ReportWire

Tag: friday

  • Northern California forecast: Patchy morning fog, pleasant afternoon

    Some areas of patchy fog are present Saturday morning, but mainly sunny skies and above normal temperatures are expected for the afternoon. Afternoon highs in the Valley will range from the low to mid 70s while the Sierra see mid and upper 60s. Sunday will be pleasant as well with mainly sunny skies and warmer than normal temperatures. A few more clouds are expected Monday through Wednesday as Valley highs remain in the 70s, perfect for Veterans Day ceremonies on Tuesday. Rain chances return to the forecast Thursday and Friday along with cooler temperatures. Gusty winds are also expected, especially in the Sierra. Snow levels will start around 8,700′ on Thursday but fall to 6,800′ by Friday.

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Some areas of patchy fog are present Saturday morning, but mainly sunny skies and above normal temperatures are expected for the afternoon. Afternoon highs in the Valley will range from the low to mid 70s while the Sierra see mid and upper 60s.

    Sunday will be pleasant as well with mainly sunny skies and warmer than normal temperatures.

    A few more clouds are expected Monday through Wednesday as Valley highs remain in the 70s, perfect for Veterans Day ceremonies on Tuesday.

    Rain chances return to the forecast Thursday and Friday along with cooler temperatures. Gusty winds are also expected, especially in the Sierra. Snow levels will start around 8,700′ on Thursday but fall to 6,800′ by Friday.

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  • Trump administration suggests it may ‘raid school lunch money’ to cover SNAP benefits

    The Trump administration spent Friday fighting to avoid restoring $4 billion in food assistance in jeopardy due to the government shutdown, suggesting it might need to “raid school-lunch money” in order to comply with court orders.

    The claim was part of a break-neck appeal in the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, where the government hoped to duck a court order that would force it to pay out for food stamps — formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — through November.

    “There is no lawful basis for an order that directs USDA to somehow find $4 billion in the metaphorical couch cushions,” Assistant Atty. Gen. Brett A. Shumate wrote in the appeal.

    The administration’s only option would be to “to starve Peter to feed Paul” by cutting school lunch programs, Shumate wrote.

    On Friday afternoon, the appellate court declined to immediately block the lower court’s order, and said it would quickly rule on the merits of the funding decree.

    SNAP benefits are a key fight in the ongoing government shutdown. California is one of several states suing the administration to restore the safety net program while negotiations continue to end the stalemate.

    Millions of Americans have struggled to afford groceries since benefits lapsed Nov. 1, inspiring many Republican lawmakers to join Democrats in demanding an emergency stopgap.

    The Trump administration was previously ordered to release contingency funding for the program that it said would cover benefits for about half of November.

    But the process has been “confusing and chaotic” and “rife with errors,” according to a brief filed by 25 states and the District of Columbia.

    Some states, including California, have started disbursing SNAP benefits for the month. Others say the partial funding is a functional lockout.

    “Many states’ existing systems require complete reprogramming to accomplish this task, and given the sudden — and suddenly changing — nature of USDA’s guidance, that task is impossible to complete quickly,” the brief said.

    “Recalculations required by [the government’s] plan will delay November benefits for [state] residents for weeks or months.”

    On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island ordered the full food stamp payout by the end of the week. He accused the administration of withholding the benefit for political gain.

    “Faced with a choice between advancing relief and entrenching delay, [the administration] chose the latter — an outcome that predictably magnifies harm and undermines the very purpose of the program it administers,” he wrote.

    “This Court is not naïve to the administration’s true motivations,” McConnell wrote. “Far from being concerned with Child Nutrition funding, these statements make clear that the administration is withholding full SNAP benefits for political purposes.”

    The appeal could extend that deadline by as little as a few hours, or nullify it entirely.

    But the latter may be unlikely, especially following the appellate court’s decision late Friday. The 1st Circuit is currently the country’s most liberal, with five active judges, all of whom were named to the bench by Democratic presidents.

    While the court deliberates, both sides are left sparring over how many children will go hungry if the other prevails.

    More than 16 million children rely on SNAP benefits. Close to 30 million are fed through the National School Lunch Program, which the government now says it must gut to meet the court’s order.

    But the same pool of cash has already been tapped to extend Women, Infants and Children, which is a federal program that pays for baby formula and other basics for some poor families.

    “This clearly undermines the Defendants’ point, as WIC is an entirely separate program from the Child Nutrition Programs,” McConnell wrote.

    In its Friday order, the 1st Circuit panel said it would issue a full ruling “as quickly as possible.”

    Sonja Sharp

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  • Trump admin asks Supreme Court to halt order providing full SNAP payments for November

    A federal appeals court leaves an order in place that requires President Donald Trump ‘s administration to provide full SNAP food benefits for November amid a U.S. government shutdown.The judge gave the Republican administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked the appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund, and instead allow it to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month.After the appeals court declined to do so, the Trump administration quickly asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its request.The food program serves about 1 in 8 Americans, mostly with lower incomes.The court filing came even as the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a memo to states that it’s working to make funds available Friday for full monthly SNAP benefits.Officials in at least a half-dozen states confirmed that some SNAP recipients already were issued full November payments on Friday.Which states issued SNAP payments”Food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families,” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.In Wisconsin, more than $104 million of monthly food benefits became available at midnight on electronic cards for about 337,000 households, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said. The state was able to access the federal money so quickly by submitting a request to its electronic benefit card vendor to process the SNAP payments within hours of a Thursday court order to provide full benefits.Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said state employees “worked through the night” to issue full November benefits “to make sure every Oregon family relying on SNAP could buy groceries” by Friday.Officials in Kansas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania also said they moved quickly to issue full SNAP benefits Friday, while other states said they expected full benefits to arrive over the weekend or early next week. Still others said they were waiting for further federal guidance.Many SNAP recipients face uncertaintyThe court wrangling prolonged weeks of uncertainty for Americans with lower incomes.An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300 and a family of four up to nearly $1,000, although many receive less than that under a formula that takes into consideration their income.For some SNAP participants, it remained unclear when they would receive their benefits.Jasmen Youngbey of Newark, New Jersey, waited in line Friday at a food pantry in the state’s largest city. As a single mom attending college, Youngbey said she relies on SNAP to help feed her 7-month-old and 4-year-old sons. But she said her account balance was at $0.”Not everybody has cash to pull out and say, ‘OK, I’m going to go and get this,’ especially with the cost of food right now,” she said.Later Friday, Youngbey said, she received her monthly SNAP benefits.Tihinna Franklin, a school bus guard who was waiting in the same line outside the United Community Corporation food pantry, said her SNAP account balance was at 9 cents and she was down to three items in her freezer. She typically relies on the roughly $290 a month in SNAP benefits to help feed her grandchildren.”If I don’t get it, I won’t be eating,” she said. “My money I get paid for, that goes to the bills, rent, electricity, personal items. That is not fair to us as mothers and caregivers.”Franklin said later Friday that she had received at least some of her normal SNAP benefits.The legal battle over SNAP takes another twistBecause of the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration originally had said SNAP benefits would not be available in November. However, two judges ruled last week that the administration could not skip November’s benefits entirely because of the shutdown. One of those judges was U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who ordered the full payments Thursday.In both cases, the judges ordered the government to use one emergency reserve fund containing more than $4.6 billion to pay for SNAP for November but gave it leeway to tap other money to make the full payments, which cost between $8.5 billion and $9 billion each month.On Monday, the administration said it would not use additional money, saying it was up to Congress to appropriate the funds for the program and that the other money was needed to shore up other child hunger programs.Thursday’s federal court order rejected the Trump administration’s decision to cover only 65% of the maximum monthly benefit, a decision that could have left some recipients getting nothing for this month.In its court filing Friday, Trump’s administration contended that Thursday’s directive to fund full SNAP benefits runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution.”This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” the U.S. Department of Justice wrote in its request to the court.In response, attorneys for the cities and nonprofits challenging Trump’s administration said the government has plenty of available money and the court should “not allow them to further delay getting vital food assistance to individuals and families who need it now.”States are taking different approaches to food aidSome states said they stood ready to distribute SNAP money as quickly as possible.Massachusetts said SNAP recipients should receive their full November payments as soon as Saturday. New York said access to full SNAP benefits should begin by Sunday. New Hampshire said full benefits should be available by this weekend. And Connecticut said full benefits should be accessible in the next several days.Officials in North Carolina said they distributed partial SNAP payments Friday and full benefits could be available by this weekend. Officials in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Dakota also said they distributed partial November payments.Amid the federal uncertainty, Delaware’s Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer said the state used its own funds Friday to provide the first of what could be a weekly relief payment to SNAP recipients.___Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri; Bauer from Madison, Wisconsin; and Catalini from Newark, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Anthony Izaguirre in New York; Mingson Lau in Claymont, Delaware; John O’Connor, in Springfield, Illinois; Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Tassanee Vejpongsa in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

    BOSTON —

    A federal appeals court leaves an order in place that requires President Donald Trump ‘s administration to provide full SNAP food benefits for November amid a U.S. government shutdown.

    The judge gave the Republican administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked the appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund, and instead allow it to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month.

    After the appeals court declined to do so, the Trump administration quickly asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its request.

    The food program serves about 1 in 8 Americans, mostly with lower incomes.

    The court filing came even as the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a memo to states that it’s working to make funds available Friday for full monthly SNAP benefits.

    Officials in at least a half-dozen states confirmed that some SNAP recipients already were issued full November payments on Friday.

    Which states issued SNAP payments

    “Food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families,” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

    In Wisconsin, more than $104 million of monthly food benefits became available at midnight on electronic cards for about 337,000 households, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said. The state was able to access the federal money so quickly by submitting a request to its electronic benefit card vendor to process the SNAP payments within hours of a Thursday court order to provide full benefits.

    Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said state employees “worked through the night” to issue full November benefits “to make sure every Oregon family relying on SNAP could buy groceries” by Friday.

    Officials in Kansas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania also said they moved quickly to issue full SNAP benefits Friday, while other states said they expected full benefits to arrive over the weekend or early next week. Still others said they were waiting for further federal guidance.

    Many SNAP recipients face uncertainty

    The court wrangling prolonged weeks of uncertainty for Americans with lower incomes.

    An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300 and a family of four up to nearly $1,000, although many receive less than that under a formula that takes into consideration their income.

    For some SNAP participants, it remained unclear when they would receive their benefits.

    Jasmen Youngbey of Newark, New Jersey, waited in line Friday at a food pantry in the state’s largest city. As a single mom attending college, Youngbey said she relies on SNAP to help feed her 7-month-old and 4-year-old sons. But she said her account balance was at $0.

    “Not everybody has cash to pull out and say, ‘OK, I’m going to go and get this,’ especially with the cost of food right now,” she said.

    Later Friday, Youngbey said, she received her monthly SNAP benefits.

    Tihinna Franklin, a school bus guard who was waiting in the same line outside the United Community Corporation food pantry, said her SNAP account balance was at 9 cents and she was down to three items in her freezer. She typically relies on the roughly $290 a month in SNAP benefits to help feed her grandchildren.

    “If I don’t get it, I won’t be eating,” she said. “My money I get paid for, that goes to the bills, rent, electricity, personal items. That is not fair to us as mothers and caregivers.”

    Franklin said later Friday that she had received at least some of her normal SNAP benefits.

    The legal battle over SNAP takes another twist

    Because of the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration originally had said SNAP benefits would not be available in November. However, two judges ruled last week that the administration could not skip November’s benefits entirely because of the shutdown. One of those judges was U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who ordered the full payments Thursday.

    In both cases, the judges ordered the government to use one emergency reserve fund containing more than $4.6 billion to pay for SNAP for November but gave it leeway to tap other money to make the full payments, which cost between $8.5 billion and $9 billion each month.

    On Monday, the administration said it would not use additional money, saying it was up to Congress to appropriate the funds for the program and that the other money was needed to shore up other child hunger programs.

    Thursday’s federal court order rejected the Trump administration’s decision to cover only 65% of the maximum monthly benefit, a decision that could have left some recipients getting nothing for this month.

    In its court filing Friday, Trump’s administration contended that Thursday’s directive to fund full SNAP benefits runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution.

    “This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” the U.S. Department of Justice wrote in its request to the court.

    In response, attorneys for the cities and nonprofits challenging Trump’s administration said the government has plenty of available money and the court should “not allow them to further delay getting vital food assistance to individuals and families who need it now.”

    States are taking different approaches to food aid

    Some states said they stood ready to distribute SNAP money as quickly as possible.

    Massachusetts said SNAP recipients should receive their full November payments as soon as Saturday. New York said access to full SNAP benefits should begin by Sunday. New Hampshire said full benefits should be available by this weekend. And Connecticut said full benefits should be accessible in the next several days.

    Officials in North Carolina said they distributed partial SNAP payments Friday and full benefits could be available by this weekend. Officials in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Dakota also said they distributed partial November payments.

    Amid the federal uncertainty, Delaware’s Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer said the state used its own funds Friday to provide the first of what could be a weekly relief payment to SNAP recipients.

    ___

    Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri; Bauer from Madison, Wisconsin; and Catalini from Newark, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Anthony Izaguirre in New York; Mingson Lau in Claymont, Delaware; John O’Connor, in Springfield, Illinois; Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Tassanee Vejpongsa in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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  • FBI thwarts ‘potential terrorist attack’ in Michigan

    FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday the bureau had thwarted a “potential terrorist attack.”In a social media post, Patel said, “multiple subjects” were arrested by the FBI in Michigan Friday morning. Those subjects were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend, according to Patel. The director said more details were expected to come later.The FBI’s Detroit field office confirmed “the FBI in Michigan were present in the cities of Dearborn and Inkster this morning conducting law enforcement activities,” spokesperson Jordan Hall told CNN. “There is no current threat to public safety.”The Dearborn Police Department said it “has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the City of Dearborn earlier this morning.”“We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time,” the police department said.Neither the FBI nor the Dearborn police said that the operations were connected to the arrests Patel announced Friday morning.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

    FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday the bureau had thwarted a “potential terrorist attack.”

    In a social media post, Patel said, “multiple subjects” were arrested by the FBI in Michigan Friday morning. Those subjects were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend, according to Patel.

    The director said more details were expected to come later.

    The FBI’s Detroit field office confirmed “the FBI in Michigan were present in the cities of Dearborn and Inkster this morning conducting law enforcement activities,” spokesperson Jordan Hall told CNN. “There is no current threat to public safety.”

    The Dearborn Police Department said it “has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the City of Dearborn earlier this morning.”

    “We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time,” the police department said.

    Neither the FBI nor the Dearborn police said that the operations were connected to the arrests Patel announced Friday morning.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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  • MCO expecting major flight delays on Thursday due to staffing issues, FAA says

    MCO expecting major flight delays on Thursday due to staffing issues, FAA says

    Updated: 8:14 PM EDT Oct 30, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Arrivals to Orlando International Airport are facing significant ground delays, averaging 161 minutes, due to staffing issues, according to the FAA National Airspace System Status Page.The delays were expected to begin at 10 p.m. and continue until about 3 a.m. on Friday.The FAA advisory says that all U.S. departures will be affected. We have reached out to the airport for an update on this situation. Track a flight

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Arrivals to Orlando International Airport are facing significant ground delays, averaging 161 minutes, due to staffing issues, according to the FAA National Airspace System Status Page.

    The delays were expected to begin at 10 p.m. and continue until about 3 a.m. on Friday.

    The FAA advisory says that all U.S. departures will be affected.

    We have reached out to the airport for an update on this situation.

    Track a flight

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  • Proponents of Nov. 4 redistricting ballot measure vastly outraise opponents

    Supporters of Proposition 50, California Democrats’ ballot measure to redraw the state’s congressional districts to help the party’s effort to take power in the U.S. House of Representatives, raised more than four times the amount that rivals raised in recent weeks, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state by the three main committees campaigning about the measure.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom’s committee supporting the redistricting measure raised $36.8 million between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18, bringing its total to $114.3 million, according to the report filed with the secretary of state’s office on Thursday, which was not available until Monday. It had $37.1 million in the bank and available to spend before the Nov. 4 special election.

    “We have hit our budget goals and raised what we need in order to pass Proposition 50,” Newsom emailed supporters on Monday. “You can stop donating.”

    The two main opposition groups raised a total of $8.4 million during the 28 days covered by the fundraising period, bringing their total haul to $43.7 million. They had $2.3 million in cash on hand going into the final stretch of the campaign.

    “As Gavin Newsom likes to say, we are not running the 90-yard dash here. We’ve seen a groundswell of support from Californians who understand what’s at stake if we let [President] Trump steal two more years of unchecked power,” said Hannah Milgrom, a spokesperson for the main pro-Proposition 50 campaign. “But we are not taking anything for granted nor taking our foot off the gas. If we want to hold this dangerous and reckless president accountable, we must pass Prop. 50.”

    Newsom and other California Democrats decided to ask voters to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, which are currently drawn by a voter-approved independent commission, in a mid-decade redistricting after Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw their districts in an effort for Republicans to retain control of Congress in next year’s midterm election.

    The balance of power in the narrowly divided House will determine whether Trump is able to continue enacting his agenda during his final two years of office, or is the focus of investigations and possibly an impeachment effort.

    Major donors supporting Proposition 50 include billionaire financier George Soros; the House Majority PAC, the campaign arm of congressional Democrats; and labor unions.

    Among the opponents of Proposition 50, top contributors include longtime GOP donor Charles Munger Jr., the son of the investment partner of billionaire Warren Buffett; and the Congressional Leadership Fund, Republicans’ political arm in the House.

    “While we are being outspent, we’re continuing to communicate with Californians the dangers of suspending California’s gold-standard redistricting process,” said Amy Thoma, a spokesperson for the committee funded by Munger. “With just ten days to go, we are encouraging all voters to make their voice heard and to vote.”

    Ellie Hockenbury, an advisor to the committee that received $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, said the organization was committed to continuing to raise money to block Newsom’s redistricting effort in the days leading up to the election.

    “His costly power grab would silence millions of Californians and deny them fair representation in Congress, which is why grassroots opposition is gaining momentum,” Hockenbury said. “In the final push, our data-driven campaign is strategically targeting key voters with our message to ensure every resource helps us defeat Prop. 50.”

    There are several other committees not affiliated with these main campaign groups that are receiving funding. Those include one created by billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, who donated $12 million, and the California Republican Party, which received $8 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund.

    These reports come a little more than a week before the Nov. 4 special election. More than 4 million mail ballots — 18% of the ballots sent to California’s 23 million voters — had been returned as of Friday, according to a vote tracker run by Democratic redistricting expert Paul Mitchell, who drew the proposed maps on the ballot. Democrats continue to outpace Republicans in returning ballots, 51% to 28%. Voters registered without a party preference or with other political parties returned 21% of the ballots that have been received.

    The turnout figures are alarming Republican leaders.

    “If Republicans do not get out and vote now, we will lose Prop 50 and Gavin Newsom will control our district lines until 2032,” Orange County GOP Chair Will O’Neill wrote to party members on Friday, urging them to cast ballots this past weekend and sharing the locations of early voting centers in the county.

    Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) was more blunt on social media.

    “Right now we’re losing the fight against Prop 50 in CA, but turnout is LOW,” he posted on the social media platform X on Friday. “If every Republican voter gets off their ass, returns their ballot and votes NO, we WIN. IT. IS. THAT. SIMPLE.”

    More than 18.9 million ballots are outstanding, though not all will be completed. Early voting centers opened on Saturday in 29 California counties.

    “Think of Election Day as the last day to vote — not the only day. Like we always do, California gives voters more days and more ways to participate,” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement. “Don’t Delay! Vote today!”

    The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it plans on monitoring polling sites in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties at the request of the state GOP.

    “Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said. “We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”

    Newsom, in a post on X on Friday, said the Trump administration is sending election monitors to polling places in California as part of a broader effort to stifle the vote, particularly among Californians of color, in advance of next year’s midterm election.

    “This is about voter intimidation. This is about voter suppression,” Newsom said, predicting that masked border agents would probably be present at California polling places through the Nov. 4 election. “I hope people understand it’s a bridge that they’re trying to build the scaffolding for all across this country in next November’s election. They do not believe in fair and free elections. Our republic, our democracy, is on the line.”

    Seema Mehta

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  • Sabonis’ clutch put-back lifts Kings over Jazz in thriller

    Domantas Sabonis wasn’t supposed to return on Friday night–not yet. But the Sacramento Kings are sure glad he did.Sabonis, who was thought to be unavailable until Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, was cleared from a hamstring strain early on Friday that resulted in him becoming available against the Utah Jazz.(Video Above: Fan excitement builds at Sacramento Kings home opener)In what was Sacramento’s home-opener, Sabonis’ clutch put-back basket during the final seconds of regulation delivered the Kings a 105-104 win–their first of the 2025-26 season.Sabonis’ late-game heroics went hand-in-hand with a clutch final stop by veteran guard Dennis Schroder, who put the clamps on Jazz guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt that came up empty to finish off the winning effort.It wasn’t a beautiful game from Sacramento, but they did enough in crunch time to come away with a win that–even in game two of 82–they felt like they needed.The upcoming schedule is daunting, and the Kings need to stack wins when they can. Friday’s home-opener sent fans home with smiles on their faces, and that’s the most important thing for Sacramento (1-1).Kings vs. Jazz recap & takeawaysAfter a sluggish start that included falling into an immediate six-point hole, Sacramento bounced back thanks to a red-hot start from Zach LaVine.LaVine, who scored 30 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix, scored 15 points on five-of-eight shooting (two-of-four from three-point range) over just seven minutes in the first quarter to ignite the Kings’ offense.Ball movement was crisp early, as Sacramento handed out nine assists on the first 11 made baskets to take control heading into the second quarter.After shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep during the first quarter, the Kings’ offense struggled in the second, allowing Utah to stop the bleeding and keep things close. Sacramento shot just 32 percent from the field in the second, while LaVine went scoreless in the period.The Kings’ offense still appears to be a work in progress, as the ball-movement from the first quarter disappeared in the second (two assists and three turnovers). Still, Sacramento took a three-point lead into the second half as they looked to secure their first win of the 2025-26 season.After going scoreless in the second quarter, LaVine got involved in the offense again as play entered the second half.A sputtering Kings offense leaned on the star guard as LaVine scored nine points in the period to help Sacramento re-establish a lead, with Malik Monk continuing his strong start following Wednesday’s 19-point outing in Phoenix by scoring nine points of his own in the third to aid his teammate.Monk and Russell Westbrook brought energy off the bench to breathe life into the Kings’ offense, with Monk’s buzzer-beating, step-back triple sending a packed crowd into a frenzy as Sacramento took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.While Utah’s three-point shooting was abysmal for the majority of the night, things shifted the other direction during the second half for the Jazz.After going six-for-21 (28%) from downtown during the first half, Utah opened up the fourth quarter by knocking down three of its first six attempts to keep Sacramento close.All-Star big Lauri Markkanen was a problem for an undersized Kings defense, and while he punished the Kings’ interior defense, supporting cast members Kyle Filipowski, Bryce Sensabaugh, and rookie Walter Clayton Jr. applied pressure from the perimeter to regain the lead with less than eight minutes to go.LaVine, Westbrook, and Dennis Schroder all had big plays in crunch time, but Utah wouldn’t go away.Westbrook’s foul on Markkanen with 28.1 to go allowed the Jazz to take a 104-103 lead, but Sacramento would answer in thrilling fashion as Domantas Sabonis corralled his own miss and went back up to give the Kings a one-point lead with 5.2 seconds remaining.Sabonis missed his and-one free-throw, giving Utah a chance to win on the final possession. Schroder did a solid job contesting Utah guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt, and the shot missed everything as Golden 1 Center erupted simultaneously as the final horn sounded.It wasn’t pretty, but a gritty finish that culminated with timely baskets and stops on the defensive end gave Sacramento its first Beam of the 2025-26 season. Sabonis Makes His DebutWhile he was originally scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday, Domantas Sabonis (hamstring strain) made his season debut on Friday night.Sabonis, who is known for playing through injuries, sat during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix. After missing just one game, the three-time defending NBA rebound champion logged a practice session on Thursday before being cleared to return to the hardwood against Utah.Sacramento will conclude its brief two-game home stand on Sunday afternoon when it faces Luka Doncic and the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.Westbrook Lights The BeamRussell Westbrook is already on his way to becoming a fan-favorite among Sacramento Kings fans.Westbrook, who made his home debut on Friday, was a sparkplug during the win, scoring seven points and handing out four assists to go along with one steal over 17 minutes.The future Hall of Famer was tasked with defending the seven-footer Markkanen at times, and his hustle plays didn’t go unnoticed–especially his triple in the fourth quarter that kept Utah from expanding on a four-point lead with less than five minutes to go.Westbrook told reporters after the game that until joining Sacramento last week, he hadn’t played five-on-five since May, when he was playing for Denver in the NBA Playoffs.Following the game, Westbrook made his way over to the scorer’s table, where he lit the first beam of the 2025-26 season.“Been looking forward to doing that since I’ve been here,” Westbrook said of the beam lighting.This story first appeared on Sactown Sports. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Domantas Sabonis wasn’t supposed to return on Friday night–not yet. But the Sacramento Kings are sure glad he did.

    Sabonis, who was thought to be unavailable until Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, was cleared from a hamstring strain early on Friday that resulted in him becoming available against the Utah Jazz.

    (Video Above: Fan excitement builds at Sacramento Kings home opener)

    In what was Sacramento’s home-opener, Sabonis’ clutch put-back basket during the final seconds of regulation delivered the Kings a 105-104 win–their first of the 2025-26 season.

    Sabonis’ late-game heroics went hand-in-hand with a clutch final stop by veteran guard Dennis Schroder, who put the clamps on Jazz guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt that came up empty to finish off the winning effort.

    It wasn’t a beautiful game from Sacramento, but they did enough in crunch time to come away with a win that–even in game two of 82–they felt like they needed.

    The upcoming schedule is daunting, and the Kings need to stack wins when they can. Friday’s home-opener sent fans home with smiles on their faces, and that’s the most important thing for Sacramento (1-1).

    Kings vs. Jazz recap & takeaways

    After a sluggish start that included falling into an immediate six-point hole, Sacramento bounced back thanks to a red-hot start from Zach LaVine.

    LaVine, who scored 30 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix, scored 15 points on five-of-eight shooting (two-of-four from three-point range) over just seven minutes in the first quarter to ignite the Kings’ offense.

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    Ball movement was crisp early, as Sacramento handed out nine assists on the first 11 made baskets to take control heading into the second quarter.

    After shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep during the first quarter, the Kings’ offense struggled in the second, allowing Utah to stop the bleeding and keep things close. Sacramento shot just 32 percent from the field in the second, while LaVine went scoreless in the period.

    The Kings’ offense still appears to be a work in progress, as the ball-movement from the first quarter disappeared in the second (two assists and three turnovers). Still, Sacramento took a three-point lead into the second half as they looked to secure their first win of the 2025-26 season.

    SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a shot on Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

    After going scoreless in the second quarter, LaVine got involved in the offense again as play entered the second half.

    A sputtering Kings offense leaned on the star guard as LaVine scored nine points in the period to help Sacramento re-establish a lead, with Malik Monk continuing his strong start following Wednesday’s 19-point outing in Phoenix by scoring nine points of his own in the third to aid his teammate.

    Monk and Russell Westbrook brought energy off the bench to breathe life into the Kings’ offense, with Monk’s buzzer-beating, step-back triple sending a packed crowd into a frenzy as Sacramento took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.

    While Utah’s three-point shooting was abysmal for the majority of the night, things shifted the other direction during the second half for the Jazz.

    After going six-for-21 (28%) from downtown during the first half, Utah opened up the fourth quarter by knocking down three of its first six attempts to keep Sacramento close.

    SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Dennis Schröder #17, Zach Lavine #8 and Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings react after they beat the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

    All-Star big Lauri Markkanen was a problem for an undersized Kings defense, and while he punished the Kings’ interior defense, supporting cast members Kyle Filipowski, Bryce Sensabaugh, and rookie Walter Clayton Jr. applied pressure from the perimeter to regain the lead with less than eight minutes to go.

    LaVine, Westbrook, and Dennis Schroder all had big plays in crunch time, but Utah wouldn’t go away.

    Westbrook’s foul on Markkanen with 28.1 to go allowed the Jazz to take a 104-103 lead, but Sacramento would answer in thrilling fashion as Domantas Sabonis corralled his own miss and went back up to give the Kings a one-point lead with 5.2 seconds remaining.

    SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Zach Lavine #8 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz during the second half at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

    Sabonis missed his and-one free-throw, giving Utah a chance to win on the final possession. Schroder did a solid job contesting Utah guard Keyonte George’s game-winning attempt, and the shot missed everything as Golden 1 Center erupted simultaneously as the final horn sounded.

    It wasn’t pretty, but a gritty finish that culminated with timely baskets and stops on the defensive end gave Sacramento its first Beam of the 2025-26 season.

    Sabonis Makes His Debut

    While he was originally scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday, Domantas Sabonis (hamstring strain) made his season debut on Friday night.

    Sabonis, who is known for playing through injuries, sat during Wednesday’s season-opening loss in Phoenix. After missing just one game, the three-time defending NBA rebound champion logged a practice session on Thursday before being cleared to return to the hardwood against Utah.

    Sacramento will conclude its brief two-game home stand on Sunday afternoon when it faces Luka Doncic and the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

    Westbrook Lights The Beam

    Russell Westbrook is already on his way to becoming a fan-favorite among Sacramento Kings fans.

    Westbrook, who made his home debut on Friday, was a sparkplug during the win, scoring seven points and handing out four assists to go along with one steal over 17 minutes.

    The future Hall of Famer was tasked with defending the seven-footer Markkanen at times, and his hustle plays didn’t go unnoticed–especially his triple in the fourth quarter that kept Utah from expanding on a four-point lead with less than five minutes to go.

    Westbrook told reporters after the game that until joining Sacramento last week, he hadn’t played five-on-five since May, when he was playing for Denver in the NBA Playoffs.

    Following the game, Westbrook made his way over to the scorer’s table, where he lit the first beam of the 2025-26 season.

    “Been looking forward to doing that since I’ve been here,” Westbrook said of the beam lighting.

    This story first appeared on Sactown Sports.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Federal immigration enforcement surge is now paused in East Bay too, Oakland mayor says

    A planned increase in federal immigration enforcement in the Bay Area is now on pause throughout the region and in major East Bay cities, not just in San Francisco, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said Friday.

    Lee said in a statement that Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez had “confirmed through her communications” with federal immigration officials that the planned operations were “cancelled for the greater Bay Area — which includes Oakland — at this time.”

    The announcement followed lingering concerns about ramped up immigration enforcement among East Bay leaders after President Trump and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced Thursday that a planned “surge” had been called off in San Francisco.

    Trump and Lurie had very specifically addressed San Francisco, even as additional Border Patrol agents were being staged across the bay on Coast Guard Island, which is in the waters between Alameda and Oakland.

    At a press conference following Trump’s annoucement about San Francisco, Lee had said the situation remained “fluid,” that she had received no such assurances about the East Bay and that Oakland was continuing to prepare for enhanced immigration enforcement in the region.

    Alameda County Dist. Atty. Ursula Jones Dickson had previously warned that the announced stand down in San Francisco could be a sign the administration was looking to focus on Oakland instead — and make an example of it.

    “We know that they’re baiting Oakland, and that’s why San Francisco, all of a sudden, is off the table,” Jones Dickson said Thursday morning. “So I’m not going to be quiet about what we know is coming. We know that their expectation is that Oakland is going to do something to cause them to make us the example.”

    The White House on Friday directed questions about the scope of the pause in operations and whether it applied to the East Bay to the Department of Homeland Security, which referred The Times back to Trump’s statement about San Francisco on Friday — despite its making no mention of the East Bay or Oakland.

    In that statement, posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump had written that a “surge” had been planned for San Francisco starting Saturday, but that he had called it off after speaking to Lurie.

    Trump said Lurie had asked “very nicely” that Trump “give him a chance to see if he can turn it around” in the city, and that business leaders — including Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Marc Benioff of Salesforce — had expressed confidence in Lurie.

    Trump said he told Lurie that it would be “easier” to make San Francisco safer if federal forces were sent in, but told him, “let’s see how you do.”

    Lurie in recent days has touted falling crime rates and numbers of homeless encampments in the city, and said in his own announcement of the stand down that he had told Trump that San Francisco was “on the rise” and that “having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery.”

    In California and elsewhere, the Trump administration has aggressively sought to expand the reach and authority of the Border Patrol and federal immigration agents. Last month, the DOJ fired its top prosecutor in Sacramento after she told Gregory Bovino, chief of the Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector, that he could not carry out indiscriminate immigration raids around Sacramento this summer.

    In Oakland on Thursday, the planned surge in enforcement had sparked protests near the entrance to Coast Guard Island, and drew widespread condemnation from local liberal officials and immigrant advocacy organizations.

    On Thursday night, security officers at the base opened fire on the driver of a U-Haul truck who was reversing the truck toward them, wounding the driver and a civilian nearby. The FBI is investigating that incident.

    Some liberal officials had warned that federal agents who violated the rights of Californians could face consequences — even possible arrest — from local law enforcement, which drew condemnation from federal officials.

    Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche responded with a scathing letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and others on Thursday in which he wrote that any attempt by local law enforcement to arrest federal officers doing their jobs would be viewed by the Justice Department as “both illegal and futile” and as part of a “criminal conspiracy.”

    Blanche wrote that the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution precludes any federal law enforcement official to be “held on a state criminal charge where the alleged crime arose during the performance of his federal duties,” and that the Justice Department would pursue legal action against any state officials who advocate for such enforcement.

    “In the meantime, federal agents and officers will continue to enforce federal law and will not be deterred by the threat of arrest by California authorities who have abdicated their duty to protect their constituents,” Blanche wrote.

    The threat of arrest for federal officers had originated in part with San Francisco Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins, who had written on social media that if federal agents “come to San Francisco and illegally harass our residents … I will not hesitate to do my job and hold you accountable just like I do other violators of the law every single day.”

    Kevin Rector

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  • Paramedic injured in Sacramento helicopter crash released from hospital

    The paramedic who was injured in a medical helicopter crash on Highway 50 in Sacramento earlier this month has been released from the hospital, according to the Sacramento Fire Department. (Previous coverage in the video player above.)Paramedic Margaret “DeDe” Davis was among the three crew members on board the REACH Air Medical Services helicopter when it crashed on the highway on Oct. 6. On Friday, she was transferred to a rehabilitation facility. The nurse on board the flight, Suzie Smith, died from her injuries last week. The pilot, Chad Millward, remains in the hospital on Friday. A family member told KCRA 3 on Thursday that Millward is making good progress in his recovery.The Sacramento Fire Department said it had crews on hand as Davis was released from UC Davis Medical Center. A family member of Davis told KCRA 3 on Thursday that they are grateful to the hospital staff for their help in her recovery.REACH Air Medical Services shared this statement following Davis’ release from the hospital: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous support shown to our team following the October 6 REACH Air Medical helicopter accident on Highway 50 in Sacramento. The compassion and concern from our community have meant so much to all those affected, and we are deeply appreciative of everyone keeping our crew and their families in their thoughts and prayers. We are encouraged to share positive news regarding our crew members: Chad Millward (pilot) and Margaret “DeDe” Davis (paramedic) continue to make meaningful progress in their recovery. Chad remains in the ICU, but his condition has stabilized. DeDe has been discharged from the hospital and has begun the next important phase of her journey to recovery. She is now in an inpatient rehabilitation program, where she’ll receive specialized care and support as she continues to heal. We deeply mourn the loss of Susan “Suzie” Smith, whose dedication and compassion touched countless lives. As we celebrate the ongoing recovery of Chad and DeDe, we honor Suzie’s memory and her significant contributions to our community.”The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    The paramedic who was injured in a medical helicopter crash on Highway 50 in Sacramento earlier this month has been released from the hospital, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.

    (Previous coverage in the video player above.)

    Paramedic Margaret “DeDe” Davis was among the three crew members on board the REACH Air Medical Services helicopter when it crashed on the highway on Oct. 6. On Friday, she was transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

    The nurse on board the flight, Suzie Smith, died from her injuries last week.

    The pilot, Chad Millward, remains in the hospital on Friday. A family member told KCRA 3 on Thursday that Millward is making good progress in his recovery.

    The Sacramento Fire Department said it had crews on hand as Davis was released from UC Davis Medical Center. A family member of Davis told KCRA 3 on Thursday that they are grateful to the hospital staff for their help in her recovery.

    REACH Air Medical Services shared this statement following Davis’ release from the hospital: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous support shown to our team following the October 6 REACH Air Medical helicopter accident on Highway 50 in Sacramento. The compassion and concern from our community have meant so much to all those affected, and we are deeply appreciative of everyone keeping our crew and their families in their thoughts and prayers.

    We are encouraged to share positive news regarding our crew members: Chad Millward (pilot) and Margaret “DeDe” Davis (paramedic) continue to make meaningful progress in their recovery. Chad remains in the ICU, but his condition has stabilized. DeDe has been discharged from the hospital and has begun the next important phase of her journey to recovery. She is now in an inpatient rehabilitation program, where she’ll receive specialized care and support as she continues to heal.

    We deeply mourn the loss of Susan “Suzie” Smith, whose dedication and compassion touched countless lives. As we celebrate the ongoing recovery of Chad and DeDe, we honor Suzie’s memory and her significant contributions to our community.”

    The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • High School Playbook Game of the Week Poll: Oct. 24, 2025

    High School Playbook Game of the Week Poll: Oct. 24, 2025

    Where should KCRA 3 go for the Game of the Week for Week 10 on Friday, Oct. 24?

    High school football is back for 2025 and we could use your help, once again, to produce our High School Playbook show. Where should KCRA 3 go for the Game of the Week for Week 10 on Friday, Oct. 24? The games for consideration are:El Camino vs. Casa RobleInderkum vs. Rio AmericanoWheatland vs. CenterPleasant Grove vs. Elk GroveThe poll below closes at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21.(Mobile users, click here if you don’t see the poll.)| MORE | Share your Fan Fits at games all season long. Watch our High School Playbook show Fridays on the KCRA 3 News at 11 p.m.

    High school football is back for 2025 and we could use your help, once again, to produce our High School Playbook show.

    Where should KCRA 3 go for the Game of the Week for Week 10 on Friday, Oct. 24?

    The games for consideration are:

    • El Camino vs. Casa Roble
    • Inderkum vs. Rio Americano
    • Wheatland vs. Center
    • Pleasant Grove vs. Elk Grove

    The poll below closes at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

    (Mobile users, click here if you don’t see the poll.)

    | MORE | Share your Fan Fits at games all season long.

    Watch our High School Playbook show Fridays on the KCRA 3 News at 11 p.m.


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  • Watches, warnings discontinued as Tropical Storm Jerry weakens

    Watches, warnings discontinued as Tropical Storm Jerry weakens

    CENTRAL FLORIDA IS AGAIN A HURRICANE HOTSPOT THIS YEAR. OH MY GOD. MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE PREPARING FOR THE POTENTIAL THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO EVACUATE. WE’VE SEEN THE IMPACT OF CATASTROPHIC STORMS. EVERY LOT THAT’S EMPTY WAS SOMEBODY’S HOME FOR 100 YEAR FLOODS. FLOODS THAT AREN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN FOR 100 YEARS HAVE HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST 6 TO 7 YEARS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A HURRICANE. THE WESH TWO FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM IS HERE TO HELP. WE’RE STICKING TO A BUDGET FOR YOUR HURRICANE KIT AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO KEEP YOU SAFE. WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON A PROCESS SINCE MILTON IN ORDER TO BETTER THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE RESIDENTS. THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW. SURVIVING THE SEASON. THE 2020 HURRICANE SPECIAL. AS WE GET INTO THE THICK OF THE 2025 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON, YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF AND WHEN A STORM HEADS OUR WAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I’M STEWART MOORE AND I’M MICHELLE IMPERATO. WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER WHEN IT COMES TO STORM PREPARATIONS AND WHERE TO GET HELP AFTER A HURRICANE. BUT FIRST, THIS SEASON COMES WITH A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, OR FEMA, STRUGGLED WITH BUDGET CUTS AND LAYOFFS THIS YEAR. THE FULL IMPACT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WORKS TO OVERHAUL THE AGENCY. IN JANUARY, PRESIDENT TRUMP FLOATED THE IDEA OF GETTING RID OF FEMA AND SHIFTING FEMA’S RESPONSIBILITIES TO STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO CUT FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, OR NOAA, WHICH PLAYS A BIG PART IN WEATHER FORECASTING. AND WHILE THE SITUATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT COULD CHANGE THE STEPS TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE ARE TRIED AND TRUE. SO THAT’S OUR FIRST WARNING. WEATHER TEAM IS FOCUSED RIGHT NOW, STARTING WITH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI. WITH THE 2025 HURRICANE SEASON OUTLOOK. AND HERE WE GO AGAIN. I TELL YOU WHAT, ONCE AGAIN, MICHELLE IT LOOKS ACTIVE. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. NOW NOAA CAME OUT WITH THEIR OUTLOOK 13 TO 19 NAMED STORMS. COLORADO STATE RIGHT AROUND 17. YOU GO TO WESH 16 TO 20 AND THE NUMBER OF MAJOR HURRICANES. NOW GUYS RUNNING BETWEEN ABOUT 3 TO 6. AGAIN, THE NORMAL IS 14, NINE AND THREE. SO JUST ABOVE THE NORMAL THERE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THAT’S SOMETHING WE’RE GOING TO BE WATCHING. THERE’S REALLY THREE MAIN FACTORS WHY WE THINK IT’S GOING TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE SEASON. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE WARMER THAN AVERAGE OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURES, ESPECIALLY IN THE GULF AND THE CARIBBEAN. THE FORECAST FOR WIND SHEAR LOOKS LOW. REMEMBER, THE STRONGER THE WINDS, THE GREATER THE SHEAR. THE WINDS DO APPEAR TO BE LOOKING LIGHT, AND THERE’S GOING TO BE MORE ACTION NOW FROM THE WEST AFRICAN MONSOON. THE MORE MOISTURE OFF THE WEST COAST, THE GREATER THE RISK THERE IS FOR THESE TROPICAL WAVES TO DEVELOP. SO WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU HERE IS THE NORMAL WATER TEMPERATURES VERSUS VERSUS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND WE ARE RUNNING ABOVE NORMAL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND IN THE CARIBBEAN. AND BEFORE JUNE. THIS IS THE AREA THAT WE LIKE TO WATCH. SO WE’LL BE WATCHING THAT INTENTLY, THOUGH FOR NOW WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. GUYS, BACK TO YOU. HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON CAUSED WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION AFTER MAKING LANDFALL ON THE GULF COAST LAST YEAR. THIS DRONE VIDEO SHOWS THE DAMAGE ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND. THE STORMS ALSO PACKED A PUNCH FURTHER INLAND. METEOROLOGIST ERIC BURRIS REMINDS US HURRICANES ARE NOT JUST A CONCERN FOR THE COAST. LAST YEAR WAS A TOUGH LESSON FOR SO MANY THAT STORMS ARE CLEARLY NOT JUST COASTAL EVENTS. HELENE TRIGGERED LANDSLIDES AND FLOODING IN THE CAROLINAS, FAR FROM THE GULF COAST, WHERE IT MADE LANDFALL A FEW WEEKS LATER. DURING MILTON, FLAGLER COUNTY SUFFERED SOME OF THE GUSTIEST WINDS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FAR FROM THE CENTER OF THE STORM. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOST POWER, AND ROUGH SURF ENTERED PEOPLE’S BACKYARDS. THERE CAN BE EFFECTS. HUNDREDS OF MILES OUTSIDE OF THAT CONE. FLAGLER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER JONATHAN LORD SAYS MANY PEOPLE HAVE MOVED TO THE AREA IN RECENT MONTHS. HE WANTS NEWCOMERS TO KNOW IF A STORM HEADS ANYWHERE NEAR FLORIDA. THEY NEED TO BE READY. MOSTLY WITH PEOPLE MOVING IN FROM OUT OF STATE. WHO’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED A HURRICANE BEFORE. OR SOMETIMES I’M TOLD THEY HEAR FROM THE REALTORS THAT WE DON’T GET HURRICANES IN THIS PART OF THE STATE. DEFINITELY NOT TRUE. AS WE TRACK THE TROPICS THIS YEAR, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS REMINDING EVERYONE THAT THE CONE, WHICH IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE CENTER OF THE STORM, IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. THE HAZARDS ARE INCREASINGLY FALLING OUTSIDE OF THE CONE. JAMIE RHOME, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, SAYS THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR GOOD REASON. THE CONE HAS GOTTEN SMALLER AND SMALLER OVER TIME AS FORECAST ACCURACY HAS IMPROVED. LAST YEAR TO TRY AND BETTER COMMUNICATE IMPACTS COUNTY BY COUNTY. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ADDED ADVISORIES OVER TOP OF THE CONE TO INCLUDE THREATS OVER LAND, AS WELL AS COASTLINE. SO IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONE, THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS, IS ALL THIS COLOR AND HOW FAR INLAND IT GOES. SO WE THINK IT’S A BETTER WAY TO COMMUNICATE. YOUR BEST SHOT AT SURVIVING THE SEASON IS TO HAVE A HURRICANE KIT STOCKED AND READY TO GO. METEOROLOGIST KELLIANNE KLASS SHOWS US BEING PREPARED DOES NOT NEED TO BREAK THE BANK EVERY HURRICANE SEASON. WE ALWAYS TELL YOU TO HAVE A HURRICANE SUPPLY KIT, BUT LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE SAYING, LET’S GO AWAY WITH THE 72 HOUR SUPPLY KIT AND GO FOR A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT THAT CAN HAVE YOUR FAMILY BEING FED FOR UP TO FIVE DAYS OR EVEN LONGER. AND THAT CAN GET PRETTY HEAVY ON WALLETS. BUT TODAY WE’RE AT A LOCAL DOLLAR TREE AT 1792, IN FERN PARK TO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN GET WITH $100, WE HAVE OUR LIST READY, AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO GO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN GET. LET’S GO SHOPPING. OKAY, SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS STIR KNOWS THEY’RE IN THE PARTY SECTION. AND THESE ARE GOOD UP TO TWO HOURS. SO WE’RE GOING TO GET FIVE IN THIS AISLE WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR LOSS OF POWER. THERE’S YOUR TRADITIONAL FLASHLIGHT. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF AN LED LANTERN. EXTRA BATTERIES SHOULD BE ON YOUR DISASTER KIT. AND THE DOLLAR STORE HAD PLENTY OF THEM. I DIDN’T HAVE THIS ON THE LIST, BUT YOU DO NEED A LIGHTER FOR THE STERNO, SO I’M GOING TO ADD THIS TO IT. AND IF YOU NEED CANDLES, THEY DO HAVE TEA, LIGHT CANDLES. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF THEIR SUPPLIES STOCKED UP. WE GRABBED A FEW CHILDREN’S WIPES, WHICH COULD ALSO DOUBLE AS CLEANSING WIPES FOR ADULTS. THE DOLLAR STORE HAD DIAPERS IN STOCK, BUT FOR $6 PER PACKAGE, THE AMOUNT OF DIAPERS PER PACKAGE DEPENDS ON THE CHILDREN’S SIZE. BANDAGES ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN ANY DISASTER KIT. WE PICKED UP SELF-ADHERING BANDAGE WRAP AND ADHESIVE BANDAGES. WE ALSO GRABBED ANTISEPTIC TO HELP CLEAN THE WOUNDS. IBUPROFEN IS GOING IN THE CART AS WELL. NOW WE’RE ON TO NONPERISHABLE FOOD. WE’RE IN THE SNACK AISLE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO GET SNACKS THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MAY ENJOY. PEANUT BUTTER. NOW WE’RE ON TO SHELF STABLE ITEMS, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR CANNED MEATS, YOUR CANNED VEGETABLES, ANYTHING THAT CAN SIT ON A SHELF IN CASE YOU LOSE POWER. YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THESE A CAN OPENER, BUT THIS IS A REALLY CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE OPTION, AND WE’RE GOING TO BE OPENING A LOT OF CANS, DISPOSABLE PLATES. PLASTIC WARE AND PAPER TOWELS ARE GOOD TO STOCK UP ON TO. HELLO, HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. YOU GOOD? TO ONE 1053. WE ENDED UP GOING ABOUT $10 OVER BUDGET, BUT I DID START OUR DISASTER KIT FROM SCRATCH. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THESE ITEMS AT YOUR HOME ALREADY. AND I ALSO DID ADD A COUPLE OF ITEMS INTO MY BASKET THAT WERE NOT ON THE LIST. OVERALL, YOU SHOULD TAILOR YOUR DISASTER KIT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS. ADD A GENERATOR TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST IF YOU NEED A BACKUP SOURCE FOR POWER, YOU MIGHT BE IN THE DARK FOR DAYS AFTER A BIG STORM. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI SHOWS US THE PROPER WAY TO USE A GENERATOR. HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO START RUNNING THESE GENERATORS. WE WANT YOU TO KEEP THEM 20FT AWAY FROM YOUR HOUSE, NOT INSIDE YOUR GARAGE, TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT THING IS GENERATOR MAINTENANCE. NUMBER ONE, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO RUN IT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR TO MAKE SURE THERE’S NO LEFTOVER FUEL IN THERE. THAT’S NEVER GOOD FOR YOUR GENERATOR. AND WHEN YOU’RE DONE USING IT, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO FUEL IN THERE. OTHERWISE, YOUR GENERATOR MAY NOT START UP WHEN THE NEXT HURRICANE ARRIVES. AND FOLKS, PLEASE REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING YOUR GENERATOR. TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HURRICANES LEAD TO FLOODING HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AFTER FLOODED AFTER IRMA IN 2017, THE ORLO VISTA COMMUNITY FLOODED DURING IAN IN 2022, AND RISING WATERS FROM MILTON FORCED PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES INTO LAND LAST YEAR. PROPERTY OWNERS DEALING WITH REPEAT FLOODING ARE READY TO GIVE UP THEIR LAND. METEOROLOGIST CAM TRAN LOOKED INTO A PROGRAM MANY COUNTIES OFFER WITH THE HELP OF FEDERAL DOLLARS, WHAT IS NOW A CORDONED OFF LOT IN SANFORD USED TO LOOK LIKE THIS A TWO STORY HOME BELONGING TO A LOCAL FAMILY. BUT AFTER YEARS OF SEEING THEIR HOME DAMAGED BY FLOODING, THE FAMILY SOLD THE PROPERTY TO SEMINOLE COUNTY. THIS PARTICULAR HOME BACK HERE WAS SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WAS SUSTAINING FLOOD DAMAGE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FEMA OFFERS GRANTS TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE REPETITIVE DAMAGE FROM FLOODING. THE FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES, INCLUDING SEMINOLE COUNTY, SO THERE’S THREE PROGRAMS. THERE’S BUYBACK. SO WE BUY OUT AN ACQUISITION DEMOLISH. THERE’S ELEVATE. SO WE TAKE THE HOME AS IT IS AND ELEVATE. AND THEN THERE’S ELEVATE RECONSTRUCT. SO ELEVATE RECONSTRUCT WOULD BE A CONCRETE MASONRY BLOCK HOME. YOU CAN’T JUST PICK IT UP. SO IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO PICK IT UP. BUT WHILE WE’RE PICKING IT UP WE’RE CONSTRUCTING WE’RE DOING CONSTRUCTION THAT’S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY. ANY PROPERTY OWNER WHO WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FEMA GRANT WILL NEED TO BE PATIENT. IT CAN TAKE MONTHS, EVEN YEARS, TO GET THAT FEDERAL FUNDING APPROVED. VOLUSIA COUNTY IS CONSIDERING A SIMILAR PROGRAM. IT WAS AWARDED $20 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO BUY BACK FREQUENTLY FLOODED HOMES. WE CAN’T BUY THEM ALL, BUT THERE’S SOME THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. DELAND ON TAYLOR AVENUE, THERE IS A HOME THAT’S ACTUALLY THE HOMEOWNERS COME TO US AND SAID, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU BUY US OUT? AND THEY SAY THAT WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES. DONNA ROONEY HAD FOUR FEET OF WATER IN HER HOUSE AFTER HURRICANE MILTON. SHE HOPES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BUYBACK PROGRAM. THAT’S WHAT WE WANTED FROM THE BEGINNING. WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF REBUILDING OR REFURBISHING THIS HOME. HUD STILL NEEDS TO APPROVE THE PROGRAM BEFORE IT CAN TAKE EFFECT. NEXT, ON SURVIVING THE SEASON. OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM SPENT MONTHS ANALYZING WEATHER PATTERNS AND PINPOINTING THE HOT SPOTS FOR A BIG STORM. PLUS, HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SAFEST PLACE TO HUNKER DOWN DURING A TORNADO AND THE FUNDING STILL AVAILABLE. IF YOUR HOME SUFFERED DAMAGE DURING HURRICANE IAN. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS OR KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND THAT’S A SHAME. ONE NEIGHBOR LOOKING TO REBUILD IS SPREADING THE WORD TO HELP OTHERS JUST LIKE HER. OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM HAS BEEN ANALYZING WEATHER PATTERNS TO PREDICT WHEN WE COULD GET A BIG STORM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. METEOROLOGIST ERIC BURRIS WAS ABLE TO PREDICT WITH 85% ACCURACY LAST YEAR, WHERE BIG STORMS WENT AND WHEN THEY MADE LANDFALL. HE’S DOING IT AGAIN AND PRESENTS THIS YEAR’S LONG RANGE FORECAST. HEY, THAT’S RIGHT. THE OVERALL PATTERNS THIS YEAR CLEARLY SHOW THE GULF AS THE HOT SPOT FOR ACTIVITY YET AGAIN. BUT THE WAY MY LONG TERM FORECASTING WORKS IS LOOKING AT LONG TERM FORECASTING CYCLES. SO LET’S BREAK IT DOWN. THE FIRST PART OF THE PATTERN THAT WE WATCH IS THE NORTHERN GULF COAST, FOR WHAT SHOULD BE THE SLOW MOVING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE. EARLY JUNE, BUT IN PARTICULAR LATE JULY AND AROUND THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, THEN ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST YET AGAIN, I’VE OBSERVED AN OVERALL WEATHER PATTERN SHOWING A STORM SYSTEM AGAIN MID JUNE, BUT MOREOVER, LATE JULY AND INTO EARLY SEPTEMBER. BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, INTO THE PANHANDLE AND OUR WEST COAST, THE BIGGEST PART OF THE PATTERN I’M WATCHING FOR THREATS IN THIS AREA IS THIS ONE WITH AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT SEEMINGLY WANTS TO CROSS THE GULF AND WORK TOWARD OUR WEST COAST. SO WATCH THESE DATES VERY CLOSELY. LATE JUNE, EARLY AUGUST AND MID SEPTEMBER. AND LASTLY, OUT OF ALL THE DATA OVER THE MONTHS AND MONTHS OF GATHERING MY NUMBERS FOR THIS YEAR’S HURRICANE FORECAST, WHILE ABOVE AVERAGE, ARE NOT CALLING FOR A HYPERACTIVE SEASON. EITHER WAY, WE HAVE A CLEAR THREAT TO WATCH FOR, AND THUS WE’LL NEED TO KEEP OUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL. BUT KNOW THIS YOUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM WILL BE HERE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WHEN THERE’S A RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES WATCHES AND WARNINGS. YOU’LL HEAR OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM USE THESE TERMS A LOT. METEOROLOGIST MARQUISE MEDA EXPLAINS WHAT THEY MEAN. THINK OF IT LIKE COOKING PASTA. A WATCH IS WHEN YOU PUT A POT OF BOILING WATER ON THE STOVE. THE HEAT IS ON. CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE AND YOU’RE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. A WARNING MEANS THAT WATER IS BOILING AND IT’S TIME TO ADD THE PASTA. OR IN WEATHER TERMS, THE EVENT IS HAPPENING NOW AND YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY. JUST LIKE YOU DON’T WALK AWAY FROM A POT THAT’S HEATING UP, YOU SHOULD IGNORE A WATCH. CONDITIONS. THEY CAN CHANGE QUICKLY AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THAT GENTLE SIMMER CAN TURN INTO A ROLLING BOIL. SO DURING A WATCH, STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED. BUT IF IT’S A WARNING, BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER. BECAUSE JUST LIKE A POT OF BOILING WATER, SEVERE WEATHER DOESN’T WAIT. BEFORE MILTON MADE LANDFALL IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR, THE STORM SPAWNED MANY TORNADOES, INCLUDING ONE IN BREVARD COUNTY. THIS VIDEO SHOWS SOME OF THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED. METEOROLOGIST CAM TRAN EXPLAINS WHERE YOU SHOULD TAKE COVER IN A TORNADO. THE SAFEST PLACE TO GO DURING A TORNADO WARNING IS TO THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOUSE. MAKE SURE THAT AREA IS NOT CONNECTED TO ANY EXTERIOR WALLS OR WINDOWS. YOUR SAFE ROOM COULD BE A CLOSET, A BATHROOM, OR EVEN A HALLWAY LIKE THIS ONE. BUT IN THIS HOUSE, THE SAFEST ROOM TO BE IN IS ACTUALLY THIS INTERIOR BATHROOM. IT IS AWAY FROM ANY EXTERIOR WALLS OR WINDOW, AND IT’S THE MOST INTERIOR ROOM OF THIS HOUSE. IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR YOU’RE WORKING AT AN OFFICE HIGHRISE, SIMILAR RULES APPLY. GO TO THE BOTTOM AND THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR BUILDING. AND IF YOU CAN’T GO TO AN INTERIOR HALLWAY. AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT BIG STORM, MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM PAST DISASTERS. CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI SHOWS US A PROGRAM RIGHT HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY THAT’S HELPING FOLKS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. THE ORANGE COUNTY RECOVERS PROGRAM HAS SET ASIDE $59 MILLION TO HELP RESIDENTS OF ORANGE COUNTY AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES REPAIR, REBUILD AND REPLACE ELIGIBLE HOMES WITH REMAINING DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IAN. IT IS A GRANT, SO THAT’S GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYBODY. IT’S NOT ALONE. FOLKS ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS AND CAN DO SO UNTIL THE MONEY RUNS OUT. SHERI JILLIAN WITH THE DISASTER RECOVERY TEAM, EXPLAINS WHO’S ELIGIBLE. NUMBER ONE, YOU MUST HAVE OWNED THE PROPERTY AND RESIDED IN THE PROPERTY AS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, SO OWNED PRIOR TO IAN, AND STILL OCCUPY THE RESIDENCE AS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, YOU MUST BE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IS 80% AMI. YOU MUST HAVE A CURRENT MORTGAGE AND TAXES ON THE PROPERTY. ONCE ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN APPROVED, THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WILL BE DETERMINED. FROM THERE, THE HOMEOWNER WILL THEN BE GIVEN SOME MONEY SO THAT THE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE ON THEIR HOME, AND THEY CAN HOPEFULLY GET THEIR LIVES BACK IN ORDER. DEBBY RYAN LIVES IN ORLO VISTA. IT WAS LIKE A RIVER AND IT WAS VERY FAST MOVING AND EVERYTHING. SHE GAVE US A TOUR OF HER HOME WHICH FLOODED DURING HURRICANE IAN IN 2022. THIS WAS ALL WATER. WATER WAS UP TO THAT SECOND STEP AND THAT WAS ON FRIDAY. SO I DON’T KNOW HOW HIGH IT WAS BEFORE THEN AND ALL THAT HIGH WATER DEVASTATED THE INSIDE OF MANY PEOPLE’S HOMES. FLOORING IS COMING APART, PLUMBING FOR LAUNDRY ROOMS IS DAMAGED. THERE’S MOLD INSIDE HOMES AND IN SOME CASES, MOBILE HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN AWAY. RYAN IS APPLYING FOR THE COUNTY’S PROGRAM AND WANTS TO MAKE SURE HER NEIGHBORS KNOW ABOUT IT, TOO. THERE’S 6000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN ORLO VISTA. YOU SAW HOW FEW PEOPLE WERE THERE. THEY’RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP PEOPLE. THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS OR KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND THAT’S A SHAME. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING. WE POSTED THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WESH.COM. UNDER THE HURRICANE TAB. TRIM THE TREES, CLEAR YOUR YARD, FILL YOUR GAS TANK. THESE ARE ALL STANDARD THINGS WE DO TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE. METEOROLOGIST KELLIANNE KLASS REMINDS US NOT TO FORGET ABOUT THE SMALLER TASKS THAT CAN MAKE LIFE A LOT LESS STRESSFUL. IF YOU LOSE POWER OR ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. WASH YOUR DISHES AND DO YOUR LAUNDRY. FILL UP ANY PRESCRIPTIONS YOU MAY NEED. IF YOU HAVE A DOG, MAKE SURE TO GET SOME PEE PADS. IT COULD BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY CAN GET OUTSIDE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD, WATER, AND LITTER FOR YOUR PET. CHARGE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CHARGE BANKS. WALK THROUGH YOUR HOME AND TAKE VIDEO OF EVERYTHING. IT WILL HELP YOU IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A CLAIM LATER. FILL PLASTIC BAGS WITH WATER AND FREEZE THEM BEFORE THE STORM. OH, AND DON’T FORGET TO COOLER. DON’T WAIT UNTIL A STORM IS COMING TO CHECK YOUR INSURANCE. UP NEXT, THE SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN YOUR HOME INSURANCE POLICY. AND SANDBAGS CAN KEEP THE WATER OUT, BUT ONLY WHEN USED CORRECTLY. WE GET OUR HANDS DIRTY, SHOWING YOU THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAY TO FILL. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR INSURANCE BEFORE A BIG STORM HITS. FIRST WARNING, METEOROLOGIST CAM TRAN EXPLAINS WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE FINE PRINT. REVIEW YOUR HOMEOWNER’S POLICY BY LOOKING AT THE DECLARATION PAGE. THAT’S WHERE YOU’LL FIND YOUR COVERAGE LIMITS AND DEDUCTIBLES. EXPERTS SAY THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION HAS GONE UP IN RECENT YEARS, SO YOU MAY HAVE A SHORTFALL IN COVERAGE IF YOU HAVEN’T UPDATED YOUR POLICY IN A WHILE. IT’S ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE, EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN A FLOOD ZONE. THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRADITIONAL HOME POLICY. EXPERTS HIGHLY RECOMMEND FLOOD INSURANCE EVEN IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY AFTER WE SAW SIGNIFICANT FLOODING DURING HURRICANES IAN AND MILTON. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO GET YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ONCE A WATCH OR WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED, YOU CAN NO LONGER ADD OR CHANGE A HOMEOWNER’S POLICY FOR FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY. IT’S EVEN LONGER. IT TAKES 30 DAYS TO TAKE EFFECT. SANDBAGS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM RISING WATERS, BUT MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW TO FILL THEM UP OR LAY THEM DOWN PROPERLY. FIRST WARNING METEOROLOGIST MARQUISE MEDA SHOWS US THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO USE SANDBAGS. EVERY YEAR A STORM SEASON APPROACHES. WE COVER SANDBAG DISTRIBUTION SITES ACROSS THE REGION. HOMEOWNERS LINE UP EAGER TO FILL UP SANDBAGS TO PROTECT THEIR HOME FROM RISING WATERS. SO WE PROVIDE THE BAGS, WE PROVIDE THE SAND. WE PROVIDE THE MECHANISM. THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR THEIR ENERGY AND AND THEIR THEIR BODY STRENGTH TO DO THIS. I GOT HANDS ON TRAINING WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES AND GOT TO WORK. IT’S 3 OR 4 SHOVEL FULLS. YOU DO NOT WANT TO FILL THE BAGS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. YOU WANT TO LEAVE SOME SPACE IN ORDER TO TIE THEM OFF. SHOVELING INTO THE BAG CAN BE TRICKY. SO THE COUNTY MADE FUNNELS TO HELP OUT. SO THESE ARE OUR OLD SAFETY CONES THAT WE’VE HAD SITTING ON A SHELF. TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN AND THEY MAKE A WONDERFUL FUNNEL. OFFICIALS SAY FUNNELING SAND TAKES LESS TIME THAN SHOVELING. SO THIS METHOD COULD GET THE LINE MOVING AND PEOPLE CAN GET HOME FASTER. TO MY SURPRISE, THE BAGS WEIGHED LESS THAN I EXPECTED BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT FILLED TO THE BRIM. THEY’RE MUCH EASIER TO PICK UP. THEY ARE ABOUT 10 TO 12 POUNDS EACH. IF YOU FILLED IT CORRECTLY, YOU’LL GET TEN SANDBAGS PER RESIDENT. TEN SANDBAGS CAN DO A LOT. THEY WILL TYPICALLY COVER THE AVERAGE SLIDING GLASS DOOR. THE FRONT OF A GARAGE DOOR. PLACEMENT IS KEY AND SO IS PROPER LAYERING. ONCE YOU PLACE THE SANDBAGS, YOU WANT TO STACK THEM IN 2 TO 3 LAYERS. MAKE SURE THAT NO WATER CAN SEEP THROUGH SO WE OFFSET THEM. WE GO STACK THEM OFFSET. SO YOU LAY YOUR FIRST FOUNDATION DOWN AND THEN YOU OFFSET ON TOP AND OVER ON TOP OF THE OTHER ONE. WHEN THE NEXT BIG STORM HEADS YOUR WAY, YOU CAN EXPECT FREE SANDBAG LOCATIONS TO OPEN IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNTY. WESH TWO IS COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU GET READY FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY THIS HURRICANE SEASON. RIGHT NOW ON WESH.COM, YOU CAN FIND OUR 2025 HURRICANE SURVIVAL GUIDE. IT BREAKS DOWN IN DETAIL EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A BIG STORM. AND IT’S FREE FROM THE WESH TWO NEWS AND FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM. THANKS FOR WATCHING. STAY SAFE THIS HURRICANE SEASON.

    Watches, warnings discontinued as Tropical Storm Jerry weakens

    Updated: 12:12 AM EDT Oct 11, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Tropical Storm Jerry is weakening in the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. >> Video above: A hurricane special from WESH 2All watches and warnings have been discontinued, the NHC said. Jerry was initially forecast to strengthen into a hurricane; however, the system is struggling and beginning to pull away from the Northern Leeward Islands. For parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and eastern Puerto Rico, Jerry may result in an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain.This rainfall is not expected to cause any additional flash flooding concerns, NHC says. Maximum sustained winds: 60 mphMinimum central pressure: 1004 mb >> Subscribe to the WESH 2 YouTube channel Watches and Warnings All watches and warnings have been discontinued. Hurricane season 2025The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.>> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival GuideThe First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    Tropical Storm Jerry is weakening in the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.

    >> Video above: A hurricane special from WESH 2

    All watches and warnings have been discontinued, the NHC said.

    Jerry was initially forecast to strengthen into a hurricane; however, the system is struggling and beginning to pull away from the Northern Leeward Islands.

    For parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and eastern Puerto Rico, Jerry may result in an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain.

    This rainfall is not expected to cause any additional flash flooding concerns, NHC says.

    Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph

    Minimum central pressure: 1004 mb

    >> Subscribe to the WESH 2 YouTube channel

    Watches and Warnings

    All watches and warnings have been discontinued.

    Hurricane season 2025

    The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    >> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival Guide

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

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  • NWSL roundup: Pride edge Thorns on own goal

    (Photo credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

    A Portland own goal during second-half stoppage time gave the Orlando Pride the needed tally to notch a 1-0 victory over the visiting Thorns on Friday night.

    Marta took a corner kick in the second minute of extra time and her boot went toward the mass of people flocking in front of the net. Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was eyeing the ball but teammate Mallie McKenzie tried to clear it and the ball hit off the side of her head and went into the net.

    The victory was the second in three matches for Orlando (10-8-6, 36 points), which won for just the second time in their past 12 NWSL matches (2-5-5). The Pride jumped into third place in the standings with the sixth-place Seattle Reign set to play later Friday night.

    Arnold made five saves for Portland (9-8-7, 34 points) and kept the match scoreless with a stellar save on a right-footed shot by Orlando’s Ally Watt in the 61st minute. The Thorns are tied for fifth with Seattle, pending the outcome of the latter squad’s match against Bay FC.

    Watt put two balls into the net in a three-minute span late in the first half but was flagged for being offsides on both. She was clearly offside on the first attempt but the second one was extremely close as shown by multiple replay angles.

    Anna Moorhouse had four saves for Orlando.

    Racing Louisville 1, Chicago Stars 1

    Bethany Balcer scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage as Louisville earned the tie against visiting Chicago.

    Balcer was in position near the net when the pass from Janine Sonis came in her direction. She put her left foot on the ball and knocked it into the upper portion for Racing Louisville (9-9-6, 33 points), who are undefeated over their past three matches (2-0-1).

    Jameese Joseph scored for last-place Chicago (2-11-11, 17 points). The Stars are winless in their past five matches (0-2-3).

    The match was scoreless in the 85th minute when Ivonne Chacon slid the ball from the left side to the right. Joseph arrived just as the ball neared and she delivered a right-footed shot into the left corner to put Chicago ahead.

    Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made eight saves, including a big stop on Ella Hase’s shot in the fourth minute.

    Jordyn Bloomer’s only save for Louisville was a crucial one as she stopped Ally Schlegel’s header in the 54th minute.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Israeli military says ceasefire agreement in Gaza has taken effect

    A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas for the Gaza Strip came into effect at noon local time, the Israeli military said Friday, adding that troops were withdrawing to agreed-upon deployment lines. The announcement came hours after Israel’s Cabinet approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of the remaining hostages and of Palestinian prisoners.Tens of thousands of people who had gathered in Wadi Gaza in central Gaza in the morning started walking north after the military’s announcement at noon local time. Beforehand, Palestinians reported heavy shelling in parts of Gaza throughout Friday morning.The Israeli Cabinet’s approval of Trump’s plan marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.A brief statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office early Friday said the Cabinet approved the “outline” of a deal to release the hostages, without mentioning other aspects of the plan that are more controversial.An Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the withdrawal, said the military would control around 50% of Gaza in their new positions.Shelling continues through early hoursAfter the Cabinet approval, Gaza residents reported intensified shelling well into Friday morning.In central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, Mahmoud Sharkawy, one of the many people sheltering there after being displaced from Gaza City, said artillery shelling intensified in the early hours.“The shelling has significantly increased today,” said Sharkawy, adding that low flying military aircraft had been flying over central Gaza.In northern Gaza, two Gaza City residents told The Associated Press that bombing had been ongoing since the early hours, mostly artillery shelling.The managing director of Shifa hospital, Rami Mhanna, said the shelling in southern and northern Gaza City had not stopped following the Israeli Cabinet’s approval of the ceasefire plan.“It is confusing, we have been hearing shelling all night despite the ceasefire news,” said Heba Garoun, who fled her home in eastern Gaza City to another neighborhood in the city after her house was destroyed.Details of the dealA senior Hamas official and lead negotiator made a speech Thursday laying out what he said were the core elements of the ceasefire deal: Israel releasing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, opening the border crossing with Egypt, allowing aid to flow and Israeli forces withdrawing.Khalil al-Hayya said all women and children held in Israeli jails will also be freed. He did not offer details on the extent of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.Al-Hayya said the Trump administration and mediators had given assurances that the war is over, and that Hamas and other Palestinian factions will now focus on achieving self-determination and establishing a Palestinian state.“We declare today that we have reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people,” Al-Hayya said in a televised speech Thursday evening.To help support and monitor the ceasefire deal, U.S. officials said they would send about 200 troops to Israel as part of a broader, international team. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized for release.

    TEL AVIV, Israel —

    A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas for the Gaza Strip came into effect at noon local time, the Israeli military said Friday, adding that troops were withdrawing to agreed-upon deployment lines. The announcement came hours after Israel’s Cabinet approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of the remaining hostages and of Palestinian prisoners.

    Tens of thousands of people who had gathered in Wadi Gaza in central Gaza in the morning started walking north after the military’s announcement at noon local time. Beforehand, Palestinians reported heavy shelling in parts of Gaza throughout Friday morning.

    The Israeli Cabinet’s approval of Trump’s plan marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.

    A brief statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office early Friday said the Cabinet approved the “outline” of a deal to release the hostages, without mentioning other aspects of the plan that are more controversial.

    An Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the withdrawal, said the military would control around 50% of Gaza in their new positions.

    Shelling continues through early hours

    After the Cabinet approval, Gaza residents reported intensified shelling well into Friday morning.

    In central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, Mahmoud Sharkawy, one of the many people sheltering there after being displaced from Gaza City, said artillery shelling intensified in the early hours.

    “The shelling has significantly increased today,” said Sharkawy, adding that low flying military aircraft had been flying over central Gaza.

    In northern Gaza, two Gaza City residents told The Associated Press that bombing had been ongoing since the early hours, mostly artillery shelling.

    The managing director of Shifa hospital, Rami Mhanna, said the shelling in southern and northern Gaza City had not stopped following the Israeli Cabinet’s approval of the ceasefire plan.

    “It is confusing, we have been hearing shelling all night despite the ceasefire news,” said Heba Garoun, who fled her home in eastern Gaza City to another neighborhood in the city after her house was destroyed.

    Details of the deal

    A senior Hamas official and lead negotiator made a speech Thursday laying out what he said were the core elements of the ceasefire deal: Israel releasing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, opening the border crossing with Egypt, allowing aid to flow and Israeli forces withdrawing.

    Khalil al-Hayya said all women and children held in Israeli jails will also be freed. He did not offer details on the extent of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

    Al-Hayya said the Trump administration and mediators had given assurances that the war is over, and that Hamas and other Palestinian factions will now focus on achieving self-determination and establishing a Palestinian state.

    “We declare today that we have reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people,” Al-Hayya said in a televised speech Thursday evening.

    To help support and monitor the ceasefire deal, U.S. officials said they would send about 200 troops to Israel as part of a broader, international team. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized for release.

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  • A look at what happened in the US government this week

    The federal government shut down. Hamas agreed to parts of President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the war in Gaza, but it seeks further talks on other elements of the plan. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech in Virginia to top military leaders. The Supreme Court made a ruling in Fed board member Lisa Cook’s case. And protests are intensifying in Oregon and Illinois in response to the arrival of federal agents.Here are the top stories involving the U.S. government this past week.Government shutdownThe federal government began a shutdown on Wednesday after Congress failed to pass a funding bill for the fiscal year 2026.On Friday, the Senate voted again on two proposals — a Democratic-backed one and a Republican-backed one, the latter of which passed in the House. Neither bill received the 60 votes needed, guaranteeing the shutdown will continue through the weekend.Health care is at the center of the shutdown. Here’s a look at the arguments being made by both sides and what the data shows us.The White House said that firings of federal employees are “imminent,” with President Donald Trump emphasizing that the shutdown is an “unprecedented opportunity” to cut jobs and programs.Here’s a look at how the shutdown could impact getting a passport, attending national parks, paying off student loans, receiving benefits, buying groceries and using air travel.Here’s how the shutdown could affect the nation’s economy.Get the Facts on whether undocumented immigrants are eligible for federal healthcare.Who could break the deadlock in Congress? Find out here.Video below: Fact-checking if undocumented immigrants are eligible for federal healthcare?Israel-Hamas peace planHamas announced Friday that it has accepted some elements of Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, including giving up power and releasing all remaining hostages, but that other elements require further negotiations.In turn, Trump told Israel to stop bombing Gaza while all sides continue talks to reach a peace deal.Israel said it is preparing to implement the “first stage” of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.Trump announced the peace plan earlier in the week during a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Here’s everything you need to know about the peace proposal.Video below: President Trump unveils Gaza ceasefire proposal at White HouseIn other newsTrump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday in front of hundreds of the country’s top military leaders.Trump and Hegseth railed against political correctness and pushed for tougher combat rules and fewer safeguards.The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Lisa Cook can remain as a Federal Reserve governor for now.Protests are intensifying in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago in response to Trump sending federal agents to both cities.A judge is weighing whether to temporarily block Trump’s National Guard deployment in Oregon.Hegseth said on Friday that he ordered a fourth strike on a small boat in the waters off Venezuela.Apple removed ICE tracking apps after the Trump administration said they threaten officers.A federal judge ruled that deporting noncitizens for protesting the Gaza war violates the First Amendment.An immigration judge denied Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s bid for asylum, but he has 30 days to appeal.The White House is asking nine major universities to commit to Trump’s political priorities in exchange for more favorable access to federal money.A week after her decisive win in an Arizona special election for the U.S. House, Democrat Adelita Grijalva has yet to be sworn into office, as fellow Democrats in Congress express discontent.Video below: Get the Facts on the makeup of the US military

    The federal government shut down. Hamas agreed to parts of President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the war in Gaza, but it seeks further talks on other elements of the plan. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech in Virginia to top military leaders. The Supreme Court made a ruling in Fed board member Lisa Cook’s case. And protests are intensifying in Oregon and Illinois in response to the arrival of federal agents.

    Here are the top stories involving the U.S. government this past week.

    Government shutdown

    Video below: Fact-checking if undocumented immigrants are eligible for federal healthcare?

    Israel-Hamas peace plan

    Video below: President Trump unveils Gaza ceasefire proposal at White House

    In other news

    Video below: Get the Facts on the makeup of the US military

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  • WNBA commissioner: ‘I have to do better’ amid player blowback

    (Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

    LAS VEGAS — Cathy Engelbert accepted some responsibility for WNBA players’ disapproval of the job she’s done as commissioner while denying certain remarks that Napheesa Collier alleged she said in a pointed statement earlier this week.

    Engelbert faced reporters ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury on Friday. It is a tradition among major sports commissioners to address the state of the league before its championship game or series.

    But Engelbert’s press conference came days after Collier said the WNBA had ‘the worst leadership in the world,’ accusing her of making disparaging remarks about star players and not taking officiating seriously.

    Collier is a Women’s National Basketball Players Association vice president along with a star on the Minnesota Lynx, and her voice carried extra heft amid the backdrop of a collective bargaining agreement that’s set to expire Oct. 31.

    Engelbert released a statement Tuesday saying she was ‘disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership,’ but on Friday she was careful to speak highly of the players and looked to make amends.

    ‘I have the utmost respect for Napheesa and for every single player in our league,’ Engelbert said in a prepared statement before she took questions. ‘They are at the center of everything we do. I was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league, and me personally, do not care about them or listen to them. If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better.’

    Speaking Tuesday at an end-of-season media availability, Collier blasted Engelbert and the league office, her speech earning plaudits from many of her peers.

    Collier said she asked Engelbert how she’d fix the fact that young superstars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are earning so little on their rookie contracts while driving massive revenue for the league. ‘Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,” Collier said.

    ‘And in that same conversation,’ she continued, Engelbert ‘told me players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that (she) got them.’

    Asked Friday if she in fact said the media rights part of that statement, Engelbert talked around it.

    ‘There’s a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media and all this reporting,’ Engelbert said. ‘And so I think what’s most helpful is to focus on, I have been in touch with Napheesa, we’ve exchanged texts, we’re talking next week. So, I think, obviously, a lot of reporting, a lot of inaccuracy about what I said or what I didn’t say. And I will tell you, I highly respect the players.’

    Given a second chance to address the faux pas, specifically regarding Clark’s endorsement earnings, Engelbert was more direct.

    ‘Obviously I did not make those comments,’ Engelbert said. ‘Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She’s been a great representative of the game. She’s brought in tens of millions of new fans to the game.

    ‘… But again, I’m not going to get into every point-counterpoint. It’s not productive here. We’re here to celebrate the WNBA Finals.’

    Clark, for her part, said this week that Engelbert had yet to reach out to her directly and said that she agreed with Collier’s stance.

    Saying she is not a ‘quitter,’ Engelbert addressed the notion that players don’t feel she is fit to be their commissioner and painted it as ‘inaccurate’ and ‘clickbait,’ though criticism of Engelbert was seen far and wide this week.

    Engelbert said she was confident ‘that we can repair any loss of trust’ amid the ongoing CBA negotiations. She claimed the league office wants ‘a transformative deal’ with ‘significant, significant’ pay increases for the players and some proposals have included revenue-share components.

    ‘I think it’s all about balancing the significant increase in salaries and benefits with the long-term viability of the league,’ Engelbert said. ‘… You know, they’re obviously bargaining for more and so we’re just trying to obviously balance looking out many years.’

    The CBA expires at the end of the month, and Engelbert said she was confident in the sides’ ability to meet that deadline, but felt it could be extended if necessary, as they did by a few months before their most recent agreement in January 2020.

    Among players’ other concerns is with officiating, and several head coaches have been fined for criticizing referees this season. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was suspended for Game 4 of the semifinal round against Phoenix for harsh criticism of what she felt was a missed call on a play that injured Collier. Minnesota’s season ended in that Game 4 with a loss to Phoenix without Collier or Reeve.

    Collier said when she brought up officiating to Engelbert earlier this year, her response was, ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs.’

    Engelbert said Friday the league is establishing a ‘state of the game’ committee with players and other stakeholders able to voice their opinions on officiating and player safety.

    ‘I think it’s pretty clear that we’re misaligned currently on what our stakeholders want from officiating,’ she said. ‘We have heard loud and clear that we have not lived up to that needed alignment and that attention and change is needed to serve the WNBA to the level of excellence that is not currently being met in the various stakeholders’ eyes.

    ‘There are no greater stakeholders than our players. Their voice is integral to the alignment that is required for good officiating, and we look forward to including their perspectives on how our staff can better serve the game moving forward.’

    –Field Level Media

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  • Hamas agrees to return hostages but resists other parts of Trump’s peace plan

    JERUSALEM  — Hamas accepted most of President Trump’s terms for ending the war in Gaza on Friday, delivering a “Yes, but …” response that agreed to handing over all hostages and relinquishing control of the enclave, but stopped short of the full surrender outlined in the agreement.

    The response came the day Trump said that the Palestinian militant group had until Sunday to accept what was essentially a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum.

    “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, then all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” wrote Trump on his messaging platform, Truth Social.

    After days of what it said was “thorough study” — and intense pressure from its Arab interlocutors in Qatar, Egypt and others — Hamas issued a statement late Friday saying it would release all Israeli hostages, dead or alive, according to “the exchange formula outlined in President Trump’s proposal, provided that field conditions for carrying out the exchange are secured.”

    Trump’s deal, which comprises 20 points and amounts to more of a framework than a comprehensive agreement, represents his administration’s most concerted push to not only end the Hamas-Israel war, but achieve a more comprehensive peace in the region.

    Upon acceptance from both sides, the agreement says, hostilities must immediately end and aid be allowed into Gaza, where Israel’s months-long blockade has triggered famine. Hamas fighters who lay down their arms would be granted amnesty and Gazans would not be forced to leave the enclave.

    The agreement was negotiated with Israel along with a raft of Arab and Muslim nations. Media reports after the deal’s terms were published said Israel had inserted eleventh-hour modifications more in line with the wishes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has refused during two years of war any ceasefire deal that would see Hamas remain in power.

    His move infuriated Arab nations. Still, they nevertheless issued statements cautiously lauding Trump’s initiative, which he unveiled Monday after meeting with Netanyahu at the White House.

    A few hours after Hamas’ affirmative response, Trump wrote on Trump Social that he believed the group was “ready for a lasting PEACE,” adding “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”

    “Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out,” he said. “This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”

    The deal stipulates Israel will release 1,700 Gaza residents detained by Israel after Oct. 7, 2023, along with some 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. It gives Hamas 72 hours to release the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom are still alive.

    Hamas also agreed to another Trump condition, all but relinquishing its 18-year-rule over the Gaza Strip and handing it over to what Trump said was a body of “technocratic” Palestinians overseen by a “Board of Peace” to be headed by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

    But Hamas’ acceptance Friday fell short of what could be an essential point for Israel: The notion of surrendering its weapons.

    Through Trump’s agreement stipulates the group should disarm and not be involved in any future governance, Hamas has long insisted it would hand over its weapons only as part of a deal that would lead to an independent Palestinian state — a position it reiterated again in its Friday statement, saying that any other issues would be discussed through a comprehensive national Palestinian framework that would include Hamas.

    “Regarding the future of the Palestinian issue, this is not a matter of Hamas alone. Hamas is a part of the Palestinian people, but it’s not alone,” said Moussa Abu Marzouk, a top-ranking Hamas official, speaking to Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera after the release of Hamas’ statement.

    Abu Marzouk also emphasized the logistical difficulties the group faces in gathering all the remaining hostages within the 72-hour time frame, describing the condition to be “unreasonable.” He added that there would need to be further negotiations to specify withdrawal lines.

    The response, said Bader Al-Saif, a professor of history at Kuwait University, was “in the same style of the offer it received — vague and incomplete.”

    “We have a quasi response to a quasi offer — one in need of more details, guarantees and enforcement ability on both Hamas and Israel,” he said, adding that Hamas was throwing the ball back into Israel’s court, knowing the divisions within the Israeli government over any plan that falls short of annihilating the group and excising it from any future negotiations.

    Netanyahu’s government is composed of a fractious coalition that relies on hard-right figures to have sufficient numbers for its survival. Those figures want Netanyahu to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and the territory of Gaza given over to settlements.

    Other Israelis point to Israel’s growing isolation with every day of the war’s passing, with the U.N., rights and aid groups and governments, including Western allies of the U.S. and Israel, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the enclave. Israel denies the charge.

    With Hamas’ “conditional acceptance,” said Mouin Rabbani, a nonresident fellow at the Qatar-based Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, negotiations could be on a potential crash course.

    “It’s crunch time,” Rabbani said. “Hamas says, ‘We accept the proposal if the following issues are clarified to our satisfaction.’

    “We’ll now find out if the U.S. accepts entering discussions for these clarifications, or that Israel will persuade the Americans that Hamas has rejected it and the genocide should continue in full force.”

    Hamas’ action comes just days before the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that launched the conflict. On that day, Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others. Israel’s response has been punishing, leaving vast portions of Gaza in ruins; more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials.

    Nabih Bulos

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  • Government shutdown threatens to drag on through weekend with lawmakers deadlocked

    As the Senate meets Friday for another vote to reopen the federal government, Democrats are refusing to yield without a deal from President Donald Trump — likely extending the government shutdown into next week.Democrats say not even the threat of mass firings and canceled federal projects will force them to accept the GOP short-term funding proposal without major policy concessions on health care.A top White House official warned Thursday that the number of federal workers who could be fired because of the shutdown is “likely going to be in the thousands.” Trump hasn’t made public his exact targets yet, though he met with White House budget chief Russ Vought on Thursday to discuss the plan.The White House already has a list – put together by Vought’s Office of Management and Budget in coordination with federal agencies – of the agencies they are targeting with the firings, according to two White House officials. While details are still being sorted, according to the officials, announcements could come in the coming days on which are on the chopping block for not aligning with the president’s priorities.Speaking on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries skewered the president and his team for what he called their “retribution effort” against Democrats, but made clear his party would not relent. He added that neither he nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have received a call from Trump or GOP leaders for negotiations since the group met at the White House Monday.“Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight,” Jeffries said when asked if Democrats could accept a deal without an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies that his party has been seeking. “This is the first week of the shutdown but we’ve had months of chaos and cruelty unleashed on the American people.”With the two parties still bitterly divided, the deadlocked Senate is expected to leave town for the weekend, which means neither chamber will vote again until at least Monday. With no ongoing talks between the two parties, many Senate Republicans plan to decamp to Sea Island, Georgia, this weekend for a major weekend fundraiser. The National Republican Senatorial Committee informed attendees in an email this week that the event was non-refundable and contracted years in advance — long before the current organization’s leadership, according to two people familiar with the matter.Democrats, too, have a scheduled fundraiser later this month. That event in Napa, California, is set to take place on Oct. 13. A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they did not have information about whether the event was still on, though one of the featured attendees, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, has already informed organizers that she won’t be attending if there is a shutdown, according to a person familiar with the planning.Inside the Capitol, lawmakers and their staff are bracing for a lapse that could last into mid-October, with fears rising that government workers will miss a paycheck next week.GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota described Friday’s vote as “crucial,” warning that “things go south real quick” if the government isn’t reopened before the weekend.Rounds is one of the few Republicans publicly anxious about the potential harms of an extended shutdown on the federal workforce, and has worked behind the scenes with some Democrats to find a way out of it. The end needs to come as quickly as possible, he warned, suggesting that Democrats could soon see the White House take an ax to programs that they heavily favor if the shutdown doesn’t end.“I think it’s gonna bite them harder than it does us,” Rounds told reporters Thursday. “There’s a whole lot of things out there that the Democrats care about that are not consistent with the president’s policies, and those are the first things at risk.”Senate Majority Leader John Thune remained firm Thursday when asked about how the shutdown would end. He said Democrats would have a fourth chance on Friday to vote to open the government: “If that fails, then they can have the weekend to think about it, we’ll come back, we’ll vote again on Monday.”“My Democrat colleagues are facing pressure from members of their far-left base, but they’re playing a losing game here,” he added.

    WASHINGTON —

    As the Senate meets Friday for another vote to reopen the federal government, Democrats are refusing to yield without a deal from President Donald Trump — likely extending the government shutdown into next week.

    Democrats say not even the threat of mass firings and canceled federal projects will force them to accept the GOP short-term funding proposal without major policy concessions on health care.

    A top White House official warned Thursday that the number of federal workers who could be fired because of the shutdown is “likely going to be in the thousands.” Trump hasn’t made public his exact targets yet, though he met with White House budget chief Russ Vought on Thursday to discuss the plan.

    The White House already has a list – put together by Vought’s Office of Management and Budget in coordination with federal agencies – of the agencies they are targeting with the firings, according to two White House officials. While details are still being sorted, according to the officials, announcements could come in the coming days on which are on the chopping block for not aligning with the president’s priorities.

    Speaking on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries skewered the president and his team for what he called their “retribution effort” against Democrats, but made clear his party would not relent. He added that neither he nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have received a call from Trump or GOP leaders for negotiations since the group met at the White House Monday.

    “Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight,” Jeffries said when asked if Democrats could accept a deal without an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies that his party has been seeking. “This is the first week of the shutdown but we’ve had months of chaos and cruelty unleashed on the American people.”

    With the two parties still bitterly divided, the deadlocked Senate is expected to leave town for the weekend, which means neither chamber will vote again until at least Monday. With no ongoing talks between the two parties, many Senate Republicans plan to decamp to Sea Island, Georgia, this weekend for a major weekend fundraiser. The National Republican Senatorial Committee informed attendees in an email this week that the event was non-refundable and contracted years in advance — long before the current organization’s leadership, according to two people familiar with the matter.

    Democrats, too, have a scheduled fundraiser later this month. That event in Napa, California, is set to take place on Oct. 13. A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they did not have information about whether the event was still on, though one of the featured attendees, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, has already informed organizers that she won’t be attending if there is a shutdown, according to a person familiar with the planning.

    Inside the Capitol, lawmakers and their staff are bracing for a lapse that could last into mid-October, with fears rising that government workers will miss a paycheck next week.

    GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota described Friday’s vote as “crucial,” warning that “things go south real quick” if the government isn’t reopened before the weekend.

    Rounds is one of the few Republicans publicly anxious about the potential harms of an extended shutdown on the federal workforce, and has worked behind the scenes with some Democrats to find a way out of it. The end needs to come as quickly as possible, he warned, suggesting that Democrats could soon see the White House take an ax to programs that they heavily favor if the shutdown doesn’t end.

    “I think it’s gonna bite them harder than it does us,” Rounds told reporters Thursday. “There’s a whole lot of things out there that the Democrats care about that are not consistent with the president’s policies, and those are the first things at risk.”

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune remained firm Thursday when asked about how the shutdown would end. He said Democrats would have a fourth chance on Friday to vote to open the government: “If that fails, then they can have the weekend to think about it, we’ll come back, we’ll vote again on Monday.”

    “My Democrat colleagues are facing pressure from members of their far-left base, but they’re playing a losing game here,” he added.

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  • Feds indict three women for alleged ‘doxing’ of ICE agent in Los Angeles

    Three women opposed to President Trump’s intense immigration raids in Los Angeles were indicted Friday on charges of illegally “doxing” a U.S. Customs and Immigration agent, authorities said.

    Ashleigh Brown, Cynthia Raygoza and Sandra Carmona Samane face charges of disclosing the personal information of a federal agent and conspiracy, according to an indictment unsealed late Friday.

    Brown, who is from Colorado and goes by the nickname “AK,” has been described as one of the founders of “ice_out_ofla” an Instagram page with more than 28,000 followers that plays a role in organizing demonstrations against immigration enforcement, according to the social media page and an email reviewed by The Times.

    According to the indictment, the three women followed an ICE agent from the federal building on 300 North Los Angeles Street in downtown L.A. to the agent’s residence in Baldwin Park.

    They live-streamed the entire event, according to the indictment. Once they arrived at the agent’s home, prosecutors allege the women got out and shouted “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know,” according to the indictment.

    “Our brave federal agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our nation safe,” Acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli said in a statement. “The conduct of these defendants are deeply offensive to law enforcement officers and their families. If you threaten, dox, or harm in any manner one of our agents or employees, you will face prosecution and prison time.”

    An attorney for Samane, 25, of Los Angeles, said she intends to plead not guilty at an arraignment next month and declined further comment.

    The Federal Public Defender’s Office, which is representing Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colo., did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court records did not list an attorney for Raygoza, 37, of Riverside.

    Footage published to the ice_out_ofla Instagram page seemed to capture Brown’s arrest earlier this week. The video shows a man in green fatigues and body armor saying he has a warrant for her arrest, while reaching through what appears to be the shattered driver’s side window of her car. Brown asks what the warrant is for while the man can be seen holding a collapsible baton. Then the video cuts out.

    Posts on the Instagram page describe Brown as a “political prisoner.”

    A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles did not immediately respond to questions about whether the women specifically shouted out the agent’s address online or what the defendants specifically did to “incite the commission of a crime of violence against a federal agent,” as the indictment alleges.

    Federal law enforcement leaders have repeatedly expressed concern about the “doxing” of agents with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol as residents of Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities continue to protest the Trump administration’s sprawling deportation efforts.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threatened to prosecute people for publishing agents’ personal information last month in response to fliers in Portland that called for people to collect intel on ICE.

    But the indictment returned Friday appeared to be the first prosecution related to such tactics.

    Critics of the Trump administration’s operations have expressed outrage over ICE and CBP agents wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves in public while hunting undocumented immigrants throughout Southern California.

    Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that forbids federal law enforcement from wearing masks while operating in California. The supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates that federal law takes precedence over state law, leading some legal experts to question whether state officials can actually enforce the legislation.

    James Queally

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  • ‘Gruesome and horrific’: Florida attorney general criticizes Worrell over prosecution decisions

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said nonprosecution policies in Orlando are putting families at risk. During a news conference Friday, Uthmeier said Orlando has a pattern of “soft-on-crime policies.”Uthmeier called out 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell for not pressing charges on “gruesome and horrific” child predator cases.In one case, a man on a park bench was accused of masturbating while facing multiple kids playing. Uthmeier said that, although there was video evidence and testimonies from people, Worrell decided that charges did not need to be brought. “She gave this man a free walk in the park, and now other kids are in jeopardy,” Uthmeier said. In another case, a suspect was accused of sharing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. However, Worrell dropped all charges, according to Uthmeier. “Soft-on-crime policies do not work,” Uthmeier said. Uthmeier said child predators should be prosecuted to the fullest.In August, Worrell reported a 21% decrease in the backlog of nonarrest cases, though more than 10,000 cases remain. She emphasized the need for increased funding to retain prosecutors and improve trial statistics.Worrell responded during her own news conference, addressing the attorney general’s claims. “It is an outright reckless disregard for the truth to suggest that I have non-prosecution policies on the books,” Worrell said. She defended her office’s handling of the cases mentioned by Uthmeier, sharing notes from the attorney on the Chapman case. “I’m not standing before you today telling you that what happened in that park was wrong. But I am standing before you today telling you that I trust the word of the attorney who was assigned to this case when he said, although those actions were wrong, he could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they were illegal,” Worrell said.Worrell criticized the attorney general’s approach, stating that instead of collaborating with her office to address crime, Uthmeier’s conferences spread misinformation and prioritize politics over public safety.Related stories below:

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said nonprosecution policies in Orlando are putting families at risk.

    During a news conference Friday, Uthmeier said Orlando has a pattern of “soft on crime policies.”

    Uthmeier called out 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell for not pressing charges on “gruesome and horrific” child predator cases.

    In one case, a man on a park bench was accused of masturbating while facing multiple kids playing.

    Uthmeier said that, although there was video evidence and testimonies from people, Worrell decided that charges did not need to be brought.

    “She gave this man a free walk in the park, and now other kids are in jeopardy,” Uthmeier said.

    In another case, a suspect was accused of sharing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. However, Worrell dropped all charges, according to Uthmeier.

    “Soft-on-crime policies do not work,” Uthmeier said.

    Uthmeier said child predators should be prosecuted to the fullest.

    In August, Worrell reported a 21% decrease in the backlog of nonarrest cases, though more than 10,000 cases remain.

    She emphasized the need for increased funding to retain prosecutors and improve trial statistics.

    Worrell responded during her own news conference, addressing the attorney general’s claims.

    “It is an outright reckless disregard for the truth to suggest that I have non-prosecution policies on the books,” Worrell said.

    She defended her office’s handling of the cases mentioned by Uthmeier, sharing notes from the attorney on the Chapman case.

    “I’m not standing before you today telling you that what happened in that park was wrong. But I am standing before you today telling you that I trust the word of the attorney who was assigned to this case when he said although those actions were wrong, he could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they were illegal,” Worrell said.

    Worrell criticized the attorney general’s approach, stating that instead of collaborating with her office to address crime, Uthmeier’s conferences spread misinformation and prioritize politics over public safety.

    Related stories below:

    [related id=’52ae0bfe-5c89-44de-8877-7251671bec78′ align=’center’ source=””][/relate

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  • Tom Holland hospitalized after suffering injury while filming new ‘Spider-Man’ movie

    Tom Holland hospitalized after suffering injury while filming new ‘Spider-Man’ movie

    Updated: 8:10 PM PDT Sep 21, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Actor Tom Holland was hospitalized recently after suffering a concussion while filming the new “Spider-Man” film.Related video above: Tom Holland shares his go-to bodyweight workoutHolland sustained the injury on Friday, Sept. 19, according to reports. It happened on the set of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” at Leavesden Studios in Watford, England, located about 20 miles outside of London.According to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old star was briefly hospitalized with a mild concussion after falling. Holland will reportedly take a break from filming to recover.”Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will be released in July 2026.

    Actor Tom Holland was hospitalized recently after suffering a concussion while filming the new “Spider-Man” film.

    Related video above: Tom Holland shares his go-to bodyweight workout

    Holland sustained the injury on Friday, Sept. 19, according to reports. It happened on the set of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” at Leavesden Studios in Watford, England, located about 20 miles outside of London.

    According to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old star was briefly hospitalized with a mild concussion after falling. Holland will reportedly take a break from filming to recover.

    “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will be released in July 2026.

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