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Americans are tapping into emergency savings as transportation costs soar

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“I didn’t have enough money for gas. I arrived late. It was humiliating.”

As transportation costs soar due to the Iran war, Americans are increasingly tapping into their emergency savings to cover everyday necessities.

The data from tens of thousands of employee emergency savings accounts, and the quote above is from one such user, is provided by the account’s provider, a company called SecureSave.

As energy prices soar, nearly 12% of employee withdrawals from SecureSave accounts were allocated to transportation costs at the end of March, an increase of about 35% compared to the same period last year.

With many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and savings rates near their lowest levels in years, household finances are in a “precarious” position, Devin Miller, co-founder and CEO of SecureSave, told USA TODAY.

“What we’ve found is that it’s these little things that trip people up,” Miller said. It’s not necessarily a job loss or a serious health event, but often a very common occurrence.

“We hear anecdotes from people. I’ve had calls before. I drive to work, and I know how much it costs and what my budget is. Maybe all of a sudden the gas prices go up and my budget goes out the window,” he said.

Iran war costs soar

“Prices were rising dramatically, and consumers were not prepared for this,” said Karim Marshall, director of climate and energy policy at the Consumer Federation of America, a nonpartisan advocacy group.

“This is definitely a direct result of the Iran war,” Marshall said. “But the war is only one of several causes. Ultimately, consumers will bear the cost.”

While the war does push up inflation across the economy, Marshall and other observers say it’s just the latest chapter in a years-long cost-of-living crisis plaguing American households.

Emergency savings accounts were developed as a solution to smoothing out the rough waters in household finances, from the large-scale ones mentioned by Miller to the more mundane ones.

“There are widespread affordability challenges across the board for people living on low-to-moderate incomes in the United States,” said Nick Maynard, senior vice president at Commonwealth, a national nonprofit focused on financial security. This group has contributed to account design and usage tracking.

“All kinds of emergencies come up, like car repairs, medical deductions, kids’ uniforms, pets that don’t have the insurance they need, and (families) end up plugging holes in different ways,” Maynard said.

What is an emergency savings account?

Accounts like the one offered by SecureSave have many benefits, Maynard told USA TODAY. Employees deposit the money through their paychecks, so it’s not something you have to actively initiate and it’s automatically transferred. It also provides what he calls a “dynamic” process of paying, spending, and replenishing. This is a more beneficial and achievable approach to saving than trying to get people to put away a lump sum of money all at once.

Funds accumulate in accounts designated as “savings,” reminding users to tap into accounts according to their actual needs and not for luxuries. If you initiate a withdrawal, you will be asked to explain your reason. However, unlike tax-advantaged programs like flexible savings accounts, designated uses are not defined by law.

Since the account is offered at the workplace, some employers may choose to contribute some money along with their employees, or at least encourage their employees to use it. Employers like Delta Air Lines, AutoNation and The Fresh Market are taking full advantage of these programs, and employees are also appreciating the benefits, Maynard said.

The “trickle effect” of personal budgets

Americans have had emergency expenses in every economic cycle, but Miller believes the sense of desperation reflected in some of SecureSave’s data represents a key differentiator this time around.

When asked why he was using funds for transportation, one account holder said, “My car broke down and I had to take the bus, so I was late several times.”

This anecdote and others like it reflect what Miller sees as a “profound and intense” reality.

“What’s even more complicated is missing a shift. When you miss a shift, you make less money. Less money means your budget goes further. This shows how something as simple as an increase in transportation costs and gas prices can have such a trickle effect through a person’s budget.”

Many people told anecdotes about gas prices in their retraction requests, but car repairs were mentioned just as often. That’s not surprising, Marshall said, as the cost of auto parts coming from around the world is also increasing, along with the cost of shipping them around the world.

“For consumers, our real concern at the moment is that most people don’t have much spare cash in their accounts, so they won’t be able to absorb further shocks.”

See Kentucky primary results for U.S. House and Senate elections

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Kentucky voters made their choice.

The Bluegrass State held a series of primaries for U.S. House and Senate races to determine voters for November’s midterm elections. The campaign will take place over a packed month as President Donald Trump launches an aggressive effort to defeat his Republican critics and replace them with those aligned with his policies.

Here are some of the key results you need to know ahead of November’s midterm elections, based on poll numbers from The Associated Press and CNN.

Kentucky House Results

Kentuckians will choose six candidates to head to Washington this fall. The state currently has one Democratic Representative, Morgan McGarvey, in the 3rd District, but all the others are Republicans.

The key race was in the 4th District, where incumbent Republican Rep. Thomas Massie was unable to defend his seat after falling out with Trump on key issues. Massey lost by more than 9 points with 97% of the votes counted. Massie’s campaign, like other high-profile 2026 Republican primaries, centered on Trump’s top priority in the party: purging those who oppose him. Ed Galine will face Democrat Melissa Strange for the House seat in November.

Ralph Alvarado won the Republican nomination for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, which has been vacated by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who is running to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell in the Senate. Alvarado won by 30 points with an estimated vote count of 93%. The Democrat on the ballot was Zach Dembo, who won a crowded race by 7 points with 93% of votes counted.

The candidates to vote in November are as follows.

District 1

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman James Comer won with 88% of the vote (estimated at 94% vote count).
  • Democratic Party: John “Drew” Williams won by hand.

district 2

  • republican party: Incumbent Brett Guthrie won with 85.4% of the vote (estimated to be 99% of votes counted).
  • Democratic Party: Megan Wingfield won with 40.7% of the votes (estimated at 99% vote count).

district 3

  • republican party: Maria Rodriguez won with 48.2% of the vote (estimated at 99% vote count).
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Morgan McGarvey won uncontested.

District 4

  • republican party: Ed Gallane won with 54.8% of the vote (estimated at 97% vote count).
  • Democratic Party: Melissa Strange won with 72.7% of the votes (estimated to be 97%).

5th ward

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Hal Rogers won with 77.1% of the vote (estimated to be 92% of votes counted).
  • Democratic Party: Ned Pillersdorf won by hand.

district 6

  • republican party: Ralph Alvarado won with 56.6% of the vote (estimated at 93% vote count).
  • Democratic Party: Zach Dembo won with 39.1% of the vote (estimated at 93% vote count).

Kentucky Senate Results

Kentucky will elect one senator to head to Capitol Hill to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is retiring in November. Sen. Rand Paul will not be up for re-election until 2028. The following will take part in the vote:

  • republican party: Andy Barr won with 60.4% of the vote (estimated to be 96% of votes counted).
  • Democratic Party: Charles Booker won with 46.9% of the vote (estimated to be 96% of votes counted).

Ebola, hantavirus, and why outbreaks appear to be becoming more common

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Six years after COVID-19 swept the world, the news is once again abuzz with reports of the deadly disease.

A deadly hantavirus infection has struck the cruise ship MV Hondius, forcing American passengers into long-term quarantine in Nebraska. Then, last weekend, an Ebola outbreak shook Central Africa and prompted the World Health Organization to declare it a public health emergency. Both outbreaks, while serious, have not reached pandemic levels, the organization said.

But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously, says Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Ultimately, he says, these pathogens indicate important trends about the state of our world when it comes to disease. That means zoonotic spillovers, or outbreaks caused by viruses that spread from animals to humans, are becoming more common. In fact, Hotez says you can expect it to happen every year or so.

There’s no need to panic. But it’s a wake-up call.

“The most important message about this particular hantavirus outbreak is what it represents,” Hotez says. “All of the major epidemics of the past 20 years have been largely zoonotic spillover events. … This is a wake-up call, but new infections are emerging.”

Disease outbreaks from animals are becoming more common. why?

Recent hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks both resulted from pathogens that spread from animals to humans, Hotez points out. Hantaviruses are usually transmitted to humans through rodent feces or saliva, while Ebola tends to be transmitted from animals such as fruit bats and porcupines.

“This is our new normal,” Hotez says of zoonotic disease spillovers. “We should expect large-scale zoonotic spillover events and severe epidemics to occur every year, every two years, every three years.”

why is that? Hotez says medical experts can’t say for sure. However, one possibility is climate change, which may increase interactions between humans and wildlife.

“Climate change has an important role to play,” Hotez said. “With rising temperatures, changing climate patterns, changing weather patterns, changing rainfall patterns, what’s happening now is that animal hosts are moving in search of new habitats to improve access to food and shelter.”

Another potential factor is urban population growth, he says.

“Not only are bats and rats getting closer to people, but people are getting closer to bats and rats,” Hotez said. “We are now starting to see the formation of megacities of 10, 15, 20 million or more people, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and with that comes deforestation. That means people are moving closer to animal habitat.”

“We need to prepare.”

So what can we do about the rise in zoonotic disease spillover events? Hotez encourages health authorities to act preemptively by working on vaccines and treatments for potential future diseases.

“We need to be prepared. With the spread of zoonotic diseases becoming the new normal, now is the time to strengthen our infrastructure,” he says. “We need to develop new strategies against these diseases and improve our ability to develop better diagnostics and better antiviral drugs. And, of course, we need to have vaccines available for all of these and treatments using monoclonal antibodies.”

This should also apply to the Andean strain of hantavirus. in front It hit the MV Hondius cruise ship, he said.

“They should have had Andes virus vaccines available to vaccinate those at risk on board, both passengers and crew, but they did not do so,” Hotez said. “This reflects our lack of preparedness, both on a regional, national and international scale.”

Contribution: Dana Taylor, excerpt

Wegmans ranks 36th on Forbes’ list of largest family-owned businesses

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Grocery store chain Wegmans Food Market has been featured on Forbes’ Best of List multiple times over the years. Now it’s newly created.

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Forbes releases its first-ever list of America’s 100 largest family businesses by revenue.th birthday and “companies that provide the basis for much of a country’s economy.”

This story features illustrations of a select few executives, with Wegmans Chairman Danny Wegman right at the top. (His daughter Colleen Wegman succeeded him as president and CEO in 2017.)

Wegmans came in 36th on the list with annual sales of $14.3 billion.

The Estée Lauder Companies is partnered with Wegmans, and both outperformed big-name brands like SC Johnson ($13 billion), Quikreit ($12 billion), Ashley Furniture Industries ($11 billion) and the Murdoch family’s News Corp. ($8.5 billion).

Walmart topped the list with annual sales of $713 billion. According to Statista, more than 59% of the company’s revenue comes from food sales.

Forbes methodology

Almost all private companies on the list are 50% or more owned by their founding families. For public companies, Forbes used a standard of 10% family ownership. Forbes magazine also lists companies such as Ford and Comcast. In these companies, family members own less than 10% of the company’s stock, but control at least 33% of the votes due to super voting shares and a family member serving as chairman or CEO.

Forbes obtained information on the earnings of listed companies from their securities reports.

Many private companies shared their data. The numbers for companies that did not are estimates based on Forbes reporting, the publication said.

Ranking of grocery stores other than Wegmans

8th place: Publix Super Markets, $63.2 billion

11th: HEB Grocery Company $49.6 billion

21: Meyer, $22 billion

24: $20 Billion C&S Wholesale Grocery Store

63: Giant Eagle with $8.6 billion

69: $8 Billion Demoulus Supermarket

86: Larry’s has $6 billion.

98: Ingles Market, $5.3 billion.

The top 10 ranked companies are:

  1. Walmart: $713 billion
  2. Ford Motor: $187 billion
  3. Cargill: $154 billion
  4. Koch: $125 billion
  5. Comcast: $124 billion
  6. HCA Healthcare: $75.6 billion
  7. Mars: $65 billion
  8. Publix Super Markets: $63.2 billion
  9. Tyson Foods: $54.4 billion
  10. Enterprise Products Partners, LP: $52.6 billion.

About Wegmans Food Market

Wegmans’ history dates back to 1916, when brothers John and Walter Wegmans became pushcart peddlers of fresh produce in Rochester, New York.

In 1930, they opened a 20,000-square-foot store and 300-seat cafeteria with vaporized water spray to keep produce crisp.

In 1950, Walter’s son, Robert Wegman, became president of Wegmans. Robert’s son, Danny Wegman, took over the role in 1976, and in 2017, Danny’s daughter, Colleen Wegman, became president and CEO. His daughter Nicole Wegman is president of the Wegmans brand.

Wegmans currently operates 114 stores in nine eastern states and the District of Columbia, and continues to grow steadily and conservatively.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers grocery business and consumer-focused grocery news, retail developments, store openings and closings. Send your story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. X Follow her at @MarciaGreenwood.

View Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Governor’s primary election results

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The voting situation for this fall’s Pennsylvania midterm elections is becoming clearer.

On Tuesday, May 19, voters across the Keystone State cast their ballots in the House, Senate and gubernatorial primaries, among other local elections. The results were announced as this year’s midterm elections heat up, with Republican candidates looking to secure a narrow majority in Washington, in the midst of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Here are some of the key Pennsylvania race results known on May 19th.

Pennsylvania House Results

Pennsylvania held a major congressional primary on Tuesday, selecting candidates for all 17 congressional districts in the Keystone State.

District 1

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick won unopposed.
  • Democratic Party: Bob Harvey won with 65% of the vote (estimated vote count was 60%).

district 2

  • republican party: Jessica Arriaga was the obvious winner.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congressman Brendan Boyle won uncontested.

district 3

  • Democratic Party: Chris Rabb won with 44.2% of the vote (estimated at 84% vote count).

District 4

  • republican party: Aurora Starsky won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Madeline Dean was the obvious winner.

5th ward

  • republican party: Nick Manganaro won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon won unopposed.

district 6

  • republican party: Marty Young won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congresswoman Chrissy Hoolahan won unopposed.

district 7

  • republican party: Ryan McKenzie won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Bob Brooks won with 41.7% of the vote (estimated at 87% vote count).

District 8

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Robert Bresnahan won unopposed.
  • Democratic Party: Paige Cognetti was the obvious winner.

district 9

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Daniel Muser won without a vote.
  • Democratic Party: Rachel Wallace won uncontested.

district 10

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Scott Perry won unopposed.
  • Democratic Party: Janelle Stelson won with 69.2% of the vote (estimated at 71% vote count).

district 11

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Lloyd Smucker won an uncontroversial victory.
  • Democratic Party: Nancy Mannion won uncontested.

district 12

  • republican party: James Hayes was the obvious winner.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congresswoman Summer Lee won with 81.2% of the vote (estimated vote count was 66%).

District 13

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman John Joyce won unopposed.
  • Democratic Party: Beth Farnham won uncontested.

District 14

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Guy Reschenthaler won an uncontested election.
  • Democratic Party: Alan Bloodstock won uncontested.

15 districts

  • republican party: Incumbent Congressman Glenn Thompson won unopposed.
  • Democratic Party: Ray Birger won uncontested.

District 16

  • republican party: Mike Kelly won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Justin Wagner got the obvious victory.

District 17

  • republican party: As of 11:15 p.m. ET on May 19, the race has not yet been called.
  • Democratic Party: Chris Delzio won uncontested.

Pennsylvania Governor Results

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will try to defend his position at the state’s helm in November. Following Tuesday’s results, Shapiro will now face State Treasurer Stacey Garrity, who is backed by President Donald Trump.

  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro wins without a vote.
  • republican party: State Treasurer Stacey Garrity wins uncontested.

A look back at celebrity kids who graduated from college in 2026

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It’s diploma season for celebrity kids, too.

As graduation approaches, many celebrities are congratulating their children on their achievements. Actress Reese Witherspoon praised her son Deacon, who graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. The pair were all smiles as they shared photos of his big day.

“After 4 years of hard work, long days, endless papers and classes, I worked with some of the best teachers and made new friends,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “I’m so proud of you.”

Kate Hudson’s son Ryder also graduated from New York University. As reported by US Weekly, the “Son Son Bleu” star posted a photo on her Instagram Story posing with alum and former musician Chris Robinson.

Angelina Jolie’s daughter graduates from HBCU

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Zahara graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

A video on social media shows the 21-year-old walking across the stage wearing a black graduation cap and gown, adorned with a blue and white shawl.

While attending a private, historically black university, Zahara crossed paths with Alpha Kappa Alpha, a black sorority. She is one of six children born to Jolie and Pitt, whose divorce was finalized in 2024. Jolie adopted Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005.

Contributors: Taijuan Moorman, Swasti Singhai, USA TODAY

Taylor Eardley is a news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at tardrey@usatodayco.com.

Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas closes due to rising costs for city

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LAS VEGAS — Heart Attack Grill, the upscale Las Vegas restaurant known for its giant “Bypass” burger and hospital-themed contraptions, has closed, citing rising costs and what it called “corporate greed.”

The closure ends the downtown venue’s 15-year run at the Neonopolis shopping mall and marks a turning point for one of the Strip’s most controversial attractions, which drew both crowds and criticism for celebrating the excesses and history of a real-life health scare.

Heart Attack Grill has built a brand around excess and spectacle, offering an oversized menu including double and octopus bypass burgers and “flatliner” fries.

Customers, known as “patients,” wore hospital gowns while eating, and staff dressed as nurses. Customers who didn’t finish their meals were publicly spanked, and customers weighing more than 350 pounds were given free unlimited food after stepping on a scale outside.

“Major casinos are intentionally pricing the average person.”

Restaurant owner John Basso told SFGate that the move is not intended to “destroy Las Vegas as a community,” but reflects broader changes in costs for the city. Basso said he is looking for investors and landlords for potential sites in other cities.

“This decision stems from the reality that major casinos intentionally underprice the quintessential American experience that the average person enjoys at an affordable price,” the restaurant said in a statement on its website. “We look forward to finding a new community that still appreciates Bypass Burger and the freedom to eat without apology.”

USA TODAY has reached out to the restaurant for further comment.

Controversies and past tragedies

The restaurant originally started in Tempe, Arizona, and moved to downtown Las Vegas in 2011, according to KSNV. The work quickly attracted scrutiny for its themes and health risks.

In 2012, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine called for its closure, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. That same year, one customer was hospitalized after eating a 6,000-calorie hamburger, and a few months later another customer had a similar emergency.

In February 2013, John Aleman, 52, a patron and unofficial spokesperson for the restaurant, died of what appeared to be a heart attack outside the venue, USA TODAY reported at the time. Blair River, known years earlier as the “Gentle Giant” of restaurants, died of influenza-related pneumonia in March 2011.

Laci Rice’s probation violation should spell the end of his tenure with the Chiefs

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  • Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lachie Rice was ordered to serve 30 days in jail after testing positive for THC.
  • The THC violation is a probation violation stemming from a March 2024 high-speed crash.

You will never confuse Laci Rice with Jerry Rice. So it may be time for the Kansas City Chiefs to opt for clarity regarding a troubled wide receiver who continues to give the team reason to believe.

According to Dallas County court records reviewed by USA TODAY Sports on May 19, Rice tested positive for THC and was ordered to serve an immediate 30-day jail sentence, a violation of probation stemming from an impaired and felonious driving incident two years ago.

It is scheduled to be released in the US on June 16th.

Whether he will be released by the Chiefs remains an open question. And while smoking marijuana and missing voluntary offseason workouts and mandatory minicamp while parked behind bars may not seem like a big deal, it’s unclear whether the drug component attached to Rice’s latest blunder could lead to further suspensions from the NFL.

“We are aware of the report and have no further comment at this time,” a league spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports.

According to ESPN, Rice will also have to recover from relatively minor recent knee surgery during the lockup, a situation that will definitely not make his recovery any easier.

The Chiefs have not yet commented. But they could say enough if they take (overdue?) decisive action.

Laci Rice shows Chiefs it’s time to cut losses at WR

Rice was suspended for six games last season after pleading guilty to two third-degree felonies (crash with serious injury and bodily injury caused by racing on a freeway) stemming from a March 30, 2024 crash on a highway near Dallas in which Rice, who was racing a Lamborghini with friends, caused a pile-up that injured multiple drivers and damaged the vehicle. He fled the scene before police arrived.

Perhaps it’s time for the Chiefs to give up too.

Don’t get me wrong, Rice is a good player. He averaged 64.2 receiving yards per game and 15 regular season touchdowns over his three-year career. Still, he’s not particularly big (6-foot-1, 204 pounds). Or fast. Or certainly available on a daily basis. Kansas City went 6-11 last year, and Rice played in just eight games. Knee and hamstring injuries limited him to four games in 2024, but Kansas City went 15-2 and reached the Super Bowl…basically without his services.

So what does rice actually bring to the table? Either he wasn’t concerned enough about the risk of violating his probation, or he could have been in even bigger trouble if he couldn’t wean himself off marijuana while the case was dismissed. That would have been the case if he had completed his probation. Is this the guy you want to trust on third-and-nine for the season and the possibility of a Lombardi Trophy? Is this the same man who claimed to be “deeply sorry” for his actions (and inactions) after a ferocious episode?

Additionally, cases seem to constantly follow him, whether suspected or not. Rice is also named in a separate lawsuit by a woman who alleges assault over an 18-month period earlier this year. The NFL ultimately determined that there was “insufficient evidence to support a finding that he violated the Personal Conduct Policy.” But Rice also faces other civil lawsuits, including a wreck and injury case filed in Texas.

Injured, incarcerated and increasingly disgraced, the player is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. And while he’s cheap as a starting wideout (he’s scheduled to make $1.6 million this season), who knows when Rice’s financial situation will become an entirely separate issue for a team that doesn’t need to commit any more money to him anyway. (And we’ll never know if the Chiefs would have considered wideouts like Omar Cooper Jr. or Denzel Boston more heavily late in the first round of last month’s draft if they had known Rice would struggle with his attitude again.)

But a team in the midst of a mini-rebuild has options.

Chiefs brass could upgrade Patrick Mahomes’ WR option without Laci Rice

Admittedly, Kansas City doesn’t have much cap flexibility, with just over $6 million in available space per Over The Cap. But Rice’s cuts would increase that amount to about $8 million. Coaches Andy Reid and Brett Veach need to secure a little more money to make any significant moves, but they have been doing so for a while. And it’s not like there was a solid market for available veterans like Stefon Diggs or Keenan Allen this spring.

They could get more creative with the Caps and pursue AJ Brown from Reid’s old friend in Philadelphia, or Brandon Aiyuk, who the San Francisco 49ers would likely move for something closer to one song if any team blows the whistle. Heck, maybe KC will kick the tires at Tyreek Hill at some point later this year to measure his mileage.

Sure, Brown and Aiyuk will bring their own baggage, but not a legal one. And Reed has certainly shown over the years that he’s willing to deal with that kind of baggage if it means packing in some extra wins. Diggs and Allen are older players who have just settled their own legal matters, but they are also savvy and dependable players who showed promise after the season with around 80 catches and close to 1,000 yards. Why not trade another year of Rice’s shenanigans for a one-year contract with a solid veteran and let Veach fix his position in the 2027 draft — he probably had to do that anyway?

And what about a message to two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes? He’s spent hours each day at Chiefs headquarters rehabbing his surgically reconstructed knee during the offseason, trying to be ready for Week 1, whether he’s truly 100% or not. Should he push his body to its limits during a time when he’s used to recovering from a grueling season, relying on a guy who can’t even get his joints down when there’s a veteran replacement who gives him more comfort and confidence on and off the field?

“I’d like to think there’s a new challenge every year, and having Pat around gives you the mindset that you always have a chance to compete for a championship or a district title,” Veach said before last month’s draft.

“So it’s a balance of trying to go out and get what the Pats need right now, but also looking to the future so they can continue this run.”

As Veitch predicted, this year certainly brought new challenges — again, courtesy of Rice. The time has come for organizations that are about to enter the second act of dynastic rule to deal with it appropriately.

All your NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th Monday newsletter.

Donald Trump’s purge claims Republican maverick Thomas Massie: Key points

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The president expelled the Kentucky congressman as voters headed to the polls in six states, including Georgia and Pennsylvania.

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President Donald Trump has successfully ousted his least favorite House Republican, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in a further purge of “Make America Great Again.”

Political newcomer Ed Garline, a farmer and former Navy SEAL, is expected to be the Republican candidate for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, according to NBC News and Reuters.

The must-see battle in the Bluegrass State garnered a lot of attention across the country. A key reason for that is how much energy Trump and his allies have poured into ousting Massey, who has criticized Trump for increasing the budget deficit, starting a war in Iran, and not releasing Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein.

Voters across the country were also casting their ballots in key races that will further shape the fall, including battleground races in Pennsylvania and gubernatorial races in the battleground state of Georgia.

President Trump also made headlines for disrupting the Republican Texas Senate nomination runoff by endorsing Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general, over incumbent John Cornyn. The decision will sharply divide Republicans in the Lone Star State and Washington state.

The key points are:

Another dissident bites the dust

President Trump has argued in primary after primary this year that there is no place for dissidents in the Republican Party, a point he emphasized in the lead-up to the May 19 campaign.

On May 16, Trump supporter Rep. Julia Letlow defeated Sen. Bill Cassidy in the Louisiana Republican primary. Cassidy angered Trump by voting to convict him in the president’s second impeachment trial over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

But the race has become a bitterly personal primary, pitting loyalty to Mr. Trump against Mr. Massey’s famous independent line. Massey is

The president spent months verbally bashing the libertarian-leaning incumbent, calling Massey “the worst Republican in the history of the country” during a May 18 conference call.

Other senior government officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, also campaigned in support of Garrein, vowing to support the president’s policies if elected, but absenting himself from the debate.

Huge sums of money poured into the campaign, much of it from pro-Trump groups, with more than $30 million spent on advertising, making it the most expensive House primary in U.S. history. Leading the pack was MAGA KY, which spent nearly $2.3 million on ads ripping off Massey, and nearly $500,000 on pro-Garline commercials.

Chris Lacivita, a close adviser to President Trump who ran the group, tagged Massey in a post on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the race. The message included a photo of the president giving the middle finger.

“Republicans want Republican representation – they want lower taxes – they want border control – they want less regulation and they want to know that someone will represent them,” Lacivita said in a May 19 post on X.

“Massie betrayed the Republican Party on every count, but tonight their voices were heard!”

Trump celebrated his victory on Truth Social as Galane advances in a district where voters have not sent a Democrat to Congress since 2005.

President Trump’s opponent also loses Georgia gubernatorial primary

Another Trump opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, fell short in his challenge to the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Raffensperger received about 14% of the vote.

During Trump’s failed attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss, he famously pressured Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to include the Peach State in his column. Raffensperger refused.

Preliminary results show a majority of Georgia Republicans supported Lt. Gov. Bert Jones, who received President Trump’s support. Jones’ approval rating was about 37%, compared to billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson’s approval rating of about 34%.

Since neither player reached the required 51% threshold, a runoff election will be held.

Democrats overwhelmingly selected former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from a wide range of candidates. He won with about 60% of the primary vote, supported by former President Joe Biden, and the gubernatorial race could turn into a kind of presidential proxy battle.

Trump’s support for Texas causes election night chaos, Senate Republicans

With millions of voters making their choices, Trump decided to use the election to stir up an upcoming race in Texas that could further divide the Republican Party.

The president ended months of speculation by endorsing Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, calling Paxton a “true MAGA warrior” who has served the state well.

“John Cornyn is a good man and I worked well with him, but he didn’t support me when times were tough,” Trump said in the post, accusing Cornyn of being “very slow to support me” in the 2024 Republican primary.

It’s a choice many Trump supporters are happy about, but there are concerns among Senate Republicans that it could give Democratic candidate James Talarico a path to victory. Paxton was impeached by the Republican-led state Legislature in 2023 for allegedly using his office to benefit a real estate developer who allegedly hired a woman with whom Paxton had an affair. he was acquitted.

“Senator Cornyn is a principled conservative. He’s a very capable senator,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota). “None of us can control the president’s actions. He made the decision about that. That doesn’t change my mind.”

MAGA purge raises questions about Capitol Hill tactics

There is no question that the Trump administration has succeeded in driving dissidents out of the Republican Party, but it could have some negative consequences that could quickly backfire in Washington.

This is because many incumbent members who retire or lose will remain in Congress and become free agents, disrupting the government.

Take Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, for example. He won reelection in the May 16 primary after months of attacks by Trump. He remained in the Senate and cast the deciding vote to advance the War Powers Resolution, which aims to end the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Previously, Cassidy had opposed earlier versions of the measure. In a May 19 post on X, he said the White House was leaving lawmakers “in the dark” about Operation Epic Fury.

“I’ve heard from people in Louisiana, including supporters of President Trump, that they’re concerned about this war,” Cassidy said. “Until the administration provides clarity, Congressional approval or extension cannot be justified.”

Who were the victims of the San Diego mosque shooting?

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The three people killed were identified at a press conference as Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kazra and Nadir Awad.

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Loved ones are beginning to share memories of the three men murdered at a San Diego mosque as donations pour in to help the families.

Two suspects opened fire at an Islamic center in San Diego just before noon on May 18, police said, and the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

The three people killed were identified at a press conference as Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kazra and Nadir Awad. They were hailed as heroes for their bravery in confronting the gunman.

Authorities said Abdullah, a security guard at the center, opened fire on the gunmen, who then returned to the parking lot to attract their attention.

In a statement, the center described the “brave” men as “three pillars of our community.”

“Their absence leaves a void that can never be filled,” the center said. “They weren’t just community members, they were family.”

Here’s what we know about the victims of the San Diego mosque shooting.

‘Heroic’ security guard remains memorable

Abdullah, a father of eight children, worked as a security guard at a mosque for many years. More than $1.8 million was raised for his family.

Maite Gutierrez, who worked as an administrator at the Islamic Center school for five years, recalled how she and Abdullah bonded because they both converted to Islam. She said he was very alert and loved at the center.

“He greeted everyone who came into the center,” said Gutierrez, 34. “He was loved by his students and teachers alike.”

During his vacation, Abdullah often went to the shooting range and honed his archery skills. He posted a video on his Facebook page of himself firing an arrow at a target in his backyard. Gutierrez said he often talked about his love of archery and his latest handmade bow and arrow.

In a video shared by CAIR San Diego, Abdullah said he was born and raised in San Diego and that his favorite food is “halal burgers, of course.” The group said on social media that Abdullah “always had a smile on his face and warmly greeted everyone who entered the masjid.”

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wall said the security guard was killed in a shootout with the suspects and called his actions “heroic.”

“His actions undoubtedly delayed, disrupted, and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to large areas of the mosque. There were as many as 140 children in the mosque within 15 feet of the suspect,” Wahl said.

Among the victims was a grandfather who worked at the mosque for decades.

Omar Abusham, program and outreach coordinator for the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Kazra has been attending the mosque since it was first built and has served the community for nearly 40 years. Kazula is survived by his wife, five children and grandchildren, he said.

“He ran the shop, but he also played a big role in helping with the day-to-day operations inside the mosque,” ​​Absham said. “And whatever the community needed, he was there to support.”

Imam Taha Hasan echoed this, saying that Qazra played roles such as handyman, cook, and caretaker.

“For the past 22 years, I have been the imam and director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, and I have never done anything without him,” Hassan said. “He’s at the top of my list of people to call.”

The school teacher’s husband rushed to the scene.

Absham said Awad has lived near the mosque for many years and his wife is a teacher at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Absham said Awad ran to the scene when the shooting occurred.

“He lives very, very close,” Absham said. “He heard gunshots.”

Hassan said Awad went to pray at the mosque every day and died next to Kazra in the parking lot.

“Unfortunately, they sacrificed their lives to protect the entire community within the Islamic Center of San Diego,” Hassan said.

How to switch budgeting apps (and keep your data intact)

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If you’re a seasoned budget app user, you probably already know how helpful they can be in helping you track your spending, monitor your bills, and work towards your savings and financial goals. The key to making a personal finance app work for you is finding one that fits your needs and habits.

Pam Krueger, Founder and CEO of Wealthramp, says, “Banking apps can be great tools, but only if they really help you in your life and how you think about money. Many people abandon apps because they start to feel like homework rather than support.”

However, you may need to switch providers to find the right one. Many people in such situations worry that they will lose their financial history records by doing so. This guide explains how to switch between budgeting apps without losing data and how to minimize your risk.

Why it is difficult to switch household account book apps

There are several reasons why switching budgeting apps can seem difficult. The main point is that you need to learn a new system of manual input and understand where and how to read the output.

Additionally, switching budgeting apps isn’t always a seamless process. Different apps store and sort data differently, and each app has different categories and rules, which often results in duplicate entries, missing transactions, failed automations, and synchronization issues. Many former Mint users experienced some of these situations when Intuit shut down the budgeting app in 2024.

Also, while many budgeting apps allow you to import data and financial history information, not all do. In that case, extra effort may be required to ensure accuracy.

Data that can (and cannot) be transferred

It’s important to choose a budgeting app that allows you to enter transactions manually. However, if you choose an automated app that pulls data from your bank, a third-party link app, or a CSV file, there may be some limitations on what you can and cannot transfer to your new household finances app, and knowing what to expect will make the experience less frustrating.

Typically, you can transfer data such as:

  • Transaction history via CSV export
  • account balance
  • Basic spending records including merchant information

On the other hand, non-transferable data often includes:

  • individual budget
  • Savings or spending goals
  • Custom spending categories
  • Personal rules or automation
  • Notification settings

Step-by-step: How to switch budgeting apps

1. First select your new app

Sometimes choosing a new household budget app is more about finding one that fits your habits and goals than anything else. However, if you have to consider the possibility of data loss, it is also important to choose one that is as easy to switch as possible.

Leading apps such as Monarch Money, Quicken Simplifi, Origin, and Rocket Money typically offer reliable import flexibility. However, it is important to first check that the one you choose supports importing data. It’s also important to understand how the new app will classify that data after it’s transferred.

2. Export data from current app

Most budgeting apps that support data export allow you to download your transaction history as a CSV file. A CSV file stands for “comma separated values” and is a simple spreadsheet-style file format. CSV files break down complex entries into easy-to-read rows and columns, making them popular for exporting and importing financial data.

Export options are usually found in the account settings or transaction pages of older budgeting apps.

After exporting your data, save it to Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

3. Organize and organize your data

Before you go to your new budgeting app and import your CSV file, please review the contents carefully. Look for and remove duplicate entries and correct each mismatched category, incomplete date, or other missing data.

Taking this step now will help your new app analyze your data and minimize the manual effort required to get it up and running.

4. Import your data into the new app

In the new budgeting app, use the app’s import tool to upload your CSV file. In some cases, you may need to manually update categories and other information. Even after you check and repair your file data, you’ll still need to make manual adjustments in the new app after transferring the data.

5. Reconnect your account

If you choose an app that connects to a banking institution, you’ll need to reconnect those accounts to automate the app’s functionality. Many budgeting apps use third-party platforms like Plaid to establish the connection.

Reconnect as many accounts as you want to track, including checking accounts, savings accounts, loan accounts, credit card accounts, and more.

Make sure your balances match your recent bank records, and carefully check for duplicate transactions caused by duplicate imports and live syncs.

6. Restructure your budget and goals

Your new budgeting app is now working. However, the new app has no way of knowing how you managed the old app, so there’s still some work to be done.

New apps may need to track new categories, especially those that don’t fit the typical grocery, insurance, savings, or transportation criteria. You may also need to recreate existing budget goals or category-based spending goals.

While this process may seem tedious, it can also be a good time to re-evaluate your category spending if you want to start budgeting anew or simply want to maximize the usefulness of your new app.

7. Run both apps temporarily

Some people are concerned about whether to trust new apps. Especially if you’re familiar with an app you’ve been using for a long time. As a safety measure, you may find it helpful to temporarily run both systems in parallel instead of deleting your old budgeting app right away.

Comparing account balances and total spending between them can help you catch errors early and identify missing or duplicate transactions in file transfers. Keeping both running for a while also allows you to build trust before committing fully to a new app. Making the migration a gradual process also helps you learn the new layout without missing any details.

Common mistakes to avoid

To successfully switch between budgeting apps, following the steps listed is a good way to minimize frustration during and after the process. However, it is important to remember that manual input will be required for complete success. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when switching budgeting apps.

  • Skip data export: Skipping the data export process completely before closing old budget accounts will make it difficult or impossible to recover historical data if you need it later.
  • Importing messy or incomplete data: While it may feel like a time saver to not review and repair information in CSV format, duplicate records, inconsistent categories, and incorrectly formatted dates can cause long-term problems with your new app.
  • Hoping for a perfect transfer: Don’t expect a perfect transfer. Switching budgeting platforms typically requires manual cleanup and rebuilding.
  • Delete old apps immediately: Deleting your old finance app before transferring as much data as possible to the new app will make it difficult to check your balances or recover lost information later. Additionally, old apps can act as temporary validation tools and help build trust in new apps.

Security tips when switching apps

In addition to checking app permissions for new budgeting apps, the Federal Trade Commission offers some security tips for switching apps and keeping your financial information safe when working online.

Below are some of them and some additional ones.

  • Install security software on your computer.
  • Don’t provide personal or financial information on unsecure websites whose URLs don’t start with “https.”
  • Please use a password of at least 10 characters with a combination of numbers, letters, and characters.
  • Avoid using public Wi-Fi when transferring personal information.
  • Delete your old account when you no longer need it.

Process time

Switching your budgeting app can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the amount of data involved and the amount of manual cleanup work you need to do.

If your finances are relatively simple and you have a few linked accounts, you can expect this process to be completed fairly quickly. However, if you have years of trading history, multiple custom categories, or a large number of financial accounts, you may need additional time to clean and validate your imported data.

conclusion

Switching your household finance app may feel uneasy at first. However, with preparation and a little thoughtful planning, you can minimize potential frustration. Most people who migrate can successfully migrate important financial information with some patience. You can make the transition smoother by exporting your transaction history, carefully cleaning your data, and testing your new app before fully committing.

You may need to manually rebuild your budgets, goals, automations, and settings, but switching between apps also gives you the opportunity to simplify your system and choose tools that better fit your budgeting habits.

Frequently asked questions about switching budgeting apps

Can I transfer data between budgeting apps?

Many budgeting apps allow you to transfer your financial transaction history through CSV export and import, but support varies by platform. However, budgets, savings goals, and custom components typically don’t transfer automatically between app platforms.

Will I lose my budgeting history?

You can typically use CSV files to transfer most or all of your transaction history from one budgeting app to another. However, the new app may classify data differently than the old app, so you may need to readjust your information to the new platform. This means that data is unlikely to be lost, but its configuration may be different.

What is a CSV file?

CSV stands for “comma separated values”. CSV files are a simple format that stores data in rows and columns that are easily identified by various spreadsheet applications. Many budgeting apps use CSV export and import functionality to transfer transaction history between financial platforms, which can be helpful when switching between budgeting apps.

Do all budgeting apps allow import?

There are several types of budgeting app platforms. Most of the major ones support importing financial files, but many rely on connecting to financial institutions, often through third-party secure platforms, to keep transactions up-to-date. However, some budgeting apps intentionally do not offer banking support and rely solely on manual input.

Should I just keep using my old household accounting app?

It’s a solid plan to temporarily keep your old app when switching to another app. By running both apps in parallel for a short period of time, you can compare balances, detect duplicate transactions, and verify that imported data was transferred correctly before deleting old accounts.

Senate moves forward with Iran war powers resolution in blow to President Trump

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Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy immediately fired back at party leaders after losing the primary. Three other Republicans also left the party.

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WASHINGTON – In a political blow to President Donald Trump, the Senate on May 19 advanced for the first time a measure to end the Iran war.

The war powers resolution passed 50-47, with several leading Republican senators not voting and another leading Republican defecting from the party.

Although the vote was largely procedural and faces an uphill battle before it actually becomes law, the resolution’s progress bodes poorly for the White House about the possibility of declining support for the war in Congress. As November’s midterm elections approach, rising gas prices, surging inflation and weak presidential voting numbers are becoming political responsibilities for Republicans in battleground states.

At the same time, the congressional rebuke was a clear sign of how simmering tensions between the White House and Senate Republicans are boiling over as President Trump seeks to oust longtime Republican senators.

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who just days ago lost reelection in the primary largely due to his opposition to President Trump, voted to advance the War Powers Resolution. Before losing reelection, Cassidy had repeatedly opposed the bill, which would have prevented further U.S. military attacks.

Retired North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who Trump has repeatedly attacked publicly, did not vote at all. So did Sen. John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, whom the president abruptly refused to endorse on Tuesday. (Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville also did not vote.)

Meanwhile, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) voted Democratic.

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has been leading Democratic legislative efforts to end the Iran war, said ahead of the vote that the Trump administration’s 60-day deadline by which a president could legally conduct military hostilities overseas without Congressional approval is long past.

“The regime is reluctant to show us the legal basis for the war,” he said. “That should be a flashing red light.”

In a May 1 letter to members of Congress, President Trump sought to argue that hostilities against Iran had already “ended” and that a formal declaration of war from Congress was unnecessary. But at a May 13 Senate hearing, Murkowski told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that she and others could not accept that rationale.

“What’s confusing is that even though the president says hostilities have ended, we still have 15,000 troops forward deployed, more than 20 warships, and an active naval blockade,” she said. In other words, it seems that the rivalry is not over yet.

The last time such a vote was successful was after U.S. troops invaded Venezuela and five Republicans voted against Trump. The president then posted negative comments about them on social media, and several people canceled their votes a few days later.

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

Red Lobster to close oldest store due to financial difficulties

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Red Lobster will close its landmark stores in Florida as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts.

The iconic store at 2583 North Monroe Street in Tallahassee will close on May 24, the store’s manager and employees confirmed to the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, on May 18.

The Tallahassee location, about 400 miles from Red Lobster’s first location in Lakeland, Fla., opened to much fanfare in 1970 and is considered the chain’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, the Tallahassee Democrat reported, adding that the closure marks “the end of an era” for local residents.

When it opened, Red Lobster was advertised as offering “family-priced seafood” to the nation’s capital in a “home-from-home” atmosphere, the Democratic Party said. When the store first opened, baby shrimp, crabmeat, and grilled oysters were priced at $1.85 each, while steaks and lobsters were priced at about $3.55.

The long-established restaurant was spared Red Lobster’s mass closures that affected 130 stores, including 17 in Florida, after the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024, and even had a grand “reopening” in October 2024 with a new menu focused on the flavors of “wild-caught” seafood, but it looks like they’re not so lucky this time around.

Red Lobster did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for more information about the reason for the closure. However, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that the company will close the stores as part of its ongoing restructuring.

Red Lobster focuses on “repair” work, CEO says

Damola Adamolekun, who took over as the chain’s CEO in August 2024, told The Wall Street Journal in February that the chain may need to close more stores to continue its successful post-bankruptcy turnaround.

Red Lobster’s website lists about 460 stores in 44 states, about 20 fewer than in February, when Adamolekun told the Journal, “There are a lot of silver linings, but we inherited a very damaged brand and we still have work to do to repair everything.”

The restaurant chain’s 2024 bankruptcy comes after years of hardship. The company posted a net loss of $76 million in 2023, when it offered Endless Shrimp as a $20 permanent menu item (previously available for a limited time).

Red Lobster also faces other problems, including high debt, a change in management, high inflation and rents, and a decline in customers, court documents revealed. Red Lobster’s signature Endless Shrimp promotion contributed $11 million of its 2023 net loss, then-CEO Jonathan Tibbs said in a bankruptcy filing.

“Endless Shrimp” is back

When Adamolekun took over as CEO, he removed the endless shrimp menu item to reduce stress in the restaurant’s kitchen. Adamolekun told the Journal that young people are exploring Red Lobster, and the chain’s sales are up about 10% from last year.

Fortunately for Red Lobster fans, Endless Shrimp is back for a limited time starting April 21st for dine-in only at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada. Red Lobster has not announced when the promotion will end.

Find a Red Lobster near you

To find a Red Lobster restaurant near you, visit the Red Lobster Locator at redlobster.com/seafood-restaurants.

Contributed by: Greta Cross, Saleen Martin, Mike Snyder / USA TODAY

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

Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson’s love timeline

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A new member could officially join America’s first family as early as this weekend, according to reports.

Donald Trump Jr., 48, the eldest son of President Donald Trump, announced his engagement to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, 37, in late 2025 after dating for about a year. At the time, the couple did not announce a date, but multiple reports in Page Six, People, the Daily Beast, and the Daily Mail have since said they could marry as early as Memorial Day weekend.

The two were first spotted together in 2024, shortly after Trump Jr. split from Fox News host and US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. This will be his second marriage. The first lawsuit against Vanessa Trump ended in 2018.

The couple has not yet officially announced their wedding plans. Representatives for Trump Jr. did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for confirmation.

Here’s what you need to know about the relationship between Bettina Anderson, Trump Jr., and the newest member of the Trump family.

Who is Bettina Anderson?

Anderson is a socialite and model based in Palm Beach, Florida.

She is the daughter of Palm Beach businessman and philanthropist Harry Roy Anderson Jr. and Inger Anderson. According to an obituary in the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network, Harry Roy Anderson Jr. also had three daughters and two sons.

Bettina Anderson attended Columbia University and lived in New York for several years, she said in a March 2024 podcast appearance. She started a nonprofit organization with her brothers, and her current job is listed on LinkedIn as executive director of Paradise.ngo. She also leads the Project Paradise Film Fund, which helps fund conservation efforts, the website says.

Trump Jr.’s relationship before engagement with Anderson

Donald Trump Jr. was married to former model Vanessa Trump from 2005 to 2018 and they have five children, including budding golf star Kai Trump. Vanessa Trump is currently dating Tiger Woods, a golf legend and longtime friend of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump Jr. began dating Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2018 after their divorce was finalized. The two got engaged and bought a house together in 2021, but broke up in 2024.

In late 2024, Donald Trump Jr. was seen in public with Anderson.

Timeline of Anderson and Trump Jr.’s relationship

Bettina Anderson and Donald Trump Jr. first started appearing in public together in December 2024.

By the time they got engaged in late 2025, the couple had attended several high-profile events together, including President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Super Bowl XI in 2025, and the president’s 79th birthday and accompanying Army military parade celebration in Washington, D.C.

The two got engaged while celebrating Anderson’s birthday in December at Camp David, a private retreat in rural Maryland set up for the president.

Trump Jr. announced the engagement at a White House holiday party on Dec. 15, saying in a video clip from the event, “I hope everyone has a great holiday season…and I want to thank Bettina for saying yes.”

“This was truly the most unforgettable weekend of my life and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be marrying the love of my life,” Anderson added.

According to Anderson’s Instagram, a lavish bridal shower was held for her at Mar-a-Lago in April, during which Trump Jr. appeared to drop by to deliver a large bouquet of red roses.

Multiple publications, including Page Six, People, and the Daily Beast, reported that the couple was considering a more lavish wedding in the under-construction White House Ballroom or Mar-a-Lago, but the same sources later reported that the couple had opted for a more private ceremony, possibly in the Bahamas.

How to save money on gas over Memorial Day weekend

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  • Gas prices are stable, but could rise again due to geopolitical developments or a decline in crude oil inventories.
  • Factors such as state taxes, distance from supply, and retail competition create regional price differences.
  • Drivers can save money by using gas pricing apps, participating in fuel reward programs, or paying with cash.

The national average gas price has held steady at about $4.50 a gallon, but one analyst predicts drivers could be exposed to further price increases as many Americans prepare to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend.

“The national average price of gasoline remained low for much of last week after surging earlier in the week as oil prices softened on hopes that diplomatic progress between the US and Iran would ease supply concerns,” Patrick de Haan, head of oil analysis at GasBuddy, said in a blog post. “However, that optimism faded after President Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping failed to yield a solution to the Iran issue, while fresh warnings against Iran helped push oil prices back up.”

De Haan added: “Global oil inventories continue to trend toward historically challenging levels, and markets remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments and potential supply disruptions. As a result, gasoline and diesel prices are likely to remain volatile, and as Memorial Day approaches, sustained increases in oil prices could begin to push retail fuel prices up again in the coming weeks.”

The prediction comes as gas prices have soared from an average of $2.98 nationwide on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, to a current average of $4.51, according to the AAA Automobile Club.

What causes the variation in gas prices across states?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, regional differences in gas prices can be explained by several factors.

The agency cites the following reasons for regional differences in gas prices.

  • Differences between state and local gas taxes.
  • Distance from power source.
  • Supply disruption.
  • Retail Competition and Operating Costs.
  • environmental program.

“The more gasoline has to be transported to the point of sale, the higher the transportation costs, so the retail price of gasoline tends to be higher,” the agency said. “Slowing or stopping gasoline production can increase bidding on available gasoline supplies. Gas station prices are often highest in locations with fewer gas stations.”

Which states have the highest gas prices?

In addition to the 18-cent federal gas tax that all drivers pay at the pump, each state adds its own local gas tax.

According to AAA, the top five states with the highest gas prices, including federal taxes, are listed below, along with the current average gas prices as of May 18th and one week earlier, May 11th.

1. California

  • Average gas price on May 18: $6.15
  • Average gas price on May 11: $6.15

2. Washington

  • Average gas price on May 18: $5.77
  • Average gas price on May 11th: $5.76

3. Hawaii

  • Average gas price on May 18: $5.63
  • Average gas price on May 11th: $5.65

4. Oregon

  • Average gas price on May 18: $5.33
  • Average gas price on May 11th: $5.32

5. Alaska

  • Average gas price on May 18: $5.28
  • Average gas price on May 11th: $5.26

How can I save money on gas?

Here are five tips on how to save on gas before you leave for Memorial Day weekend.

1. Skip premium gas

PennyHoarder.com said, “Most cars don’t need or benefit from high-octane gasoline, so buying a luxury car just adds to your expenses.”

2. Find the cheapest gas near you using our gas price app

Drivers can use apps like GasBuddy, Waze, and AAA to compare prices at nearby stations. Maps apps like Apple Maps and Google Maps also now show prices at many stations when drivers use the “Nearby Gas” feature.

3. Save money with grocery store fuel rewards programs

Many grocery stores offer rewards programs that reward shoppers with points that can be used for discounts at nearby gas stations. Sign up at your local grocery store and make sure you link your purchases to the same account each time.

4. Use credit card points for fuel discounts

Many credit cards give you points on purchases that you can use later on things like travel. Many of these benefits can also be used for gas discounts.

5. If the price at the gas station is low, pay in cash.

Some gas stations offer discounted prices to customers who pay with cash instead of credit card. In some cases, paying cash can save you more than 10 cents per gallon.

“It’s a way to avoid card processing fees,” Penny Hoarder said of gas stations offering cash discounts.

President Trump’s $1.776 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund infuriates critics

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WASHINGTON – Critics of President Donald Trump are furious after the Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion fund to compensate the president’s allies who say they were unfairly targeted by the federal government, including those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

They say it was brazen enough that President Trump used his executive powers to pardon or commute the sentences of about 1,500 defendants on the first day of his second term on Jan. 6, before issuing dozens of pardons to wealthy and well-connected people accused of fraud and other white-collar crimes.

But now the Justice Department, led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who once served as the president’s personal lawyer, plans to use tax dollars to pay out “victims of legal battles and weapons use,” which could include participants in the Jan. 6 riot and other Trump supporters who say they were treated unfairly under Democratic administrations.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, questioned Branch during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on May 19, denouncing the deal as “pure theft of public funds.”

“It’s despicable to reward individuals who commit crimes,” Van Hollen said. “Every American can see through this illegal and corrupt self-dealing scheme.”

President Trump says Justice Department fund will ‘reimburse’ abused people

The fund was established in response to longstanding Republican accusations that the Biden and Obama administrations “weaponized” the Justice Department to go after President Trump, his companies and supporters.

Blanche announced the fund on May 18 as part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed by Trump and his family against the Internal Revenue Service seeking $10 billion in damages over the leak of the president’s tax returns. In exchange for the creation of the fund, the Trump family agreed to voluntarily drop the lawsuit. That means federal judges won’t rule on the merits of the case.

President Trump told reporters on May 18 that he knew “very little” about the fund, but said it was “very popular.”

Asked by reporters about the dollars that could go to the Jan. 6 defendants, President Trump said, “This is reparations for people who have been treated badly.” “They were armed, in some cases wrongly imprisoned, paid legal fees they didn’t pay, went bankrupt. Their lives were destroyed. And it turns out they were right. It was a terrible time in our nation’s history.”

The agreement with the IRS also includes assurances that the tax agency will no longer pursue any tax liability claims it may have against Mr. Trump, his family, or his companies.

Before infuriating Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Blanche defended the “anti-weaponization” fund, stressing that recipients are “not limited to Republicans” and “not limited to Biden’s weaponization.” It added that they are not limited to the January 6 defendants.

Asked by Van Hollen whether defendants who were convicted of assaulting a police officer on Jan. 6 would be eligible, Blanche said, “Anyone in this country is eligible to apply if they believe they have been the victim of a weapons attack.”

Blanche to appoint committee to manage funds

A five-member committee, each appointed by Mr. Blanche, will be responsible for deciding which claimants will receive awards from the fund, the Justice Department said. The one-page agreement signed by Blanche states that the federal government is “not responsible” for potential misuse by those who receive the funds after they are allocated.

Blanche acknowledged that the new funds are “unusual” but “not unprecedented,” pointing to the Obama administration’s 2011 settlement with Native American farmers in Keepsigle v. Vilsack, which sued the USDA alleging decades of discrimination in accessing federal aid.

By contrast, in its settlement approved by a federal judge, the Justice Department set aside $760 million to relieve farmers’ discrimination claims.

Addressing reporters at a White House press briefing, Vice President J.D. Vance did not rule out the possibility that the funds would go to the Jan. 6 defendants, saying the committee would review individuals who applied for the funds on a “case-by-case basis.”

“Let’s say someone was accused of doing something they didn’t actually do, and they went through a ‘kangaroo court.’ They had a judge who mistreated them. I think these things should be looked at on a case-by-case basis,” Vance said. “We’re not making any promises to give anyone money.”

Democrats allege ‘slush fund’ used to enrich President Trump’s friends

Vance said the purpose of the fund is to “compensate Americans for the legal actions we saw under the previous administration.”

“Anyone can apply,” Vance said, noting that Trump has also granted pardons to some Democrats. “So if Hunter Biden wants to apply to this special fund, he’s welcome.”

Meanwhile, Democrats have signaled plans to take control of the Anti-Weaponization Fund ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, as affordability concerns and rising gas prices plague President Trump and Republicans.

“Instead of helping Americans live their lives, President Trump is literally using taxpayer dollars to set up slush funds and enrich his friends,” said Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. “Let me be clear: What we are talking about is nothing less than a sitting President of the United States looting the Treasury for his own benefit.”

Contributor: Josh Meyer for USA TODAY

X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.

Is 18 years old too old to be on a cruise ship? We sailed on a refurbished one.

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Celebrity Cruises has revamped Celebrity Solstice with new restaurants, lounges and outdoor spaces shaped by 15 years of guest feedback.

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  • Celebrity Cruises has updated the 18-year-old Celebrity Solstice ship to suit the tastes of modern travelers.
  • Guest feedback led to the addition of an Italian restaurant and a redesigned outdoor park with increased seating.
  • The refurbished ship is currently plying the Alaska route, the company’s main market.

JUNEAU, Alaska — The sparkling chanteuse in a bubblegum pink column dress made a smooth transition from Ray’s “Where Is My Husband!” A version of Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” is interspersed with Madonna’s “Material Girl.”

A jukebox musical on Celebrity Solstice’s recent Alaska itinerary epitomized the cruise ship’s revitalized spirit. A classic with a modern touch.

Nearly two decades after the Solstice class helped redefine premium cruising, Celebrity Cruises is betting that travelers still want an elevated experience: more comfortable seats, more shade, and maybe even a side of Italian pasta.

“Every time a cruise line reinvents a tried-and-true popular ship, there’s a real sweet spot,” AAA spokesman Matthew Cox told USA TODAY. “Members will be able to experience all the comforts of a ship they already know and love, with the excitement of being back on board a ship that feels new.”

What I noticed aboard the renovated ship was not a flashy new lounge or renovated restaurant. It was a board game. they were everywhere.

Guests gathered around tables in the ship’s new parlor venue, sipping cocktails and carefully reading instructions for an unfamiliar game. Some people brought unfinished games to the buffet or brought playing cards into the main dining restaurant.

Celebrities knew that Midsummer guests would do them a favor.

“When a ship reaches an off-estimate condition, its lifespan is cut in half,” Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge told USA TODAY in an onboard interview during the Alaska cruise.

Hodges Bethge says the answer comes from 15 years of guest data and feedback. The company looked at what travelers love, what feels outdated, and what spaces no longer fit the way cruises are done today.

Nightclubs weren’t a hit this decade. But board games, sports bars, and social spaces are new favorites.

“Cruise ship nightclubs were very popular back then,” she said of the ship’s former Quasar nightclub space. “They’re not that popular anymore.”

In its place now stands The Parlor, part upscale sports bar and nostalgic game room, complete with billiards, foosball, upscale pub fare, and shelves stocked with games ranging from classics to obscure strategy picks.

“It’s designed to keep the energy flowing throughout the day,” Cox said of the stage at The Boulevard, across from The Parlor. “We create a sophisticated yet vibrant atmosphere, creating an experience for guests who want to engage with the environment and entertainment, rather than simply observing it.”

That social energy was palpable during my Alaska voyage.

Passenger Adrian Wilton from New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast said he was impressed with The Parlor. She booked the cruise through a promotion that offered 75% off second passenger fares, and then spent the night there participating in a singalong and dancing with other guests.

Travel agent Wilton said she and her group had a lot of fun at ABBA’s singalong, adding that the ship was “so much prettier” after the refurbishment. “Normally I check for defects,” she said. “But everything looks good and clean.”

She said Celebrity felt more upscale than other competitors, praising both the cheerful crew and refreshed spaces throughout the ship.

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The review goes far beyond a single venue.

The celebs also transformed the ship’s former Lawn Club into Sunset Park, replacing hard-to-maintain real grass with grass, expanding seating areas, installing umbrellas, and providing casual dining designed to encourage guests to linger outdoors longer.

“They wanted to live in this space,” Hodges-Besge said of guest feedback. “They wanted to lie down, sit, watch movies[played in the outdoor space]and do activities.”

The redesign seems to be working. Even in the cold Alaskan spring, passengers would regularly gather outside with a number of complimentary blankets to sip drinks, watch the sunset, and sail away.

“Things like this are real projects that show that we’re committed to keeping things fresh and new, that we’re listening to the feedback and expectations of our clients and customers, and that we’re delivering on that,” Cox added. “It’s really just taking the best of the feedback that they’re experiencing and providing it to vessels that haven’t had it before.”

What are the characteristics of the ship?

Between Alaska’s glacier-lined coastline and the unexpected competition at sea in the Finish the Lyric game, Celebrity Solstice seems to be finding ways to surprise guests while still meeting their expectations.

Here are some of my quick takeaways.

  • food: While the two-hour main dining system provides plenty of food, especially during peak hours around 6:30 or 8:30 p.m., the specialty restaurants steal the show with their richly seasoned dishes, vibrant menus, and excellent value for the quality and portions. (A special recommendation is Sushi on Five, which had an Indian menu one day and hearty ramen and sushi the rest of the week. At $40 per passenger, it’s a great deal.)
  • cabin: Our verandah cabin was spacious and comfortable for two people. We recommend bringing a portable white noise machine, especially in Alaska where winds can get loud throughout the night.
  • service: The staff were excellent throughout. At the buffet and throughout the ship, crew members regularly went the extra mile, whether it was by serving coffee, tracking down tea that wasn’t on display, or simply making guests comfortable. (Of note, one night the balcony divider wobbled, but the flight attendants fixed it in less time than it took me to walk from the guest services desk back to the cabin.)
  • Entertainment: There was always something to do, from socializing and interacting with guests to quieter options. Even on a sea day when it was too cold to use the outdoor pool, the ship never felt overwhelmingly crowded. (The parlor is the most crowded space, but also the most fun. It wasn’t hard to find a space there.)

There is no doubt that food played a big role in refreshing the ship.

Celebrity replaced the underused restaurant, Le Petit Chef, with a new Italian restaurant, Trattoria Rossa, offering more tableside cooking and making dinner an event. “The number one food that our guests wanted was Italian food, and we didn’t have that,” Hodges-Besge said.

A balance between preserving fan favorites while modernizing the experience was central to the renovation strategy. “If I had taken away the martini bar, if I had taken away the Murano, I would have been in big trouble,” she joked.

The refurbished Solstice is currently sailing Alaska itineraries, which have seen strong celebrity demand despite increased competition in the premium cruise market. Hodges Bethge said Alaska remains “critically important” to the brand as the company evaluates future expansion plans.

But for many passengers, the appeal was less about industry strategy and design philosophy.

Ian and Lynn Le Vallee, who live on the British island of Guernsey, booked the trip during the pandemic but were forced to cancel. Years later, they finally set out on their journey, boarding a ship from the English Channel to Hawaii for a month-long vacation.

“I wanted to do it while I was still healthy enough to enjoy it,” Lin said.

Like many travelers, the people at Le Vallee seemed less about innovation and redesign and more about finally making the trip they’ve been waiting for years for.

This article has been updated to update the headline.

The reporter for this article received cruise access from Celebrity Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control.

Josh Rivera is USA TODAY’s senior travel and consumer editor.

Costco’s new strawberry shortcake sundae is a hot topic among shoppers

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Just in time for summer, Costco’s food court is introducing new sweet treats.

The members-only Warehouse Club, known for its low-priced food court menu and $1.50 hot dog combos, is rolling out a new Strawberry Shortcake Sundae at select locations nationwide. The dessert joins Costco’s rotating lineup of specialty sundaes, which includes flavors like Double Chocolate Mint Sundae and Caramel Churro Sundae, which were introduced earlier this year.

Shoppers are already sharing their rave reviews online as the new desserts arrive in warehouses. Here’s what you need to know about Costco’s latest menu additions.

What is Strawberry Shortcake Sundae?

The Strawberry Shortcake Sundae is Costco’s newest specialty dessert, priced at $2.99.

The sundae features strawberry soft serve ice cream and soft shortcake layered with strawberry topping, according to social media posts and reviews from Costco shoppers and influencers. Costco’s previous strawberry sundaes were vanilla ice cream topped with strawberries, but the new version is based on strawberry soft serve.

@costcohotfinds, a Costco fan page known for tracking new warehouse items, calls this dessert one of the “top three of all time.”

“I think Costco has the best strawberry ice cream ever,” the account said in a video review of the sundae.

As the dessert continues to roll out, online reactions have been largely enthusiastic. One shopper joked that she was ready to renew her Costco membership just to try the sundae, while another wrote: “I’m putting my shoes on right now!!!!”

Still, some customers expressed dissatisfaction with Costco’s rotating dessert lineup, saying specialty flavors disappeared too quickly or were replaced by popular staples like chocolate twist soft serve.

How long will Costco’s Strawberry Shortcake Sundae be on sale?

Costco has not announced how long the strawberry shortcake sundae will remain on the food court menu. However, specialty dessert flavors at retail stores are typically available for a limited time only.

The latest sundae follows the double chocolate mint sundae, which debuted in February and was replaced by a caramel churro sundae in April.

It also remains unclear whether Strawberry Shortcake Sundae has been rolled out nationally, as some members are reporting online that local warehouses are still offering the early seasonal flavor.

Costco did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for additional information about the new dessert or its availability.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @athompsonUSAT.

This famous beer is brewed for the last time, ending its 177-year history

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Schlitzbier will soon be brewed for the last time.

Wisconsin Brewing Company announced that it will brew its final 80-barrel batch at its Verona brewery on Saturday, May 23, with permission from Schlitz’s owner, Pabst Brewing Company. The batch will be brewed using Schlitz specifications dating back to 1948, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The company was founded in 1849 in a Milwaukee tavern and expanded to become America’s largest beer company at one time. Kirby Nelson of Wisconsin Brewing Company said he wants the brand to come out with “dignity and respect,” according to the Journal Sentinel.

Pabst Brewing Company stopped brewing Schlitz several months ago, local television station WQOW reported.

Nelson added that Saturday’s final beer is a return to “the glory days of Schlitz” and “a love letter from the Wisconsin brewing company to the state.”

How do I order beer?

The last batch will be available for pre-order on the Wisconsin Brewing Company website on May 23, the store said. This beer is scheduled to be released on June 27th.

What is Schlitz?

According to the Journal Sentinel, Schlitz began in 1849 as a tavern brewery owned by August Krug. After Krug died in 1856, the company’s bookkeeper, Joseph Schlitz, purchased the company and changed its name.

Mr. Schlitz died at sea five years later, but the company was acquired as the city’s beer industry exploded. This made the company one of the largest beer companies in the country.

Still, the company faced intense competition from rival brands such as Miller and Pabst. In 1981, Schlitz announced that it would cease operations, and in 1999, Schlitz was acquired by Pabst Brewing Company.

It was relaunched in 2008, but it wasn’t as popular as it once was, and the company discontinued the brand this month.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Please contact mdelrey@usatoday.com.

U.S. 30-year bonds hit their highest since 2007. What does this mean to you?

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Amid growing concerns about inflation in financial markets, 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds hit their highest yield in about 20 years on May 19th.

The yield on the 30-year bond was about 5.2%, the highest since 2007. Bond yields (interest rates) rise when prices fall and vice versa.

Traders and investors have been selling off bonds of all durations because the value of the bonds they offer declines as prices rise across the economy. Since the start of the Iran war, inflation has skyrocketed, increasing the prices of goods needed for energy and transportation.

Steve Blitz, chief U.S. economist at GlobalData, said the large increase had no immediate implications for consumers. Because most mortgages are only held for about 6 to 7 years, mortgage interest rates are lower than 10-year bonds. Credit cards and other similar products use short-term interest rates.

Blitz expects long-term investors such as pension funds will begin to gravitate toward 30-year bonds to ensure higher returns for account holders if yields remain high. But he pointed out that that means they sell shares to free up funds.

U.S. stocks have been under pressure in recent days for other reasons, in part because yields have been rising. Rising borrowing costs are weighing on some fast-growing companies that dominate the stock market. But all levels of government, from local park districts to the U.S. Treasury, would also have to pay more at the expense of taxpayers.