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Murderer becomes 600th person executed in Texas as Supreme Court guides the way

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Murderer becomes 600th person executed in Texas as Supreme Court guides the way

The execution of Edward Buzbee, who robbed and murdered a 77-year-old woman, had been on hold for nearly a week. A last-minute Supreme Court ruling on Thursday allowed the move forward.

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling clears the way for Texas to carry out its 600th execution on Thursday, May 14th.

Edward Buzbee’s execution had been on hold for nearly a week after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay order citing his intellectual disability. The state appealed the verdict, and Buzbee’s fate was unknown until the Supreme Court’s decision late Thursday, May 14.

Three hours later, Texas executed him. Buzbee was pronounced dead at 8:11 p.m. (Central time).

Liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. Mr. Jackson wrote in his dissent that Texas experts determined Mr. Busby was too mentally retarded to be executed.

“In fatal incidents, we rarely intervene to save lives,” Jackson wrote in his dissent. “I don’t understand why the court would rush to kill a case, especially under the circumstances of this case.”

Busby was convicted in 2004 of the robbery and murder of Laura Lee Crane, a 77-year-old former Texas Christian University professor who was attacked at a Fort Worth grocery store.

In his final words, Buzbee asked the room full of witnesses, including Crane’s family, not to hate him but to forgive him in their hearts.

“Ms. Crane was a lovely woman. I never intended for anything bad to happen to her,” Crane said as she lay strapped to a stretcher in the death chamber, according to the Texas Department of Corrections. “I’m so sorry… I hurt your family, I hurt my family, and I wish I could take it all back. I sincerely want it back.”

Texas has executed 599 inmates since 1976, hundreds more than any other state in the nation before Buzbee’s execution, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, which tracks U.S. executions.

“Mr. Busby will have 600 people.”th The agency spoke in a post about what this milestone means for the state and nation, saying Buzbee’s case is an example of how the death penalty is used against people of color and mentally disabled inmates in the United States.

Here’s what else you need to know about this:

What was Edward Buzbee convicted of?

On January 30, 2004, 77-year-old Laura Lee Crane was at a grocery store near her home in Fort Worth when her nightmare began. Edward Buzbee and his girlfriend kidnapped a retired Texas Christian University professor, forced her into the trunk of his car and wrapped duct tape around her head, according to court records.

She died of suffocation.

“The trunk became her coffin,” prosecutor Greg Miller said during Busby’s trial, according to archived news reports. “The car itself became her hearse.”

Buzbee has always maintained that he did not intend to kill Crane and thought he had put duct tape around her head so she could still breathe. He said the plan was to release her once she was far enough away from Oklahoma.

“All I want you to know is that it was never my intention for that woman to die,” he tearfully told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in a prison interview in 2004. “I don’t know what happened. I was up for two days smoking crack.”

Crane’s body was wrapped in a white sheet and left on the side of a highway near Davis, Oklahoma. Buzbee led authorities to the scene.

Courts went back and forth on Edward Buzbee’s execution

On Friday, May 8, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order suspending Buzbee’s execution, less than a week ahead of schedule.

The court cited an upcoming case in Alabama that could change the way inmates are determined to have intellectual disabilities.

“In matters of life and death, the state needs to ensure that appropriate constitutional rules apply to whether and how to determine intellectual disability before executing a defendant for a capital crime, especially if this is a rule that the Supreme Court will soon clarify,” said Fifth Circuit Judge Stephen Higginson.

Supreme Court justices are considering how to weigh multiple IQ scores when determining whether a death row inmate’s intellectual disability is so severe that the death penalty would constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

The Supreme Court could have allowed Mr. Buzbee to remain in custody when deciding the issue, but the majority ruled in favor of proceeding.

What will happen to U.S. executions this year?

Buzbee’s execution is the 12th in the United States this year and the fourth in Texas.

This will be the second execution carried out alone on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Oklahoma executed Raymond Eugene Johnson for the brutal 2007 murders of his ex-girlfriend Brooke Whitaker, 24, and her 7-month-old daughter Kaia.

Executions are scheduled for next week in Arizona, Tennessee, and Florida.

Contributor: Maureen Grope

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

Amazon recalls 102,000 teething toys after 11 reported choking incidents

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Amazon recalls 102,000 teething toys after 11 reported choking incidents

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Teething toys sold on Amazon have been recalled, according to a notice issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday, May 14th.

The notice states that the product violates mandatory toy standards because the silicone string is smaller and longer than allowed. As a result, it can reach the back of your throat and become stuck, making it difficult to breathe and putting you at risk of suffocation.

The agency is aware of 11 suffocation incidents, the notice states.

Approximately 102,430 vehicles are affected by the recall.

Details about recalled teething toys

According to the recall, the toy is an off-white disc-shaped ball with a red ball in the center and six long silicone pull string “tentacles.” There are tentacles of various colors running inside the ball. In addition, there are three free-swinging rings and soft push buttons on the disc.

The product package says “Model number 688-59”.

The toy was sold on Amazon.com from October 2022 to January 2026 for $10 to $12.

What should consumers do?

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the toy or take it away from their children. Consumers can contact ZW Creations to request a free replacement.

To receive a replacement, customers are asked to cut and discard all silicone string tentacles, write “RECALLLED” on the body of the toy with a permanent marker, and submit a photo of the destroyed product online at https://tiyol-recall.com.

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

El Nino forecast warns of strong changes during hurricane season

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El Nino forecast warns of strong changes during hurricane season

This chaotic climate change force is known to increase hurricane activity in some places and reduce it in others. Here’s what you need to know as new forecasts warn of a possible “very strong” El Niño.

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El Nino is “soon” and could reach “very strong” levels later this year, according to a forecast released May 14 by climate scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center.

This and other predictions are causing alarm around the world, as this pattern has a major impact on global weather. This includes dramatic effects on hurricanes. The number of storms forming in the Atlantic basin will be suppressed, while the number of storms in the Pacific will increase.

According to NOAA forecasts, El Niño is likely to occur soon (82% chance within the next few months) and last into the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27 (96% chance from December 2026 to February 2027).

And even if the strongest parts of El Niño don’t arrive until the end of the year, it can still be strong enough during hurricane season (June to November) to influence the number of storms that form in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Does El Niño cause hurricanes?

That’s not really the case, but if you follow hurricane season forecasts, it’s easy to see why it looks that way.

El Niño typically suppresses Atlantic hurricanes by increasing wind shear, which tends to tear apart developing storms. In the Pacific Ocean, the opposite occurs as wind shear decreases during El Niño.

“Simply put, El Niño increases hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific Basin and suppresses hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin,” NOAA said in an online report.

Once the season begins and El Niño officially forms within a month or two, it could be good news for those along the Gulf Coast and East Coast, but potentially worrying news for residents of the southwestern United States and Hawaii, where more hurricanes are likely.

But in the Atlantic Basin, forecasters are warning people that “all it takes” is for the worst hurricane season to occur.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is a natural climate pattern in which surface ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are warmer than average.

The name means little boy or Christ child in Spanish. El Niño was originally recognized by fishermen off the coast of South America in the 1600s when unusually warm water appeared in the Pacific Ocean around Christmas.

The entire natural climate cycle is officially known as El Niño (Southern Oscillation), and scientists refer to it as ENSO. This cycle moves back and forth between warm and cold ocean water in areas along the equator of the tropical Pacific Ocean. La Niña is characterized by lower than average seawater levels in the region.

more: A strong El Niño could completely change global weather in 2026

Typical El Niño effects

The World Meteorological Organization said in a recent statement that El Niño affects temperature and rainfall patterns in different regions and typically has a warming effect on the Earth’s climate. “Thus, the combination of a strong 2023-2024 El Niño event and anthropogenic climate change caused by greenhouse gases made 2024 the hottest year on record,” WMO said.

WMO says El Niño is typically associated with increased rainfall in southern South America, the southern United States, the Horn of Africa and parts of central Asia, and drought in Australia, Indonesia and parts of South Asia.

What are the chances of a “strong” or “very strong” El Niño occurring in the second half of 2026?

“There is a two-in-three chance of a ‘strong’ or ‘very strong’ El Niño event occurring between November 2026 and January 2027,” said Michel Rollou, a physical scientist and NOAA’s ENSO team leader. “Please note that this is the best forecast based on the information we currently have. However, these probabilities will change in the coming months depending on the El Niño situation. There is still enough uncertainty that it would not be surprising to see a weaker outcome,” she said.

Additionally, NOAA’s forecast states that “strengthening El Niño events do not guarantee strong impacts, but only increase the likelihood of certain impacts.”

What happened today? This breaking news roundup makes a long story short.

Will this year be the year when Hawaii will experience more hurricane damage?

El Niño tends to intensify the hurricane season in the Pacific Ocean, including the central and eastern Pacific basins. However, most storms in the Pacific do not make landfall. In fact, according to NOAA, only about a quarter of hurricanes and tropical storms in the eastern Pacific make landfall, with most turning west and staying over the ocean.

Hawaii can also be affected by central Pacific storms, but storms rarely hit the state. On average, Hawaii is hit by a tropical cyclone about once every 10 years.

“The central Pacific Ocean often has a busy season during El Niño events, but there is no science that can specifically predict the impact of a single phase of ENSO,” said Matthew Rosencrans, NOAA’s chief seasonal hurricane forecaster. “Tropical impacts to the Southwest are often due to moisture surges into the Gulf of California and the West Coast.”

However, he added, “Their timing and amounts are not something NOAA predicts more than two to four weeks out.”

What does this forecast mean for U.S. weather?

Brad Pugh, a meteorologist with the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, said El Niño does not have a strong impact on summer temperatures, but the Pacific Northwest is likely to experience warmer-than-historically normal temperatures.

“During the winter, the effects are even stronger,” Pugh said. “Temperatures are likely to be above normal in the northern United States, and above-normal precipitation is likely to be in the Southeast and Gulf Coast.”

Contributor: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY.

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, focusing on weather and climate.

What’s in the title? More than people think when it comes to estate planning

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What’s in the title? More than people think when it comes to estate planning

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What’s in the title? Advisers say there’s more to estate planning than people realize.

According to Trust & Will, less than half of Americans have estate planning documents, and of those who have a will or trust, 14% never update it, and an additional 13% only update it every 10 years or more. This means more than a quarter of people with existing plans likely have expired beneficiary designations, the company said.

A beneficiary is someone you designate to receive your assets after your death. Advisers say naming beneficiaries and properly naming accounts is one of the most common gaps in estate planning. Ownership is the way assets are owned and managed during your lifetime, jointly with others, individually, or in a trust, etc., and allows you to determine who receives your assets after your death, as well as designated beneficiaries.

Both beneficiary designations and ownership can allow assets to pass outside of probate and wills. Therefore, depending on how ownership of accounts and property is given to, or left to, heirs, statements in estate documents may be invalidated. Ignoring these items could have implications for probate (a potentially lengthy and expensive public process of resolving estates under court supervision), taxes and people who intended to leave assets behind, the advisers said.

“Title is the most overlooked part of ensuring that estate plans are distributed the way people intended,” said Shannon Stevens, managing director and principal of Hightower Signature Wealth. “Ensuring you understand the impact of how you title your assets is extremely important.”

What are the negative effects of improper entitlement or beneficiary designation?

Incorrect or missing beneficiary designations or inappropriate entitlements can result in delayed distributions, misdirection of assets and additional costs, according to the advisers. Here are some examples:

  • If you do not update your beneficiaries, your assets may be inherited by someone who was not intended to receive them. For example, a former spouse may inherit assets instead of a current spouse because the beneficiary designation has not been updated to reflect the new marriage.
  • Failure to designate a beneficiary will force the assets into probate, delaying distribution, and incurring unnecessary legal fees.
  • Minors cannot legally manage assets, so listing a minor as the primary beneficiary will result in a court-appointed guardian. This means delays and administrative costs.
  • Real estate such as bank accounts that are not entitled as “joint tenants with rights of survivorship” (JTWROS) or have a designated beneficiary are likely to be probated. This may leave the surviving spouse temporarily unable to access the funds.
  • An asset, such as a large investment account titled JTWROS, owned by a second spouse means that the spouse receives that account on behalf of the deceased person’s children who were intended to receive it in the will. “We see this all the time,” said Anthony Fittizzi, wealth strategy executive at Bank of America Private Bank. “It could jump over estate planning.”

Isn’t the will determining who gets what assets?

Advisors say that while a will sets out how assets are to be distributed, assets based solely on a will typically have to go through probate.

“The goal is to name everything possible, and hopefully the will is just an auxiliary part that’s there just in case, an auxiliary role in extreme situations,” Stevens said.

Fittizzi said it’s best to properly title accounts and name beneficiaries for all major assets, such as homes, retirement accounts, and investment accounts, and a will can record anything that’s forgotten or has low value, such as cars or household items you use on a daily basis.

Another reason to make a will is if your heirs have minor children. Minors can inherit assets, but they cannot legally manage large amounts of assets, so they will need a guardian. Fittizzi said this is most effectively done through a will. If not, the court will likely appoint a guardian in an expensive process.

“So wills are important so that you can appoint the right people, people you know and trust,” he said.

How should beneficiaries be titled and designated?

Advisers say the best way to set up ownership of assets and name beneficiaries depends on how you want them to flow.

Start by preparing basic documents such as a will, medical insurance and financial powers of attorney, they said.

If you have more complex assets, such as real estate, business interests, or valuable collections, and you want to avoid probate and keep your assets private, you might also consider a living trust, which is a revocable trust that holds all of the assets you entrust to them, Stevens says. You maintain control of them while you are alive and have specific instructions on how to distribute them outside of probate when you pass.

From there, people can confirm ownership of assets and begin designating beneficiaries, as well as learn how assets will pass upon death (in probate or out of probate) and to whom various ownership interests and beneficiaries will be transferred.

For example, assets in joint tenants with right of survivorship (JTWROS) automatically transfer to co-owners, and assets with designated beneficiaries transfer to designated individuals externally or through probate in each case. However, personally owned assets with no named beneficiaries or assets with joint tenancy rights must be probated and subject to a will.

“Look at the differences in ownership and plan your situation,” Stevens says. “Do you like the results? If not, change it.”

Once that’s done and you have a baseline, she recommends reviewing and updating it after a life event like divorce or marriage, or every one to two years even if there’s no major life event.

Medora Lee is USA TODAY’s money, markets and personal finance reporter. Please contact us at mjlee@usatoday.com. Subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

5 Reasons Investors Should Buy Silver in 2026

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5 Reasons Investors Should Buy Silver in 2026

In January 2026, silver surpassed $100 per ounce for the first time. Although prices have since fallen, precious metal prices are still up significantly year over year and are attracting more attention from investors than in decades.

“Multiple factors are driving renewed interest in silver, including ongoing inflation, geopolitical instability, and concerns about currency devaluation,” said Brandon Aversano, CEO of Newtown, Pennsylvania-based precious metals buyer Alloy Market.

Below, we explore why investors are buying silver right now and what makes it different from gold.

1. Silver has an industrial growth story that gold does not have.

“Silver is extremely important in industrial products such as solar panels, electronics, advanced manufacturing, and technologies related to electrification and infrastructure,” says Pam Krueger, a registered investment advisor and founder of Osterville, Mass.-based fintech firm Wealthlamp.

Industry also uses gold, but investors and central banks (the institutions that control a country’s money supply) hold most of it as a store of value. That’s why silver tracks economic growth more accurately than gold.

“Silver benefits when the market believes production and economic activity will increase,” says Ekenna Anya Gough, a certified financial planner and founder of Arizona-based wealth management firm Pacific Canyon Investments. Despite the recent cancellation of clean energy incentives, solar power and infrastructure projects continue to move forward, and the electric vehicle (EV) industry shows no signs of slowing down, notes Anya Gough.

2. Silver is considered “cheaper gold”

“Not everyone can buy gold for more than $4,000 per troy ounce, but silver feels more approachable at less than $100 per troy ounce,” Aversano points out.

One ounce of gold can swallow up a significant portion of a smaller portfolio, but the same money can buy a much larger stock of silver. That’s part of the reason new investors often start with silver instead of silver. The low entry point also allows investors to build positions gradually rather than committing large sums of money all at once.

3. Silver can outperform gold in metals bull cycles

Silver more than doubled in price from March to August 2020. Gold also rose in price, but its price movements over the same period were quiet.

According to Anya Gough, this gap is due to silver’s dual nature, drawing strength from the precious metal’s momentum. and From sectors related to economic growth. When these forces come together, silver tends to lead the way in bullish precious metals markets.

4. Silver Market Faces Continued Shortage of Supply

Silver supply has been lower than demand every year since 2021. The Silver Association points out that “the supply deficit is expected to continue for the sixth consecutive year in 2026 by 67 million ounces.”

Mining cannot quickly fill the gap. Approximately 70% of new silver comes out of the earth as a byproduct of copper, lead, and zinc operations. This means that silver production depends more on the demand for these metals than the price of silver itself.

Anya Gough sees the deficit as good news for silver prices in the long term, but warns that it won’t show up right away. Investor sentiment (how investors feel about the market), interest rates, and the strength of the US dollar will still drive silver’s short-term performance.

5. Silver Benefits from Both ‘Risk-On’ and ‘Risk-Off’ Environments

“Risk-on” refers to a market where investors confidently pursue growth. “Risk-off” is the opposite. Fear reigns and investors move their money to safer places. Most assets work well in either environment. Silver can thrive in both areas.

Anya Gough says industrial demand will drive silver prices higher if there is confidence in the market. As the economy grows, factories and technology companies need more metal, causing prices to rise.

When markets get nervous, investors look for safer places to park their money. They reach for silver the same way they reach for gold, looking for something tangible that will hold value as currencies and stocks lose ground.

Note: Silver has historically been more volatile than gold

“During bullish periods, the rally can be dramatic, but the pullback can also be sharp,” Aversano warns. The market for silver is smaller than that for gold, so individual trades can cause large price fluctuations. Silver is also sensitive to investor sentiment and industrial demand, which rarely align neatly.

That being said, silver still has a place in a diversified portfolio. “Investors should treat silver as a complement rather than an intensive bet,” advises Anya Gough. He recommends weighing the size and duration of a position before investing. “For long-term investors, silver can play an important role in a portfolio, but requires greater tolerance to price fluctuations,” Aversano adds.

how to invest in silver

If silver fits your strategy, there are three main ways to add it to your portfolio.

  • Physical silver: Rounds, bars, and coins give you direct ownership of the metal. Silver coins such as America’s Silver Eagle and Canada’s Maple Leaf are easy to trade, but you will pay a markup above the market price of silver. Silver bars cost less per ounce, especially the larger the size. The problem is storage. Requires a home safe or paid third-party safe and insurance.
  • Silver Exchange Traded Fund (ETF): These funds track the price of silver and trade it like stocks. It saves you the trouble of storing it, but you don’t own the metal itself.
  • Silver mining stocks: Companies that mine silver, either directly or through mining focused ETFs, tend to amplify silver price movements. When silver rises, miners often rise even harder. When silver falls, it falls harder.
  • Silver IRA: A silver IRA allows you to hold physical silver in a self-directed individual retirement account. These accounts are typically offered through precious metals IRA companies and must follow IRS rules regarding approved silver products and storage. Unlike purchasing silver directly, you cannot store the metal in your home. Must be stored in an approved storage facility. Silver IRAs may be attractive to long-term investors looking for portfolio diversification within a retirement account, but they often come with higher fees, including set-up, storage, and custody costs.

Each option comes with different costs, risks, and tax treatment, so research the details before purchasing.

conclusion

The benefits of investing in silver are clear. Still, the smartest investors keep their positions modest. “They use it as part of a broader allocation strategy that includes stocks, bonds and other diversification vehicles,” Krueger explains. She caps her silver exposure at 5%. This is a useful benchmark for those considering the position. If in doubt, a licensed financial advisor can help you determine how much silver fits your timeline and risk tolerance.

About the editor

Roxanne Downer is an editor and writer with nearly 20 years of experience covering personal finance, consumer services, and investing. She specializes in translating complex topics and thoroughly dissecting industry terminology and sales tactics to provide readers with clear, trustworthy guidance they can use, whether it’s comparing providers, managing debt, or considering new investment strategies.

FAQ

Is silver a better investment than gold right now?

Silver is not necessarily a “better” investment than gold. The two metals serve different purposes. If industrial demand is strong, silver can deliver greater upside, but price movements are more difficult to predict. Gold is generally stable, so investors look to it for asset protection.

Does silver typically perform better than gold?

Silver typically outperforms gold during bullish periods in precious metals, but falls further when the bull market cools.

Why does industrial demand affect the price of silver?

Industrial demand is important to the price of silver, as manufacturers use more than half of the world’s silver supply each year. Solar panels, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence infrastructure rely on silver, and few materials can replace it. When that demand exceeds the mine’s supply, prices rise.

What is the gold to silver ratio and why is it important?

The gold-to-silver ratio tells you how many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold. To determine this, divide the price of gold by the price of silver. Investors monitor this metric to determine which metals appear relatively cheap. A high ratio can indicate that silver is undervalued, while a low ratio can indicate the opposite.

Is silver as good a hedge against inflation as gold?

Yes, silver can hedge against inflation, but it doesn’t work like gold. In times of economic panic, gold is a more reliable safe haven. Silver serves a dual role as a store of value and as a raw material for industry. This means higher returns when the economy is growing, but sharp declines during recessions.

Live streamer ‘Chud the Builder’ charged with attempted murder

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Live streamer ‘Chud the Builder’ charged with attempted murder

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Controversial livestreamer ‘Chad the Builder’ has been charged with attempted murder following an alleged physical altercation in which he shot and killed two people, including himself, outside a Tennessee courthouse.

The contractor and livestreamer, whose real name is Dalton Eatherly, was taken into custody after law enforcement said he got into an argument with another man at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville on May 13 that escalated into a shooting.

The city is approximately 80 miles northwest of Nashville.

A man was shot in the abdomen during the crash and was flown by medical helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where authorities said on May 14 that he was in stable condition.

Etherly, 28, also suffered an apparent self-inflicted injury and was taken to Vanderbilt-Clarksville Hospital for treatment. After his release, he was booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson said in a statement after the incident, “Thanks to the quick actions of the court’s deputies, further escalation of the situation could have been avoided.” “Their dedication to keeping our courthouses safe was on clear display today.”

Isaly is known for calling people racial slurs and posting videos of himself firing a gun.

What happened in court?

At approximately 1:20 p.m. local time, deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Clarksville Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at the courthouse.

The sheriff’s office said in a statement that arriving officers detained two men involved in a “physical altercation that escalated into gunfire.”

Both men were taken to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds. It was not immediately clear whether the men knew each other.

Police said Eatherly had been at the courthouse earlier in the day for a scheduled hearing in a case filed by Midland Credit Management, but was outside the facility when he approached the man.

Eaterly livestreamed the incident. In the video, Eatherly told first responders that the man was pointing at her and laughing. Isaly told first responders that when she approached the man, the man told her to stand back and said he would punch her if she used racially insensitive language.

Etherley charged with attempted murder

Isaly was charged with attempted murder with a firearm, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon during a dangerous felony.

He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and, as of May 14, is being held without bail pending arraignment.

It was not immediately known whether Mr. Isaly had hired an attorney to represent him in the case.

The child died after falling 81 feet. 6-year-old boy dies after falling from balcony of Nashville apartment

Locals upset after ‘Chad the Builder’ failed to stop before filming

Local residents have long been sounding the alarm about Eatherly and its contents.

“Attention Sheriff’s Office: If you had taken the public’s concerns into account first and taken action against him sooner, this would not have happened,” said a post on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page announcing Eatherly’s indictment.

The Montgomery County Democratic Party said Mr. Eatherly had “long sought to gain local notoriety as a white supremacist.”

In a statement on the day of the shooting, the party said, “If the preliminary reports this afternoon are correct, his wish may have come true.” “The Montgomery County Democratic Party is closely monitoring developments and urges our community to unite against racism and violence.”

‘Chad the Builder’ arrested at Nashville steakhouse a week ago

The incident marks Mr. Eatherly’s second arrest in the past week, following a May 9 altercation in Nashville over a downtown steakhouse restaurant.

Metro Nashville Police reported in an arrest affidavit that Eatherly ordered two entrees, a cocktail and an appetizer totaling $371.

“The restaurant became aware that he was live-streaming and asked him to stop doing so,” the affidavit states. “He became disorderly and began making racist comments, yelling, screaming and creating other scenes.”

Before leaving the restaurant, Eatherly replied, “I won’t pay if you kick me out,” according to the affidavit.

Police spotted Eatherly walking nearby and when the officer tried to restrain him, Eatherly “pulled his arm away,” according to court documents.

He was taken into custody and charged with theft of services, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

He is scheduled to appear in court July 17 for a settlement hearing in the case, according to online court records.

Natalie Neisa Alland covers trending news for USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter. @nataliealund.

PBR and Grillo’s pickle beer is available for a limited time. where can i get it

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PBR and Grillo’s pickle beer is available for a limited time. where can i get it

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Pickle lovers, who have been attracting a lot of attention lately, should definitely give this a try. There are dill pickle-flavored Oreo cookies, pickle-flavored liquid IV hydration drinks, and smoothies.

But now you can also drink pickle beer.

Beer lovers have long been adding pickles to their beer or pouring pickle juice over it. Some people call a lager with pickles a “South Dakota Martini.”

Pabst Blue Ribbon and Grillo’s Pickles have teamed up to officially launch limited edition PBR x Grillo’s Pickles beer, available now. The 4.7% ABV lager has a “bright, zesty profile that balances the maltiness of PBR’s classic lager with the crisp, dill-like punch that is unmistakably Grillo,” the companies said in a news release.

“I don’t think the founders of Pabst ever saw this coming. But somewhere, someone put pickles in their beer and never looked back,” Rachel Keaton, Pabst’s senior brand director, said in a news release. “We’re taking that ritual and making it official at Grillo’s, and it’s exactly as great as it sounds.”

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Where can I get PBR x Grillo’s Pickle Beer?

The beer is available at retailers nationwide (Albertsons, Food Lion, KwikTrip, Publix, Safeway, Walmart, Total Wine, etc.) and through GoPuff delivery while supplies last.

For those looking for pickle beer, the Pabst Blue Ribbon website has a pickle beer finder. The beer is described on its website as “bright, refreshing, and unapologetically dill-forward,” and you can also find merchandise like baseball caps, shirts, and hoodies.

“We’ve been working on this collaboration for quite some time, and we’re excited to see it come to fruition,” said Mark Rooker, Grillo’s chief commercial officer. “PBR is a great partner and this collaboration offers a refreshing and refreshing blend of both brands. We look forward to beer and pickle lovers trying it.”

The online reaction to the appearance of this beer is that many people are interested in trying it.

“Pickle lovers are going insane with this collaboration 😂,” @tastebud posted on Instagram. “Grillo’s Pickle and Pabst Blue Ribbon have launched this wild pickle beer, and somehow…it actually works.”

A Reddit user posted: “I just picked one up…it’s so loud. I don’t know if I want another one today, but no cramps! Definitely not.”

The beer is also gaining more attention on the racetrack, as Front Row Motorsports driver Noah Gragson drove a Pickle Beer Ford Mustang Dark Horse to a ninth-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26.

“Pickle beer is not a fad”

Pabst isn’t the first brewery to capitalize on pickle flavors.

Urban Artifact Pickle Beer was introduced by the Cincinnati brewery in 2015. Brewed by Pilot Brewing Projects in Chicago and Milwaukee, Donna’s Pickle Beer hit the market in 2023.

“Pickle beer is not a passing fad. It’s going from strength to strength over the years,” said Doug Veliky, who runs Substack Beer Crunchers and Instagram @beeraficionado. He added that pickle beers “could even end up working like Busch Light Apple if they stay in this limited release format and don’t get too over the top.”

Anheuser-Busch’s popular brand could expand into pickle beers, as he and several beer news outlets have suggested. According to MyBeerBuzz, Busch Light Apple will be available for a limited time with Busch Light Pickle Beer, and Busch Light Orange and Lemon versions are also in the works.

Records from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau show that Anheuser-Busch Co. received approval for label applications for Busch Light Pickle Beer, Orange Beer and Lemon Beer on April 6, beverage culture news website Vine Pair reported.

Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, or email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.

US will move to prosecute former Cuban leader Raul Castro, sources say

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US will move to prosecute former Cuban leader Raul Castro, sources say

The United States is moving to prosecute former Cuban President Raul Castro over the 1996 shooting down of a plane.

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WASHINGTON — The United States is moving to prosecute former Cuban President Raul Castro, two sources familiar with the matter told USA TODAY.

Officials said the charges are related to a 30-year-old incident in 1996 when the Cuban government shot down two planes operated by humanitarian groups. The indictment must be approved by a grand jury.

News that the U.S. is considering indicting Mr. Castro came hours after CIA Director John Ratcliffe led a delegation to Havana on May 14, delivering a message from President Donald Trump to Cuban officials and Raul “Laurito” Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. Mr. Laurito is Mr. Castro’s grandson.

The possible indictment and charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro, now 94, were first reported by CBS News.

The 1996 shooting down of two civilian planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue is one of the most politically charged events in modern U.S.-Cuba relations, and 30 years later, some U.S. officials are still pursuing criminal charges.

These officials, including a group of mostly Republican congressmen, have targeted Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s brother, for his alleged role in the incident.

Tensions between the United States and Cuba have focused on the incident for decades.

what happened in 1996

On February 24, 1996, two planes operated by a humanitarian organization were shot down by a Cuban Air Force MiG fighter jet while patrolling the Florida Strait searching for endangered Cuban rafters attempting to reach U.S. shores.

Fidel Castro claimed that the plane had violated Cuban airspace.

Congress would later conclude that Brothers to the Rescue was “flying an unarmed, unprotected aircraft on the same mission as the hundreds it has flown since 1991 and posed no threat to the Cuban government, the Cuban military, or the Cuban people.”

Raul Castro was Cuba’s defense minister and commander of the Cuban military at the time, and is widely believed to have been the commander of the country’s military and intelligence operations at the time of the shooting.

On February 13, 2026, four U.S. congressmen led by Representative Mario Díaz-Balart called on President Trump to indict Mr. Castro as a way to address “long-standing injustices that, under your leadership, your administration is uniquely positioned to resolve once and for all.”

Lawmakers said Castro was “responsible for the cold-blooded murder of three Americans and one U.S. permanent resident” in the downing of the plane.

“It is our understanding, based on publicly available information, that on February 24, 1996, Raul Castro ordered Cuban MiG fighter jets to engage and destroy two Rescue Brothers civilian aircraft in international waters,” the letter to Trump, which was also signed by Republican Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Jimenez of Florida, and Nicole Malliotakis of New York, said.

The four senators revealed a series of facts about the case, including an interview with Fidel Castro in Time, which they said would provide important evidence “regarding Raul Castro’s complicity in the crime.”

Over time, the case evolved into both a criminal prosecution and a counterintelligence operation by U.S. officials and Cuban intelligence agents in Miami against the Cuban government.

President Bill Clinton imposed wide-ranging sanctions against the island in response to the incident. A federal grand jury indicted two Cuban fighter pilots and a Cuban air force commander for the murders of four brothers and rescue workers.

Will we see the aurora tonight? Here’s what you need to know

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Will we see the aurora tonight? Here’s what you need to know

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Lucky Americans living in multiple states may soon have the chance to see the Northern Lights, a natural light show.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the phenomenon was visible starting late Thursday, May 14, and is expected to continue into the early morning hours of Friday, May 15.

The geomagnetic activity that makes it possible to see aurora borealis is expected to continue until May 16, so more aurora borealis could appear over the weekend.

Here’s what you need to know to see the Northern Lights.

When can you see the aurora borealis?

You may have a chance to see the Northern Lights on May 14th and 15th in several US states. According to NOAA, the best time to see the Northern Lights is generally between 10pm and 2am local time. However, this can vary significantly depending on location and as weather and visibility forecasts are updated.

According to forecasts, geomagnetic activity is expected to peak this time between 11pm and 2am local time, creating a moderate magnetic storm that could make the aurora visible further south.

More up-to-date forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Aurora dashboard.

In which states can you see the Northern Lights?

How clearly the aurora can be seen depends on whether the geomagnetic storm reaches G1-G2 (mild to moderate) or G3 (strong) levels and the weather in your area.

According to NOAA’s forecast map, Canada will see the highest and most intense weather this time around, but the states listed below will have at least a chance to get a glimpse.

  • washington
  • idaho
  • montana
  • north dakota
  • minnesota
  • Michigan
  • wisconsin

What is the Northern Lights, also known as the Northern Lights?

According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, an aurora is a bright glow seen around the magnetic poles in the northern and southern hemispheres. Known for creating colorful ribbons of light in the night sky, the aurora borealis is the polar light, or aurora polaris, that appears in the northern hemisphere.

The southern hemisphere has its own polar lights, known as the Southern Lights, or aurora borealis, which create unique and dazzling displays.

Simply put, the aurora is the result of the interaction between the sun and Earth’s atmosphere. Collisions of charged particles from the sun with gases in Earth’s atmosphere produce a series of tiny flashes that look like moving lights in the sky. Charged particles are drawn toward the north and south poles by the Earth’s magnetic field.

That magnetic field normally protects Earth from the solar wind, but sometimes the wind can be strong enough to bypass the magnetic field, causing particles and gases in the magnetosphere to interact and produce colorful displays, according to the Geophysical Institute and the Canadian Space Agency.

Tips for seeing the Northern Lights

The best tip for getting the best view of the Northern Lights is to find a dark spot away from light pollution. Space.com recommends finding a spot as far away from city lights as possible and heading there as soon as the skies get dark. Now it’s just a waiting game.

According to Space.com, the light often hits you in waves, so look for a north-facing view with a clear horizon and practice patience. You can also download apps that track aurora forecasts based on your location, such as My Aurora Forecast & Alerts.

Supreme Court now upholds widespread availability of abortion drug mifepristone

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Supreme Court now upholds widespread availability of abortion drug mifepristone

In an emergency ruling, the justices said mail-order access to mifepristone can be maintained while Louisiana objects to expanded access.

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WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on May 14 ensured full access to the widely used abortion drug mifepristone remains as a battle over mail-order prescriptions continues.

Without court intervention, access to mifepristone would have been significantly and indefinitely restricted for the first time since it was first approved in 2000.

In response to an urgent request from pharmaceutical companies, the court suspended a ruling that required the drug to be prescribed and dispensed directly by a doctor. The decision, handed down over the dissent of conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, upholds the Food and Drug Administration’s rules for mifepristone as Louisiana challenges expanded access to mifepristone through telemedicine.

In an unprecedented move, the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on May 1 ordered the agency to change rules regarding approved drugs in response to the Louisiana lawsuit.

This has thrust the politically radioactive issue of abortion, which the Trump administration had hoped to avoid, back into the spotlight during an election year. The Justice Department did not consider what it thought the Supreme Court should rule, even though the case concerns federal regulations.

“I’m not thinking about anything.”

The court’s brief, unsigned order does not indicate what the justices will ultimately rule on the underlying legal issues if the case returns to the high court, as expected.

“Today’s ruling buys us time, but it doesn’t give us peace of mind,” said Nancy Northup, director of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “Access to mifepristone remains at high risk as this case evolves and the Trump administration conducts politically motivated reviews of the drug with the ostensible purpose of making it harder to obtain.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the Trump administration should resolve the lawsuit and “resume immediate in-person dispensing while proceeding without delay with a comprehensive safety review of mifepristone.”

Anti-abortion groups are outraged by the rise in abortions in the United States since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal constitutional right to abortion in 2022.

“Despite Louisiana’s policies and laws, hundreds of abortions are performed in Louisiana every month,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a Supreme Court filing.

Lower courts have limited access nationwide

In a May 1 ruling, the appeals court said Louisiana was likely to prevail on the challenge and blocked access to mail-order sales while the case progressed. The nationwide order would restrict access even in states where abortion is legal.

Danko Laboratories, which makes Mifeprex, the brand-name version of Mifepristone, said the impact of its decision was “direct, immediate, and chaotic.”

“Patients could not even pick up prescriptions in person at pharmacies, and health care providers did not know whether they could continue to prescribe mifepristone,” the drug company’s lawyers wrote in their appeal to the Supreme Court.

Alito suspended the lower court’s ruling on May 4 to give the full court time to respond.

Thomas: Pharmaceutical companies profit from ‘criminal enterprise’

Alito said doctors are using telemedicine to oppose the court’s order to maintain full access to mifepristone and override the court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Authority decision, which allowed states to ban abortions. Abortion is illegal in Louisiana except in special circumstances.

Alito said drug companies “clearly know what’s going on, but they’re still supplying the drugs and profiting from their felonious use in Louisiana.”

Thomas similarly wrote that the Supreme Court should not help drug companies profit from their “criminal enterprises,” citing long-dormant obscenity laws that prohibit the mailing of anything that is “obscene or pornographic” or that could cause an abortion.

“They should not be irreparably harmed in any legally relevant sense by a court order that makes criminal activity more difficult,” he said.

The Supreme Court rejected the previous challenge.

Danko argues that Louisiana’s challenge should be dismissed on the same grounds that justices rejected a similar lawsuit brought by anti-abortion doctors in 2024.

In that case, the court said the doctors could not sue because they had not shown they were sufficiently harmed by the FDA’s loosening of mifepristone regulations in 2023.

Louisiana argues that making mifepristone more readily available to women in the state would undermine the state’s ability to enforce anti-abortion laws. State officials also said Louisiana’s Medicaid program had to pay $92,000 for emergency treatment for two women who developed complications after taking mifepristone.

Danko said the Supreme Court rejected similar arguments for downstream economic harm in rejecting anti-abortion doctors’ lawsuits.

Several Republican-led states are pursuing mifepristone.

Several Republican-led states, including states that largely ban abortions, are trying to make it harder for women to access mifepristone, a pill used in nearly two-thirds of abortions nationwide.

But GenBiopro, which makes the generic Mifeprex drug, told the Supreme Court on appeal that “Louisiana is the only state seeking such drastic preliminary relief.”

The Trump administration’s FDA is currently reviewing the drug’s safety. Major medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, say the science behind the agency’s previous decision is sound.

“Mifepristone is extremely safe whether dispensed in person or via telemedicine,” multiple physician organizations said in a Supreme Court filing. “More than 20 years, hundreds of medical studies, and vast amounts of data support this.”

In January, the administration asked a judge to suspend Louisiana’s challenge until the FDA’s review is complete.

A federal judge agreed. But the appeals court blocked that ruling, saying the in-person dispensing requirement should be reinstated while Louisiana appeals the judge’s decision.

These instant noodles were recalled nationwide. The reason is as follows

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These instant noodles were recalled nationwide. The reason is as follows

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Instant noodles sold nationwide are being recalled due to possible peanut contamination.

FlyVisin announced on May 12th a recall of some Creamy Sesame Noodles. According to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall report, the product may have contained peanuts, which are not listed on the noodles’ packaging. People with peanut allergies who eat the recalled noodles may be at risk of serious or life-threatening reactions.

According to the recall, Fly By Jing discovered that a third-party manufacturer was producing its products in equipment that also processes peanuts, which may have led to cross-contamination.

Here’s what you need to know about the Fly By Jing Creamy Sesame Noodle recall.

Recall: Recalls for baby formula are on the rise. See affected Aldi, Walmart, and Target products

What types of noodles are affected by the recall?

Affected Fly By Jing Creamy Sesame Noodles can be identified by the UPC and best before date listed on the bottom of the package. Details of the recalled products are as follows:

Product name U.P.C. expiration date package
FlyVigin Creamy Sesame Noodles 8-50052-23988-6 2026/10/1512/06/202603/23/2027 single pack
FlyVigin Creamy Sesame Noodles 8-50052-23991-6 2026/10/1512/06/202603/23/2027 4 pack

Other Fly By Jing noodle and sauce products are not affected by the recall.

Where were the recalled noodles sold?

According to an FDA report, the recalled FlyVigin Creamy Sesame Noodles were sold at retail stores nationwide, including Whole Foods and Thrive Market, from February 1 to March 8.

What should I do if I own recalled noodles?

Consumers with peanut allergies should not eat the recalled sesame noodles. Consumers must return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Fly By Jing customer service at 866-862-2645, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, by email at recall@flybyjing.com, or by visiting the Fly By Jing website at flybyjing.com.

Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe calls for an end to support for US enemies in Cuba

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CIA Director John Ratcliffe calls for an end to support for US enemies in Cuba

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WASHINGTON – A U.S. delegation led by Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe met with senior Cuban officials on May 14 to convey President Donald Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to take economic and security issues seriously, but only if Cuba undergoes fundamental changes, including a promise that it is no longer a safe haven for U.S. adversaries in the Western Hemisphere.

Mr. Ratcliffe’s visit was confirmed by two CIA officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the trip by name.

Ratcliffe’s meeting with Laurito Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and Cuba’s intelligence chief came as Cuban humanitarian organizations posted videos of political prisoners being released amid pressure from the United States and high-stakes diplomatic negotiations.

The meeting comes amid rising tensions over the Trump administration’s blockade, which has depleted fuel and power generation capacity on the Caribbean island in recent months.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has been ramping up pressure on the United States, a longtime adversary.

According to the Cuban government, Cuban representatives at the meeting emphasized that Havana does not pose a threat to U.S. national security.

“Both sides also emphasized their interest in developing bilateral cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the interest of the safety of both countries, as well as regional and international security,” the Cuban statement said.

The White House referred USA TODAY’s request for comment to the CIA.

A rare but unprecedented meeting of intelligence rivals

Brian Ratel, a former CIA Cuba analyst and national intelligence officer for Latin America, told USA TODAY that Ratcliffe’s meetings with Cuban officials are unusual but not unprecedented.

President Barack Obama’s CIA Director John Brennan visited the island and met with intelligence officials, but “nothing came of it,” Ratel said, citing Brennan’s memoir.

Ratcliffe’s talks could have a more positive outcome, Ratel said, given the tremendous pressure on Cuba and the U.S. usurpation of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

“Cuba doesn’t have many close allies anymore,” said Ratel, author of “Castro’s Secrets,” a book about Cuban intelligence, especially after Maduro was arrested in January and taken to the United States to stand trial.

But Ratel stressed that Ratcliffe’s talks with the Cubans may only be gradual. “There is so much history and burden between our two countries that goes back to the Bay of Pigs that anything that happens is just a small first step,” he said.

Deliver a personal message from President Trump

One CIA official told USA TODAY that Mr. Ratcliffe traveled to Havana and personally initiated substantive discussions about the important steps the Cuban regime must take to build a productive relationship with the United States and stabilize its crumbling economy.

The group discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security issues, the official said.

Central to the United States’ concerns is that Cuba has in the past served as a platform for America’s adversaries to advance hostile plans in the Western Hemisphere. Ratcliffe said that’s no longer the case.

Another CIA official said it was highly unusual for a senior U.S. intelligence official to visit Cuba, but he did not know if it was the first time.

During the meeting, Ratcliffe emphasized that the United States is expanding real opportunities for cooperation with Cuba and stressed that President Trump must be taken seriously, as evidenced by recent U.S. actions in Venezuela.

A dire energy crisis – and an opportunity – for cuba

Officials from both countries acknowledged that they had been negotiating in recent months to break the political impasse. However, as the U.S. fuel blockade continued, negotiations appeared to be concluded.

On May 12, U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth said in testimony before a Congressional committee that he considered Cuba a threat to national security.

The diplomatic talks come a day after the State Department submitted a written offer to provide $100 million in humanitarian aid to the Catholic Church and other aid groups.

Early on May 14, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said his country was considering the proposal and called for a reduction in tensions as Cuba grapples with an increasingly dire energy crisis caused by the fuel blockade.

On the eve of Ratcliffe’s meeting with his Cuban counterpart, widespread protests erupted in parts of Havana after more than 24 hours of rolling blackouts threatened to damage frozen food stocks and left many residents with little sleep, Reuters reported.

This story has been updated with new information.

Contributed by: Reuters

Nutella launches two types of ice cream for the first time ever

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Nutella launches two types of ice cream for the first time ever

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Nutella fans can now choose a new dessert option from the freezer aisle.

Wells Enterprises, the parent company of the popular hazelnut and cocoa spread, announced May 13 that Nutella ice cream is now available in the frozen section of grocery stores nationwide.

Ice cream comes in two formats.

  • 14 fl oz containers start at $4.36 (varies by retail chain)
  • 3 oz single serve cones available in 4-packs starting at $5.47 depending on retail channel

“Nutella has been a beloved part of people’s lives for more than 60 years, and bringing it to the freezer aisle is the groundbreaking moment fans have been waiting for,” Noah Sporn, senior vice president of Nutella at Ferrero North America, said in a news release. “We can’t wait for them to enjoy the iconic flavors they love in a whole new way.”

The company also announced a promotion coupled with the launch of a new ice cream. The promotion, called “Freezer Fridays,” is a limited-time giveaway through May where customers can win free Nutella ice cream just by tagging a friend on social media.

More news: Ignore your phone and eat ice cream. I tried Halo Top’s new spoon

Nutella recently announced its first “new flavor innovation” in 60 years

In addition to ice cream, the brand last month introduced Nutella peanuts, the brand’s “first flavor innovation” in its history.

According to Ferrero Group, Nutella Peanuts “offers a new taste experience that blends the unmistakable creaminess of Nutella with the deliciousness of roasted peanuts.”

“Honestly, when you see a jar of Nutella floating in space and making headlines, you start to feel like anything is possible. So the natural next move as a brand was to launch our first new flavor innovation in over 60 years,” Noah Sporn, senior vice president of spreads at Ferrero North America, said in a statement.

“Our fans have been asking for this for years. We heard them, and afternoon snack time will never be the same,” Sporn added.

Nutella peanuts are available at major retailers nationwide, including Kroger and Walmart.

Contributed by Amaris Oaks, USA TODAY

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

Savannah Guthrie’s mother update – Sheriff Nancy Guthrie talks about the case

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Savannah Guthrie’s mother update – Sheriff Nancy Guthrie talks about the case

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is overseeing the missing person investigation into Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, who was reported missing in February.

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The sheriff overseeing the missing person investigation into Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, is sharing new insight into the case.

In an interview with People magazine on Wednesday, May 13, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reflected on authorities’ progress in the high-profile search effort that began in early February after Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Arizona home. The search operation reached its 100th day on Tuesday, May 12th.

The Today anchor’s elderly mother was last seen on January 31 in an apparent kidnapping in the Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson, Arizona. In February, the FBI released an image showing an armed man fiddling with a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door before her disappearance, but the suspect in the image has not been identified.

In an interview with People magazine, Nanos reflected on the police’s early investigation efforts. Nancy Guthrie’s condition was unknown at the time, but the sheriff said the homicide unit was notified because a preliminary assessment of the crime scene was “not adequate.”

“The reason it was called a murder case is because they are the missing persons investigation unit,” Nanos told the outlet. “Search and Rescue is an operational team that helps resolve these issues.”

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Guthrie’s family has announced a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to her recovery.

There have been no significant developments or developments in the Guthrie investigation in recent weeks. Tucson police recently confirmed that human bones were found 11 miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home on May 7, but the bones were “prehistoric” in nature and unrelated to the case.

Chris Nanos on the Nancy Guthrie case: Sheriff explains the status of the 100th day of the search

Law enforcement previously confirmed that blood found on Nancy Guthrie’s front door belonged to the woman, and authorities also announced they had found DNA evidence inside the home that did not belong to her or anyone close to her.

“Our DNA lab is collaborating with researchers every day to brainstorm different ideas and ideas about how to make this DNA work for us,” Nanos told People. “How can we do more with what we have? That’s why I say that. I think we’re getting closer to it.”

After leaving the Today show in February, Savannah Guthrie returned to the show in April and has been on the air ever since. The news personality acknowledged her family’s efforts to find her mother in a Mother’s Day tribute she shared on Instagram on May 10.

Savannah Guthrie says: ‘Today’ Anchor Shares Touching Mother’s Day Tribute to Missing Mother

Guthrie shared his message alongside a touching video compilation showing various family photos and clips of Nancy Guthrie, including one in which the Today anchor and her mother posed together.

“Mom, daughter, sister, Nonnie, I miss you with every breath,” Guthrie wrote. “We will never stop searching for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”

Contributed by Anthony Robredo and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

Push to prevent Americans from buying updated Chinese EVs in Washington DC

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Push to prevent Americans from buying updated Chinese EVs in Washington DC

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  • A group of 50 U.S. House members is calling on the Trump administration to block the sale of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the United States.
  • A bipartisan Senate bill has been introduced that would ban Chinese-made EVs, citing concerns about national security and unfair competition.
  • Currently, high tariffs and federal regulations prevent BYD and other Chinese-made EVs from being sold in the U.S. market.

President Donald Trump’s visit to China has sparked a ferocious movement among lawmakers and lobbying groups for automakers and parts manufacturers to pass legislation that would block the sale of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the United States.

In a letter to Trump administration cabinet members working on trade issues, a group of 50 U.S. House members said the president and his administration should do everything in their power to prevent Chinese EVs from being sold in the U.S. because the entry would seriously hurt domestic manufacturers.

“China’s goal is not to compete in the U.S. auto market, but to hollow out the U.S. auto market and ultimately limit consumer choice to Chinese brands,” the lawmakers said in a May 6 letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer. “If we allow Chinese car and battery companies to manufacture in the United States, we are putting our national security at risk.”

Separately, a bipartisan bill has been introduced in the Senate that would ban the sale of Chinese-made EVs in the United States.. Supporters say the measure, known as the Connected Vehicle Security Act, is necessary because Chinese EV makers are not held to the same labor and auto safety standards as American manufacturers.

“China is using cars as weapons to invade the United States, destroy our manufacturing base, and spy on us,” Sen. Bernie Moreno, Republican of Ohio, said on the X Post. “We will completely seal off the United States from Chinese predators.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), the Democratic sponsor of the Senate bill, added in her

“That’s why when it comes to the American auto industry and auto workers, I’m not going to give in without a fight,” Slotkin continued.

Who is China’s largest EV seller?

BYD is China’s largest EV sales company. In 2025, it temporarily overtook Tesla to become the world’s largest EV maker. The company name is an acronym for “Build Your Dreams.” It was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.

According to the company’s December sales report, BYD sold 4,602,436 passenger cars and commercial vehicles in 2025.

Sales included 2,256,714 battery electric vehicles, 2,288,709 plug-in hybrid vehicles, and 57,013 commercial vehicles.

How much does BYD’s China EV cost?

The average price of a BYD car sold in Europe is $45,083, according to the company’s website. There’s also a compact electric model starting at $28,000.

The average selling price of a new electric vehicle in the U.S. was $55,715 in January, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Critics say BYD can offer cheaper electric vehicles than its American peers because it doesn’t have to follow U.S. labor standards for compensation and working conditions. He added that domestic automakers will have to sell EVs at a loss to compete with BYD on price.

Why can’t we buy Chinese-made EVs in the US?

BYD’s electric vehicles are not currently sold in the United States. This is due to factors such as high tariffs currently in place and federal regulations regarding connected car technology and vehicle safety standards that the company views as restrictive.

BYD currently sells commercial vehicles in the U.S., but the CEO of the company’s U.S. subsidiary said in an interview that he believes the U.S. market is “too restrictive.”

In a May 2024 interview with Yahoo Finance, BYD America CEO Stella Lee said the U.S. EV market is “an interesting market, but it’s very complex.” While consumer interest appears to be waning, other factors are further complicating the situation, Lee said.

The Trump administration has imposed 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports, including cars, making it financially prohibitive for BYD to sell cars in the US.

The Trump administration has opposed BYD’s entry into the United States, and its leaders have also criticized Canadian authorities for signing a trade deal with China.

Why Mamdani is withdrawing rent assistance and class size reductions

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Why Mamdani is withdrawing rent assistance and class size reductions

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Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s New York City budget was released earlier this week and totals $124.7 billion.

The report was delivered in an atmosphere of celebration for the first-year mayor, who has overcome a huge funding gap.

But it came at the cost of easing some promises on rent subsidies and class sizes.

Mamdani’s stance on urban rental subsidy programs

During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani said he wanted to continue expanding New York City’s homeless program, the City’s Combating Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Grants. The cost of the program has ballooned from $25 million in 2019 to $1.2 billion in 2025, according to the report.

“We will ensure that the expansion proceeds as planned in accordance with city laws,” Mamdani said.

However, the mayor’s budget release said the city is working to “stabilize the CityFHEPS program in the long term,” resulting in approximately $519 million in budget savings.

The administration says this means slower growth and efforts to remove voucher holders from long-term support.

Mayor’s position on class size requirements

Mamdani’s budget would also delay the timeline for reducing classroom sizes to meet state mandates while the city works to hire 1,000 new teachers at a cost of $122 million.

“Make no mistake about it: We are committed to fulfilling our state obligations in a meaningful way and on a realistic schedule that New Yorkers can actually rely on.”

Mamdani said on his campaign website that he plans to “ensure public schools are well-funded with equitably distributed resources, strong after-school programs, mental health counselors and nurses, compliant and effective class sizes, and integrated student bodies.”

Catholic Church fights border wall on Holy Mountain

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Catholic Church fights border wall on Holy Mountain

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EL PASO, Texas – Federal authorities are seizing a rugged border mountain topped with a giant statue of Jesus from the Roman Catholic Church, saying they need the land to build President Donald Trump’s border wall and keep out illegal immigrants.

The lawsuit, filed May 7 in U.S. District Court in New Mexico, marks the federal government’s claim to prominent land on Mount Cristo Rei on the Texas-Mexico-New Mexico border, amid a disagreement between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the U.S. treatment of immigrants.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, has repeatedly warned that President Trump’s hard-line immigration strategy is contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Recent polls have shown that more Americans support Leo than Trump.

The mountaintop statue of Jesus on the Cross, which faces the rising sun in the east and has long attracted religious pilgrims from both sides of the border, is located several hundred feet away on the American side.

For decades, the steel border wall separating the El Paso area from Juarez ended at the base of the mountain. That’s partly because the mountain is dangerously steep, creating a natural barrier, but also so pilgrims from both countries can access the site, which was built in the 1930s.

The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico has asked a federal judge to block the government’s takeover of 14.2 acres of land, saying it violates the religious rights of pilgrims who routinely hike five miles barefoot. Some people carry a cross or kneel as a sign of humility. According to the diocese, as many as 40,000 people climb the mountain each fall on the Feast of Christ the King.

“Construction of a border wall through or along this sacred site could irreparably undermine its religious and cultural sanctity, impede pilgrimage routes and turn sacred spaces into symbols of division,” the church said in a court filing.

Federal officials say the need for a border wall outweighs other interests. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said in a statement that they tried to buy the land but activated eminent domain after it became clear the church would not sell. Under the Eminent Domain process, the federal government will pay the parish the fair market value of the land, which is approximately $183,000.

CBP officials are calling the proposed new barrier a “smart wall,” which could include steel bollards, roadways and remote sensing technology.

“While it is always CBP’s desire to voluntarily acquire real estate interests, if CBP is unable to voluntarily obtain the necessary access within a reasonable period of time, CBP will refer the matter to the Department of Justice to acquire the necessary real estate interests through prominent domains,” Homeland Security officials said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Illegal border crossings in the Border Patrol’s El Paso area have plummeted under the Trump administration. The number of encounters with immigrants fell from about 40,000 in March 2023 to 1,200 in March, according to the latest data from CBP.

Currently, religious pilgrims from Mexico must pass through an official port of entry before climbing the mountain.

Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, who represents the El Paso area, criticized the Trump administration’s efforts. “The cultural and religious importance of Mount Cristo Rey is at the heart of our region,” Escobar said in a statement. “Seizing this community’s assets to build a border wall is consistent with the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for what communities like ours hold dear. There are many other ways to secure the border. Instead, the Trump administration prefers to destroy this sacred space.”

It was a Mexican-American man living in a now-demolished village called Smeltertown who carved a path up the mountain and erected a 29-foot limestone statue of Christ. Residents worked at a lead smelter near the base of the mountain and worked on the project for nearly a decade before it was completed in 1940.

President Trump has followed through on his campaign promise to build a border wall between Mexico and the United States, and efforts to erect physical barriers in sensitive areas like the Big Bend have drawn criticism. Last summer, then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she would paint the entire wall black, but President Trump said that would make it too hot to climb. In the El Paso area, walls remain unpainted, except for a strip painted by Nomu during a press event.

As USA TODAY previously reported, hundreds of miles of 30-foot fences at the border already pose a deadly threat to migrants trying to scale them. Still, thousands of migrants have climbed the mountain since President Trump ordered its construction during his first term, some suffering fatal injuries from the fall.

Contributor: Jeff Abbott, El Paso Times

Youngest Cuban political prisoner in “Ladies in White” released

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Youngest Cuban political prisoner in “Ladies in White” released

Cuban humanitarian groups posted a video on Thursday, May 14, of political prisoners being released amid pressure from the United States and high-stakes diplomatic negotiations.

A video of Sissi Abascal Zamora hugging her loved ones outside La Berotex women’s prison has gone viral.

The announcement came a day after USA TODAY’s exclusive report on two other Cuban political prisoners who were given ultimatums of deportation or imprisonment after secret talks between U.S. and Cuban officials in Havana. They said they had chosen asylum but were still locked up in prison.

The Cuban Human Rights Observatory released footage of a woman being released from prison after nearly five years in prison. She was sentenced to six years in prison for participating in a protest in Matanzas on July 11, 2021.

The outlet “CiberCuba” reported that the release was facilitated by Santiago Alvarez, a prominent Miami developer who heads the Legal Rescue Foundation on condition of leaving the country.

Coinciding with the timing of the May 14 announcement, a U.S. military jet flew from Andrews Air Force Base to Havana’s Jose Martí International Airport. The modified Boeing 737 used for this flight is routinely used by the State Department for diplomatic travel.

The plane departed from Andrews at 6:16 a.m. with the call sign “Special Air Mission,” according to tracking website Flightradar 24. The aircraft landed in Havana and returned to MacDill Air Force Base in the afternoon.

Reuters reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuba’s Interior Minister on May 14, according to Cuban government officials.

The State Department did not immediately respond to inquiries about the escape and the release of prisoners.

Contributed by: Reuters.

Tony Dokoupil cuts ‘CBS Evening News’ segment due to cameraman’s illness

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Tony Dokoupil cuts ‘CBS Evening News’ segment due to cameraman’s illness

The news anchor’s approval was cut short during the show because a cameraman suffered a “medical emergency.”

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“CBS Evening News” host Tony Dokoupil was forced to shorten his live broadcast after his cameraman fell ill.

Dokoupil, 45, was broadcasting his final segment from Taiwan on Wednesday, May 13, when the news anchor temporarily halted the show after a staff member apparently suffered a medical attack on set.

“Is he OK? He’s going to take a little break,” Dokoupil said, according to a video shared by PacNews senior correspondent Dylan Byers. “We have a medical emergency here.”

After a while, Dokoupil was heard off-camera saying, “I’m calling a doctor.”

The news program then switched to CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman, who replaced Dokoupil and concluded the program.

Tony Dokoupil on “CBS Evening News”: News program announces new anchor after revamping host

“CBS Evening News” covered the incident in its X Post Wednesday night. The photographer’s identity has not been disclosed and no additional details regarding his health issues have been provided.

“Tonight, during the final segment of the CBS Evening News, a cameraman on set experienced an emergency,” the statement read. “Thankfully, he is well and recovering.”

The on-site incident comes after a rocky April for CBS Evening News. The station was revamped earlier this year with Dokoupil selected as the new anchor.

The Emmy-nominated news show fell into a ratings slump after drawing 3.771 million total viewers during the week of April 20, Adweek reported on April 29. The low viewer ratings, which were determined by combining big data and Nielsen program viewership ratings on the same day as the national live show, marked the third consecutive week that the number of viewers for “CBS Evening News” fell below 4 million.

By comparison, CBS’ network news stations “ABC World News Tonight” and “NBC Nightly News” averaged 8.537 million and 6.168 million viewers, respectively, during the same period.

“CBS Evening News”: News programs suffer from declining ratings due to Tony Dokoupil’s acquisition

In a statement to USA TODAY at the time, CBS officials rejected the characterization of “Evening News” ratings, noting that the news program’s viewership grew 2% under Dokoupil and was the only program among its competitors to increase month-over-month from March to April of this year.

“This is always going to take time,” the CBS official said. “The show before Tony took over was in a really bad place late last year. It’s a tough job to grow the audience, but it’s encouraging to see the numbers up (year-on-year).”

Menu prices are increasing, including at Texas Roadhouse. What you need to know

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Menu prices are increasing, including at Texas Roadhouse. What you need to know

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Texas Roadhouse has raised menu prices due to inflation, raising questions about whether other restaurants will do the same.

Menu prices are beginning to rise slowly, according to a May 12 report from the National Restaurant Association. Restaurants raised prices by 0.2% in April for the second straight month, according to the report. Compared to a year ago, menu prices have increased by 3.6% since April 2025. The organization says this is the slowest pace in 15 months.

“Overall, restaurant price inflation remains relatively moderate, well below the 8.8% peak reached in March 2023, which was the fastest rate of increase in more than 20 years,” the National Restaurant Association said.

Texas Roadhouse’s impact on inflation

Texas Roadhouse announced in its 2026 first-quarter financial results released on May 7 that despite increased sales, menu prices increased by 1.9%.

The chain’s restaurant profit margins declined due to product and labor inflation, but some of the decline was offset by higher sales, the earnings report said.

Menu growth varies between limited-service and full-service restaurants

The report also differentiated between menus at limited-service establishments (where customers typically order and pay before their food is prepared and served) and full-service restaurants (where customers are seated and staff wait).

Menu prices at limited-service restaurants rose 0.4% in April, up from 0.2% in March and the highest level since December. Meanwhile, full-service menu prices rose 0.1% in April.

What is the cause of the soaring menu prices?

Overall, consumer prices rose 0.6% in April, following a 0.9% rise in March, according to the National Restaurant Association. These increases were mainly due to higher gasoline prices, which rose 21.2% in March and 5.4% in April.

What is the inflation rate today?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index, prices rose 0.6% from March to April, up 3.8% from a year ago, USA TODAY reported.

Natassia Paloma can be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma at x. natassia_paloma on Instagram and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.

more: DHS Secretary Says ICE May Make Arrests During 2026 FIFA World Cup

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