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Citing dangerous and unsafe conditions in immigration detention centers

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Federal authorities wasting tens of millions of dollars, losing loaded firearms and detainees, and violating internal guidelines for housing detainees in their rush to open a massive immigration detention center in Texas, according to a new study by the Government Accountability Office.

Most of the issues are related to federal authorities’ decision to allow the military to build a vast tent city at Camp East Montana, which was then taken over by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the GAO said. The report also said ICE officials failed to inspect the $1.3 billion facility before sending detainees to Army Fort Bliss outside El Paso in August 2025.

Camp East Montana is the largest immigrant detention center in the country and can hold up to 5,000 people. In January 2026, the death of a detainee inside the facility was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. GAO said evidence in the case was lost or destroyed. GAO is Congress’ research agency.

“These problems contributed to a waste of government resources and threats to the health and lives of detained noncitizens and facility personnel,” GAO said in the report. “The Army and ICE’s planning and acquisition approach to Camp East Montana allowed for rapid contract award, which contributed to negative outcomes during facility operations.”

Federal authorities created Camp East Montana as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, arguing that using existing military construction contracts would allow them to act more quickly than under civilian rules.

Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report. ICE officials rated the facility “acceptable/adequate” in an April 2026 internal review that cited many of the same issues as the GAO report.

GAO said the differences in how the Army and ICE approached the project created a series of other problems.

  • Detainees with highly contagious tuberculosis were housed with the general population because camp administrators failed to properly screen for tuberculosis.
  • Guards bribed detainees with cookies to clean their detention areas. Additionally, ICE paid for meals for months that were not provided, as the contract required full payment regardless of the number of people actually in custody.
  • In March 2026, detainees escaped from the facility, which ICE officials blamed on a contractor’s failure to track the detainees. It is not clear from the GAO report whether the detainees were remanded in custody.
  • Also in March, ICE officials announced they had not recovered a loaded weapon lost by a contracted security guard in January.
  • In January 2026, a detainee died by suicide after being left alone in a medical detention room and not being checked every 15 minutes as required.

The facility has also experienced a measles outbreak, and immigrant rights groups are suing the federal government over conditions.

Former detainees held at Camp East Montana detailed consistent mistreatment by guards in interviews with the USA TODAY Network, echoing allegations made in the lawsuit. They reported being called “donkeys,” told to shut up, and threats against the detainees’ loved ones.

Congressional Democrats called for a GAO investigation. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said in a statement that the conditions at Camp East Montana “shocked the conscience.”

Durbin said, “Not only does the regime often unjustly detain people, but those detained experience conditions that shock their conscience. Excessive use of force, lack of medical and psychological care, and wasted taxpayer dollars are the hallmarks of this mass deportation program. Americans have rightly expressed outrage at these policies, and it is time to hold ICE and its private contractors accountable.”

The GAO report said it hopes federal officials can learn lessons from the report and apply them to ongoing plans to open large warehouse-based detention centers across the country.

“Both the Army and the Department of Homeland Security have made decisions that contribute to serious problems at Camp East Montana. As a result, we continue to believe that both agencies should evaluate their acquisitions and identify lessons that will inform future acquisitions that support ICE’s detention operations,” GAO said.

Trump administration strips citizenship from 17 immigrants

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The Justice Department is moving to strip U.S. citizenship from 17 immigrants across the country, the latest push in the Trump administration’s growing denaturalization efforts.

On June 8, the Department of Justice announced that it had filed lawsuits against naturalized citizens accused of criminal offenses including sexual abuse, wire fraud, and drug distribution in multiple districts of the United States.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, federal authorities can ask a judge to revoke a naturalized U.S. citizen’s designation if they are ineligible or do not meet the requirements under which they were granted citizenship. This is usually based on accusations that the person engaged in fraud, deception, or misrepresentation when acquiring citizenship.

“American citizenship is a privilege that must be earned honestly. If you come here and break the law and lie in the immigration process, that privilege will be taken away,” Secretary of Homeland Security Mark Wayne Mullin said in a statement.

Officials in the second term of the Trump administration have vowed to expand denaturalization, which has been little used in recent decades. Last year, the Justice Department released a memo directing the department’s civil rights division to “prioritize and maximize denaturalization procedures.”

Between 1990 and 2017, there was an average of 11 degenerative incidents per year. President Trump initiated the process against naturalized citizens during his first term, filing an average of about 25 cases a year.

In May, the Justice Department moved to strip more than a dozen people of their naturalized citizenship. Authorities have accused them of crimes ranging from supporting terrorist groups and war crimes to sexual abuse of minors.

Contributor: Eduardo Cuevas

Mortgage distress is rising at exactly the wrong time, observers say

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Patricia Kidd has a front-row seat to the ups and downs of the housing market from her office in Painesville, Ohio, just north of Cleveland.

The area was often considered the epicenter of the 2010s foreclosure crisis, but since then, many residents have struggled with housing affordability issues like other parts of the country due to skyrocketing home prices.

Kidd is executive director of the Fair Housing Resource Center, an agency certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that provides a full range of services, from counseling to help people achieve homeownership to complaints about civil rights violations by landlords.

But Kidd’s budget was cut when President Donald Trump took office in 2025 and his administration made widespread cuts to the federal budget. She had to lay off four full-time and 12 part-time employees, and subsequent policy changes have left her remaining staff unable to provide many of the services Ohioans have relied on for years.

“People can’t afford it and they’re falling behind,” Kidd said. “Their budgets are tighter than before, and they have nowhere to turn.”

“HUD has focused on strengthening housing programs and supporting the households most dependent on federal assistance. As a result, approximately 1.5 million Americans have obtained FHA-insured single-family mortgages, and more than 80 percent of them are first-time homebuyers,” a HUD spokesperson said in an emailed response to USA TODAY’s request for comment for this story.

Despite the bullish glow of official economic data, many Americans are struggling. Delinquencies are on the rise for everything from student loans to credit cards. But perhaps no indicator is more closely monitored than mortgage failures, perhaps because they played such a large role in bringing down the financial system in 2008.

Observers say we are far from that. But the economy of 2026 presents unique challenges that were unimaginable just a few years ago. And as observers like Kidd help average Americans navigate the housing market, it’s sometimes hard to remember the meticulous planning that took place after 2008 to predict the next economic downturn.

According to real estate analysis firm Kotality, as of March, the percentage of home loans nationwide that were in any stage of delinquency, that is, home loans that were 30 days or more past due, was 3%, an increase of 0.2 points from March 2025. The national foreclosure inventory rate, or the percentage of all homes with mortgages that are foreclosed on, rose to 0.4%, the highest level in six years.

Thelma Hepp, chief economist at Kotality, said that was to be expected. Once the subprime bubble woes left the system, delinquencies and foreclosures remained near their lowest levels for several years. Lending was tightened significantly after the bubble burst, and then policies enacted in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic gave homeowners some respite on mortgage payments during difficult times.

Hepp said delinquency rates remain low today compared to history. But the fact that they’re concentrated among buyers who generally have to stretch their legs to buy a home, especially those with loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs, suggests that even more trouble may lie ahead.

What’s even more worrying is that the people who are having the most trouble are recent borrowers, meaning those who bought in 2022 or later. This suggests that the combination of rising house prices and rising interest rates may prove too burdensome for many companies that have recently entered the market.

The cuts to agencies like Kidd come at exactly the wrong time, she said in an interview. As the overall cost of living rises, homeowners in her area are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their mortgages.

Cuts to both funding and programs mean she and her staff have to turn away people seeking help. Kidd says it’s “heartbreaking.”

Are the rise in foreclosures a sign of worse things to come?

“This is a canary in the coal mine,” said Sharon Cornelissen, director of housing for Consumers Federation of America, a national nonprofit advocacy group. “We come from historically low levels of distress, and we recently had historically low interest rates, which pushed up affordability.”

However, conditions worsened as the standards by which lenders evaluated borrowers became slightly more relaxed. “People are really struggling to afford a home,” Cornelissen said. She said she felt uncomfortable that a key lesson of the subprime bubble – that lenders had to ensure that borrowers were “able to pay” – was being ignored in a well-intentioned push to get people into homeownership.

Even after a financial crisis, the vast majority of borrowers will almost always suffer from some sort of distressing event, such as a job loss, a natural disaster, or the death of a family member.

Based on what Cotality’s data shows, Hepp believes we’re in much the same situation today. For example, devastating hurricanes in 2024 could lead to defaults in South Carolina and Georgia, while rising insurance costs could put pressure on borrowers in California and Florida, he said.

But despite these exogenous factors, the struggles of borrowers who bought their homes relatively recently and are unable to make just a few monthly payments or none at all points to something more troubling, Hepp said. Many of these owners may have bought with the idea that they would be able to quickly refinance to a lower interest rate, but that didn’t happen and they were stuck.

Housing crisis guardrails are eroding

Whatever the reason for the default, housing observers are most concerned that the guardrails put in place after the housing crisis are no longer useful. It wasn’t just the housing counseling program that was destroyed. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has fired employees, removed online resources, and discontinued regulatory enforcement actions.

“2026 is exactly the wrong time to make it harder for homeowners in need to get help,” Kidd said. “Access should be easier, not harder. When someone is facing hardship, the first question should be, ‘How can I help?'” Not, “What funding category do you fit into?” ”

This story has been updated with additional information.

J.D. Vance welcomes Pope Leo’s opinion amid feud with President Trump

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Vice President J.D. Vance took a conciliatory approach to the Vatican in an interview with USA TODAY after the Trump administration sparred with Pope Leo on the Iran issue.

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WASHINGTON – Vice President J.D. Vance said he “welcomes” Pope Leo’s opposition to the Trump administration despite the president’s efforts to condemn Iran and said it could encourage dialogue.

The country’s second vice president of the Catholic Church told USA TODAY that he believes the Vatican and the Pope can play a constructive role on issues such as immigration and humanitarian aid to Cuba, adding: “It is entirely appropriate for the Vatican and other religious groups to take into account the moral concerns facing policymakers.”

“We actually welcome the Vatican’s involvement in these issues, even when we disagree, and perhaps especially when we disagree,” he said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY in conjunction with the release of his new book.

Vance said he is trying to navigate the contentious relationship between his boss and his spiritual leader, but does not expect Leo to be “silent” or “apolitical” on serious issues. At the same time, he said, “I don’t think it means that the Vatican is always right.”

Vance said political leaders are far better equipped to deal with public policy than religious leaders.

The comments came after Vance warned Leo in April to “be careful” when talking about theology and said the Vatican should “stick to moral issues” in some cases, following the pope’s conflict with President Donald Trump.

Trump said on social media that Leo should “focus on being a great pope, not a politician.” He also accused the Pope of “putting many Catholics at risk.”

President Donald Trump vs. Pope Leo

Vance, a likely 2028 presidential candidate, has been thrust into the middle of a feud between Trump and the Pope that has rattled the U.S. Catholic community. He further expanded on his views on the pope’s role in public policy debates in a June 8 interview focused on his forthcoming book, “Communion: Finding the Path to Faith.” The book, scheduled for release on June 16, is a sequel to Vance’s best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.

Vance’s religious views could support a potential presidential campaign. Winning the Republican nomination will require the support of conservatives who strongly support Trump. But in recent days, the president has angered religious conservatives by posting Christ-like images of himself online and slamming Pope Leo and the Vatican.

When President Trump posted on social media in April that he would wipe out “the entire civilization” of Iran if his administration did not meet its demands, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics said the threat was “truly unacceptable.”

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump slammed Leo, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy,” adding: “He should stop pandering to the radical left and focus on being a great pope, not a politician.”

The Pope responded that he was not afraid of “the government or speaking loudly the message of the Gospel.”

“In some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to moral issues and events in the Catholic Church and let the president of the United States dictate American public policy,” Vance told Fox News host Bret Baier on April 13.

Vatican, war, immigration

Vance also fired back at the pope after Leo said in a social media post at the Turning Point USA rally in Georgia on April 14 that “no disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, will ever stand with those who once wielded swords and today drop bombs.”

“Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis?” Vance said. “Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated the Holocaust camps and liberated those who survived the Holocaust? I certainly think the answer is yes.”

The Catholic Church has long expressed its opposition to war. Mr. Vance, who has criticized U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, reportedly expressed concern about joining the Iran conflict and defended the Iran war.

“Of course, we may disagree about whether this or that dispute is legitimate, but I think it’s very important for the Pope to be careful when he speaks about theological issues, just as it’s important for the vice president of the United States to be careful when he speaks about issues of public policy,” Vance said on April 14.

At the same time, he added, “I like it” when the pope speaks out on immigration, abortion and war. This is because “at least it invites conversation.”

Tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican appear to have eased somewhat after the initial confrontation between President Trump and Pope Leo. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Vatican in May in what was widely seen as a peacebuilding mission, Vance recently told NBC News that he felt the Pope’s encyclical warning about artificial intelligence was “very profound and something that I would expect and hope for in the leadership of the church.”

The Trump administration has also clashed with the Vatican on immigration issues. Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, wrote an open letter to U.S. Catholic bishops last year criticizing President Trump’s push for deportations, calling it a “grave crisis” and “will have dire consequences.”

“The media exaggerated the conflict for clicks and ratings,” Vance wrote in his book, adding that he preferred Francis’ “concrete recommendations to address the ambiguities encountered during the Vatican talks” during a visit to Rome shortly before the pope’s death.

“It’s better to have an honest conversation than one hidden in platitudes,” Vance wrote.

Natalie Morales is 54 years old and can’t stop talking about her dementia. The reason is as follows

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Former NBC News anchor and current CBS correspondent Natalie Morales forgot her hotel room number during a recent business trip.

She said she went to the hotel gym and then returned to what she thought was her floor. She mentally noted her memory loss as she applied her key card to several doors in the hallway.

“Oh my god,” she thought. “I don’t know if I’m overworked or what’s going on. Maybe I have a perimenopausal brain.”

Another thought was that she might be showing early signs of dementia.

Morales, 54, does not have dementia. But she thinks about Alzheimer’s disease often. My mother-in-law, Kay Rose, passed away in 2014 after a long battle with the disease, which affects more than 7 million Americans today, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Rose was Morales’ age when he was diagnosed.

“You know when you have memory loss or when you come across a word that you can’t think of,” Morales told USA TODAY. “Or I know this person, but what is their name? I can’t remember their name.”

Mr. Morales is currently participating in a campaign with Kisunla, an FDA-approved treatment for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, to raise awareness of early-onset Alzheimer’s symptoms and help more people get diagnosed. She encourages people to always talk to their doctor when they notice memory loss, or to talk about it if they notice symptoms in a loved one, even if it’s difficult.

“We’re at an age where we have to talk and think about these things more,” she said, adding that there are now many options for people with dementia that didn’t exist when her mother-in-law had dementia. “The outlook is now much more positive.”

Natalie Morales was a long-distance caregiver for her in-laws.

Morales said her family began noticing her mother-in-law’s memory and thinking problems about two years before she was diagnosed. They noticed that she had difficulty completing simple tasks and repeated the same things over and over in conversations.

Morales said Rose was lost in her own thoughts and was anxious and paranoid.

“I think she was always a little scared of getting that diagnosis,” Morales said. “And even though there was a little bit of that negativity, I think she knew better than anyone what she was feeling.”

Rose’s husband was her primary caregiver at the time, but Morales and her husband were long-distance caregivers. They watched from afar as Morales’ father-in-law’s health also began to deteriorate. She said that the impact of caring for her father-in-law was significant physically, mentally, and financially.

“I think this is typical, but for many caregivers, the more invested they are in the other person and their care, the more immersed they become in that care,” Morales said.

Morales and her family were in New York, and her in-laws lived in Denver. She said they “drop in” regularly, but relied primarily on neighbors and friends in the Denver area, especially after her mother-in-law passed away and her father-in-law was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He passed away in 2021.

“It’s been really difficult,” Morales said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic has made things even more difficult for long-distance caregivers. “You couldn’t really fly to the middle of the country.”

The community “really strengthened,” Morales said. Her father-in-law was able to spend his final days in his own home, in his own way, as he wished.

Morales said that as a caregiver, it is essential to know how your loved one wants to be cared for.

“These are very important conversations that I think many of us are very afraid to have,” she said. However, knowing my father-in-law’s wishes helped my family make the decision with peace of mind. “I think that helped him get the best outcome for his diagnosis.”

Madeline Mitchell’s role covering women and the care economy for USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.

Contact Madeline at: memitchell@usatoday.com and @maddiemitch_ With X.

Silver price today on June 9, 2026

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How much is silver worth per ounce today?

As of 8:05 AM ET on June 9, 2026, the spot price of silver is $68.59 per oz., according to the latest market data. The stock rose 0.72%, or $0.49 from the previous closing price of $68.10.

One year ago, silver was trading at $36.04 per ounce. This means the price has increased by 90.32% in the past 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $35.81

52 week high: $117.39

Silver is trading 41.57% below its 52-week high. It is 91.54% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of silver?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$68.59 $74.91 $80.34 $36.04

A week ago, silver was trading at $74.91 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 8.44%.

One month ago, silver was trading at $80.34 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 14.63%.

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

What is driving the price of silver today?

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

What does XAG/USD mean?

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

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

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

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

how to invest in silver

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

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

President Trump says boos at Knicks finals after MSG appearance were ‘mostly cheers’

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Hours after President Donald Trump was booed at the Knicks’ final game on Monday night, he claimed the crowd was “mostly” rooting for him.

Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals and was seen on the jumbotron during the national anthem. There was heavy booing.

The president gave a different version of events, telling reporters after the game that he received a generally positive reaction when he appeared on television cameras.

“You mean when they put cameras on me? I thought that was pretty cool,” the president told reporters in New York City.

“It was definitely amazing. I think it was mostly cheering. It was loud and very enthusiastic.”

The president was sitting in a suite with his granddaughter Kai and several Trump administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino.

Tight security measures were in place at Madison Square Garden as the president attended the game. These tactics included TSA-like screening of attendees and the cancellation of large viewing parties outside the stadium.

Mayor Zoran Mamdani also attended the match, but the president said the two did not meet.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son Knox graduates from high school

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Angelina Jolie’s son Knox has officially graduated.

Jolie’s youngest son with ex-husband Brad Pitt has graduated from high school, it was confirmed in a social media video shared on Saturday, June 6th. One fan account shared a video of 17-year-old Jolie, wearing a blue graduation cap and gown with a lei and Tibetan prayer flags, giving a speech, mentioning a Muay Thai match that night, in which she says, using an expletive, that she will “knock them out.” The video then zooms in on the back of a woman resembling Jolie, recording on her cell phone, and cheering.

In a photo shared by the account, Knox, who has colorful orange and yellow hair, holds up a peace sign and poses in a fighting stance with her brother Pax.

Pitt, 62, and Jolie, 51, have six children. Pax, 22 years old. Zahara, 21 years old. Shiloh, 20 years old. and 17-year-old twins Vivian and Knox. The couple separated in 2016 and finalized a tumultuous divorce in 2024.

Many of his children have officially or unofficially abandoned their father’s last name, including Maddox Jolie, Shiloh Jolie, Zahara Jolie, and Knox’s twin sister Vivian. Vivienne’s legal name is still Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, but she is credited as Vivienne Jolie on the flyer for the 2024 Broadway musical The Outsiders.

Jolie said having a child during her divorce “saved me.”

“I became a mother when I was 26,” Jolie said in a 2023 Vogue cover story. “My whole life has changed. My children have saved me and taught me to live differently in this world.

“If I didn’t want to live for them, I would have gone down a much darker path. They’re better than me because that’s what you want your kids to be too,” she continued. “Of course, I’m a mother and I want a safe place and stability for them. But I’m also someone they laugh at, and I see them taking on different aspects of our family.”

Gold price today on June 9, 2026

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How much is gold per ounce today?

As of 8:05 AM ET on June 9, 2026, the spot price of gold is $4,342.68 per oz., according to the latest market data. This was down 0.03% and $1.34 from the previous closing price of $4,344.02.

One year ago, gold was trading at $3,316.47 per ounce. This means that the price has increased by 30.94% over the past 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $3,267.56

52 week high: $5,477.79

Gold is trading 20.72% below its 52-week high. The stock is still 32.90% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of gold?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$4,342.68 $4,480.33 $4,715.03 $3,316.47

A week ago, gold was trading at $4,480.33 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 3.07%.

A month ago, gold was trading at $4,715.03 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 7.90%.

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

What is driving the price of gold today?

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

What is XAU/USD?

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

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

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

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

how to invest in gold

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

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

Fetterman’s ‘blue slip’ advances Trump to federal judgeship in Pennsylvania

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  • Sen. John Fetterman has filed a “blue slip” allowing President Trump’s attorney general nominee Antonio Pozos to advance.
  • Fetterman becomes the first Democratic lawmaker to endorse a nominee for attorney general during Trump’s second term.
  • Mr. Pozos has been appointed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) is making waves again by defying Democratic Party norms and greenlighting President Donald Trump’s selection of federal judges in Pennsylvania.

According to Reuters, Pennsylvania state lawmakers last week filed a document known colloquially as a “blue return” with the Senate Judiciary Committee, clearing the way for President Trump’s nominee Antonio Pozos to potentially become a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Fetterman has not commented on the move, and ultimately Pozos will still have to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Fetterman leaves Democratic Party, paving the way for Trump to nominate Pennsylvania federal judge

Reuters reported on June 5 that Fetterman filed a “blue return” to clear the way for Senate consideration of Pozos, President Trump’s nominee for the Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania. The Eastern District Court has courthouses in Allentown, Easton, Philadelphia, and Reading.

The move was first reported the same day by Punchbowl News, which noted that Fetterman was not only the only Democrat to file any of these documents in the case, but also the only Democrat to file a blue return to allow the promotion of one of Trump’s attorney general nominees during President Trump’s second term.

Fetterman’s office did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY regarding his decision to return the blue slips.

According to Reuters, President Trump also nominated Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Martin to judge the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Democratic Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin have not said whether they will return the blue slip for his nomination.

What’s happening now with Pennsylvania judges nominated by President Trump?

Pozos is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 10, according to Reuters.

Progressives hope Fetterman’s move is a one-off for Democrats

Demand Justice, a progressive nonprofit, is planning a six-figure ad buy across Pennsylvania in response to Fetterman’s failure to veto Trump’s nomination of Pozos, Punchbowl News reported. The group has run similar ads against some of the 19 Democrats who voted in favor of judicial nominees during Trump’s second term, and the group says the candidates should be blocked because Trump refuses to say he lost the 2020 election to Democratic former President Joe Biden, Reuters reported.

According to Reuters, Demand Justice President Josh Orton said he hoped Fetterman’s recent actions were just the latest in the senator’s repeated breakdowns with his party, rather than an indication that the Democratic Party as a whole would vote in favor of Trump’s nomination.

“My hope is that the return of blue returns to Trump judges remains just a Fetterman turnaround to enable Trump, and not something that gets widely adopted in the Democratic caucus,” Orton said.

Who is Antonio Pozos and why did President Trump nominate him for federal judgeship in Pennsylvania?

According to Reuters, Pozos is a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Rees. He was nominated by President Trump as a federal judge candidate on May 11, and on the same day, President Trump announced that he had selected Martin as his successor in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Finch Walker is a Pittsburgh Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.

President Trump’s “Meet the Press” interview was cut short. President Trump blamed it on the rain.

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  • President Donald Trump walked out of an interview on “Meet the Press” over the weekend.
  • Trump later told the audience that he was angry at the crowd because of the rain.

President Donald Trump predicted a violent ending to his interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” before the episode aired.

President Trump traveled to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, for an agriculture roundtable on June 5th, and before doing so, he sat in on a pre-recorded interview with Kristen Welker. The conversation turned to California’s primary election, where vote counting is still underway. He suggested the election was rigged, as was the case in 2020. Welker pointed to a lack of evidence.

“You’re either crooked or stupid,” Trump said when asked about the lack of evidence and tried to change the subject. “Your election is skewed, you are skewed, and ‘Meet the Press’ is skewed… You are a one-sided, skewed network. I’m sorry. Enough is enough. Let’s stop. Thank you, darling. Enjoy.”

Mr. Trump removed the microphone from his jacket and complained about the rain as Mr. Welker begged. When the interview aired on June 7, before the nation watched him leave, Trump blamed the rain for the outburst.

President Trump explains why he was angry in ‘Meet the Press’ interview

Mr. Trump and Mr. Welker met in a barn, but the interview was interrupted by the sound of rain hitting the metal roof. In a subsequent roundtable discussion, he said this was why he was angry.

“I just did an interview in the most beautiful barn I’ve ever seen,” Trump said on June 5. “It was beautiful, but it was raining. And it was fake news on NBC. It was raining, so I was a little mad at them. I wasn’t happy for them. But I had a good time.”

Trump also slammed reporters on several issues, including calling one reporter a “shut up, you pig” and another a “terrible reporter” when pressed about the Jeffrey Epstein case file.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Welker discussed the rain-interrupted interview the next day, he said, adding that Mr. Trump agreed to return to the “Meet the Press” interview at the end of Sunday’s segment from the show’s Washington studio.

Watch Kristen Welker’s interview with Trump on YouTube

Contributed by: Hope Karnopp, Joey Garrison, Jay Stahl, USA TODAY Network

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

Artemis III crew announcement. When is NASA’s next moon mission?

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NASA will announce the four-person crew for the Artemis III mission on Tuesday, June 9, during a live broadcast at 11 a.m. ET from Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The crew will head into Earth orbit in 2027 to test one or both of the commercial manned lunar landers being developed by spaceflight companies SpaceX and Blue Origin.

The Artemis mission is focused on expanding knowledge of the lunar surface and its surroundings and establishing a long-term human presence.

Artemis II sent four astronauts around the moon without landing earlier this year. The passengers were NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

When will Artemis III be released?

The Artemis III mission is expected to launch by the end of 2027 at the earliest. NASA plans to release more details about the Artemis III mission’s design and crew closer to launch.

The program began with Artemis I, an unmanned test flight of the Orion spacecraft that will orbit the moon in 2022.

Who are the four crew members of the Artemis III mission?

NASA did not confirm the names ahead of the announcement. We do know that the four-member crew will be selected from NASA’s active astronaut corps and will consist of two mission specialists: a pilot and a commander.

The Artemis II crew was announced in April 2023, three years before the April 2026 lunar mission.

What is Artemis III’s mission?

Artemis III will launch four astronauts on an SLS (Space Launch System) rocket aboard the Orion spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will test rendezvous and docking between Orion and the SpaceX and Blue Origin Commercial Human Landing System (HLS) needed to deliver astronauts to the moon’s surface.

What is NASA’s Manned Landing System?

The Human Landing System (HLS) is the vehicle that takes astronauts to the lunar surface.

On future Artemis missions, the lander will also serve as a habitat while astronauts collect samples, conduct experiments, and test new technologies on the lunar surface. After completing their mission, the crew returns to the lander, reunites with their teammates, and returns to Earth in the constellation Orion.

Will Artemis III land on the moon?

No, Artemis III will test the lander in low Earth orbit, but future Artemis missions will send the unmanned lander into lunar orbit to await astronauts. The Orion spacecraft will transport the crew from Earth to the lander, then descend to the moon’s surface. For later missions, crew transfer will be via NASA’s lunar space station Gateway.

How to watch Artemis III crew announcements

The crew announcement will be broadcast live from Johnson Space Center in Houston on Tuesday, June 9 at 11 a.m. ET and streamed live on NASA+ and NASA’s YouTube channel.

Photos from Artemis II

SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. NASA; SpaceX. blue origin

When will Buc-ee come to North Carolina? Groundbreaking set at Mebane store

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North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s location currently has a construction site groundbreaking date set for 2026.

Originally founded in Texas in 1982, Buc-ee convenience stores are known for their clean restrooms, wide food selection, and huge store size. Most of the chain’s original stores are in Texas, but it continues to expand, with four new stores scheduled to open outside of its original state this year alone.

The Citizen Times previously reported on the announcement that the store’s opening date had been moved from late 2026 or early 2027 to late 2027. A recent report from FOX8 added another important detail. That’s the scheduled date for a groundbreaking ceremony to officially begin construction of North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Is there a Buc-ee’s in North Carolina?

Mebane Buc-ee’s will be the first location in the state. The chain currently has stores in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

When will Buc-ee break ground in North Carolina?

A Buc-ee spokesperson told FOX8 that a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mebane location will be held on June 10th. Mebane Buc-ee’s opening, previously planned for late 2026 or early 2027, is now scheduled to take place at the end of 2027, according to previous reports.

Where are Buc-ee stores opening this year?

USA TODAY reports that the following locations across the country are slated to open soon:

  • Goodyear, Arizona: June 2026.
  • Benton, AR: September 2026.
  • Ocala, Florida: 2026
  • Monroe County, Georgia: Early 2026
  • Mebane, North Carolina: Late 2026 or early 2027
  • Huber Heights, OH: April 2026
  • Bern, Texas: 2026
  • San Marcos, Texas: May 2026

Where is the new Buc-ee address in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s store is located at 1425 Trollingwood Hawfields Road, Mebane, NC 27302, near the confluence of Interstates 85 and 40. The new store will be 75,000 square feet, with 120 fueling stations and more than 600 parking spaces, Southern Living reported.

The publication also reported that in anticipation of traffic congestion, the company has agreed to provide between $6 million and $11 million for improvements to Trollingwood-Hawfields Road mandated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Mebane is approximately 320 miles east of Asheville on Interstate 40.

Iris Seaton is a trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact us at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

Primaries, NBA Finals in Daily Briefing

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Welcome to the daily briefing. Here’s what you need to know this morning.

nicole farato here. Join us in our Summer Book Challenge! From hot prep days around the country to hits from the “Knicks in Four,” we’ve got the news for you Tuesday.

Can Democrats hold on to Jared Golden’s pro-Trump House seat in Maine?

Democrats face a high-stakes choice in Tuesday’s competitive primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The candidate will seek to retain the seat of U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in a district that voted for President Donald Trump three times.

Other primaries today: In addition to Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota are also scheduled to hold local elections today, including House, Senate and gubernatorial races, among other states. Here are some key upcoming races, including Trump’s disdain for Rep. Nancy Mace in the Republican primary for South Carolina governor and Democrat Graham Platner’s special election for Maine’s U.S. Senate.

Hot election: Above-normal temperatures are expected across the lower 48 states this week.

More news you need to know right now

  • USA TODAY exclusive interview with JD Vance: The vice president did not rule out the possibility of escalating military combat with Iran before the war ends if no agreement is reached after months of negotiations.
  • More New World screwworm infections have been confirmed: Federal officials say the threat to the U.S. food supply remains low, but 75 people are reported to be actively working in the field and hundreds more in the lab to contain the outbreak threatening U.S. livestock.
  • Are you packing for the summer Euros? The EU’s new fingerprint and face scan immigration process has led to reports of long wait times and connection failures.

NBA Finals 2026

Spurs dominate Knicks

The NBA Finals was suddenly wide open. The San Antonio Spurs held off the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, avoiding an almost irreversible 3-0 series lead. New Yorkers all over the city were glued to the game, and President Trump (who was booed loudly) and many celebrities were also in attendance.

Pride Month 2026

A strange affirmation that encouraged cancer patients

Alix Schulman and his wife, Lisa, wanted a home with a nice backyard. Little did they know that the worst would come from elsewhere. Shulman, 49, was diagnosed with stage 3 IIB triple-negative breast cancer several years ago. She has survived 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy, and has now been cancer-free for four years. Is it an integral part of her care? Her support system, from health care providers to loved ones, affirms her queer identity and acknowledges her spouse.

before you go

Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.

Tallboy cans are now available from Coors Light. See new products from beer brands

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Most beer drinkers are familiar with Tallboy, but Coors Light is expanding on the concept in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The beer brand debuted its new Tallboy canister on Tuesday, June 9th. This is a limited edition canister that is taller than a Tallboy and designed to hold and cool three full cans of Coors Light at once.

The Tallboy can is the latest expansion of Coors Light’s soccer campaign ahead of the World Cup, which starts this month. Earlier this summer, the brand launched “The Cooors Call,” a summer campaign featuring legendary Argentine soccer announcer Andres Cantor and his iconic “GOOOOAL” cheer.

Coors Light fans can get Tallboy for $30 exclusively at Shop.Coorslight.com. Prices will drop on June 11th and again on June 18th while supplies last.

“Tallboy is everything The Coors Coal stands for, brought to life in physical form,” Matt Carpenter, vice president of marketing for Coors Light, said in a news release.

Tall Boy Participates in Miller Lite MVP Match Ball in Molson Coors World Cup Promotion

Miller Lite, another beer brand owned by Molson Coors, also recently announced special items commemorating the upcoming Men’s World Cup.

Ahead of the global soccer event, Miller Lite has released the Miller Time MVP Match Ball. This is a soccer ball approximately 50% larger than a standard soccer ball, holds up to 12 Miller Lite cans, comes with a display stand, and is refillable (beer not included).

Miller Lite made its limited edition MVP Matchball available through multiple online drops from May 20th to June 3rd. The ball cost $19.75, reflecting the year the Miller Lite was created (1975).

“This summer is a big moment for soccer fans and beer fans alike,” Courtney Benedict, vice president of marketing for the Miller Lite family of brands, said in a news release. “As America’s original light beer, Miller Lite was created for moments like these. Match Ball is our way of celebrating and rewarding the fans who bring tradition and unparalleled energy to every watch party…and a soccer ball that fits in a 12-pack? It’s just fun!”

Contributor: Mike Snider, USA TODAY

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

More than $500,000 worth of bourbon stolen from Philadelphia warehouse: Company

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The truck looked legit. The paperwork seemed routine. Then, during the day on a weekday, about 1,800 cases of bourbon were loaded onto the truck as if it were just another shipment.

By the time someone realized something was wrong, thousands of bottles were already missing.

A shipment of Noble Oak Bourbon (approximately 10,800 bottles worth more than $500,000) was stolen from a Philadelphia-area warehouse in what company officials described as a “coordinated cargo theft operation carried out in broad daylight.” According to company officials, the package was destined for New Jersey, but never arrived.

Mark Newman, CEO of Apogee21 Holdings, the parent company of A21 Wine and Spirits, said the shipment had just been bottled and was sent to a distribution facility in Philadelphia, where a truck arrived to pick it up. The company said in a news release that the theft occurred on June 5 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. ET.

“We had just finished bottling a case of bourbon…and were filling orders,” Newman said in a June 8 phone interview with USA TODAY.

Concerns were heightened when the package never arrived at its destination and calls to the supposed driver and dispatch office went unanswered. The company believed the shipment was stolen and reported the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local authorities.

The company said in a news release that it is treating the incident as a “serious criminal matter” and is cooperating with law enforcement.

A spokesperson for the FBI’s Philadelphia field office told USA TODAY that they were “aware of the incident” but “could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.” USA TODAY also reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department for comment.

The company announced that investigators believe the theft may be related to a “complicated ring”

Newman said investigators believe the theft may be connected to a “complex organization” targeting high-value consumer products. He said the perpetrators impersonated existing trucking companies and used details such as company names and phone numbers to gain trust and secure shipments.

“They’re basically trying to look like a legitimate trucking company and look and sound… like a legitimate trucking company,” Newman said. “They pretend to be the company name and pretend to be the truck dispatcher.”

The company said in a news release that the theft appears to have been carried out with knowledge of “logistics operations and product movement schedules,” suggesting planning and coordination.

Newman said concerns grew after the logistics company was first told the package would arrive at the warehouse within an hour, but subsequent follow-up phone calls went unanswered. A person the company believed to be the dispatcher also initially said the cargo was in transit, but then stopped responding, leading the company to suspect something was wrong.

“We had the name and phone number of what we thought was the shipping office, so we called there and a guy said, ‘Oh, the package is on its way,'” he said. “Our staff then called back for follow-up. There was no response.”

“Quite sophisticated people.”

The company said the incident highlights growing concerns about organized cargo theft, especially of high-value items. A21 Wine & Spirits said in a news release that stolen bourbon may surface through “illicit channels, secondary wholesalers, online marketplaces, or other illicit distribution networks.”

“I think we’re dealing with some pretty sophisticated people,” Newman said.

He added that similar incidents have affected other alcohol brands and companies in recent years, and some stolen shipments were never recovered.

To prevent future incidents, Newman said the company plans to tighten its shipping protocols, including primarily working with known shippers and avoiding loading trucks and placing bids in locations where fraudsters could collect information about shipments. The company is also considering adding tracking devices to packages.

“Use a reliable trucking company. Don’t go for the lowest price,” Newman advised industry players. “Because, as people say, sometimes it’s too good to be true. Maybe the price is too good to be true.”

The latest cargo theft incident in the US

An international report released earlier this year found an “alarming increase” in cargo theft and cargo fraud around the world. Some 160,000 cargo-related crimes were recorded in 129 countries between 2022 and 2024, according to a report by the International Marine Insurance Federation and the Transport Asset Protection Association.

The American Trucking Associations reported in June 2025 that freight theft “costs the U.S. economy up to $35 billion annually,” with the average value of each theft exceeding $200,000.

According to the American Trucking Associations, “Cargo theft is no longer just a minor nuisance.” “This has become a criminal enterprise, resulting in billions of dollars in losses. Almost every industry has been affected, from electronics to clothing to food.”

Many of the robberies reported recently involve food and beverages. In March, Swiss food manufacturer Nestlé told USA TODAY that thieves stole an entire truck containing more than 12 tons of Kit Kat chocolate bars in Europe.

In December 2025, robbers in Massachusetts stole a truck containing $400,000 worth of lobster meat bound for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota. Then, in November 2024, two trucks carrying approximately $1 million worth of Santo Tequila never arrived at their destination.

Cargo thieves also have other preferences. USA TODAY reported in February 2025 that about $2 million worth of Nike shoes were stolen in at least 10 train robberies in California and Arizona within the past year. Additionally, in June 2025, a cargo truck carrying approximately $1.4 million worth of Nintendo Switch 2 video game consoles was reported to have been stolen in Colorado.

Contributor: Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Nitrogen gas execution can cause cruel suffering: Court

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The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the amount of time it takes for an inmate to die using the nitrogen gas method is “intolerable,” but stopped short of this week’s execution.

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A federal appeals court has ruled that Alabama’s relatively new nitrogen gas execution method could inflict cruel suffering on death row inmates who say they would be better off being killed by a firing squad.

Citing lower court decisions, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said in a Monday, June 8, decision that the nitrogen gas method causes inmates “severe air starvation and associated psychological distress, anxiety, physiological stress, and physical discomfort” for up to three minutes.

The Court of Appeal found that such “suffering… poses a significant risk of harm more serious than death itself.” “Counting to 60 or 180 seconds is not something that can be done quickly, and that time frame is constitutionally intolerable given the suffering that would occur under Alabama’s nitrogen hypoxia protocol.”

The ruling stems from an appeal filed by Jeffrey Lee, an Alabama death row inmate scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday, June 11, for a series of murders stemming from a 1998 pawn shop robbery.

The ruling was a victory for death penalty opponents who have fought against the use of nitrogen gas, but the court stopped short of granting Lee a suspended sentence or banning the method altogether. Instead, the court sent the case back to a district judge to consider the possibility of execution by firing squad, at Lee’s request.

Here’s what you need to know:

Why shouldn’t execution methods be cruel?

Death row inmates are not guaranteed a painless death, but the U.S. Constitution requires that death row inmates be free from “cruel and unusual punishment.” That means it can be painful, but the law says it shouldn’t be unnecessarily excessive.

Defense attorneys, opponents of the death penalty, and some witnesses to nitrogen gas executions argue that nitrogen gas executions amount to torture and are therefore a clear violation of the Constitution.

Alabama was the first state in the nation to execute the nitrogen gas death penalty on Kenneth Eugene Smith in 2024. Since then, the state has executed six other inmates this way, and Louisiana has also used the method once.

With this method, the executioner straps the inmate to a stretcher with chest and shoulder harnesses and places a mask over his face. Ultra-pure nitrogen gas flows into the mask and displaces it until there is no more breathable air left. The prisoner loses consciousness and dies.

Witness accounts of Alabama’s first four executions included “suffering, including several minutes of conscious fear, trembling, gasping, and other evidence of pain,” Louisiana Chief District Judge Shelly Dick wrote last year when addressing executions in that state. Witnesses saw the inmates “struggling” under their restraints, “convulsing and shaking violently for four minutes,” writhing, spitting and “losing consciousness and struggling for life,” she wrote.

An Alabama judge agreed last week that Lee showed he could feel pain during this week’s execution, but not to the extent that it would violate the Constitution.

What is happening now?

The Death Penalty Intervention Project, an anti-death penalty group that has been fighting nitrogen gas executions, called Monday’s ruling “the most significant legal development in the fight against this method of killing.”

The group called on Alabama to halt Lee’s execution and for Governor Kay Ivey to “recognize that the state is employing a technique that a federal court has found is likely to cause conscious asphyxiation for several consecutive minutes.”

“Most urgently, we pray that this sentence is enough to save Jeffrey Lee’s life,” the group said.

Neither Ivey’s office nor Lee’s attorney immediately responded to USA TODAY’s requests for comment.

Lee’s execution will be the first in Alabama this year. Another inmate, Charles Lee “Sonny” Burton, was scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas in March, but Ivey commuted his death sentence to life in prison just two days before the execution. This decision had nothing to do with the method of execution. Ivey said it was “unjust” to take the life of Barton, who was the triggerman in the 1991 AutoZone robbery.

This is the second time a Republican governor has commuted an inmate’s sentence in his nine years in office. She presided over 25 executions.

Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter covering capital punishment, cold cases and breaking news for USA TODAY. Follow @amandaleeusat on X.

Maine Democratic primary could impact balance of power in U.S. House of Representatives

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The Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District will be held on June 9th and could determine control of the House.

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  • Four Democratic candidates are expected to run to replace Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine.
  • Maine’s 2nd Congressional District is dominated by conservatives, and the Democrats who have won in the past tend to be moderates.
  • However, all four candidates are running to Golden’s left.

Democrats face a high-stakes choice in a competitive primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District on June 9th. The Democratic candidate’s chances could be crucial to the party’s efforts to win a House majority, as the candidate seeks to retain Rep. Jared Golden’s seat in a district that voted for President Donald Trump three times.

Four Democratic candidates are running to succeed Golden, a moderate who has won a series of razor-thin victories. They will face former Gov. Paul LePage, a conservative who is uncontested in the Republican primary.

Gun rights and gas prices are particularly important to residents in Maine’s two congressional districts, which tend to be more northern, rural and conservative. The Cook Political Report rates the district a “likely R.”

Golden, a strong supporter of gun rights, said he would be “okay” if Trump was re-elected in 2024. In his letter announcing that he will not run for re-election, Golden said the successful candidate needs to reflect the independence and diversity of opinions in the district.

But four candidates are all running to Golden’s left: state Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, Maine Auditor Matthew Dunlap, social worker Paige Lourd and former legislative staffer Jordan Wood.

Maine experts said Democrats risk nominating someone too liberal to win in the district, which would hurt the party’s quest to flip the narrowly Republican-controlled U.S. House in November.

Can Democrats hold this seat? Is it necessary to nominate a moderate?

Maine’s unusual system of apportioning Electoral College votes by district has made Maine’s 2nd Congressional District the only New England state in the past three presidential elections to have given Trump its electoral votes. In 2024, they won the district championship by nine points.

“A second CD with general voting questions would give Republicans an advantage,” said Mark Brewer, chair of the political science department at the University of Maine. “But at the same time, this isn’t the Bible Belt of Alabama, right? A Democrat can win that seat. It’s got to be some kind of Democrat.”

Brewer said the more progressive candidates in the race are Loud, who has been particularly vocal in opposing Israel’s war efforts in Gaza, and Wood, who was chief of staff to former Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif.

Mr. Dunlap and Mr. Baldacci, who headed a prominent hunting organization in Maine, were close to the center.

In a May 27 poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Research Center, Mr. Wood and Mr. Baldacci led with 23% and 22%, respectively, followed by Mr. Dunlap (17%) and Mr. Loud (14%). Mr. Wood has experience in national politics and connections from his time in Congress, and has deftly led the field with more than $5.7 million in fundraising. Mr. Dunlap received the next highest total on the Democratic side, about $930,000.

Brewer said Democrats would be “in a bit of a pickle” if Loud or Wood were nominated.

“I think we probably would have a better chance if we had Dunlap or Baldacci,” Brewer said. “I think it’s going to be very difficult for progressive Democrats to win a popular vote on CD 2.”

In response to a request for comment about whether Democratic candidates are too progressive to win in the 2nd District, Wood said in a statement that the issues he is working on are not partisan.

“People don’t seem to want to get credit for their accomplishments, but Mainers know what they value and what they want from Washington: Medicare for All, a democracy they believe in, and housing they can afford. It’s not that complicated,” Wood said. This is common sense whether it’s June or November.

Baldacci said he focuses on the needs of his district rather than ideological labels.

“It’s not a question of left or right, it’s a question of being competent, being one, being independent and having the interests of the people of Maine in mind,” Baldacci said in a phone interview with USA TODAY.

Challenges for Lepage

Mr. Lepage is popular among Republicans and has the highest profile on the campaign trail.

When Mills lost the 2022 gubernatorial race, he overtook Mills to lead the 2nd District. However, voters are generally divided on their favorability ratings by party, with 43% saying they have a favorable opinion of him and 44% saying they have an unfavorable opinion of him, according to a June 2025 poll. And national factors could have a negative impact on Lepage, whom Trump endorsed in December.

Amy Fried, a political science professor emeritus at the University of Maine, said this year’s election is very similar to when Golden first won the seat in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin. It was also the midyear of President Trump’s administration, and Golden was more left-wing than he is now.

Midterm elections generally tend to go poorly for the president’s party, especially if the president is unpopular. President Trump’s approval rating is just 38%, according to a New York Times poll.

And oil prices have risen since the president took office, hitting Maine particularly hard. Maine has the highest household heating oil usage in the country, and Maine’s 2nd District is rural, so people tend to drive long distances.

“I think it’s going to be a tough race no matter who the Democrats nominate,” said Jim Melcher, a political science professor at the University of Maine at Farmington. “Some candidates may be stronger than others in the general election, but I think it’s going to be a close race.” “Mr. Lepage has many advantages, but they all run counter to Mr. Trump’s reputation on the nation’s economy.”

How Ranked Choice Voting Affects Results

Maine’s use of ranked voting has helped Golden win at least two elections. It could help more moderate Democrats win primaries this year.

Ranked voting is a system that allows voters to mark candidates as their first, second, third, and subsequent choices. The votes are then tallied round by round, with each round eliminating the lowest ranked candidate and distributing the votes for the next candidate.

Maine uses this system in all state and federal primaries with three or more candidates.

A UNH poll shows Mr. Wood holding a slight lead over Mr. Baldacci in first-choice votes, but a Cornell University analysis using ranking data found that Mr. Baldacci would receive more votes than Mr. Wood. In the newspaper’s mock primary election, Mr. Baldacci won 67% of the vote, while Mr. Wood received 20.5%.

A SurveyUSA poll showed similar results, with Mr. Baldacci leading Mr. Wood 56% to 44% in a ranked-choice voting simulation.

Neither Mr. Dunlap, Mr. Loud nor Mr. Lepage responded to requests for comment.

NBA Finals suddenly restarts

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NEW YORK — The San Antonio Spurs may have felt like they were living in the movie “Groundhog Day,” but they have decided not to play a starring role in the upcoming sequel.

For the third consecutive game, the Spurs led by double digits in the first quarter, but this time, their coolness late and sloppy play from the New York Knicks gave them a much-needed victory that ended New York’s playoff winning streak at 13 after losing two straight at home and put them on the path to a spot in the NBA Finals.

After all, it wouldn’t be the “Knicks in Four.”

San Antonio’s 115-111 victory in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden wasn’t pretty. Although the Spurs were on the back foot, there was a sense of relief that they too could break their championship drought, at least for one night.

This is the second time a road team has won three straight games and the first time since 1993.

Game 4 will be played Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Spurs did everything right in the first 12 minutes, taking an early 12-point lead. They passed the ball efficiently, found open teammates, and let Victor Wembaneyama cook up easy buckets inside and outrageous alley-oops that would rival Stretch Armstrong.

San Antonio had 11 assists on 14 field goals in the first quarter. The Spurs’ 11 assists were the most in the first quarter of an NBA Finals game since the Golden State Warriors had 11 assists in Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018.

Wenbanyama had a great performance, with all five of San Antonio’s starting pitchers scoring in double digits, recording a game-high 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Wenbanyama became the third-youngest player to score at least 30 points in an NBA Finals game, following Magic Johnson (20 years and 276 days – 42 points in Game 6 against the 76ers in 1980) and Alvin Adams (21 years and 316 days – 33 points in Game 3 against the Celtics in 1976).

New York did everything it could for San Antonio’s cause.

Jalen Brunson led New York with 32 points and OG Anunoby added 28 points for the Knicks, but the Knicks lost for the first time in 46 days after losing in Game 3 to the Atlanta Hawks.

The energy in a packed Madison Square Garden was gone within the first few minutes as the Spurs scored the first seven points of the game and made eight of their first 10 shots. Not to mention the inconvenience to the many Knicks fans who had to arrive at the game two hours early and abide by strict security protocols as they entered the “world’s most famous arena” early in the morning after President Trump and his entourage descended on the city to watch the game.

After booing President Trump during the national anthem, Knicks fans heckled officials. New York committed four fouls in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter and spent the rest of the game shooting free throws, with constant chants of “You suck!”

New York took control late in the second quarter, using several spurts and poor shooting by San Antonio to rally back and take its first lead of the game at 50-49 on Brunson’s 3-pointer. It was part of an 11-3 run that erased a double-digit point lead.

But that momentum quickly disappeared as soon as the Knicks came out of the locker room.

Two consecutive Knicks turnovers to start the third quarter, a four-point play by Julien Champagnie, and a flagrant foul on a closeout quickly erased much of New York’s seven-point lead at halftime.

New York was held scoreless, committed four fouls in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, and spent the rest of the game shooting free throws, prompting chants of “bull—“. San Antonio committed 21 fouls and the Knicks made 22 free throws. New York committed 23 fouls and forced the Spurs to the line 32 times.

Stephon Castle’s final 3 of his 23 points, a 3-pointer with 1:53 left, nearly sealed it, and De’Aaron Fox’s jumper in the lane with 12 seconds left sent the sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd to the exits.

The thing that led the Knicks to 13 straight playoff wins lacked balanced scoring in Game 3. Mikal Bridges had just two points in 29 minutes, and Karl-Anthony Towns had a pedestrian 11 points and eight rebounds in the loss for Wenbanyama. Towns spent most of the night in foul trouble, not actively attacking the rim and settling for an outside shot.

For the Spurs to repeat that trick and make their Groundhog’s Day play even more positive, they’ll have to rely on Wenbanyama’s scoring and his constant presence in the lane to spoil the game once again. The defensive player of the year had three blocks, impacted 12 other shots, and did his best to threaten Knicks players looking to score in the paint.

The series will be extended to at least five games, and if the Knicks can win the next two games (Game 5 will be played Saturday in San Antonio), their first title drought since 1973 will be a thing of the past.

US military helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz, pilot safe – President Trump

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DUBAI/JERUSALEM – Two American pilots whose helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz are “fine,” President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, June 9, after The New York Times reported that the crew of an Apache gunship that crashed near the Iranian-controlled waterway had been rescued.

It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian artillery fire, suffered a mechanical failure or encountered some other problem, the report said. The White House, U.S. State Department and U.S. Central Command did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Asked if he knew what caused the helicopter to crash, Trump said he would release a report later Tuesday.

“The pilot is fine,” President Trump said in a speech on the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport before returning to Washington, D.C. “No one was injured.”

The incident came a day after Iran and Israel announced they had halted attacks on each other following President Trump’s appeal, but Tehran warned it would resume hostilities if Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The resumption of a delicate ceasefire comes as Washington tries to reach a deal with Iran to end a war that has lasted more than three months.

Trump also told reporters he could have an “idea” on the Iran deal within days, but did not elaborate. The Republican president, suffering record low approval ratings ahead of November’s midterm elections, has frequently hinted at an imminent deal with the Iranian government, but no deal has yet been reached.

This weekend saw the most direct clashes between Iran and Israel since the ceasefire in April. The Iranian government fired a missile into Israeli territory late Sunday in retaliation for an attack on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia outside Beirut.

Israel then attacked Iranian air defense systems and a petrochemical plant it said was used to make ballistic missiles. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it retaliated with an attack targeting a similar Israeli factory in the city of Haifa.

No deaths were reported by authorities on either side.

President Trump tells Prime Minister Netanyahu to be careful

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Monday, June 8, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

In an interview with Axios, President Trump said he warned Netanyahu that if the Israeli leader went to war with Iran again, he might end up fighting alone. “I said, ‘Bibi, you better watch out or you’re going to be on your own soon,'” Trump said.

Israeli military officials said Israel was prepared to continue operations “for as long as necessary,” but Iranian officials struck a similarly defiant tone. The semi-official Tasnim news agency cited military sources as saying Iran was preparing for a prolonged conflict and could resume attacks on US interests in the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said the Iranian government was exchanging messages with the US government in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion”.

Tehran has long said a peace deal with the United States depends in part on an end to fighting in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters who fired across the border. Israel insists the conflict should be treated separately from the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and has never stopped its military operations in Lebanon, which have killed thousands of people. Hezbollah also continues its attacks.

The Iranian government continues to block most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war transported one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. The US government has imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports.

President Trump said a peace deal must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran’s demands include lifting international sanctions, releasing billions of dollars in frozen assets and recognizing control of the strait.

(Reporting by Reuters bureau; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Kate Mayberry)