have to tell them that we love them, because one day they won’t be,” the woman says.
Kimberly Schlapman is caring for her mother And why we need to talk about Parkinson’s disease
She wants other couples who are struggling with their intimacy due to chronic illness, especially Parkinson’s disease, to know that they are not alone and that they don’t have to give up on sex completely. And they should never give up on each other.
“This can be a very devastating disease, but you can still show love to each other. It may not be the same for you,” she says. “You can express your love for each other, even if it’s just by kissing or holding hands, which people consider the ultimate of all things, especially these days. … You just do everything you can to express your love for each other. It’s so much more than just the act of sex.”
See who’s trying Buffalo Wild Wings’ exclusive Espresso Proteini
The Buffalo Wild Wings Proteini is an espresso martini infused with protein powder and our signature Buffalo Dry Rub. Social media users should try it out.
Buffalo Wild Wings is shaking things up with its latest menu addition.
On July 15, Buffalo Wild Wings announced an all-new menu item that might turn some heads: Poppin’ Lunch. The powdered, shakeable ranch additive is made with popping candy (think Pop Rocks) that “pops with ranch flavor and lets you hear the crackling sound with every bite,” according to a BWW news release. Poppin’ Ranch can be mixed into lunch or sprinkled directly onto wings or other BWW menu items.
The launch coincides with National Chicken Wing Day on July 29th. To celebrate the “holiday,” Buffalo Wild Wings will give away a free bone-in or boneless wing with any $15 purchase, according to a news release.
BWW surprised guests earlier this year with a limited edition Espresso Proteini, a wing-flavored espresso martini made with buffalo dry rub and 10 grams of protein.
Here’s what you need to know about getting your new Poppin’ Lunch.
When will Buffalo Wild Wings Poppin’ Ranch be available?
BWW launches Poppin’ Lunch on Monday, July 20th.
Where to find Buffalo Wild Wings Poppin’ Ranch?
BWW’s Poppin’ Lunch will be available at Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars and GO stores nationwide starting July 20th.
How much does Poppin’ Lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings cost?
Poppin’ Lunch is 99 cents per packet.
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
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nicole farato Here’s the news you need to know on Wednesday. Don’t miss England vs. Argentina today at 3pm ET ⚽
AG selection is likely to be tested by lawmakers
Today’s Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general nominee Todd Branch could turn intense as President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer is set to be grilled over his prosecution of Trump’s opponents, withholding millions of pages of Epstein files, and forgiving Trump’s unpaid taxes.
Still, to block the nomination, Democrats would need support from some Republicans, which could be a difficult task.
More news you need to know right now
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Zendaya’s fashion “Odyssey”
New York was transformed into a showcase for stylish stars at the Odyssey red carpet premiere on Tuesday, with Zendaya delivering yet another epic look.
I want to talk to you about something.
Should I wipe my Pilates Reformer?
Have you ever cringed when you saw others leaving a sweaty class without wiping down their equipment? You’re not alone. Customers at increasingly popular boutique fitness classes, such as Solid Core, have complained about cleaning practices, saying they are required to clean their machines after each class, but not everyone follows instructions. If prices are high, many say companies should do more to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as ringworm.
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Dennis Sochol was executed by lethal injection in 1982 for the murder of 18-year-old Patti Gifford, who was raped and strangled. Her body was never found, but her family still hopes to put her to rest.
Dennis Socho appeals alleging brutality of Florida’s execution method
Dennis Sochol’s appeal argues that Florida’s lethal injection law causes “severe air starvation” and violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Florida has executed a death row inmate who murdered an 18-year-old woman celebrating New Year’s Eve more than 44 years ago.
Dennis Socholl, 74, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, July 14, for the 1982 rape and murder of 18-year-old Patti Gifford in Fort Lauderdale, making him the oldest inmate in state history.
According to the Associated Press, Sochol’s last words before her death were that she “deeply regretted” her actions and that she had given her soul to Jesus Christ.
Sokol was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. ET, becoming the 10th inmate executed in Florida this year. He is also one of three elderly Florida inmates scheduled to be put to death within a month, as Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to carry out executions at a record pace in the Sunshine State.
Patti Gifford’s family has waited more than 40 years for what they consider justice. After so many years, Gifford’s grieving mother is no longer with us.
“This day does not bring Patty back, nor does it erase the 44 years our family spent without her,” the family said in a statement after the execution. “She was our sister, our daughter, our friend, and our beloved. We hope that we will remember Patty not for the cruelty of her death, but for the beauty and worth of her life.”
Here’s what you need to know about executions, crimes, and Patti Gifford.
What was Dennis Sochol convicted of?
On December 31, 1981, 18-year-old Patti Gifford and her friend, 22-year-old Delta Harville, went to Fort Lauderdale’s Banana Boat Bar to ring in the New Year. Socheol and his brother were also there.
Sochol, then 29, was wanted for a rape he confessed to in his home state of Michigan in 1979 and was convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in Florida in 1980. He was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for five years, according to archived news reports.
Patricia Bowman, a bartender working at the Banana Boat that night, testified that Gifford and Harville, both fitness-minded aerobics instructors, had only had a few glasses of champagne, according to archival reporting in the Miami Herald. By midnight, Gifford was drinking iced tea.
Witnesses reported seeing Sochol staring at Gifford throughout the night, standing close to her, trying to buy her a drink and lavishing her with compliments, according to archived Fort Lauderdale News reports. Gifford tried to brush him off, Harville later told investigators.
Shortly after midnight, Harville began to feel unwell. Gifford walked her to her car and told her he would be back. Ms. Harville fell asleep and when she woke up around 5:30 a.m., she was still alone in the car and there was no sign of Ms. Gifford. Harville later told investigators he thought he had been drugged, according to archived news reports.
At first, investigators had no idea what happened to Gifford. However, when Harville examines the photo he took at the bar that night, he finds one with So-cheol lurking in the background. That photo became the key to solving her murder case.
Sochol fled the state after the photo was published. Authorities searched for her brother, who told investigators that Gifford had agreed to go to breakfast with the men in the early hours of January 1, 1982. The brother told police he struck Gifford while driving and then began raping her on the side of the road, court documents said.
He told investigators he tried to intervene by throwing rocks at Sochol, but his brother’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and he looked like he was “possessed by the devil,” according to court records. He later changed his account and said he did not witness the rape, according to archived news reports.
In May 1986, more than four years after the incident, Sochol was arrested by Georgia authorities on suspicion of driving under the influence. When Gifford refused her advances, he confessed to raping her, strangling her, and abandoning her body in a secluded area without her brother. He later recanted and said he blamed his brother, who was not charged in the case, for the fall.
In 1987, a jury convicted Sochol of kidnapping and murdering Gifford. They recommended the death penalty by a 10-2 vote, and the justices agreed.
Patti Gifford’s body has not yet been found. Her family continues to hope that she will recover. Her sister, Marilyn Gifford, told the Sun Sentinel this week: “We wish we could have sent her home…We just want to put her to sleep.”
Who is Patti Gifford?
At 18 years old, Patricia “Patti” Marie Gifford was just getting started in life. According to archived news reports, she was a vibrant, beautiful young woman who worked as an aerobics instructor, had a long-term boyfriend, and loved her family dearly.
Her grieving brother, Bobby Gifford, couldn’t forgive her body being left out in the elements and not properly laid to rest. He spent three months searching for his sister, according to an archived article in the Fort Lauderdale News.
“This is really terrible,” he told the newspaper in 1983. “We’d sit around the dinner table and talk about her, and then I’d think, ‘Why didn’t I just talk to her about moving to Fort Lauderdale?'”
Gifford’s four children grew up in eastern Massachusetts, and Patti Gifford moved to Fort Lauderdale with her high school sweetheart just three months before the murder.
The Giffords had to wait nearly five years for their arrest and 44 years for their execution. According to the Sun Sentinel, Patti Gifford’s late mother, Barbara Ryan, sobbed in court when Sochol was found guilty of killing her daughter.
“I feel relieved,” she told the outlet. “You can’t imagine how devastated our family was.”
After Sochol’s execution, Gifford’s family said in a statement that Sochol was “full of life and deeply loved by her family and friends.”
“Sochol’s conviction and sentence in 1987 provided our family with a measure of justice, comfort and closure, knowing he was never free to harm another woman again,” they said. “When he confessed in 1987 and led detectives to the Alligator Alley area to locate Patty, we also came to understand that her body would likely never be recovered.”
Who is Dennis Sochol?
At his 1987 sentencing hearing, Sochol’s parents, brother and sister each begged for his life to be spared, saying he was the victim of an extremely violent childhood in Michigan and did not deserve to die, according to archived reports from the Miami Herald.
Both of his siblings recalled that their father beat Socheol relentlessly, and that their mother described herself as abusive. “I treated him badly,” she told jurors, the Herald reported.
At the same hearing, Sochol told the judge that he deserved death.
“There were times when I thought about suicide,” he said. “I felt like if I could hurt someone, I didn’t deserve to live.”
At the same hearing, Sochol’s violent nature toward women was revealed, and jurors heard how he was convicted of kidnapping, repeatedly assaulting and raping a 19-year-old woman in Florida in 1980. Jurors also heard a recorded confession from Sochol in which he admitted to raping another woman in Michigan and said he sometimes has sex with others and loses control, the Miami Herald reported.
“I just thought it was like a plane jump,” he told a Michigan detective. “I had no feelings, no emotions. At that point, I didn’t exist.”
Sochol’s ex-wife, who had been married for less than two years, told the jury that if he wanted sex, “he understood that. If he didn’t, he would be violent.”
“Denny’s eyes became misty and angry. Denny had a very bad temper,” she said.
Sochul repeatedly appealed his death sentence over the years. Most recently, a lawsuit argued that Florida’s lethal injection law constitutes unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment because it can cause undue pain and the sensation of drowning. Instead, Socheol wanted to be executed by firing squad. On July 8, the Florida Supreme Court rejected his argument as “without merit.”
When is the next execution?
The next execution in the United States is scheduled for July 28th, when Dominic Anthony Occhicone Jr. is executed in Florida. Otschkorn, 80, is scheduled to become the second-oldest person ever executed in the United States.
He was sentenced to death in 1986 for shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend’s elderly parents, Raymond and Martha Artzner.
Last month, 74-year-old Dusty Ray Spencer became the oldest executioner in Florida’s recorded history when he was sentenced to death on June 25 for the brutal 1992 murder of his wife in front of their teenage son. He was born less than two weeks later than Sochol, but Sochol lived 19 days longer.
Contributor: CA Bridges, USA TODAY Network – Florida
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter covering the death penalty, cold cases and breaking news for USA TODAY. Follow @amandaleeusat on X.
You don’t need to learn quantum physics to invest. Here’s how to make it work:
Dana George |The Motley Fool
Banks that handle the Social Security debit card you are changing
The Treasury Department is changing the banks that handle recipients’ debit cards, with Bank 3 replacing Comerica Bank instead of Bank 5.
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to build yourself a balanced portfolio that filters out noise and eliminates unnecessary decisions, the answer is yes.
As a bonus, you can set up and operate an exchange-traded fund (ETF) with minimal effort. Here’s how:
We aim for three investment types
If you want to cover your bases, you can do so with three types of funding.
A wide range of domestic stock market index funds.
An international stock index fund aimed at global diversification.
A high-quality bond index fund that pursues stability.
1. Domestic exposure
If you don’t know where to start, this fund is a great choice as it provides exposure to primarily domestic markets.
Fidelity 500 Index Fund (NASDAQMUTFUND:FXAIX): Invests primarily in 500 of the largest US companies, providing broad exposure to the US market. Its purpose is to mirror the performance of the S&P 500, and it does so with an extremely low expense ratio of 0.015%.
2. International exposure
There are several powerful options for broad exposure to international equities in developed markets outside of North America, including:
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMCT:IEFA): This ETF aims to track the investment results of the MSCI EAFE index, which includes large- and mid-cap companies from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other markets. The fund holds a diversified portfolio of stocks across sectors and industries. With an expense ratio of 0.07%, you can achieve the exposure you need at a low cost.
Please read this: Americans fear this retirement setback more than death
3. Bonds
If the market is off its axis, or if your portfolio is being eroded by inflation, having a bond index fund can help you minimize your losses. Here are some worth considering:
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF(NASDAQ:BND): Designed to provide broad exposure to the U.S. fixed income market, this ETF tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Adjusted Index, which represents a broad range of U.S. investment-grade bonds. Examples include U.S. government bonds, government agency bonds, corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed securities. This Vanguard ETF helps balance your portfolio and reduce risk by holding thousands of bonds.
If you want to simplify your investment process, these three easy-to-purchase and easy-to-manage index funds are all you need to get started.
Dana George has a position in Fidelity Concord Street Trust – Fidelity 500 Index Fund. The Motley Fool owns a position in and recommends the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF. 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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Once again, Spain acquired France’s jersey number. I’m dialing in the World Cup finals now.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente’s message to his team was simple.
La Roja was to play in France against one of the best teams in the world. However, coach de la Fuente told his team that Spain was: of the best team.
“That’s the key, we’re a team,” de la Fuente said. “And when you play a team like us, we are unbeatable.”
It’s hard to argue with him.
For the last three summers in a row, Spain have made Kylian Mbappé and France look dangerous, and no victory has been bigger than this one. With an emphatic 2-0 victory over Les Bleus, Spain will be playing in a World Cup final for the first time since 2010, when La Roja won their only championship.
Spain will face either England or Argentina in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
This is not luck. It’s not like France had a bad day, as they were the class of the tournament.
This was Spain ruthlessly dismantling France, clogging the midfield so Mbappé had nowhere to roam, blocking any signs of attack, finding holes in France’s defence, and turning them into huge rifts. This is Spain fielding perhaps the second strongest team in the world, knocking them off the mountain every time they approach the top.
“We knew it would be the most difficult game. They have great players, but I think we have them too,” Pau Kvarsi said.
Spain controlled the whole match
France’s play wasn’t bad. Spain will never forgive blues It will be comfortable. Apart from a few possessions here and there, Spain dictated the pace and rhythm of this match and France could do nothing about it.
France had their first shot on goal in the 81st minute. you read that correctly. none. zero. Zip. The team, which averaged nearly three goals per game and entered the semifinals with a surging offensive force, was unable to even get a shot off. Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, could have been playing in a straitjacket.
“They closed off all the spaces, and they also made some technical mistakes,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “It’s hard to cause problems when the skill level is sub-par, especially compared to previous games.”
Spain, on the other hand, took advantage of the opportunity.
in the 20’sthLucas Digne was careless while trying to clear the ball and hit Lamine Yamal in the thigh as he tried to clear the goal. That’s a textbook penalty.
Mike Menyan guessed correctly and dove to left. But it was just a little too late. Mikel Oyarzabal’s kick landed just above the outstretched hand, giving Spain a 1-0 lead. That was enough, but Pedro Polo doubled the score in the 58th minute.th Just in case.
“We don’t want to take away or throw away everything we’ve done,” Deschamps said. “We should have been more dangerous on the pitch and made the game more difficult for the Spanish team.”
Or maybe Spain is just better.
It will be difficult to beat a team that won the 2018 World Cup, reached the final four years later, and reached the semifinals of this tournament. It’s difficult to criticize a great player like Mbappé. He can (usually) create goals out of nothing. Most countries would sell their souls to acquire a player of this caliber and Mbappé.
However, it cannot be ignored that at the same time that Yamal and Spain began to rise, France’s trajectory stalled.
France was in the class of the tournament.
Perhaps we should have foreseen this coming. First at the 2024 European Championship, and then again in last summer’s Nations League, where Spain sent France home in the semi-finals. Neither match was a big deal.
Yeah, last summer’s 5-4 score was a success. look Competitiveness. Except, as Yamal reminded everyone a few hours before this semi-final, Spain had beaten France 5-1 through 75 minutes.
Deschamps said the day before the match: “There is no revenge. The past is the past.” “Yes, sure they won two games, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”
And indeed, if France was going to change its narrative against Spain, now was the time. Spain struggled in their opening game, drawing with Cape Verde. A late goal was needed to oust troublesome Berigum in the quarter-finals.
France, on the other hand, was not tested at this tournament. The team had not conceded a goal since the final round of the group stage, and it took 358 minutes for Oyarzabal to convert the penalty spot.
But the standard by which France is measured is Spain. Once again, Spain was unable to demonstrate the capabilities of Les Bleus.
Follow USA TODAY’s sports columnists on social media @nrarmour.
President Trump nominates Todd Branch as attorney general
President Donald Trump announced during remarks at a private dinner on June 3 that he plans to nominate Todd Branch for attorney general.
The July 15 Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general nominee Todd Blanche could become heated as Democrats plan to grill President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer over his prosecution of Trump’s opponents, withholding millions of pages of Epstein files and forgiving Trump’s unpaid taxes.
Since becoming acting attorney general in early April, Blanche has overseen the Justice Department’s new prosecution of President Trump target James Comey and defended the department’s efforts to create an “anti-weaponization fund” that could pay out money to Trump supporters convicted of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. After facing bipartisan backlash against the fund, Blanche said he would not move forward with it.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have already voiced opposition to Blanche’s nomination.
The committee’s top Democrat, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), accused Branch during a June 24 committee hearing of abusing the Justice Department’s “terrible prosecutorial powers” and “targeting those who seek to defy the president.”
“Blanche has treated the Department of Justice like a criminal defense firm whose only client is President Trump,” Durbin said.
Still, to block the nomination, Democrats would need support from some Republicans, which could be a difficult task.
When President Trump nominated Blanche in June, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) immediately endorsed him, saying in a statement that Blanche is “well qualified and dedicated to restoring law and order across our nation.”
Who is Todd Blanche?
Before Trump returned to the Oval Office, Branch served as Trump’s personal attorney on several cases. She sat next to the then-former president at the Manhattan criminal trial where Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
President Trump originally nominated Branch to be deputy attorney general, the number two position in the Justice Department, in November 2024. Blanche became acting attorney general after President Trump fired Pam Bondi, the first permanent attorney general of the president’s second term, in April.
Why did Mr. Trump nominate Mr. Branch?
In public, Mr. Trump has been vague about his reasons for firing Mr. Bondi, a potential indicator of his expectations for Mr. Blanche. President Trump posted on social media that Bondi was “moving on to an important new job that is much needed in the private sector.”
But President Trump was reportedly unhappy with Bondi’s lack of success in prosecuting his political opponents and critics, and with the Justice Department’s handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a former Trump friend.
In March 2025, Mr. Bondi fueled expectations that the Justice Department would release incriminating information against associates of Mr. Epstein, who died in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
But two months later, Bondi reportedly told Trump that his name appeared multiple times in the file. The Justice Department then released a memo in July saying that a systematic internal review of the files had not uncovered a list of criminal Epstein clients and that “further disclosure is not appropriate or warranted.”
In the months that followed, Bondi faced intense criticism that the Justice Department was failing Epstein’s victims and the public by failing to bring more transparency and justice to the case.
Amid these criticisms, Mr. Branch has largely become the public face of the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein file. He interviewed Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors against Epstein.
After Congress passed a bipartisan bill requiring the Justice Department to release Epstein documents with limited exceptions, Mr. Branch presided over a Justice Department press conference in January that released millions of pages of Epstein documents, many with redactions and millions more withheld.
more: Why did President Trump fire Attorney General Pam Bondi?
What did Blanche do as acting attorney general?
Under Bondi, charges against two people that President Trump had publicly sought to indict, former FBI Director James Comey and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, were dismissed. The indictment against Comey says he lied to Congress, and the indictment against James says he committed bank fraud.
Since Mr. Blanche became acting attorney general, Mr. Blanche’s Justice Department has filed a new indictment against Mr. Comey, charging him with threatening to harm or kill the president in May 2025 after he posted an image of a seashell shaped like an “86 47” on Instagram.
According to Merriam-Webster, “86” is a slang term meaning “throw away” or “remove,” and Trump is the 47th president of the United States. Some Trump supporters interpreted the post as a threat. Comey quickly deleted the post and said in a new post that he “didn’t realize that some people would associate these numbers with violence” and that he deleted the post because he opposed “violence of any kind.”
Mr. Blanche’s Justice Department also secured an indictment accusing the Southern Poverty Law Center of defrauding donors by using funds to pay informants within white supremacist groups. The center has denied deceiving anyone but has labeled some conservative groups hateful or extremist, angering many Republicans.
Mr. Blanche’s Justice Department also reached a settlement with Mr. Trump, his two eldest sons, and the Trump Organization, which was condemned by a federal judge on July 13 as an improper attempt to justify “immunity to people and entities associated with the president.” The deal was for Trump’s family and the Trump Organization to drop the lawsuit in exchange for relief from past tax obligations and the creation of an “anti-weaponization” fund.
The Justice Department said the agreement resolves a lawsuit brought by the Trump family after a federal contractor leaked tax return information from the Trump family and hundreds of thousands of other taxpayers. But the judge said it was not a legitimate legal dispute because Trump controlled both sides of the case, his side and the government’s.
Thousands of lawyers have left the Justice Department since Trump returned to office, including hundreds in leadership positions. Many former officials say the deportation harmed the Justice Department’s law enforcement efforts.
Despite his resignation, Blanche has overseen a concerted effort to strengthen the Justice Department’s crackdown on corruption. In May, the Justice Department announced criminal charges against 15 Minnesota defendants in an alleged scheme to defraud taxpayers of more than $90 million, including cases involving Medicaid and autism-related benefits.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie shared an update after a boat capsized near Alcatraz Island, leaving one person dead, two missing and 16 people rescued.
A pontoon boat carrying 19 people capsized and sank in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, prompting a massive search and rescue operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard, local fire departments, helicopters and civilian vessels, leaving one person dead and two missing.
The Coast Guard initially reported responding to a boat fire near Alcatraz Island and began rescue operations after receiving reports that a boat carrying 19 people was in distress. However, San Francisco authorities later said they found no evidence that a fire had started.
San Francisco Fire Department officials say 16 people were rescued after a boat capsized between Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. As crew members continued to search the bay, one person was confirmed dead and two others were still missing on Tuesday night.
Local television footage showed much of the ship submerged during the rescue operation, Reuters reported. Previous reports said 17 people were pulled from the water.
Boat rescue near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco
Rescue teams are responding to an apparent boat fire near Alcatraz Island off the coast of San Francisco.
Fox – Ktvu
The San Francisco Fire Department received an emergency call just after 3:30 p.m. The pontoon recreational boat left the St. Francis Yacht Club before capsizing, authorities said.
Rescue teams set up a triage area on land and transported survivors to Fort Mason, where some were treated by paramedics. Officials said several people were injured, most likely from falls into the water rather than burns. Officials also said some passengers entered the bay without life jackets.
Divers, helicopters and 11 rescue vessels searched the area into Tuesday evening. Officials said high winds, changing tides and the notoriously difficult conditions around Alcatraz Island were complicating the operation.
“This search will continue for some time,” San Francisco Fire Department officials said at a news conference.
The ship ultimately sank in approximately 120 feet of water and was reportedly leaking fuel. Personal items from the boat could still be seen floating on the water as the crew searched for the missing passengers.
Here’s what we know about the San Francisco Bay incident.
What happened to the boat that capsized near Alcatraz Island?
The emergency occurred around 3:35 p.m. Tuesday when the San Francisco Fire Department received a report of a boat fire approximately 600 yards off the coast of Alcatraz Island. Rescue teams began a full-scale marine fire response, but the first crews to arrive on the scene instead found an overturned three-story pontoon boat in the water.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said the police Marine Corps was the first to arrive at the ship.
“Police Marines were the first to arrive on the scene and found an overturned three-decker pontoon boat with one seriously injured patient on board,” Crispen said at a news conference. “They started CPR and immediately transported him to shore, where he was pronounced dead.”
What are authorities saying about the Alcatraz boat rescue operation?
Authorities believe there were 19 people on board.
At one point during the response, authorities reported that 13 survivors were safely ashore, and three others were taken to California Pacific Medical Center for treatment.
“We are still actively searching the area,” Crispen said. “We have 11 vessels at sea carrying out search operations. We will continue the search for several hours to hopefully find the two missing people.”
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie offered his condolences to the families of the victims and said multiple agencies participated in the rescue effort.
“I would like to express my condolences to the families of those who died,” Lurie said. “This is an all-out search and, hopefully, a rescue.”
Mr. Lurie also thanked the U.S. Coast Guard, San Francisco Police Department, Oakland Police Department, and firefighters for their assistance in the operation.
The search involved 11 rescue ships, divers, helicopters and Marines from multiple agencies, with crews searching the waters between Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. Debris from the boat was seen floating in the bay as rescuers continued to search for the missing passengers.
ARLINGTON, Texas — It finally happened in the 81st minute of a 90-minute game. The world’s most terrifying attack has taken a shot on target.
France manager Didier Deschamps was at a loss as to which of his top-class attackers to use, so he fielded a formidable quartet with Kylian Mbappé at the front, inspired by the creativity of Michael Olysse, and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele on one wing.
They defeated teams with six goals in three knockout matches heading into Tuesday’s semifinals.
Then I met Spain.
Desiree Douet’s shot from outside the box in the 81st minute and Dembélé’s two shots from an off-angle in the 96th and 97th minutes were the only shots they could manage against Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon in 90 minutes as France desperately tried to break through. Once again, these teams met in the semifinals. Once again France were eliminated and Spain won 2-0 thanks to goals from both sides at half-time.
more: Who is the current favorite to win the World Cup?Spain defeated France, the last favorite to win the World Cup.
Right-back Pedro Polo, who also scored the winning goal, said, “I’m very happy. I’m happy that we were able to keep a clean sheet.” “We knew it was an important game in that respect. They have very good players, so we thought we had to strengthen at the back first.”
It’s happened before.
France failed to get a shot on goal in the remaining two games of this World Cup. But keeping them quiet for nearly 90 minutes was something else entirely. So too was Spain’s extra dimension compared to teams like Paraguay, which frustrated France for much of the round of 16 match.
Rather than bunkering and hoping France wouldn’t break through in South American style, Spain put pressure on France with attacks through winger Lamine Yamal, who used his speed to keep wide defenders honest, and Dani Olmo, who happily pushed the ball towards goal. Spain attacked every time they had the ball at their feet, putting pressure on France with a counter-press that ensured France’s attackers were surrounded every time they regained possession.
Even if France won the ball back, it wasn’t enough. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente calculated that he would need the ball to instill fear into France’s defense with their formidable attack. His team kept the ball, passed well and never let Les Bleus move.
“This is a team that loves to control the game and control the ball, and we let them do that,” Mbappé said on Fox after the game. “We gave the midfield too much time to play and ended up giving them the authority to play. It will be difficult not to change Spain’s plan.”
Yamal, forward Mikel Oyarzabal and other attackers often steal the headlines despite Spain conceding just one goal en route to the final. However, in the semi-finals, La Roja’s back four and midfield combination of Rodri and Fabian Ruiz sealed the match once again.
Coach de la Fuente has kept Luiz in his starting lineup even with a healthy Pedri at his disposal. The PSG man has a special presence in the box thanks to his size, but on Tuesday he was everywhere, breaking up play and moving into the attacking third when needed. The decision to play Luiz over Pedri looks to get better with each game and with each performance from Luiz, who finished the day with seven defensive contributions, including a blocked shot inside the area.
That made life easier for the centre-backs, with Yamal and fellow 19-year-old Barcelona player Pau Kvarsi, who is already playing beyond his years, showing solid performances, and French-born Aymeric Laporte having a great game. The Basque defender was not to be outdone and ensured that he was in a position to prepare for the odd number of rushes that France would make in every game.
Without Polo, Laporte’s performance would have been man of the match. The future relationship with Yamal is one of the most dangerous combinations for Spain. They worked well together against France, but it was the combination with Olmo that led to Polo’s second goal of the tournament.
Goal from Spain! ! A goal that smells like the final!!! Great goal! !
After a great play with many touches, Pedro Polo stands alone against Menhão… Great assist from Olmo!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 14, 2026
“I think it’s one of the most important things in the world of football. Achieving a clean sheet is a big help,” Kvarsi said. “There may have been a little bit of talk about the defense and goaltending not being good, but I think we shut up a lot of things. We got to the finals again, and I think we did a great job.”
How many analysts and fans pressed the panic button when Spain, who had been attracting attention as the favorite to win the tournament, lost their opening game to a goalless draw with Cape Verde? How things change depending on context.
Of course, we learned about Bosinho and the Cape Verdean defense. But it was also a soft start to De La Fuente’s lockdown defense. Fixes were needed to get the team working properly. Polo started the next game, effectively winning the starting role. Lewis needed to be given more freedom.
It seemed like it wasn’t enough, but the Spanish team was now just one win away from winning the World Cup title for the second time in history. These games are where stars are born, and it could be the moment when Yamal, Olmo or another leading scorer forever etches their name in the history books.
But highlight reel editors should also be ready to compile a reel of Lewis’ best blocks, Laporte’s best tackles and Perrot’s top defense-to-attack transitions.
Because France’s top stars, those who edit Mbappe’s brilliance, Elise’s ingenuity and Dembele’s dribbling, will have little to work with from the semi-finals. Spain’s back six thwarted the French attack and sent La Roja to the final.
Will Trader Joe’s open a store in South Philadelphia?
Is Trader Joe’s coming to the Philadelphia area? Here’s what we know.
Trader Joe’s is expanding, with five more stores scheduled to open across the U.S. in the coming months.
The California-based grocer, which operates in 42 states, plans to add three more locations, building on momentum from previous new store opening announcements. The move confirms the grocery store chain’s steady growth strategy as demand for low-priced private label groceries continues to increase.
New stores are planned in California, Illinois and Maryland. Trader Joe’s has already opened various stores in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and New York starting in early 2026.
As with other store opening announcements, Trader Joe’s did not provide a specific date for when the new store would open.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming opening.
Where will Trader Joe’s open new stores?
Five new stores are scheduled to open in three states. These locations are:
3962 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego
2741 Plainfield Road, Joliet, Illinois
2135 Claribel Road, Riverbank, California
6311 York Road, Baltimore
1590 Leucadia Blvd., Encinitas, California
These three new stores are in addition to others that Trader Joe’s announced earlier this year.
21001 N Tatum Blvd. #1030, Phoenix
8199 S Tamiami Trail #100, Sarasota, Florida
804 W Montrose Ave, Chicago
111 McConville Way, Quincy, MA
27658 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills, MI
3515 W Genesee St., Syracuse, New York
2482 Central Park Ave., Yonkers, New York
2643 Warrensville Center Road, University Heights, OH
5561 W 7800 S, West Jordan, Utah
34 Walker’s Brook Drive, Reading, MA
1444 North Alafaya Trail, Orlando
8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Merriam, KS
3377 US Hwy. 190, Mandeville, Louisiana
2428 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans
8111 S Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida
2150 E Broadway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona
14035 NE Woodinville Duvall Road, Woodinville, Washington
1000 Medley Blvd., Johns Creek, GA
8101 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney, TX
2457 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles, California
6336 E Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, California
1710 Camellia Blvd., Lafayette, LA
471 Mt Pleasant Ave., West Orange, New Jersey
13414 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, Washington
401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle
4850 W 13400 South Herriman, Utah
1930 US-34, Oswego, Illinois
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_.
2026 MLB Draft Recap: Best Picks and Biggest Steals
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lux breaks down the biggest stories of the 2026 MLB Draft, including Rock Cholowski going No. 1 overall to the White Sox.
The 96th Midsummer Classic ended with the American League winning the championship for the 11th time in 13 years.
This victory follows an overwhelming pitching performance that resulted in the AL’s first shutout victory in 13 years in 2013, when the AL defeated the National League 3-0. On Tuesday, the AL attacked National League batters 15 times, allowing just three hits, and starter Dylan Cease set the tone with a strikeout in the top of the first inning.
Must read: Yankees’ Cody Bellinger quiets Philadelphia crowd and wins All-Star Game MVP
The AL took an early lead, with the Phillies’ Christopher Sanchez paying for two early walks with back-to-back doubles by Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice. Bellinger, who was named MVP after the game, scored two runs with a hit, and Rice drove in one run. Later in the game, former Dodgers prospect Miguel Vargas became the third White Sox player to hit a home run in an All-Star Game, joining Frank Thomas and Maglio Ordonez. In the end, the result was even as the AL won 4-0.
This game didn’t have the fireworks of last year’s swing-off, but the Philadelphia faithful got to see all six players on the roster, with João Duran bookending Sanchez as the National League’s starting and final pitcher. Bryce Harper received a huge ovation from the fans when he stepped up to the plate as a “Legend Designated Player,” while Juan Soto overcame the boos and delivered one of the three National League hits of the game.
All in all, it was a dominant pitching performance with a few batters able to break through at the right time. Now, while players can turn their attention to the second half of the season, fans are plunged headlong into trade deadline speculation season.
USA TODAY Sports broadcast the All-Star Game live from Philadelphia. The progress is as follows.
team
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When Sal Stewart chopped the ball back to the mound, Baker easily threw him away, giving the American League its 11th win in 13 years with a score of 4-0.
Aroldis Chapman gets two outs, but John Schneider goes to the pen for what will likely be his final outing. Brian Baker will pitch in his first All-Star Game and aim for a shutout in the American League.
Despite allowing a weak ball to Arozarena, Duran grounded out the next two batters to end the inning. Aroldis Chapman of the Red Sox appears to try to end the game.
Dave Roberts no longer has time to use all his arms. After Padres superstar Mason Miller takes on Munetaka Murakami, Roberts heads to the pen to throw in Joan Duran at Home Park. He will first face the Mariners’ Randy Arozarena.
The last time an All-Star team lost a shutout was in 2013, when the American League won 3-0 in the National League. Who was the pitcher for that game? Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Felix Hernandez, Matt Moore, Grant Balfour, Greg Holland, Brett Cecil, Steve Delabar, Mariano Rivera, Joe Nathan.
For the Cubs, Pete Crowe Armstrong was completely out of sorts and singled against Lewis Burland with one out. The National League will be trying to piece together something to close the gap before heading towards ninth place.
One of the biggest surprises of the first half of the season came from the Chicago White Sox, when one of their All-Stars hit a solo home run deep into the left field seats, his first extra-base hit of the game. The American League currently leads 4-0.
The American League used seven pitchers who combined to strike out 13 National League batters. Dylan Schiess of the Blue Jays struck out in the first inning, and Michael Wacha of the Royals, Joe Ryan of the Twins, and Cade Smith of the Guardians each had two RBIs.
Reds rookie Sal Stewart issued a two-out walk against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the National League its only runner on third base of the game. In the National League, he had one hit (Juan Soto of the Mets) and one other walk (Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers).
Jacob Lutz of the Rangers relieved Rasmussen and struck out Luis Arraez to end the seventh inning.
Another inning, another dominant pitcher’s performance. The Dodgers’ Justin Robleski struck out the National League, and the game remained in the lead, 3-0, going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
When Cade Smith takes the mound, Bryce Harper appears and gets a big ovation. He shook hands with the umpire, but struck out and walked away muttering, “They’re disgusting.”
Iglesias allowed a hit to Willson Contreras, but earned a scoreless victory in the National League. The pitchers maintained their dominance in this game as well.
Kevin McGonigle steps up and hits a sharp ball that is handled cleanly and gets out at first. Raisel Iglesias is on the mound in the National League.
Nick Martinez got through the inning without giving up a run, and it was punctuated by a spectacular play to midfield by Ernie Clement, who completed a jumping throw to first base with a backhand. Great play by the Jays’ 2B.
One of baseball’s greatest stories, the Nationals’ Foster Griffin, takes the mound in the National League. The 30-year-old rookie, who pitched for three years in Japan, got through the innings without giving up a run. The pitching staff remains dominant.
After allowing a hit to Soto, Ryan struck out the next three batters in order and struck out two. Head to the top of the 5th inning.
Rays fans, hold your breath. Junior Caminero underwent X-rays at CBP and the results were negative, so the star hitter’s initial prognosis is positive. Obviously more testing needs to be done, but the early signs are good.
In the National League, Juan Soto had a hit and Freddie Freeman had a runner on first base with no outs. Joe Ryan of the Twins is currently pitching in the American League.
Luzardo pitches 1-2-3 innings, giving him no time to catch his breath in this game. Halfway through this game, the only blemish on either team’s scoresheet is the top of the first inning. The National League will return to the plate with the aim of making amends.
AL pitches another clean inning
What about the All-Star Game? The pitcher is also an All-Star. In the AL, Michael Washa will go past the third inning, while in the NL he will be replaced by Jesús Luzardo and William Contreras will be on the other side of the battery.
Despite some traffic jams on the basepaths, O’Brien gets the National League out of the inning unscathed. It’s the bottom of the third inning in a 3-0 game. The latest information about Caminero will be updated from time to time.
Riley O’Brien hit the Rays’ Junior Caminero, leaving the Tampa Bay slugger injured. It seems like it hit his hand, so now I’m waiting for an update.
They want Parker Messick to come out and get Brett Marsh and hold the National League to 1-2-3 with two consecutive scoreless innings. After scoring a three-run lead in the top of the first inning, the pitching seemed to be calming down in the early going.
Eduardo Rodriguez led the AL in just eight pitches, and after a long first inning, we’re already heading into the bottom of the second inning. It was a great performance for a Diamondbacks starting pitcher.
After giving up a walk to Freeman, Schiess struck out Abrams to get back on track. He strikes out the side and the AL returns to the plate.
After striking out Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto, Schiess walked Freeman on a full count. Rather than using a pitch com, Schiess calls pitches on the air alongside Shea Langeliers, with John Smoltz sometimes involved in pitch selection. CJ Abrams will be in the cleanup position.
Sanchez stopped the bleeding and struck out Riley Greene to end the inning and send the at-bat to the National League. You’ll start from the hole, but there’s a good chance you’ll score here.
The Yankees are representing us! Now Ben Rice, another left-hander, brought Sanchez to center field and scored his third AL run of the inning. Sanchez remains the No. 8 batter for now.
Christopher Sanchez during an early jam
Yordan Alvarez hit to center field, and Sanchez walked two of the next three batters and found himself in a bases-loaded situation with Cody Bellinger. Bellinger hit a 2-for-2 sinker that stayed in the middle and hit two plates to make it 2-0 for the AL in the first inning. Sanchez is usually confident against left-handed batters, but here he allowed two hits to left-handed batters in the early going.
In what might be the game’s most fan-friendly matchup, Sanchez struck out Trout with a nasty 88 mph changeup and recorded the first out. It’s truly one of the most dangerous pitches in baseball, whether in exhibition or regular season.
Sanchez is on the mound for the National League as the AL prepares to open in Philadelphia. Sanchez has a 2.62 ERA and a 144-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Sanchez threw to Trout, who started, and Trout fouled it, making it 0-1.
Philadelphia native Patti LaBelle will sing the national anthem and give a powerful performance.
The introductions ended at the All-Star Game, and Philadelphia fans showed their usual graciousness. While Kevin McGonigle, Mike Trout and all the Phillies received a warm welcome, the National League East players, especially Juan Soto and the Dodgers, were booed loudly.
Who won the Home Run Derby in 2026?
Jordan Walker turned heads in the Home Run Derby, hitting a home run in his final six swings to beat local favorite Kyle Schwarber. Walker’s parents also stole the show and became the darlings of the broadcast after their son successfully took home the Liberty Bell chain.
The Chicago White Sox’s representative player is Tristan Peters, a former member of the Savannah Bananas who became a national sensation. Here’s what you need to know about Peters.
As left-handed ace Christopher Sanchez prepares for his home start in the All-Star Game, John Luzzi examines how he became one of baseball’s most talented dealers. Click here to read Sanchez’s story.
Several different generations will receive a great reception from the Philadelphia crowd. Angels’ Mike Trout returned to the All-Star Game, while Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle returned to his roots. Read about it here.
In the National League, Dave Roberts will be paired with local ace Christopher Sanchez, who played for the Phillies. Let’s take a look at the batting order for the entire National League.
Starting pitcher: Philadelphia Phillies LHP Christopher Sanchez
DH Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
LF Juan Soto (New York Mets)
1B Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
SS CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals
3B Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
2B Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
RF Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies
CF Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers
C Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
Dylan Cease will be taking the mound in the AL, paying the price for manager John Schneider and the American League. Here’s the starter:
Starting pitcher: Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dylan Stopp
CF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
DH Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
C, Shea Langeliers, Athletics
3B Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
SS Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
RF Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees
1B Ben Rice, New York Yankees
LF Riley Green, Detroit Tigers
2B Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
What TV channel is the MLB All-Star Game on today?
TV channel: fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fuho
Fox will broadcast Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. Joe Davis and Hall of Famer John Smoltz will broadcast the game from a booth at Citizens Bank Park, with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci serving as field reporters.
Streaming options include the Fox Sports Go app (with TV login) and Fubo, which offers Fox.
Today’s MLB All-Star Game start time
date: Tuesday, July 14th
time: 8pm ET
The ceremonial first pitch for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th at 8:00 pm ET.
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes takes a look at the states with the most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.
The Mega Millions jackpot has increased again ahead of the drawing on Tuesday, July 14th, and now stands at $637 million, with a cash value of $278 million.
If someone is lucky enough to win the jackpot on Tuesday, they have two options. Take home one-time cash or get paid instantly, then receive an annual check that’s 5% larger than the previous year.
No players won the jackpot on July 10, but someone in Florida won $2 million and had a fun night. The last Mega Millions jackpot winner was more than three months ago, when an Ohioan took home $60 million on St. Patrick’s Day.
With the Tuesday, July 14th Mega Millions drawing just hours away, here’s what you need to know.
What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for July 14, 2026?
Winning number: 2-3-10-48-56 And Gold Mega Ball: twenty two
What you need to know. Which states have the most lottery winners? What you need to know.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, July 17th at 11:00 PM ET.
Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots
August 8, 2023, $1.602 billion in Florida.
$1.537 billion in South Carolina on October 23, 2018
January 1, 2023, $1.348 billion in Maine
July 29, 2022, $1.337 billion in Illinois
December 27, 2024, $1.269 billion in California
$1.128 billion in New Jersey on March 26, 2024
January 22, 2021, $1.05 billion in Michigan
$983 million in Georgia on November 14, 2025
$810 million in Texas on September 10, 2024
March 30, 2012, $656 million in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland
What is Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is a lottery that is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each ticket costs $5, and players can choose six numbers from two different number pools: five different numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (gold mega ball), or choose Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
If you match all six winning numbers in the drawing, you win the jackpot. If there are multiple jackpot winners, the jackpot prize will be shared.
How to play Mega Millions
To play Mega Millions, you must purchase a ticket. This can be done at several locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.
In some states, you can purchase Mega Millions tickets online.
Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls numbered from 1 to 70. Gold Mega Balls range from 1 to 24.
If you’re feeling particularly unlucky or don’t want to go through the hassle of picking, you can request a “quick pick” or “easy pick.” When you use these options, your computer randomly generates numbers.
Mega Millions tickets have built-in multipliers that increase your non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. Previously, players had to pay an extra dollar to add a “Megaplier”.
This story has been updated with new information.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
The CDC is warning of an increase in cyclosporiasis cases. Here’s what you need to know:
Cases of cyclosporiasis are increasing across the United States as authorities warn of contaminated produce and symptoms.
Officials are still investigating whether certain foods and produce are contributing to the surge in cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic disease that can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.
As of July 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,600 cases of cyclosporiasis, but the agency said it is working to confirm more than 5,000 additional infections.
State-by-state data suggests the total number of cases is even higher. In Michigan alone, authorities were tracking more than 2,600 cases as of July 13, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the CDC, the disease is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and is usually spread through contaminated food such as produce or water.
The CDC has not yet determined the cause of the current increase in infections, and there is no evidence that all cases are tied to a single multi-state outbreak. But Michigan officials indicated they were investigating whether lettuce was the source of the outbreak in the state.
As the disease continues to spread, here’s what you need to know about produce and its role in past outbreaks.
Track your case: Latest updated map tracking ‘explosive diarrhea’ cases in the US
Is cyclosporiasis caused by produce? What you need to know about possible sources
According to the CDC, people often contract cyclosporiasis by ingesting water or food contaminated with feces. Cyclospora parasites are often spread through agricultural products.
The CDC has not determined the cause of the current surge, but officials in at least one state have suggested agricultural products may be involved.
Michigan officials announced on July 13 that they were focusing on lettuce as a possible source of the state’s outbreak, but said they had not ruled out other foods.
What foods have been linked to past cyclosporiasis outbreaks?See list
According to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the outbreak tracking website Outbreak Database, the following foods have been linked to past cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the United States and Canada:
Bagged salad mixes and kits
basil
blackberries
Carrots/celery
coriander
green onion
green peas
leaf lettuce
parsley
onion
raspberry
romaine lettuce
snow peas
strawberry
tomato salad
zucchini
Should you avoid fresh food? Expert opinion
Experts say there is a link between produce and crossporiasis, so it’s best for people concerned about the disease to be careful about which fruits and vegetables they eat, but there’s no need to write off produce completely.
Dr. Labia de Latour, a gastroenterologist at New York University Langone, said she personally avoids bagged lettuce, cilantro, parsley and raspberries until the source of the infection is determined. Fruits and vegetables with their skins on, such as bananas, oranges and kiwis, are safe to eat as long as they’re washed, she says.
“The reason we have to generalize advice at this point is because we don’t know the source,” de Latour told USA TODAY.
Although cystospermia is not fatal and there are treatments, de Latour warned that the disease could be much worse for immunocompromised people and other vulnerable people.
Joellen Russell, a professor of climate and integrated science at the University of Arizona and co-founder of the nonpartisan group Science Moms, said people need to be especially careful about fresh lettuce and bag salad mixes.
Russell said it depends on where the lettuce and produce was grown, as irrigation water used for fresh produce is likely contaminated in states with high case numbers, such as Michigan.
“My biggest concern is bag salad mixes. They’re usually mixed together, probably from multiple producers. And that can make it even more difficult,” Russell told USA TODAY.
Dr. Kartik Cherrabdi, chief of hospital epidemiology at Tampa General Hospital, stressed that people should be aware, not alarmed.
“Consumers should remember that the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh the risks. The emphasis should be on safe handling and preparation,” Cherrabdi said.
How to reduce the risk of cyclosporosis
In addition to potentially avoiding certain foods altogether, you can also take other steps to reduce your risk of contracting cysticercosis, such as cooking fruits and vegetables and immediately refrigerating cooked produce.
To reduce the risk of foodborne illness from produce, the CDC recommends taking the following steps:
Wash your hands with soap and water when handling raw fruits and vegetables.
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
Fruits and vegetables labeled as “pre-washed” do not need to be washed again at home.
Scrub hard fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
Remove any bruised or damaged parts of fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them.
Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
Contributor: Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
E. Jean Carroll awarded $5.6 million, Trump holds liable for sexual abuse and defamation
President Trump paid more than $5.6 million, including interest, to E. Jean Carroll, who was accused of sexually abusing and defaming her.
Author E. Jean Carroll referenced the historic Apollo 11 mission in a social media post on July 14, reacting to the news that the $5 million plus interest awarded to her in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump will finally be paid after weeks of legal wrangling.
“The Eagle has landed,” she wrote on X while reposting the development report.
American astronaut Commander Neil Armstrong famously radioed the same words to mission control in Houston after he and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to reach the surface of a celestial body in the galaxy.
On July 20, 1969, after the lunar module made contact with the moon’s surface, Captain Armstrong said, “Houston, this is Calm Base.” “The Eagle has landed.”
Historical words of the mission to the moon
Astronauts departed Kennedy Space Center on July 16th, taking part in a historic and world-famous mission to become the first humans to land on the moon. This goal was a priority of President John F. Kennedy, and a NASA facility is named after him.
Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Space Coast shorelines, beaches, and parking lots to watch the Saturn V ascent.
Four days later, Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the moon’s surface while fellow astronaut Michael Collins orbited the moon in the command module Columbia.
Closer to home, in 2023, a federal civil jury found President Trump responsible for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, an allegation the president continues to deny.
On July 14, more than $5.6 million was paid out of funds raised to keep President Trump in custody while he appeals his sentence, according to court records. The spending comes just over two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 decision not to review the president’s appeal.
Carroll had asked a Manhattan court to order the president to pay, arguing that Trump was using improper delay tactics. President Trump said he is asking the Supreme Court to reconsider the case.
Carroll, a New York author, journalist and former advice columnist, filed a lawsuit in 2019 accusing Trump of assault and defamation, accusing him of lying about a 1996 sexual assault at a New York City department store and disrespecting his character.
Contribute; Mara Bellaby, USA TODAY Network – Florida
