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Acadia needs help. Visitors are hiking with backpacks filled with dirt.

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Acadia needs help. Visitors are hiking with backpacks filled with dirt.

Visitors can enjoy free guided hikes and transport soil to Acadia’s fragile peaks, helping restore damaged ecosystems.

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  • The high number of tourists to Acadia National Park has caused erosion and damage to the unique vegetation on the mountain peaks.
  • A program called Save Our Summits allows volunteers to take guided hikes to transport dirt and help restore ecosystems.
  • Free guided hikes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from late June to late September.

Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, with more than 4 million visitors last year, each visit impacting the park.

Many travelers are drawn to the peak of Mount Desert Island, which offers panoramic views of the ocean. Cadillac Mountain is so popular that reservations are required to drive up the summit road each summer. But all those visitors can and often do unwittingly damage what makes the experience so special.

“(The summit) has a very unique low-lying vegetation community that provides beautiful ocean views,” said Dr. Chris Nadeau, a climate change adaptation scientist at the Schudic Institute, a nonprofit scientific organization affiliated with the park. “When a bunch of people come up there and want to take a unique view, like a sunset, they often step on that plant…and before they take that many steps, that plant starts to die. And when the plant dies, there’s a big rainstorm or a big windstorm that washes away or blows away the soil on the mountain. And once the soil is gone, it’s really, really hard to get the plant back in that spot.”

Really great: This amazing national park is visited by some of Zion’s visitors

More than half of 2,500 global respondents say immersive travel is more important today than it was five years ago, according to a recent Expedia Group survey. Additionally, over 90% say participating in local activities contributes to a more immersive travel experience.

This summer, visitors can help reverse Acadia’s erosion while enjoying free guided hikes in the park. Here’s how:

save the summit

From late June to late September, the nonprofit conservation organization Friends of Acadia will partner with the Schoodic Institute and Parks for the Save Our Summit program.

Volunteers can take guided hikes on either Penobscot Mountain or Sargent Mountain twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays. I carry a backpack full of dirt and leave it on the summit for a fall restoration project.

“The soil is the secret sauce,” Nadeau said. “If you can get the soil back there, the plants will naturally recolonize that soil.”

Unlike Cadillac Mountain, which is accessible by dump truck, the only way to get dirt to Sargent and Penobscot is by hiking. Since Save Our Summit began in 2023, nearly 800 volunteers have brought in more than 13,000 pounds of soil, Nadeau said.

“We were able to restore many areas of the mountaintop,” he said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, so we still need people to move the dirt up there.”

what to expect

The Save Our Summit hike is approximately 6 miles round trip, has a capacity of 20 volunteers, and is typically attended by local residents and tourists.

Registration begins June 8th on the Friends of Acadia website. Slots open two weeks before each hike, with the first slot starting on June 24th.

Volunteers must bring their own backpacks to carry soil and water for hydration and wear appropriate footwear. On the day of the hike, they meet at the Parkman Mountain Carriage Road trailhead off Route 3 in the park.

“We walk about a mile along the bridleway, which is a very easy, flat walk, and we hit the dirt mound, which is a huge mound of dirt, and we measure the weight and volume of the dirt and bag it up for people to put in their backpacks,” said Lauren Knirim, a community volunteer ambassador who supports Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute programs. “I’ll tell you that it gets heavier when you walk.”

She said volunteers typically carry between 5 and 25 pounds of dirt depending on their personal comfort level, but they are also welcome to carry less or none at all if they simply want to participate in the hike.

From there, they climb the Hadlock Brook Trail, which Knirim described as quite steep, and branch off to Mount Penobscot or Mount Sargent, depending on their destination for the day. “This is definitely a near-summit challenge,” she said, noting that she’s heard this hike is said to be nature’s most beautiful Stairmaster. “Sometimes we have to crawl up really flat granite surfaces, but the volunteers work really hard. I’m always the one who’s tired.”

The whole group climbs together.

“You’re only as fast as the slowest person, really,” said Lauren Gibson, who coordinates Friends of Acadia’s Wild Acadia program, which focuses on restoring the park. Although Save Our Summit hikes are primarily about summit restoration, they also build community, she noted. “This is a participatory event that people feel very comfortable attending.”

“People start out as strangers at the bottom of the mountain, but at the top they become best friends,” Kunirim says.

When Save Our Summits volunteers reach the top, they dump dirt, take a group photo, and have a little celebration. And Gibson said volunteers can choose their own adventures. “They can hike back the way they came at their own pace, visit Sargent or Penobscot (another nearby mountain they couldn’t get to), or go down another trail.”

Most people spend about 4 hours total on the experience.

Acadia National Park Visit

Although the hike is free and optional, there is an entrance fee to Acadia National Park for most visitors who do not have an America the Beautiful Public Lands Pass.

Standard admission fees are $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, and $20 per person ages 16 and older entering the park without a vehicle.

Admission fees are waived for U.S. residents on certain free days throughout the year. Additionally, veterans, active duty military, Gold Star families, fourth graders, and U.S. residents with disabilities have a special America the Beautiful Pass, which is waived year-round.

However, new this year, non-U.S. residents ages 16 and older must pay an additional $100 per person to enter Acadia and several other popular national parks. This fee is in addition to the regular admission fee. Non-residents can also purchase an annual pass to America the Beautiful, but it costs $250, compared to $80 for U.S. residents.

Supreme Court dismisses student’s ‘come and take’ Ghunghat appeal

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Supreme Court dismisses student’s ‘come and take’ Ghunghat appeal

The student said he chose the black baseball cap for Hat Day, a week-long kindness initiative, because it reminded him of his father and showed his support for gun rights.

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WASHINGTON – The hats worn by Michigan third-graders in 2022 during their school’s “Great Kindness Challenge” featured an image of an AR-style rifle and the phrase “Come and Receive.”

The student said he chose the black baseball cap for Hat Day, a week-long kindness initiative, because it reminded him of his father and showed his support for gun rights.

Officials at Robert Carr Elementary School in Durand, Michigan, said the hat’s message could be confusing, especially for students who recently transferred to the district after the worst mass shooting in the state’s history, which occurred at a school 80 miles away.

On June 8, the Supreme Court declined to consider a lower court’s ruling that schools did not violate students’ free speech rights by banning hats.

Last year, the court similarly waived the opportunity to decide whether a Massachusetts school erred by banning T-shirts that read “There are only two genders.”

‘There are only two genders’ shirt ban remains After the Supreme Court dismissed the case

Both lawsuits are based on a landmark 1969 case that protects students’ First Amendment rights as long as their speech is not too disruptive. In the case, the Supreme Court said a Des Moines high school could not prevent students from wearing black armbands in support of ending the Vietnam War.

By contrast, in 2007, the high court said Alaska students had no First Amendment right to display banners with the message “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.”

The Michigan students’ appeal failed, with lawyers arguing that school officials’ real motive was to silence views they disagreed with and failed to show evidence that the hats were subversive.

“Rather than seize the opportunity to tell a bright, politically aware 8-year-old student that her voice and ideas matter, school officials told her to sit down and shut up, perhaps because they personally disliked the Second Amendment and the rights it protects,” Adam Straub, an attorney for the student and her father, said in the appeal.

Lawyers for the school said that in addition to concerns over recent school shootings, the school’s dress code prohibits clothing with violent themes.

A district court and the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals both ruled against the students.

A three-judge panel of the appeals court said concerns about disruption at the school were reasonable given recent school shootings, the ages of the students and the provocative messages on the hats.

When the appellate court declined to rehear the case, Judge Chad Readler called these factors a “rare confluence of events.”

He said it is “very unlikely that a similar factual tapestry will be woven in future First Amendment challenges.”

North Korea will reopen to international tourism this winter, tour operators say

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North Korea will reopen to international tourism this winter, tour operators say

North Korea is to reopen limited international tourism by the end of 2024, nearly five years after it completely sealed the country’s borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic, two tour companies with connections to the isolated country have announced.

Beijing-based Koryo Tours and Shenyang-based KTG Tours both made separate online announcements Wednesday, saying tour groups would be allowed to visit the mountainous city of Samjiyon, the purported birthplace of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

“We have received confirmation from our local partner that tourism to Samjiyon and likely the rest of the country will officially resume in December 2024,” Koryo Tours said, adding that itinerary and further details will be finalized “in the coming days and weeks.”

In a separate Facebook post, KTG Tours also said exact dates for the tours were to be confirmed. “So far just Samjiyon has been mentioned but we think that PY [Pyongyang] and other places will open too!”

Samjiyon straddles the Chinese border and is close to the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, Mount Paektu, an active volcano of paramount importance and historic significance to both North and South Koreans, as it is considered the cradle of the Korean people.

Though South Koreans are restricted from visiting the North, South Korea’s former president Moon Jae-in and then first lady Kim Jung-sook visited the top of the mountain with Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju in 2018, underlining the symbolism of the mountain.

Visiting the summit of Mount Paektu is akin to making a religious pilgrimage for North Koreans. The fabled “Paektu” bloodline is what gives the ruling Kim family legitimacy, say observers, who note Western historians’ conflicting claims the second-generation leader was born in Russia.

Samjiyon was once a popular destination for Chinese tourists, who used to arrive by busload prior to Covid-19. Tourism provided North Korea with revenue despite international sanctions over Pyongyang’s illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally inspected construction sites within Samjiyon earlier in July, state media reported.

North Korean state media have so far not reported changes concerning the country reopening in a limited capacity to foreign visitors, but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has previously indicated he would prioritize visitors from “friendly” nations, which include Russia and China.

Chinese tourists pose for photos on Kim Il Sung Square in 2019.

The pandemic left North Korea’s borders hermetically sealed from nearly all of the outside world for several years – restrictions that largely continue except for small tour groups from Russia – who were allowed to enter this year amid Kim’s deepening partnership with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

About 100 Russian tourists were welcomed in North Korea earlier this year, traveling via a North Korean-owned Air Koryo plane from Vladivostok.

But pandemic border restrictions forced most diplomatic missions and international nonprofits to pull out of North Korea, leaving the impoverished nation of around 25 million arguably the most isolated it has been since the Cold War.

United States passports are not valid for travel to, in, or through North Korea, unless they are specially validated by the US Department of State. The department classifies North Korea as “Level 4: do not travel.”

The announcements to reopen tourism come about a month after Kim visited a new beachside tourism site, the Wonsan-Kalma zone, currently under development on the country’s eastern coast.

Kim said the resort would open in May 2025, after years of construction delays due to the Covid pandemic and United Nations sanctions, state news agency KCNA reported.

Ohio local governments gain expanded procedural rights in firearms cases

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Ohio local governments gain expanded procedural rights in firearms cases

Ohio is currently in the midst of a bitter state-versus-city battle over firearm regulations. The state passed a no-preemption law that it claims eliminates cities from virtually any role in firearms regulation. Ohio cities continue to pass gun laws to protect the health, safety and welfare of their communities, arguing that they are filling gaps in state law and not violating it. These conflicts resulted in numerous lawsuits and legal reforms.

However, despite this opposition and sometimes outright hostility, the state stepped in to help. procedural Local Government Rights in Recent Gun Control Cases Doe vs. Columbus.

in doethe Ohio Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a municipality has the right to immediately appeal a preliminary injunction blocking a formally enacted ordinance. In a 5-2 decision reaffirming the autonomy of Ohio cities, the court held that they have the right to self-government.

The underlying case arose from a challenge to two Columbus city ordinances passed in 2022 and 2023 regulating firearm storage and magazine sizes for minors. Six anonymous plaintiffs (a thorny legal issue in itself) challenged the ordinance, arguing that the city law violates both the legal prohibition on cities regulating firearms and Article 1, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. The trial court sided with the anonymous plaintiffs and issued a preliminary injunction ordering the ordinance and preventing the city from enforcing it.

The Ohio Court of Appeals dismissed the city’s subsequent appeal, holding that the order was not final and therefore not subject to immediate appeal by the city.

The city then appealed the procedural issues to the state Supreme Court. The key issue was whether the procedural law governing the finality of judicial orders gives the city an immediate right to appeal the trial court’s injunction. Although many states have statutes that allow parties to appeal a preliminary injunction as a matter of course, Ohio’s default rules allow the order to be reviewed only after a final judgment has been entered. However, the relevant statute provides that an “order granting or denying ‘interim relief'” constitutes a final order. teeth It is subject to immediate appeal as long as two conditions are met. First, there is no other opportunity for the aggrieved party to obtain the relief he seeks, and there is nothing else for the trial judge to decide regarding the order. Second, a post-final judgment appeal would not provide meaningful or effective relief to barred parties.

Applying this test, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that cities have the right to appeal preliminary injunctions against firearm restrictions. The majority and one dissenting justice agreed that the first condition was met because, as a practical matter, the trial court had conclusively ruled that the ordinance was unconstitutional. Regarding the second condition, the majority emphasized that a court’s unreasonable suspension of a city ordinance would necessarily cause irreparable harm. The journey to this conclusion began with a reiteration of Ohio’s municipal autonomy. “The Home Rule Amendment to the Ohio Constitution provides municipalities with the broadest possible autonomy in all matters that are strictly local and do not affect the character or interests of the state as a whole.” This “full and complete political power in all matters of local government,” the court held, “gives local governments a sovereign interest in exercising police powers to enact laws in the public interest.”

This power imbues city ordinances with the same kind of democratic legitimacy that state laws enjoy. “Just as the Legislature passes laws that reflect the will of the people of Ohio, so too does the Columbus City Council pass ordinances that reflect the will of the people of Columbus.” Citing two U.S. Supreme Court cases, the majority stressed that the state suffers irreparable harm whenever “a court orders the enactment of a law enacted by the people’s representatives,” and that “only an interlocutory appeal can protect the state from that harm.” “Thus, an order ostensibly enforcing a duly enacted city ordinance would irreparably harm the city’s sovereign interests,” the court concluded, adding that “an immediate appeal is necessary to provide the city with ‘meaningful or effective relief.'”

The government also supported this view at press conferences and oral arguments. Pursuant to an Ohio law that allows the attorney general to appear before the state Supreme Court when the state has a “direct or indirect interest” in a civil or criminal case, the state acknowledged in its opening brief that the state and city disagreed in the strongest possible terms on the underlying merits of the case, and that the state affirmed the trial court’s decision under the ordinance. Nevertheless, when it came to the specific procedural question before the court, namely whether the municipality had the right to immediately appeal a preliminary injunction that it believed was erroneous, the state unequivocally declared that it fully agreed with the city regarding the municipality’s right to appeal.

But despite this interesting moment of unity between Ohio and its local governments on the procedural point of urban entitlement, bitter firearms preemption disputes between Ohio states and cities will undoubtedly continue apace. The high court granted the city’s appeal, and the merits of the preliminary injunction will now be heard by the appellate court.

And another live pre-emption case continues in Ohio over whether cities can regulate e-cigarettes, with oral arguments scheduled for next week in the Ohio Supreme Court. In that case, the state is arguing for a significant change to the preemption doctrine and encouraging courts to throw it out. canton This test was used by the Court of Appeals to declare state preemption laws unconstitutional in: In Ohio, local governments have autonomous police powers to regulate health, welfare, and safety; however, if local ordinances passed pursuant to this police power conflict with general state law, state law supersedes local law. 4 parts canton The test determines whether a state statute is a general law for this purpose, essentially requiring states to adopt “broad and uniform rules” if they wish to preempt local laws. of canton “Meaningful local government protections” are being put to the test, and local leaders fear that if this nearly 25-year precedent breaks down, “the real impact of local government autonomy will disappear.” In this regard, the court’s confirmation that Ohio municipalities have a sovereign interest in the exercise of their police powers may come back to play in future preemption arguments.

Sarah L. Swan is a professor of law and dean of civil governance scholars at Rutgers Law School.

Recommended quote: Sarah Swan Ohio local governments gain expanded procedural rights in firearms casesSᴛᴀᴛᴇ Cᴏᴜʀᴛ Rᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ (June 5, 2026), https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/ohio-municipalities-win-expanded-procedural-rights-firearms-case

Silver price today on June 8, 2026

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Silver price today on June 8, 2026

How much is silver worth per ounce today?

As of 8:05 AM ET on June 8, 2026, the spot price of silver is $68.46 per oz., according to the latest market data. The stock rose 1.04%, or $0.71 from the previous closing price of $67.75.

One year ago, silver was trading at $35.98 per ounce. This means that the price has increased by 90.28% in the last 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $35.81

52 week high: $117.39

Silver is trading 41.68% below its 52-week high. It is 91.17% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of silver?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$68.46 $75.63 $80.35 $35.98

A week ago, silver was trading at $75.63 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 9.48%.

A month ago, silver was trading at $80.35 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 14.80%.

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.

Tropical Storm Ernesto: Cruise ships change itineraries to dodge storm

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Tropical Storm Ernesto: Cruise ships change itineraries to dodge storm

Some cruise lines are having to change up some of their ships’ itineraries or port dates to keep out of the way of Hurricane Ernesto, which has been bashing the northern Caribbean and has left about half of Puerto Rico without power.

As of 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, Carnival, Celebrity and Norwegian cruise lines reported that they had to reroute ships to avoid the storm.

Carnival announced the following adjustments on its news site:

Carnival Pride is sailing from Baltimore to Bermuda. The Pride’s two-day visit to Bermuda was set to arrive Tuesday and depart Thursday, one day earlier than had previously been scheduled.

Carnival Magic is sailing an Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami and has canceled a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday. Instead, a visit to Nassau, Bahamas, has been added for Friday.

Carnival also said the itineraries for the Carnival Freedom and Mardi Gras are “being closely monitored for potential changes, but no changes have been at this time.”

Celebrity reported the following changes in an email to CNN Travel:

Icon of the Seas has changed to a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary visiting Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya, Mexico, in place of its scheduled seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing.

Rhapsody of the Seas has swapped the order of its remaining ports of call. It’s now set to visit Bridgetown, Barbados, on Tuesday; Castries, St. Lucia, on Wednesday; St. John’s, Antigua, on Thursday; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten, on Friday; and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, on Saturday.

Symphony of the Seas will now visit Nassau, Bahamas, in place of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Norwegian told CNN Travel in an email on Wednesday morning that “as a result of worsening weather conditions due to Tropical Storm Ernesto, three of our itineraries have been impacted.”

Norwegian Breakaway had an August 11 Eastern Caribbean voyage that was been modified to a Western Caribbean itinerary, and will now call to Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Norwegian’s private resort-style destination, Harvest Caye, Belize.

Norwegian Sky had August 12 Eastern Caribbean sailing that was also replaced to sail to the same aforementioned Western Caribbean destinations as well as George Town, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Norwegian Joy had an August 11 sailing that has also been adjusted, and it was moved arrive to Bermuda on Tuesday, a day earlier than scheduled. The ship will still overnight at the Royal Naval Dockyard for two days, however it will now depart on Friday.

“We will continue to monitor the storm and update guests as needed,” Norwegian said in the email.

Holland America and Princess told CNN Travel in emails that they did not have any ships currently operating in the Caribbean.

Virgin Voyages said in an email that “Valiant Lady is [its] only ship in the Caribbean at the moment and her itinerary will not be impacted by the storm.”

Disney reported to CNN that no ships in its cruise fleet were affected.

Ernesto is not projected to make landfall on the US mainland. And the government of Bermuda urged its citizens on X “to accelerate storm preparations immediately,” expecting Ernesto to approach the archipelago as Category 2 hurricane by early Saturday. Bermuda is about 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Pride, community, and a breast cancer diagnosis

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Pride, community, and a breast cancer diagnosis

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Alix Schulman lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Lisa. They aspired to a house with a nice backyard and basement for their dog. A few decades ago, a huge tornado ripped through town. Having a basement will help you prepare for the worst.

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.

“It wasn’t just about me as a patient. I think that’s really important for the queer community because your partner might be sitting next to you and just listening,” Schulman says. She added, “My surgeon was amazing and I would recommend her and my oncologist to anyone in the queer community because I think they were not only kind and caring, but also made us feel very welcome in a judgment-free environment.”

This care is critical, with an estimated 160,000 new cases of cancer and nearly 50,000 new LGBTQ+ people in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. Research from the National LGBT Cancer Network and Oncology Nursing Seminar shows that they are at higher risk for cancer compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers and may have barriers to recommended screening.

Even in a politically polarized society, “many health systems seem to continue to focus on promoting (LGBTQ+) knowledge and education because they know gay people aren’t going anywhere,” says Dr. Justin Schweitzer, medical director of LGBTQ+ medicine and primary care at Cooper University Health Care.

The importance of support during cancer treatment

Shulman met his wife when he was 33 years old. They have been together for 16 years and married for 8 years. “On the surface she’s a very hard-nosed person, but deep down she’s a very caring, loving, supportive, very understanding person,” Schulman said. Solid support was what she needed when she felt pain in her left breast in 2022. A pink rash has also appeared. It was hot to the touch.

With these symptoms, she called her doctor and scheduled a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. “They kept taking more pictures, so I had a feeling something was going on,” she says. “And the same thing happened with the ultrasound.”

Shulman’s diagnosis results arrived on Valentine’s Day. Her general practitioner recommended a queer-affirming oncologist and surgeon, and her treatment began.

“She was like a blessing,” Schulman says of his surgeon. “She brought the fun, but most people would think, ‘Well, can you really do that during a cancer diagnosis?’ And she comes in and says, ‘Okay, you got cancer.’ what are we doing? ”

Her first chemotherapy infusion began on March 19th. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had just approved the immunotherapy Keytruda, and she took it for a year in conjunction with chemotherapy. Shingles, folliculitis, and COVID-19 also plagued her during this time. When she finished it, it was all worth it and she has the certificate to prove it. She has it framed and displayed.

“I work from home, and sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, that’s your college degree?’ And I’m like, ‘No, this is me completing chemotherapy,'” she says.

This 25-year-old man is a breast cancer survivor. Currently, she is suffering from menopause.

However, depression developed after her treatment. Chemotherapy became a weekly part of her life. What exactly happened during that time?

“Patients often find themselves in what I call a new normal,” Schweitzer says. “That means their lives can be dramatically different than they were before surgery or cancer treatment.”

Shulman took charge of her mental health, looking for support groups and therapy. Now, in her daily life, she sees people who are going through similar experiences to hers and is passing on good vibes. One day, she noticed a woman getting a manicure whose hair seemed to be growing longer. “I just said, ‘Your hair looks great. You look beautiful.’ And she said, ‘I knew you knew.’ ”

Schulman added, “I think it’s important to support other people, because they might be in a situation where they’re feeling down as well, angry, and like, ‘Why me?'” And I think it’s really important to support people who are out there, whether they’re in the queer community or not. ”

“The other side of this story”

There are many resources for LGBTQ+ people seeking support as part of their cancer journey, including the American Cancer Society, the Tegan & Sarah Foundation, and various LGBTQ+ healthcare directories.

Mr. Shulman was fortunate to be surrounded by many loved ones. But not everyone has it.

“This is the other side of the story, and it’s worth discussing,” Schweitzer said, noting the importance of having “support from loved ones, chosen family members, and the medical community to help patients get the care they want and need.”

In case you missed it: She was sent to Reddit after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This is what she found.

Schulman now sees an oncologist every six months. She’s trying out some new activities, including a queer bowling league, pickleball, and even a pottery class.

Schulman is especially excited to be doing a “Making Stride” breast cancer walk in Chicago later this year, holding up a placard declaring that she has been cancer-free for almost five years.

Today’s gold price for June 8, 2026

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Today’s gold price for June 8, 2026

How much is gold per ounce today?

As of 8:05 AM ET on June 8, 2026, the spot price of gold is $4,329.49 per oz., according to the latest market data. It was up 0.01% and $0.49 from the previous closing price of $4,329.00.

One year ago, gold was trading at $3,310.53 per ounce. This means the price has increased by 30.78% 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 20.96% below its 52-week high. The stock is still 32.50% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of gold?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$4,329.49 $4,540.53 $4,715.28 $3,310.53

A week ago, gold was trading at $4,540.53 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 4.65%.

A month ago, gold was trading at $4,715.28 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 8.18%.

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.

Look out for Nancy Mace, Graham Platner and more in the primaries

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Look out for Nancy Mace, Graham Platner and more in the primaries

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It’s been a busy month of primaries across the United States.

Four states across the country are scheduled to hold local elections, particularly the House of Representatives, Senate, and gubernatorial elections, on Tuesday, June 9th. The winner will launch a busy campaign ahead of November’s midterm elections, where Republicans will aim to maintain a narrow majority on Capitol Hill.

“The early June primaries can be used to predict what will happen in the November midterm elections,” said Chase Meyer, a senior lecturer in political science at the University of South Carolina.

Here’s a look at this week’s primaries and some of the key races that follow.

Which states will have elections on June 9th?

  • Maine: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor
  • Nevada: US House of Representatives, Governor
  • North Dakota: usa house
  • South Carolina: US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor

Race to watch: Who will replace Lindsey Graham?

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is seeking a fifth term. While some senior senators have received reprimands from presidents this election cycle, Mr. Graham has the support of President Donald Trump.

But he faces a crowded field of Republican competitors, including Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, Horry County businessman Pat Herman, author Thomas Dismukes, Duncan City Councilman Calvin Cowen and Columbia content creator Darius Mitchell, USA TODAY Network’s Greenville News reports. A Citadel newspaper poll in late May found the race to be between Graham and Lynch, with 46% of Republicans backing Graham and 36% backing Lynch.

If Graham wins the nomination, he will likely face the Democratic front-runner, pediatrician Annie Andrews, who is firmly in the running to flip the red seat.

Race to watch: Nancy Mace runs for governor of South Carolina

In the Republican primary for governor of South Carolina, President Trump endorsed Lt. Governor Sam Evett, the first female governor in the state’s history. Evett is facing a leading Republican challenger, Rep. Nancy Mace, who cited her push to release files on Jeffrey Epstein as a reason the president did not support her campaign.

A group of prominent candidates to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster have assembled, including Mace and Evett, as well as state Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and business executive Ron Ready. For most of the last two months of the campaign, polls have shown each candidate within shooting distance of each other.

“It’s very rare in recent elections that we actually have five-person elections, so this is very unusual,” Meyer said. Many South Carolina Republicans have not yet made up their minds, so “it could be anyone who finishes first,” he said.

But primaries so far this season have shown that the influence of support for Trump cannot be ignored, Meyer said.

“President Trump’s influence is definitely being felt in the state,” Meyer said. “His support matters to Republican primary voters.”

Meyer said one of the concerns for South Carolinians is the state’s record population growth, which is raising new concerns about housing, employment and health care.

“Many candidates running from both parties touch on the need to hire more teachers (Republicans are particularly focused on school choice) and improve roads and infrastructure to accommodate this significant growth,” Meyer said.

Race to watch: Graham Platner makes debut in Maine Senate primary

The focus of attention in the Senate race is Graham Platner’s candidacy for the Democratic nomination in Maine.

Mr. Platner, an oyster farmer who is almost certain to win his race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November, attracted the support of fellow Northeast Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders before his archrival, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her Senate campaign on April 30. The move came as a surprise after some political watchers had previously suggested that the Plattner-Mills race could signal the direction of the Democratic Party.

However, Platner’s performance in the primary will continue to be closely watched as he battles multiple controversies. He came under fire last year for getting a tattoo of a skull and crossbones, which resembles a Nazi symbol, and for old Reddit posts in which he made controversial comments about topics such as sexual assault and race. On May 30, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported that Mr. Platner’s wife, Amy Gartner, notified his campaign of sexual messages he had exchanged with several women before the start of his campaign.

more: Graham Platner’s wife responds to reports about sexual messages

The June primary is expected to bring another high-profile race between Mr. Platner and Mr. Collins this November. A general election poll released by the University of New Hampshire on May 27 showed Mr. Platner leading Mr. Collins by 9 points.

Races to watch: Nevada open house seats

A retiring Republican lawmaker from Nevada opposes Trump’s choice of successor.

President Trump on Friday, May 29, endorsed David Flippo in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

However, Amodei responded to Trump by saying he “made a mistake” and expressed support for James Settelmeyer. According to his campaign website, Mr. Setelmeyer served in the Nevada State Legislature for 16 years and served as director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before running for Congress.

Thirteen Republicans are participating in the race. The winner of the June 9 Republican primary is likely to be the frontrunner to win the seat in the red-leaning district, which is mostly rural in the northern half of the state.

More from USA TODAY Network: Q&A with a Republican running for Nevada’s CD2 U.S. House seat.

Contributor: Margie Cullen, USA TODAY Network – New England

This couple set off on a motorbike world tour with their beloved dog. Then tragedy struck

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This couple set off on a motorbike world tour with their beloved dog. Then tragedy struck

Their shared love of travel was one of the main topics of conversation during their first date back in 2004.

But other than a “couple of cruises,” Janell and Stu Clarke, both from Australia, had barely traveled beyond their home country nearly a decade later.

Once Janell got her motorbike license in 2009, after some gentle persuasion from longtime rider Stu, they began taking motorcycle trips throughout Australia with their dog Skyla, and were keen to broaden their horizons.

“I’d kind of attempted to go backpacking when I was 18, but I was far too young,” says Stu, who previously worked as an engineer in the Royal Australian Navy. “It was always something that I really wanted to do. I was waiting until my obligation with the navy had ended.”

Australian couple Janell and Stu Clarke rode around the world on motorcycles with three rescue dogs.

When he left the navy in 2014, the couple, who’ve been married since 2009, decided that, not only was it finally time to get out there and see the world, they would see it all “in one go.”

According to Janell and Stu, one of the main reasons they chose to take an extended trip was due to the cost of flights to and from Australia.

“We figured as soon as you get out of Australia, it’s best to just be gone for as long as you can afford to be,” explains Stu. “Because it’s so expensive to leave Australia.”

While they initially intended to travel for six months, this was extended to 18 months, and then two years while they were making plans.

There was one small problem. Neither could bear the thought of leaving Skyla behind for that long.

When the couple looked into the possibility of taking her with them, they soon realized that it “wasn’t as impossible as others had led us to believe” and began making preparations for a world tour with their pooch in tow.

“It [the planning] was all around Skyla,” explains Stu. “We had the import permits completed for her to enter every country that we intended to go to. We wanted to make sure she was completely covered.”

But as their epic motorcycle journey drew closer, the Clarkes were left devastated when their beloved pet was diagnosed with cancer.

Although this was undoubtedly a major setback, Skyla received chemotherapy and underwent a bone marrow transplant and was eventually deemed healthy enough to go on the with them.

“While the odds were against her, we had every reason to believe she could go on to live a full, happy, healthy life,” says Janell, a civil engineer.

In February 2014, they flew from Australia to Dallas, Texas, where they would begin their trip.

The couple purchased two motorbikes while in Texas. Janell went for a 2006 BMW F650GS, while Stu opted for a 2012 G650GS.

“Bikes are expensive in Australia,” explains Janell. “And then you have the cost of the shipping. So it just made sense to buy the bikes when we were starting our trip.”

They set off on their brand new bikes in March, with Skyla traveling alongside them comfortably in a motorcycle dog carrier they’d designed themselves to suit her needs.

“She was our number-one concern,” adds Janell. “Our main focus before we left was making sure that she was going to be comfortable.”

The Clarke's beloved dog Skyla, seen with Stu in Belize back in 2014, passed away a few months into their trip.

As they rode towards Mexico, Janell and Stu tried to put the stress of Skyla’s illness behind them and focus on the mammoth journey ahead.

However, a little while after they crossed the border into Mexico, they learned that Skyla’s cancer had returned, and little could be done this time.

“Then, our only option was chemotherapy drugs and spending as much time with her and giving her the best quality of life we could,” explains Janell.

They continued on across Mexico into Central America, riding through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, where they crossed the border over to Panama.

Once they reached Panama, they took a ferry to South America to avoid having to put Skyla in a crate for a flight. As they entered the continent, Skyla’s condition worsened, and the pair prepared themselves for the inevitable.

“We were surrounded by people who were trying their best to help us and care for Skyla,” says Janell. “But we just really felt a long way from home at that point. It was a difficult time.”

When Skyla passed away in Venezuela on September 10, 2014, the couple were so devastated that they considered packing up and returning to Australia.

“I just wanted to go home,” admits Janell. “It just felt like it was all over. I was really, really in a bad place.”

They decided to take some time out, and went on a hiking trip up the table-top mountains in Venezuela to “get away from everything” and give themselves some time to reflect.

“All we had to do was carry our bags and hike and not think too much,” adds Janell. “It was a really good way to grieve.”

Once the hike was over, they took a few more weeks off to process things, before ultimately deciding to keep going.

The pair, who were on the road for nearly 10 years, picked up disabled dog Weetie in Venezuela in 2014.

However, their perspective had changed completely by then, and Janell and Stu, who have been chronicling their travels on their website, The Pack Track, vowed to approach the rest of the trip in a very different way.

“After we lost Skyla, we decided that we would slow down,” says Stu. “We would concentrate on our relationship – because that [Skyla’s cancer] had been really hard on our relationship – and we wouldn’t have an end date for the trip.”

Shortly before they left Venezuela, the couple returned to visit the vet who had treated Skyla during her final days and asked if they could meet Weeti, a disabled and epileptic mixed breed, whose blood had been given to their pet during a transfusion.

“When we said, ‘Hello’ to her, the vet said, ‘Would you like to adopt her? And we said, ‘Yes,’” Janell says of their decision to take on the dog, which had suffered major injuries and undergone surgery as a puppy after being hit by a truck. “We didn’t put any thought into that, which was a little crazy.”

From Venezuela, they continued on through South America, “riding all the way to the bottom.” While passing through Colombia in August 2015, they picked up their second rescue dog, Shadow.

“She stepped out onto the road in front of me,” says Stu. “I got around her, but the car behind me went straight over the top of her.”

When he went back to check on her, Stu realized that the dog was still alive, and asked around to try to find out if she had an owner.

After learning that she was apparently part of a group of strays, Stu and Janell put the injured dog with Weeti in their dog carrier, and rode on to Bogota, where they took her to see a vet.

Although they’d initially planned to try to re-home Shadow, a miniature pinscher, in the Colombian capital, the pair were informed that this was unlikely due to the amount of strays there, and she “wouldn’t stand much of a chance” if they left her behind.

“She’s so tiny,” says Janell. “So we were just like, ‘Well, we’re already traveling with one dog. To add one tiny little dog wouldn’t be too bad.”

When they reached Ecuador a few months later, they returned to the US, treating themselves to a luxury cruise to the UK on board Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (QM2,) the only ship in the world that allows pets to cruise with their owners.

Expanding brood

The Clarkes' second rescue dog, Shadow, joined their group in 2015 and they found their third, Azra, in Turkey in 2021.

After a seven-day journey to UK city Southampton, they got back on their bikes, rode to mainland Europe and eventually sailed over to Morocco, before making their way to West Africa, and riding down to the bottom of South Africa.

“Africa was very challenging for us,” admits Stu. “We really did struggle as we were doing it. But looking back, it’s one of our highlights.”

The couple then rode to Egypt, where they shipped their bikes back to the UK and made their way to collect them.

But after spending a few months touring Europe in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Stu and Janell were forced to stay in one place.

“We were stuck in Portugal until June or July,” says Stu. “It wasn’t awful at all. But it really did slow us down.”

Once restrictions began to lift, they were able to get on the move again, and spent months “bouncing around Europe,” avoiding big cities as much as they could due to the infectious disease, which was still rising at rapid rates in various countries throughout the world.

After another trip back to the UK when “things got worse with Covid,” they headed to Eastern Europe.

The Clarkes picked up their third rescue dog, Azra, also a mixed breed, when she ran out in the road in front of them while they were riding through Turkey in December 2021.

“I walked to the village with her to see if anyone recognized her, or if there was a mum around,” Janell explains.

When they were once again unable to find an owner, the couple asked a local farmer if he would take the puppy, but he was unwilling.

Rather than leave the canine “by the side of the road,” they opted to ride to the next city and take her to a rescue center.

However, they say they were told the puppy had a highly contagious virus, and the vet treating her was only willing to continue if they adopted her.

Nearly a decade after setting off from Australia with just one dog, Janell and Stu now found themselves traveling with three entirely different dogs.

“They’re all black, and they’re all girls,” notes Janell, before admitting that taking on a puppy was challenging.

“We’ve never had a puppy,” she adds. “They change so much as they grow up. And they’re so needy and energetic.”

They had to remain in Turkey for around three months in order to get all of the necessary paperwork to travel onwards with Azra.

“Having dogs slows us down,” explains Janell. “You have to think about their welfare. We can push ourselves, but it’s not fair to push them. So you have to slow down a bit.”

Aside from having to move at a slightly slower pace, traveling with three dogs can cause issues when it comes to places to stay, and there were various activities that they were unable to do, such as go to museums.

“You’re thinking about them all the time,” says Stu. “You’re thinking about them going to the toilet, stopping for water.

“Whether the accommodation is pet friendly, and if the rooms that we’re staying in are comfortable for them. That’s also there.”

But the couple stress that they never felt like they were missing out on anything by traveling with their “girls.”

In fact, having Weeti, Shadow and Azra along for the ride brought them a huge sense of comfort, particularly after being on the road for so long.

Once they left Turkey, the group crossed Iraq twice, “both times with military escorts,” before passing through Russia and traveling through the Central Asian ‘Stan nations and on to Mongolia.

At this point, Janell and Stu agreed that it was finally time to “finish this trip and head home.”

But it would be nearly another two years before they’d actually arrive back in Australia.

“Everything we’ve tried to do has just taken longer,” says Stu. “That’s why it ended up taking as long as it did.”

From passport extension issues, to border restrictions and animal transportation woes, they encountered various difficulties as they attempted to return home.

Once they reached Southeast Asia in late 2022, the couple shipped their bikes to the US, where they spent a few months getting the documentation together that would allow them to travel back to Australia with all three of their dogs.

Although they’d planned to travel directly from the US to Australia, they ultimately decided to travel to return via New Zealand, where their dogs would only have to spend 10 days in quarantine.

In December 2023, they flew to Christchurch, New Zealand with Weeti, Shadow and Azra, leaving their bikes behind in the US.

“We decided that going through New Zealand was going to be a much better plan for us,” says Stu, explaining that they were able to visit their dogs every day while they were in quarantine in Christchurch.

“They were really well looked after.”

The pair were determined to return to Australia with their

Once the dogs were released, the fivesome spent six months waiting for Weeti, Shadow and Azra to become eligible to enter Australia without having to quarantine.

However, Janell and Stu stress that this wasn’t a hardship for them at all.

“We had a really good time in New Zealand,” says Janell. “We got jobs and we worked, but we decided we still wanted to get home.”

On July 31, Janell and Stu arrived back in the Gold Coast, Australia with Weeti, Shadow and Azra in tow.

“We arrived in Australia, and they (the dogs) were released straight away,” says Stu. “So that was really nice.”

Since returning home, they’ve spent much of their time visiting family and introducing them to Weeti, Shadow and Azra.

Janell and Stu are currently waiting for a permit that will allow them to ship their bikes back to Australia.

Once they’re reunited with their bikes, Janell and Stu hope to take their dogs on a short bike tour around Australia.

“As soon as they (the dogs) see the bikes again, they’ll be ready to go,” says Stu.

The pair, who traveled over 260,000 kilometers (around 162,000 miles) and rode through around 110 countries during their decade on the road, say their “girls” have settled into life Down Under very quickly.

“For them it’s just another country on the list,” says Stu, recalling an encounter between the dogs and a kangaroo during their first day in Australia. “I’m sure they’re just wondering when we’re going to move on.”

The process of returning home with their dogs certainly wasn’t easy, but Janell and Stu say that they never contemplated leaving them behind, and even considered moving to Portugal at one point.

Janell and Stu arrived back in Australia with Weeti, Shadow and Azra on July 31.

“If the dogs weren’t coming, then we weren’t going,” says Stu. “We weren’t going. They were way too important to us to just say, ‘They can’t come,’ and us go on.”

As for their future plans, Stu hopes to return to the Australian navy and is currently “working out the finer details” of his readmission.

“It’s going to be a huge learning curve after 10 years out of uniform, to put it back on and get back into marching and saluting and all of that,” he says.

While this will likely be a big adjustment for all of them, Janell and Stu, who hope to write a series of books about their travels in the future, say that after overcoming so much together over the years, they’ve learned that “all problems can be solved.”

“We’ve always kind of been heading in the same direction,” says Janell. “We’ve always wanted the same thing.

“We both had this goal. We wanted to go around the world, and we both wanted to do it with our dog, or our dogs, as they accumulated…

“Even now, we both kind of are on the same page about what we want next. And (we’re) planning our next trip, which will probably be in retirement.”

This article was first published in 2023 and updated in 2024.

Mike Vrabel and Deanna Russini scandal is a communication ‘disaster’, says expert

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Mike Vrabel and Deanna Russini scandal is a communication ‘disaster’, says expert

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  • Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL reporter Deanna Russini have denied any wrongdoing after a photo of them together was published.
  • Emergency management experts said Vrabel has not taken full public accountability for the situation.
  • Vrabel missed the final day of the NFL Draft to prioritize his family, but some experts viewed the move as positive.
  • Experts believe the controversy will continue until Vrabel is fully transparent about what happened.

The words that follow Mike Vrabel were his own choices.

“That’s ridiculous.”

These are the words he shared in a statement shortly after a controversial photo of himself and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini was released in April.

Nearly two months later, Vrabel, the head coach of the New England Patriots fresh from their Super Bowl appearance, continues to piece together the story, said Molly McPherson, a crisis communications and strategy expert (and Patriots fan) with more than 25 years of experience.

“In my opinion, Vrabel is doing a gradual rehabilitation, albeit a little clumsy,” McPherson told USA TODAY Sports. “Everything he’s been doing has been a progression from the initial denial to where he is now.”

After the New York Post published photos on April 7 of Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hugging at a private resort in Arizona before the league’s annual meeting in March, Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to strangers and each have two children, vehemently denied the malicious insinuations.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post. “I don’t deserve any further response.”

However, their excuse that they were traveling separately and happened to be in the same location as the other group of people never worked. The New York Post published an additional photo of the two from April 23, which appears to be from March 2020. Additional photos of them together from a boat trip in Tennessee to a casino in Las Vegas were also released.

The debate covers a wide range of issues, including individual behavior, organizational ethics, and trust in the media. At this point, McPherson said full accountability will require sitting down with media outlets and reporters to uncover the truth.

“Because he hasn’t fulfilled his responsibilities yet, and that’s why people will continue to hold him accountable,” McPherson said.

Was Mike Vrabel held accountable in the Deanna Russini story?

What McPherson realized during Vrabel’s attempts to explain himself in three meetings with the media after the photo was first released was that he spoke without realizing exactly what had happened during his interactions with Russini.

On April 21, two weeks after the New York Post published the photo, Vrabel said, “I have had difficult conversations with the people I care about: my family, my organization, my coaches, my players.”

“They were positive and productive. We believe that to be successful on and off the field, you have to make the right decisions, and that includes me. It starts with me. We never want our actions to have a negative impact on the team. We never want to be a distraction.”

“What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, our team, staff, coaches and most importantly, our fans, will continue to bring the best of me.”

In this statement and in subsequent comments at a media meeting, Mr. McPherson said he fell short of full accountability.

“Accountability that only kicks in when you get caught is not accountability, and Mike Vrabel has not held any accountability,” McPherson said. McPherson’s more than 600,000 followers watch her videos on TikTok, where she explains and provides insight into recent high-profile PR crises. “He’s just talking publicly about what he’s doing privately as an individual.”

Mike Vrabel decides to opt out of the draft

Dr. Marian Fisher, a psychology professor at Saint Mary’s University in Canada, said Vrabel spent the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft away from his team and needed to prioritize his family, a move that would restore faith in the 2025 Coach of the Year.

Fisher, who specializes in the evolutionary basis of human interpersonal relationships, considered Vrabel’s reaction from the perspective of a Patriots fan, even though he had never heard of Mike Vrabel until recently.

She said she feels more comfortable trusting someone to lead an organization she’s passionate about, even if it’s Day 3 of the NFL Draft, if that person has the maturity to lead an organization she’s passionate about. Day 3 of the NFL Draft — a big day on the NFL calendar — but the Patriots can cope without him.

“I think it was a win-win,” Fisher said, adding, “He backs up his words by saying, ‘Family is important and I’m doing this for my family.'”

“I accept that he had issues with being easily distracted, but I think what resonates is the images and statements he gives about how much he cares about his family.”

Patriots fans attending an event for season ticket holders gave Vrabel a standing ovation when he addressed the group in late April. He also received a hearty greeting from fans at quarterback Drake Maye’s charity softball game a month later.

Complete timeline: From the first photo to leaving the draft

Mike Vrabel’s accountability to his family appears to be different than in public.

Vrabel said he has begun seeking counseling, and Dr. Sheila Addison, a licensed family and marriage therapist, recommended that he attend individual psychotherapy to understand the behaviors that led him to this point.

How a person spends their time in the immediate aftermath of a crisis can have a huge impact on the experience of their partner and children, and “it’s really important to be there, if you can,” Addison told USA TODAY Sports.

“When there is a major crisis in the family, and it is certainly a crisis, working parents are often faced with a difficult choice between prioritizing family or prioritizing work,” Addison said. “I think it shows a lot of dignity and character and seriousness to be willing to say that stabilizing families and meeting their needs is a priority.”

Addison is trained in the Gottman Method, an approach to working with couples who have experienced infidelity, which follows the mantra of “make amends, attune, and attach.”

“Part of that is getting answers to questions like, ‘What actually happened?'” Addison said.

In addition to the many people joking and speculating about Vrabel and Russini’s interactions on social media, many Patriots fans would certainly want to know as well.

Fisher said another factor to consider is whether the public has a right to hold Vrabel to account.

“I don’t think so,” Fisher said. “It’s not about us.”

Who cares, except that, in Fisher’s view, the whole story is a distraction? Fisher said some people know celebrities and consider them friends, but the relationship is one-sided.

“When we don’t have an inside view of what’s going on, we feel betrayed, and I think that’s where the backlash comes from: the feeling that we have an obligation to explain,” she said.

“The only thing this should concern the public is whether this person, who is coaching the team they love, is too distracted to do his job,” Fisher said. “I think that’s the really important question.”

Mr. McPherson doesn’t see the public clutching their pearls.

“People don’t hold NFL coaches to a moral standard of never cheating and if you cheat, you lose your job,” McPherson said.

She said the public already knows the answer to the question, but every time he doesn’t answer it, she can’t believe he’s being truthful.

“That’s why accountability is so important,” McPherson said.

The latest Mike Vrabel scandal in Patriots history

The Patriots can worry about being branded a “fraud” in public — controversies like “Deflategate” and “Spygate” marked their dynastic rise dating back to the early part of this century — but McPherson said ultimately they’ve shown they care at certain times, such as the Hall of Fame voting that has kept Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick on the outside looking in.

Nancy Armor: Mike Vrabel was a perfect fit for the Patriots. Don’t be shy | Opinion

When Vrabel revealed to ESPN that he would miss the final day of the draft, the Patriots said they fully supported Vrabel’s decision.

“Mike has been honest about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, team and fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to live up to that commitment,” the team said in a statement on April 23.

Some of Vrabel’s reactions were reasonable, McPherson said, including acknowledging in his first press conference that he had had difficult conversations with his team and people he cared about, being candid about missing the draft to spend time with his family, and sharing his decision to seek counseling.

“But that amount is a disaster,” she said.

Nancy Armor: Mike Vrabel was a perfect fit for the Patriots. Don’t be shy | Opinion

This is a classic crisis containment strategy that continues to evolve, she says. The challenge for Vrabel, and the reason this story lives on, is that he is still trying to distance himself from his initial actions of dismissal and contempt, the idea that this is all “funny.”

Until that changes, people cannot move forward.

“He can’t go from start to finish without taking responsibility,” McPherson said. “This will continue to follow him.

“Or you can admit what happened,” McPherson said.

President Trump attends World Cup with Knicks in daily briefing

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President Trump attends World Cup with Knicks in daily briefing

Welcome to the daily briefing. Start your day with a story like this:

nicole farato here. Take part in our news quiz. Then dig into the news you need to know on Monday, from tonight’s Knicks (and President Donald Trump) game against MSG to the sweltering World Cup host city.

President Trump plans to appear at MSG, tickets drop

President Trump is scheduled to watch Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

Why is Trump coming? Trump is likely to resign as his unpopularity remains deep in New York City. Trump will have another chance to build his brand and reach more than 10 million people watching at home, presidential historian Matt Dallek told USA TODAY. Tonight’s fan viewing party has been canceled due to safety concerns, and the cheapest Game 3 ticket price has fallen more than 50% in 24 hours.

About basketball: The Knicks hold a 2-0 lead over the Spurs and could be on the verge of winning their first championship in 53 years if they win Game 3.

More news you need to know right now

2026 Tony Awards

magical musical theater

The Tony Awards were ecstatic and delighted with the magical musical “Shmigadoon”! The new Broadway comedy won four awards at Sunday’s ceremony, including Best Musical. See the complete list of winners.

2026 world cup

Host city prepares to heat up (literally)

The countdown to the World Cup continues, with Monday marking just three days until the start of the tournament. This weekend, many World Cup teams played friendlies around the world, with players arriving in U.S. host cities across the country (think Spain at Chattanooga). But temperatures across the U.S. are rising just as much as the competition venues, making for a scorching tournament for players and fans alike.

before you go

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

Social Security checks will be mailed on June 10th. See full payment schedule.

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Social Security checks will be mailed on June 10th. See full payment schedule.

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The first round of social security payments for June is scheduled to be distributed this week, according to the agency’s normal schedule.

Social Security benefits (paid primarily to elderly or retired beneficiaries) are typically scheduled to be paid on Wednesdays.

Social Security could face a shortage as early as 2032. If Congress does nothing, research suggests retirees will see their monthly benefits cut by 28%. This has led several groups to propose their own ways to modify the program.

That includes a paper from a Washington think tank that proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 to shore up retirement trust funds.

Here’s what you need to know about this week’s Social Security payments.

Who will receive Social Security payments this week?

Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of their birth month are supposed to receive their monthly Social Security benefits on Wednesday, June 10, according to the SSA payment calendar.

When will my Social Security payments be sent?

Social Security benefits, which are paid primarily to elderly or retired beneficiaries, are typically paid on Wednesdays.

According to the SSA calendar, if the recipient’s birthday is between the 1st and 10th of the month, payments will generally be made on the second Wednesday of the payment month. Those born from the 11th to the 20th will receive the allowance on the 3rd Wednesday, and those born after the 20th will receive it on the 4th Wednesday.

more: When will my June Social Security payment be scheduled? See schedule

People who received Social Security benefits before May 1997 can receive their payments on the third day of the month, excluding weekends and holidays.

Individuals who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can expect Social Security payments on the 3rd of the month and SSI payments on the 1st of the month.

Complete Social Security Payment Calendar for 2026

SSI payment schedule for the end of 2026

Recipients of Supplemental Securities Income (SSI) checks will typically have their payments issued on the first business day of the month, or for June, Monday, June 1st.

Here are the SSI payment dates for 2026 according to the SSA calendar:

  • Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (confirmed in July 2026)
  • Friday, July 31, 2026 (Please check for August 2026)
  • Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (confirmed in September 2026)
  • Thursday, October 1, 2026 (confirmed in October 2026)
  • Friday, October 30, 2026 (Please check for November 2026)
  • Tuesday, December 1, 2026 (confirmed in December 2026)
  • Friday, December 31, 2026 (for January 2027)

USA TODAY’s Mike Snider contributed to this report.

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

Trump will completely destroy the NBA. So why would he play in the Knicks vs. Spurs final game?

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Trump will completely destroy the NBA. So why would he play in the Knicks vs. Spurs final game?

Presidential historians say presidents love the spotlight, both in arenas and especially when millions of people are watching from home.

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has publicly slammed the NBA, the home of player activity, for overtly liberal politics that could “destroy” the game of basketball. And he is deeply unpopular in New York City, where his job approval ratings are historically low.

So why is he scheduled to attend Monday’s Game 3 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years?

To steal the words of former President Bill Clinton: “It’s politics, you idiot.”

The game between the Spurs and 7-foot-4 superstar center/power forward Victor Wembaneyama and the Knicks in their first NBA Finals since 1999 is sure to be one of the most televised NBA games in recent memory.

And while Trump has remained in tune with the pro MAGA Ultimate Fighting Championship crowd, he is likely to attend to build his brand and give himself another chance to be seen by the more than 10 million people watching at home, presidential historian Matt Dallek told USA TODAY on June 5.

“He loves the attention. He loves the attention and being the center of everything,” Dallek said. “And even though he left camp and moved to Florida, he still identifies as a New Yorker in many ways.”

“It’s a chance for him to kill two birds with one stone by helping the Knicks reach the Finals for the first time in decades,” Dallek said. “He can be a little controversial. Even if he’s being booed or heckled, he can still get all the attention and bask in the reflexive glory of the New York Knicks.”

Is Trump a basketball and sports fan?

Analysts say President Trump has already attended multiple sporting events in the first 18 months of his second term.

This includes numerous golf events and championships, Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami, the Daytona 500 auto race, the U.S. Open Men’s Tennis Finals, the FIFA Club World Cup Finals, and even the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Trump especially likes to attend UFC fight nights and matches with his Cabinet members and aides. An octagonal arena on the South Lawn of the White House is nearing completion for the UFC fight on his birthday.

But Game 3 will be different, more intimate, and historic in that the National Basketball Association believes Trump will be the first president ever to attend an NBA Finals game. Even President Barack Obama, a huge basketball fan, enjoys a close relationship with the NBA, attending games but never attending the NBA Finals.

As for the Knicks, Trump occasionally attended and sat courtside until he officially entered politics in 2015.

“Especially the NBA is going to destroy basketball.”

Dating back to at least the summer of 2020, Trump has frequently criticized the NBA and its players for supporting social justice protests and political causes.

Friction peaked during the 2020 NBA Playoffs, which were held in the “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, when some players briefly boycotted games following a controversial police shooting. Some wore Black Lives Matter messages on their jerseys and coats.

In response, President Trump criticized the league for turning the league into a “political organization” by kneeling during the national anthem. And speaking to reporters on Air Force One on August 28, 2020, he said, “I think what they’re doing specifically to the NBA is going to destroy basketball.”

President Trump has also frequently linked players’ political involvement to the sharp decline in NBA television ratings. Unlike championship teams in other sports, no NBA championship team has ever visited President Trump’s White House. And the winning NBA team often visited President Obama’s White House.

In 2017, President Trump tweeted that he was rescinding Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry’s invitation to the team’s legendary championship trip to Washington. This is because Curry said he would “vote no” to attend, citing conflict between the administration.

“My hope is that by not going, but by acting, we can bring about some change in this country in terms of what we tolerate, what we accept, and what we turn a blind eye to,” Curry said at the time.

In the end, the entire team never visited the White House. The following year, Curry and then-Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James publicly announced that neither team would accept an invitation, and Trump announced that he would not invite either team to the White House.

The White House said Trump was invited by MSG CEO James Dolan, a political donor. President Trump has said he may participate in Game 4 as well.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on June 4 about Dolan’s invitation, “The answer is, yes, he invited me, so I’m going to go,” adding, “It could be Monday. Maybe I’ll go to both.”

“I’ve been a Nick fan for a long time, and I’m a Jim Dolan fan,” Trump said. “He’s a good guy, okay? He’s wanted to win for a long time and he hates losing. He’s got a great team.”

President Trump “Into the Lion’s Den” at Madison Square Garden

It’s difficult to predict how the crowd will react, but Dallek isn’t optimistic about President Trump.

“Obviously, he’s going to go into the lion’s den. The vast majority of New Yorkers, not just Manhattan in particular, but New Yorkers in general, voted against him and don’t like him and think he’s a bad president no matter how you look at it,” Dallek said.

“And I think some fans are probably going to be a little upset,” Dallek said. “That would be a big security issue. And some fans may want to focus on the Knicks and stay away from him.”

Hollywood director Spike Lee, a prominent Trump critic and avid Knicks fan, will take his usual courtside seat.

According to the Guardian, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver welcomed President Trump’s attendance, calling the visit an opportunity to “highlight what we have in common, not our differences.”

The commissioner called Trump “a true New Yorker” and vouched for his long ties to the sport. “Donald Trump was a big Knicks fan even before he ran for office,” Silver said.

Is Trump popular in New York?

The latest approval ratings released for the Trump administration show the administration is at or near record lows nationwide. This is especially true in New York, where Mr. Trump’s job approval rating typically hovers in the low 30s.

Given the city’s overwhelmingly Democratic electorate, his approval ratings tend to be even lower, often significantly lower.

And thanks to supportive conservative media like Fox News, which selectively edits out news clips about President Trump’s appearances when they air them, many viewers will likely avoid hearing the likely boos from at least some Knicks fans in the Garden. Such edits have caused controversy at past sporting events and cultural events, such as his appearance at the Kennedy Center in April.

The Knicks are working with the Secret Service to beef up security for the game in anticipation of President Trump’s attendance.

“A strict no-bag policy will be in place and fans should make every effort to limit their personal belongings to the absolute minimum,” the agency said in a statement, adding that fans are asked to arrive at least two hours before the 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off time to pass through a “TSA-style screening process.”

Another wild card – the popular and progressive mayor of New York

Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, said he had already bought his own ticket to the game and planned to sit in a “completely different area of ​​the stadium.”

NBC 4 New York reported on June 4 that the cheapest tickets for Game 3 were listed for more than $7,000 on various ticket resale sites, including Vivid Seats and GameTime.

When a reporter told Trump that the average New Yorker couldn’t afford that price, Trump said, “They can be seen on TV. It’s kind of semi-free to watch on TV. But that’s the way life goes.”

Mamdani dodged a question on whether the two sides would try to meet at the event. The White House did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on June 5 about President Trump’s intentions to attend the game.

Trump and Mace’s hot and cold relationship shapes South Carolina gubernatorial primary

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Trump and Mace’s hot and cold relationship shapes South Carolina gubernatorial primary

President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett underscores his on-again, off-again alliance with the outspoken congresswoman.

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In May, an unusual spat broke out between the Republican candidates for South Carolina’s gubernatorial nomination. Two weeks before the June 9 primary, Congresswoman Nancy Mace confidently declared online that President Donald Trump is not endorsing his archrival, the Republican Party.

She said Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett had lied about her relationship with the president.

“Don’t believe her lies,” Mace, a three-term congressman, said in a May 29 post on the X show. The post was accompanied by a photo of an AI-generated Mace standing next to the president and giving a thumbs up.

But hours later, President Trump publicly endorsed Evett, calling him a “good friend, fighter and winner” who has “never wavered” since his first presidential run in 2016. The caning, which drew ridicule from some Republicans, underscored that Mace is not as close to the president as his campaign would like voters to believe.

Rick Beltrame, a longtime Republican activist in South Carolina politics, told USA TODAY that “Mr. Mace thought Mr. Trump would stay out of this issue.”

“Obviously, if you say something like that and two minutes later it’s a different result, you’re going to look a bit stupid,” he added. “She missed the mark.”

Trump’s endorsement is the most coveted prize in the 2026 Republican primaries across the country, evidenced by his aggressive campaigns against several incumbents running against him in Congress and statehouses.

And his influence is felt in South Carolina. In South Carolina, the party’s nomination is almost guaranteed to win the general election, and Republican primaries have long been bitterly contested.

Mace is a conservative who has dubbed herself “Trump in heels” in 2025, but she and the president have also had their differences.

Mace’s most recent violations occurred last year when he was one of four House Republicans, along with Thomas Massey of Kentucky, Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, to join Democrats in forcing the Justice Department to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In another post on May 29, Mace said, “I know I was gambling with my chances of support when I called for transparency on the Epstein file.” “If the price of my support is to sacrifice my values, I will never pay it.”

‘This is Trump country’: Poll shows Evett is leaving

A group of prominent candidates to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster have assembled, including Mace and Evett, as well as state Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and business executive Ron Ready.

For most of the last two months of the campaign, polls have shown each candidate within shooting distance of each other.

But Evett believes Trump’s support will be decisive in the 2024 presidential election in states he won by about 18 percentage points.

“This is Trump country, and people feel like the president is doing a great job,” Evette said in a June 5 interview with USA TODAY. “This plays an important role in differentiating the candidates, and I think this shows the character of the candidates. People want to see loyalty, they want to see warriors, they want to see like-minded people.”

According to Morning Consult, President Trump’s approval rating is stable in South Carolina, with 50% approval and 47% disapproval. But as other primaries around the country have shown this year, he remains far more popular among Republican voters.

Evett has made significant gains in the polls since announcing her support on May 29, which seems to set her apart from other candidates.

A poll conducted by Trafalgar Group, an Atlanta-based Republican firm, a week before Trump entered the race, showed Evett with a slight lead at 19.9%. She was followed by Wilson with 19.4%. 19% for ladies. In this survey, Norman scored 15.9% and Mace 14.6%, with a margin of error of about 3%.

But immediately after Trump’s assent, those numbers changed dramatically in the lieutenant governor’s favor, the same pollster found. In the survey conducted from June 2nd to 4th, Evette held a 26.3% lead, while no competitors did more than 18%.

South Carolina conservatives say this is critical in a crowded race that will likely lead to a June 23 runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. Each candidate has emphasized their relationship with the president in their pitches to voters.

For example, Wilson has a “Trump Tough” page on his campaign website dedicated solely to his relationship with the president. His focus is on defending Trump’s executive orders in court and supporting Cabinet appointees such as FBI Director Kash Patel.

“Our mailboxes are flooded with mail from all the candidates, and they’re all showing pictures of themselves standing next to Donald Trump,” Bertram told USA TODAY.

Mace’s passionate and cold relationship with Trump could determine the fate of the ‘Iron Lady’

Republicans, who have publicly opposed the president’s policies and approach to politics, will pay a price ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

From Indiana to Louisiana, many longtime incumbents have been easily ousted from office, while others have been forced out of Washington by Mr. Trump’s vitriolic online lashings. In some respects, Mace is no exception, given his past criticisms of the president.

For example, three days after her first inauguration, she reacted violently while locked in the Oval Office as a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. The congressman called the attempted riot “un-American” and slammed President Trump’s comments before the incident.

“Yesterday, his entire legacy disappeared,” Mace said. said at the time.

The president called her a “big loser” and later endorsed the former state lawmaker who ran against Mace in the 2022 Republican primary.

President Trump said at the time: “Nancy is always fighting with the Republicans, and she’s not happy about it at all.” “Frankly, she’s despised by just about everyone. Who in Congress or the Republican Party needs that?”

However, she easily won re-election by a margin of 14 percentage points.

Since then, Mace has made a notable shift to the right against Trump, saying he meant no malice when he campaigned against former President Joe Biden two years ago. She endorsed him in the 2024 Republican presidential primary over former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who supported her during her feud with President Trump.

Mace, on the other hand, was endorsed for re-election in 2024 and was floated as a running mate, before speaking at the Republican National Convention that year. However, the lawmaker has been in tears online after President Trump chose to support his rival governor.

In a May 31 post to X, she declared herself the “Iron Lady” (a nickname given to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) and featured an AI-generated photo showing off the foreign leader’s famous hairstyle. Her social media account bio also states that President Trump endorsed her for Congress in 2024.

Asked how he would handle disagreements with the president, Evett, who was an entrepreneur before entering politics, said he values ​​consistency when it comes to allies, whether in Washington or at the state level. The lieutenant governor said he could not speak at this time about how President Trump views his relationship with the lawmaker, but said he would address any disagreements with Trump in a different way.

“Both the president and I are businessmen, not career politicians, so when businesspeople disagree, we don’t take it to social media or the news media,” Evett said. “They call each other and have conversations. If there was a topic that the president and I probably couldn’t see eye to eye on, that’s exactly how I would handle it.”

Mace’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment for this story, but supporters who spoke with USA TODAY noted that Mace remains a popular figure among grassroots conservatives in the state.

Marty Irby, president and CEO of Capitol South LLC, a conservative lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., said he has won against pro-Trump candidates before.

“She doesn’t need Donald Trump and she doesn’t really need his support,” he added. “She’s a fearless woman. She’s the most fearless person in the House, more courageous than most of the men in this entire city, this entire Congress, and this administration.”

But polls suggest otherwise.

Tonys 2026 Complete Winners List

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Tonys 2026 Complete Winners List

“The Lost Boys” and “Schmiga Doon!” are the most unpredictable Tony Awards in years. Gunning of top hardware. Here are the players who took home the trophy on Sunday.

Vampires fight for blood at this year’s Tony Awards.

This season’s most nominated musical, “The Lost Boys,” is vying for top honors at this year’s ceremony with “Schmigadoon!,” “Titanic” and “Two Strangers” and will be broadcast live from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on June 7 (streaming on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, Paramount+).

For theater fans, this is one of the toughest races of all time, with a heated battle between Tony Award-winning veterans John Lithgow (“Giant”) and Nathan Lane (“Death of a Salesman”) and popular supporting actress nominees Shoshana Bean (“The Lost Boys”) and Anna Gasteyer (“Schmigadoon!”). Most exciting of all, the critically acclaimed “Ragtime” and “Cats: Jellicle Ball” will face off as the best musical revival.

We’re updating live with the full list of 2026 Tony Awards winners, hosted by pop singer Pink for the first time.

Tony Awards 2026 Winners

Best musical award

  • “Lost Boys”
  • Winner: “Shumiga Doon!”
  • “Titanic”
  • “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”

best play

  • “baluster”
  • “giant”
  • Winner: “Liberation”
  • “Little Bear Ridge Road”

The best musical revivals

  • “Cats: Jellicle Ball”
  • Winner: “Ragtime”
  • “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

The best revival of theater

  • “Becky Shaw”
  • Winner: “Death of a Salesman”
  • “Everything Glorious”
  • “Fallen Angels”
  • “Oedipus”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

  • Nicholas Christopher “Chess”
  • Luke Evans “The Rocky Horror Show”
  • Winner: Joshua Henry “Ragtime”
  • Sam Tutty “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”
  • Brandon Uranowitz “Ragtime”

Best Performance Award for an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

  • Sarah Chase “Shmiga Doon!”
  • Stephanie Hsu “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
  • Winner: Casey Levy “Ragtime”
  • Marla Mindell “Titanic”
  • Christiani Pitts “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”

Best performance by an actor who played the lead role in a play

  • Will Harrison “Punch”
  • Nathan Lane “Death of a Salesman”
  • Winner: John Lithgow “Giant”
  • Daniel Radcliffe “Every Brilliant Thing”
  • Mark Strong “Oedipus”

Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

  • Rose Byrne “Fallen Angel”
  • Carrie Coon “Bug”
  • Susannah Flood “Liberation”
  • Winner: Lesley Manville “Oedipus”
  • Kelli O’Hara “Fallen Angel”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

  • Winner: Ali Louis Burzgui “The Lost Boys”
  • Andre de Shields “Cats: Jellicle Ball”
  • Bryce Pinkham “Chess”
  • Ben Levi Roth “Ragtime”
  • Leighton Williams “Titanic”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

  • Winner: Shoshana Bean, “The Lost Boys”
  • Hannah Crews “Chess”
  • Rachel Dratch “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
  • Ana Gasteyer “Schmigadoon!”
  • Nichelle Lewis “Ragtime”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

  • Christopher Abbott “Death of a Salesman”
  • Danny Burstein “Marjorie Prime”
  • Brandon J. Darden “Waiting for Godot”
  • Winner: Alden Ehrenreich, “Becky Shaw”
  • Ruben Santiago-Hudson “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
  • Richard Thomas “The Baluster”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

  • Betsy Eidem “Liberation”
  • Maryse Burke “Baluster”
  • Aya Cash “Giant”
  • Winner: Laurie Metcalfe, “Death of a Salesman”
  • June Squibb “Marjorie Prime”

best musical performance

  • Michael Arden “The Lost Boys”
  • Lea Dovesonnet “Ragtime”
  • Christopher Gattelli “Schmigadoon!”
  • Tim Jackson, “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”
  • Winner: Zyron Levingston and Bill Rausch, “Cats: Jellicle Ball”

best performance of a play

  • Nicholas Hytner “Giant”
  • Robert Icke “Oedipus”
  • Kenny Leon “The Bastards”
  • Winner: Joe Mantello, “Death of a Salesman”
  • Whitney White “Liberation”

best musical books

  • David Hornsby & Chris Hoch “The Lost Boys”
  • winner: Cinco Paul “Shmiga Doon!”
  • Mara Mindel, Konstantin Luthuli, Ty Blue, “Titanic”
  • Jim Byrne and Kit Buchan, “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”

best original score

  • Caroline Shaw “Death of a Salesman”
  • Steve Balgonetti “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
  • The Rescuers “The Lost Boys”
  • Winner: Cinco Paul “Shumigadoon!”
  • Jim Byrne and Kit Buchan, “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”

Best choreography award

  • Christopher Gattelli “Schmigadoon!”
  • Eleanor Scott “Ragtime”
  • Ani Taj “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
  • Winner: Omari Wilds and Arturo Lyons, “Cats: Jellicle Ball”
  • Lauren Yarango-Grant, Christopher Cree Grant, “The Lost Boys”

best orchestration

  • Winner: Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, “Schmigadoon!”
  • Ethan Popp, Kyler Englund, Adrian “AG” Gonzalez, Gabriel Mann, “The Lost Boys”
  • Lux Pyramid “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”
  • Brian Eucifer “Chess”
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder, Doug Shutt “Cats: Jellicle Ball”

Best Stage Design Award for a Musical

  • Dot “The Rocky Horror Show”
  • Sutra Gilmore “Two Strangers (Carrying a Cake Through New York)”
  • Rachel Hawke “Cats: Jellicle Ball”
  • Winner: Dane Lafley, “The Lost Boys”
  • Scott Pask “Shmigadoon!”

Best Theater Design Award

  • Hildegard Bechtler “Oedipus”
  • Takeshi Kata, “Bug”
  • Winner: Chloe Langford, “Death of a Salesman”
  • David Collins “Dog Day Afternoon”
  • David Rockwell “Fallen Angel”

Musical Costume Design Award

  • Linda Cho “Ragtime”
  • Linda Cho “Shumiga Doon!”
  • Winner: Queen Jean, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
  • Ryan Park “The Lost Boys”
  • David I. Reynoso “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Theater costume design award

  • Brenda Abbandandro “Dog Day Afternoon”
  • Queen Jean “Liberation”
  • Winner: Jeff Marcy, “Fallen Angels”
  • Emilio Sosa “Baluster”
  • Paul Tazewell “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

Musical Lighting Design Award

  • Kevin Adams “Chess”
  • Jane Cox “The Rocky Horror Show”
  • Donald Holder “Shmiga Doon!”
  • Adam Honoré “Cats: Jellicle Ball”
  • Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (lighting design), 59 Studio (projection design) “Ragtime”
  • Winner: Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, “The Lost Boys”

Best lighting design for a play

  • Isabella Bird “Dog Day Afternoon”
  • Natasha Chivers “Oedipus”
  • Stacey DeRozier “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
  • Heather Gilbert “Bug”
  • Heather Gilbert “The Fear of 13”
  • Winner: Jack Knowles, “Death of a Salesman”

Best Sound Design for a Musical

  • Harada Kai “Cats Jellicle Ball”
  • Winner: Harada Umi “Ragtime”
  • Adam Fisher “The Lost Boys”
  • Brian Ronan “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
  • Walter Trabach “Schmigadoon!”

Best sound design for a play

  • Justin Ellington “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
  • Tom Gibbons “Oedipus”
  • Lee Kinney “The Fear of 13”
  • Josh Schmidt “Bug”
  • Winner: Michal Sulaiman “Death of a Salesman”

Will Spencer Pratt lose? View LA mayoral election results

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Will Spencer Pratt lose? View LA mayoral election results

Los Angeles City Council member Nitya Raman has overtaken former reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral race, putting her in a runoff with Mayor Karen Bass.

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Spencer Pratt, the creator of MTV’s legendary reality show “The Hills” in the early 2000s, has fallen to third place in the Los Angeles mayoral race after a new drop in votes on June 7th.

Once branded as a reality TV villain, Pratt rebuilt his public image as a conservative outsider in the race to unseat Mayor Karen Bass, only to be unseated by progressive City Council member Nitya Raman.

According to election results released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk on June 7, Raman currently has 27.12% of the vote and 196,198 votes, while Pratt has 26.69% of the vote and 193,085 votes. Incumbent Basu received 34.68% of the total votes, or 250,871 votes, giving him a significant advantage.

When votes were counted on June 6, Raman had a lead of 26.21% to Pratt’s 27.32%.

The latest information was announced on the same day that President Donald Trump walked out of an interview with “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker about the tense debate over the security of California’s elections, which aired on June 7.

Will Spencer Pratt and Tom Steyer win? California election updates

Mr. Pratt has also sought to cast doubt on the security of Los Angeles elections by promoting a theory linking the vote count to a March web article by the California Housing Partnership about the city’s homelessness rate.

After Welker first said, “Republicans are doing well in California,” President Trump accused California of a “rigged” election in the state’s June 2 primary. Pratt is a conservative, but Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is in second place, ahead of billionaire Tom Steyer.

Who is Nitya Raman? Los Angeles City Council member punches Spencer Pratt

Raman, who was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020, used “Unwritten,” the famous theme song from the movie “The Hills” popularized by singer Natasha Bedingfield, in his closing campaign ad. Her victory in 2020 was the first time in 17 years that a challenger defeated an incumbent.

The former Bass ally won re-election in 2024. Earlier this year, he made headlines when he entered the race on the last possible day, February 7th.

She said Mr. Bass had “failed to lead this city” and called Mr. Pratt a “MAGA-driven right-wing extremist who channeled people’s dissatisfaction with this city into fear, anger, and hatred.”

Mr. Pratt, a political novice, is using his campaign to unseat the former congressman as a trigger for his continued disappointment with Mr. Bass’s response to last year’s Los Angeles wildfires, which left him homeless. Pratt also took a sharp look at the city’s homeless problem in her plea to local mothers.

Spencer Pratt brings reality LA mayoral race

The Los Angeles mayoral race and the race to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is expected to run for president in 2028, have given the country a closer look at the “jungle primary.” That means the top two candidates advance in the nation’s most populous state, regardless of party.

National Republicans have been trumpeting days of vote counting in Los Angeles, the nation’s second-most populous city after New York City, where the city’s chaotic mayoral election on November 4 last year led to victory for Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani.

Contributor: Paris Barazza

Six people injured in stabbing at Penn Station in New York City

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Six people injured in stabbing at Penn Station in New York City

Six people were injured and one suspect is in custody after a stabbing was reported at New York City’s Penn Station on June 7, the city’s Fire Department announced.

Firefighters and emergency medical services received a 911 call about a person stabbing multiple people at Penn Station around 7 p.m. local time, the New York City Fire Department told USA TODAY. An investigation by the fire department revealed that one person had serious injuries, two had sustained injuries, and three had minor injuries.

Five people were taken to Bellevue Hospital and one person was taken to Cornell Hospital, the fire department said.

The suspect was taken into custody, according to the fire department. The agency has not disclosed details of the incident.

“Early this afternoon, Amtrak Police responded to a report of a stabbing at New York Penn Station. The suspect has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing,” an Amtrak spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The incident occurred at one of the United States’ busiest transportation hubs and passenger rail stations, used by hundreds of thousands of passengers each day.

“All Americans should be upset”: Trump administration to investigate MARTA after ‘tragic’ stabbing

The stabbing occurred the day before President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zoran Mandami were scheduled to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, directly above Penn Station. In view of the president’s visit, authorities have increased security in the area and tightened procedures at the arena.

USA TODAY has reached out to the New York City Police Department for comment.

Americans value staying informed, but knowledge gaps still exist: Survey

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Americans value staying informed, but knowledge gaps still exist: Survey

Staying up to date with the news and staying well-informed may be more exhausting than ever, but Americans still consider it an important part of their civic duty. There’s just one problem. A significant portion of the population does not practice what they preach.

That’s according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, which found that Americans “overwhelmingly” believe it is “very or very important” to stay informed about everything from immigration and elections to health care and foreign policy. But when it comes to actually educating themselves, far fewer Americans feel “well-informed” about a particular topic.

The Pew survey was conducted from March 6 to March 9, and 1,031 people responded. They were asked about 11 important issues, including health care, elections, presidential power, immigration, taxes and the economy, Social Security, U.S. foreign policy, gun control, childhood vaccines, technology and media regulation, and marijuana regulation.

Transparency or confusion: The Trump administration’s involvement in X exceeds that of the Biden administration.

What are the findings?

Of the survey results, 82% of respondents said it is very or very important for Americans to be informed about health care, but only 34% considered themselves to be that way.

Eighty percent say it is very important for Americans to be well-informed about the president’s powers, or, in Pew’s words, “what the president can and cannot do,” compared to 36% who say they feel the same way.

Voting and the election process were the only topics that met the 50% criterion for people who considered themselves very or extremely informed. Still, 50% is well below the 82% of respondents who think all Americans should be well-informed on the subject.

At the lower end of the survey spectrum, fairly balanced cannabis regulations are in place, with only 31% of respondents believing the subject is important to public understanding, and 23% of respondents considering themselves well-informed on the issue.

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Below are the topics Pew asked about and the percentage of Americans who feel very or extremely knowledgeable about them and who think it’s important for everyone to understand them.

  • Health care system: 34% vs. 82%.
  • Voting and election process: 50% vs. 82%.
  • What the president can and cannot do: 36% vs. 80%.
  • Immigration and citizenship policy: 39% vs. 76%.
  • Economic and tax policy: 24% vs. 75%.
  • Social Security: 31% vs. 72%.
  • U.S. foreign policy: 23% vs. 71%.
  • Gun control: 33% vs. 69%.
  • Pediatric vaccine policy: 31% vs. 69%.
  • Federal regulation of technology and media companies: 15% vs. 52%.
  • Marijuana regulation: 23% vs. 31%.

Where does the information come from?

Pew asked respondents where they gather information about specific topics, such as news media, government sources, social media, social circles, educational spaces, or “other sources.”

Overall, traditional news media topped each source, with government sources and social media coming in second, with an even split on most topics.

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Social circles, including family, friends, and acquaintances, are primarily the fourth most popular source of information, while school and formal education are among the least popular sources.

Of course, there are some outliers. For example, schools and formal education lag behind the news media when it comes to what presidents can and cannot do. Meanwhile, when people want to learn about Social Security, they turn to government sources as often as they do to news media.

demographic divide

Overall, older respondents were more likely than younger respondents to say that “it’s important for people to stay informed about some topics and it’s important for them to feel informed about those topics,” Pew said.

Additionally, younger Americans seek information from social media at higher rates than older Americans, who still rely primarily on government sources and traditional news media.

Politically, there are no major partisan divisions. Pew said Democrats and Republicans “have generally shown similar patterns in how they rate the importance of staying informed on a variety of topics and how well-informed they claim to be.”

There are some inconsistencies, reflecting party platforms and preferences.

Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are more likely to say it is very important or very important (88%) than respondents on the other side (74%) to say it is very important or extremely important for the president to keep people informed about what he can and cannot do, while partisan opinion is also split on childhood vaccines at 73% and 65%, respectively.

Conversely, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say they were personally knowledgeable about some topics, including voting and election processes (54% vs. 46%), immigration policy (44% vs. 35%), and gun control (39% vs. 26%).

Drew Pittock covers trending news from around the country for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.

Gwyneth Paltrow says her husband considers himself a Republican

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Gwyneth Paltrow says her husband considers himself a Republican

Gwyneth Paltrow has made her political views clear, saying her husband Brad Falchuk is very progressive and “considers me a Republican.”

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Gwyneth Paltrow is not a Republican, she says, despite what her husband thinks.

The “Marty Supreme” star, 53, revealed her political views on the June 2 episode of “The Goop Podcast,” joking about comparisons to her husband Brad Falchuk.

“He’s very progressive,” she added with a laugh. “I’m pretty centrist, and my husband thinks I’m a Republican, but I’m not. To be honest, I don’t feel anything right now. I feel completely independent.”

Paltrow made this point during a conversation with Trey Stevens, co-founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries. He argued in favor of mandatory civil service in the United States, but said that in today’s political world, “we’ve all become very tribal” and that America’s problems cannot be solved without “open and respectful dialogue.”

Paltrow said she couldn’t agree more, saying her husband “has a very kind heart and wants everyone to be taken care of,” but that she sometimes encourages him to listen to different points of view than her own.

“It’s very exciting for people,” she says. “I think it’s become very dichotomous. I think right now, in my journey as an American, I’m trying to weave together a lot of different perspectives and come out of a place of justice and anger and fear.”

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The Oscar-winning actress has hosted Democratic Party fundraisers in the past, including one attended by former President Barack Obama at a rally at her Los Angeles home in 2014. Paltrow told Obama at the time that she was “one of your biggest fans, if not your biggest fan,” according to Time magazine. Paltrow previously shot an ad for Obama during the 2008 election, according to Time magazine.

Paltrow also hosted a fundraiser for Democrat Pete Buttigieg in 2019.

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However, in a 2023 profile in The New York Times, Paltrow said she was “tolerant of everyone” and said she recently listened to a podcast featuring then-independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “It was very interesting to hear his perspective,” she said. Paltrow’s representatives later contacted her to express “concerns that her political views would be the focus of this article,” and described Paltrow as an “independent thinker,” the NYT reported.

In 2016, Paltrow reacted to the election of President Donald Trump, saying it was an exciting time to be an American because people were “tired of the status quo” and “we’re at an amazing tipping point” (Page 6). She further added, “I’m not going to say whose side I’m on, but the big lesson I learned was, ‘I’m not, so I need to really open up and understand more deeply.'” ”

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